Russia

People in this town know the man with the stooped, halting walk and the burning eyes. They point out his house, and they talk about "what he did" and about how they admire "what he did" and wonder if they too would have the strength to do "what he did."

The Pentagon is trying to assess whether a low-level flight by a Russian bomber over American warships in the Pacific Ocean last weekend was a sign that Moscow is returning to a worrisome "Cold War mind-set," a top Defense official told Congress Tuesday. Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said officials want to know why a Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear" bomber flew over the aircraft carrier Nimitz and other U.S. vessels in international waters near Japan.

The looming independence of Kosovo and promises of quick U.S. and European recognition have undercut and infuriated Russia at a moment when this oil-rich behemoth is eager to show that its global clout has been restored, analysts say. Russian officials have spent weeks issuing dire assessments of the United Nations-administered province's upcoming declaration of independence from Serbia, expected to be made this weekend.

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin made it plain Thursday that he plans to maintain power when he leaves office, whatever his next job title may be. During a wide-ranging annual Kremlin appearance before hundreds of Russian and foreign journalists, Putin reiterated his threats to aim missiles at his European neighbors if they accept U.S. missile shield installations. But he also said that, despite hostile rhetoric, Russia and the United States ultimately would cooperate out of necessity.

NOT long ago, Stolichnaya was the only Russian vodka Americans seemed to know about. But if you look around today, you can find up to 35 brands -- and the pace of new arrivals is picking up. "It seems like a new brand is coming on every day," says John Nigoghosian, vodka buyer at Mission Liquor in Pasadena. This could keep going for a while, because there are about 300 vodka distilleries in Russia.

NOW that sushi has become as predictable as guacamole at cocktail parties, the last word in small bites is overdue for discovery. Zakuski, a Russian tradition dating from Tolstoy's time, is food made for drinkers, although teetotalers would have a hard time resisting temptation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has picked his successor, adorned him in the political gold of his endorsements and papered the media with his name. Now he wants to persuade voters to cast ballots in this weekend's presidential election, despite the fact that the victor is a foregone conclusion. The Kremlin is keen to draw enough voters to show that the anticipated election of Dmitry Medvedev reflects the will of the people.

One punch was all it took. One punch to forever divide. One punch to kill a young man. On a hot summer afternoon along a placid lakefront in the Sacramento suburbs, Satender Singh had come with a group of fellow Fijians to celebrate his promotion at an AT&T call center. Three married couples and Singh, a lighthearted 26-year-old, drank and hooted and danced a crazy conga line to East Indian music. An innocent outing? Not in the eyes of the Russian family a few picnic tables away.

He can't keep his backside on the bench, not when the clock is running and one of his stars is dribbling down the lane. He bounds to his feet, frizzy mullet springing crazily around his ears, eyes locked on his girls, Diana, Tina, Sue, the players he lured from the U.S. to catapult his team to greatness. At the start of the quarter, he sends them onto the court with his ritual, lingering embrace and a pat on the lower back.

President Bush and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin failed Sunday to overcome their greatest conflicts on a missile defense system the United States plans to build in Central Europe but narrowed difference over one key element.