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Toyota reaches deal with GM

TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp. has reached separate deals with General Motors Corp. and Volkswagen on sharing design and development systems, a newspaper reported on Wednesday. Toyota will set up common computer systems with the US and German automakers to share information on auto parts development by 2001, the Yomiuri Shimbun said. Shino Yamada, a spokeswoman for Toyota, said the companies are in talks on information exchange but said there were no plans to merge development systems.ÑAP

Special security for finance leaders

BANGKOK: Thailand will offer leaders of the world's top three finance and trade bodies extra security at a major UN conference here amid fears they may be targeted by anti-globalisation protesters. Violence at major world trade meetings in Seattle and Davos has sparked concern the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) here this month may suffer a similar fate.ÑAFP

Protest against privatisation

NEW DELHI: More than a 1.5 million workers in Indian state-run firms went on strike Wednesday, protesting against a decade-long wage freeze and privatisation, organisers said. Madhukar Pandhe, a leading Indian trade unionist and one of the main organisers of the one-day protest, told AFP the strike would be "near total" in several key states.ÑAFP

Clinton eases

computer export

controls

WASHINGTON: American computer makers such as Apple and Intel could sell far more advanced machines in politically sensitive spots abroad under new export rules outlined by President Bill Clinton.

The new export rules were made public and take effect in six months, though Clinton said he would like to see it happen much faster. Export controls are meant to keep powerful computers out of the hands of terrorists, rival militaries, countries with nuclear capabilities or aspirations and away from some of the world's hot spots.

White House deputy press secretary Jake Siewert said allowing the sale of more powerful computers reflects the "realities of today's marketplace," in which computer makers in other countries routinely sell the same kind of equipment without restriction.ÑAP