A brief look at the stories making headlines in the Russian-language press

Yekaterina Bychkova eases past Kuznetsova on day one at the U.S. Open

At first glance, the subtropical Black Sea resort of Sochi does not seem an ideal place to stage cross-country skiing, biathlon or bobsled.

The worsening violence in Iraq and Afghanistan this summer has, at least, been accompanied by vigorous attempts at political solutions.

Once upon a time, a new person was sent in to head the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Soviet armed forces' General Staff, or GRU, in Geneva. I won't name him, but this man was the brother of a big shot in the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

The topic of leftism in Russia has become surprisingly fashionable of late. More and more voters are beginning to sympathize with leftist -- in other words, socialist -- ideas. New terminology and concepts are being thought up, such as the ""office proletariat,"" which is supposedly dreaming of a crusade against the postindustrial bourgeoisie as represented by their exploitative bosses.