News you may have missed
Russian authorities consider installing “reindeer police force”
Russian authorities are considering installing a “reindeer police force” to help fight crime in Russia’s frozen arctic tundra region in the far north of the country. Police sources from the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous region told Izvestia that reindeer are uniquely equipped to fight petty crime in the region, where it is currently difficult to chase down suspects and bring them in.
A 36,000-year-old human skull joins collection at St Petersburg’s Kunstkamera Museum
A 36,000-year-old human skull has been added to a collection at St Petersburg’s Kunstkamera Museum. The skull, which scientists have said is “almost whole”, was studied for most of this year at the museum before being added to the collection. Prior to the new addition, the museum’s oldest and most complete human skull was estimated to be between 12,000 and 13,000 years old.
UK privacy watchdog warns of Russia-based website featuring hacked live feeds from homes and businesses
Britain’s privacy watchdog has warned the public about a Russia-based website featuring hacked live feeds from homes and businesses around the world. The website, which includes streams from baby monitors, bedroom cameras and gym CCTV, has caused the information commissioner’s office to set out guidance on setting hard-to-guess passwords.
Fashion designer Dasha Selyanova releases new lookbook
London-based Russian fashion designer Dasha Selyanova has released a new lookbook entitled Quiet Life. Designs in the collection feature her signature style which includes urban environment- and sportswear-inspired pieces. Earlier this year, Selyanova’s east London brand ZDDZ teamed up with independent Russian label Oh, My for a capsule collection based on geometric shapes.
Foreign Policy pays homage to two Russian activitist with Global Thinkers list
Two Russian activists — LGBT rights defender Elena Klimova and environmental activist Yevgeny Vitishko — have been included on Foreign Policy magazine’s list of the top 100 leading global thinkers for their role in raising contentious issues surrounding this year’s Sochi Winter Olympic Games.
Founder of LGBT charity Children 404 charged with “promoting gay propaganda”
Founder of teen LGBT charity Children 404, Elena Klimova, has been charged with “promoting gay propaganda”. Children 404 (Deti 404 in Russian), established by Klimova in March 2013, offers LGBT teenagers information and advice as well as a closed forum for teenagers to contact one another and share their experiences.
The first McDonald’s in Moscow reopens after three month closure
This week saw the first McDonald’s restaurant in Moscow reopen after being closed for nearly three months, allegedly due to health and safety reasons. Opened in 1990, the fastfood restaurant on Pushkin Square was one in a string of McDonalds that closed across Russia in recent months, a move which many have attributed to retaliation for western sanctions against Moscow for its role in the conflict in Ukraine.
Photo story of foxes and their cubs in the snow goes viral
This photo story about foxes and their cubs taken by Magadan-based mining engineer Ivan Kislov in Russia’s remote north-eastern Chukotka region went viral this week. Although he takes photos of everything from bears to stoats, Kislov told Bored Panda that foxes are the most forthcoming models.
