Corey Flintoff

Three women charged with blasphemy went on trial Monday in Russia in a case that's being seen as a major test of President Vladimir Putin's tolerance for dissent. The women are members of the band Pussy Riot. They were arrested after staging a punk rock protest at the altar of a Moscow cathedral.

Three members of the band, which staged a protest of Vladimir Putin in a Russian Orthodox cathedral in February, face up to seven years in prison. They pleaded not guilty on Monday.

European nations have pledged to cut off oil imports from Iran beginning Sunday, tightening the sanctions that target Iran's nuclear program. Iran is expected to feel the squeeze — but the move could also push up world oil prices.

A female punk-rock band staged a provocative political protest in February at Moscow's main Orthodox cathedral. Three women have now been jailed for months, and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church is demanding harsh punishment in a case that's become a national issue.

In a part of America that was once claimed by imperial Russia, a unique combination of Native American and Russian Orthodox influences mingle in a graveyard. There, spirit houses are built to house the dead and ease their passage.

The death toll keeps rising in Syria. But after a decade of fighting in the broader region, the U.S. and other Western countries have shown no interest in military action this time.

A slower U.S. economy is hurting demand for Chinese exports at a time when China's own economic growth is cooling down. And European leaders see the U.S. jobless numbers as bad political news.

The Greek economy depends heavily on tourism. The crisis seems to be scaring away visitors, which would deal the economy another blow. But could the crisis create a bargain for travelers who would simultaneously be giving the Greek economy a boost?

The latest terrorism scare, like so many others, involved a plot to blow up an airplane. While it seems many terrorist groups are fixated on planes, there are also signs that they're now looking for easier targets that can cause catastrophic damage.

In the post-Sept. 11 world, intelligence operations are discussed much more freely. This was evident once again with the foiled bomb plot in Yemen. Despite the sensitivity of the case, the details have come out quickly.