March 5, 2015. Uralvagonzavod Executive Director Vladimir Roschupkin and Rector of Ural Federal University Viktor Koksharov signed a cooperation agreement on continuous education at Sverdlovsk Region Union of Industrialists & Employers Vocational Education & Labor Resources Committee meeting. Uralvagonzavod Corporation’s press service says that, according to the paper, the two parties will work together in the fields of education, science, production, successive training programs for tech workers, new educational technologies, and scientific research. Every year, Uralvagonzavod is to

March 5, 2015. Ural Airlines added a new Airbus 319 liner (VP-BJV) to its fleet of aircraft, the airline’s press service reports. ‘This is the sixth plane of the same make that we’ve got. It’s fitted with 134 seats, that is, 126 economy class ones and 8 business class ones. The new plane will be used for operating both international and domestic flights,’ the press service says. As their leasing contract expired in early 2015, Ural Airlines stopped operating one of its A320 aircraft, so the air carrier now has 34 liners altogether. The airline embarked on its fleet renovation program in 2006

March 5, 2015. Sverdlovsk Region’s inflation rate stood at 7% in February 2015 compared with December 2014 and at 16.9% compared with February 2014, Sverdlovskstat reports. Food items grew 9.9% more expensive against last December and 25.1% more expensive against last February, while the price of strong drinks rose by 2.9% and 13.9%, respectively. Non-foot items became, respectively, 5.7% and 11.8% more expensive and services became 6% and 15.7% costlier.

March 5, 2015. Tinkoff (TKS) Bank’s net profit (calculated in accordance with the IAS) plunged by 41% in 2014 and came to 3.4bn RUR against 5.8bn RUR a year earlier. The bank’s pre-tax profit amounted to 4.9bn RUR against 7.5bn RUR in 2013, the bank’s report states. The net interest income, however, rose by 15% and reached 30.8bn RUR, while the net interest margin decreased from 36.4% in 2013 down to 34.8% in 2014. The bank’s share of non-performing loans doubled over last year and amounted to 14.5% against 7% in 2013. In the last quarter of the year, the bank’s profit declined by 65%, down

March 5, 2015. Russian Vice Premier Dmitri Rogozin chaired a meeting of the 10th International Arms, Military Vehicles & Munitions RussiaArmsExpo 2015 Exhibition’s coordination committee at the Government House. According to the press service of Uralvagonzavod Corporation (the event’s general coordinator), Rogozin stressed in his opening address that the exhibition in Nizhniy Tagil was a large-scale and serious event, and every effort should be made to make sure it becomes a success. Deputy Industry & Trade Minister Alexander Potapov, who spoke on behalf of his department, presented a