Lawyers

• Syria Ceasefire Goes Down as recent attacks killed 44 civilians

  Despite hopes of de-escalating the hostile situation in Syria, especially with a temporary ceasefire in effect, the city of Maaret al-Numan experienced tragedy when 44 civilians were killed in a suspected regime bombing raid which happened on Tuesday.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin claims Panama Papers part of US plot to weaken Russia

  The Panama Papers is said to be the plot of the United States to weaken Russia, says President Vladimir Putin. The massive tax leak documents claim that aides close to the Russian president have offshore dealing to evade tax.

• Tax Leak Reveals Putin Aides, Xi Jinping Relatives, Other World Leaders and Celebrities' Secret Offshore Dealings

  A massive leak of 11.5 million tax documents has been exposed. This includes dealings of the aides of Russian president Vladimir Putin, other world leaders such as President Xi Jinping, and prominent celebrities.

• Is Vladimir Putin now a grandfather? Magazine slammed with fines, cyber-attacks after expose on Russian President's daughters

  Russian magazine New Times is faced with a state fine and string of cyber-attacks after it released an article on the whereabouts and activities of older Putin daughter Maria.

• U.S. money-laundering probe draws in Putin's inner circle

  U.S. prosecutors have launched a money-laundering investigation into a member of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

• Sources say EU to pressure Russia with new, tougher sanctions following MH17 rebel missile crash

  According to the sources cited by the Associated Press, the new measures would include a ban on the sale of dual use and sensitive technologies and an arms embargo. The measures were clearly geared to restrict Russia's defense and energy industries, of which both have proven lucrative for the country.

• Putin promises 'unforgettable' 2018 World Cup pegged at over $20 billion

  Ahead of the turnover ceremony, Putin attempted to squash those concerns on Friday and said, "We successfully hosted the Winter Olympics...in Sochi and now know exactly what a challenge it is to organize an event of such caliber."

• Kerry hints additional EU sanctions, advises Russia to disarm Ukraine separatists

  Reuters said Washington and several other powers in the West have increased its pressure on Russia for the latter to defuse the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Accordingly, a ceasefire between government forces and Russian-speaking rebels are apparently crumbling.

• US Homeland Security starts search on Russian 'shiny toys' under Ukraine-related sanctions

  US Department of Homeland Security's financial investigations division head John Tobon shared to Bloomberg the US government's latest move to pressure off Russia from Ukraine.

• Ukrainian billionaire claims he will not give up on Putin secrets for his bribery case

  Ukrainian billionaire Dmitry Firtash told Bloomberg that the US could not provide him anything for the bribery charges he is facing in relation to an Indian titanium project in exchange for revealing information on how Russia moves its gas revenue around.

• US expands its sanctions on Russia to incite change in behavior on Crimea

  Seven officials of the Russian government and 17 companies that has links to Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle will be subject to the new round of sanctions US has imposed, the Voice of America said.

• US senator introduces bill that bans maps on Russia's annexation of Crimea

  Yahoo! News said that Independent Senator Dan Coats' new bill indicated that the US government has run out of options at the moment to convince Russia out from its claim on Crimea.

• Miley Cyrus's 'Bangerz' tour to get sanctions from US

  According to BBC, the venue scheduled to host Miley Cyrus's "Bangerz" tour in Finland is owned by three of the 27 individuals considered to compose the inner circle of Russian President Vladimir Putin, of whom US has imposed sanctions to in light of the Crimea crisis.

• US sues Ukrainian billionaire for bribery linked to move $500 M Indian project

  A political expert believed that the indictment of Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Firtash over a bribery scheme may have something to do with the US government's goal to impose more sanctions against Russia for the annexation of Crimea.

• EU cautions Russia of potential sanctions if it does not back off Ukraine

  Ministers of the European Union warned Russia that it will be receiving sanctions should it continue to be aggressive against leaderless Ukraine after the latter seized border posts in Crimea, the Wall Street Journal said.

• Russian police arrest hundreds of protestors outside anti-Putin rallyists courthouse trial

  Protesters held an unsanctioned rally outside a courthouse while a verdict has been handed out to seven anti-Putin rallyists over charges stemming from a 2012 Moscow ruckus, The Associated Press said in a report.

• Sochi police releases Pussy Riot members after detention over an alleged theft

  Nadezha Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina of the Pussy Riot band and three others were reportedly detained unjustly. According to the lawyer of Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina, the two were beaten up by the police before his arrival at the station.