Vladimir Putin’s chief political foe has been convicted along with his brother in a fraud case widely seen as retribution by the Kremlin, setting off one of Russia’s boldest anti-government demonstrations in years.

Thousands of protesters poured into Kiev’s Independence Square last night, the centre of Ukraine’s pro-West Orange Revolution, to demand that the government reverse course and sign a landmark agreement with the European Union.

THE Middle East peace process lay in tatters yesterday after Washington admitted defeat in its efforts to secure an Israeli freeze on settlement building, the Palestinians’ condition for resuming talks.

European Union leaders today adopted a new set of sanctions against Iran in a further effort to stall its disputed nuclear programme.