Stories from Russia

Russian officials are meeting in Saint Petersburg to discuss potential agreements between Iran and the United States to end confrontations in the Middle East. Inflation data for April is expected to be released soon. Iran has sent a proposal to the US via Pakistani mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and postpone nuclear talks. Negotiations regarding the resumption of talks are being discussed in Iran's political space. Al Mayadeen reports that a new forum is being considered to discuss potential negotiations. Iran may link the start of negotiations to the situation on the Lebanese front. Rising drug prices for cancer and specific disease patients are noted following recent conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to receive the Iranian Foreign Minister today.

A new version of proposed AI regulation in Russia has removed requirements regarding datasets used for model training. Russian companies face potential losses between 9 and 96 million rubles due to these regulatory shifts. A new bill has been introduced to the State Duma to regulate cryptocurrency operations. The government has approved projects concerning the circulation of cryptocurrencies within the Russian Federation. Sber Bank is reportedly preparing to offer loans secured by cryptocurrency. Sberbank is reportedly preparing to issue loans backed by cryptocurrency. Vesti FM is featuring participants of the special operation, highlighting soldiers, officers, professionals, volunteers, military personnel, and medics as a new generation of heroes. These individuals risk everything daily for their country. The broadcast aims to introduce these participants to the audience.

Mentrans of Russia has developed a draft law regarding national transport policy. The legislation aims to establish mechanisms for a unified transport system and management across all levels. The text is expected to be published for public discussion in the near future. The Ministry of Transport plans to designate a single operator for transport security. This operator will manage mixed-type facilities belonging to various owners. The move follows parliamentary inquiries regarding the legality of using magnetic frames for vehicle identification. The development will occur in two stages, beginning with processes at Glavgosekspertiza before expanding to other industry bodies and organizations. Igor Manilov, head of Glavgosekspertiza, described the initiative as a serious challenge for the expert community.

A puppet theater production reported specific financial expenditures, including 2.09 million in revenue against 2.3 million in costs.

Sibur plans to launch the first phase of a catalyst factory in Kazan by 2027. The investment for the production of rhodium catalysts will exceed 11 billion rubles. Executive Director Pavel Likhovich stated that documentation for remaining production lines is currently under development. A decision regarding the additional lines is expected in the near future. This follows a period where the company saw a 6% revenue decline in 2025. The company's net profit for 2025 was 1 billion rubles, the first such figure since 2012.

A recent legislative initiative in Russia proposes providing free school uniforms to children from large families. The proposal follows discussions regarding the redistribution of prices for essential versus luxury goods. This initiative aims to support families with multiple children through state-provided resources. The specific implementation timeline for the uniform program was not detailed in the report. Dmitry Gusev, a deputy from the Just Russia party, has proposed creating a 'white list' of verified Russian users. This list would consist of individuals whose phone numbers are linked to confirmed accounts on the Gosuslugi state services portal. The proposal aims to ensure these users do not face mobile internet disconnections. This comes amid a legislative push in the State Duma to guarantee digital rights, including internet access and anonymity.

Vyacheslav Volodin stated that no law should take effect without the approval of the State Duma. He described this requirement as an unshakeable rule. The comments follow the 120th anniversary of the first State Duma session held on April 27, 1906. The remarks were made during a discussion regarding parliamentary authority.

The Moscow Exchange aims to begin operations involving cryptocurrency starting in 2027.

Vladislav Grib has proposed extending the Russian school year by two weeks for students.

Russian Foreign Ministry special envoy Andrey Belousov stated that US-led dialogues on strategic stability appear unrealistic and unclear. He noted that no decisions have been made in Moscow to launch new negotiations with the United States regarding these issues. Belousov said that specific conditions must be met before Russia considers resuming dialogue on strategic stability. The comments were made during an interview regarding a conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.