New tape from the SBU, Ukraine's security service, which has two separatists allegedly discussing shooting a plane down, minutes before MH17 went down. (It has English subtitles)
More from our news desk on the FIFA ruling:
FIFA has dismissed calls to move the 2018 World Cup from Russia, or that some countries would elect to boycott the event.
Russia's alleged involvement in the shooting down of a Malaysian passenger plane in Ukraine led to a public discussion of a possible boycott.
Some German politicians also called for relocating the tournament and suggested Germany as alternative hosts.
FIFA in a statement on July 25 said, "History has shown so far that boycotting sports events or a policy of isolation or confrontation are not the most effective ways to solve problems."
It also said that the World Cup and its international spotlight "can be a force for good."
FIFA President Sepp Blatter already rejected calls to strip Russia of the World Cup after it annexed Crimea in March.
Right Sector leader is wanted by Interpol:
Interpol has issued a red notice for far-right Ukrainian politician Dmytro Yarosh based on Russian accusations that he encouraged extremism and terrorism.
Russia says Yarosh, leader of the ultranationalist party Right Sector, used the mass media to incite terrorist and extremist activities, the red notice states.
Yarosh, 42, is known for his anti-Russian remarks. He calls Russia Ukraine's "eternal foe," and has said a war between Russia and Ukraine is "inevitable."
Moscow accuses Yarosh of publicly calling on anti-Russian forces to orchestrate terror attacks against Russia, and Russian media frequently refers to him as being a fascist.
He garnered 1 percent of the vote as a candidate in Ukraine’s presidential election in May.
Russian prosecutors said in April that they had sent Interpol materials related to Yarosh's arrest.
According to FIFA, 2018 soccer World Cup in Russia still going ahead...
Here's video from our Russian Service of a court in Voronezh upholding today the detention of Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who is accused of complicity in the murder of two Russian journalists in Ukraine. The court rejected an appeal filed by Savchenko's lawyers who asked the court to release her on bail. Savchenko participated in the hearing via videolink from her detention facility. Security guards removed a woman protester after she unfolded a Ukrainian flag in the courtroom.
From our news desk:
Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said he does not take seriously the accusations made against him by the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.
Zyuganov said on July 25 that he had always been for Russian-Ukrainian friendship and accused Kyiv of "killing its own people."
Zyuganov's statement came hours after Zoryan Shkiryak, an adviser to Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, said probes against Zyuganov and Russian ultranationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky had been launched.
The two are suspected of "financing activities aimed at changing Ukraine's territory and its state borders."
On July 22, Avakov announced a probe against Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and businessman Konstantin Malofeyev on suspicion of organizing illegal armed formations on Ukrainian territory.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities said earlier this month that investigations are ongoing against Avakov and Dnipropetrovsk Governor Ihor Kolomoyskiy on various charges, including obstruction of journalism.
It seems Oliver Stone is now weighing in on the Ukraine situation:
Who Shot Down the Malaysian Airliner? This is too good to be true. After this massive rush to judgment by US media, please read...
— Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) July 24, 2014
Some more fallout from the Ukraine crisis, this time affecting the Russian ruble (from RFE/RL's news desk):
Russia's central bank has unexpectedly raised its main interest rate in a bid to stem inflation and support the ruble amid tensions over Ukraine.
The Bank of Russia said today it has increased its main interest rate by a half point to 8 percent.
In an apparent reference to uncertainty generated by the Ukraine crisis and Western sanctions against Russian companies and officials, it said "heightened geopolitical tensions" were pushing down the ruble, increasing the risk of inflation.
The bank said it will continue raising the key interest rate if high inflation risks persist.
Higher interest rates tend to support the strength of a currency but can hurt economic growth.
The interest rate was 5.5 percent at the beginning of the year.
(AP, AFP)
US ambassador here in Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt says Russia's President Putin could stop unrest here "with one phone call" #fnr
— Simon Owen (@simon504) July 25, 2014
Pyatt: "Tragedy" post-#MH17: "Rather than putting [E Ukraine] on diplomatic track what we've seen from Kremlin is pouring gasoline on fire."
— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikLAT) July 25, 2014