News Headlines - 04 August 2012

▽Rebels: Iranian combatants in Syria to aid Assad - Israel News, Ynetnews

Syrian rebel leader says over 3,000 Iranian snipers have arrived in Damascus to join the Syrian regime's ranks; army no longer trusts local troops, he claims

▽Sky News: Diplomat expelled after teddy bear drop

On July 4, a Swedish public relations firm used a light plane to dump 879 teddies bearing slogans supporting human rights over Belarus. The invasion of the toys into Belarus airspace prompted the president, Alexander Lukashenko, to sack his air defence chief and head of the border guards. According to Sweden's foreign minister, Carl Bildt, Mr Lukashenko has now expelled his country's ambassador, Stefan Eriksson.

▽Russia: Protests at Pussy Riot trial | euronews

“Freedom for Pussy Riot!” they cried. But three demonstrators were detained for a colourful show of support for the all-female punk band appearing at the Moscow courthouse opposite.

▽British diplomats to be granted access to Heywood trial - Telegraph

British diplomats will be granted rare access to the highly secretive and politically-charged Neil Heywood murder trial, set to start in China on Thursday.

▽Japanese chef meets North Korea's Kim and wife-reports | Reuters

A Japanese chef for the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il visited Pyongyang for the first time in 11 years and met the new young leader and his wife Ri Sol-ju, whom he described as "pretty and charming", Japanese media said on Saturday.