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The article discusses several efforts by other nations to set up services like the U.S.'s Global Navigational Satellite System. Russia is planning on launching eight satellites by the end of 2007 which will initially provide services for Russia, but will offer global services by 2009. Their services will in direct competition to the American system. China and the European Union have similar plans.

Reports that an IBM subsidiary pleaded guilty in July of 1998 to illegally exporting advanced computers to a Russian nuclear weapons laboratory. IBM's agreement to pay a fine to the United States federal government; Russia's secret purchasing of the computers; The use of the computers improve Russia's simulation of nuclear weapons testing; The federal approval that is necessary to sell any computer to a Russian nuclear weapons plant; The difficulties of adhering to American legal standards in markets like Russia.