Putin's popularity is in no way indicative of public confidence in the government or its policies.

Whoever said football had nothing to do with politics should take a trip to the Caucasus.

Russian leaders of today know very well that any publicity is good publicity, unless it's your obituary.

Last weekend, presidential advisers and military officers from all sides who took part in the Cold War's tensest episode gathered in Cuba to discuss issues arising from those 13 days.

Rebels in Pankisi TBILISI, Georgia (AP) -- Georgian Interior Minister Koba Narchemashvili said Monday that Chechen rebels may still be hiding in the Pankisi Gorge and troops would continue their operation in the valley ""for a few more months."" ""They have no weapons or uniforms, so it will take a few more months to completely bring order to Pankisi,"" he said. He denied that there were large rebel units in the valley. Narchemashvili said representatives of the Federal Security Service and Russian border guards recently visited Pankisi and could have seen for themselves that there are no major groups of fighters there. Vatican Fumes VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- The Vatican voiced outrage Monday after a church property in Moscow was turned into a brothel, saying it was part of what it sees as a long-running smear campaign against the Catholic Church in Russia.

The American Youth Soccer Organization brings together its 532 participants for weekly kick-arounds in what is likely the biggest weekend gathering of expats in Moscow.

Indonesia's defense minister on Monday blamed al-Qaida and its extremist allies for the massive bomb attack that killed more than 180 people at a nightclub on the resort island of Bali.