Ministry of Finance Proposes Limiting Cash Deposits at ATMs for Individuals

The Russian Ministry of Finance has prepared a draft law to limit cash deposits via ATMs. For individuals, the amount will be capped at 1 million rubles per month. The document was sent for approval to the Central Bank and Rosfinmonitoring in mid-January.

Currently, there are no limits on depositing cash into bank accounts via ATMs. The reform is proposed to further “whiten” the economy, as stated in the explanatory note. This measure aims to prevent money of “unidentified origin” from entering the non-cash circulation.

The law is expected to take effect 180 days after adoption, giving banks six months to adapt to the new regulations.

The plan to “whiten” the Russian economy began in the government in December 2025 following an instruction from the President. As part of this plan, the Ministry of Finance has already proposed mandatory cash collection for individual entrepreneurs upon reaching a certain turnover threshold, effectively prohibiting them from keeping operational funds in cash.

Residential and Office Buildings to Be Constructed in Two Moscow Districts Under Integrated Development Projects

New integrated development projects are planned for Moscow. The sites are located in the Central and Northern districts, covering a total area of 13 hectares. The areas will be developed with residential buildings and commercial structures. The relevant decisions were approved by the Mayor of Moscow.

The sites are expected to accommodate approximately 190,000 square meters of real estate. Part of the housing will be allocated for the renovation program, and social, public, business, and other facilities will also be built.

Basmanny District: Housing and Sports

The largest project will be implemented in the Basmanny district. Plots with a total area of 9.53 hectares will be redeveloped at the intersection of Tsentrosouzny and Balakirevsky lanes, between Bakuninskaya Street and the MCD-3 railway lines.

  • The urban development potential of the area is estimated at approximately 137,000 square meters. The majority will consist of new construction, while about 1,400 square meters of existing buildings will be preserved.
  • Old structures will be replaced with housing for relocation under the renovation program and social infrastructure. The construction of a sports complex with an area of about 7,000 square meters is planned.
  • A complex of dormitories from the 19th-century paper yarn factory of merchant Gorelov, built according to the design of architect Viktor Lunts, will be preserved, along with two sculptures from the 1970s: a monument to Vladimir Lenin and a monument to workers of the Moscow Food Processing Plant who died during the Great Patriotic War.

Savelyovsky District: Business Cluster

Plots with a total area of 3.49 hectares will be redeveloped in the district. They are located on Vyatskaya Street, near the intersection of Bashilovskaya and 4th Vyatsky lanes. The development potential here is 52,350 square meters. The area will feature a retail gallery with offices, bank branches, fitness centers, cafes, and restaurants.

  • The club of the “Svoboda” factory, a cultural heritage site of regional significance, will be preserved. The building, constructed in the late 1920s according to the design of Konstantin Melnikov, recently underwent comprehensive restoration. Following its completion, the “Moscow” House of Russian Billiards opened here.

Program Outcomes and Scale

The implementation of the two projects will create about 2,500 jobs. Nearly 2,300 people will receive new housing.

  • The integrated development program in Moscow continues to expand. By the end of January 2026, city authorities had approved 178 such projects. Their total area exceeds 1,600 hectares. In the future, it is planned to build over 33 million square meters of real estate.

Workers in South Korea Save Over 8 Hours Per Week Thanks to AI

Employees of South Korean companies save an average of over 8 hours of working time per week by using generative artificial intelligence. This is according to a survey.

  • According to the study’s results, without such technologies, workers would have to spend an additional 8.4 hours per week on work. This is equivalent to a reduction in working time of nearly 18%.
  • The survey involved about 3,000 people over the age of 20. More than half of the respondents stated that they use AI, including services like ChatGPT, for daily work tasks.

    памятник Владимиру Ленину

    The Monument to Vladimir Lenin is a statue commemorating the founder of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin. Such monuments were erected in massive numbers across the Soviet Union following his death in 1924, serving as symbols of communist ideology and state power. While many have been removed since the USSR’s dissolution, some remain as historical artifacts of the 20th century.

    памятник работникам Московского пищевого комбината, погибшим в годы Великой Отечественной войны

    This monument in Moscow honors the workers of the Moscow Food Processing Plant who died during the Great Patriotic War (World War II). It was erected to commemorate the plant’s employees who perished while serving at the front or working on the home front to supply the city and army. The site serves as a local memorial to the civilian and industrial sacrifices made during the war.

    клуб фабрики «Свобода»

    The “Svoboda” Factory Club is a historic cultural venue in Moscow, Russia, originally built in the early 20th century as a recreational and social center for workers of the “Svoboda” (Freedom) perfume and cosmetics factory. It became a notable example of Soviet constructivist architecture and a hub for proletarian cultural life, hosting various educational and entertainment events for factory employees and the local community.

    Дом русского бильярда «Москва»

    “Дом русского бильярда «Москва»” (The House of Russian Billiards “Moscow”) is a prominent cultural and sports complex in Moscow dedicated to the traditional Russian billiards game. It was established to promote and preserve this classic sport, serving as a major venue for professional tournaments and a social hub for enthusiasts. The complex reflects the deep historical roots of billiards in Russian society, which has been a popular pastime among various social classes since at least the 18th century.