POLITICS
According to an opinion poll by Levada Center, most Russians still believe President Vladimir Putin has done more good things for the country than bad ones.
(Kommersant)
A first meeting between new US Secretary of State John Kerry and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov might have been a key development in tense US-Russian ties this week, but Russian media instead savored a declaration by Kerry that Americans have “the right to be stupid.”
(The Moscow Times)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Horsemeat has been detected in meat products from Europe labeled as sausage, Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight (Rosselkhoznadzor) said. Veterinarians are afraid European businessmen will try to sell horsemeat-containing products to third world countries and Russia.
(Kommersant)
The risks of doing business in Russia are on par with those in Nigeria and Romania and can negatively affect sales, Coca-Cola said in a report issued to its investors.
(The Moscow Times)
The Finance Ministry said taxes are collected poorly in 2013. The fiscal authorities plan to make up for reduction in tax collection by imposing tougher responsibility for tax dodging.
(Kommersant)
An eccentric move by billionaire Alexander Lebedev resulted in a wave of bloggers' irony after the banker nominated his one-year-old son to the board of directors at Aeroflot, in which he owns a minority stake. Yegor Lebedev, reportedly born in November 2011, was listed among senior executives of domestic and foreign companies nominated for the state-controlled carrier's board, according to a statement on Aeroflot's website.
(The Moscow Times)
Russia is trying to boost talks on gas supplies to China. Following a visit by Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, Gazprom and CNPC announced they would agree on a relevant contract by the yearend. The price issue remains unresolved yet.
(Vedomosti, Kommersant)
DEFENSE
President Vladimir Putin called on Russia’s top military leadership to deliver a “drastic upgrade” to the country’s military capabilities over the next three to five years to thwart “systematic attempts to undermine the strategic balance.”
(The Moscow Times, Vedomosti)
IT
Russian computer security company Kaspersky Lab has identified new malware, MiniDuke, used to attack multiple government entities and institutions worldwide during the past week.
(Vedomosti)
SOCIETY
Seventeen million migrants are expected to enter Russia this year. Last year, their number was 15.8 million, which is 14 percent more than in 2011.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
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