Helped by the high oil price, and with the steely Mr Putin in charge, Russia is looking stronger, and its ex-Soviet neighbours weaker, than at any time since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
For the first time since the break-up of the USSR, the national side reached the knockout stages of an international tournament as they dispatched the Netherlands on their way to the European Championship semi-finals.
At the same time, an eventual break-up of the country becomes more likely with cantonisation.
On the surface, Clara took the break-up pretty well (it was the first time someone had left her).
Mark Jones' try gave the Welsh side hope as they trailed 9-8 at half-time but they were blown away after the break as the French picked up the pace.
Further scores from props Brett Sturgess and Hoani Tui put Exeter 25-3 up at half-time, allowing them to ease off after the break.
Because if there's more crisis, let alone a break-up, that could easily sink our recovery for a long time, and cause havoc for Britain's banks.
Mr Halberstam points out that America was preoccupied at the time with the Gulf war and with ensuring the peaceful break-up of another communist federation, the Soviet Union.
The hosts should have gone into the break 2-0 up but Nani wasted a glorious opportunity on the stroke of half-time, lifting the ball over Green but also over the bar from close range after a stunning clipped pass from Giggs.
John Deasy, superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, said the new calendar lets students wrap up finals before the three-week winter break and gives high-school students more time to complete college applications.
What is becoming clearer with time is that the chemical dispersants typically used in clean-up efforts to break masses of oil up into small droplets does more harm than good.
BBC: Deepwater Horizon: Gulf of Mexico 'deep-cleaned' itself
Mr Zetsche was the chief executive of Chrysler at the time, before taking over from Schrempp at the helm of DaimlerChrysler, only to oversee the break-up of the company.
Malone's perceptive long pass gave Brown time to build up a head of steam and the full-back showed great strength to break two tackles and send Luscombe over, Malone converting.
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