PRESS DIGEST - Russia - Dec 3

MOSCOW, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The following are some of the leading stories in Russia's newspapers on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

KOMMERSANT

www.kommersant.ru

- The Russian State Duma plans to amend the criminal code and restrict jury trials. Terrorism, espionage and high treason will be considered by non-court, the daily reports.

- Scientific production firm Saturn, which produces engines for civil and military aircraft was nationalised on Tuesday, the daily reports.

- Job cuts in Russian companies reached half a million people in November, the daily reports. It cites experts who say unemployment may reach seven percent by the end of year.

- Presentation of an anti-crisis package by the Russian Government has been postponed for two weeks, the daily reports.

- A group of nationalists were found guilty in a Moscow court on Tuesday of 19 killings and 13 attempted murders.

VEDOMOSTI

www.vedomosti.ru

- Russian state bank VEB, Moscow's agent to distribute some of its $200 billion crisis rescue package, has asked the government for an injection of 950 billion roubles ($34 billion), the daily reports.

- Russian industrial production will fall to the same level as in 1998, the last time the country faced a financial crisis, said the Russian Economic Development ministry.

- Unlike Europe and the United States, consumer prices in Russia keep rising. Inflation has reached 10.6 percent, a six-year record. The Finance and Economic development ministries expect further prices rises.

IZVESTIA

www.izvestia.ru

- The number of Russian insurance companies may half in 2009, the daily reports.

NEZAVISISMAYA GAZATA

www.ng.ru

- The Russian Academy of Science found a key concern for Russians is their health, according to a poll. The financial crisis only worried 16 percent of respondents.