-Caveat Lector- from: http://www.aci.net/kalliste/ Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.aci.net/kalliste/">The Home Page of J. Orlin Grabbe</A> ----- Tomorrow the World Russia and China Unite Against New World Order Gee. Another socialist fight over who's in charge. How exciting. THE presidents of Russia and China declared yesterday that human rights should never overrule national sovereignty, denouncing the rise of a new world order based on Western values. At the end of a two-day informal summit in Beijing, Boris Yeltsin and Jiang Zemin issued a joint statement condemning the growing trend of using "pretexts such as human rights and humanitarian intervention to destroy the sovereignty of independent states". China repeated its support for Russia's military campaign in Chechnya, which world leaders including President Clinton have criticised for its brutality. In return, Mr Yelstin offered his backing for Beijing's "principled stand" in demanding that Taiwan must be reunited with China. There were bear hugs and toasts for the cameras and talk of a "strategic partnership" between China and Russia, once bitter Cold War foes. Harsh words were aimed at powers said to be trying to split Kosovo from Yugoslavia. The unnamed countries were condemned for seeking "excuses" to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations. America's plans for an anti-missile shield to cover US troops in Asia were also attacked. On Thursday, Mr Yeltsin used a meeting with the most hardline Chinese Communist leader, Li Peng, the Prime Minister, to lash out at Mr Clinton for "seeking to dictate" to Russia on Chechnya, suggesting that he had "forgotten" Russia's full arsenal of nuclear weapons. Chinese state media have not so far reported Mr Yeltsin's warning. Beijing remains committed to economic ties with Washington, but a friendly Russia could do much to help China in its drive to become a superpower, not least by selling Beijing advanced weapons. The summit also gave Mr Yeltsin, who flew back to Moscow yesterday, a chance to show off his renewed vigour after a bout of pneumonia put him in hospital last week. He left for China in defiance of his family and doctors but was soon pumping hands with Chinese leaders and managed a 100-yard walk with Mr Jiang. The London Telegraph, December 11, 1999 Year 2000 Rome Prepares to Throw Tourists to the Lions Where is Nero with his fiddle when you need him? ROME - With a million revelers and religious pilgrims expected to cram the streets of this historic city to welcome the next millennium, Italian authorities may need a little divine providence on New Year's Eve to avert a return to conditions that some only half-jokingly say may approximate those of the first millennium. Of all the industrialized countries in Europe, Italy is by most accounts the least prepared to confront the risks brought on by the Year 2000 computer glitch. The prospect of scattered electrical outages, telephone problems and other disruptions has even normally complacent Italian officials concerned. Outside experts worry that even small, intermittent problems with electricity and other services could snowball and that millennial celebrants here may suddenly find themselves in an environment where Rome's splendid architecture seems its most modern feature. ''We are worried about possible Y2K-related disruptions in countries planning major tourist events - for example, Italy,'' warned Lawrence Gershwin, the CIA's national intelligence officer for science and technology, in October. A recent survey by technology consultants in Britain ranked Italy's preparedness on a par with Honduras and Peru and warned that technical maladies brought on by the computer bug will stretch well beyond Jan. 1. On that day alone, the city will be under enormous stress from huge crowds at the Pope's blessing in St. Peter's Square and along the streets where 60,000 people are scheduled to run in a marathon. Italian officials insist that the prospect of a catastrophic loss of essential services is low. They note that millions of dollars have been spent to reduce the risks, although mostly in the last few months, well behind the schedule of other large, industrial countries. ''It's been said that Rome will get through to the new millennium only with divine assistance,'' Mariella Gramaglia, deputy director-general of Rome, said at a recent news conference. ''That's not the way it is!'' For many Italians, an interruption in some key services will not seem extraordinary. Italians already live in one of Western Europe's most glitch-prone countries: Postal delivery is notoriously haphazard, repair work rarely seems to be finished on the first attempt and phones are frequently overloaded, to mention just a few problems that Rome's 3 million citizens encounter routinely. And Italians' legendary ingenuity and experience in circumventing the obstacles created by government bureaucracy or error will doubtless give them an advantage over others in Europe. ''We don't expect any problems, other than the ones one might normally have,'' noted an executive at the national phone company. Italy also will not be exposed to some of the dangers expected in East European countries. It has no operating nuclear power plants, for example, and its water systems can revert to manual operation if necessary. But some authorities are warning that Y2K - the glitch caused by the failure of many computer software designers to program electronic calendars to recognize the year 2000 - will cause more than the usual travails here if thousands of computers shut down or begin issuing spurious instructions. Small banks, rural hospitals and information systems run by local governments are especially at risk, according to a recent British government travel advisory. ''A situation like this has never happened before, because everything may have a malfunction'' of brief duration, said Augusto Leggio, technical director of Italy's Y2K commission. ''Everything that is supported by an information system'' could conceivably have a problem, he said, adding that he is particularly pessimistic about private companies' preparedness. ''Italian people generally, by culture, don't plan.'' The government established the Y2K commission in January, well behind most other industrialized countries. The commission's first order of business was to draft a law mandating detailed reports on Y2K preparedness, with stiff pena lties for noncompliance. The law was not approved until midsummer. By October, less than a fifth of the relevant companies or municipalities had presented detailed plans, and even fewer had been reviewed. ''It's late,'' Mr. Leggio said, ''but unfortunately we cannot have the time back.'' With many computer corrections out of reach at this late date, the government has focused much of its energy on limiting the consequences of potential breakdowns. For example, an undisclosed number of soldiers will be placed on standby to tamp down any ''agitation on the part of the people'' over malfunctioning phones, electrical outages, airport delays, hospital errors or inaccessible public records, Mr. Leggio said. The government has also declared Dec. 31 and Jan. 3 official bank holidays, essentially to allow sufficient time for repair efforts by the thousands of public employees who will be working long hours that weekend. ''We will say to the citizens of the city, they can enjoy themselves,'' Ms. Gramaglia said in a recent interview. ''And we will say, it's better if you make sure you have some money. Buy some more food and walk up steps. I'd recommend that people don't take elevators.'' International Herald Tribune, December 11, 1999 Digital Society Sony to Enter Internet Banking Download cash on your Walkman. Sony, inventor of the Walkman and the PlayStation video games machine, plans to diversify into internet banking nine months after setting up a joint venture online brokerage firm. The move conforms with Sony's strategy of raising its profile as an internet company and exploiting the shake-up of Japan's financial sector. Other non-finance companies have already made forays into the financial services arena. Ito-Yokado, one of Japan's biggest supermarket operators, and Softbank, the internet and media company, are part of a consortium that has submitted a bid to buy Nippon Credit Bank, which was nationalised last year. Softbank's aim is to develop an internet conglomerate centred on financial services and Ito-Yokado plans to offer banking services through its outlets, which include Seven-Eleven Japan. In following suit, Sony is expanding its digital media platform. "Will Sony become a supplier of personal finance? You can bet 100 per cent we will," said Nobuyuki Idei, its president, in a recent Financial Times interview. The group, which already has insurance and finance subsidiaries, intends to establish an online banking service by summer 2001, offering individuals loans, savings and bill-paying services. It is considering capitalising the internet bank at �20bn (�120m) with the aim of collecting �1,000bn in deposits within the first five years. "Sony is trying to reinforce its financial business and strengthen its brand image to be able to compete better in the digital market," said Masashi Kubota, consumer electronics analyst at ING Baring Securities. "It also wants to reinforce its networking operations. It has a strong hardware and contents business and the only area it is weak in is networking. Right now, strengthening the networking business is its main theme." The Financial Times, December 11, 1999 ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! 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