21.05 Russian Press at a Glance, Tuesday, May 21, 2013
POLITICS
Tuesday marks one year since Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed a new government led by Dmitry Medvedev. The Russian cabinet underwent a major overhaul in May 2012, with the creation of four new ministries.
(Moskovskie Novosti, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
China asked South Korea to help release 16 Chinese sailors seized by a group of North Koreans who demanded 600,000 yuan ($95,200) in ransom. The ships owner claims that the kidnapping was organized by North Korean authorities in retaliation for Chinas criticism of North Koreas nuclear and missile program.
(Kommersant)
ECONOMY
Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin blamed the stagnation in Russias economic development on the government and the ruling United Russia party. In return, United Russia party members said the stagnation originated from Kudrins financial policy. However, no one denied the stagnation itself.
(Kommesant)
OIL & GAS
TNK BP top managers continue to leave Rosneft. Another vice president, Sergei Brezitsky, retired recently, along with two heads of Rosnefts subsidiaries, Samotlorneftegaz and Orenburgneft.
(Vedomosti)
For the first time in five years aviation fuel prices are falling steadily, but plane ticket prices continue to grow.
(Vedomosti)
AEROSPACE
RKK Energia, Russias chief manned spaceflight company, said demand for its Progress spacecraft had dwindled following the successful launch of the privately-built US Dragon spacecraft.
(Izvestia)
REAL ESTATE
Real estate prices will start to grow by fall 2013, experts predict.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
TELECOMS & IT
Companies producing and selling telecoms equipment joined Russias top three mobile operators in protesting the December 1 deadline for launching the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service. They say they will not be able to complete the software required, which enables mobile phone users to retain their mobile numbers when switching from one network operator to another, in time for the deadline.
(Kommersant)
Yahoo officially confirmed that it was buying Tumblr, a popular blogging service, for $1.1 billion.
(Vedomosti)
BANKING & FINANCE
Russias largest lender Sberbank may soon enter the top ten of Europes most expensive brands, according to BrandZ ranking.
(Vedomosti)
CONSUMER
The first batches of Georgian goods have been delivered to Russia after the embargo on Georgian wine and mineral water was lifted. They are expected to hit the shelves by early June, after being cleared by customs.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
SOCIETY
Four people were killed and more than 40 were injured in twin blasts in Dagestans capital Makhachkala. Car bombs went off near the headquarters of the republics bailiff service headed by Dalgat Amirov, whose father is the citys mayor.
(Kommersant, Izvestia)
Russian investigators have opened a criminal case against the Skolkovo Foundations vice president, Alexei Beltyukov, over the suspected embezzlement of $750,000 that he allegedly paid to Ilya Ponomaryov, a member of A Just Russia, between February 2011 and February 2012 for a series of lectures and research projects.
(Kommersant, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
Respected independent Russian pollster the Levada Center may have to close after receiving official notice from prosecutors that they expect the organization to register as a foreign agent under a controversial new law.
(Kommersant, Vedomosti)
For more details on all the news in Russia today, visit our website at www.en.rian.ru
