Smuggled iPhone 5s Sell for as Much as $3,700 in Moscow
Apple(NEW YORK) — In the days of the Soviet Union a tourist in Moscow could pay for his or her entire trip by selling a suitcase full of smuggled Levi’s jeans. Now, one could make substantially more sneaking a handbag full of the latest Apple products…
DNC Apologizes for Showing Russian Warships in Tribute to US Veterans
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Organizers of last week’s Democratic National Convention apologized Wednesday for accidentally showing an image of the Russian navy during a tribute to U.S. veterans.Soviet-era Russian warships were pro…
Putin Thanks Romney for Calling Russia No. 1 Foe
ALEXEY DRUZHININ/AFP/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Mitt Romney’s characterization of Moscow as the United States’ “number one geopolitical foe” has actually helped Russia.The Russian …
Feminist Punk Rockers Flee Russia Fearing Prosecution
ANDREY SMIRNOV/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Two members of the Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot have fled the country, fearing prosecution for an anti-Putin stunt that has already landed three other women behind bars.In a message posted to its T…
Russian Orthodox Priests Forgive Punk Rockers Pussy Riot
ANDREY SMIRNOV/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Top priests from the Russian Orthodox Church reportedly said Saturday that they have forgiven an all female punk rock group that stormed the altar of Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral in February to perfo…
Moscow Fearful of US Sanctions Against Iran Hurting Russia
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — Moscow declared Monday that it won’t be happy with Washington if crippling sanctions against Iran also affect Russian businesses.Sanctions were imposed several years ago to force Iran into abandoning its rogue nuclear …
Madonna Angers Russian Deputy Prime Minister
Ragnar Singsaas/WireImage(MOSCOW) — A top Russian official angrily called Madonna “a former prostitute” Thursday after the pop diva came out in support of a Russian punk rock band in jail for protesting President Putin.“Every former [expletive] …
US Embassy Warns Against Threats of Violence at Russian Madonna Concert
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — The U.S. Embassy has warned U.S. citizens who plan on attending Madonna’s concerts in Russia this week that there have been specific threats of violence that have been made against both “spectators and performers” …
Russia’s President Fearful of Hasty Pullout from Afghanistan
Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Russian President Vladimir Putin turns out to be a hawk when it comes to the international military involvement in Afghanistan.Putin believes it’s in his country’s best national interest that the Taliban and its …
Vladimir Putin Rolls Back Freedoms, Ups Efforts to Intimidate Opposition
OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP/GettyImages(MOSCOW) — When riot police forcibly dispersed a crowd that lingered after an anti-Putin protest in central Moscow a day after Russia’s presidential election in March, many in the crowd sensed an ominous change in th…
Putin Admits That He’s No Dreamer
Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Russia’s president is apparently as stone faced in his sleep as he is when awake.“I, as a rule, usually do no not dream,” Vladimir Putin told a youth forum outside Moscow today, according to RIA…
Japan Gives Russian President Putin New Puppy
File photo. iStockphoto/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has a new furry four-legged friend.A three-month old Akita Inu puppy named Yume, a gift from the Japanese prefecture of Akita, arrived in Moscow on an Aeroflot flight from …
Russia Protests Latest Adoption Abuse Case in Virginia
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — The Russian government is seizing on the case of an adopted Russian boy in Virginia whose foster parents were arrested last week for allegedly abusing him — the latest in a string of abuses that have gotten a lot of a…
Rock Stars Take on the Kremlin to Defend Jailed Punk Group
ANDREY SMIRNOV/AFP/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Rock artists including Sting, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Franz Ferdinand, and Faith No More have decided to challenge the Kremlin over its detention of an all-female Russian punk rock band.Five members of the band…
Russia to Syria: Don’t Use Your Chemical Weapons
Stockbyte/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — No matter what Syria is saying about its alleged arsenal of chemical weapons, strong ally Russia contends Damascus shouldn’t even think about using poisonous gases in its conflict with rebel forces.The warning came Tuesd…
Syria-Bound Helicopters Unloaded at Russian Port: Report
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — Three refurbished Russian attack helicopters have been removed from the Alaed, a transport ship that was delivering them to Syria, the Russian news agency Interfax reported on Friday.Interfax quoted an unnamed source s…
Russia, China Veto UN Security Council Resolution on Syria
Mario Tama/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Ambassador Susan Rice gave a fiery response Thursday to Russia and China’s veto of the UN Security Council resolution on Syria, calling the action “pitiful and deeply regretful.”Rice said the res…
Russia Says Its Being Blackmailed into Supporting Sanctions Against Syria
ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Russia reiterated its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Monday by accusing the West of blackmail in trying to get Moscow to support tougher sanctions against Damascus.Over the past fe…
Woman Who Sent Adopted Son Back to Russia Alone Must Pay Child Support
Creatas/Thinkstock(LEWISBURG, Tenn.) — A Tennessee woman who outraged many in the adoption community in 2010 when she put her 7-year-old son on a plane back to Russia alone in hopes of having his adoption annulled, has failed in her bid to avoid payin…
Russian Warships Headed for Maneuvers Near Syria
Stocktrek Images/Thinkstock (file photo)(MOSCOW) — Russia took another step to position itself as a broker in the ongoing Syrian crisis on Tuesday by sending a fleet of navy ships into the Mediterranean Sea for maneuvers. The naval group include…