POLITICS
Russia has lifted a six-month travel ban for Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov in response to a resolution by the European Parliament. (Kommersant)
The Kremlin property department described a decision by a Swedish court to arrest a building of the Russian trade mission near Stockholm as “illegitimate” and said it would not comply with it. (Kommersant, Vedomosti)
The Russian parliament is expected to pass on Friday draft law on health care in Russia. Many health officials believe the law is not ready for adoption. (Vedomosti, Moskovskiye Novosti)
ECONOMY BUSINESS
Heads of Russia’s Gazprom, France’s Total and Germany’s Statoil are expected to gather at an informal meeting in Paris to resolve controversial issues of the Shtokman project. (Moscovskiye Novosti)
The State Duma passed a bill on Thursday enabling the Federal Tax Service to control transfer prices for goods and services traded between parent companies and their affiliates starting Jan. 1, in a measure expected to prevent tax evasion. (Moscow Times,Vedomosti)
Russian business elite continues to distrust the ruble and prefers to keep the money abroad, a survey by UBS and Campden Research shows. (Vedomosti)
Russian grain returns on the Egyptian market. Egyptian state trader GASC agreed to buy 180,000 metric tons of wheat from Russia. (Vedomosti)
The prospects of success at the upcoming gas talks between Russia and China remain bleak. Russia’s Gazprom demands an advanced payment of $25 billion, while China’s CNPC wants an unacceptably low price. (Izvestia, Vedomosti)
DEFENSE
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Thursday his ministry will buy military products from manufacturers only when the price is right. (Vedomosti)
Russia‘s Defense Ministry promised to introduce by the end of the year a special military police division in the national armed forces to uproot hazing practices and thefts. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
SOCIETY
President Dmitry Medvedev has fired five generals from the Interior Ministry and the Federal Migration Service (FMS). All five officials were involved in the fight against economic crimes. (Vedomosti)
Russians are hesitant to take mortgage loans and even if they do, they try to pay them off as soon as possible. The financial burden is too heavy, they say. (Izvestia)
CRIME
The Kremlin human rights council asked President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday to order a review into the case of former senator Igor Izmestyev, who was sentenced last year to life in prison on charges of terrorism and organizing contract hits. (Moscow Times)
WORLD
Russia is ready to establish diplomatic relations with a new African country – Southern Sudan. Russian presidential envoy Mikhail Margelov will attend the official ceremony of the declaration of independence in Juba on July 9. (Moskovskiye Novosti)
China has postponed the execution of Russian citizen Ildar Sultanov, who was arrested in the country for drug-trafficking, for two years. Chinese authorities say the sentencing could be reduced to a lower- degree punishment if Sultanov cooperates with them. (Moskovskiye Novosti, Izvestia)
FLIGHT SAFETY
Experts predict that the peak of volcanic activity on Earth will occur in 2014-2015. It could pose a serious threat to commercial aircraft. Some airlines have already equipped their aircraft with volcanic ash detectors. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has warned that Islamic terrorists are considering hiding bombs inside surgical implants in an attempt to evade airport security. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
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