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August 26, 2019
Bulgarian Mystics' Mesmerizing Mountain Dance

White-clad followers of a Bulgarian theologian welcomed their "spiritual new year" with an annual dance performed in concentric circles high in the mountains. Believers say the ritual helps them connect to nature and one another.
August 25, 2019
Siberia's Diamond Mines Leave Gaping Holes In The Planet

Yakutia in northeastern Siberia is home to huge diamond deposits where the precious stones are mined in massive pits which have been dug deep into the permafrost. The Mir mine in Mirny is 525 meters deep and one of the biggest man-made holes in the world.
August 11, 2019
Iran Poised To Lift Ban On Women At Men's Soccer Games

Iran is set to allow women to attend men's soccer matches, lifting a decades-long ban following pressure from FIFA. But women will still not be given completely free access to stadiums, with Iranian officials saying there would be separate entrances and seating areas.
August 10, 2019
Russian Farm Offers Work And Community For Intellectually Disabled

At a farm near St. Petersburg, 18 residents with intellectual disabilities share their daily work, meals, and leisure time. It's part of a program that provides educational and employment support to people with special needs, and it offers a different model of care from Russian institutions.
August 07, 2019
Serbian Man Declared Mustache King

At a festival in rural Serbia, retired construction worker Zoran Lazarevic has been crowned the mustache king with white whiskers measuring 140 centimeters.
August 06, 2019
Pakistan Tries To Take Out The Trash With Plastic Bag Bans

Pakistan is fighting a rising tide of plastic waste, including an estimated 55 billion plastic bags each year. The capital, Islamabad, is implementing a ban on single-use bags. But other Pakistani districts have had little success in enforcing similar measures.
August 06, 2019
Russian Beekeepers Blame Farmers For Mass Bee Deaths

Beekeepers in Russia's central Tula region are reporting mass deaths in their bee colonies. They're blaming the overuse of an insecticide no longer used within the European Union. Tula is just one of 30 Russian regions that have seen mass bee deaths this summer.
August 06, 2019
Explosions Erupt From Military Arms Depot In Siberia

Explosions at an arms depot sent balls of fire into the sky near the Siberian city of Achinsk on August 5, forcing thousands to evacuate. One person was reported missing and at least six wounded. The blasts had died down by the following day, but officials warned that it was not safe to return.
August 04, 2019
The Show Goes On At Moscow's Romany Theater

Moscow's Romen Theater opened in 1931 as a showcase for Romany performers and a symbol of the Soviet Union's "friendship of the peoples." While Russia's 200,000 Roma continue to face poverty and isolation, the emphasis here remains on song and dance.
July 31, 2019
Dozens Killed As Roadside Bomb Hits Bus In Afghanistan

A roadside bomb explosion hit a bus in the western Afghan province of Farah on July 31, killing at least 35 civilians and wounding dozens of others, officials say.
July 25, 2019
Ukraine Seizes Russian Tanker Involved In Kerch Strait Incident

Ukrainian authorities have seized a Russian tanker that Moscow allegedly used to block Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait last November. Russia has been holding 24 Ukrainian sailors since the November 25, 2018, incident.
July 22, 2019
With Economy In Crisis, Iranians Seek Jobs In Neighboring Iraq

As Iran's economy continues to suffer the impact of U.S. sanctions, many ordinary workers are struggling to get by. A growing number of Iranians have gone abroad in search of work, heading to neighboring Iraq's Kurdish region for temporary jobs that provide some relief from poverty.
July 21, 2019
Zelenskiy Casts Ballot In Ukrainian Parliamentary Vote

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, joined other voters in Kyiv to cast ballots in Ukraine's snap parliamentary election. The July 21 vote came after Zelenskiy dissolved parliament early in a bid to get legislative mandate in order to push through reforms.
July 20, 2019
Iranian TV Shows Seized British Tanker

State television channels in Iran have aired what appears to be footage of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero anchoring off the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. The shots were shown on July 20, a day after Iranian forces seized the tanker.
July 16, 2019
Serbian Donkey Cheese: A Big Kick In the Wallet

Foodies with fat wallets may want to head to Serbia for a rare variety of cheese. It's purportedly the most expensive in the world and comes with a bit of a kick.
July 14, 2019
France Holds National Holiday Parade

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other European Union leaders for an annual military review on July 14. The parade down the central Champs Elysees boulevard marked the anniversary of the French Revolution, which started on July 14, 1789.
July 13, 2019
Grenade Attack Hits Ukraine TV Channel

A rocket-propelled grenade has been fired at the building that houses the Kyiv office of Ukrainian television Channel 112.
July 13, 2019
Mane Attraction: Karachi's Elite Keep White Lions As Status Symbols

In Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, flaunting big furry felines has become a major status symbol, but wildlife activists want a change in the law on keeping exotic animals like white lions as pets.
July 12, 2019
Russian Men Shake Up Gender Norms With Popular Beauty Blogs

In Russia, a few male bloggers have earned online followers and a source of income in conventionally female territory: offering makeup and beauty advice. Two such beauty pros say they've angered some viewers by challenging gender roles, but they also see Russian audiences opening up to new ideas.
July 10, 2019
Moscow Sisters' Patricide Case Casts Light On Domestic Abuse In Russia

A murder case against three sisters who killed their abusive father in Moscow has sparked a nationwide debate over Russia's treatment of domestic violence.

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