06.08 Russian Press at a Glance, Tuesday, August 6, 2013
POLITICS
The majority of Russians do not approve of the existence of an excessive number of political parties, a survey by the Public Opinion Fund reveals. Experts believe the four major parties currently represented in the Russian parliament will continue to dominate the countrys politics in the future. (Kommersant, Vedomosti)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin proposed uniting Russia's space and aviation industries at a Monday meeting to discuss the recent loss of a Proton-M rocket in a crash. Rogozin, who oversees the defense and aircraft industries, said there are developments in the aviation industry that could find applications in space technology and vice-versa.
(Kommersant, The Moscow Times)
Russia exported 2.4 million tons of grain in July, a 16-percent increase year-on-year.
(Vedomosti)
Russias largest privately held oil company LUKoil may join an existing development project in Iraq, as the Iraqi authorities look for a foreign investor to help increase output at the Kirkuk oil field.
(Kommersant)
Russias Vityaz aircraft-making company is planning to begin assembly of modernized Canadian regional Twin Otter 400 planes in 2014.
(Vedomosti)
Russian-born billionaire and Google co-founder Sergei Brin announced he had funded the 250,000-euro ($330,000) project that allowed scientists to grow meat in lab conditions, using muscle cells taken from a living cow.
(Vedomosti, Izvestia)
DEFENSE
The Russian military, especially the Black Sea Fleet, will take part in ensuring security at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, according to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
SPACE
Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Igor Karavayev may become the new head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, after Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin sharply criticized the work of incumbent Roscosmos chief Vladimir Popovkin and included Karavayev in his list of potential candidates to replace him.
(Izvestia)
SOCIETY
The Russian parliament will consider during the fall session a bill allowing people to reclassify their summer houses, or dachas, as residential dwellings, and to register their residence at them, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said. The goal of the bill is to alow those already living in dachas the opportunity to register and receive the same social benefits as people registered elsewhere, Medvedev said.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta, The Moscow Times)
Russian lawmakers are actively discussing the possibility of introducing an additional 2 percent tax on the working children of elderly parents, to help fund the pension system, in an attempt to ease the growing burden on the federal budget.
(Izvestia)
HEALTH
A quarantine regime has been put in place in two villages in the southern Russian Stavropol Region after two residents were diagnosed with the deadly disease anthrax.
(Moskovsky Komsomolets)
CRIME
Fifty-two businessmen have been set free so far in Russia as part of an economic amnesty for white-collar criminals that came into effect a month ago.
(Kommersant)
Russia may introduce tougher criminal punishment for bankers who falsify bank audit reports and declare false bankruptcy. Draft legislation proposed by the Finance Ministry stipulates fines up to 1 million rubles ($30,400) and jail terms of up to four years.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
The Federal Migration Service has drafted a bill to set up 83 new detention centers for illegal immigrants across the country as Moscow's three holding facilities run out of space following a week of raids on city markets.
(Moskovsky Komsomolets, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Novaya Gazeta, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, The Moscow Times)
Fugitive construction magnate Sergei Polonsky, now in self-imposed exile in Israel, says he will cooperate with the investigation into his business affairs but will not return to Russia, as he fears for his life.
(Moskovsky Komsomolets)
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