Cameron to take Putin to Olympic judo

The British PM Prime Minister David Cameron will hold discussions Thursday in London with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but appears likely to focus on boosting trade, rather than anger over Moscow's sheltering of Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime from tougher international action.

With relations thawing since the end of a five-year freeze on top-level contacts between Britain and Russia, Cameron also is planning to take Putin to London's Olympic Park to see matches in the Russian leader's beloved judo competition.

The visit by Putin, an honorary president of the International Judo Federation, will be his first to Britain since he was reinstalled as Russia's chief in May and follows talks with Cameron on the sidelines of May's G-20 meeting in Mexico.

Read details: Bloomberg Business Week

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Saudi Olympic athlete hit by judo head scarf ban: Safety or discrimination?

One day after a female Saudi Arabian judo player arrived in London – under strict instructions from national Olympic officials to compete "wearing suitable clothing" that complies with Islamic custom – the International Judo Federation banned the wearing of head scarves Thursday. 

The move was made for safety reasons, said Nicolas Messner, a federation spokesman. Judo involves grabbing opponents' clothing and using choke holds, making the head scarf – or hijab – "dangerous," he added.

Messner told the Associated Press that negotiations are ongoing with the Saudi Arabian delegation to find a compromise. But neither the Saudis nor the athlete, Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani, has yet made a statement about whether she will compete. 

Read more: The Christian Science Monitor 

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