What Happened to America’s Public Intellectuals?
Our nation has always depended on these heavyweights to guide us, but are they still with us, and if so, who are they?
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Russia’s Silicone Valley: Boob Jobs in the Provinces
Ryazan was a pioneer of the 19th-century beauty industry. Today it is home to a booming plastic surgery business
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Behind the Silver Screen: A Tour of Russia’s Mosfilm Studios
The museum at this famed movie company offers a journey through history, including outdoor sets of Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as costumes and props from much-loved Soviet and Russian films.
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Russian Ballet Performance Hits Moscow Metro to Celebrate FIFA Confederations Cup
Dancers of the Kremlin Ballet Theater performed an evening concert for football fans visiting Moscow for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The concert was held in the Moscow Metro at the Novoslobodskaya station.
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Moscow TV Round-Up: Vysotsky, Orwell and the Cheka
The origins of the Soviet state security system, the United States’ greatest Southern writer, the archetypal Big Brother and Russia’s greatest actor-singer-poet of the 20th century: All of these await TV viewers this week.
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Russian Security Service Announces Telegram Messenger Terror Link Amid Privacy Row
The FSB announced on Monday that the terror cell behind April’s St. Petersburg metro bombing used Telegram to keep their plans hidden from the authorities.
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Peak Obsession: How Russia’s Love for Cult U.S. Drama Twin Peaks Defined the 90s
Debut of a new season of U.S. drama evokes memories of a Russian craze.
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This 155-mile Hike Through the Pyrenees Merges Contemporary Art with Spain’s Stunning Landscapes
An art project of the Contemporary Art Center Nau Côclea brings artists and audiences together on a cultural pilgrimage
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Russian Security Chief Warns Officials of Western ‘Information War’
FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov warned officials that outlets such as CNN and The Washington Post were targeting the country.
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A Guided Tour of Australia’s Blue Mountains Follows Ancient Aboriginal Songlines
Yanna Muru’s walkabouts to sacred sites teach visitors about Darug culture
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Kremlin Ballet to Perform in Moscow’s Iconic Metro
The company will perform scenes from “Swan Lake,” “The Nutcracker” and “Don Quixote” at the Novoslobodskaya station on the evening of June 25.
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Top Generals Reportedly Gave Putin a Fake Video of Russian Forces in Syria
The clip, which actually depicted U.S. forces in Afghanistan, reached the president via Russia’s General Staff.
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Venetian Finds: Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese at the Pushkin Museum
“Renaissance Venice: Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese. From the Italian and Russian collections,” is an opportunity to see 23 masterpieces by the three artists in one place.
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Putin lays wreath at Tomb of Unknown Soldier in Moscow
The Russian president paid tribute to those who gave their lives for the victory in Great Patriotic War Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in a wreath-laying ceremony on Thursday at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow in memory of the country’s defenders who perished in the battles against fascists. On the Day…
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Armenian writer presents her book about war in Syria’s Aleppo
The 200-page book was published in Lebanon, with a print run of 700 copies Writer Lala Minasyan-Miskaryan has presented to Russian journalists her Armenian-language book, The Syrian Diary, about sufferings of Aleppo residents over the years when the city was occupied by militants. “I wrote about what was around me from the first day of…
DetailsMoscow Region’s Largest Landfill Closed After Complaints to Putin
Residents complained that the landfill — so big that it is visible from outer space — was only 200 meters from their homes and schools.
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Obelisk to Soviet WWII prisoners to be unveiled in Vienna
The project was initiated by the Russian Military History Society and supported by the Russian foreign ministry and the Austrian interior ministry An obelisk to Soviet prisoners of war who died in the Austrian capital in 1941-1945 will be unveiled at Vienna’s Central Cemetery on June 22, when Russia marks the Day of Remembrance and…
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Indian blockbuster to open Moscow International Film Festival
Moscow International Film Festival opens for the 39th time at city’s downtown Rossiya movie house on Thursday night. After a gala opening ceremony, the Indian blockbuster ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’ directed by S.S. Rajamouli will kick off the program of the festival. It is a historical fiction film that continues the epopee about Prince Sivudu…
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Russians to remember fallen heroes in 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War
On this day, national flags fly at half-mast, and all entertaining events and television programmes are cancelled Commemoration events to remember those perished in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 will be held across Russia on June 22, the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow. The nationwide Memory Vigil. Eternal Flame commemoration event will be held…
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Putin says Stone’s documentary made ‘on the go’
The president pointed out that often times he had to talk to the filmmaker “right on the go” American filmmaker Oliver Stone’s documentary was made “literally on the go,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with teachers. One of the participants in the meeting mentioned the documentary in which Putin said that he…
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Legendary Soviet spymaster passes away at 91
Yury Drozdov was directly involved in many intelligence operations, including the exchange of Rudolf Abel for American pilot Francis Gary Powers Chief of Soviet covert intelligence, architect and commander of the Vympel reconnaissance and sabotage unit of the Soviet Union’s external intelligence service Yury Drozdov has died at the age of 91, Head of the…
Details‘I Had to Breathe Through My Clothes’: Russian Police Pepper-Sprayed Protesters in a Cell
St. Petersburg protesters claim of abuse and use of pepper spray while in detention.
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How the European Court Undermined Russia’s Gay Propaganda Law
European Court of Human Rights ruled against the infamous gay propaganda law, sending a bold sign to Russia is on the wrong side of history.
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The Story Behind the World’s Largest Watercolor Painting
The massive artwork marks the opening of the MASS MoCA’s new 130,000-square-foot wing, which makes it the largest contemporary art museum in the U.S.
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Sleepless in St. Petersburg: Make the Most of White Nights
This week marks midsummer, which means it’s the perfect time to head north to Russia’s former imperial capital and experience its famed “White Nights.” But don’t worry if you can’t make it yet – this period of luminous twilight la
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Russia Blocks Google Temporarily in Tax Dispute
Google.ru appeared Russia’s register of banned sites for approximately three hours on Thursday afternoon.
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Russia’s Big Brother Is Trying To Watch You (But Is Annoyed You Won’t Let Him.)
Russian authorities want to wipe anonymity out of the Internet. But is it possible?
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Moscow City Hall Exposed Awarding $67M in Illegal Building Contracts
An audit found that companies were awarded illegal government tenders to the sum of 4 billion 98 million rubles.
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Two-Thirds of Russians Believe USSR Would Have Won WWII Without Allied Help
Some 63 percent of Russians said that the Soviet Union would have triumphed without aid from abroad.
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Most Russians back Putin’s domestic, foreign policy, survey by US research center says
According to the survey, “a full 87% have some or a lot of confidence in Vladimir Putin’s handling of global issues” Most Russian citizens support domestic and foreign policy of President Vladimir Putin, a poll carried out in Russia by a US-based Pew Research Center showed on Wednesday. According to the survey, “a full 87%…
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TASS correspondent Alexei Bukalov gets International Pushkin Award in Rome
The award was established in 2014 to encourage achievements in art, literature and research, at the same time accentuating the close relationship between the Russian and Italian cultures TASS correspondent in Italy Alexei Bukalow received the International Pushkin Award for literature in Rome for a series of literary works devoted to Russian poet Alexander Pushkin’s…
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Russia, France mull Cross Year of Russian-French languages, literature — Lavrov
Sergey Lavrov said the civil and public dialogue between the two states “should be all-encompassing and involve the civil society” Russia and France discuss holding the Cross Year of the Russian and French Languages and Culture next year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday. “The Cross Year of Russian-French Cultural Tourism ends this…
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Producer for Konchalovsky’s new work about Michelangelo reveals movie’s budget
The actor for the leading role has not yet been selected Russian movie director Andrei Konchalovsky is gearing up to shoot his new Russian-Italian film “Sin” about Michelangelo in August. The film’s producer Olesiya Gidrat stated that the project’s budget is at $ 13.1 mln during a meeting of the Expert Council on Feature, Independent…
DetailsRussian Politician Uses Her Breasts to Protest Building Demolitions
Moscow local municipal candidate Lucia Stein installed several plaster copies of her bust on the walls of buildings planned to be demolished under Moscow renovation program.
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Tillerson’s Russia Strategy May Look Too Much Like Obama’s (Op-ed)
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is working hard to save what remains of the U.S.-Russia relationship.
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Moscow’s Most Racist Landlords Revealed
It is illegal for Russian landlords to discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity or nationality. But the city’s property listings tell a different story.
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Putin, Depersonalized: What Does Oliver Stone’s Film Reveal About Russia’s Leader?
During all Putin’s time in power, hardly a single image of him having fun with others comes to mind. We have never seen him enjoying something or sharing a mundane emotion with any other human being.
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After 50 Years of Song, Dance, Food, Even Hog Calling, at the Folklife Festival, Is It Still Worthwhile?
Recognizing traditional culture in the information age is ever more important argues the director of the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
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Russian Regions Slash Cancer Spending Amid Rising Costs
Statistics for 2016 show that spending on oncology treatment has fallen in almost half of Russia’s 85 regions.
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Russia’s Channel One to air Oliver Stone’s documentary on Putin
The documentary is based on more than ten conversations that the US filmmaker had with the Russian president over the past two years On June 19, Russia’s Channel One will show the first part of the The Putin Interviews, a documentary made by US filmmaker Oliver Stone. The four-part film premiered on Showtime in the…
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Helmut Kohl did much to develop German-Russia relations -— ex-president Yeltsin’s widow
Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl passed away aged 87 The late former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl did much to develop relations between Germany and Russia, Naina Yeltsina, the widow of first Russian President Boris Yeltsin, told TASS. “Mournful news has come that former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl passed away, the man who had done much…
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Russian watchdog shuts down five illegal children’s holiday camps
This summer Russia’s consumer rights watchdog has carried out 8,541 scheduled and random checks on conditions of children’s recreation Russian consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has revealed five unauthorized children’s holiday camps that accommodated 340 minors and shut them down this year, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova told the governmental commission at a meeting in the National…
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St. Isaac’s Cathedral administrator vows landmark will continue functioning as museum
The Committee on Culture earlier announced that Yuri Mudrov had been appointed as the museum’s director St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg will continue to operate as a museum, its newly-appointed Director Yuri Mudrov said at his first meeting with employees. “Let’s proceed from the premise that the museum is working. Should there be changes,…
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Construction works help archaeologists unearth Stone Age relics in Moscow
The scientists believe the artifacts could have penetrated the much older cultural layers 400 or 500 years ago during digging efforts Archaeologists have uncovered rare 5,000-year old tools in Moscow during the city’s ongoing construction project to renovate pedestrian zones, the mayor’s office said on Friday. The scientists discovered a silicic cutter from the Neolithic…
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St Isaac’s Cathedral museum in St Petersburg gets new director
The position of director at St Isaac’s Cathedral Museum was vacant as of June after the voluntary resignation of the previous director, Nikolai Burov Committee for Culture of the St Petersburg city government appointed fine arts historian Yuri Mudrov to the position of director of the St Isaac’s Cathedral Museum, a committee spokesperson told TASS.…
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State Duma received 26 versions of oath for persons accepting citizenship
The final text of the oath will be drafted on the basis of these proposals A workgroup in Russia’s State Duma in charge of supervising adoption of an oath for foreigners accepting Russian citizenship has received 26 versions of the text of the oath, Pavel Krasheninnikov, the chairman of the Duma committee for state construction…
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Putin says decision on retirement age should be made prudently, without haste
The possibility of raising the retirement age is being actively discussed but no final decision has been made yet, Putin said The decision on retirement age should be made prudently and without haste, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an annual televised question and answer session on Thursday. “It is necessary to take such decisions…
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Putin does not want his grandchildren to be brought up as ‘blue bloods’
Vladimir Putin says his children and grandchildren live in Moscow ussia’s President Vladimir Putin during the annual televised question and answer session said shortly earlier he had become a grandfather for the second time. “My second grandson was born not long ago,” he said. He asked the audience to understand he tried to shield his…
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Average life expectancy in Russia up to 72 years — Putin
President Putin has also noted that in the recent years, infant and maternal mortality has decreased The average life expectancy in Russia has risen to 72 years, said Russian President Vladimir Putin during his annual televised question and answer session on Thursday. While commenting on the positive results in social welfare, President Putin noted that…
DetailsIt’s the Russians Wot Done It (Op-ed)
BuzzFeed’s investigation plays into a dominant narrative within the West where “Russia is to blame.”
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Why Piri Thomas’ Coming of Age Memoir Still Resonates Today
“Down These Mean Streets” was an instant classic, a text of painful truths
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Roscosmos Wins Multi-Million Dollar Payout Over Faulty Rocket
Three Roscosmos satellites were damaged after a Proton-M rocket produced by Russia’s Khrunichev Center crashed in 2013.
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Former Head of Russian Authors’ Society Jailed for Fraud
The former head of the Russian Authors’ Society (RAO), Sergei Fedotov, has been jailed for 18 months.
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Former Director of Moscow’s Gogol Center Arrested For Embezzlement
The former head of Moscow’s Gogol Center theater has been detained by police as part of an ongoing fraud investigation.
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Creatures Great and Small: 7 Places For City Kids to Meet Animals
For many children, even ordinary domestic pets are magical creatures. Here are our top places for kids to interact with animals in safe, sanitary, and humane settings.
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In Pictures: Germany’s Helmut Kohl and Russia
Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, the architect of German reunification, died Friday at the age of 87.
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3 Injured After Trains Collide at Moscow Railway Station
Three people have been injured following a collision between two trains at Moscow’s Kursky rail terminal.
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Sales of Crimea Vacation Deals Fall by Almost Third
Russian travel agents have seen sales of package holidays to Crimea fall by almost a third, new data has revealed.
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Come for the Bug Eating and Get a Lesson in Humanity from Andrew Zimmern
A Q&A with the Travel Channel’s ‘Bizarre Foods’ Chef
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