Russia turns back the clock on year-round daylight-saving time

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Moscow • Russia's legislature, often accused of metaphorically turning back the clock, has decided to do it literally — abandoning the widely disliked policy of keeping the country on daylight-saving time year-round.

The 2011 move to impose permanent "summer time" in 2011 was one of the most memorable and least popular initiatives of Dmitry Medvedev's presidency. It forced tens of millions to straggle to their jobs in pitch darkness during the winter months. In the depths of December, the sun didn't clear the horizon in Moscow until 10 a.m.

The State Duma, the lower house of parliament, voted 442-1 on Tuesday to return to standard time this fall and stay there throughout the year.

The decision won't make the Russian winters shorter, but is likely to reduce grousing about them.