Corruption in the St. Petersburg government procurement system seems to have reached its climax. This conclusion can be reached by analyzing the “tender” information of recent months. This refers to competitions for the supply of goods and services for the needs of the city. Remember the well-known principle: you give me - I give you? Well, that's what we're talking about...

In ancient times, the life of sailors was not particularly valued, at least of forced sailors. The oarsmen on the galleys were chained - so if anything happened they had no chance to escape. And the sailors on warships were recruited from those who could not swim - so that they would fight to the last and there would be no temptation to leave the ship, so that if something happened, they would go to the bottom as a whole team. But this was during the dark times of slavery and the Middle Ages.

The number of candidates for governor is increasing every day. The number of applicants has already exceeded two dozen... However, the listing of names is of little interest to anyone. It is obvious that most of them have neither organizational nor financial resources to conduct an election campaign: a significant part of applicants will not even make it to registration.

Novaya Gazeta has repeatedly written about the problems associated with the possible eviction of the Russian State Historical Archive (RGIA) and the Vavilov All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Production from the buildings they occupy on Senate and St. Isaac's Squares. On the eve of the St. Petersburg anniversary, the public was reassured by assurances that the issue had been “resolved” and no one would be evicted.

The mess in the Russian army has not surprised anyone for a long time. Although from time to time it still makes itself felt, and sometimes to people very far from the army. For example, when a rocket that flew there completely by accident suddenly explodes in a summer resident’s garden. Or when, while counting weapons in a warehouse, warriors suddenly discover a shortage of anti-aircraft missile systems. And where did they go? And the devil knows.

On July 13, in Lake Ladoga, while approaching Shlisselburg, the tanker Okhta, carrying 4.6 thousand tons of fuel oil, ran aground. As a result of the accident, a hole was formed in the stern of the tanker. Part of the fuel oil - 1.7 thousand tons - was pumped from the damaged vessel to the Manych tanker. Fortunately, there were no major oil spills, and within 24 hours the tanker was refloated by three tugboats.