The American's ninth career gold medal also ties him with Mark Spitz, Carl Lewis, Paavo Nurmi and Larysa Latynina for the most in Olympic history.

CNN: Phelps on course with third gold medal

Berlusconi and his counterpart Paavo Lipponen ultimately decided to split the plate, as it were, opting in March to put a branch of the agency in both places.

FORBES: Food Feuds

The Moroccan emulated the achievement of Finn Paavo Nurmi in 1924 as he cruised to victory in the 5, 000 in one of the most mouth-watering head-to-heads of the Athens Games.

CNN: El Guerrouj secures double triumph

Just last week, while Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb was shuttling between Moscow and Tbilisi in his capacity as chairman of the OSCE, Nord Stream announced the hiring of former Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A Bear energy market

The EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said the EU would continue to work for a political end to the crisis, while the Finnish Prime Minister, Paavo Lipponen, spoke of possible financial and political pressure on Russia.

BBC: News Online