Only the return of some three millionethnic Russians from the "near abroad" has kept thefull dimensions of Russia's demographic disaster hidden from publicview, Ostankino television reported July 16. Low birth rates,rising divorce and death rates, and the highest abortion ratesin the world--four million last year... MORE

Russian banks facea crisis over the next five years because of the interrelationshipsbetween their directors and senior political figures, Russiangovernment experts told Kommersant-Daily July 15. Manybanks which should be closed or merged will survive because oftheir political ties, the experts said. Angolan Students Demonstrate at... MORE

Morethan 100 Angolan students attacked Angolan embassy officers afterthe embassy refused to listen to their complaints of financialdifficulties following Angola's decision to end government aidto the students, Moskovsky komsomolets reported July 15.The paper said that bloodshed was avoided only because of thequick response of the... MORE

Inflation in July is running atthe same 6.7 percent rate as in June, despite Russian governmentclaims that it would decline further, Russian television reportedJuly 16. Moscow Tightens Tax Regime for Foreign Companies.

Foreignfirms doing business in Russia will now have to use specifiedRussian banks, rather than Western ones, and will have to reportthe specific sources of their income to the Russian tax authorities,according to new tax rules published by the financial weekly Interfax-AiFon July 17. Russian Banking... MORE

In a movereminiscent of Soviet times, Boris Yeltsin has issued a decreegiving the state bread inspectorate the status of a federal executivebody, Interfax reported July 17. The 1580-man unit is responsiblefor identifying contaminated food and for rooting out any "misuse"of grain. American Grain Already Arriving... MORE

Morethan 160,000 tons of US grain have arrived in Russia's Far Easternports in recent weeks and more is expected, Dalniy Vostok reportedJune 24. Inflation Fails to Fall.

One reason that Russia is likely to havea shortfall in grain production this year is that only half thecountry's farms have the equipment needed to conduct the harvestin a timely fashion and without loss, Moscow radio reported July15. Yeltsin Increases Status of Bread Inspectors.

In additionto the more than 14 percent of the workforce that is unemployed,some 12 million Russian workers are not receiving their paychecksnow, Trud reported July 14. These non-payments may helpthe government meet IMF and World Bank targets but they do nothingto help the population find... MORE

The Duma has givenpreliminary approval to a bill which would allow Duma membersto retire earlier than other Russians, and would give them a pensionequal to 75 percent of the salaries Duma members will receivein the future, terms far more generous than other Russians get,Kommersant-Daily reported... MORE