The time is 22:00 (UTC) on July 5th, 2006, and this is Audio Wikinews News Briefs.

North Korea
North Korea has test fired seven ballistic missiles including the long-range Taepodong-2 on Tuesday. The tests were criticised by officials from several countries, particularly Japan, South Korea and the United States. The UN Security Council held a closed meeting today to discuss the developments.

Mexico
Both leading Mexican presidential candidates, Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Felipe Calderón have proclaimed victory in the Mexican Presidential race despite notice from Mexico's Federal Electoral Institute that the numbers are currently too close to determine the winner.
Afghanistan
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that a British soldier has died while on patrol in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province. 

Italy
Marco Mancini, a director of a division of the Italian SISMI military intelligence agency has been arrested in Milan over his role in the alleged kidnapping of an Egyptian terrorist suspect by agents of the United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in what is believed to be an instance of Extraordinary Rendition.

Portugal
A doctor, his assistant and three women who were found to have undergone abortion were convicted of violating abortion laws in Portugal.

United States
Kenneth L. Lay, the Enron ex-chief executive and ex-chair, died early Wednesday morning at his vacation home at the age of 64 after a massive coronary attack, according to a family spokesperson.

Germany
A German scientist has made the world’s smallest soccer pitch with nanotechnology.

United States
Microsoft has announced its plans to drop the part of its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) tool that sends data back to Microsoft saying if it is genuine or not.

Australia
Australia's media watchdog - the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has cleared Australian Big Brother of breaching content laws following a sexual misconduct scandal, which was broadcast via the Internet.

sports - volleyball
Poland has won in 4th annual Hubert Jerzy Wagner's Volleyball Memorial, after defeating Cuba 3:1 in the final match.

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Wikinews:Briefs/July 5, 2006