As Americans celebrate their Independence Day, Russia may have gained a new national holiday as well: the day they beat Spain in the World Cup.

Things worth knowing on the travel front.

The latest news, trends, and event from all over Russia.

Online media is rife with problems, and, as a result, it largely gets Russia wrong. You can help us change that.

This week Russia lost but isn’t out yet; football fans, amazingly, spread cheer across Russia; and a storm reminds us of the world outside.

Russia wins its first two World Cup games and Jeff Monson is running for CIty Council in Krasnogorsk. Does life get better than this?

Is it football or soccer? Either way, TWERF prepares for the start of the World Cup by examining Russia’s chances (not great), while still paying attention to a few other stories before the madness begins.

This week gives everybody a new lease on life, whether in the form of a photo touch up, another platform for Putin, or an actual new life for a “dead” journalist.

In a galaxy far, far away, the Millennium Falcon circled over a vicious battle with art and a dangerous passageway. That far-off galaxy being Russia, of course.

This week Russians hit the streets, waterways, and air for all sorts of occasions.

What goes up must come down: tales of flags, currencies, and seaworthy laundromats.

On the mall fire disaster in Kemerovo and how the system is doing nothing to prevent the next disaster of this type.