U.S. LIFTS ARMS TRADE BAN ON EX-SOVIET COUNTRIES.

The State Department announced yesterday that the U.S. has lifted a ban, carried over from the Soviet-era, on exports of arms and military equipment to Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Ukraine should also become eligible "very shortly." Russia has been exempt from the ban since April. (Reuter, July 24)

Moscow Ready to Aid North Korea.