A round up of today's other stories in brief...
Changes to Irish-UK travel area signalled
LONDON- The likelihood of formal changes to the operation of the Common Travel Area between Ireland and Britain were signalled with the publication of a new Immigration and Citizenship Bill in London yesterday, writes Frank Millar. In what appears a reference to ongoing discussions between the Home Office and the authorities in Dublin, the Bill comments that the principal of CTA movement without controls is out-of-date.
A meeting between home secretary Jacqui Smith and Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern had been planned for tomorrow but has been cancelled because of other diary commitments.
Governor held over graft inquiry
ROME- The head of one of Italy's 20 regional governments was arrested yesterday in a graft inquiry, a move prime minister Silvio Berlusconi said showed the judiciary often went too far and needed major reform.
Ottaviano Del Turco, a former finance minister who is the centre-left governor of the central Abruzzo region, was arrested early yesterday and held in jail along with five other suspects. Four more people were held under house arrest. A total of 35 suspects are under investigation over a fraudulent scheme involving healthcare financial transactions. - ( Reuters)
30 blinded by laser show
MOSCOW- More than 30 people were blinded by a laser show at a Russian music festival and some concertgoers may lose their sight permanently.
Russian newspaper Kommersantsaid some lost up to 80 per cent of their vision after attending the Aquamarine Music Festival on July 5th. The outdoor festival was held in the Vladimir region east of Moscow. - ( PA)
Olmert surives Knesset vote
JERUSALEM- Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert's government survived a no-confidence vote in parliament yesterday but legislators from his Labor Party coalition partner dealt him a moral blow by voting against him.
Under Israeli law, the government must be dissolved if 61 legislators vote in favour of a no- confidence motion. The motion against Mr Olmert was defeated by 47 votes to 42. The result sparked speculation about whether Mr Olmert would carry out his threat to dismiss Labour ministers who voted for the no-confidence motion. - ( Reuters)
£15,000 award for island story
LONDON- The winner of this year's BBC National Short Story prize - "the largest award in the world for a single short story" - was announced yesterday.
Clare Wigfall (32) was awarded the £15,000 (€18,800) first prize for her short story The Numbers.
Judges were impressed by the "uncanny ability" of the London-born writer to create the bleak reality of a tiny Gaelic-speaking island community. - ( PA)