Main News of May 1

A roundup of what has happened during past 24 hours

WORLD

*The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Tuesday for the release of the Ukrainian jailed ex-Prime Minister Julia Tymoshenko, following the reports that the former premier had been severely beaten by the prison guards

*The United Nations will send its 300 international unarmed observers to Syria by the end of May, the head of the UN peacekeeping body, Herve Ladsous said on Tuesday

RUSSIA

*Russia jumped one position in the 2012 Press Freedom report by the Washington-based Freedom House think tank, from 173th in 2011, but is still ranked on par with Azerbaijan and Zimbabwe

*Russia's ruling tandem, the outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev and President-elect Vladimir Putin amused Muscovites on Monday as they popped in a popular pub in downtown city to grab a beer after leading over 100,000-strong Labor Day parade

*Campaigning group Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the Ukrainian authorities on Tuesday to investigate allegations that jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko was assaulted by prison guards

SPORTS

*Russian boxer Dmitry Pirog retained his WBO middleweight belt on Tuesday, beating Japanese contender Nobuhiro Ishida on points

*Zenit left-back Domenico Criscito has implored his coach Luciano Spalletti not to take the Russia post that Dick Advocaat is vacating after Euro 2012

*UEFA will enforce new minimum medical requirements for all their matches from the next season on, the organization website said Tuesday

*Igor Andreev crashed out of the first round at the clay court Estoril Open in Portugal on Tuesday, losing in three sets to Spanish qualifier Inigo Cervantes