POLITICS
Russia’s ex-finance minister Alexei Kudrin has reaffirmed his support of a consolidated political force “expressing the interests of democratically-minded people wishing to work in a modern market economy” to be formed by 2014. He has no immediate plans to create his own party, though. (Kommersant, Moscow News)
Two lawmakers from the United Russia faction have introduced a draft bill banning nepotism in both houses of the Russian parliament. Their initiative has drawn sharp criticism and little support from other members of parliament. (Moscow News)
Opposition lawmaker and former KGB officer Gennady Gudkov may soon lose his parliamentary seat after the Incomes Committee voted 8 to 5 with one abstention Monday to approve putting up a motion to expel him over alleged illegal business activities. (Kommersant, Vedomosti)
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the country's space industry was in need of a "new system of quality control" and pledged to allocate 670 billion rubles ($21 billion) to develop the industry in the coming years. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Vedomosti)
Russia’s largest savings bank, Sberbank, has resumed talks on the sale of 7.6% of its stake to private investors. The sale has been stalled since September 2011 owing to the turmoil on international financial markets. (Kommersant)
Russian independent natural gas producers, such as LUKoil and Novatek, are trying to persuade energy giant Gazprom to cancel its decision to stop accepting their gas due to the unstable demand on domestic markets. (Kommersant, Vedomosti)
Russia has moved to the fourth place in the ratings of countries with highest prices for housing construction. The latest survey was conducted by Knight Frank consulting firm among 54 countries. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
Danish shipping group A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S has agreed to buy a 37.5% stake in Russia’s biggest container-terminal operator for about $860 million to tap one of the world’s fastest growing consumer-goods markets. (Kommersant, Vedomosti)
DEFENSE
Russia will soon scrap its largest amphibious assault ship, the Mitrofan Moskalenko, which has been in reserve with the Northern Fleet since 2002. (Izvestia)
Russian Gepard class frigate Dagestan may rejoin the Caspian Flotilla in September after almost a year of repairs due to damage sustained during a storm in the port of Novorossiisk in November 2011. (Izvestia)
SOCIETY
Russian Cossacks are planning to form an All-Russia Cossacks Army to serve as a mobilization reserve of the Russian Armed Forces. The decision is expected to be made at a November meeting of the heads of all Cossack communities around the county in Moscow. (Moscow News)
Average salaries of Muscovites will increase by 40% in the next three years. The increase will mostly affect state employees, especially teachers and medical personnel, but may also force private business owners to raise salaries of their working force. (Izvestia)
