Putin presents DVD judo manual

MOSCOW – Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is presenting a judo manual that bears his name and shows him throwing an opponent to the mat. Portions of the instructional video, shown on Russian television, depict a black-clad Putin talking about the history and philosophy of judo. Putin is also shown demonstrating moves against a partner. Putin is a black belt and one-time judo champion in his home town of St. Petersburg, Leningrad. He made the instructional video with former World and Olympic judo champion Yasuhiro Yamashita. The presentation came on Putin's 56th birthday. His fitness and devotion to judo and skiing have boosted his popularity among Russians, after years with the hard-drinking and chronically ill Boris Yeltsin as president. – AP