Under the law designed to curb Russians' growing addiction to gambling, approved by parliament and signed by then-president Vladimir Putin, casinos in the capital and other cities are to disappear completely by next July. 
Are you a publisher? Try Daylife's Intelligent Content Services Platform
Selected and fresh photos from around the web.
-
Editor's pick
-
BASRA, IRAQ - OCTOBER 18: People gather around a Land Rover as it arrives at the village Al Houta on October 18 2008 near Basra, Iraq. The trip by the 51 Sqn Royal Air Force Regiment Force Protection Wing was part of a 'key leader engagement' (KLE) visit to the village close to the Basra Airbase to recruit local labour and engage with the village shiek. Visits of this type are seen as key in efforts to continue winning the support of the local Iraqi population. Although improved security in the region has brought some benefits such as improved trade and commerce, much of the infrastructure remains in a poor state of repair. Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown has indicated that the number of UK troops could be scaled down - especially as the security situation in the south of the country continues to improve.
-
Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks during a campaign rally in the rain at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, September 27, 2008.
-
A puppy stands on a truck carrying people to be evacuated from the area in preparation for the approach of Hurricane Gustav in Batabano, on the southern coast of Cuba, August 30, 2008. Powerful Hurricane Gustav roared toward western Cuba on Saturday with 125 mph (205 kph) winds on its way to the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico after a deadly pass through the Caribbean.
-
BANGKOK, THAILAND - AUGUST 30: A member of Anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) stands behind barbed wire outside Government on August 30, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. The protesters want to unseat the seven-month old coalition government lead by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
-
-
Hot off the wire
-
Derby County's Nathan Ellington, left, reacts, after scoring agsinst Stoke City during their English League Cup soccer match at The Britannia Stadium, Stoke, England, Tuesday Dec. 2, 2008.
-
Ozlem Kus, a volunteer sales assistant, serves a customer at an Oxfam store in Dalston in east London November 28, 2008. Workers dumped from finance jobs who hope to find employment in the voluntary sector may have to reconsider, because as Britain slips into recession, ailing charities are struggling to absorb the unemployed. Picture taken November 28, 2008.
-
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 03: The Te Waihono A Kupe Maori Cultural Group pose for a photo with the LA Galaxy after arriving at the Auckland International Airport on December 3, 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand. The LA Galaxy are playing a one off match against the Oceania All Stars in Auckland on December 06.
-
-
Recently starred
-
DETROIT - NOVEMBER 20: Shuttered homes and businesses line a downtown street November 20, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. An estimated one in three Detroiters lives in poverty, making the city the poorest large city in America. The Big Three U.S. automakers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, are appearing this week in Washington to ask for federal funds to curb to decline of the American auto industry. Detroit, home to the big three, would be hardest hit if the government lets the auto makers fall into bankruptcy.
-
Actor Viggo Mortensen gestures during a news conference to promote his latest film "Alatriste" in Tokyo on December 1, 2008. The film will be on the screens on December 13. Alatriste, played in the film by 47 year old US actor, is a unscrupulous 17th century adventurer in the movie, set in Spain's "golden age" under King Philip IV which coincided with the emergence of artistic giants such as Velasquez and the development of the "New World."
-
Chelsea Clinton (L) and former US President Bill Clinton watch as US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks at the National Building Museum in Washington June 7, 2008. Clinton endorsed presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) to be the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate on Saturday and suspended her own White House bid less than a week after the Illinois senator secured enough support to win the nomination. Clinton's endorsement of Obama in a speech at the National Building Museum marked the beginning of efforts to reunite the Democratic Party after a long and divisive campaign battle that ended on Tuesday when Obama won the support of enough delegates to clinch the nomination.
-
A tear runs down the face of U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) as he speaks about his grandmother who died earlier on Monday, during a campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, November 3, 2008. On the eve of Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, Obama's grandmother Madelyn Dunham died after a battle with cancer.
-
Quotes about Vladimir Putin
The thought of Hugo Chavez and Vladimir Putin staring into the clueless eyes of John Kerry and/or Bill Richardson roused still more anxiety. Better the steely gimlet-eyed stare of a Hillary Clinton
said Noemie Emery
in CQ Politics
The conversation with Vladimir Putin will take place on December 4 at midday (0900 GMT)
was said
in Asian Age
Dmitry Medvedev's and Vladimir Putin's latest initiatives leave one to think that de-facto there is a parliamentary rather than presidential system being set up in the country
was said
in News24
Chavez accepts these are not his games. These are the games of (the Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir) Putin. But of course, Chavez can profit from that by saying to the United States, we are doing these manoeuvres with Russia because we are a sovereign country and so on
was said
in BBC News
There was hope that once [then Russian President Vladimir] Putin had cemented his place in power in 2001 that [Japan] would be dealing with a leader who had a political power base in Russia ... That would have allowed him to make some sort of deal with the Japanese without him being shot in the back in Moscow.
said Joseph Ferguson
Quotes from articles mentioning Vladimir Putin
Anyone who watches this material will learn not from your humble servant, but from true masters
was said
in AOL Sports
Without sports, it's impossible to speak of a healthy way of life, about the health of the nation as such
said Vladimir Putin
The level of developing of sports undoubtedly defines the level of development of the country itself
said Vladimir Putin
In a bout, compromises and concessions are permissible, but only in one case: if it is for victory
was said
