Putin could free Pussy Riot in amnesty
A Kremlin human rights adviser has indicated that Russian president Vladimir Putin could free the two jailed Pussy Riot members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, before the end of the year, in an amnesty ahead of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky could also be freed. (Reuters)
Jewish and Muslim heads take Polish ritual slaughter ban to EU
Jews and Muslims in Poland have come together to contest the country's ban on the ritual slaughter of animals. The Director General of the European Jewish Association Rabbi Menachem Margolin and the Chief Mufti of Poland Tomasz Miskiewicz have lodged a complaint with the European Commission, claiming that the ban violates a European law permitting the killing of animals “in the case of particular methods prescribed by religious rites”. (Jewish Chronicle)
European court is not superior to UK supreme court, says Lord Judge
The former lord chief justice Lord Judge has said that the law should be changed to make it clear that Britain is not obliged to implement judgements of the European Court of Human Rights. (Guardian)
Ruling due on Christian's Sunday shifts
Judges at the Court of Appeal are due to rule on the case of a Christian woman fighting for the right to not work on Sundays. Celestina Mba, a children's care worker from Merton, London, argues she should be free to obey the Fourth Commandment, which forbids working on the Sabbath. (Belfast Telegraph)
Leg bone gives up oldest human DNA
Scientists have sequenced genetic material from a 400,000-year-old human thigh bone, and say it will open up a new frontier in the study of human ancestors. The DNA, taken from a femur found at Spain's "Pit of Bones" site, is the oldest to ever be sequenced. (BBC News)
