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Kalashnikov honored: The man who invented the AK-47 assault rifle has won Russia’s highest honor. Mikhail Kalashnikov, who invented the sturdy, easy-to-use weapon during World War II, was made a Hero of the Russian Federation on his 90th birthday. Presenting the award, President Dmitri Medvedev said the Kalashnikov rifle was “a national brand that makes each citizen proud.” But Kalashnikov himself expressed mixed emotions, saying he regretted that his rifle was “sometimes used where it shouldn’t have been.” The Kalashnikov is the weapon of choice for guerrilla groups, because it is easy to take apart and won’t jam in sandy or wet conditions. More than 100 million have been sold worldwide—although the inventor never got a single royalty check.

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