Monday, November 6, 2000		Lens on IT

Amazon.com Inc founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos (L) shares a laugh with Amazon Japan country manager Junichi Hasegawa during a news conference in Tokyo. The Internet retailer Amazon unveiled its Japanese site Amazon.co.jp in an aggressive push to crack open Japan's cosy book retailing market.

Europe-Star-1 satellite which will provide video and telecommunication services for Europe, the Middle-East, Southern Africa, the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia is seen at the equatorial French Guiana space centre in Kourou.The 100th Ariane rocket placed in orbit this Europe-Star-1 which is owned by the newly created telecom operator Europe*Star UK, Ltd, a joint venture company created between France's Alcatel Space Com and Loral Space and Communications, based in California.