The Moscow expat community through the eyes of an Englishman who has lived in the Russian capital for 30 years.

Eastern Seasons returns to London with stellar line-up of guests and events

Chancellor Angela Merkel, caught in a bind by Turkey’s bid to silence a German satirist who lampooned President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said on Friday that her government would allow the case to go forward, but that the outdated law that permits it would be repealed with effect from 2018, The New York Times informs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official income rose by 1 million rubles (roughly $15,000) in 2015, according to an income declaration of property and earnings the Kremlin posted on Friday. It brings his total annual pay to 8.9 million rubles ($133,000), the Interfax news agency reported.

In accordance to the combat training plan, Black Sea Fleet holds training on controlling missile strikes and artillery firing. The training is headed by Black Sea Fleet Commander Admiral Alexander Vitko, the Russian Federation Defence Ministry reports.

Regarding ways out of the current situation, Putin do not intend to use either what Alexei Kudrin is proposing, or any agreements with Saudi Arabia as a foundation. In this respect, Russia should be guided by the anti-crisis plan of the Russian Government and make sure that it is implemented. Russian President said this on April, 14, during the Direct Line.

A strong earthquake struck the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, reportedly killing at least three people, injuring many more and causing houses to collapse in a town close to the epicenter, The Wall Street Journal informs.

Putin's 14th annual call-in marathon this Thursday lasted three and a half hours. Russian President fielded some of the 3 million questions submitted by ordinary citizens during the call-in show.

Russian gas major Gazprom has filed a countersuit in a Kiev court against the Ukrainian Antimonopoly Committee. The watchdog has accused the Russian firm of abusing its dominant position in Ukraine's gas transit market and orders it to pay a $3.4 billion fine, RT informs on Wednesday.

Two Russian military war planes flew close to a US Navy destroyer on Wednesday in the Baltic Sea in what American officials described as a "simulated attack".

The cost of maintaining the body of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in the mausoleum on Moscow's Red Square is estimated at 13 million rubles ($197,000) for 2016, the Interfax news agency reported Tuesday.

This year the world marks the 55th anniversary of mankind's first voyage to outer space. On April 12, 1961 the Soviet Union shook the world by sending the first cosmonaut into space. Yuri Gagarin, was the first human to orbit the Earth.