Stories from Russia

Governor Filimonov announced the closure of all local vape retail outlets in the Lagozko region. This follows the liquidation of 610 liquor stores in the same region last year. According to the governor, 125 vape shops and 316 retail points have been closed. Filimonov stated the administration is focused on achieving real results in the region. The governor stated that authorities are moving from closing alcohol shops to targeting vape sales.

The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) fined five participants following a mass brawl on the ice during a recent match. Fines were issued to head coaches Bobkart and Gibushe, Lokomotiv defender Alexei Bereglaz, Avangard forward Kirill Dzhenkov, and goaltender Nikita Serebryakov. The match was reportedly interrupted twice due to fighting, with the first incident occurring at the end of the first period following a goal by Andrey Sergeev. The source noted that both clubs also received separate fines. The brawl involved nearly all skaters on the ice after an interaction between Alexander Radulov and Nikita Serebryakov.

Ksenia Efimova won the solo program at the Russian Synchronized Swimming Championship.

A cycling race will take place across various Russian cities covering a total distance of 500 kilometers. The competition will consist of 8 stages held on weekends. Organizer Ksenia Shaygu noted that the event will include family runs, gastro-festivals, and folk art fairs. Participants can choose distances ranging from 60 to 100 kilometers. The event is part of tourism news for the current year.

Criminals are using malware to compromise mobile devices and intercept NFC-based ATM transactions. The software transmits files containing images of controlled bank cards to attackers. Instead of crediting victims' accounts, the fraudulent NFC connections redirect payments to accounts held by the perpetrators in a foreign state. Criminals are using malware to intercept mobile banking transactions via NFC connections at ATMs. Using NFC connections, victims perform transactions at ATMs that divert funds to the perpetrators instead of replenishing their accounts. Victims then inadvertently transfer funds to foreign actors when using NFC connections at ATMs.

The use of industrial robots in Russia increased by 1.5 times over the past year. The growth in industrial robotics and AI integration in Russia reached 1.5 times the previous year's levels, impacting sectors from medicine to government administration. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin noted that the current era is defined by the fourth industrial revolution involving digitalization, artificial intelligence, and robotization. The report said the importance of innovation and mass application in these sectors. Industries such as manufacturing, 3C electronics, and food processing are showing a high demand for large-scale intelligent robots. Orders for robots have increased by at least 30% compared to last year. International oil prices have fallen due to prospects of US-China talks, but have remained high since the conflict in the Middle East.

A fire in North Moscow covered an area of 14,000 square meters. Authorities are currently conducting an inspection of the premises. Local journalist Valeria Dulskaya reports that residents living near the refinery complex have decided not to evacuate their homes. Dulskaya stated that people do not understand the full scale of the catastrophe. The death toll has increased to seven, with approximately 10 people receiving medical attention. Firefighters deployed a fire train with four tons of water and 122 tons of foam agent. Over 30 people were evacuated using rescue devices. Emergency services deployed 200 personnel and 65 units of equipment to the scene. The Moscow Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case following the incident. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the middle section of the building was completely destroyed.

The source appears to be archive, anniversary, or historical retrospective coverage of a past event.

Police in Tuapse have arrested a journalist from an environmental news outlet. The arrest occurred while the journalist was reporting on-site. The report follows recent cessation of new air pollution data publications in the region. There are allegations that local environmental authorities have ceased publishing new air pollution data to conceal the extent of the situation. There are allegations that authorities are attempting to conceal the scale of the disaster.

Dynamo defeated Kazan Zenit 3-0 in a final series to win the Russian championship for the fifth time. Captain Pavel Pankov stated the team won due to coordinated play that broke the opponent. The victory was achieved in three sets. This victory marks the fifth time the team has become national champions. The win was achieved by breaking the opponent's momentum during the series. The Belogorye (Belogorye/Belogorye) team has secured its fifth national championship title. The non-Moscow club won the series with a 3-0 score in three sets. The victory follows a 3-0 series win for the Moscow-based team. Zenit Kazan had held the title since 2023 and has a total of 13 championships. The decisive fifth match is scheduled to take place on May 2 in Saint Petersburg. Dmitry Dubrovsky, president of the Russian Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Federation, also announced his re-election to a new term.