Free Republic

/begin my translationN. Korea Exported to Russia 4,500 Missiles In last ten years, N. Korea exported thousands of anti-tank missiles and SAM's to Russia, according to 'SIPRI Yearbook 2005' published by SIPRI(Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) on June 7th. According to SIPRI Yearbook, N. Korea exported 3,250 anti-tank missiles and 1,250 surface-to-air missiles(SAM) to Russia between 1992 and 2005, and 45 SCUD-C missiles(range 500km) to Yemen between 2001 and 2002. In addition, N. Korea imported 34 MIG-21 from Kazakstan in 1,999, and 34 Infantry Fighting Vehicle(IFV) from Russia between 2,000 and 2,001. N. Korea spent 24 million dollars for importing arms...

EU steps up pressure on China over textiles By Stefania Bianchi BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) has stepped up pressure on China to curb what it calls a "ruinous" surge in textile exports, urging it to take action or face possible sanctions to protect the bloc's clothing industry. On April 24, Peter Mandelson, EU commissioner for trade, called on China to consider stricter measures to curb the rise in its textile exports following the end of an international quota system earlier this year. During an informal meeting of European trade ministers in Luxembourg, Mandelson confirmed that Brussels would launch...

N.K. Nuke Test No Red Line, Former U.S. Negotiator Says A former U.S. nuclear negotiator said Wednesday a nuclear test by North Korea would not constitute a red line providing grounds for American military action. Georgetown University Dean Robert Gallucci, as assistant secretary of state during the 1994 standoff with North Korea, led negotiations for the ill-fated Geneva Accords. In a lecture at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington D.C., Gallucci said a North Korean nuclear test would have negative effects on South Korea and Japan, leading to further isolation for the North, and increase support for U.S. hard-line policies....

April 21,2005 Will Chrysler soon carry the "Made in China" label? The world's fifth-biggest carmaker is trying to work out an agreement to build cars in China and export them to the United States. According to a company executive, DaimlerChrysler is holding the discussion with one of its Chinese partners. The decision on whether to go ahead is due in the second half of 2005.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A federal judge sentenced a woman to 2 1/2 years in prison Monday for trying to export missile and fighter jet parts to her native China. In a deal with prosecutors, Xiuwen Liang, 34, pleaded guilty in 2003 to conspiracy to export defense items and attempted unlawful export. Her husband, 35-year-old Jinghua Zhuang, pleaded guilty to the same charges and also was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in December 2003. Liang, who has been free on bail, must surrender by May. She will be deported after she completes her sentence. The couple was arrested...

China's boom has not led to wholesale change By Joe Studwell, editor-in-chief of the China Economic Quarterly Published: April 3 2005 20:24 | Last updated: April 3 2005 20:24 As China's economy shows signs of a modest slowdown from annual growth officially reported at more than 9 per cent in 2003 and 2004 - but which physical indicators suggest probably exceeded 10 per cent - it is time to ask whether this latest "China boom" has been qualitatively different from previous ones. Those who believe China is continuing its march away from a state-driven economy cite hard evidence. The efficiencies...

Japan Survey Shows a Drop in Optimism By TODD ZAUN TOKYO, April 1 - Japanese corporate leaders are much less optimistic about business prospects than they were three months ago as they worry about fading export growth, a widely followed Bank of Japan survey showed Friday. The surprisingly sharp deterioration in the central bank's quarterly Tankan report of business sentiment suggests that it is taking longer than expected for Japan, the world's second-largest economy, to emerge from a slowdown that began last year. The survey found that while a majority of executives were still optimistic about Japan's economy, the number...

Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, 30 March: The United States would be forced to take action if it confirms North Korea transferred fissile material to another country, Washington's former top negotiator with Pyongyang said Wednesday [30 March]. "I believe that would be the red line," Robert Gallucci said in an interview with Yonhap news agency. "I believe that if the US had any information that North Korea was transferring fissile material, exporting it, it would have to act to stop it." Gallucci suggested that bilateral negotiations between the US and North Korea should...

European "diplomacy" with Iran--now supported by Washington--is self-destructive. The widely hailed diplomatic effort led by Britain, France and Germany is touted as a reasonable way to settle the dispute over Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program without any losers. By enticing Iran to the negotiating table, we are told, the West can avoid a military confrontation, while Iran gains "economic incentives" that can help build its economy. But this deal--now backed also by the Bush Administration--can only strengthen Iran and turn it into a greater menace. The European deal--which is said to include the sale of civilian aircraft and membership for...

U.S. reportedly misled allies about N. Korea nuke-materials transfer Officials said the U.S. misled allies over the transfer of materials for making nuclear weapons to Libya, omitting the fact that Pakistan served as the intermediary. By DAFNA LINZER Washington Post Service WASHINGTON - In an effort to increase pressure on North Korea, the Bush administration told its Asian allies in briefings this year that Pyongyang had exported nuclear material to Libya. That was a significant new charge, the first allegation that North Korea was helping to create a new nuclear weapons state. That is not what U.S. intelligence reported, according...

Feb 12, 2005 SPEAKING FREELY Betting on the next Lenovo By George Zhibin Gu Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have their say. Please click here if you are interested in contributing. December 2004 will be remembered as a time when a faceless Chinese company, Lenovo, suddenly took the global stage. The bluest of blue-chip multinationals, IBM, got out of its personal computer business by selling out to Lenovo, making the faceless company the third-biggest global PC player. So are there other Chinese brands that could take the world by storm? A rising...

MOSCOW -- Russia has abandoned efforts to tie the ruble's movement to the dollar and has decided to instead shadow both the dollar and the euro. The move has caused experts to predict that other countries could institute similar policies, the Financial Times reported Saturday. The move has also caused speculation that Russia may denominate its oil exports, 81 percent of which goes to Europe, in euros. Russia is second only to Saudi Arabia in oil exports. "Russia has talked about the idea of pricing its oil in euros. If it is starting to put more weight on the euro...

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A power cut followed by strong winds have shut down Iraq (news - web sites)'s southern oil terminals since Saturday afternoon, leaving tankers backed up in the Gulf waiting to load Iraqi crude, an oil shipping agent in Iraq said Sunday. Related Quotes DJIA NASDAQ S&P 500 10392.99 2034.27 1167.87 -78.48 -11.61 0.00 Delayed Data Providers - Disclaimer The power failure on Iraq's tattered electrical grid prevented oil from flowing and high winds and rough seas have kept the massive oil tankers from pulling alongside Iraq's two offshore oil terminals at Basra and Khor al-Amaya,...

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Cuba has agreed to purchase up to $10 million worth of farm products including potatoes, apples, and dairy cattle from Maine producers, Gov. John Baldacci said Thursday.

In this marketing year (July 2004 to June 2005) Russia will export about 8 million tonnes of grain, Russia's Agriculture Minister Aleksey Gordeyev told reporters on December 15, Interfax news agency informed. Despite the fact that total grain crop in this year will somewhat exceed the earlier forecasted by the ministry 76 million tonnes, the grain export forecast has been so far unchanged, the minister said. Russia's gross crop of grain might reach 77 to 77.5 million tonnes in this season, he said. The more exact data must be published by Russia's statistics service in the nearest time. In the...

In this marketing year (July 2004 to June 2005) Russia will export about 8 million tonnes of grain, Russia's Agriculture Minister Aleksey Gordeyev told reporters on December 15, Interfax news agency informed. Despite the fact that total grain crop in this year will somewhat exceed the earlier forecasted by the ministry 76 million tonnes, the grain export forecast has been so far unchanged, the minister said. Russia's gross crop of grain might reach 77 to 77.5 million tonnes in this season, he said. The more exact data must be published by Russia's statistics service in the nearest time. In the...

By Christopher Swann in WashingtonPublished: November 10 2004 13:51 | Last updated: November 10 2004 13:51The US trade deficit narrowed unexpectedly in September, reflecting a fall in energy imports and a pick up in exports, according to data released on Wednesday. The trade shortfall fell by $1.9bn to $51.6bn, compared with forecasts of a deficit of about $53.5bn. The figures pointed to a stronger performance by US exporters. Exports of goods climbed by $900m to $68.9bn, offsetting a $100m fall in service exports to $28.5bn. Sales of semiconductors, computers and food were particularly strong. HSBC said the improvement in the...

I am confused on a recent law voted by the legislators and expected to be signed by President Bush, and not sure of the impact on my company. Currently we take advantage of the 15% Extraterritorial Income (ETI) Exclusion of foreign sales for our software company. Now, this law repeals that. I believe this will cause me to increase the price of my product 15% to maintain the same net profit I have today. This 15% could price me out of the market resulting in not being able to export at all. I understand this law was passed in response...

Gentlemen, kill your engines By Jamil Anderlini SHANGHAI - Two weeks ago, in a beautiful display of dry banker's understatement, Morgan Stanley lowered its rating on China's automobile industry to "cautious" from "in-line". But "cautious" doesn't quite tally with the actions of the world's biggest auto manufacturers over the last year and certainly fails to capture the current mood that must pervade the Shanghai boardrooms of General Motors, Volkswagen and all the other car companies that have been pouring spectacular sums into the Chinese car market. "Blind panic" might be a more apt description. Sitting in their corporate boxes at...

The fourth Russian exhibition of arms and military equipment, Russian Expo Arms-2004, will be held from July 6 to July 10 near the city of Nizhny Tagil (the Urals). The first two days of the exhibition will be devoted entirely to the military, defense industry experts, foreign guests, potential buyers of Russian arms, military experts and reporters. The rest of the exhibition will be dedicated to general visitors. The exhibition will also include business meetings, briefings, press conferences, roundtable discussions, seminars and presentations from firms. As in the past, the exhibition will be held at the Nizhny Tagil Institute...