An Afghan policeman carries a wounded man at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul March 25, 2015. Six people were killed and more than 30 injured in the suicide bombing in the Afghan capital on Wednesday that struck close to the presidential palace in the heart of the city, the Interior Ministry said. The suicide bomber had been travelling in a vehicle packed with explosives and it was not immediately clear what the target of the attack had been. (Photo by Omar Sobhani/Reuters)

A former living goddess Kumari, center, watches Indra Jatra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, September 19, 2021.Tens of thousands of devotees packed the old palace courtyard in the heart of Nepal's capital to celebrate Indra Jatra festival Sunday which marks the start of the festival season in the Himalayan nation. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)

To produce the images that convey his fatalistic and ironic approach to life, tinged with hope, he needed the environment and knowledge of Mother Russia, oiled with a bit of bribery to certain circus trainers. Enter the Great Russian Bear, the personification of Russia for the last several centuries, onto center stage and into his studio. The bear is recognized as both brutish and cute – Misha was the mascot for the 1980 Olympic Games – and has remained a symbol of Russia since Tsarist times. In 2009 it is the symbol of the United Russia Party.

A group of young women have 'a bit of a do' for Oxfam at St Pancras International and enjoy a screening of the nation's favourite chick-flick Dirty Dancing on February 28, 2011 in London, England. Oxfam is calling on women across the UK to get together with their female friends in March to celebrate women's achievements for the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day (March 8, 2011) and raise money to support their work with women living in poverty. www.oxfam.org.uk/do (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Oxfam). LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28

One of the busiest areas in Birmingham, United Kingdom last night was Ludgate Hill in the city's Jewellery Quarter. Brits enjoying the hottest August day for almost 20 years spilled out of packed pubs on August 7, 2020 after sunbathing on beaches around the country as the mercury rose to 36.4C. (Photo by SnapperSK/The Sun)

Thousands of bright Red Potatoes are washed and sorted at a vegetable market. Workers hose down tons of the vegetables before packing them into sacks at the market in Shibganj Upazila, Bogura, Bangladesh on February 19, 2023. The Red La Soda spuds are then taken to the country's capital Dhaka. (Photo by Mustasinur Rahman Alvi/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

High waves batter a breakwater at a port at Kihou town in Mie prefecture, central Japan on October 6, 2014. Strong typhoon Phanfone slammed into Japan, packing gusts and huge waves that have already swept three US military officials out to sea, as it made a beeline for Tokyo. (Photo by AFP Photo/Jiji Press)

The pack of riders makes its way past Didi Senft, a cycling enthusiast better known as “El Diablo” (The Devil), during the twelfth 218km stage of the centenary Tour de France cycling race from Fougeres to Tours July 11, 2013. (Photo by Eric Gaillard/Reuters)