Wikinews:Briefs/September 26, 2005

Audio Wikinews transcript – 2005 09 26 – 1130 UTC

The time is 1130 (UTC) on Monday 26th September 2005, and this is Audio Wikinews: News Briefs.

Switzerland citizens vote Yes to freedom of circulation to new EU states
The Swiss people have voted yes to freedom of circulation for the new EU states. Overall 55.95% voted yes and 44.05% voted no. The turnout was 53.64%. All the cantons apart from Ticino, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Schwyz and Uri voted yes, while the others voted no.

Fernando Alonso becomes new Formula One World Champion
Renault driver Fernando Alonso finished third in the Brazilian Grand Prix, held at the Autodromo Carlos Pace near Sao Paulo. McLaren drivers and championship rivals Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikonnen finished first and second respectively; although Alonso's third place decreased his lead in championship points over Raikonnen, his closest rival, to 23, he nonetheless was able to secure the 2005 Drivers' World Championship. Since the winner of a Formula One Grand Prix earns 10 points and only two races remain, Raikonnen no longer has a mathematical possibility of becoming World Champion.

David Hicks seeks UK citizenship
Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks has made application to gain British citizenship. All nine British citizens that had previously been held in Guantanamo Bay have been released following lobbying by the British government.

The decision to make an application was made after Hicks made a chance comment about his mother's British citizenship when talking about the recent "Ashes" cricket series with his lawyer Major Michael Mori.

The ABC reported that a spokesperson from the British High Commission in Canberra has said that the application could take up to a year to process.

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