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The Russian capital is decorated for the holidays despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre opens its 245th season with "Don Carlos" by Giuseppe Verdi, starring the opera power couple Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov. Various Covid-19 prevention measures are in place to limit the risk for staff and audiences.

A Russian court sentences former US marine Paul Whelan to 16 years in a penal colony for espionage in a case that strained ties with Washington and fuelled speculation of a prisoner swap. Moscow City Court found Whelan guilty of receiving classified information as he stood in the dock with a sign that read "Sham trial!" and pleaded for US President Donald Trump to intervene in the case.

Russia has ended lockdown restrictions in Moscow after two months of stay-at-home orders and has eased travel curbs. Meanwhile, Brazil now has the second-highest number of cases after the US. Follow DW for the latest.

Moscow's streets remain depopulated despite thousands of employees heading back to work. More than 500,000 Moscow employees in industry and construction have been authorized to return to work.

While Riyadh's price war may be aimed at Moscow, it's likely to inflict greater pain on the kingdom and its OPEC allies. DW looks at how likely the global oil producers, including the US, are to weather this crisis.

Russia's energy minister says despite US sanctions, Moscow will proceed to finish the Baltic Sea pipeline. Germany is dependent on imports for 92% of its gas needs; Washington wants a slice of the lucrative supply trade.

A shooting took place near the headquarters of Russia's FSB security agency in Moscow. Russian media have identified the gunman who shot dead at least one FSB officer as a 39-year-old former private security guard.

Four men spent months sleeping on the floor in a busy transit area of Moscow's international airport, surviving on emergency food rations. Europe's rights court says Russia must now pay them compensation.

Moscow plans to vastly expand its facial recognition program. Activist Alena Popova tried to push back against authorities, arguing the technology violates privacy laws — but a Russian court disagreed.

An estimated four million people took to the streets for the Global Climate Strike this week. But in Moscow, one demonstrator has been protesting alone for months, pushing for climate awareness and to create a movement.