Sardana Avksentyeva swept to power as mayor of Russia’s diamond capital in September.

Pyongyang coastguards 'grossly violated' international law but were they in search of food and cigarettes? 

Three year wait for permission which never came. 

Kilometres of nets thrown overboard monthly, expert warns.

RusHydro, RosGeologiya and Transneft 'to rebase from Moscow to the Far East'.

A new service in Krasnoyarsk, Western Siberia, allows people to hire a pet by the hour.

Quality of life in booming oil capital Tyumen is better than that in Moscow or St Petersburg, says financial survey.

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

The Chinese media - and even more the country's social media - saw glamorous new first lady Peng Liyuan as the star of the summit.