Stories from Saint Petersburg · Russia

In 1730, Jean-Baptiste Landé arrived in Russia to establish the country's first ballet school. His primary duties included organizing court balls and teaching dance to the Petersburg nobility. Landé was a state employee and began teaching at the Page Corps in 1734, instructing future military officers in ballet. His students later presented performances for the Imperial Court.

Iran has proposed a plan for de-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has accused Washington of being the cause of the failure in negotiations due to its intransigence. Iran's diplomat Nabasar Akshi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg to present new proposals aimed at resuming discussions with Washington. Akshi accused Washington of intransigence, stating it was the cause of failed negotiations. Iran's primary condition for renewed talks is the lifting of the American blockade on Iranian ports. The proposal aims to facilitate a path forward in the complex negotiations. Details of the plan have not been fully disclosed. Russia is reportedly open to a deal where Iran would transfer its uranium reserves to Russian territory. However, an expert doubts Iran would agree to such terms, describing Iranian diplomats as skilled negotiators.

Misia Sert, a figure, was born in St. Petersburg in March 1871. She grew up in Allachet. Her grandparents were Sophie Feguin and François Servais, who was a renowned violinist. President Putin noted the increasing number of people practicing Judo, referring to it as the 'soft path'. Petersburg alone, 19 sports schools have over 3,500 children practicing Judo. The federation's sports school, named after Anatoly Rakhlin, currently trains over 1200 athletes. Training for athletes is conducted through a specific methodology.

President Vladimir Putin attended a meeting of the Council of Legislators in St. Petersburg. The meeting took place at the Tauride Palace. Putin congratulated the parliamentarians on their professional holiday, said the historical significance of the date. The event marks 120 years since the start of the first authorized domestic parliament on April 27, 1906. His deputy, Igor Chaika, has been appointed as the new head of the Glavros cooperation agency, replacing Yevgeny Primakov who is stepping down. President Vladimir Putin urged parliamentarians not to focus solely on prohibitions and restrictions. Speaking at a council in Saint Petersburg, he stated that Russian legislation needs to be flexible and forward-looking. Putin believes excessive barriers hinder development. He also supported a proposal to postpone debt repayment for regions concerning budgets.

Zenit Saint Petersburg defeated Akhmat in a Russian Premier League match. The score reached 2-0 by the 11th minute following a goal by Douglas Santos. Zenit secured the three points, reducing the gap with Krasnodar to one point. Three rounds remain in the RPL championship season. John Cordoba scored in the 11th minute to make the score 2-0.

Russian officials are meeting in Saint Petersburg to discuss potential agreements between Iran and the United States to end confrontations in the Middle East. Inflation data for April is expected to be released soon. Iran has sent a proposal to the US via Pakistani mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and postpone nuclear talks. Negotiations regarding the resumption of talks are being discussed in Iran's political space. Al Mayadeen reports that a new forum is being considered to discuss potential negotiations. Iran may link the start of negotiations to the situation on the Lebanese front. Rising drug prices for cancer and specific disease patients are noted following recent conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to receive the Iranian Foreign Minister today.

A criminal organization has reportedly monopolized the fuel and energy sector in Saint Petersburg. The group is allegedly involved in extortion and is linked to the Zonda Crypto investigation. This follows the disappearance of Sylwester Szuszk, described as the 'King of Cryptocurrencies'.

The St. Petersburg Shostakovich Philharmonia is celebrating its 50th anniversary of awards. The festival also marks nearly 100 years since the premiere of Dmitry Shostakovich's first symphony. Concerts began on April 25 and will continue through May 22. The event is part of a classical music festival in St. Petersburg.

The summer season has officially opened at the Peterhof Museum-Reserve with the launch of the fountains. As of April 25, all fountains in the Lower Park and Upper Garden are operating on a daily basis. This daily operation is scheduled to continue through October. The museum-reserve has also announced that entry to the park and museum will now require a fee.

Zenit Saint Petersburg has submitted a bid of 350 million rubles to acquire defender Kevin Andrade from Baltika. Insiders report that Kaliningrad-based clubs are also interested in the 26-year-old Colombian player, potentially offering 50 million rubles more. Additionally, Greek club PAOK is reportedly prepared to pay 3.5 million euros plus bonuses for the player. The club's upcoming match involves Uralmash Yekaterinburg, who finished 6th in the regular season. Zenit holds a 4-2 lead in head-to-head matchups this season. The last meeting between the teams occurred on April 7.