29.10 Russian Press at a Glance, Tuesday, October 29, 2013
POLITICS
Russian President Vladimir Putin, seeking to defuse criticism of his treatment of Russia's gay community, said all people, regardless of nationality, race or sexual orientation, would be welcome in the Black Sea resort of Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
(Kommersant, The Moscow Times)
The regional branch of the Liberal Democratic Party in Russias republic of Chechnya has broken from the national organization after the party's leader, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, said Russia should "block off the Caucasus with barbed wire" during a television program.
(Kommersant, The Moscow Times)
Sergei Aleksashenko, former deputy chair of Russias Central bank has temporarily moved to the United States to work on several research projects at Georgetown University. One of the top Russian economists cited soft pressure from the Russian authorities as the reason for his decision.
(Kommersant)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Russia made significant progress in 2013 toward improving its business climate by climbing 20 positions in the World Banks Doing Business rankings, from 112th place to 92nd place.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
Russias state nuclear corporation Rosatom has been picked as the preferred candidate to build Jordans first nuclear power plant, expected to cost $10 billion and supply 12 percent of the kingdom's energy needs by 2020.
(Kommersant, Vedomosti)
Foreign investors have bought over 80 percent of shares during the sale of a 16-percent stake in Russias state-controlled diamond miner Alrosa. The Russian government will retain 43.9 percent of the miner as a result of the free float, while the government of Russias Sakha Republic will hold another 25 percent until at least 2016.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
Russias flagship air carrier Aeroflot has begun hiring personnel and acquiring ticket-booking equipment for its low-cost subsidiary Dobrolyot, which is expected to start flying in spring 2014. Dobrolyot will offer fares 40 percent lower than current market rates.
(Izvestia)
Russia's midsize Sovcombank is buying the local unit of GE Money Bank, a subsidiary of US conglomerate General Electric, in another departure of a foreign bank from a Russian domestic market dominated by state-controlled lenders.
(Kommersant)
Russian officials have decided on a major reduction of foreign employees at retail stores. The short-lived 25-percent quota will be reduced to 15 percent in 2014.
(Vedomosti)
DEFENSE
A fifth flying prototype of Russias new T-50 fighter jet has flown for the first time at a manufacturing plant in Russias Far East.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
Romania has begun constructing a facility that will host missile interceptors as part of a planned NATO missile shield, a project that Russia considers a threat to its nuclear deterrent. The missile base in Deveselu will be operational and integrated into the overall NATO system by the end of 2015.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
SOCIETY
An initiative to raise the retirement age in Russia would be viable only if the country manages to increase the longevity of its citizens to about 80 years from the current 70, which could take a long time, experts say.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
Police raided the sprawling Sadovod street market on the southeastern outskirts of Moscow Monday, detaining about 1,000 migrants from former Soviet countries and an unknown amount of suspected counterfeit merchandise.
(Kommersant, The Moscow Times)
WORLD
Germany's left-wing parties have demanded a public inquiry over reports that the United States tapped Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone calling in witnesses including former US intelligence operative Edward Snowden.
(Izvestia)
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