| U.S. says Madoff had checks ready, seeks jail (Reuters) [17 mins][Kansas] Reuters - A search of accused swindler Bernard Madoff's office desk revealed he had signed checks totaling more than $173 million ready to be sent, U.S. prosecutors said in court papers on Thursday asking a judge to jail him. | Russia says will restore gas when monitors in place (Reuters) [54 mins][Moscow] Reuters - Russia said on Thursday it would restore gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine once international monitors were in place, but Moscow and Kiev remained at odds over the terms of any supervision. |