The European Union pulled funding from Zimbabwe after President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed the controversial Private Voluntary Organizations Amendment Bill. The money was meant to help Zimbabwe negotiate its massive $21 billion debt restructuring. Mnangagwa went ahead despite warnings from United Nations human rights experts about the law.
EU ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann said the new legislation worsens governance issues in the country. He expressed disappointment that Zimbabwe failed to keep its promises regarding civic freedoms as part of its debt resolution process. The ambassador noted the law puts unfair limits on civic groups operating in Zimbabwe.
The government defends the legislation, saying it aims to improve financial...
Seven intersections across Kazan currently have broken traffic lights, according to the city's State Traffic Inspectorate. The affected crossroads include Tetsevskaya-Chemical, Julius Fucik-Minsk, Kachalova-Hippodromnaya, Fuchika-Chishmele, Mekhovshchikov-Tatarstan, Adoratsky-Chetaev, and Chuikova-Adoratskogo. Officials note that repair crews already fixed the Chuikova-Adoratskogo intersection at 9:17 this morning, and workers continue emergency repairs at Mekhovshchikov-Tatarstan.
The State Traffic Inspectorate asks everyone on the roads to stay alert when traveling through these areas. Drivers and pedestrians must follow all posted road signs and listen to any traffic controllers directing vehicles at these locations. The department...
Russian actor Ilya Del told reporters he feels unwell after his girlfriend stabbed him. Police charged Alexandra Drozdova under criminal code 111-2 for the April 12 attack that left Del with chest wounds.
The Lensovet Theatre went ahead with its premiere of Theatrical Novel despite Del's missing his lead role. Another actor, Ilya Koletsky, stepped in to replace him. The theater removed upcoming performances of About Fedot the Archer from its schedule. Instead, it plans to show Morphine on April 15, followed by a performance of Elzys Land two days later.
Del worked at several prestigious theaters, including the Maly Drama Theatre and the Alexandrinsky Theatre, before joining Lensovet in 2022. His acting credits include roles as Sanson...
Russian movie director Karen Shakhnazarov wants kids to learn about film starting in second grade. The head of Mosfilm believes schools should show students about 150 classic films throughout their education - just two hours monthly. He argues that movies shape young minds more than books do these days.
Shakhnazarov has long advocated for making film studies mandatory. Though the Russian president supports the idea, progress remains slow because many people oppose it. The director thinks schools already have the right equipment to show high-quality versions of important Russian films like those from Eisenstein, Kalatozov, and Gaidai.
Shakhnazarov enjoyed serious cinema as a child. He remembers watching The Ballad of a Soldier at age...
Russian filmmaker Klim Shipenko wants to return to space for another movie project. When asked about future plans, he expressed this desire to TASS reporters. Shipenko made history with The Challenge, the first feature film shot aboard the International Space Station.
The director believes space filmmaking will remain rare because of its complexity. He thinks such projects will continue to be major events rather than routine productions. The Challenge tells the story of a doctor who must quickly prepare for a space mission to save an astronaut's life. This groundbreaking film brought together Channel One, Glavkosmos, Roscosmos, Yellow, Black and White studio, and Start online cinema, with support from the Cinema Fund. A book about...
Jennifer Lopez worked at a shawarma stand for her latest Netflix movie role. The 55-year-old star appeared on the New Jersey set of Office Romance wearing an elegant gray coat cinched with a belt. She paired the outfit with matching gray stiletto pumps that complemented her sophisticated look. The actress styled her hair in a neat bun for the character she portrays in the upcoming film. Her ensemble included bright makeup and a small handbag to complete the professional appearance needed for her part.
Figure skater Tatyana Navka shared updates about her colleague Pyotr Chernyshev and his young daughter Mila. Chernyshev finds comfort in his work and in raising six-year-old Mila after the passing of his wife, actress Anastasia Zavorotnyuk. According to Navka, the little girl already shows interest in skating and often visits the rink with her father. Navka expressed relief about Chernyshev's current situation, noting he remains focused on his daughter's upbringing and his career.
Chernyshev married Zavorotnyuk in 2008, becoming her third husband. The couple welcomed Mila ten years later. Zavorotnyuk also had two older children from her previous marriage to businessman Dmitry Stryukov: 29-year-old Anna and 24-year-old Michael. The...
Police arrested actress Alexandra Drozdova for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend, Lensovet Theater actor Ilya Del, early Saturday morning in St. Petersburg. The 26-year-old Drozdova reportedly wounded Del, 40, during an argument at their apartment on Kazanskaya Street around 3:30 a.m. The actor suffered chest and arm injuries requiring hospital treatment.
Law enforcement officials confirmed both identities but gave no further details as they continue investigating what happened between the theater performers. Despite Del staying in medical care, his theater decided the show must go on. Another actor, Ilya Koletsky, stepped in to play Del's role as Sergei Maksudov in that evening's premiere of Theatrical Novel.
Medical staff described...
The National University of Science and Technology plans to start three major projects, including blueberry farming, cannabis growing, and tomato powder production. These ventures aim to help the school become self-sufficient and create more than 250 jobs. The university expects these projects will bring in about $13.5 million yearly, money needed to finish its library, which remains just 22 percent complete.
Vice Chancellor Professor Mqhele Dlodlo showed visitors a 20-hectare plot reserved for greenhouse blueberry farming. The $1.1 million project should produce at least five kilograms per plant and earn $7.5 million annually. The school will also build a two-hectare cannabis greenhouse costing $350,000, which includes licensing fees...
