Putin Calls for Shipbuilding Plan

President Vladimir Putin asked for a government plan by October to enable the nation's shipbuilders to compete with countries including South Korea, the world's biggest shipbuilder. Russia "must find niches where it will be most competitive," Putin reportedly told a government meeting in Moscow August 1, according to The Moscow Times. Building ships, rigs and naval vessels offers "serious niches" for Russia, he said. (Source: The Moscow Times)