RUSSIAN NAVY IN TROUBLE.

The Russian government has notbuilt any new ships or submarines since 1991, has reduced navypersonnel by 50 percent over the same period, and fails to payon a regular basis even those sailors who still serve, AdmiralIvan Kapitanets told a conference on the future of the Russiannavy, Interfax reported July 6. Kapitanets said that unless Russiachanged its policies quickly, it would not be able to maintainthe fleet into the next century.

Federation Council Rejects Local Government Bill.