Putin given powers to hire and fire science academy chief

Russia's parliament has voted for a law giving the president powers to appoint and dismiss the president of the country's Academy of Sciences.

The Russian Federation’s state assembly, the Duma, adopted a bill on 19 July to change the procedure for the election of the RAS leader, reported the Russian news agency Tass. 

The legislation requires a candidate to be agreed by a simple majority in the RAS election rather than two-thirds as before. The academy’s choice, however, then needs the Russian president’s approval.