15.08 Russian Press at a Glance, Thursday, August 15, 2013
A brief look at what is in the Russian papers today
POLITICS
Over 67 percent of Muscovites would vote for acting Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin should mayoral elections be held this Sunday, while just 13 percent would support his closest rival, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, according to a VTsIOM opinion poll.
(Kommersant)
ECONOMICS & BUSINESS
The government is pushing its natural monopolies to make their investment programs transparent.
(Vedomosti)
Russias Federal Customs Service has tightened control of freight traffic from Ukraine. Experts say the move is part of Russias strong-arm tactics to force Ukraine to join the Moscow-led Customs Union, and represents the start of a full-on trade war.
(Kommersant, Moskovsky Komsomolets, RBC Daily)
Eurocement, thecountry's largest producer ofbuilding material, has set out onan offensive against competing supplies fromTurkey andIran. Thecompany's newest 17 billion ruble ($524 million) plant, which boasts some ofthe world's largest cement mills, will help replace 80 percent ofimports fromthese countries, Eurocement chief Mikhail Skorokhod said.
(The Moscow Times)
Current measures to counter outflow of capital from Russia through false import schemes from the Customs Union states of Belarus and Kazakhstan are not working. The Russian Central Bank now insists on Russian banks refusing in principle to conduct such dubious operations for their clients.
(Kommersant)
State technology corporation Rostec andCanadian aircraft producer Bombardier are nearing anagreement toassemble Bombardier's Q400 regional turboprop inRussia.
(The Moscow Times)
RUSSIA
Migrant labor generates up to 8 percent of Russia's GDP, experts say.
(Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
Supporters ofmayoral hopeful Alexei Navalny were struggling tofind answers over a recentincident when police forced their way intoa central Moscow apartment toseize what they said were illegal campaign materials.
(The Moscow Times)
SOCIETY
Amendments have been introduced to traffic rules aimed to allow drivers to use bus lanes at night. Currently, drivers may only use them on holidays and weekends.
(Kommersant)
DEFENSE
A center in the central Russian city of Ulyanovsk, destined to provide transit for the withdrawal of NATO equipment from Afghanistan remains unpopular with its intended users. NATO countries have not yet signed a single contract with Russian carriers authorized to serve the city, claiming Russian companies are charging excessive prices. A Russian source claimed the alliance simply does not want to be dependent on Moscow.
(Kommersant)
SPORT
Russia suffered a humiliating 1-0 defeat in a football match against Northern Ireland in Belfast. The loss is a setback to Russia's attempts to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
(Argumenty i Fakty, Kommersant, Moskovsky Komsomolets)
For more details on all the news in Russia today, visit our website at http://en.ria.ru.
