Stories from Russia

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.

New software updates for cars are being delivered over the air, similar to mobile phones. The program 'Avtopilot' will explore what options are necessary for comfortable driving in Russian roads and climate. It will also question if Russian production guarantees reliability and how modern car factories resemble scientific laboratories. Modern vehicles can now receive software updates wirelessly, eliminating the need to visit a dealership.

Unusual spring snowfalls have led to problems with the storm drainage system in Dagestan. Specialists noted that current regulations are significantly outdated, four times behind current needs. These extreme rain and snow events were not previously common.

A power line collapse occurred in the Murmansk region, prompting an investigation into potential design flaws. Questions are being raised about whether the power line construction used designs not accounted for off-season loads. The incident happened in April, leading to scrutiny of the timing and circumstances of the disaster. Specialists noted that old standards for infrastructure are four times behind current needs due to increased extreme weather events. The collapse happened amidst heavy spring snowfalls and rains.

Russian companies that invested heavily in online operations have seen their internet trade share increase. In contrast, Zolotoye Yabloko remains profitable and is growing in both turnover and profit. Zolotoye Yabloko's turnover of 204.3 billion rubles exceeds the combined turnover of the other four chains by 50 billion rubles. Consumers are reportedly favoring Zolotoye Yabloko due to its online sales services. Brand sales in Russia reached 366 billion rubles in March, representing a 33 percent increase compared to February. Total sales for the first quarter of the current year reached approximately 914 billion rubles. The automotive sector, specifically UV models, forms the primary portion of these sales. The brand Lay's achieved the highest sales growth among all food products in Russia for the year 2025. The report noted the brand's performance in the context of market trends.

Russian troops have reportedly liberated the area of Ilya. Negotiations between the US and Israel are being discussed, but former President Trump has instructed his negotiators not to proceed, effectively halting the process. Trump is currently preoccupied with other matters following events in Washington.

The Tagansky Court in Moscow has imposed a fine on the American company Google. The company's location history data collection practices have been highlighted as a potential tool for solving crimes. Moscow is experiencing snow on power lines and tree branches. The company has refused to connect to the state registry since December 2018. This increase follows a trend of rising defense expenditures globally. In Asia, military spending has increased in China, India, Taiwan, and Pakistan due to regional tensions. A Russian court has ordered the seizure of assets belonging to Transbunker, which included approximately 30 companies from Russia and Ukraine in 2014. The seizure includes a Russian fuel terminal and the personal property of sandler Pugacheva. Additionally, the court order covers vehicles and maritime vessels held by third parties or registered to them.

The Koltsov Museum in Moscow will host a special concert on May 1st featuring an Italian Viscount digital electronic organ. The performance will also include a glass harp and a violin. Organist and professor at the Moscow Conservatory, Evgenia Krivitskaya, will participate in the concert. A concert featuring poems and songs about the war will be held on an open stage in front of the Hatt building on Tverskoy Boulevard in Moscow. The program includes works by Simonov, Tvardovsky, Bergolz, Drunina, Yevtushenko, and Akudzhava. The Moscow Provincial Theater Orchestra, conducted by Sergey Pashchenko, will participate in the event.

Russian forces have liberated two settlements in the special operation zone. A court in Saint Petersburg has designated the Russian LGBT Network, a major inter-regional movement for queer rights, as an extremist organization. Additionally, a court in Yaroslavl has designated the LGBT movement 'Kalista' as extremist. Russian authorities have designated the LGBT network 'Calista' as an extremist organization. The court press service stated the group's activities aim to reform and effectively destroy fundamental Russian spiritual and moral values. Other groups declared extremist in the last 10 days include the Samara-based organization 'Irida', the 'Vykhod' group, and an LGBT resource center in Yekaterinburg. Organized criminal groups in Russia are conducting extortion rackets involving various services and documents. Extortion amounts for minor services range from 10,000 to 20,000 rubles.

Rabbit meat is being sold in Yakutsk markets in small pieces, boiled in a tank with water to produce a highly concentrated broth. Two to three cups of this broth can be made from one large rabbit, a process that takes about two hours.