PRESS DIGEST - Russia - Sept 18
MOSCOW, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The following are some stories in Russia's newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
VEDOMOSTI
www.vedomosti.ru
- Russia is raising its target for food production to ensure food security for the population in view of restrictions in food imports.
- Russia could export 20-30 million tonnes of grain, assuming that its crop will hit 100 million tonnes this year, a senior official at the agriculture ministry, Petr Chekmarev, said.
- Russia's banks are raising interest rates on rouble deposits to attract people to keep their money in bank accounts.
- The government is considering the introduction of food cards to help poor people.
- Russia's opposition leader Alexei Navalny might face new charges of allegedly stealing 16 million roubles from the Kirovles state company in 2009.
KOMMERSANT
www.kommersant.ru
- Russia and Turkey may discuss the situation in Syria when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives in Moscow to take part in the unveiling of a new mosque on Sept. 23.
- Ukraine has banned the activity of Russia's First Cargo Company on its territory. The company is worried that its assets in Ukraine could be seized or even nationalized as a result.
- State-controlled Rostelecom will buy 1.2 percent of its ordinary shares from Russia's Direct Investment Fund for almost $44 million, with the aim of selling them onto a foreign investor, the daily says.
NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA
www.ng.ru
- The government has decided to preserve the remains of its state reserves and fill in the gaps in the budget with domestic borrowing.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to arrive in Moscow next week to discuss Russia's plans to open a new military base in Syria,m which could affect Israel national interests in the region, the daily says.
ROSSIISKAYA GAZETA
www.rg.ru
- Russia has no plans to forgive Ukraine its $3 million debt as the money for the loan has come from Russia's National Wealth Fund.
RBC
www.rbc.ru
- Columbus Nova investment Fund, controlled by billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, is in talks with the U.S. media holding Viacom on sharing 80 percent of its business in Russia with one of the structures controlled by Vekselberg's Renova.
- Germany media group Axel Springer has sold all of its assets in Russia to Alexander Fedotov, publisher of L'Officiel, SNC, Numero and Golf Digest magazines.
- Ukraine has imposed sanctions against 21 Russian airlines which continue flights to Crimea.
(Reporting By Tatiana Ustinova; Editing by Christian Lowe)
