Entertainment

A 12-year-old Russian chess prodigy scored a stunning upset over the reigning world champion at the World Blitz Championship in Doha, Qatar. Sergey Sklokin, a significant rating underdog, beat 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju on Friday.Sklokin is merely a FIDE Master, two rungs below the grandmaster title in chess. Blitz is played at a time control of just three minutes for the entire game, plus a two-second increment per move, making time management as crucial as strategy.The decisive moment came on move 70. With just eight seconds on his clock, Gukesh inexplicably rejected a straightforward rook exchange that would have led to a drawable ending and decided to keep the pieces on the board. However, he misplayed the position and Sklokin capitalized, forcing a resignation fro...

US toy maker Mattel has released the first autistic Barbie doll, expanding its flagship line as part of what the company says is a broader effort to showcase diversity and inclusion.The doll was developed with guidance from the autistic community over more than 18 months, Mattel said. It is the newest addition to the ‘Barbie Fashionistas’ line, which already includes dolls representing people with type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome, and blindness, and is designed so that more children “see themselves in Barbie.”According to Mattel, the doll’s eyes gaze slightly to one side, reflecting how some autistic people “avoid direct eye contact.” She has bendable elbows and wrists to allow repetitive physical movements such as stimming and hand-flapping, and comes with accessories including a fidget spi...

Hollywood actor Matt Damon has accused Netflix of encouraging filmmakers to simplify movies to suit distracted home audiences, arguing that streaming-era viewing habits are reshaping how films are written and structured.During an interview with popular American podcaster Joe Rogan aired on Friday, Damon, who is currently promoting his new Netflix film The Rip, compared the experience of watching movies in theaters with home viewing and discussed how phone-distracted audiences are influencing filmmaking decisions.Damon, who won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting, likened the movie theater experience to “going to church,” where “you show up at an appointed time.” He contrasted this with watching films at home, saying viewers are often distracted by their sur...

Like in most countries, the holiday season in Russia is a time for family-friendly movie premieres. However, in Russia, the celebrations last at least a week after New Year, so there’s an even bigger demand for family entertainment. Competing for the attention of parents and children are fairy tales, comedies about getaways from the city, and the long-running movie franchise ‘Yolki’ which has released new installments almost every year since 2010. But not this year. In early January, Cheburashka 2, directed by Dmitry Dyachenko, broke Russia’s box office into the global conversation. In its first week of release, the film ranked third worldwide in theatrical box office charts, outperforming many international competitors. Within just two weeks, Cheburashka 2 crossed the five-billion-ruble m...

Legendary Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani – best known simply as Valentino – has died at 93, his foundation announced on Monday.The founder of an eponymous haute couture empire, he built his reputation on impeccably constructed gowns and refined silhouettes, promoting timeless, classical beauty over trend-driven fashion. “Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones,” the foundation said on Instagram. “Valentino Garavani was not only a constant guide and...

The animated film ‘The Three Sisters’ by veteran Russian director Konstantin Bronzit has been nominated for an Academy Award, according to the Oscars website.Based on a Montenegrin legend, the animated short follows three aging, unmarried sisters living alone in separate cottages on a remote island. Their quiet routines are disrupted when a sailor rents one of the houses, sparking rivalry and a transformation that brings unexpected vitality and joy into their lives.The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced on Thursday, with the ceremony scheduled to take place on March 15 in Hollywood. ‘The Three Sisters’ is one of five contenders for the best animated short film award.Bronzit, born in 1965 in St. Petersburg, is a leading figure in Russian animation and has worked for deca...

The Russian Embassy in Germany has accused the Mannheim Philharmonic of “canceling” Russian culture after a concert by eminent violinist Vadim Repin was abruptly called off. The decision was reportedly prompted by a request from Ukrainian diplomats.In a statement on Thursday, the Russian Embassy said that “it is with great disappointment that we learned from German media of the decision by Mannheim Philharmonic’s management to cancel the concert by world-renowned virtuoso Russian violinist Vadim Repin scheduled for February 22, 2026.”Russian diplomats expressed particular dismay at what they characterized as an “overtly political step taken in the wake of a coordinated smear campaign targeting [Russian] culture by the Ukrainian embassy” in Germany.According to the statement, the move fits ...

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been added to the ‘kill list’ maintained by Ukraine’s state-backed Mirotvorets website, which publishes the personal data of individuals it labels as enemies of the state.The website accuses Infantino of “humanitarian aggression against Ukraine” and “systemic support and cooperation” with Russia, as well as helping to spread Russian “propaganda.”It also notes that in 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Infantino the Order of Friendship.Ukrainian officials have attacked Infantino for expressing hope in a recent interview that Russian football players could again be allowed to participate in international competitions. He said such bans and boycotts create “more frustration and hatred.” ...

For most Russians, the release of the series ‘PONIES’ about American spies in Moscow in 1977 went largely unnoticed. It’s not that people lost interest in American series; in recent years, the number of Cold War-themed movies has surged. However, many found it amusing to watch the clip in which the main character, speaking with a thick Russian accent, gets into a heated argument with a crafty egg seller.Those who did watch the series praised it as the most hilarious portrayal of the Soviet Union in the 1970s. Unfortunately, the humor was unintentional.  ...

The Global South’s rich culture and history could help shape the future gaming industry, Indonesian gaming executive Ivan Chen has told RT.The interactive media innovator is CEO and founder of Anantarupa Studios, a pioneering Indonesian developer established in 2011 and known for Lokapala, the country’s first locally made eSports MOBA game. Speaking on the sidelines of the ‘Inventing the Future: Plots and Stories’ forum at the National Center RUSSIA on Saturday, Chen said the West dominates gaming with capital...