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All rights reservedFri, 17 Aug 2012 00:17:43 -04005http://news.yahoo.com/russia/ http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/th/main_142c.gif<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/more-deaths-aleppo-un-ends-syria-mission-041743107.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/qU3QO40gabXUFznaR1qkBg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345176250537-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Free Syrian Army fighters arrest a man who they allege is a member of the Shabiha" align="left" title="Free Syrian Army fighters arrest a man who they allege is a member of the Shabiha" border="0" /></a>The bloodletting in Syria&#039;s main battleground city of Aleppo continued with activists reporting an attack on civilians as the United Nations called an end to its observer mission.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/more-deaths-aleppo-un-ends-syria-mission-041743107.htmlFri, 17 Aug 2012 00:17:43 -0400AFPmore-deaths-aleppo-un-ends-syria-mission-041743107<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/more-deaths-aleppo-un-ends-syria-mission-041743107.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/qU3QO40gabXUFznaR1qkBg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345176250537-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Free Syrian Army fighters arrest a man who they allege is a member of the Shabiha" align="left" title="Free Syrian Army fighters arrest a man who they allege is a member of the Shabiha" border="0" /></a>The bloodletting in Syria&#039;s main battleground city of Aleppo continued with activists reporting an attack on civilians as the United Nations called an end to its observer mission.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-punks-await-judgement-day-russia-033021780.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/sjcLs60h5zn0MwSIpFRpaw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345173805181-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Rallies outside Russian consulates in Pussy Riot&#039;s defence will stretch from Paris to Sydney and New York" align="left" title="Rallies outside Russian consulates in Pussy Riot&#039;s defence will stretch from Paris to Sydney and New York" border="0" /></a>A Moscow court will pass judgement Friday on three women from a tiny punk band who captured global attention by defying the Russian authorities and ridiculing President Vladimir Putin in a church.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-punks-await-judgement-day-russia-033021780.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 23:30:21 -0400AFPpussy-riot-punks-await-judgement-day-russia-033021780<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-punks-await-judgement-day-russia-033021780.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/sjcLs60h5zn0MwSIpFRpaw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345173805181-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Rallies outside Russian consulates in Pussy Riot&#039;s defence will stretch from Paris to Sydney and New York" align="left" title="Rallies outside Russian consulates in Pussy Riot&#039;s defence will stretch from Paris to Sydney and New York" border="0" /></a>A Moscow court will pass judgement Friday on three women from a tiny punk band who captured global attention by defying the Russian authorities and ridiculing President Vladimir Putin in a church.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/u-n-monitors-quit-saying-syrians-choose-path-013353077.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/94ZErvBWvpcdqsQmO4k9Lg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-17T014736Z_1_CBRE87F1FUI00_RTROPTP_2_AL-ASSAD.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Bashar al-Assad (C), his younger brother Maher (L) and sister Bushra during the funeral of their father Hafez al-Assad. Reuters/ Stringer." align="left" title="Bashar al-Assad (C), his younger brother Maher (L) and sister Bushra during the funeral of their father Hafez al-Assad. Reuters/ Stringer." border="0" /></a>BEIRUT/ALEPPO (Reuters) - Syria&#039;s government and rebels have &quot;chosen the path of war&quot;, a U.N. peacekeeping chief said as the world body ended its doomed monitoring mission to Damascus and deadlock persists among world powers over how to contain the spreading conflict. Two weeks after former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan quit as mediator in frustration with the failure of a four-month-old truce, military observers have no peace on the ground to monitor and U.N. officials said on Thursday the last of the few dozen remaining team members would quit Damascus by August 24. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/u-n-monitors-quit-saying-syrians-choose-path-013353077.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 21:47:36 -0400Reutersu-n-monitors-quit-saying-syrians-choose-path-013353077<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/u-n-monitors-quit-saying-syrians-choose-path-013353077.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/94ZErvBWvpcdqsQmO4k9Lg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-17T014736Z_1_CBRE87F1FUI00_RTROPTP_2_AL-ASSAD.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Bashar al-Assad (C), his younger brother Maher (L) and sister Bushra during the funeral of their father Hafez al-Assad. Reuters/ Stringer." align="left" title="Bashar al-Assad (C), his younger brother Maher (L) and sister Bushra during the funeral of their father Hafez al-Assad. Reuters/ Stringer." border="0" /></a>BEIRUT/ALEPPO (Reuters) - Syria&#039;s government and rebels have &quot;chosen the path of war&quot;, a U.N. peacekeeping chief said as the world body ended its doomed monitoring mission to Damascus and deadlock persists among world powers over how to contain the spreading conflict. Two weeks after former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan quit as mediator in frustration with the failure of a four-month-old truce, military observers have no peace on the ground to monitor and U.N. officials said on Thursday the last of the few dozen remaining team members would quit Damascus by August 24. ...</p><br clear="all"/>UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations' four-month-old observer mission in Syria will withdraw from the country next week, diplomats and U.N. officials said on Thursday, yet another blow to the world body's efforts to broker an end to the conflict. "The mandate of UNSMIS is over on the 19th of August ... UNSMIS will fade out," said French U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud, who is the president of the Security Council for the month of August. ...http://news.yahoo.com/u-n-syria-mission-end-blow-peace-efforts-013353801.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 21:33:53 -0400Reutersu-n-syria-mission-end-blow-peace-efforts-013353801Julian Assange was not a household name in Ecuador until Wednesday night, when Ecuador?s Foreign Affairs Minister Ricardo Pati?o read out a letter delivered to Ecuador?s embassy in London.http://news.yahoo.com/ecuadorians-rally-around-decision-offer-asylum-assange-212712260.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 17:27:12 -0400Christian Science Monitorecuadorians-rally-around-decision-offer-asylum-assange-212712260<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/un-council-oks-syria-office-observers-161752469.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/yEgK7Ga.zmq69c7QUEipHQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/6d6004bf0c377117180f6a7067001409.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Russia&#039;s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin answers reporters&#039; questions at the United Nations after a closed meeting of the Security Council, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. The Security Council will let the mandate for the U.N. military observer mission in Syria expire Sunday and will back a new civilian office there to support U.N. and Arab League efforts to end the country&#039;s 18-month conflict. Churkin said an action group will meet Friday to call for an end to the violence in Syria. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)" align="left" title="Russia&#039;s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin answers reporters&#039; questions at the United Nations after a closed meeting of the Security Council, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. The Security Council will let the mandate for the U.N. military observer mission in Syria expire Sunday and will back a new civilian office there to support U.N. and Arab League efforts to end the country&#039;s 18-month conflict. Churkin said an action group will meet Friday to call for an end to the violence in Syria. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)" border="0" /></a>Facing an escalating civil war in Syria, the Security Council decided Thursday to end the U.N. military observer mission that was sent to monitor a cease-fire that never happened and back a small new liaison office that will support any future peace efforts.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/un-council-oks-syria-office-observers-161752469.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 17:13:08 -0400Associated Pressun-council-oks-syria-office-observers-161752469<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/un-council-oks-syria-office-observers-161752469.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/yEgK7Ga.zmq69c7QUEipHQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/6d6004bf0c377117180f6a7067001409.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Russia&#039;s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin answers reporters&#039; questions at the United Nations after a closed meeting of the Security Council, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. The Security Council will let the mandate for the U.N. military observer mission in Syria expire Sunday and will back a new civilian office there to support U.N. and Arab League efforts to end the country&#039;s 18-month conflict. Churkin said an action group will meet Friday to call for an end to the violence in Syria. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)" align="left" title="Russia&#039;s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin answers reporters&#039; questions at the United Nations after a closed meeting of the Security Council, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. The Security Council will let the mandate for the U.N. military observer mission in Syria expire Sunday and will back a new civilian office there to support U.N. and Arab League efforts to end the country&#039;s 18-month conflict. Churkin said an action group will meet Friday to call for an end to the violence in Syria. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)" border="0" /></a>Facing an escalating civil war in Syria, the Security Council decided Thursday to end the U.N. military observer mission that was sent to monitor a cease-fire that never happened and back a small new liaison office that will support any future peace efforts.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-algerias-brahimi-agrees-syria-mediator-sources-184436386.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/s1ikHv.r2eS.N0oFpStpaQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-16T184436Z_1_CBRE87F1G2O00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-SYRIA-CRISIS-BRAHIMI.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi speaks with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (not pictured) during a joint news conference in Khartoum" align="left" title="Diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi speaks with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (not pictured) during a joint news conference in Khartoum" border="0" /></a>UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi has agreed to replace Kofi Annan as the international mediator on Syria, though he intends to take a fresh approach as the 17-month-old conflict slips deeper into civil war, U.N. sources said on Thursday Annan, a former U.N. secretary-general and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is stepping down at the end of August after six months in the job. He said his Syria peace plan was hampered by a divided and deadlocked U.N. Security Council. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-algerias-brahimi-agrees-syria-mediator-sources-184436386.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 16:51:12 -0400Reutersexclusive-algerias-brahimi-agrees-syria-mediator-sources-184436386<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-algerias-brahimi-agrees-syria-mediator-sources-184436386.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/s1ikHv.r2eS.N0oFpStpaQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-16T184436Z_1_CBRE87F1G2O00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-SYRIA-CRISIS-BRAHIMI.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi speaks with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (not pictured) during a joint news conference in Khartoum" align="left" title="Diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi speaks with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (not pictured) during a joint news conference in Khartoum" border="0" /></a>UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi has agreed to replace Kofi Annan as the international mediator on Syria, though he intends to take a fresh approach as the 17-month-old conflict slips deeper into civil war, U.N. sources said on Thursday Annan, a former U.N. secretary-general and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is stepping down at the end of August after six months in the job. He said his Syria peace plan was hampered by a divided and deadlocked U.N. Security Council. ...</p><br clear="all"/>An Aeroflot plane carrying 256 people from New York to Moscow made an unscheduled landing in Iceland on Thursday following a report of a bomb on board, authorities said. Police said no explosives were found after an extensive search.http://news.yahoo.com/aeroflot-plane-lands-iceland-bomb-threat-111246175--finance.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 15:26:04 -0400Associated Pressaeroflot-plane-lands-iceland-bomb-threat-111246175--finance<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-fm-claims-rebels-no-match-military-192403732.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/pE8wTWauOD4P7oWovopY1g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/26569d4a0b6e6d17180f6a7067003ddb.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="In this Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 photo, Syrians are seen through windows as they wait their turn to buy bread outside a bakery shop in the town of Azaz on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria. Bread and other daily needs have become harder to come by in some areas in Syria. The U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said Thursday, Aug. 15, 2012, that the humanitarian situation has worsened amid the fighting and that some 2.5 million people in the country are in need of assistance. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)" align="left" title="In this Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 photo, Syrians are seen through windows as they wait their turn to buy bread outside a bakery shop in the town of Azaz on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria. Bread and other daily needs have become harder to come by in some areas in Syria. The U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said Thursday, Aug. 15, 2012, that the humanitarian situation has worsened amid the fighting and that some 2.5 million people in the country are in need of assistance. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)" border="0" /></a>Syria&#039;s foreign minister defiantly dismissed rebel forces and their international backers on Thursday as incapable of toppling the military defending Bashar Assad&#039;s regime, even as condemnation grew over expanded offensives that activists say have claimed dozens of civilian lives in recent days.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-fm-claims-rebels-no-match-military-192403732.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 15:24:03 -0400Associated Presssyrian-fm-claims-rebels-no-match-military-192403732<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-fm-claims-rebels-no-match-military-192403732.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/pE8wTWauOD4P7oWovopY1g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/26569d4a0b6e6d17180f6a7067003ddb.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="In this Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 photo, Syrians are seen through windows as they wait their turn to buy bread outside a bakery shop in the town of Azaz on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria. Bread and other daily needs have become harder to come by in some areas in Syria. The U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said Thursday, Aug. 15, 2012, that the humanitarian situation has worsened amid the fighting and that some 2.5 million people in the country are in need of assistance. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)" align="left" title="In this Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 photo, Syrians are seen through windows as they wait their turn to buy bread outside a bakery shop in the town of Azaz on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria. Bread and other daily needs have become harder to come by in some areas in Syria. The U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said Thursday, Aug. 15, 2012, that the humanitarian situation has worsened amid the fighting and that some 2.5 million people in the country are in need of assistance. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)" border="0" /></a>Syria&#039;s foreign minister defiantly dismissed rebel forces and their international backers on Thursday as incapable of toppling the military defending Bashar Assad&#039;s regime, even as condemnation grew over expanded offensives that activists say have claimed dozens of civilian lives in recent days.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/air-strike-kills-over-30-oic-suspends-syria-042305097.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/eKccZnl5oBa7_p6kUIlmkQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345144960037-8-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="A member of the Free Syrian Army opens fire on a government forces helicopter" align="left" title="A member of the Free Syrian Army opens fire on a government forces helicopter" border="0" /></a>The United Nations called an end to its observer mission in Syria on Thursday, while activists reported more bloodletting in an attack on civilians in the main battleground of Aleppo.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/air-strike-kills-over-30-oic-suspends-syria-042305097.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 15:23:38 -0400AFPair-strike-kills-over-30-oic-suspends-syria-042305097<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/air-strike-kills-over-30-oic-suspends-syria-042305097.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/eKccZnl5oBa7_p6kUIlmkQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345144960037-8-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="A member of the Free Syrian Army opens fire on a government forces helicopter" align="left" title="A member of the Free Syrian Army opens fire on a government forces helicopter" border="0" /></a>The United Nations called an end to its observer mission in Syria on Thursday, while activists reported more bloodletting in an attack on civilians in the main battleground of Aleppo.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/jet-u-russia-flight-lands-iceland-bomb-threat-142110861.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/yGyG1FZkSCX9RRqIVzZiXQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-16T172005Z_1_CBRE87F1C5K00_RTROPTP_2_RUSSIA-PLANE-THREAT.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="An Aeroflot jet is pictured on the runway of Keflavik airport" align="left" title="An Aeroflot jet is pictured on the runway of Keflavik airport" border="0" /></a>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Icelandic police said on Thursday there was no bomb on a Russian jet carrying more than 250 people from New York to Moscow that made an emergency landing at Keflavik airport after an anonymous caller told authorities there were explosives on board. After a lengthy evacuation operation, police in Reykjavik searched the Aeroflot plane, that had already been airborne when the call was received. &quot;Everything has been searched and nothing has been found,&quot; Vidir Reynisson at Iceland&#039;s Civil Protection Department told Reuters. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/jet-u-russia-flight-lands-iceland-bomb-threat-142110861.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 15:15:01 -0400Reutersjet-u-russia-flight-lands-iceland-bomb-threat-142110861<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/jet-u-russia-flight-lands-iceland-bomb-threat-142110861.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/yGyG1FZkSCX9RRqIVzZiXQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-16T172005Z_1_CBRE87F1C5K00_RTROPTP_2_RUSSIA-PLANE-THREAT.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="An Aeroflot jet is pictured on the runway of Keflavik airport" align="left" title="An Aeroflot jet is pictured on the runway of Keflavik airport" border="0" /></a>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Icelandic police said on Thursday there was no bomb on a Russian jet carrying more than 250 people from New York to Moscow that made an emergency landing at Keflavik airport after an anonymous caller told authorities there were explosives on board. After a lengthy evacuation operation, police in Reykjavik searched the Aeroflot plane, that had already been airborne when the call was received. &quot;Everything has been searched and nothing has been found,&quot; Vidir Reynisson at Iceland&#039;s Civil Protection Department told Reuters. ...</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/ukraine-starts-hearing-tymoshenko-appeal-173859878.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/cokOBTgWr.dfoJWCdqdQdQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345138676370-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Supporters of former Ukranian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko protest in front of the court in Kiev" align="left" title="Supporters of former Ukranian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko protest in front of the court in Kiev" border="0" /></a>A high court in Ukraine Thursday began hearing the appeal of opposition leader and ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko against her jailing on abuse of power charges the West says are politically motivated.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/ukraine-starts-hearing-tymoshenko-appeal-173859878.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 13:38:59 -0400AFPukraine-starts-hearing-tymoshenko-appeal-173859878<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/ukraine-starts-hearing-tymoshenko-appeal-173859878.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/cokOBTgWr.dfoJWCdqdQdQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345138676370-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Supporters of former Ukranian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko protest in front of the court in Kiev" align="left" title="Supporters of former Ukranian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko protest in front of the court in Kiev" border="0" /></a>A high court in Ukraine Thursday began hearing the appeal of opposition leader and ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko against her jailing on abuse of power charges the West says are politically motivated.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/un-council-orders-end-syria-observer-mission-163435446.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/yTuotf98zhCtcvViD8gOrQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345134814821-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Residents of the Syrian village of Treimsa gather around the vehicles of UN observers in July" align="left" title="Residents of the Syrian village of Treimsa gather around the vehicles of UN observers in July" border="0" /></a>The UN Security Council on Thursday ordered the withdrawal of UN observers in Syria, while Russia called for international powers to set a deadline for government and opposition forces to halt the conflict.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/un-council-orders-end-syria-observer-mission-163435446.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 13:33:37 -0400AFPun-council-orders-end-syria-observer-mission-163435446<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/un-council-orders-end-syria-observer-mission-163435446.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/yTuotf98zhCtcvViD8gOrQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345134814821-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Residents of the Syrian village of Treimsa gather around the vehicles of UN observers in July" align="left" title="Residents of the Syrian village of Treimsa gather around the vehicles of UN observers in July" border="0" /></a>The UN Security Council on Thursday ordered the withdrawal of UN observers in Syria, while Russia called for international powers to set a deadline for government and opposition forces to halt the conflict.</p><br clear="all"/>The controversial head of Russia's Orthodox Church arrived Thursday in Poland for a trip hailed as a promising step in the thorny relationship between the two countries. But the historic visit could be overshadowed by the verdict in the case of punk rock provocateurs who stormed Moscow's main cathedral in an anti-Putin protest.http://news.yahoo.com/russian-orthodox-head-pays-1st-visit-poland-165731193.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 12:57:31 -0400Associated Pressrussian-orthodox-head-pays-1st-visit-poland-165731193<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-trial-sets-tone-putin-presidency-101903550.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/rHxuysDga_pEjANLRr9uUw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-16T112027Z_2_CBRE87F0T1C00_RTROPTP_2_RUSSIA-PUSSYRIOT-TRIAL.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Members of the female punk band &quot;Pussy Riot&quot; sit in the defendant&#039;s cell before a court hearing in Moscow" align="left" title="Members of the female punk band &quot;Pussy Riot&quot; sit in the defendant&#039;s cell before a court hearing in Moscow" border="0" /></a>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Whatever verdict a Russian court passes on Friday on the women from punk band Pussy Riot who taunted the Kremlin from a church altar, President Vladimir Putin has signaled he is no more willing than before to brook dissent as he begins a third term. The trial has caused an international outcry and crushed any Western and opposition hopes that the former KGB officer might choose to allow more political freedom and give courts more independence in the first months of his new presidency. &quot;Essentially, it is not three singers from Pussy Riot who are on trial here. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-trial-sets-tone-putin-presidency-101903550.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 12:39:31 -0400Reuterspussy-riot-trial-sets-tone-putin-presidency-101903550<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-trial-sets-tone-putin-presidency-101903550.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/rHxuysDga_pEjANLRr9uUw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-16T112027Z_2_CBRE87F0T1C00_RTROPTP_2_RUSSIA-PUSSYRIOT-TRIAL.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Members of the female punk band &quot;Pussy Riot&quot; sit in the defendant&#039;s cell before a court hearing in Moscow" align="left" title="Members of the female punk band &quot;Pussy Riot&quot; sit in the defendant&#039;s cell before a court hearing in Moscow" border="0" /></a>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Whatever verdict a Russian court passes on Friday on the women from punk band Pussy Riot who taunted the Kremlin from a church altar, President Vladimir Putin has signaled he is no more willing than before to brook dissent as he begins a third term. The trial has caused an international outcry and crushed any Western and opposition hopes that the former KGB officer might choose to allow more political freedom and give courts more independence in the first months of his new presidency. &quot;Essentially, it is not three singers from Pussy Riot who are on trial here. ...</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/ghana-ivory-coast-draw-comfort-cup-warm-ups-163830880--sow.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/J..51ESvw0Ifp1X1UuBnRA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345135026216-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Ghana&#039;s Frank Acheampong (L) and Harrison Afful (C) tussle for the ball against China on August 15" align="left" title="Ghana&#039;s Frank Acheampong (L) and Harrison Afful (C) tussle for the ball against China on August 15" border="0" /></a>Ghana and Ivory Coast will be encouraged and Morocco and Togo dejected after midweek warm-up games ahead of 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/ghana-ivory-coast-draw-comfort-cup-warm-ups-163830880--sow.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 12:38:30 -0400AFPghana-ivory-coast-draw-comfort-cup-warm-ups-163830880--sow<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/ghana-ivory-coast-draw-comfort-cup-warm-ups-163830880--sow.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/J..51ESvw0Ifp1X1UuBnRA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345135026216-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Ghana&#039;s Frank Acheampong (L) and Harrison Afful (C) tussle for the ball against China on August 15" align="left" title="Ghana&#039;s Frank Acheampong (L) and Harrison Afful (C) tussle for the ball against China on August 15" border="0" /></a>Ghana and Ivory Coast will be encouraged and Morocco and Togo dejected after midweek warm-up games ahead of 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month.</p><br clear="all"/>KIEV (Reuters) - Defence lawyers for Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko urged an appeals court on Thursday to quash her conviction for abuse of office, but prosecutors insisted she had damaged the state by brokering a disadvantageous gas deal with Russia. During a day-long hearing, the opposition leader's defence argued that negotiating the gas agreement with Russia in 2009 as prime minister constituted a political act which did not amount to criminal action by her. ...http://news.yahoo.com/tymoshenko-fights-her-conviction-ukraine-appeals-court-161231141--business.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 12:12:31 -0400Reuterstymoshenko-fights-her-conviction-ukraine-appeals-court-161231141--business<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/china-urges-visiting-syria-envoy-end-violence-161109719.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/tnlgcNml70pQdh4hFTLf0g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/AFP/photo_1345131768021-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Bouthaina Shaaban" align="left" title="Bouthaina Shaaban" border="0" /></a>China&#039;s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi urged a visiting Syrian envoy on Thursday to implement a ceasefire and accept international mediation to end the violence wracking the country.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/china-urges-visiting-syria-envoy-end-violence-161109719.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 12:11:09 -0400AFPchina-urges-visiting-syria-envoy-end-violence-161109719<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/china-urges-visiting-syria-envoy-end-violence-161109719.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/tnlgcNml70pQdh4hFTLf0g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/AFP/photo_1345131768021-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Bouthaina Shaaban" align="left" title="Bouthaina Shaaban" border="0" /></a>China&#039;s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi urged a visiting Syrian envoy on Thursday to implement a ceasefire and accept international mediation to end the violence wracking the country.</p><br clear="all"/>thus the balaclavas that made the members both unrecognizable and fearsome.http://news.yahoo.com/art-performer-poet-software-programmer-three-faces-behind-160019123.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 12:00:19 -0400Associated Pressart-performer-poet-software-programmer-three-faces-behind-160019123<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-judge-gets-russian-state-protection-115724374.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/q3FJo7kILXjDIAMXObq_9w--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345117869472-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Judge Marina Syrova has received threats from Pussy Riot supporters" align="left" title="Judge Marina Syrova has received threats from Pussy Riot supporters" border="0" /></a>Russia on Thursday put the Pussy Riot trial judge under protection ahead of the delivery of her verdict as ex-Beatle Paul McCartney joined the chorus of support for the jailed punk rockers.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-judge-gets-russian-state-protection-115724374.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 11:51:13 -0400AFPpussy-riot-judge-gets-russian-state-protection-115724374<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-judge-gets-russian-state-protection-115724374.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/q3FJo7kILXjDIAMXObq_9w--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345117869472-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Judge Marina Syrova has received threats from Pussy Riot supporters" align="left" title="Judge Marina Syrova has received threats from Pussy Riot supporters" border="0" /></a>Russia on Thursday put the Pussy Riot trial judge under protection ahead of the delivery of her verdict as ex-Beatle Paul McCartney joined the chorus of support for the jailed punk rockers.</p><br clear="all"/>AKTAU, Kazakhstan (Reuters) - An outspoken critic of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev was accused on Thursday of colluding with a billionaire fugitive to overthrow the government in a trial the United States says will test democratic reforms in the oil-rich former Soviet state. Prosecutors accused Vladimir Kozlov, leader of the unofficial political party Alga!, of helping orchestrate dissent among striking oil workers in the prelude to deadly rioting on December 16-17 that shattered Kazakhstan's reputation for stability. ...http://news.yahoo.com/kazakh-opposition-leader-stands-trial-unrest-154001256.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 11:40:01 -0400Reuterskazakh-opposition-leader-stands-trial-unrest-154001256<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riots-woes-expose-russian-judicial-system-153742388.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/RF.0LbI5ZzLx7d5Hefx2mw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345130865538-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="The harsh treatment of the Pussy Riot defendants is nothing unusual in Russia, experts tell AFP" align="left" title="The harsh treatment of the Pussy Riot defendants is nothing unusual in Russia, experts tell AFP" border="0" /></a>The three members of punk band Pussy Riot have complained of inhumane treatment during their trial, receiving little or no food during 10-hour days in court and preparing their defence only at night.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riots-woes-expose-russian-judicial-system-153742388.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 11:37:42 -0400AFPpussy-riots-woes-expose-russian-judicial-system-153742388<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riots-woes-expose-russian-judicial-system-153742388.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/RF.0LbI5ZzLx7d5Hefx2mw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1345130865538-1-0.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="The harsh treatment of the Pussy Riot defendants is nothing unusual in Russia, experts tell AFP" align="left" title="The harsh treatment of the Pussy Riot defendants is nothing unusual in Russia, experts tell AFP" border="0" /></a>The three members of punk band Pussy Riot have complained of inhumane treatment during their trial, receiving little or no food during 10-hour days in court and preparing their defence only at night.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/women-behind-mask-russias-pussy-riot-band-155541775.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Hq4oN8mkZbARjiI2qVRghQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/af4b47250ae46a17180f6a706700f2c3.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2012 file photo, members of the Russian radical feminist group Pussy Riot try to perform at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. Three members of Pussy Riot were jailed in March and charged with hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after their punk performance against President Putin in Moscow?s main cathedral. They are awaiting the verdict on Friday, Aug.17, 2012. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev, File)" align="left" title="FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2012 file photo, members of the Russian radical feminist group Pussy Riot try to perform at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. Three members of Pussy Riot were jailed in March and charged with hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after their punk performance against President Putin in Moscow?s main cathedral. They are awaiting the verdict on Friday, Aug.17, 2012. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev, File)" border="0" /></a>One of the key ideas behind the Russian punk provocateur band Pussy Riot was the supremacy of an idea over personality ? thus the balaclavas that made the members both unrecognizable and fearsome.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/women-behind-mask-russias-pussy-riot-band-155541775.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 11:35:33 -0400Associated Presswomen-behind-mask-russias-pussy-riot-band-155541775<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/women-behind-mask-russias-pussy-riot-band-155541775.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Hq4oN8mkZbARjiI2qVRghQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/af4b47250ae46a17180f6a706700f2c3.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2012 file photo, members of the Russian radical feminist group Pussy Riot try to perform at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. Three members of Pussy Riot were jailed in March and charged with hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after their punk performance against President Putin in Moscow?s main cathedral. They are awaiting the verdict on Friday, Aug.17, 2012. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev, File)" align="left" title="FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2012 file photo, members of the Russian radical feminist group Pussy Riot try to perform at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. Three members of Pussy Riot were jailed in March and charged with hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after their punk performance against President Putin in Moscow?s main cathedral. They are awaiting the verdict on Friday, Aug.17, 2012. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev, File)" border="0" /></a>One of the key ideas behind the Russian punk provocateur band Pussy Riot was the supremacy of an idea over personality ? thus the balaclavas that made the members both unrecognizable and fearsome.</p><br clear="all"/>The Security Council on Thursday debated whether to back the establishment of a new civilian office in Syria to support U.N. and Arab League efforts to end the country's 18-month conflict as the U.N. military observer mission ends Sunday.http://news.yahoo.com/un-considers-syria-office-observers-145245223.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 10:54:14 -0400Associated Pressun-considers-syria-office-observers-145245223<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/russian-female-punk-rock-band-trial-overshadows-russian-133948763.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/0RkD8aknPB8.QivL_iOwRQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-16T133948Z_1_CBRE87F11YG00_RTROPTP_2_RUSSIA-PUSSYRIOT-TRIAL.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Members of the female punk band &quot;Pussy Riot&quot; sit in the defendant&#039;s cell before a court hearing in Moscow" align="left" title="Members of the female punk band &quot;Pussy Riot&quot; sit in the defendant&#039;s cell before a court hearing in Moscow" border="0" /></a>WARSAW (Reuters) - The head of the Russian Orthodox Church made a historic visit to Poland on Thursday with a message of reconciliation that risked being overshadowed by the trial of women punk rockers for a stunt in Moscow&#039;s main cathedral. Human rights groups plan to stage protests during the four-day visit by Patriarch Kirill, who has criticized Pussy Riot, the band which sang a &quot;punk prayer&quot; against President Vladimir Putin at the altar of Christ the Saviour Cathedral in February. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/russian-female-punk-rock-band-trial-overshadows-russian-133948763.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 09:43:31 -0400Reutersrussian-female-punk-rock-band-trial-overshadows-russian-133948763<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/russian-female-punk-rock-band-trial-overshadows-russian-133948763.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/0RkD8aknPB8.QivL_iOwRQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-16T133948Z_1_CBRE87F11YG00_RTROPTP_2_RUSSIA-PUSSYRIOT-TRIAL.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Members of the female punk band &quot;Pussy Riot&quot; sit in the defendant&#039;s cell before a court hearing in Moscow" align="left" title="Members of the female punk band &quot;Pussy Riot&quot; sit in the defendant&#039;s cell before a court hearing in Moscow" border="0" /></a>WARSAW (Reuters) - The head of the Russian Orthodox Church made a historic visit to Poland on Thursday with a message of reconciliation that risked being overshadowed by the trial of women punk rockers for a stunt in Moscow&#039;s main cathedral. Human rights groups plan to stage protests during the four-day visit by Patriarch Kirill, who has criticized Pussy Riot, the band which sang a &quot;punk prayer&quot; against President Vladimir Putin at the altar of Christ the Saviour Cathedral in February. ...</p><br clear="all"/>LONDON - Paul McCartney has sent support to a Russian punk band whose members face prison for a stunt against President Vladimir Putin.http://news.yahoo.com/paul-mccartney-tells-jailed-punks-pussy-riot-stay-123023662.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 08:30:23 -0400Associated Presspaul-mccartney-tells-jailed-punks-pussy-riot-stay-123023662BEIJING (Reuters) - China's foreign minister on Thursday repeated Beijing's call for the Syrian government to talk with the opposition and take steps to meet the people's demand for change, but stopped short of offering any new solutions to the ongoing crisis. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told envoy Bouthaina Shaaban, an advisor to President Bashar al-Assad, that China was "extremely worried" by the situation in her country, the ministry said in a statement on its website (www.mfa.gov.cn). ...http://news.yahoo.com/china-urges-syria-government-opposition-talk-104724446.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 07:22:31 -0400Reuterschina-urges-syria-government-opposition-talk-104724446<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-verdict-caps-putins-hundred-days-104241670.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/mSQwhVDe65S4p5t0nYBj7g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/208376e4f1805416180f6a706700f18b.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, poses for a picture with the national synchronized swimming team during an awards ceremony for Russia&#039;s Olympians in Moscow&#039;s Kremlin on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Maxim Shemetov, Pool)" align="left" title="Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, poses for a picture with the national synchronized swimming team during an awards ceremony for Russia&#039;s Olympians in Moscow&#039;s Kremlin on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Maxim Shemetov, Pool)" border="0" /></a>The verdict in the trial of the feminist punk rockers Pussy Riot comes barely more than 100 days into Vladimir Putin&#039;s new term as Russian president ? a notably hard hundred.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-verdict-caps-putins-hundred-days-104241670.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 06:18:13 -0400Associated Presspussy-riot-verdict-caps-putins-hundred-days-104241670<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/pussy-riot-verdict-caps-putins-hundred-days-104241670.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/mSQwhVDe65S4p5t0nYBj7g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/208376e4f1805416180f6a706700f18b.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, poses for a picture with the national synchronized swimming team during an awards ceremony for Russia&#039;s Olympians in Moscow&#039;s Kremlin on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Maxim Shemetov, Pool)" align="left" title="Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, poses for a picture with the national synchronized swimming team during an awards ceremony for Russia&#039;s Olympians in Moscow&#039;s Kremlin on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Maxim Shemetov, Pool)" border="0" /></a>The verdict in the trial of the feminist punk rockers Pussy Riot comes barely more than 100 days into Vladimir Putin&#039;s new term as Russian president ? a notably hard hundred.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/tymoshenko-appeals-against-conviction-ukraine-court-093314055--business.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/hidFZxHMfrh2z1DhAsMm5g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-16T093314Z_1_CBRE87F0QJM00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-UKRAINE-TYMOSHENKO-APPEAL.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Handout photo of Yulia Tymoshenko speaking in her cabinet of the Ukrainian prime minister in Kiev" align="left" title="Handout photo of Yulia Tymoshenko speaking in her cabinet of the Ukrainian prime minister in Kiev" border="0" /></a>KIEV (Reuters) - Defense lawyers for jailed Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Thursday said there were no grounds for a criminal case against her as they launched a fresh appeal against her conviction last year for abuse of office. The opposition leader&#039;s jailing for seven years last October soured the former Soviet republic&#039;s relations with the European Union, which sees her as a victim of selective justice by President Viktor Yanukovich, her political foe. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/tymoshenko-appeals-against-conviction-ukraine-court-093314055--business.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 05:33:14 -0400Reuterstymoshenko-appeals-against-conviction-ukraine-court-093314055--business<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/tymoshenko-appeals-against-conviction-ukraine-court-093314055--business.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/hidFZxHMfrh2z1DhAsMm5g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-16T093314Z_1_CBRE87F0QJM00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-UKRAINE-TYMOSHENKO-APPEAL.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Handout photo of Yulia Tymoshenko speaking in her cabinet of the Ukrainian prime minister in Kiev" align="left" title="Handout photo of Yulia Tymoshenko speaking in her cabinet of the Ukrainian prime minister in Kiev" border="0" /></a>KIEV (Reuters) - Defense lawyers for jailed Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Thursday said there were no grounds for a criminal case against her as they launched a fresh appeal against her conviction last year for abuse of office. The opposition leader&#039;s jailing for seven years last October soured the former Soviet republic&#039;s relations with the European Union, which sees her as a victim of selective justice by President Viktor Yanukovich, her political foe. ...</p><br clear="all"/>AKTAU, Kazakhstan (Reuters) - An outspoken critic of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev went on trial on Thursday charged with attempting to overthrow the government, in a case the United States says will test the oil-producing former Soviet state's democratic progress. Vladimir Kozlov, leader of the unregistered Alga! party, is accused of helping orchestrate dissent among oil workers in a region where deadly rioting on December 16-17 shattered Kazakhstan's reputation for stability. He denies the charges and, as his trial began in a packed courtroom, his supporters called for his release. ...http://news.yahoo.com/u-urges-fairness-kazakhstan-opposition-leader-trial-opens-092122232.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 05:21:22 -0400Reutersu-urges-fairness-kazakhstan-opposition-leader-trial-opens-092122232MOSCOW (Reuters) - A passenger jet flying from New York to Moscow made an emergency landing in Iceland on Thursday after a caller claimed there was a bomb on board, a spokeswoman for Russian airline Aeroflot said. "There was an anonymous call saying that there was an explosive device on the plane, which was already in the air," spokesman Irina Dannenberg said. "The pilot took the decision to land the plane and it landed safely. A search is being conducted." A spokesman for Iceland's Keflavik airport said 253 people were on board the flight from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. ...http://news.yahoo.com/jet-u-russia-flight-lands-iceland-bomb-threat-071124274.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 04:02:12 -0400Reutersjet-u-russia-flight-lands-iceland-bomb-threat-071124274The Security Council on Thursday will debate whether to establish a new civilian office to support U.N. and Arab League efforts to end the 18-month conflict in Syria as the U.N. military observer mission comes to an end Sunday.http://news.yahoo.com/un-consider-syria-office-observers-041821052.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 03:23:31 -0400Associated Pressun-consider-syria-office-observers-041821052BEIJING (Reuters) - A Syrian government envoy praised China and Russia on their stance towards the bloody conflict engulfing her country in an interview published on Thursday during a visit to Beijing that she said would give officials a "real picture" of the crisis. Envoy Bouthaina Shaaban's interview with the state-run China Daily was the first public comment from her trip to Beijing, where she arrived on Tuesday, and she sought to cast China as a steadfast friend of President Bashar al-Assad's government, which is beset by a civil war with opposition forces. ...http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-government-envoy-praises-china-russia-non-colonizers-031655209.htmlThu, 16 Aug 2012 02:03:47 -0400Reuterssyrian-government-envoy-praises-china-russia-non-colonizers-031655209