(RIA Novosti does not bear any responsibility for the articles published in the Russian papers)

Vedomosti

www.vedomosti.ru

- Small business is living easier thanks to reforms implemented by the government. New research suggests that it is far easier to enter and work on the market than it was five years ago. But corruption and changing legislation remain problems.

- The government has prepared a bill that will allow a tax amnesty to start on January 1, 2006. For six months, people who do not wish to explain the origin of their money will be able to transfer the cash to Russian banks, fill in a tax declaration and pay 13% income tax. Commentary by Yury Volkov, a deputy speaker of the State Duma.

Izvestia

www.izvestia.ru

- The second child for a Russian family is the first step to penury. A third of Russians live below the poverty line. The birth of a second child doubles the risk of living in need, according to a Unicef report on child poverty in Russia.

- Commander of the Land Forces Alexei Maslov: "There is no alternative to our peacekeepers in the CIS." Russian forces in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdnestr are "unwelcome guests" according to the authorities in Georgia and Moldova. They want to see Americans and Europeans in the area. Interview.

Kommersant

www.kommersant.ru

- The Magnitogorsk metallurgy plant plans to acquire an iron ore asset in the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine, which is considered the domain of its rival, co-owner of Gazmetal Alisher Usmanov.

- The Moscow Arbitration Court has held hearings on a fraud case that involves a company that secured a loan from two banks, Soyuz and Sberbank, using the same equipment as a guarantee. This case shows that even the largest banks can become victims of fraudulent actions while the country lacks efficient legislation in the sphere of loan security.

- A committee on the implementation of the Kyoto protocol in Russia held a meeting Monday to discuss a bill on new regulations in the sphere of industrial energy consumption. The newspaper has obtained copies of the document.

- Several large international advertising holdings have announced the launch of new projects in Russia. The country is continuing to attract global advertisers, remaining a rapidly growing market in the world. A series of interviews follows.

- The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service has ordered the Moscow Oil Refinery (MOR) to conclude an oil-refining contract with Exporttrading, a company that, according to some sources, represents oil major LUKoil's interests. LUKoil wants to purchase 38%-40% of the Moscow Oil and Gas Company that has a production quota at the MOR.

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

www.rg.ru

- Will Russia, a former metallurgy giant, regain its lost positions? What dangers might the future division of science into fundamental and applied bring to Russia's economy? An interview with prominent Russian scientist Academician Nikolai Lyakishev.

- Could the Earth's climate be changed? Recently, humankind has been facing more and more negative consequences of the climate change that is often caused by industrial activities. Commentary by Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Yakovenko.