N.Korean Firms Abandon Macau

North Korea has moved what to all intents and purposes was its representative office in Macau, the Zokwang Trading Co. The office sign is gone, and North Korean staff of Zokwang Trading across the street from the Macau Department of Transport have disappeared.
A source said Zokwang moved its offices to nearby Zhuhai around the time the U.S. banned transactions of American financial firms with the Macau-based Banco Delta Asia for allegedly being a major money-laundering channel for the North. “Other North Korean firms have also moved their head offices to China because they faced difficulties operating in Macau,” the source added.

North Korea previously had about a dozen firms operating in Macau, but after Banco Delta Asia cut off dealings with them, the North pulled all but three or four out. Banco Delta Asia announced it was suspending transactions with the North just after the U.S. went public with its allegations about the North’s criminal activities, which it says include currency forgery, drug smuggling and arms proliferation.

Zokwang Trading played the role of both consular office and intelligence service. Some staff members are now commuting between Zhuhai and Macau. The U.S. accuses the company of being in charge of money laundering and the distribution of counterfeit dollars though transactions with the Banco Delta Asia, as well as receiving parts needed to develop the country's nuclear program.

(englishnews@chosun.com )

Samsung to Launch Slim Slide Phone in U.S.

Samsung Electronics will release what it claims is the world’s slimmest slide mobile phone available outside Korea, the 15.2 mm thick SGH-T809, in the U.S. The gadget is equipped with the wireless Bluetooth and supports Yahoo and AOL instant messengers.

Samsung's mobile telecommunications chief Mr. Lee says the crux with making slimmer handsets lies in accommodating all the cutting-edge technology in the space available. He also reiterated Samsung’s commitment to high-end products.

(englishnews@chosun.com )

Russia Defends Sale of Sophisticated Weapons Systems to Iran

Russia has defended the sale of sophisticated missiles to Iran, saying the deal will not upset the balance of power in the Middle East. The United States and Israel have both strongly criticized the sale.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has confirmed that Russia will sell Iran tactical surface-to-air missile systems.

But he describes these as "purely defensive" in nature, and that Iran's acquisition of them "in no way" upsets the balance of forces in the Middle East.

Russian media have reported that 29 mobile air defense systems are part of a deal worth an estimated $700 million.

When reports of the sale first surfaced, an Iranian security official expressed surprise there should be any concern.

But Israel has strongly denounced the move, with a foreign ministry spokesman saying it "serves only the interests of the most negative elements in the region."

The United States has also criticized the deal.

Alexei Malashenko is with the Carnegie Center in Moscow. He says that while the weapons sale might be surprising, it is also predictable politically.

"Russia by all means wants to keep its special relationship with Iran," said Alexei Malashenko. "It is very important for Russia, for Moscow to prove to anybody that Russia is able to pursue its independent foreign policy in this area, in particular in this region."

He adds that the new weapons will help Iran present itself as more of a power in the Middle East, and even take a stronger position in its dealings with the United States. This would include the ongoing dispute over Tehran's alleged nuclear-weapons program.

Russian engineers have been building a nuclear power plant in Iran, which both countries insist is only for peaceful purposes. And Moscow strongly opposes any possible referral of the Iranian nuclear issue to the U.N. Security Council.

VOA News

Scientist proved stress will kill you...

When human is under stress, NPV level is increased and it weakens immune systems to get human body to get sick.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY)
NPY, a candidate anabolic effector signalling molecule, stimulates energy intake. Prominent among anabolic effector pathways is a circuit containing neuropeptide Y (NPY).

Injection of NPY into cerebral ventricles or directly into the hypothalamus of rats potently stimulates food intake and decreases energy expenditure while simultaneously inducing lipogenic enzymes in liver and white adipose tissue.

Consequently, continuous or repeated central administration of NPY leads readily to obesity.

Because NPY gene expression and secretion of the NPY peptide in the hypothalamus are increased during active depletion of body fat stores and /or reduced leptin/insulin signalling to the brain, NPY meets the criteria for an anabolic signalling molecule.

Moreever, leptin inhibits arcuate nucleus NPY gene expression and genetic knockout of NPY reduces hyperphagia and obesity in ob/ob mice, indicating that the full response to leptin deficiency requires NPY signalling.The hyperphagic response to insulin-deficient diabetes is similarly accompanied by increased hypothalamic NPY synthesis and release, and this response is blocked by insulin administration, either systemically or directly into the brain.

Schwart M.W., et al. Nature 404, 661-671(2000) NPY is a member of the pancreatic polypeptide (PP) hormone family that includes also PP and Peptide YY (PYY). Several important physiological activities such as induction of food intake, inhibition of anxiety, increase in memory retention, presynaptic inhibition of neurotransmitter release, vasoconstriction and regulation of ethanol consumption have been attributed to NPY.

Strong central influence of NPY in feeding behavior:

• Injection of NPY into the hypothalamus increases food intake

• High NPY levels are correlated with Leptin

• NPY-knockout can reduce obesity in leptin deficient mice.

Two distinct Y-receptor subtypes Y1 and Y5 have been attributed to mediate the stimulatory effect of NPY on food intake.

NPY, PYY, [Leu31, Pro34]-NPY and three N-terminally truncated analogs, NPY(2-36), NPY (3-36) and PYY (3-36) and PYY(3-36) have been shown to increase food intake. Recently, the first analog of neuropeptide Y (NPY), [Ala31, Aib32]-NPY has been developed with highly selective affinity for Y5-receptor (6 nM).

In vivo adminstration of the [Ala31, Aib32]-NPY significantly stimulated feeding in rats.

Cabrele C. et al, The first selective agonist for the neuropeptide Y Y5-receptor increases food intake in rats. (JBC August 15, 2000)

Israel Says Arrow Missile Defense System Test Successful

Israel Says Arrow Missile Defense System Test Successful
Associated Press Newswires 12/02/05
Copyright 2005. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

JERUSALEM (AP)--Israel carried out a successful test of its Arrow missile defense system Friday, intercepting a missile similar to the long-range Shahab 3 being developed by Iran, defense officials said.

The test was carried out at an air force base in central Israel. It was the 14th test firing of the Arrow, which is being developed with the U.S.. The project has suffered several setbacks in the past.

Israel has identified Iran as its biggest threat, accusing Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

Israeli concerns were heightened recently after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged Israel be "wiped off the map."

The Iranian Shahab 3 can be equipped with nuclear warheads, and Tehran has said the missile could reach Israel and various U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

State-owned Israel Aircraft Industries and U.S.-based Boeing Co. (BA) began developing the Arrow system after Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at Israel during the 1991 Gulf War.

Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he was confident all diplomatic efforts to defuse Iran's nuclear program would be exhausted before military action is taken.

But the ability to carry out a military strike "of course exists," Sharon said.

Although Israel is preparing for the possibility Iran will acquire nuclear weapons, it won't lead the fight against the Tehran's nuclear ambitions, Sharon said.