China to launch French-made communications satellite

Source: China Daily

BEIJING: China will launch a French-made communications satellite for the Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Holding Limited in the first half of 2012.

A contract for the launch service was signed here Sunday.

The satellite, dubbed APTSTAR-7 and made by the Thales Alenia Space, will be sent into space by China's Long March 3B/E carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern China, according to a statement issued by the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), the contractor of the launch on Sunday. Go to article.

Japanese man sentenced for sending dual-use equipment to Myanmar

Source: Global Security Newswire

A Japanese court today handed a Tokyo businessman a suspended two-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to sending equipment to Myanmar that could be used in the development of nuclear weapons, Kyodo News reported (see GSN, Oct. 5).

The court also fined the trading firm headed by Keiko Ri, 41, more than $65,000 for failing to obtain government approval last year before exporting three grinding devices that could be used in producing uranium enrichment centrifuges. The uranium enrichment process can generate nuclear-weapon material as well as fuel for civilian applications.

"These (devices) could be used to produce nuclear weapons. It could have a grave impact on world peace and erode trust in our country," said Juichiro Kora, the Yokohama District Court judge who presided over the case. Go to article.

Director of Singapore firm sentenced for illegally exporting controlled aircraft components to Iran

Source: Reuters

Laura Wang-Woodford, a U.S. citizen who served as a director of Monarch Aviation Pte Ltd., a Singapore company that imported and exported military and commercial aircraft components for more than 20 years, was sentenced today in federal court in Brooklyn to 46 months in prison for conspiring to violate the U.S. trade embargo by exporting controlled aircraft components to Iran. Wang-Woodford was also ordered to forfeit $500,000 to the U.S. Treasury Departmen . Go to article.

Port of Tanjung Pelepas poised to compete with Singapore Port

Source: Malaysian National News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- The Tanjung Pelepas Port in Johor is poised to compete with Singapore for transshipment cargo, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

Major shipping lines like Maersk Line, Evergreen line and MISC line have switched their regional hubs to the port from Singapore, Ong said in his opening speech at the World Air Cargo Organization (WACO) International Conference here Monday. Go to article.

China hawks target US sign-off shuffle

Source: Asia Times Online

The White House in late September released a "presidential determination" that entailed a memorandum to United States Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke. It went virtually undetected. It simply stated: Subject: Presidential Determination on the Delegation of Certifications Under Section 1512 of Public Law 105-261. By virtue of the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of Title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to you the functions of the President under section 1512 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999. Go to article.

Singapore container vessel boarded by unidentified men

Source: Malaysian National News Agency

SINGAPORE, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- A Singapore-registered container vessel was boarded by unidentified men north of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean on Thursday, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

The MPA said the vessel, "Kota Wajar", was on its way from here to Mombasa, Kenya, when it was boarded by the men at 10.12am Singapore time.

There were 21 crew on board the vessel, of whom two were Singapore permanent residents, the MPA said in a brief statement.

The MPA said it was currently working with the ship owner and relevant agencies. Go to article.