Putin move

Moscow, Dec. 27 (Reuters): President Vladimir Putin signalled on Thursday he would sign into law a bill barring Americans from adopting Russian children.

televised comments, Putin tried to appeal to people’s patriotism by suggesting that strong and responsible countries should take care of their own and lent his support to a bill that has further strained US-Russia relations.

Iran minister

Dubai (Reuters): Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday dismissed his only female cabinet member, health minister Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, after she criticised her colleagues for failing to provide funds to import vital medicines.

Syria envoy

Damascus (Reuters): Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi called on Thursday for real change in Syria to end 21 months of conflict and said a transitional government must be established with full powers to rule the country until new elections.

US storm

Buffalo, New York (Reuters): A powerful winter storm responsible for wind, snow, tornadoes and a flurry of accidents battered the US northeast on Thursday, cancelling hundreds of airline flights.