News Headlines - 18 August 2012

▽AFP: Russia faces international condemnation over Pussy Riot

Russia on Saturday faced a storm of international criticism for sentencing three members of Pussy Riot punk band to two years in prison for their protest in an Orthodox cathedral.

▽Julian Assange row: ministers from across Americas to hold meeting | guardian.co.uk

The diplomatic row between Britain and Ecuador over the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, is to be discussed by foreign ministers from across the Americas next week. The Organisation of American States (OAS) has voted to hold a meeting next Friday following Ecuador's decision to grant political asylum to Assange, who is currently taking refuge in the South American country's embassy in London.

▽Japan Sees Near-Term End to Deflation - WSJ.com

The Japanese government on Friday predicted that an end to its 15-year-old problem of deflation is just around the corner, but analysts were skeptical, calling a long-term resolution a more pragmatic view.

▽Nokia and Microsoft try to steal Apple's thunder with Windows phone launch | The Guardian

Nokia will hold a joint media event with Microsoft in New York on 5 September, boosting expectations that it will show off its long-awaited Windows smartphone upgrade before rival Apple rolls out its next iPhone – expected to be announced exactly a week later.

▽Wenger admits United are stronger - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

Arsene Wenger accepts Arsenal have made rivals Manchester United even stronger with the sale of captain Robin van Persie, but feels Sir Alex Ferguson is a "bit too confident" with talking up another Treble like in 1999.