The honorary consulates of the Russian Federation in the United States were closed in response to Russia's "constant interference" in American diplomatic and consular activities on the territory of the Russian Federation. This was stated by US State Department spokesman Mark Toner. In particular, we are talking about the closure of the American Center at the Library of Foreign Literature and 28 "American Corners" (library and reference centers) in the Russian regions.

Photo: Vyacheslav Prokofiev / TASS In the last days of the work of the exhibition of the work of Valentin Serov, a castling occurred in the Tretyakov Gallery: the main source of news and the main subject of interest was not the exhibition itself, but the gigantic line of people trying to get to it.

The Match-TV channel will conclude new contracts with some employees so that they can work on other projects. The previous version of the agreement "significantly" limited the ability to work in other places, the channel's press service explained. We are talking about employees who are not “100 percent” involved. At the same time, there are no plans for a “large-scale dismissal” of employees on the TV channel, the press service said.

USM Holdings of Alisher Usmanov invested in the American taxi ordering service Uber in the summer of 2015. RBC reports this with reference to a source close to the holding. According to the publication, the investment amounted to several tens of millions of dollars. The Wall Street Journal reported in the summer that investors included Microsoft and Indian media holding Bennett Coleman & Co.

The Roszdravnadzor Commission decided to temporarily close the Orlovsky perinatal center until the violations found there are eliminated. According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, the commission revealed "numerous violations of the procedures for providing obstetric-gynecological and neonatological care in the work of this institution." The website of the Oryol region indicates another reason for the closure - the need for sanitation.

Photo: otradnaya.v / instagram Users of the Chinese service of microblogs Sina Weibo made a new flash mob: they are trying to hold the handle (or other item) under the chest. Like this: The flash mob began on January 6, and two weeks later the Western media paid attention to it. The Instagram has already appeared their followers of the flash mob, as well as accounts that duplicate the best photos of the participants (and participants) of the promotion.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations will deploy field kitchens for visitors to the Moscow exhibition of Valentin Serov, who stand in the cold for several hours. In addition, a tent for heating will be set up next to the Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val. As stated in the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, rescuers will give tea to museum visitors. The kitchens will be open on Friday until the gallery closes and will resume on the morning of Saturday, January 23rd.

In January 2016, Western Internet received a new hero - Bill. The BE Like Bill meme (“Be like Bill”) diverges widely in social networks. One and a half million users were signed on his official page. About him writes "BBC." The secret to the success of the meme is in simple life tips that will help everyone become a little better. It all started with this picture: “Bill sits on the Internet. Bill sees something that hurts him. Bill passes by. Bill is smart. Be like Bill.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation denied rumors that a Russian combat aircraft was shot down in Syria. “These messages are absolute nonsense. All of our planes carrying out tasks to destroy terrorist infrastructure in Syria have returned safely to the airbase,” said Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the ministry.

The Sverdlovsk district attorney has opened an investigation into allegations that local schools subjected fourth graders to lectures about “atrocities committed by Ukrainian troops in Slovyansk,” including the widely-debunked story of the “crucified boy” and rumors about the Kiev's “total surveillance” of all computer activity and phone calls.

The UEFA Executive Committee has decided to use an automatic goal detection system for the 2016 European Championship in France. This system will also be applied in the 2016-2017 Champions League, starting from the round of 16. At both tournaments, assistant referees will work to monitor what is happening in and around the penalty area. What kind of automatic goal detection system will be used is unknown. The system supplier has not yet been named.

Match-TV will take at least half of the commentators out of state, R-Sport reports, citing a source. The same goes for some leaders. According to R-sport, some employees have already received a notice of withdrawal from the staff. Commentators and presenters will be offered to conclude an agreement under which they will receive money only for the broadcasts. Layoffs are carried out in connection with budget cuts.

The prosecutor's office of the Sverdlovsk region began an investigation in connection with reports that lectures were held in the schools of the region, at which students were told about the "atrocities of the Ukrainian troops in Slavyansk", the "crucified boy" and total surveillance of computer and phone users.

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny complained to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation about the rally in Grozny. According to him, the organization of the event may violate two articles of the Criminal Code. Firstly, the complaint says, the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation provides for liability for coercion to participate in a mass event. Secondly, the rally was attended by many employees of budgetary organizations, who are paid by the state.

What technologies are used by special services: an interview with Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan Photo: Alexander Koryakov / Kommersant The second book of Russian journalists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan “Red Web. Russian digital dictators against network revolutionaries ”(The Red Web. The Strughegle Between Russian Digital Dictators and the New Online Revolutionaries) was published in September 2015 in the United States and the UK.