Russia moved a step closer to its longtime goal of entering the World Trade Organization Friday as U.S. and Russian trade negotiators reached an agreement. It took 12 years of negotiations to get to this point, and details are still being nailed down. Both countries are hopeful that a pact can be signed next week in Hanoi, where President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be attending the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.
New PlayStation draws long lines
Sony’s PlayStation 3 made its highly anticipated debut to long lines in Japan on Saturday, marking the first launch of what’s expected to quickly become a global sellout. Throngs of people lined up for several hours around Bic Camera, an electronics retailer in downtown Tokyo, to get their hands on one of the video game consoles. It sold out even before the store opened at 7 a.m., and would-be buyers were turned away from the store. When it goes on sale in the United States on Friday, some 400,000 PS3 consoles will be available. The sales date has been pushed back in Europe until March.
Ford seeks time to restate earnings
Ford Motor Co. says it needs more time to restate its earnings for accounting errors that involved interest rate hedging at its financial arm. The company, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, said it would file the proper forms on or before Tuesday.
Intel to triple size of Vietnam plant
Intel Corp., the world’s largest computer chipmaker, announced Friday it will more than triple its initial investment in Vietnam to $1 billion, dramatically expanding the size of a chip assembly and testing plant that it is building in the country’s southern business hub. Construction is expected to begin in March. It will be Vietnam’s first semiconductor facility and Intel’s sixth testing facility in Asia.
Prison sought for alleged polluter
Prosecutors on Friday demanded a three-year prison term for the American executive of a mining company accused of dumping waste with dangerous levels of mercury and arsenic into an Indonesian bay. Prosecutors could have requested a 10-year sentence for Richard Ness, 56, who heads the Denver-based Newmont Mining Corp.’s local subsidiary, Minahasa Raya. They also urged judges to fine Ness and Newmont more than $165,000.
From Herald staff
and news services
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
