The Greater World

Last year we chronicled the group-discounted vacation of the world's 7 most powerful men and 1 sassy woman. But a few of the members last year (Putin, Blair, etc.) must not have gotten the lanyard of ever-lasting friendship and weren't invited back again this year. LOLz!
But the 8 are doing their damnedest to make this year The Best Vacation Ever and here are some clips from their photo diary to prove it:

Watching Russia Today generally provides a great escape from hearing about Hillary and Barry and instead hearing about Saakashvili and South Ossetia

This weekend provided an exception, when I learned about BarackObama.ru. Despite my interest and best intentions, my Russian remains below elementary, so Google Translate provided a hilarious avenue of getting to know Barack Obama from a Russian perspective.

Does anyone want to see Hillary's in a "daring décolleté" like this?

Previously: Merkel (and Bush's obsession with) here.

Iran is launching a space program.

Previously: Kicking Ass in Space, Master of Space - Second Edition

Chinese taikonauts (astronauts) intend to establish a space branch of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The Chinese astronauts will carry out the same activities in space as they do on Earth, such as learning the party’s policies and debating the party’s decisions. According to the CPC constitution, a grass-root CPC organization should be established where there are three or more CPC members. China’s space branch of the CPC would be the “highest” of its kind, according to China’s original astronaut, Yang Liwei.
(Xinhua News Agency, Oct. 19, 2007)

[Via Time's White House Photo Blog.]

"You're on, my friend. Whoever can imprison, murder, or otherwise disappear the most dissidents by November 1st gets Azerbaijan."

[Headline via The New Republic's The Plank; Photo via The New York Times]

In related news, Azerbaijan recently celebrated its Super Sweet Sixteen.

Kim Jong-il meets Roh Moo-hyun; seems unimpressed.

[Via NY Times]

Previously: Kim Jong is the Illest, Kim Jong: The Best of Youth

Yulia Tymoshenko appears to be on her way back to the PM's office.

No word yet, however, on what her nearly-as-hot daughter, Yevhenia, has to say about this development.

[Via Guardian Unlimited]

After returning from Istanbul, which feels like the only place left in the world where cigarette smoking has yet to eclipse toothpaste in popularity, and returning to New York's nearly smokeless society, and now seeing these wonderful Soviet cigarette packets, I am finally realizing what almost everyone else around me has: we are well past the golden age of tobacco.

Many more Soviet cigarettes here, from Cosmodrome fave English Russia.