Updated July 21.
S. Korea, Russia cut diplomatic staff
By Mike Eckel
A diplomatic rift between South Korea and Russia has led to the removal of three officials at the South Korean Consulate in Vladivostok.

Angry defense workers protest
By Mike Eckel
More than 1,000 incensed workers from regional defense industries gathered on the city's Central Square July 8, demanding payment of back wages and the government's resignation, and threatening violence should their calls go unheeded.

Updated July 15.
Power cut hurts baby
From the Vladivostok
Two-week old Alyosha was in an incubator battling pneumonia when power cuts July 7 plunged the First River Children's Clinical Hospital and the surrounding area into darkness. Alyosha's life support system went down.

Yanks mark the holidays in Vlad
By Mike Eckel
It was an invasion. Of sorts. Nearly 1,000 sailors and naval officers from the flagship of the U.S. Seventh Fleet descended on Vladivostok July 2-5 to pay an official goodwill visit to the home port of the Russian Pacific Fleet, and to celebrate Independence day and the city's 138th birthday.

Elections still in question
By Janina de Guzman
Two weeks ago, City Duma elections scheduled for July 12 seemed a sure thing, while the date for mayoral elections was anyone's guess. In a turn of events, city residents now have a definitive date for mayoral elections, but the City Duma election date is up in the air.

Krai Duma passes 1998 budget
By Janina de Guzman
The Primorsky Krai Duma unanimously passed a 3.9 billion rubles ($630 million) budget for 1998 on June 29. It was the first day of a lively three-day session in which the duma's 39 members debated a number of issues, the most controversial being how to fund municipalities to deal with growing social welfare responsibilities and the legality of simultaneously serving in an executive and legislative position.

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