The US deliberately avoided sanctioning Vladimir Putin's alleged mistress at the 11th hour over fears doing so would further inflame tensions with Russia. Alina Kabaeva, 39, is a former Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics, cover model for Russian Vogue and believed to be 70 year-old Putin's mistress by Washington insiders. She was in the sights of the US Treasury Department in the wake of her rumored lover's invasion of Ukraine in February - but dodged sanctions at the 11th hour after the National Security Council intervened, the Wall Street Journal reported. But officials in Washington believed that sanctioning Kabaeva would...