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Non-Tech : Tulipomania Blowoff Contest: Why and When will it end? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Enam Luf who wrote (2090)	10/21/1999 2:16:00 PM
From: Sir Auric Goldfinger	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 3543

"US CIA: Russia, Ukraine Vulnerable To Y2K; Others Cited WASHINGTON (AP)--Old Soviet-designed nuclear plants in Russia and Ukraine are the most vulnerable to potential year-2000 computer failures, particularly if combined with power losses, a CIA official said Thursday. These so-called Chernobyl-type reactors have "inherent design problems," including lack of total containment systems, said Lawrence Gershwin, the CIA's national intelligence officer for science and technology. "The chance of a nuclear incident in Russia, Ukraine or another state with Soviet-designed reactors during the Y2K rollover is low," Gerswhin told a congressional hearing. "It is, however, higher than normal because of the likelihood that the power grid could experience failures. ...In the worst case, this could cause a meltdown and in some cases, an accompanying release of radioactive fission gases causing localized contamination." Still, Gershwin told the House International Relations Committee, the chance of a mishap on the scale of the 1986 accident at Chernobyl "is extremely low." Gershwin said the CIA has determined that Russia, Ukraine, China and Indonesia are the major countries most likely to experience "significant Y2K-related failures." Countries in Western Europe are better prepared, however Italy is not as far along as other major European countries. The CIA official said that Germany and Japan are making "great strides," but that both economic powers got a late start and risk some failures. Outside the U.S., Canada, Britain, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong have the lowest chances of experiencing significant problems, the CIA official said. Gershwin told the panel that "we are highly confident that Y2K failures will not lead to the inadvertent or unauthorized launch of a ballistic missile by any country." The committee is looking into potential disruptions abroad caused by Y2K problems, and their impact on the millions of Americans who are living or traveling overseas. John O'Keefe, director of Y2K programs for the State Department, said the agency had taken inventory of 23,000 items in U.S. embassies and consulates in 164 nations to make sure they were all Y2K-compliant. Each of these overseas posts are prepared to report to the State Department at one hour past midnight local time on Jan. 1 to relay information on any potential problems, O'Keefe said. Many countries are lagging in their efforts, and electric power grids, telecommunications systems and the medical sector appear the most vulnerable, O'Keefe said. "If you have to rely on medical-electrical devices, you better be careful where you travel to," the State Department official said. The State Department has country-specific information on potential Y2K problems at its website travel.state.gov. The Y2K problem is caused by computers that were programmed to read only the last two digits of a year. That could cause them to read the year 2000 as 1900, in some cases fouling up basic operations.

To: Enam Luf who wrote (2090)	10/21/1999 4:15:00 PM
From: Mad2	Respond to of 3543

More interesting stuff on the "state of Russias military infrastructure" Something tells me getting their computer systems Y2K compliant probably haven't been near the top of the list Mad2 Copyright 1998 British Broadcasting Corporation BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union - Economic Supplied by BBC WorldwideMonitoring June 28, 1998, Sunday LENGTH: 360 words HEADLINE: TOP RUSSIAN MISSILE-DEFENCE PLANT FACES BANKRUPTCY OR SELLOFF SOURCE: RIA news agency, Moscow, in English 0916 gmt 25 Jun 98 BODY: Russia's leading developer of anti-ballistic missile systems could be sold off or wound up "anytime now unless the government steps in", RIA news agency reported. The Radio Instrument Engineering Research and Development Institute in Moscow is in a situation of "complete financial bankruptcy", the agency was told by Aleksandr Boyko, a senior official at the Russian Audit Chamber. Orders from the state have shrunk over 25-fold since 1992 and "uncoordinated and irresolute" action by the Defence Ministry have compounded matters. The institute owes over R100bn in pre-redenomination terms to creditors and employees, and has slashed its workforce from 8,000 to just 340 now. Yet it "boasts leading Russian ABM designers, who developed the A-135 system, more commonly known as Moscow's missile umbrella'", the agency said. To save the institute, the Audit Chamber has put forward a restructuring plan to turn the previously huge state enterprise into a joint-stock company, initially with the state as sole shareholder. The new company would employ 300-400 and work on "realistic federal ABM contracts" worth up to R20bn. Its predecessor's debts would be cleared by selling off some of the Institute's considerable real estate assets. Boyko said the Russian federal government has "completely supported" the Audit Chamber's proposals, RIA reported. But the plan is being held back by one of the Institute's creditors, which is seeking a court order to have it wound up and its assets sold off. If that happens, Russia's leading ABM developer is finished, Boyko told the agency. "The Russian Government must intervene vigorously; this alone can save the day," he was quoted as saying. The state holds a controlling interest in the creditor seeking the winding-up order, so its representatives could use their influence within the company to have the court petition withdrawn. Other creditors also have state shareholdings, so concerted action could be taken during creditors' meetings to prevent the sale of vital buildings and premises at the Institute. Failure to save the Institute would damage the national interest, Boyko added. LANGUAGE: English LOAD-DATE: January 1, 1999