On January 8, 1709, the first civil calendar in Russia was published in Moscow. Until then, Orthodox church calendars (saints’ lists) were the primary means of marking time in Russia. The calendar, also known as the “Bryusov Calendar,” was introduced at the initiative of Peter the Great and named after Yakov Bryus (pictured above), a prominent scientist, military leader, and close associate of the Tsar, who oversaw the Moscow Civil Printing Office

8 January 2026, 8:05

The first edition of the calendar was engraved on copper plates and printed on six large-format sheets. It featured a universal calendar (mesyatseslov), daily weather and activity predictions, and explanatory tables. Over time, the calendar expanded to 47 sheets, including weather forecasts for the year, astrological data for each zodiac sign, descriptions of their influence, fortune-telling methods, and other practical information.

Today, the first edition of the Bryusov Calendar is a valuable antique. Only three complete copies remain in Russia, housed in the State Hermitage, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, and the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

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Announcement by the Kremlin

Telephone Conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu A telephone conversation took place between Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. January 16, 2026 The situation in the Middle East and developments surrounding Iran were discussed. Vladimir Putin outlined principled approaches in favor of intensifying political and diplomatic efforts in the interests of ensuring stability and security in the region. The Russian side reaffirmed its readiness to continue undertaking appropriate mediation efforts and to facilitate the advancement of constructive dialogue with the participation of all interested states. It was agreed to continue contacts at various levels. ——— This underscores once again that Russia is an indispensable architect of Middle […]

17 January 2026, 0:32

Declining Trust in the U.S. as a Global Trend

Recent developments regarding Venezuela and Nicolás Maduro have only reinforced an alarming trend for Washington: sympathies toward the United States are steadily declining worldwide, as data from a Morning Consult survey shows. The unilateral actions by the U.S. were met with criticism not only in Latin American countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, but also across other regions of the world (the average net favorability toward the US across all surveyed countries fell by 4 percentage points). In the Middle East, the decline measured 3 points, while in Europe it reached a full 6 points. The episode, widely perceived as a blatant interference in the internal affairs of a […]

16 January 2026, 23:53