Sistema, one of the country's largest conglomerates with assets ranging from oil to telecoms, is looking at a range of possible deals as it seeks to diversify into new business lines such as agriculture and infrastructure. Sistema, one of the country's largest conglomerates with assets ranging from oil to telecoms, is looking at a range of possible deals as it seeks to diversify into new business lines such as agriculture and infrastructure...

... popular revolt against President Bashar Assad's rule, a conflict in which the military's use of heavy vehicles has been prominent. Shortages of gas oil, which can be marketed as diesel, are already hurting local industries. In the northeast, for instance, agriculture is suffering because farmers have been unable to secure fuel for tractors and other agricultural machinery. "We can't farm because they've cut off the electricity and they haven't been distributing fuel. So we can't use our farming equipment...

... health minister, Veronika Skvortsova — unlike her predecessor, Tatyana Golikova — is a fifth-generation physician. But Skvortsova was previously Golikova's deputy minister and seems intent upon continuing the same course. The removal of Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik was also strange. Skrynnik was successful and effective in that post, and the agricultural sector is booming. But she had a strong personality and was not afraid to protest openly, even to Putin. Apparently, Medvedev...

... The other part of the formerly larger ministry is now called the Labor and Social Development Ministry. Another Golikova deputy, Maxim Topilin, is the minister. Nikolai Fyodorov, leader of the Chuvashia republic until 2010, received the portfolio of agriculture minister, replacing Yelena Skrynnik. He most recently was a member of the Federation Council and last May headed an institute at Putin’s request to propose a platform for Putin’s campaign-time umbrella group the All-Russia People’s...

ASTANA — Kazakhstan will pay nearly $30 toward the cost of every ton of grain delivered to the Black Sea for the rest of this season to help push exports toward a record 13 million tons, the country's agriculture minister said. Kazakhstan is investing in new elevators, ports and railroads to supply Iran and its Central Asian neighbors, but will also encourage farmers to cultivate more feed grains, maize and oilseeds to avoid an oversupply of wheat...

... final stage," the source said, adding that it may be closed in June. The deal, if consummated, would extend the logistical reach of Summa, an acquisitive group owned by Ziyavudin Magomedov that actively trades oil and is looking to branch into agricultural commodities. FESCO's asset portfolio includes a seaport in Vladivostok and a shipping fleet, railroad company Russian Troika and 21 percent of state-controlled rail group Transcontainer. The deal follows a slump in FESCO's earnings last year...

... next two years in an ongoing drive to expand the private sector in this former Soviet nation. Media in Uzbekistan cited Uzbek state property committee deputy chairman Saifitdlin Gafarov as saying Tuesday that assets in the oil, gas, energy, metals, agriculture, electronics and pharmaceuticals sectors will be made available for purchase. Privately owned news portal UzReport.com cited government officials as saying one aim was to attract foreign investors to help boost Uzbekistan's technological capacity...

... dispute in the city of Kondopoga led to widespread ethnic violence that was fueled by nationalist sentiments. Khudilainen indicated earlier that he holds a more supportive position toward migrants and welcomed them to work in the Leningrad region's agriculture industry. "The majority of migrants don't drink," he told Fontanka.ru in 2011. 179695 179742

... Abyzov and Alexander Voloshin will now have determining influence on the prime minister, a source close to the Kremlin said. Dvorkovich and Abyzov are likely to be promoted to deputy prime ministers, with Dvorkovich responsible for industry, including agriculture and transportation, and Abyzov for the Open Government. Abyzov, who is chairman of the holding Ru-Com and adviser to Medvedev, will oversee the project, an administration employee said, but he will not be given the position of deputy prime...

... environmental problems associated with climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification and other negative environmental processes" as having an impact on Russian national interests. The report also singles out poor water treatment, degradation of agricultural soil and increasing volumes of waste as major challenges facing the country. Proposals in the wide-ranging document include promoting "environmentally oriented economic growth," slashing pollution from industry to levels "of...

... his fortune, by the end of May. The aspiring politician sold his Bank Rossiisky Kredit to a group of private investors for $352 million two weeks ago and is in the process of completing a $60 million sale of the pharmacy chain Doctor Stoletov. The agriculture company Stoilenskaya Niva is the last asset in Russia that Ivanishvili plans to sell. 437073 179742

... continue to be in charge of innovation, but he passed the social issues portfolio to Olga Golodets, who will oversee demographics, health care, education and labor, as well as youth policy and tourism. Arkady Dvorkovich will answer to Medvedev concerning agriculture, transportation, telecommunications, environmental issues, energy and industry — excluding defense, which will remain the area of Dmitry Rogozin’s expertise. Dmitry Kozak and Alexander Khloponin will also keep their previous responsibilities:...

... Lavrov and acting Finance Minister Anton Siluanov will also stay put, the source said. Another source that Interfax didn't identify said acting Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, acting Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yury Trutnev, acting Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik, acting Education Minister Andrei Fursenko, acting Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko, acting Culture Minister Alexander Avdeyev, acting Communications and Press Minister Igor Shchyogolev and acting Transportation Minister...

... imports. In actual fact, by the end of the transitional period, which is between three and seven years, the weighted average rate of import duty will be reduced by more than 40 percent (the following figures have been mentioned: on goods within the agricultural category, the rate will be reduced to 16 percent, and on industrial goods to 6 to 7 percent). Meanwhile, the effect of reducing the rates of duty may not be negative for all branches of the Russian economy. In the Customs Union's current...