Colourful election as bears, tigers and half-naked gymnasts vote in record-breaking result.

Average temperatures in the north of the Kara and Barents seas were 4C to 5C higher than previous years.

Student ran away to Syria with sinister 'recruiter' who wanted her as his 4th wife: now she posts 'vile' messages praising Airbus and Paris terrorists.

The senior politician called for a change of identity for the vast eastern third of Russia, as the country angles itself towards Asia.

This year sees the 400th anniversary of the House of Romanov, the Russian royal family thrown on the scrapheap of history in 1917.

Iturup gets connected, opening up the stunning scenery of the Kuril Islands to tourism.

Tsar's daughter may, after all, have escaped the execution which wiped out the royal family, says new book.

New handwriting analysis suggests Royal's death was faked so he could repent his sins as holy man.