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Emerging Nations To Set Up Development Bank

BRICS leaders, from left, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Jacob Zuma, Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a group picture during the BRICS 2013 Summit in Durban, South Africa, on Wednesday. Sabelo Mngoma/AP hide caption

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Sabelo Mngoma/AP

The Two-Way

Emerging Nations To Set Up Development Bank

The bank would fund infrastructure projects in emerging and developing countries. But the leaders of the BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — were unable to agree on how much capital such a bank would need.

U.K. Police Investigate Death Of Exiled Russian Oligarch

Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky talks to the media on Aug. 31, 2012, after losing his case against Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in London. Berezovsky was found Saturday dead at his home in Britain. Sang Tan/AP hide caption

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Sang Tan/AP

The Two-Way

U.K. Police Investigate Death Of Exiled Russian Oligarch

Boris Berezovsky, the Russian oligarch who made headlines in 2000 after falling out with President Vladimir Putin and moving to the U.K., was found dead at his home in England. He was 67. Police are treating his death as unexplained.

It's Russian Mardi Gras: Time For Pancakes, Butter And Fistfights

A man dressed as a skomorokh, a medieval East Slavic harlequin, distributes bliny in St. Petersburg, Russia, during the last day of Maslenitsa, March 1, 2009. Dmitry Lovetsky/AP hide caption

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Dmitry Lovetsky/AP

The Salt

It's Russian Mardi Gras: Time For Pancakes, Butter And Fistfights

Across Russia, pancakes and butter abound as the country marks a weeklong celebration before the start of Russian Orthodox Lent. Pagan in origin, Maslenitsa calls for plenty of eating, sledding, merrymaking — and even organized fistfights.

Maslenitsa Celebration Helps Russians Thaw From Winter

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'No Link' Between Meteor That Hurt Hundreds And Asteroid That Flew By

A meteor's vapor trail above the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia, on Friday. Vyacheslav Nikulin /EPA /LANDOV hide caption

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Vyacheslav Nikulin /EPA /LANDOV

The Two-Way

'No Link' Between Meteor That Hurt Hundreds And Asteroid That Flew By

The sights and sounds across Russia's Ural Mountains on Friday as a meteor came roaring in were awesome. There are reports of more than 900 people being injured, most when windows shattered. But European Space Agency experts say there's no connection to the large asteroid that's whizzing past Earth later in the day.

Putin Offers French Actor Depardieu Russian Citizenship

French actor Gerard Depardieu (left) and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg in December 2010. Ria Novosti /Reuters /Landov hide caption

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Ria Novosti /Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

Putin Offers French Actor Depardieu Russian Citizenship

Gerard Depardieu has complained about high taxes in his native land. Meanwhile, he has befriended some of Russia's allies and is an acting icon in that nation. Also, the Russian leader may see a chance to tweak the West by claiming one of its wealthier citizens.

U.S. Families Stunned By Russia's Ban On Adoptions

Children at an orphanage in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don earlier this month. Vladimir Konstantinov/Reuters /Landov hide caption

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Vladimir Konstantinov/Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

U.S. Families Stunned By Russia's Ban On Adoptions

An estimated 1,500 American families are in the process of adopting from Russia. About 50 have already been matched with a child. Now, their plans are in limbo. Russian President Vladimir Putin today signed a law barring U.S. adoptions of Russian children.

Putin Signals He Will Sign Law Banning U.S. Adoptions Of Russian Children

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Alexi Nikolsky/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Alexi Nikolsky/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Putin Signals He Will Sign Law Banning U.S. Adoptions Of Russian Children

Angered by an American law barring some Russian officials from entering the U.S., parliament members in Moscow have retaliated. Putin has now said he sees no reason not to sign the adoption ban. More than 60,000 Russian children have been adopted by Americans since 1992, the State Department says.

From the NPR Newscast: Michele Kelemen reports.

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Wine And Food May Rekindle Love Lost Between Russia And Georgia

Eating lamb dumplings called khinkali at a table in Tbilisi, Georgia. ostromentsky/Flickr.com hide caption

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ostromentsky/Flickr.com

The Salt

Wine And Food May Rekindle Love Lost Between Russia And Georgia

Many Russians will join their Georgian neighbors in feasting on Georgian specialties for St. Barbara's Day. But the countries' political relations have led to restrictions on imports of Georgian wine and mineral water. A recent thawing offers hope for a sweeter future.

Two-Year Prison Terms For Russia's Pussy Riot Rockers

Members of the all-girl punk band Pussy Riot: Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (right), Maria Alyokhina (center) and Yekaterina Samutsevich (left) in a glass-walled cage during a court hearing in Moscow earlier today. Andrey Smirnov /AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrey Smirnov /AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Two-Year Prison Terms For Russia's Pussy Riot Rockers

The three women were accused of religious hatred for an anti-Putin protest they staged in a cathedral. The case has attracted attention around the world as people come to the young women's defense.

Feminist Punk Band Gets Next Gig: Russian Courtroom

Members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot, Nadezha Tolokonnikova (left), Yekaterina Samutsevich (center) and Maria Alyokhina, at a hearing in Moscow court on Monday. Andrey Smirnov/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrey Smirnov/Getty Images

The Record

Feminist Punk Band Gets Next Gig: Russian Courtroom

Three members of the band, which staged a protest of Vladimir Putin in a Russian Orthodox cathedral in February, face up to seven years in prison. They pleaded not guilty on Monday.

Feminist Punk Band, Imprisoned For Five Months, Gets Next Gig: Russian Courtroom

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