Bright blue lakes, volcanoes, dunes in the Gobi Desert, reindeer in the taiga, the hospitality of nomads in the middle of the boundless steppe (grasslands), all this is Mongolia, a territory of contrasts.

Earlier this week, Russia successfully launched its humanoid robot Fedor, also known as Skybot F-850, into space. However, the spacecraft failed to dock with the ISS on schedule and will make another attempt early on Monday.

Sputnik's weekly photo gallery offers a look into what's been going on in various parts of the world during the past seven days.

Donald Trump earlier confirmed reports that he was interested in buying Greenland, the biggest island in the world, which has belonged to Denmark for centuries.

Public polls have recently shown that an increasing number of Russians lament the collapse of the Soviet Union and support Soviet-era policies. The union broke apart on 25 December 1991 with the resignation of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, who handed power over to Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

The final of the annual beauty pageant Mrs Russia 2019 took place on Saturday, 10 August, at the Moscow Folklore Culture Centre. Twenty seven participants contended for the coveted crown.

Sputnik's weekly photo gallery gives you a look into what's been going on in various corners of the world during the past seven days.

The tank biathlon is a military competition created by Russia's Defence Ministry to improve the skills of tank crews.

Sri Lanka’s biggest city, Colombo, hosted a fashion week dedicated to swim and resort wear from 3 August to 10 August.

The annual show is considered the main event of the biking season in Russia with bikers from as far as Siberia and the Far East coming to Crimea to attend the spectacular gathering.

There are many leaning towers in the world that have deviated from their original vertical state, threatening to keel over for different reasons. Typically, towers start to incline due to changes in the soil or due to building errors when the foundations were being laid.

Sputnik's weekly photo gallery gives you a look into what's been going on in various corners of the world during the past seven days.

Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, better known by her stage name Mata Hari, was a Dutch exotic dancer, who was convicted of spying for Germany during WW I and executed in France in 1917.

Victoria's Secret is a popular US brand of lingerie and sleepwear. Its fashion shows differ from the usual variety, as the brand invites celebrities and entertainers to take part in its events.

Sputnik's weekly photo gallery gives you a glimpse into what's been going on in different corners of the world during the past seven days.

The 30th of July marks the International Day of Friendship. Established by the United Nations in 2011, this day promotes the role that friendship plays in bringing people and nations together.

One of Russia’s most famous venues, the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy (VDNKH) park in Moscow, will be 80 years old on August first. The history of the park dates back to the 1930s, when the construction of the first pavilions began.

Sputnik's weekly photo gallery gives you a glimpse into what's been going on in different corners of the world over the past seven days.

The men's magazine MAXIM annually holds the Miss Maxim beauty pageant, where a star jury selects a winner from among girls from different Russian cities in the Soho Rooms nightclub in Moscow.

The "Russian Field" festival of Slavic Art took place at the Kolomenskoye Park in Moscow. This is an annual event aimed at making visitors familiar with Slavic culture, music and food.