PARIS - France said yesterday it would vote in favour of recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this week, becoming the first major European country to back Palestine and dealing a setback to Israel. The timing of the announcement appears aimed at swaying other European nations. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France has long supported Palestinian ambitions for statehood and "will respond 'yes' out of a concern for coherency". AP
MOSCOW - A world martial arts champion from Russia's southern Caucasus was yesterday convicted of involuntary manslaughter but set free after time served in pre-trial detention. The verdict led to protests by nationalists outside the court. Rasul Mirzayev hit Ivan Agafonov in August 2011 outside a Moscow nightclub. Agafonov hit his head on the pavement, dying days later. AP