Rosoboronexport has reportedly signed a $550 million contract with Syria for the delivery of 36 Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten combat trainers.  Ponzi schemes like Sergei Mavrodi’s MMM-2011 are legal in Russia.  The Finance Minister wants legal restrictions to be placed on cash payments, as a means of ‘imposing bank services’ on citizens.  A group of Russian media organs has compiled a list of the top 100 most influential women in Russia, putting Valentina Matviyenko at the top.  Rostelecom’s subsidiary, Mobitel, has secured a one-year, $265 million loan from VTB to finance share repurchasing.