POLITICS
The speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, Sergei Mironov, opposes United Russia’s amendments to the law on election to the Federation Council. This position may cost him his position, his supporters fear. (Vedomosti, Vremya Novostei)
New Moscow mayor fills vacancies in his office with federal bureaucrats. At least nine “feds” have been appointed to key positions in the Moscow city government in the past two weeks. (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Vremya Novostei)
The new chief of NATO’s Information Bureau in Moscow will arrive in Russia in December. The position has been officially vacant since the expulsion of the former bureau chief Isabelle Francois in 2009. (Vremya Novostei)
BUSINESS
Russia will insist on reviewing in the next two years the quota formula by which countries' participation in the International Monetary Fund is calculated. Presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich said on Monday Russia would expect a 5-6 percent quota in the IMF. (Nezavisimaya Gazeta)
FINANCE
The Russian government has agreed to sell 10 percent of its stake in the VTB bank to the U.S. TPG fund. The shares of the second largest bank in Russia will be sold through Merrill Lynch's investment subsidiary in Russia. (Kommersant)
Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin outlines reforms of state governing at a meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The reforms include 40 programs on state development with strict budget controls. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
Russian banks will face stricter money-laundering regulations starting January 24. Fines will be doubled and punishment will be dealt not only to top officials but also to mid-level management. (Kommersant)
ENERGY
Russia’s oil consortium Novatek eyes controlling stake in Sibneftegaz (Vedomosti)
The construction of Vietnam's first nuclear power plant could give Russia easy access to potential nuclear energy markets in South-East Asia (Nezavisimaya Gazeta)
SOCIETY
Video footage of the recent attack on Kommersant reporter Oleg Kashin has been posted on the Internet. Moscow police called it “interfering with the investigation.” (Vremya Novostei)
Authorities in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan have set up a commission that would help former militants to adapt to peaceful life. The measure is expected to curb terrorist activities in the volatile region. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
For more details on all the news in Russia today, visit our website at http://en.rian.ru.
