Stories from Moscow · Russia

Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Igor Baylin stated that the Philippines has purchased a volume of Russian oil sufficient to last until June. Baylin described the Philippines as a friendly nation toward Russia.

Lilia Gumerova, chair of the Committee on Science, Education, Culture, and Youth, stated that parents have the right to monitor school cafeteria nutrition. The proposal includes oversight of portion sizes and food taste. Schools must provide a control dish showing the day's meal for parental inspection. Lilia Gumerova, chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education, and Culture, proposed a mechanism for parents to monitor school meal quality. Schools would be required to display control dishes to show what was prepared for students. A special mechanism for parental oversight of meal organization is being discussed, according to the source. A rift has emerged within the Russian power elite regarding the SSSB's control of the internet. The agency's attempts to disable Telegram and block online activity in major cities, including Moscow, have caused public unrest.

Scientists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology developed a compact analyzer for greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. The device weighs 4 kilograms and uses two mid-infrared lasers to perform measurements.

The Nord Tor hybrid system has successfully completed 15,000 hours of standard testing. The system is a sequential hybrid that does not require charging from the electrical grid. It is designed to continue driving even when the battery is completely depleted.

Weekly inflation in Russia reached a record high of 0.05% for the period between April 21 and April 27. The sentencing follows investigations into the treatment of personnel. Economist Denis Roksha stated that cars are becoming increasingly unaffordable for Russians. Prices for vehicles have grown three times over the last 10 years. This growth rate significantly exceeds the rate of inflation, according to Roksha. The trend of rising costs has been particularly pronounced since 2022. Russia is benefiting from a increase in global fertilizer prices. The source noted that fertilizers are not currently under sanctions, allowing Russia to leverage the market. This development follows a contraction in global supply as much of the previous supply has moved to regions like the United Arab Emirates. The volume of cash in circulation in Russia increased by 607 billion rubles in April.

The epidemic season for influenza and other respiratory viral infections in Russia is expected to conclude by late May or early June. Rian Voshtam, deputy director of scientific work at Rospotrebnadzor, provided this timeline.

Applications for candidates without experience in Russia fell by 25% in the first quarter of this year. The decline is attributed to employers reducing the hiring of junior specialists due to the implementation of artificial intelligence and increased requirements for efficiency. This information was reported by the newspaper Izvestia. Businesses find it more cost-effective to hire prepared employees rather than investing in training, according to Izvestia. This trend is tightening entry requirements for the Russian labor market. This trend specifically affects youth and students, potentially increasing the time required to find employment. The report was discussed on Govorit Moskva. This data was reported by job search portals. The announcement coincided with discussions regarding the May 1st Spring and Labor Day holiday.

Vladimir Putin has proposed a brief truce for May 9, Victory Day, according to reports from Moscow. The scale of the annual Moscow Victory Day parade is expected to be smaller this year due to security concerns regarding potential attacks on military equipment in Red Square. Iranian representative Hossein Sabti warned that if Iran continues to provide drones to Russia, the possibility of enemy attacks with sensitive bombs increases. Mahmoud Noviyan stated that Iranian oil is being sold at prices nearly double those seen before the war. The report noted that despite Noviyan's recent presence in Islamabad negotiations, progress on negotiations has not been reached. The proposal for a temporary ceasefire was made during a telephone call between President Putin and President Trump on April 29.

South Korea plans to dispatch a unification officer to the South Korean Embassy in Russia in August. Currently, unification officers are stationed in four countries including the United States, China, Japan, and Germany.

Russian authorities have transferred 4 billion rubles to the charter capital of the national video platform 'Unified Video'. The company is a subsidiary of VK. The funds are intended for the functional service of information exchange. The Russian Ministry of Digital Development is allocating 4 billion rubles to improve the VK Video platform.