POLITICS
A Just Russia, the moderate-left State Duma party that includes several leading opposition figures, suffered the latest in a series of setbacks Monday when leaders of two of its founding groups announced they were splitting off. (The Moscow Times, Kommersant)
Russia's ruling United Russia party may introduce mandatory membership dues “to strengthen party discipline” and raise financing. (Izvestia)
The multi-party system is back in Russia, but it does not enjoy popular trust. (Kommersant)
A recent poll by Leveda center shows that only 24% of Russians believe that the opposition aims to overthrow the current authorities by staging protest rallies. (Vedomosti)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Businessmen from 42 large foreign companies working in Russia note an improvement of investment climate in the country in the past five years, but agree that it is still “unfriendly.” (Moscow News)
Accession to the World Trade Organization is generating minimal short-term economic gains for Russia, and the long-term benefits are exaggerated, according to ING Bank. (The Moscow Times)
Russia’s energy giant Gazprom pledged more than $38 billion to develop the Chayanda gas field in eastern Siberia and build a pipeline to the Pacific port of Vladivostok as a way to develop its Asian markets. (Vedomosti)
Russia may loan up to $2.5 billion to foreign air carriers willing to buy Sukhoi Superjet 100 mid-range passenger planes. The amount is enough to sell 100 aircraft with discounts. (Vedomosti)
WORLD
The party of Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych is on course to secure a parliamentary majority, but international monitors said flaws in the conduct of the election meant the country had taken a "step backwards." (The Moscow Times, Kommersant)
Hurricane Sandy hit the New Jersey coast Monday evening, whipping ashore with sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph), dumping record amounts of rain, causing massive flooding, and leaving more than two million people without power along a huge section of the Eastern United States. (Kommersant, Vedomosti)
RUSSIA
Prosecutors in Russia’s Far East are trying to establish the ownership of a Russian cargo vessel, the Amurskaya, that went missing on Sunday in the Sea of Okhotsk carrying 700 metric tons of gold ore. (Izvestia)
SOCIETY
Moscow authorities are planning to levy taxes on residents renting their apartments, taxi drivers, tutors and owners of small retail outlets who previously avoided declaring their income using loopholes in legislation. (Kommersant)
The Russian Justice Ministry has made public draft legislation that envisions broader involvement of priests in working with convicts serving terms in Russian prisons. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
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