Person of the Year 2007

Platon for TIME

Vladimir Putin

His final year as Russia's President has been his most successful yet. At home, he secured his political future. Abroad, he expanded his outsize—if not always benign—influence on global affairs More »

Runner-Up: Al Gore

Nobel laureate, minding the environment More »
Runner-Up: J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter creator, finally telling secrets More »
Runner-Up: Hu Jintao

China's leader depends on both ancient wisdom and communist doctrine as guides to action More »
Runner-Up: David Petraeus

The commanding general in Iraq fought America's most difficult foreign war — and one at home More »
People Who Mattered

The defiant monks of Burma became an online sensation. Rupert Murdoch got the newspaper of his dreams. Barry Bonds broke a historic record, while Britney Spears just broke down. Read about them and others who left their mark on 2007 More »
In Tribute

Evel Knievel, Norman Mailer, Lady Bird Johnson, Max Roach, Ingmar Bergman, Beverly Sills, Yolanda King, Robert Goulet, Phil Rizzuto and many others left us—but not before making a distinct impression More »
TIME's Interview with Vladimir Putin

At his dacha outside Moscow, the Russian President spoke candidly about corruption, religion and how he thinks the war in Iraq should end More »
Russia & China: A Common Cause

Should the two giants stand against the U.S. together? How long can Russia control nearly one-third of the Asian continent while its population dwindles? Here's a look at the bear and the dragon, side by side More »