An offhand comment by President Vladimir Putin during his recent swing through the North Caucasus should have alerted both Russians and the world of a very serious problem: Besides some speeches and press releases filled with bravado, Moscow has done very little to prepare for the Sochi Olympics.

Thirty percent of the 101,344 newborns in Moscow last year were children of migrant parents from the former Soviet republics and other foreign countries, a share far greater than these groups now form in the city’s population and one that means their percentage of its residents will increase even if …

Russia’s relations with countries through which it ships gas, power and coal to Europe have been characterized by frequent disputes.

Following is initial reaction from U.S. officials and presidential candidates to the election on Sunday of Dmitry Medvedev as Russia’s next president. Medvedev vows to continue the policies of Vladimir Putin.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Dmitry Medvedev has won 70.23 percent of the vote in Russia’s presidential election with 99.45 percent of the ballots counted, giving him an easy first round victory, preliminary results showed on Monday.

MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) – Russia’s gas monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM: Quote, Profile, Research) reduced supplies to Ukraine by a quarter on Monday, just hours after its chairman and Kremlin candidate Dmitry Medvedev won Russia’s presidential election.

GAZA (Reuters) – Hamas declared a “victory” in the Gaza Strip on Monday after the Palestinian militant group and residents said Israeli troops had pulled back to the border from positions taken inside the north of the enclave in recent days.

Local officials in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand Province said gunmen destroyed a mobile-phone tower in the Sangin district on March 2.

TEHRAN (FNA)- A large number of university students congregated in front of Tehran University to voice strong protest against Israeli’s daily atrocities against Palestinians and also show support for the oppressed people in Gaza.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Emboldened by the indifference of the world community, Israeli troops feel free to kill scores of innocent Palestinian citizens in what has become almost everyday incursions and bomb raids on Palestinian areas, specially Gaza.