PRESS DIGEST - RUSSIA - Jan 18

MOSCOW, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The following are some stories in Russia's newspapers xxx v xxx on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

VEDOMOSTI

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- The Russian government will provide an additional 5 billion roubles ($88.05 million) of federal funds to redevelop small and historical towns, the daily says. That will bring the total amount of federal funds made available to the project in 2018 to 30 billion roubles ($528. Should you adored this post along with you want to receive more details about xxx porn free videos generously stop by our own web-site. 27 million). Experts say the scheme is a big part of President Vladimir Putin's re-election campaign ahead of a March 18 ballot.

- The Telegram messenger service may raise $850 million through an initial coin offering (ICO) to create a blockchain platform called Telegram Open Network (TON) and launch its own digital currency to try to compete with Visa and Mastercard, the daily reports, citing sources.

KOMMERSANT

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- Russia's Federal Security Service has published a draft presidential decree on border policy that expands the list of potential threats and details the country's national interests given changes in the geopolitical situation, the daily reports.

MOSKOVSKY KOMSOMOLETS

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- It is expected that about 100,000 Muscovites will submerge themselves in icy rivers and lakes via holes cut in the ice in and around Moscow, so-called Epiphany bathing -- on the night of Jan. 18, the daily says. Lowering oneself into holes in the ice has become a tradition in Russia. It is believed that the water washes away the bather's sins, the newspaper writes. ($1 = 56.7888 roubles) (Reporting by Margarita Popova; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

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