Rosneft chairman and deputy head of the Kremlin administration, Igor Sechin, speaks during Rosneft's annual shareholders meeting in Moscow June 30, 2007 in this file photo. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced his cabinet line-up on May 12, 2008, re-appointing his previous finance, economy, foreign and defence ministers and keeping former prime minister Viktor Zubkov in the team as fisheries minister and first deputy prime minister. Former Kremlin deputy chief-of-staff Sechin will become a deputy prime minister. Reuters Pictures 13 months ago

Rosneft chairman and deputy head of the Kremlin administration, Igor Sechin, speaks during Rosneft's annual shareholders meeting in Moscow June 30, 2007 in this file photo. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced his cabinet line-up on May 12, 2008, re-appointing his previous finance, economy, foreign and defence ministers and keeping former prime minister Viktor Zubkov in the team as fisheries minister and first deputy prime minister. Former Kremlin deputy chief-of-staff Sechin will become a deputy prime minister.

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  1. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen during a meeting while visiting a farm in southern Krasnodar region, Russia, Friday, July 3, 2009. Vladimir Putin visits Krasnodar region to discuss grain harvest.
  2. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen during a meeting while visiting a farm in southern Krasnodar region, Russia, Friday, July 3, 2009. Vladimir Putin visits Krasnodar region to discuss grain harvest.
  3. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) speaks to farmers in Vyselki on July 3, 2009 during a routine working visit to the wheat fields of the Agrokoplex farm.
  4. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) speaks to farmers in Vyselki on July 3, 2009 during a routine working visit to the wheat fields of the Agrokoplex farm.
  5. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) speaks to a farmer in Vyselki on July 3, 2009 during a routine working visit to the wheat fields of the Agrokoplex farm.
  6. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R), accompanied by workers, walks through the "Agrocomplex" Farm's wheat field in the southern Krasnodar Region July 3, 2009.
  7. Picture taken on June 15, 2004 shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) welcoming Russian famous national singer Lyudmila Zykina before awarding her with the Order of Saint Andrey at the Kremlin in Moscow. Russian singer Lyudmila Zykina died on July 1, 2009 at age 80, Russian media reported.
  8. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and Royal Dutch Shell Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer shake hands at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow June 27, 2009. Putin moved again to ease his government's clasp over the energy sector on Saturday, capping off a week of foreign energy deals with a surprise offer for Royal Dutch Shell, inviting the energy company to help develop the giant Sakhalin-3 and Sakhalin-4 projects off Russia's Pacific coast. Picture taken June 27, 2009.
  9. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R), Royal Dutch Shell Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer (C) and Shell's incoming Chief Executive Peter Voser meet at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow June 27, 2009. Putin moved again to ease his government's clasp over the energy sector on Saturday, capping off a week of foreign energy deals with a surprise offer for Royal Dutch Shell, inviting the energy company to help develop the giant Sakhalin-3 and Sakhalin-4 projects off Russia's Pacific coast. Picture taken June 27, 2009.
  10. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and Royal Dutch Shell's Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer meet at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow June 27, 2009. Putin moved again to ease his government's clasp over the energy sector on Saturday, capping off a week of foreign energy deals with a surprise offer for Royal Dutch Shell, inviting the energy company to help develop the giant Sakhalin-3 and Sakhalin-4 projects off Russia's Pacific coast. Picture taken June 27, 2009.
  11. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen meeting with Royal Dutch Shell's top executives at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Saturday, June 27, 2009. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Royal Dutch Shell PLS could participate in development of two hydrocarbon fields on the Sakhalin island.
  12. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, and Central Bank Chairman Sergei Ignatyev seen during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Saturday, June 27, 2009.
  13. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, Royal Dutch Shell's CEO Jeroen van der Veer, center, and incoming Chief Executive of Royal Dutch Shell PLC Peter Voser, left, seen during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Saturday, June 27, 2009. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Royal Dutch Shell PLS could participate in development of two hydrocarbon fields on the Sakhalin island.
  14. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr. Magaret Chan (L) outside Moscow in Novo-Ogarevo on June 26, 2009. Chan is on a working visit to Russia.
  15. Picture taken on June 24, 2009 shows Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) pointing at meat inside a Perekrestok supermarket in Moscow. Putin paid a surprise visit to a Moscow supermarket, instructing startled managers to lower their prices, the press reported. The visit appeared to be the latest in a series of media stunts by Russia's strongman to show the public that the government is in control of a financial crisis that still shows no sign of easing.
  16. Picture taken on June 24, 29009 shows Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (2L) visiting a Perekrestok supermarket in Moscow. Putin paid a surprise visit to a Moscow supermarket, instructing startled managers to lower their prices, the press reported. The visit appeared to be the latest in a series of media stunts by Russia's strongman to show the public that the government is in control of a financial crisis that still shows no sign of easing.

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  1. Yemeni and Comorian divers participate in the search mission for the missing Yemenia Airbus A310-300 plane that crashed in Mitsamiouli, 30 km (19 miles) north of Comoros' capital Moroni, July 4, 2009. The operator of the Yemeni aircraft that crashed into the Indian Ocean off the Comoros islands this week has suspended flights from Paris, a spokeswoman for Aeroports de Paris, the Paris airports operator, said on Friday. Only one survivor was found after the accident, with the remaining 153 people on board the plane still missing.
  2. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, left, who is seeking reelection this year, greets supporters during his last campaign rally at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, July 4, 2009. Indonesia will hold its presidential election on July 8.
  3. Pakistan's cricket team captain Younis Khan, right, gestures to teammate Saeed Ajmal after his ball was hit for a six by Sri Lankan cricketer Nuwan Kulasekera, unseen, during the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, in Galle, Sri Lanka, Saturday, July 4, 2009.
  4. French and Comorian divers patrol the Indian Ocean waters during a search mission for the missing Yemenia Airbus A310-300 plane that crashed in Mitsamiouli, 30 km (19 miles) north of Comoros' capital Moroni, July 4, 2009. The operator of the Yemeni aircraft that crashed into the Indian Ocean off the Comoros islands this week has suspended flights from Paris, a spokeswoman for Aeroports de Paris, the Paris airports operator, said on Friday. Only one survivor was found after the accident, with the remaining 153 people on board the plane still missing.
  5. Indonesian presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono greets his supporters during a campaign rally in Jakarta July 4, 2009. Indonesians will elect their president on July 8 for only the second time in the country's history, a sign that the democratic process is well entrenched in Southeast Asia's biggest democracy and largest economy.
  6. Yemeni and Comorian divers patrol the Indian Ocean waters during a search mission for the missing Yemenia Airbus A310-300 plane that crashed in Mitsamiouli, 30 km (19 miles) north of Comoros' capital Moroni, July 4, 2009. The operator of the Yemeni aircraft that crashed into the Indian Ocean off the Comoros islands this week has suspended flights from Paris, a spokeswoman for Aeroports de Paris, the Paris airports operator, said on Friday. Only one survivor was found after the accident, with the remaining 153 people on board the plane still missing.
  7. A picture taken on July 4, 2009 in the principalty of Monaco shows frontpages of some French and Italian newspapers announcing the start of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race. 2009 Tour de France, which starts today, will cover 21 stages (10 flat stages, 8 mountains, 2 individual time-trials as well as one team time trial) before it ends 3.500 km later in Paris on July 26.
  8. A picture taken on July 4, 2009 in the principalty of Monaco shows frontpages of some French and Italian newspapers announcing the start of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race. 2009 Tour de France, which starts today, will cover 21 stages (10 flat stages, 8 mountains, 2 individual time-trials as well as one team time trial) before it ends 3.500 km later in Paris on July 26.
  9. A U.S. Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 1st Battalion 5th Marines pauses briefly in the heat to rest with his heavy pack filled with mortar equipment, ammunition, food, and water in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province Saturday, July 4, 2009. Taliban militants attacked a U.S. coalition base in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday with an explosives-laden truck that blew up outside the gates, sparking a two-hour gunbattle and killing two American troops, officials said.
  10. Sri Lanka's cricketer Thilan Samaraweera plays a shot as Pakistan's wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, left, and Khurram Manzoor, center, look on during the first test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, in Galle, Sri Lanka, Saturday, July 4, 2009.
  11. U.S. Army soldier walks past a bald eagle sculpture to mark Independence Day in the chow hall at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqouba Iraq, Saturday, July 4, 2009.
  12. U.S. Army soldiers walk through a sandstorm at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqouba Iraq, Saturday, July 4, 2009. US troops completed their last patrols on Monday after their deadline to withdraw from Iraqi cities.
  13. Student protesterS burned mock US flags in time for the US Independence Day holiday, in front of the US Embassy during a rally in Manila on July 4, 2009. The students were protesting the alleged intervention of the US in Philippine politics.
  14. Student protesterS burned mock US flags in time for the US Independence Day holiday, in front of the US Embassy during a rally in Manila on July 4, 2009. The students were protesting the alleged intervention of the US in Philippine politics.
  15. A replica of North Korea's Scud-B missile (R) together with a South Korean missile are displayed at the Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul on June 4, 2009. North Korea test-fired seven missiles off its east coast, South Korean officials said, in what appeared to be a calculated message of defiance timed for the US Independence Day holiday. The launches fuelled regional tensions after the communist state's nuclear test in May, which coincided with the US Memorial Day holiday.
  16. Pigeons sit on a South Korean missile on display at the Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul on June 4, 2009. North Korea test-fired seven missiles off its east coast. North Korea test-fired seven missiles off its east coast, South Korean officials said, in what appeared to be a calculated message of defiance timed for the US Independence Day holiday. The launches fuelled regional tensions after the communist state's nuclear test in May, which coincided with the US Memorial Day holiday.