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Meanwhile in Russia

prehistoric party

Bronze Age Tubes Found in Russia May Be Earliest Beer-Drinking Straws – Researchers

The intricate tubes once believed to be “scepters” may have actually been used for communal beer drinking.
big baby

Moscow Zoo Welcomes Baby Yak

The baby girl is the first for Kora, a female yak living at the zoo.
curb your enthusiasm

No Laughing at Weddings, Russian Region Says

Drinking alcohol and even rearranging furniture are also forbidden at civil marriage registry offices under a new decree.
four-legged firefighter

Stray Cat Joins Russian Fire Department

Semyon the cat takes his job — wearing a uniform and lounging around the fire station — very seriously.
no fecal matter

Russian Sculptor Arrested for Giant Turd Installation

The artist faces between three months and five years in prison on charges of desecrating a burial ground.
bundle up

Major Snowstorm Slams Russia's Far East

A massive snowstorm hit the Far East Russian island of Sakhalin, bringing everyday life to a halt.
unlikely fan

Russian Diplomat Praises Rappers Ye, Oxxxymiron as U.S. Security Talks Fall Short

Hip-hop bridges cultural divides even when geopolitical tensions run high.
to the rescue

Russian Baby Tiger Fights for Life after Frostbite, Surgery

This year's harsh winter has "significantly complicated" life for Russia's tiger population, an environmental expert said.
west goes east

Kanye West Planning Russia Trip, Putin Meeting – Billboard

West’s associate claimed that Russia will be “a second home” for the rapper, but his representative later dismissed the comments.
doughy debate

‘Let Them Eat Dumplings’: Russian Official Rages Against School Pelmeni Ban

Pelmeni, a mainstay of Russia’s national cuisine, were excluded from school cafeteria menus by health authorities.
2021 IN REVIEW

Russia’s Oddest Stories of the Year, From a Lost Arctic Dog to Ballerinas on Tanks

The headlines that brought cheer to a difficult year.
on the nice list

Putin Thanks Russian Santa Claus for Presidency

Putin first became president on New Year's Eve in 1999, when Russia's first post-Soviet leader Boris Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned.
annual tradition

Phallic Ice Rink Re-Opens in Siberian City

The Novosibirsk ice rink gets nationwide attention every year for its suggestive shape — but city officials deny it was intentional.
Slumber party

Freak Russian Snowstorm Traps 100 in Cinema Overnight

Photos showed people relaxing in cinema seats and watching movies on the big screen for free.
'timofei chalamov'

Russian Bakery's Ad with Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Takes the Cake

The ad, which pays homage to Chalamet's steamy scene involving a peach, has gone viral on social media.
sedimentary sentry

Russian Military Rolls Out ‘Spy Rock’ Robot

"Due to its disguise and ability to change positions, it can come in handy in trench warfare," Zvezda wrote.
special delivery

Moscow Zoo Welcomes Orphaned Manul Kittens

The manul, or Pallas's cat, has been the zoo's symbol and mascot for over 30 years.
FIGHTING FRAGRANCE

Russia Unveils Exhaust Fume Perfume in Honor of ‘Checkmate’ Stealth Jet

The scent also has metal and leather notes to evoke the cutting-edge aircraft.
fueling vaccinations

Russian Region Raffles Coal to Boost Covid Vaccinations

People who get vaccinated in one Far East district could win a grand prize of three tons of coal valued at 15,000 rubles ($200).
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