A round up of today's other stories in brief
Soprano clothes fetch €119,000
NEW YORK - Tough North Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano from hit TV series The Sopranos whacked buyers' bank accounts at Christie's yesterday when his wardrobe sold for $187,750 (€119,000) - four times the auction house's forecast.
James Gandolfini, who played Soprano for six seasons over 8 ½ years, sold his personal costume wardrobe in 25 lots at Christie's pop culture auction, with all proceeds going to Wounded Warrior, a charity that helps wounded US troops.
The top lot was a bloody outfit worn when Soprano was shot at the beginning of season six by Uncle Junior in a fit of dementia, which sold for $43,750, almost 12 times Christie's pre-sale estimate.
Gandolfini was at the auction to see Soprano's signature white tank top, light blue striped boxer shorts, striped short robe and leather scuffs go under the hammer for $21,250, again soaring above the estimate of $1,500.
The blue shirt worn by him in the opening credits of the show sold for $13,750, also well above the $2,000- $3,000 estimate. - (Reuters)
Council of Europe concern over case against Turkey's AK Party
STRASBOURG - A court case to shut down Turkey's ruling AK Party poses risks to political stability and is delaying vital economic and political reforms, a European rights watchdog said yesterday.
The Council of Europe, which counts Turkey among its 47 members, said it would consider putting Turkey back on the list of states it considers need monitoring to check if they respect human rights and democratic principles. The decision by Turkey's highest court to hear a case to shut down the AK Party and bar the prime minister from politics for suspected Islamist subversion has already prompted the EU to voice concern.
Regardless of its outcome, the lawsuit "is seriously affecting political stability in the country, as well as the democratic functioning of state institutions and delays urgent economic and political reform", the council said. - (Reuters)
Medvedev set for EU summit
KHANTY-MANSIISK - Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's president, flew into Siberia last night for a summit with EU leaders.
The EU wants to reach a deal with the Kremlin on a legally binding strategic pact. But negotiations, which start formally today in the booming oil town of Khanty-Mansiisk, could drag on for years, analysts predict. Russia favours a concise format, but the EU wants a comprehensive pact to lay out details of co-operation in areas such as energy, justice and security.
Brussels will hope that Mr Medvedev adopts a more conciliatory tone than his predecessor, Vladimir Putin, now Russian prime minister, who officials said will not attend. Fyodor Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, said Mr Putin's absence is likely to make negotiations easier.
- (Guardian service)
Spain ratifies Lisbon Treaty
MADRID - The Spanish Congress yesterday ratified the Lisbon Treaty on reforming the European Union, which was rejected by Irish voters earlier this month.
The treaty will now go the Senate but its approval will be a formality after the overwhelming vote of 322 members of congress in favour and only six against.
Spain has always enthusiastically supported the Lisbon process and Spanish voters also approved the European constitution, which was later sunk by referendum defeats in France and the Netherlands.
Twenty national parliaments have now approved the treaty.
- (Reuters)
Fire near Glastonbury
A blaze at a car scrapyard forced organisers to shut one of the main entrances to Glastonbury Festival - causing long tailbacks around the site.
Thousands of revellers heading to the world-famous event faced gridlock after the fire broke out at a scrapyard in Pylle, Somerset, one mile away from the festival site, in Pilton.
Firefighters from nearby Shepton Mallet were sent to the four-acre site, which contained several vehicles and gas canisters. The blaze caused clouds of smoke to drift across the surrounding area — but away from the festival. - (PA)