Stories from moscow · Russia

Rosnadzor head Anzor Muzaev reported that artificial intelligence successfully identified a student cheating during a state exam. The announcement was made during a speech at the Alpha Summit. Vice-Premier Marat Khusnullin reported a catastrophic shortage of workers in the Russian construction sector. High-demand specialists include ventilation system installers, electricians, and plumbers. Salaries for highly skilled plumbers can reach 400,000 rubles per month, while electricians earn up to 350,000 rubles. Khusnullin stated that labor productivity must increase by 22% to address the shortage. The United Russia party appears to be losing support ahead of parliamentary elections in Russia this autumn. In the Russian political system, elections function primarily as a test of loyalty for regional elites rather than competitive contests.

The number of private foundations in Russia has significantly increased, growing from approximately 200 at the start of last year to 570 by year-end. These foundations allow for estate planning and family capital management, with legal entities for managing assets under specific instructions. The private sector in Russia has seen growth, with approximately 300,000 public entities and the remainder being private. While the constitution guarantees free medical care, the source suggests that those who can afford it may opt for private services, particularly for vacation-related medical needs. A new institute, the Center for Engineering Data and Artificial Intelligence (CDI), is being created to develop and implement advanced solutions for Russia's construction industry.

A program titled 'Coaches in Crisis Are No Longer Needed' will explore why American coaching practices may not be effective for addressing Russian problems. The discussion will feature consultant, psychologist, and top manager coach Alexey Yozhikov. Russian courts are reportedly applying deportation in 99% of cases involving foreign citizens, even for those integrated into society. Intellectuals lived with the consciousness that such a way of life was unsustainable but feared admitting it.

The Russian app store 'Russtore' has released its first-quarter rankings, with the messenger app 'Max', marketplace 'Sazon', and online bank 'Sberbank' among the most downloaded. The competition required participants to create a reliable artificial intelligence system for detecting lung abnormalities on chest X-rays. Researchers from the Institute of Artificial Intelligence developed three solutions for this problem, securing a spot among the top contenders. The Russian budget faces challenges due to ongoing sanctions and fluctuating oil prices. An expert suggested that even under an ideal scenario for Moscow, such as a prolonged war in Iran leading to Iranian oil leaving the market, Russia might not be able to fully capture the Asian market share or dictate prices. Oil prices have seen days with figures around 90 and even 100, with current prices around 80.

A new Russian law, effective since July 1st, prohibits operators from charging fees for loan agreements, installment payments, or schedule maintenance. This measure aims to protect consumers by eliminating additional charges associated with loan servicing. The law was discussed by Duma deputy Alexey Gavyrin. Notary fees in the Russian Federation consist of a federal tariff and various regional tariffs. These figures are economically justified and developed through federal legislation, the tax code, and the Ministry of Justice. The unified notary chambers ensure that fees are not set independently by individual practitioners. These rates are economically justified and standardized rather than set individually by private notaries. The source noted that fees are not determined by the individual notary's discretion.

Children of Russian military personnel will receive free admission to higher education programs. Separate quotas will be provided without entrance exams for Bachelor's and Specialist degrees, as well as for vocational education organizations. The announcement was made by Alexei Pimanov, with a memorial service scheduled for April 27th. A new Russian law has entered into force allowing parents to apply for their children's citizenship online. The procedure can now be completed via the Gosuslugi portal from home. Previously, parents were required to visit a Multifunctional Center (MFC) in person. The law aims to simplify administrative processes for young families. Radio ZET is advertising Lokomotiv, a product available as lozenges, dietary supplements, dragees, and syrup for children aged three and older. New Lokomotiv drops are also available.

President Vladimir Putin will participate in the opening ceremony of a memorial complex and museum dedicated to the combat achievements of soldiers in foreign military operations. He stated that the work requires the best human qualities and is not easy labor. Twelve such departments have already been constructed, with 28 more planned in real-time using the Golonavs system. These units are intended for both emergency and scheduled patient treatments. Russia currently operates 130 such stations. The system includes over 160,000 employees and more than 12,000 medical brigades. Putin noted the high level of responsibility and workload associated with the profession. President Putin commended doctors during the opening of the new Hospital Number 62 modular complex. These adaptive and universal modules are designed for emergency use, planned treatments, consultations, and diagnostics.

Cybercriminals in Russia are using fraudulent QR codes placed over legitimate ones on electric scooter rental stations to steal banking data. Victims who scan the fake codes are redirected to phishing pages that capture credit card information for unauthorized transactions. Experts advise users to only use official rental applications to avoid these scams. Ksenia Erdman, head of the micro-mobility operators association, discussed the issue and how to identify counterfeit codes. The Moscow Department of Transport announced the addition of new electric scooters featuring smart electronics to the city's rental fleet. These scooters include an IoT module designed to automatically reduce speed. The rollout follows improvements in local weather conditions. Users have been urged to maintain road etiquette.

Meteorologists at the Fobos weather center predict that Moscow will experience record low atmospheric pressure on Monday. The pressure is expected to drop to approximately 725 mm Hg, approaching the previous record set in 1971. This significant meteorological shift is expected to impact the region through early next week. Moscow is forecasting temperatures to reach 4 degrees Celsius. Moscow recorded 16 mm of precipitation on April 27, the highest level in 146 years according to the Fobos Center. Atmospheric pressure reached its lowest point since 1971. Snow depth reached 12 cm, marking a record high since the same year. Heavy winds and wet snow caused hundreds of trees to fall across the capital and surrounding regions.

Russian manufacturers and importers of foreign electronics must pay a registration fee through the 'Chestny Znak' system. A list of approximately 400 prohibited topics has been established for media discussion in Russia. The restrictions include bans on discussing specific economic data, demographic information, and military casualties. The source noted that these directives are being implemented despite claims that censorship does not exist in the Soviet Union. The source stated that these measures were anticipated and worked on for 10 years. The Russian Ministry of Education announced that DNA studies will be introduced into the school curriculum. The subject will be taught to fifth-grade students starting in the second half of the 2026-27 academic year. Students will spend 17 hours on the subject during that period.