31.05 Russian Press at a Glance, Friday, May 31, 2013
POLITICS
* The economics-related components of Russia's expanded Cabinet may soon see a major reshuffle, following the appointment of Elvira Nabiullina as the new chief of the Russian Central Bank. (Kommersant)
* Russias ruling United Russia party is trying to ensure popular support at regional elections in September by putting forward candidatures from the nascent Peoples Front rather than governors and other officials. (Vedomosti)
* Lawmakers from Russia's Peoples Front have proposed to lower the base of the future luxury tax on cars to 3 million rubles from 5 million rubles. (Kommersant, Vedomsti, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
* Russias Regional Development Ministry will not allow Syrian Cherkessians into Russia. The Cherkessians, whose ancestors lived in the North Caucasus but were driven out in the 19th century, cannot come back because Russias migration legislation is not definitive. (Izvestia)
* The United Russia party will start putting a block on websites. Its Young Guards of United Russia has developed an automated system which can allow blocking of websites with undesirable content. Young Guards will launch its search-and-block program at the end of June. It will automatically search for sites with material on teenage suicides, drugs, child pornography, extremism and appeals for terrorism. (Izvestia)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
* Russian companies showed the worst profit/loss ratio in the Q1 since the start of the global economic crisis registering a 30 percent drop in financial performance. (Vedomosti)
* Pension funds have come under the complete supervision of Russias Audit Chamber, which has begun a full scale check of non-governmental pension funds, looking back at their activities over the past decade (Izvestia).
* Russian Finance Ministry has proposed to shift responsibility for prompt and transparent reporting of property ownership and income to taxpayers. (Kommersant, Vedomosti)
* The vice-president of one of Russias biggest bookmakers, Marafon, was detained after a large-scale search operation at the companys offices, on suspicion of distributing anabolic steroids. (Izvestia)
DEFENSE
* Japan is planning to restore fully-fledged armed forces capable of striking the enemy on its territory, a draft military reforms says. The draft document also envisions renaming of the military from Self-Defense Forces to National Defense Forces. (Kommersant)
* Russias special forces are to get a new variant of the Shmel (Bumble Bee) man-portable missile the Shmel M. The Senezh unit will get the first 200 weapons. (Izvestia)
* A Jordanian-Russian joint venture to produce RPG-32 portable rocket-propelled grenade launchers was unveiled in Jordan. Some Russian experts expressed concerns over the possibility of these grenade launchers ending up in the hands of Islamic radicals supported by Persian Gulf monarchies. (Kommersant)
SOCIETY
* Now that France allows same-sex couples to marry and adopt children, Moscow should impose a moratorium on adoptions by French citizens, Russias ombudsman for childrens rights, Pavel Astakhov believes. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Moskovsky Komsomolets)
* Russia is lagging behind other Eastern European countries in efficiency of transforming the riches into the well-being of its citizens, according to SEDA research conducted by Boston Consulting Group. (Kommersant)
* A scandal over online posting of answers prior to standardized state exams for entrance to university and college continues to spread around Russia. (Kommersant)
* Australia has topped the Better Life Index compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Sweden, Norway, Canada and Switzerland are in the Top Five of the worlds
