Russia

The Russia leader was riding high at home this year with the successful Winter Olympics and his annexation of Crimea. Now he's staring at a recession and has alienated Western nations that could help.

The ruble plunged to a record low against the dollar today despite efforts by the Russian central bank to stabilize it.

The move to raise rates from 10.5 percent is aimed at limiting the ruble's slide and curbing inflation. Sanctions and low oil prices have made it the world's worst-performing major currency this year.

Athens has long demanded the return of the ancient sculptures it says were looted in the early 1800s from the Parthenon and other famous structures.

The Russian president said in his state of the union speech that the "difficulties" his country faces "also create new possibilities." He accused the West of trying to break up Russia.

The decision reopens for scrutiny the mechanism by which Russia and Qatar were awarded the tournament in 2018 and 2022. The two countries were cleared last week of corruption in their winning bids.

Soccer's governing body said assets may have been transferred to Switzerland in connection with the bids. Just days ago, FIFA cleared eventual winners Russia and Qatar of corruption.

The Boeing 777 that crashed over the area on July 17, killing nearly 289 aboard, is widely believed to have been downed by a Russian-built, rebel-operated surface-to-air missile battery.