News from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, new tariffs, new excise taxes, new workbooks – the main thing for business on January 1 of the new year.

• Croatia became the 20th full member state of the European Union, fulfilling its obligations: it introduced the euro and joined the Schengen area (becoming its 27th member) almost 10 years after joining the EU.

• UK stops importing liquefied natural gas from Russia.

• Trade turnover between Russia and Japan for 11 months of 2022 grew by 10%, despite sanctions.

• Turkey introduces a 2% tourist tax

• From January 1, Russia becomes president of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), an organization that united Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation in 2015.

Also from January 1, 2023 in Russia:

• The law that establishes fines for telecommunications operators for failing to comply with the requirements for the mandatory installation of TSPU enters into force.
• The special tax regimes for the jewelry industry cease to operate.
• The food embargo is extended (until December 31, 2023).
• A mandatory quota of recycled materials is established in certain public procurement goods (at least 3% as of 2023), it is applied to products made from paper for sanitary use, coatings, primers, etc.
• The 30% discount on the payment of state fees for individuals through the State Services portal is cancelled.
• Rail freight rates increased by 8%.
• Excise taxes on gasoline, diesel and motor oils increased by 4%.
• The income tax rate for residents of tourist and recreational SEZs increased from 0% to 3%.
• VTB receives full operational control over Otkritie Bank
• Workbooks of a new type began to circulate.
• Taxes for oil, gas and coal companies will increase.

And in other financial news:

• Sellers of imported devices were required to pre-install domestic applications: on smartphones – Yandex, VK, Rutube, Kaspersky Lab, ICQ, Marusya, Mir Pay and State Services services, on smart TVs – Channel One, NTV, Watching, Rutube and VK Video .
• The Central Bank of the Russian Federation cancels part of the support measures provided to banks in 2022 amid volatility in financial and exchange markets.
• Russians are planning trips: mainly to Moscow, Sochi and Turkey (OneTwoTrip).

• Rosenergoatom – Russian nuclear power plants set a new electricity generation record in 2022 – 223.371 billion kWh.

• Roskomnadzor will analyze the situation with the leaks of personal data at Sportmaster.

• The number of Russian debtors restricted from traveling abroad has reached 8 million people.

• And The Wall Street Journal found that Sam Bankman-Fried previously offered 20% profit to lenders in a bid to save his crypto empire from the 2018 crisis associated with FTX subsidiary Alameda Research.