Free Republic

His secret girlfriend has lots of secret wealth. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s longtime mistress has an estimated net worth of $100 million in “shadow wealth,” including swanky apartments and a yacht, despite her modest background, a trove of newly leaked documents reveal. Svetlana Krivonogikh, 46, has been romantically linked with the Russian strongman since he was still deputy mayor of her hometown of St. Petersburg, and reportedly has a daughter with him. But Krivonogikh — who grew up in a communal apartment — and other Putin cronies have been enriched through shell companies in the Virgin Islands and elsewhere, the...

Qualifying starts Saturday at 6AM (PST). Race starts Sunday at 6:10AM (PST). I think ESPN One covers qualifying and the race, but I'm not 100% sure. At least two live streaming options, but both appear to be pay-for-view.

I want to replace the broken driver's seat in our Monte Carlo. Need help - mostly just info.

Bill Clinton cannot escape himself. The former president posed for an impromptu photo with two porn stars Wednesday, the celebrity news-gossip site TMZ reported. He reportedly posed at a casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco, where Clinton attended a “Nights in Monaco” fundraising gala. At least two other celebrities, actresses Diane Kruger and Rose McGowan, were in attendance.

VATICAN CITY, 19 MAY 2010 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today announced that at 10.30 a.m. on 24 June Benedict XVI will visit the Don Orione Centre located in Rome's Monte Mario district to bless a statue of the Virgin "Salus populi romani". The statue, which looks out over the city, has recently been restored and replaced on its tower. The great statue of Our Lady, nine metres high and made of gilded copper, fell from its nineteen-metre pedestal in a storm and high winds on 12 October last year. The fall of the statue elicited a great...

ELECTION SIMULATION UPDATEDLast simulation with pre-RNC data. Kerry win probability is 63.7%, average electoral votes, 279-259. These numbers are slightly closer than the Composite Analysis of 281-257, indicating that more electoral votes in Kerry's column are toss-ups than in Bush's column (see, e.g. Florida). Federal Review Election Simulation 20,000 trials August 31, 2004 Probable Election Winner: John F. Kerry John F. Kerry George W. Bush Bush Kerry Tie Probability of Winning 35.0% 63.7% 1.3% Average Electoral Votes 259 279 95% Confidence Lo Hi Maximum Electoral Votes 358 373 Kerry Range 227 330 Minimum Electoral Votes 165 180 Bush Range 208...

Roddick misses Monte Carlo Top seed Andy Roddick has pulled out of this week's Monte Carlo Masters. Roddick, who lost the US Clay Court final on Sunday to Germany's Tommy Haas, withdrew for "non-medical" reasons, according to organisers. The clay court tournament's top seed is now Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero, who is seeking his third Monte Carlo title. Roddick joins world number one Roger Federer plus fellow Americans Andre Agassi, Mardy Fish and James Blake in pulling out of the event. Organizers said Federer cited fatigue for his withdrawal but that Agassi had not immediately stated a reason. However, Agassi...

Filed at 3:36 p.m. ET MONACO (AP) -- Below the gilded dome of the Cathedral of Monaco lies the body of Princess Grace. Flowers are arranged over the marble slab of her tomb, and a wooden plaque instructs visitors: ``Silence and Respect.'' In the two decades since her death on Sept. 14, 1982 -- she died at 52 of injuries suffered in a car crash -- silence and respect have been hard to come by. Monaco, once a sleepy resort favored by European royalty, is now a popular tax haven with celebrities, bankers and sports figures. Streets once known for...