Two Pussy Riot members flee Russia

A supporter of Russian band Pussy Riot shows their support in Hamburg, Germany

A supporter of Russian band Pussy Riot shows their support in Hamburg, Germany

Two members of the punk band Pussy Riot have fled Russia to avoid prosecution for a protest against Vladimir Putin that sent three of their band mates to prison, the group said on Sunday.

Five members of the feminist group took part in a provocative performance inside Moscow's main cathedral in February to protest the Russian leader's rule and his cozy relationship with the Orthodox Church.

The women wore their trademark garishly coloured balaclavas, which made it difficult for police to identify them, and only three were arrested.

After a controversial trial that highlighted Putin's crackdown on dissent since he began a third presidential term in May, the three band members were convicted of hooliganism and sentenced to two years in prison on August 17.

Even as the judge was reading the verdict in a Moscow courtroom, one of the band members who had escaped arrest played Pussy Riot's latest song, 'Putin sets the fires of revolutions,' from the balcony of an apartment building across the street. - huffingtonpost.com

Vaccine effect booster

Oxford University scientists have discovered a compound that greatly boosts the effect of vaccines against viruses like flu, HIV and herpes in mice.

An 'adjuvant' is a substance added to a vaccine to enhance the immune response and offer better protection against infection. The Oxford University team, along with Swedish and US colleagues, have shown that a type of polymer called polyethyleneimine (PEI) is a potent adjuvant for test vaccines against HIV, flu and herpes when given in mice.

The researchers were partfunded by the UK Medical Research Council and report their findings in the journal Nature Biotechnology. - scienceblog.com

Murdoch backs prince

Rupert Murdoch has got Prince Harry's naked back telling the world to give the young royal a break over his recent Vegas scandal - not surprising, since Murdoch defied the Royals by publishing the pics.

Murdoch tweeted on Saturday, 'Prince Harry. Give him a break. He may be on the public payroll one way or another, but the public loves him, even to enjoy Las Vegas.'

TMZ broke the story: 'The prince was photographed bare-ass playing billiards in Las Vegas this week and the photos quickly made the rounds all over the world. But the Royal Family pressured/banned British media outlet from publishing the pics.' - tmz.com