Australian Aboriginals Seek `Economic Partnerships' in LNG

Australian Aboriginals Seek `Economic Partnerships' in LNG

By Angela Macdonald-Smith

April 30 (Bloomberg) -- Australian aboriginal groups will seek ``economic partnerships'' with ventures planning to develop liquefied natural gas projects in the far northeast, the head of a group representing indigenous communities in the region said.

Such alliances are the best way to ensure ``responsible development'' of the gas reserves in the Browse Basin, which could yield A$20 billion ($19 billion) a year in revenue for more than 50 years, Wayne Bergmann of the Kimberley Land Council said today in Canberra. The government needs to help ensure indigenous people benefit from the resources ``boom,'' he said.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Inpex Holdings Inc. and Woodside Petroleum Ltd. are among companies proposing to develop LNG export projects using gas from fields in the Browse Basin. Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter has said LNG plants can't be built in the onshore Kimberley region without the consent and participation of local indigenous people.

``We will demand cultural and environmental outcomes from any development, and if the traditional owners are not satisfied with these outcomes, then there will be no deal,'' Bergmann said in an address to the National Press Club, e-mailed to Bloomberg News. ``We cannot have world-class resource development in our region and our people live in third-world conditions. This is not acceptable.''

An agreement brokered by the Kimberley Land Council with Rio Tinto Group's Argyle diamond mine to allow an underground expansion includes indigenous employment targets, start-up funding for small business proposals and a fund to provide income once the mine has closed, Bergmann said.

Aboriginal Communities

That site now employs 192 indigenous people, injecting about A$12 million a year into aboriginal communities in the region, where health and life expectancy lag behind non-aboriginal Australians and the suicide rate is among the highest in the country, he said.

``I must say that Argyle is small in comparison to the potential gas developments,'' Bergmann said.

Inpex, Japan's largest oil explorer, has held talks with the council on consent for the development of the Ichthys LNG project on the Maret Islands off the Kimberley coast. An LNG ``hub'' on the Kimberley mainland is one of Perth-based Woodside's three preferred options for its Browse project. Shell said it may use a floating LNG design for its Prelude venture off the northwest coast.

Will gas OPEC have final say on pipeline plans?

Will gas OPEC have final say on pipeline plans?
13:05 | 30/ 04/ 2008

MOSCOW. (Igor Tomberg for RIA Novosti) - Last week, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and India signed a framework agreement to build a Trans-Afghan Pipeline (TAP) by 2015.

This news once again shows that energy security and the high demand for Central Asian hydrocarbons continue to be at the top of the global agenda.

At the same time, on April 28, experts from the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) met in Tehran to discuss the charter of the so-called gas OPEC. GECF energy ministers are expected to finalize the latter's formation this summer in Moscow. This event may seriously change the situation on the global gas market.

With a projected capacity of over 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year and a length of 1,680 kilometers, TAP will cost almost $8 billion. As before, Russian experts are doubtful about this project's success for a whole number of economic, technical and political reasons.

The pipeline is supposed to be filled with gas from the Dovletabad deposit in Turkmenistan, but its resources have not yet been proven. It is also not clear how much gas can be produced by Turkmenistan. Its gas resources are estimated between 8 and 20 trillion cubic meters (BP puts them at a mere 2.9 trillion cubic meters).

In 2007, Turkmenistan produced about 70 billion cubic meters of gas. As of today, it has contractual commitments to Russia's Gazprom and Iran for all of its gas. Russia is planning to buy 80-90 billion cubic meters from it a year until 2028. Moreover, Turkmenistan has signed a framework agreement to supply China and India with 30 billion cubic meters of gas each, starting next year.

It is abundantly clear that TAP is primarily a political project for Turkmenistan. It will gain from this project even if it is never carried out. The framework agreement is supposed to show that Turkmenistan has lots of options and may bargain with its best clients.

TAP is the fourth or fifth project of the Turkmen government. All in all, its gas pipeline plans are estimated at over 200 billion cubic meters, which is three times higher than the current production level. It may simply not have enough gas.

Moreover, there are political risks as well. The pipeline's Afghan leg will be 830 km long. Military tensions in Afghanistan may thwart its construction. Pakistani-Indian relations are not trouble-free either.

There are other difficulties as well. Afghanistan's geological conditions may be unfit for the pipeline. Afghanistan also has no railways, which complicates the project and increases its costs, because trucks will have to bring the pipes from Turkmenistan and Pakistan via the Kandagar road.

India is pleased to be a partner in the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, which is an alternative to TAP. A gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan and India with a price tag of $4.1 billion and a length of 2,700 km is supposed to be built next year. Starting in 2010, India and Pakistan expect to receive 35 billion cubic meters of gas per year, and twice as much in 2015. The two projects are not superfluous - India and Pakistan need more gas than they can produce. Gazprom is very enthusiastic about IPI, and is even eager to invest in it in exchange for a share in the consortium.

The Russian-Iranian gas tandem is not a secret. On the one hand, Tehran is quite rightly positioning itself as the only source of gas for the Nabucco project. Politically, in its conflict with the United States, Iran is trying to exploit the European Union's interest in finding sources of gas outside Russia. In turn, Russia wants to prevent its potential rival from reaching out to Europe by re-orienting Iranian gas eastward - to India, Pakistan and China.

At the same time, Russia is stepping up its participation in developing Iranian gas deposits. Last week, Gazprom signed a contract with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to drill and produce oil and gas in Iran, take part in prospecting, and invest in its economy. The sides have also agreed to set up a joint energy company to develop two or three blocks of the South Pars gas deposit.

In the near future, the Russian gas monopoly will produce large amounts of gas in Iran. Although Iran allows foreign companies to be reimbursed only with money rather than gas, Gazprom will be able to exert serious influence on the directions of its gas exports.

Experts working in Tehran to finalize the future gas OPEC's charter are supposed to compose it from two documents prepared in Moscow and Tehran. Iran wants to involve Gazprom in its hydrocarbon projects as much as possible because it wants to set up a serious organization of gas exporters. Considering that American sanctions are making it difficult for Iran to attract Western investment, Tehran is also trying to get a partner and political ally in the diplomatic war with the West, a part of which is the formation of the gas OPEC.

In this context, Russia is ready to offer Iran and India one more route to consider for Iranian gas supplies to India that bypasses Pakistani territory. This project is similar to Nord Stream, and will pass in the shallow shelf waters of the Arabian Sea outside Pakistan's economic zone. This project may become a certain guarantee for the Indian economy and power industry against moody Pakistan.

To sum up, for the time being TAP is no threat to Russia's gas interests. Moreover,

Moscow's active involvement in gas supplies to South Asian countries may bring it more dividends and enhance its position as a leading gas exporter.

Dr. Igor Tomberg is a senior research fellow at the Center for Energy Studies, the Institute of World Economy and International Relations at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.

The company Transneft has changed the route of Eastern Siberian-Pacific oil pipeline

The company Transneft has changed the route of Eastern Siberian-Pacific oil pipeline

28.04.2008, 12.40

MOSCOW, April 28 (Itar-Tass) - The company Transneft has changed the route of the second branch of the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline.

It will run north, and not south of the city of Khabarovsk as it was planned earlier, the company’s vice-president Mikhail Barkov told ITAR-TASS on Monday.

He said the change of the route would make it 120 kilometers longer and the project of its construction 20 billion roubles costlier.

However, this will not affect the construction schedule, he added.

Barkov explained diverting the pipeline was warranted by the fact that it was initially to run through a stretch of the Amur River, from which the water is pumped for the supply of Khabarovsk.

Russia, Italy set for strategic partnership in energy area – Gazprom and ENI joint statement

Russia, Italy set for strategic partnership in energy area – Gazprom and ENI joint statement

28.04.2008, 23.52

ROME, April 28 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia’s gas monopoly and Italian multinational oil and gas company ENI will step up strategic partnership in the energy area in the framework of the process of European markets liberalisation, said a joint statement issued by the companies.

The statement was made after Monday’s meeting between Gazprom’s Chief Executive Official Alexei Miller and his ENI counterpart Paolo Scaroni.

During the talks, Miller and Scaroni discussed each other’s participation in the works related to the major international gas transportation project, the South Stream pipeline, and in oil and gas production projects in third countries, including Lybia.

In the previous week, Italian mass media reported that ENI was negotiating a sale of a 50-percent stake in the Libyan Elephant oil field to Russia’s Gazprom.

Earlier in the day, Miller met with Italy’s Acting Prime Minister Romano Prodi to discuss energy cooperation between the two countries.

Central Bank of Russia upgrades refunding rate

Central Bank of Russia upgrades refunding rate

29.04.2008, 12.53

MOSCOW, April 29 (Itar-Tass) - As of Tuesday, the Central Bank of Russia has upgraded the refunding rate from 10.25 to 10.5 annual interest. According the CBR, it was done to restrain inflation and slow down the money offer dynamics.

The current refunding rate rise is the second one since February. Earlier, it went down during 10 years.

The refunding rate is an instrument of money-credit regulation, with the help of which the CBR influence the interbank market rates, as well as deposit rates.

The refunding rate rise leads, in particular, to a rise in price of crediting juridical and physical persons, as well as to a rise in interest on deposits.

「少林寺最高師範」３千万円脱税容疑 東京国税局が告発

「少林寺最高師範」３千万円脱税容疑　東京国税局が告発

2008年04月30日15時30分

　「中国少林寺の最高師範」を名乗り、武術や気功の受講料などで得た所得約１億２千万円を隠し脱税したとして、東京国税局が「全日本少林寺気功協会」（東京都新宿区）の秦西平会長（４９）を所得税法違反（脱税）の疑いで東京地検に告発していたことが分かった。（中村信義、舟橋宏太）

　秦氏は隠したとされる所得について「中国少林寺に帰属するお金で、私は預かっているだけ」などと主張している模様。朝日新聞の取材には「税理士と話して欲しい」とし、担当税理士も「中国の少林寺と対応を協議中」とだけコメントした。

　関係者によると、中国国籍の秦氏は「本物の少林寺気功、その真髄と秘伝を伝授」などとして、「武術の指導員養成コース」や「カンフーダイエット」など複数のクラスを開いていたが、０５年までの３年間に、受講料などから得た事業所得約１億２千万円を隠し、所得税約３千数百万円を脱税したとされる。

　大半の所得を国内の口座に隠し、一部だけを、一緒に道場を運営する日本人スタッフの名義で申告していたと見られる。

　著書などによると、秦氏は２２歳で「中国嵩山少林寺第３４代最高師範」となったとされる。「ＮＰＯ法人日本少林寺武術気功連盟」の理事長なども兼任し、「気功やカンフーでダイエットできる」などとして、テレビや雑誌などにも取り上げられている。

２８００億円の損失計上へ 農中、サブプライムが影響

２８００億円の損失計上へ　農中、サブプライムが影響
2008.4.30 16:54

　農林中央金庫は３０日、平成２０年３月期決算（単体）で、米国の低所得者向け高金利型住宅ローン（サブプライムローン）関連などの損失を約２８００億円計上する見通しと発表した。金融市場の混乱が拡大し、証券化商品の価格が下落して評価損が膨らんだほか、保有株式の価格下落で減損処理を実施する。経常利益目標である３５２０億円は達成できる見込みとしている。

ドイツ証券、処分勧告も・証券化商品ずさん評価で監視委検討

ドイツ証券、処分勧告も・証券化商品ずさん評価で監視委検討

　ドイツ証券が国内の金融機関などの機関投資家に販売したサブプライムローン関連を含む複数の証券化商品の時価をずさんに算出していた疑いのあることが、証券取引等監視委員会の検査で明らかになった。監視委は証券化商品を買った投資家の決算などを混乱させた可能性があると判断。金融庁に対し、金融商品取引法の「投資家保護規定」を初適用し、行政処分するよう勧告する検討を始めた。

　監視委が昨年11月から始めたドイツ証券への立ち入り検査で、証券化商品の時価算出についての不適切な事例を複数把握した。(1)同じ証券化商品の時価（同一時点）であっても顧客によって異なる価格を示していた(2)同じ証券化商品の時価（同一時点）で複数の価格を示し、投資家にどの時価を使うか判断させていた(3)時価評価の基準日を誤ったり、時価の増減を取り間違えたりした――などの疑いがあるとみている。

生保の団体年金運用利回り、平均マイナス14％超・07年度７社

生保の団体年金運用利回り、平均マイナス14％超・07年度７社

　大手生命保険7社が企業年金から運用を受託している団体年金（特別勘定）の2007年度の運用利回りは、平均でマイナス14.81％と02年度以来5年ぶりにマイナスとなった。株式相場の低迷や急激な円高により運用成績は全社で2ケタのマイナスだった。上位から下位までマイナス幅に約3％の開きも出ており、企業年金の受託競争に影響が出そうだ。

　団体年金の特別勘定は一定の運用利回りを保証する一般勘定と違い、運用実績をそのまま運用利回りに反映する。企業は一般勘定に上乗せして生保に委託する。生保7社の06年度の運用利回りは平均で5.48％だった。

太陽光発電の研究開発拠点、６月にも新設・経産省

太陽光発電の研究開発拠点、６月にも新設・経産省

　経済産業省は6月にも太陽光発電の研究開発拠点を新設する。産学官が連携し、2030年に太陽光を電力に変換する効率（発電効率）を40％超に引き上げる。発電コストも火力発電所に並ぶ水準まで下げることをめざす。50年に世界の温暖化ガス半減という目標に向け、自然エネルギーの柱となる太陽光発電の技術開発を加速させる。

　独立行政法人の新エネルギー・産業技術総合開発機構を通じ、開発拠点を選ぶ。6月までに民間企業や大学を対象に、蓄電技術や薄型の新たな材料などを研究する複数のグループを選出。海外の調査機関との連携も探る構えだ。最長で7年の長期プロジェクトとし、それぞれが研究開発目標を定める。08年度の事業費は20億円。

ＮＴＴコム、インドのチェンナイに営業支店

ＮＴＴコム、インドのチェンナイに営業支店

　ＮＴＴコミュニケーションズ（ＮＴＴコム）は30日、インドの現地法人を通じて、インド南部の都市チェンナイに5月1日付けで営業支店を開設すると発表した。同国に進出する日本企業を中心に、インターネット環境の構築やサーバーの管理などを手掛ける。

　従業員は当初3人で、2008年内に5人まで増やす。インドの支店は、ニューデリー、ムンバイ、バンガロールに続いて4カ所目。自動車や電子機器メーカーの進出が多いチェンナイに支店を設け、2009年3月期のインドでの売上高を前期の1.5倍に伸ばす考えだ。

「国産ジェット」トヨタなど出資・三菱重系が正式発表

「国産ジェット」トヨタなど出資・三菱重系が正式発表

　三菱重工業の国産ジェット機事業会社「三菱航空機」（名古屋市、戸田信雄社長）は30日、第三者割当増資を実施し、三菱商事やトヨタ自動車などに新株を割り当てると正式に発表した。出資比率は三菱重工が67.5％、三菱商事とトヨタ自動車が各10％、住友商事と三井物産が各5％、日本政策投資銀行が1％となる。

都内マンションの賃貸利回り、07年0.7ポイント下落・民間調べ

都内マンションの賃貸利回り、07年0.7ポイント下落・民間調べ

　不動産経済研究所は、2007年に東京都内で分譲されたマンションを賃貸運用した場合の利回りや賃料水準などをまとめた。管理費などを除いた平均の表面利回りは4.1％で、06年に比べ0.7ポイント下落した。資材価格の高騰などでマンションの価格水準が上昇した一方で賃料は減少し、利回りが悪化した。

　東京都全域の1平方メートル当たり平均分譲価格は75万5000円で06年より12.3％高くなったが、1平方メートル当たりの月平均賃料は2552円となり3.4％低下した。23区内では分譲価格が16％上昇したものの賃料は1.1％下落し、利回りは4.17％。23区外では分譲価格が6.2％高くなったが、賃料が5.5％下がり、利回りは4.15％だった。都心での分譲価格の高騰を受けて利回りが低下したことで、地域間の利回り格差は縮まった。

　調査は同社が不動産鑑定士市場賃料研究会と共同で、家族向けマンションを対象に実施した。

国交省：天下り法人独占受注 随契でダム巡視など 山口

国交省：天下り法人独占受注　随契でダム巡視など　山口

　国土交通省山口河川国道事務所が０６年度に発注した役務契約の半数以上は特命随意契約で、契約額ベースでほぼ９割を国交省ＯＢが常勤役員を独占する社団法人・中国建設弘済会（広島市）が占めていたことが分かった。予算は道路特定財源を原資とする道路整備特別会計などから支出されており、特別会計の支出の総点検が求められている。

　特命随意契約は、専門的な技術を持つ特定の業者を指定して交わす契約で、予定価格の根拠となる資料を業者から提出してもらう場合も多く、契約額が高くなる傾向がある。

　国土交通省の資料によると、同事務所の０６年度の役務契約３３件のうち１７件は特命随意契約で、うち６件は中国建設弘済会。特命随意契約の総額は２億５４００万円で、このうち弘済会が約２億２０００万円を占めていた。

　弘済会は４月現在、役職員６７１人のうち国交省ＯＢが７４人で、７人の常勤役員と監事２人の全員が国交省ＯＢの天下り。同事務所発注の河川やダムなどの巡視、特殊車両運行の申請窓口業務などを独占受注している。

　政府は公益法人との随意契約を見直し、１月から民間参入が可能になるよう入札条件を緩和している。しかし、結局今年も弘済会が同事務所の発注事業を受注している。

　また、同事務所は０６年度、職員数１３３人ながら運転手１９人の派遣を受け、東京都内の民間会社に約９０００万円を支払っていた。派遣運転手による車両管理や電話交換、独身寮清掃業務は、同じ会社が指名競争入札で落札し総額約１億円で受注していた。この会社の代表取締役会長も国交省ＯＢだった。

　河川国道事務所など国交省の出先機関で、運転手の派遣を受ける契約額５００万円以上の車両管理業務は０６年度で計１６７億円に上り、道路特会などから予算が支出されている。

初の国産ジェット、日航“飛び付かない”裏事情

初の国産ジェット、日航“飛び付かない”裏事情
全日空はイケイケ

　三菱重工業が社運をかけて事業化に乗り出す国産初の小型ジェット旅客機「ＭＲＪ（三菱リージョナル・ジェット）」。国産旅客機の開発はプロペラ機「ＹＳ－１１」以来ほぼ半世紀ぶりということで、経済産業省も強力バックアップしているが、国内航空会社の受け止め方には温度差もある。全日空が早々に同機の発注を発表してお祭りムードを盛り上げているのに対し、日本航空は慎重な姿勢をみせている。その背景にある「複雑な事情」とは－。

　３月２０日、日航の社内に大きな衝撃が走った。この日の日経新聞朝刊の１面に次のような記事が踊っていたからだ。

　≪三菱重工業は国産初の小型ジェット旅客機を事業化する方針を固めた。全日本空輸と日本航空が最大で合計７０機を購入する方向で最終調整しており、アジアの航空会社からの打診を含め一定の受注数が確保できると判断した≫

　日航はこの時点で導入するかどうかをまだ判断していないため、記事中の日航に関する部分は正確な表現ではない。このような記事が出てきた背景について、関係者はこう指摘する。

　「日航はＭＲＪの導入にはものすごく慎重。だから開発の旗振り役である経産省あたりが、日航が導入せざるを得ない状況を作り出そうとして、情報をリークしたのではないか」

　なぜ、日航は消極的なのか。航空業界関係者がこう解説する。

　「１つには、日航が３月に実施した１５００億円の増資のうち、三井物産と双日に計３５０億円を引き受けてもらったという事情がある。三井物産はエアバス社、双日は米ボーイング社の代理店だ。ＭＲＪを導入すれば、これら代理店から導入する旅客機が減る可能性がある。日航としては、増資を引き受けてもらった商社に配慮した対応を取らざるを得ないだろう」

　加えて、ＭＲＪが日航にとって必要な旅客機なのか－という問題もある。

　「ＭＲＪのような小型機が必要なら、カナダのボンバルディア社かブラジルのエンブラエル社から購入すれば済む話。小型機はこの２社の独占市場で、すでに部品供給や修理などの態勢が整っている。新メーカーの航空機は、整備士の熟練が必要など余計なコストがかかる。経営再建中の日航にとってＭＲＪはできれば避けたい存在といえる」

　一方、ライバルの全日空は３月下旬に早々と、ＭＲＪ２５機を導入すると正式発表した。

　「全日空の大橋洋治会長が経産省の国産ジェットに関する審議会のメンバーだったこともあって、当初から全日空はＭＲＪを積極導入するとみられていた。大橋氏は５月下旬に日本経団連の副会長にも就任予定だし、国家的プロジェクトの感があるＭＲＪには積極的に関与していくことになるだろう」（財界関係者）

　全日空がこれまでの経緯からＭＲＪを積極導入するのは分かる。が、それを必死で経営再建している日航にまで押しつけるのはかわいそうな気もするが…。

三浦元社長と類似事件、訴追取り消し確定へ

三浦元社長と類似事件、訴追取り消し確定へ

　【ニューヨーク＝中前博之】1988年に米カリフォルニア州で元妻を殺害後、逃亡先のメキシコで有罪判決が確定、同州で再び殺人罪で訴追されたメキシコ人男性をめぐり、サンディエゴ郡地検は29日、郡地裁が下した訴追取り消し決定に対し、上訴しないことを決めた。郡地検の報道官が明らかにした。

　この事件は、81年に同州で起きたロサンゼルス銃撃事件で逮捕され、サイパンで拘置中の元会社社長、三浦和義容疑者（60）＝日本では無罪確定＝と構図が類似。元社長はロサンゼルス郡地裁で争っているが、同じ州内の事件だけに、上訴断念の決定が審理に影響するとの見方もある。

　サンディエゴ郡地裁は11日、被告に不利益な処罰をさかのぼって科さない「事後法の禁止」や、同じ罪で2度裁くことを禁じた「一事不再理」を理由に、男性の訴追取り消し請求を認めた。

国産冷凍食品、原材料原産地を表示・都が義務化へ

国産冷凍食品、原材料原産地を表示・都が義務化へ

　東京都は都内で流通する国産の冷凍加工食品を対象に、主な原材料の原産地表示を義務付ける方針を固めた。中国製冷凍ギョーザの中毒事件で冷凍食品に対する消費者の不安が広がっていることに対応した動きで、来年初めにも実施する。都の方針は、他の地方自治体や食品業界に大きな影響を与えそうだ。

　日本農林規格（ＪＡＳ）法は生鮮食品のほか、乾燥きのこや魚の塩干といった20の食品群などについて原産地を表示するよう定めている。冷凍加工食品は輸入品については原産国名を表示する必要があるが、原材料の原産地表示は義務付けられていない。

敷島製パン、「超熟ロール」の少量パック・少人数世帯向けで

敷島製パン、「超熟ロール」の少量パック・少人数世帯向けで

　敷島製パンは主力商品のロールパン「超熟ロール」で、新たに3個入りの少量パックを5月1日に発売する。少量パックで1人暮らしの人や、家族の好みに合わせて買い分ける主婦などの需要を取り込む。

　価格はオープンだが、店頭想定は90円。同社は5月中旬に従来製品を現在の7個入りから6個入りへの変更を予定しており、3個入りはその半額に設定した。関東、中部、関西地方のスーパーやコンビニエンスストアなどで扱う。年間1億2000万円の販売を目指す。

　民間の調査会社によると同商品はロールパン市場のトップブランド。

-----------------
京王にミシュラン効果、高尾山口駅利用110万人・07年度

　高尾山（東京都八王子市）の玄関口となる京王電鉄・高尾山口駅の利用者数がこの1年間で12万人増え、2007年度は110万人に達した。フランスの有名観光ガイド「ミシュラン」が昨年、高尾山を最高位の三つ星に指定、「ミシュラン効果」の恩恵にあずかった。今後、京王電鉄は新宿にある京王プラザホテルなどグループ企業と連携して外国人の誘致などを進める考えだ。

　07年度の高尾山口駅の利用客（始発から午後4時まで）は、前年度比12％増の約110万人。特にゴールデンウイーク期間中は06年が約8万8000人だったが、07年には同9万6000人に増えた。「特に外国人や健康ブームを反映してシニア世代が増えた」（京王電鉄）という。

-----------------
ガソリン代替のバイオエタノール、ホンダが植物廃材で量産

　ホンダと独立行政法人の地球環境産業技術研究機構（ＲＩＴＥ）はガソリン代替燃料のバイオエタノールを低コストで量産できる技術を開発した。稲わらなどの植物廃材を原料に、1リットル当たりの生産コストを国際競争力のある30円程度に抑えられる。原油価格の高騰でトウモロコシなどを使うバイオ燃料の需要が拡大し、食糧価格を押し上げている。省資源と温暖化ガス削減につながる技術として2010年をメドに実用化を目指す。

　ホンダの全額出資子会社である本田技術研究所（埼玉県和光市）とＲＩＴＥが開発した生産技術は、雑草や稲わらの繊維質をすべて1回の処理でエタノールに変えることができる。繊維質の種類ごとに処理する従来方式に比べ生産効率が上がり、稲わら1キログラムから約400ミリリットルのエタノールが作れる。

----------------
トヨタ、大同特殊鋼に出資・株２％取得、取引を本格化

　トヨタ自動車は特殊鋼大手の大同特殊鋼に約2％出資した。大同の要請を受け、昨秋から市場を通じて株式を段階的に取得したもようだ。取得金額は70億円程度とみられる。トヨタは変速機などに使う特殊鋼をグループ会社などから調達してきたが、大同とも関係を深めて取引を本格化し、世界生産の拡大に対応する。

　大同には今年3月末時点で新日本製鉄が10.2％、ホンダが3％、ニッパツが2.9％出資しており、トヨタは金融機関や機関投資家を除くと上位5位に入る大株主になったとみられる。

青森でもハクチョウ死ぬ

青森でもハクチョウ死ぬ

　青森県十和田市の十和田湖畔にあるホテルの敷地内で今月18日、衰弱したハクチョウが収容され、2日後に死んでいたことが30日、分かった。青森県によると、死因は鳥インフルエンザウイルスによるものかは不明という。

　県自然保護課によると、ホテルの従業員がハクチョウを見つけ、同県平内町の鳥獣保護センターに運ばれた。死んだ後に冷凍保存したため、鳥インフルエンザウイルスの検査はできない状態という。

　同課は「複数で死んでいる場合は検査を行うことになっているが、1羽だけだったので通常の処理を行った。ハクチョウは他の鳥獣とは接触しておらず、収容したおりは消毒した」としている。

農水省、家庭用バター増産を要請・乳業各社、在庫取り崩し

農水省、家庭用バター増産を要請・乳業各社、在庫取り崩し

　スーパーなどの店頭でバターの不足懸念が広がっているのに対し、農林水産省が乳業大手や原料乳の生産者団体に優先的に生産・出荷するよう要請したことが 30日、明らかになった。乳業各社は在庫の緊急取り崩しや優先的な生産を通じ、家庭用バターについて5月分として月間消費量の2割に相当する230トンを増産する。その結果、5月の供給量は前年同月並みを確保できるという。

　若林正俊農相が閣議後の記者会見で明らかにした。雪印乳業、明治乳業、よつ葉乳業（札幌市）、森永乳業の大手乳業4社に要請した。生産者団体も原料乳を優先的にバター用に回すという。農相は「バターの品薄は改善されると期待している」と述べた。

　バターは原料乳の減産や飼料用の穀物の世界的な高騰などを背景に、品薄懸念が広がった。農水省はこれまで、世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）で決めた低関税枠を利用したバター輸入を前倒しするなどの措置をとっていた。

------------------
バター：品薄で４社が２３０トン増産へ　農水省異例の要請

　農林水産省は、乳業大手４社に対し、品薄が問題になっている家庭用バターの増産を要請した。４社は、５月の平均的な月間消費量を賄うため２３０トンの増産を決めた。国によるメーカーへの増産要請は極めて異例。

　増産するのは、雪印乳業、森永乳業、明治乳業、よつ葉乳業。２３０トンは５月の月間消費量の２割に当たり、家庭用バター（２００グラム入り）では１１５万個分に相当する。

　バターは、原料の生乳の減産に伴って各メーカーとも生産量を落としており、スーパーなどの店頭から商品がなくなるなどの事態が起きている。若林正俊農相は３０日の閣議後会見で、「増産によってバターの品薄が改善できることを期待している」と述べた。

　一方、乳業メーカーは「生乳の増産について生産者団体と協議するなどで要請に応える努力をしたい」（明治乳業）としている。

「米軍違憲」破棄へ米圧力

「米軍違憲」破棄へ米圧力
５９年の砂川裁判 一審判決直後 解禁文書で判明
駐日大使 最高裁長官と密談

　安保条約にもとづく在日米軍の駐留を憲法違反とした一九五九年の砂川事件・伊達判決に対し、米駐日大使が当時の最高裁長官と「内密の話し合い」をもつなど、判決破棄へ圧力をかけていたことが米政府解禁文書で明らかになりました。国際問題研究者の新原昭治氏が今月、米国立公文書館で入手したもの。米軍駐留違憲判決に対する米側の衝撃ぶりと、干渉を無批判に受け入れる日本側の異常な対米従属ぶりが分かります。
写真

（写真）「主任裁判官・田中（ＣＨＩＥＦ ＪＵＳＴＩＣＥ ＴＡＮＡＫＡ）」との「内密の話し合い」を記した在京米大使館から米国務省への公電

　一九五九年三月三十日の砂川事件の一審判決（東京地裁）で伊達秋雄裁判長は、安保条約のもとで米軍が「極東」に出動することは、日本を直接関係のない戦争に巻き込むおそれがあり、また保持を禁じた「戦力」にあたるとして、米軍駐留は憲法前文、九条二項違反とする判決を出しました。解禁文書は判決当日から最高裁での弁論終了後の九月十九日まで、当時のマッカーサー米駐日大使から国務省あてを中心にした十四通の電報です。

　伊達判決の翌日には、米大使が藤山愛一郎外相に閣議前の早朝に秘密会談を申し入れ。当時進行中だった安保条約の改定交渉への影響や、東京・大阪など重要知事選前に「大衆の気持ちに混乱を引き起こしかねない」ことに強い懸念を表明しました。大使は「日本政府が迅速な行動をとり東京地裁判決を正すこと」を求め、過去に一例しかなかった最高裁への「跳躍上告」を提案しました。日本政府は部内で検討していた経過もあり四月三日に跳躍上告しました。

　四月二十四日付では、米大使と当時の田中耕太郎最高裁長官との「内密の話し合い」を明記。田中長官は「本件には優先権が与えられているが…決定に到達するまでに少なくとも数カ月かかる」との見通しを伝えています。

　最高裁は、当時三千件もの案件を抱えていましたが、砂川事件を最優先処理。電報の五日後には最高裁が弁護人を二十一人に制限するとの決定を下すなど、「迅速な決定」へ異常な訴訟指揮をとりました。最高裁は同年十二月十六日、一審判決を破棄、東京地裁に差し戻しました。
司法の独立　侵した

　砂川事件上告審で弁護団事務局長を務めた内藤功弁護士の話　一九五九年五月一日、団長の海野晋吉弁護士と一緒に、最高裁の斎藤悠輔裁判官と面会した。斎藤裁判官は「ジラード事件で米側が日本の裁判権を認めてくれた手前もあるので、この（砂川）事件は早くやらないといけない」と語った。きわめて異例である弁護人の人数制限も田中耕太郎最高裁長官と斎藤裁判官らがやったことだが、その裏で長官がじかに米駐日大使と「内密の話し合い」をしていたとは司法の独立からも由々しき事態だ。

　伊達判決から五十年近くたつが、日米安保条約はいよいよ「日本の防衛」と関係のない戦争に米軍が出動するためのものになっている。安保条約のもとでの米軍駐留が憲法前文と九条違反だとした伊達判決は過去のものという感じがしない。今回の文書発見が伊達判決再評価のきっかけになればと思う。

　砂川事件　一九五七年七月、東京都砂川町（現立川市）で米軍立川基地拡張に反対する労働組合員や学生などが基地内民有地の測量に抗議して敷地内に数メートル立ち入ったとして、二カ月後に逮捕。安保条約に基づく刑事特別法違反で起訴されたもの。一審では無罪、最高裁で破棄差し戻しされ、罰金刑に。しかし反対闘争の前に米側は基地拡張を断念、七七年立川基地は返還されました。

　跳躍上告　地方裁判所などの一審判決に対し、法律・命令・規則もしくは処分が憲法違反とした判断、あるいは地方公共団体の条例・規則が違法とした判断が不当であることを理由に、直接最高裁に上告すること（刑事訴訟規則第二五四条）。

----------------
砂川裁判：米大使、最高裁長官と密談　破棄判決前に

　米軍立川基地（当時）の拡張に反対する住民らが基地内に侵入した砂川事件で、基地の存在を違憲とし無罪とした１審判決を破棄し、合憲判断を出した１９５９年の最高裁大法廷判決前に、当時の駐日米大使と最高裁長官が事件をめぐり密談していたことを示す文書が、米国立公文書館で見つかった。当時は基地存在の根拠となる日米安保条約の改定を目前に控えていた時期で、米側の司法当局との接触が初めて明らかになった。

　国際問題研究者の新原昭治さん（７６）が、別の事件に関する日本と米国の交渉記録などを公文書館で閲覧していて発見した。大使は、連合国軍総司令官のマッカーサー元帥のおいであるダグラス・マッカーサー２世。最高裁長官は、上告審の担当裁判長の田中耕太郎氏だ。

　文書は、５９年４月２４日に大使から国務長官にあてた電報。「内密の話し合いで担当裁判長の田中は大使に、本件には優先権が与えられているが、日本の手続きでは審議が始まったあと、決定に到着するまでに少なくとも数カ月かかると語った」と記載している。

　電報は、米軍存在の根拠となる日米安保条約を違憲などとした５９年３月３０日の１審判決からほぼ１カ月後。跳躍上告による最高裁での審議の時期などについて、田中裁判長に非公式に問い合わせていたことが分かる内容だ。

　これとは別に、判決翌日の３月３１日に大使から国務長官にあてた電報では、大使が同日の閣議の１時間前に、藤山愛一郎外相を訪ね、日本政府に最高裁への跳躍上告を勧めたところ、外相が全面的に同意し、閣議での承認を勧めることを了解する趣旨の発言があったことを詳細に報告していた。

　新原さんは「外国政府の公式代表者が、日本の司法のトップである、担当裁判長に接触したのは、内政干渉であり、三権分立を侵すものだ」と話している。【足立旬子】
　◇ことば　砂川事件

　１９５７年７月８日、東京都砂川町（現・立川市）の米軍立川基地で、拡張に伴う測量に反対するデモ隊の一部が境界柵を壊して基地内に立ち入り、７人が日米安全保障条約の刑事特別法違反で起訴された。東京地裁は、安保条約に基づく米軍駐留が憲法９条に反するとして５９年３月に全員を無罪としたが、最高裁大法廷は同１２月に１審を破棄、差し戻しを命じた。判決は、国家統治の基本にかかわる政治的な問題は司法判断の対象から外すべきだとする考え（統治行為論）に基づくもので注目された。７人は有罪（各被告に罰金２０００円）が確定した。
　◇ことば　跳躍上告

　刑事訴訟法に基づき、地裁や家裁、簡裁の１審判決に対して、高裁への控訴を抜きに、最高裁に直接上告する手続き。１審で、憲法違反や地方自治体の条例・規則が法律に違反したと判断された場合に限って認められている。

　▽奥平康弘東大名誉教授（憲法学）の話　田中長官が事件の内容について詳しくしゃべることはなかったと思うが、利害関係が密接で、当事者に近い立場の米国大使に接触したことは、話の内容が何であれ批判されるべきことだ。米国側もそのことは認識していたと思うが、それが問題視されなかったことに、当時の日米の力関係を改めて感じる。

　▽我部（がべ）政明・琉球大教授（国際政治学）の話　安保条約改定の大枠は５９年５月に固まっている。１審判決が出た３月は、日米交渉がヤマ場を迎えた大事な時期だ。文書は、日米両政府が裁判の行方に敏感に反応し、連携して安保改定の障害を早めに処理しようとしていた様子がよく分かる。

------------------
砂川裁判：米大使、最高裁長官と密談　１９５９年、１審「日米安保違憲」破棄判決前に

　米軍立川基地（当時）の拡張に反対する住民らが基地内に侵入した砂川事件で、基地の存在を違憲とし無罪とした１審判決を破棄し、合憲判断を出した１９５９年の最高裁大法廷判決前に、当時の駐日米大使と最高裁長官が事件をめぐり密談していたことを示す文書が、米国立公文書館で見つかった。当時は基地存在の根拠となる日米安保条約の改定を目前に控え、米側と司法当局との接触が初めて明らかになった。
　◇米で公文書発見

　国際問題研究者の新原昭治さん（７６）が、別の事件に関する日本と米国の交渉記録などを公文書館で閲覧していて発見した。大使は、連合国軍総司令官のマッカーサー元帥のおいであるダグラス・マッカーサー２世。最高裁長官は、上告審担当裁判長の田中耕太郎氏だ。

　文書は、５９年４月２４日に大使から国務長官にあてた電報。「内密の話し合いで担当裁判長の田中は大使に、本件には優先権が与えられているが、日本の手続きでは審議が始まったあと、決定に到達するまでに少なくとも数カ月かかると語った」と記載している。

　電報は、米軍存在の根拠となる日米安保条約を違憲などとした５９年３月３０日の１審判決からほぼ１カ月後。跳躍上告による最高裁での審議の時期などについて、田中裁判長に非公式に問い合わせていたことが分かる内容。

　これとは別に、判決翌日の３月３１日に大使から国務長官にあてた電報では、大使が同日の閣議の１時間前に、藤山愛一郎外相を訪ね、日本政府に最高裁への跳躍上告を勧めたところ、外相が全面的に同意し、閣議での承認を勧めることを了解する趣旨の発言があったことを詳細に報告していた。

　新原さんは「外国政府の公式代表者が、日本の司法のトップである、担当裁判長に接触したのは、内政干渉であり、三権分立を侵すものだ」と話している。【足立旬子】
　◇批判されるべきだ－－奥平康弘東大名誉教授（憲法学）の話

　田中長官が裁判について詳しくしゃべることはなかったと思うが、利害関係が密接で、当事者に近い立場の米国大使に接触したことは内容が何であれ批判されるべきことだ。当時の日米の力関係を改めて感じる。
　◇安保改定へ日米連携－－我部（がべ）政明・琉球大教授（国際政治学）の話

　安保条約改定の大枠は５９年５月に固まっている。１審判決が出た３月は、日米交渉がヤマ場を迎えた時期だ。日米両政府が裁判の行方に敏感に反応し、連携して安保改定の障害を早めに処理しようとしていた様子がよく分かる。日本は、米国による内政干渉を利益と判断して積極的に受け入れていたことを文書は示している。

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

　■ことば
　◇砂川事件

　１９５７年７月８日、東京都砂川町（現・立川市）の米軍立川基地で、拡張に伴う測量に反対するデモ隊の一部が基地内に立ち入り、７人が日米安全保障条約の刑事特別法違反で起訴された。東京地裁は、安保条約に基づく米軍駐留が憲法９条に反するとして５９年３月に全員を無罪としたが、最高裁大法廷は同１２月に１審を破棄、差し戻しを命じた。判決は、国家統治の基本にかかわる政治的な問題は司法判断の対象から外すべきだとした（統治行為論）。７人は罰金２０００円の有罪が確定した。
　◇跳躍上告

　刑事訴訟法に基づき、地裁や家裁、簡裁の１審判決に対して、高裁への控訴を抜きに、最高裁に上告する手続き。１審で、憲法違反や地方自治体の条例・規則が法律に違反したと判断された場合に限る。

-----------------
砂川裁判：密談文書　「司法の独立、どこへ」　元被告、怒りあらわ
　◇１審裁判官「面識あるの当然」

　６０年安保闘争へと続く米軍基地を舞台とした砂川闘争での基地侵入事件（砂川事件）の判決をめぐり、駐日米大使と、最高裁長官、外相が接触を重ねていたことが米国の外交文書で明らかになった。文面からは、安保体制への影響を最小限に抑えようとの米国側の狙いが浮かぶ。当時の被告は「司法の独立はどうなるのか」と怒り、元裁判官は「司法行政のトップが大使と話すことはありえる」と長官を擁護した。【井崎憲、武本光政】

　７人いた事件の被告のうち当時学生としてデモに参加していた土屋源太郎さん（７３）は「外国の大使に長官がなぜ審理見通しを語らなければならないのか。けしからん話だ」と批判した。

　裁判では、大使からの「アドバイス」もあり、政府は最高裁に跳躍上告。６０年の日米安保条約改定に間に合わせるように、５９年１２月に最高裁が判決を出し、無罪や米軍駐留の違憲判断はくつがえった。「３審を受ける権利を踏みにじられたと思うと悔しい」と話した。

　上告審弁護団の一人で、元参院議員（共産）の内藤功弁護士（７７）は「危惧（きぐ）はしていたが、実際にここまでやっているのかと驚いた」と述べ、「今後も安保条約や自衛隊の絡む訴訟は監視しないといけない」と話した。

　１審判決で陪席裁判官だった松本一郎独協大名誉教授（７７）は「大使がかなりショックを受けて、慌てふためいていた感じがする。初めて聞く話で、興味深い」と述べた。一方で田中耕太郎・最高裁長官と大使との接触については「最高裁長官は司法行政の長というポスト。米国大使とは当然面識があっただろうし、仮に大使が電話をしてきたとして、『話をしません』とは言えないだろう」と冷静に受け止めた。

　米大使と密談したとされる田中長官は、内務官僚や文相を経て５０年から１０年間、第２代長官を務めた。５５年にあった裁判所長らの会合では「ジャーナリズムその他一般社会の方面からくる各種の圧迫に毅然（きぜん）としなければならない」と訓示し、話題となった。７４年に死去。

　１審東京地裁の判決を出した伊達秋雄裁判長は退官後、「外務省機密漏えい事件」の弁護団長などを務め９４年に死去している。

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

　■大使が最高裁長官と密談したことを示す文書の全文■

　（日本語訳）最高裁は４月２２日、最高検察庁による砂川事件の東京地裁判決上告趣意書の提出期限を６月１５日に設定した。これに対し、弁護側はその立場を示す答弁書を提出することになる。

　外務省当局者が我々に知らせてきたところによると、上訴についての大法廷での審議は、恐らく７月半ばに開始されるだろう。とはいえ、現段階では決定のタイミングを推測するのは無理である。内密の話し合いで担当裁判長の田中は大使に、本件には優先権が与えられているが、日本の手続きでは審議が始まったあと、決定に到達するまでに少なくとも数カ月かかると語った。　マッカーサー

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

　■砂川事件を巡る動き（＜＞内部分は今回文書で明らかになった）

５１年　９月　８日　日米安保条約締結

５７年　７月　８日　米軍立川基地の拡張反対派が基地内に立ち入る

　　　　９月２２日　警視庁が反対派２３人を刑事特別法違反容疑で逮捕（後に７人が起訴）

５９年　３月３０日　東京地裁が違憲判断し７人に無罪判決

　　　　　　３１日　＜マッカーサー大使が藤山外相に最高裁への跳躍上告を勧める＞

　　　　４月　３日　検察側が跳躍上告

　　　　　　２４日　＜大使が、田中耕太郎・最高裁長官との密談を米国務長官に電報で報告＞

　　　１２月１６日　最高裁が合憲判断で差し戻し

６０年　１月１９日　新安保条約締結

　　　　７月　７日　東京地裁で差し戻し審開始

６１年　３月２７日　東京地裁が合憲判断で７人に有罪判決

６３年１２月２５日　最高裁が上告棄却を決定。有罪確定

７７年１１月３０日　米軍立川基地が横田に移転し、日本に全面返還

Luxury brand ownership on rise in Asia

Luxury brand ownership on rise in Asia

By Robin Kwong in Hong Kong

Published: April 29 2008 18:25 | Last updated: April 29 2008 18:25

High-profile luxury brands from Europe and the US have for years relied on little-known companies such as DKSH, Fairton, Xinyu Hengdeli and Peace Mark to get their products into the hands of Asian consumers.

Now these distributors are seeking to move up the value chain by acquiring brands themselves, rather than just distribution rights. They aim to capture a bigger slice of the rapidly expanding Asian luxury market at a time when the economic downturn is expected to hit the sector’s sales in Europe and the US.

Swatch demand ticking along nicely

Swatch demand ticking along nicely

By Haig Simonian in Biel

Published: April 29 2008 17:23 | Last updated: April 29 2008 17:23

Swatch Group, the world’s leading watchmaker, re-inforced the recent confidence of many luxury goods brands by saying 2008 had started buoyantly, with no sign of weakness in big markets or segments.

The group, which with its 18 watch marques spans the market from the six-figure Breguet to the utilitarian Swatch, said orders in the first four months of this year – including the crucial April Baselworld trade fair – had surpassed 2007’s already high levels and prompted confidence for the full year.

That suggests that, barring surprises, sales will exceed the record SFr5.94bn ($5.75bn) reported in 2007 – itself 17 per cent up on the previous year.

Nick Hayek, chief executive, gave no forecast for profits after the record SFr1.02bn the group made after tax last year. However, he gave every indication 2008 would be another record year in spite of high investment spending, surging commodity prices and unfavourable exchange rates.

“Growth is continuing at the same speed as last year, including America. Nowhere do we see signs of a slowdown; neither by region or segment. All segments are growing strongly and dynamically.”

Mr Hayek warned that the pace of demand would put continued pressure on the group – a crucial supplier of components to other watchmakers as well as its own brands. “We will need another 800 to 1,000 qualified people this year, vacancies which we can’t easily fill. Our challenge will be to find enough such people to be able to meet demand.”

Mr Hayek said the strength of demand had prompted him to cancel a planned analysts’ meeting, normally held at the watchmaker’s Biel headquarters immediately after the group’s annual media event.

The reason was because equity analysts had exaggerated the effects of the US subprime mortgage crisis on demand for luxury goods. Such warnings were a manifestation of the “herd instinct”, he said. But they “have nothing to do with the real economy”.

Mr Hayek pointed to a long-term shift in the watch industry because growing demand in developing regions, such as eastern Europe and Asia, had reduced manufacturers’ traditional dependence on established markets, such as the US. “The world has become much more balanced,” said Mr Hayek.

He doubted that the industry’s current buoyancy would prompt a new consolidation wave, as implied by last week’s purchase of Hublot by LVMH.

Instead, Mr Hayek called on other luxury goods groups to invest in manufacturing capacity, rather than buying brands which had become popular but still depended on Swatch Group for their most important components.

UN seeks Gulf boost to aid

UN seeks Gulf boost to aid

By Harvey Morris at the United Nations

Published: April 29 2008 19:07 | Last updated: April 29 2008 19:07

The United Nations is trying to nudge the rich countries of the Gulf into channelling more foreign aid through international institutions and away from bilateral projects that often favour the Arab and Islamic world.

Humanitarian officials would like to tap some of the Gulf surpluses generated by rising oil prices to counter the problems that higher energy costs have exacerbated – such as the world food supply crisis.

IMF cost cuts spur over 500 redundancies

IMF cost cuts spur over 500 redundancies

By Chris Bryant and Krishna Guha in Washington

Published: April 30 2008 00:08 | Last updated: April 30 2008 00:08

Almost 500 International Monetary Fund staff are set to leave after 20 per cent of the fund’s workforce requested voluntary redundancy as part of a plan to deliver $100m in cost savings.

The announcement was made as the IMF disclosed that member countries almost unanimously approved a new voting system to give emerging and developing economies greater influence. The fund originally sought 380 voluntary redundancies, mainly in senior management and administrative roles, but its buyout offer was heavily oversubscribed, drawing 591 applications from 2,900 eligible staff.

-----------------
IMF faces glut of staff seeking buyouts as reform advances

12 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The International Monetary Fund said Tuesday it has a glut of employees seeking buyout packages as its member nations overwhelmingly approved major voting and quota reforms.

The IMF said it had received requests from 591 of the 2,900 eligible employees for redundancy packages that were offered in a cost-cutting restructuring aimed at shoring up its shaky finances.

That represented roughly one in five employees, about half more than targeted.

The IMF had targeted 380 job cuts in a bid to trim operating expenses 13.5 percent over the next three years.

Managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn told AFP that higher-than-expected demand for buyouts reflects the attractiveness of the buyout packages and early retirements.

The IMF management offered buyouts equivalent to about a year and a half of salary, a source close to the fund said.

Strauss-Kahn welcomed the demand for exits from the 185-nation IMF.

"The good news is that avoids any phase of outright layoffs and provides room to hire those with new qualifications," he said.

The high number of buyout volunteers, who had until March 21 to submit their requests, will allow the IMF to "substantially" increase the initial target of 380 job cuts, he said, without disclosing a specific figure.

The IMF said in a statement that from the total of 591 buyout volunteers, between 100 to 125 from the middle level of the organization will not be approved for the packages.

The proportion of voluntary separations sought by senior staff and support staff will allow the IMF "to achieve the needed rebalancing in its structure."

However, the number of mid-level economists volunteering to go was higher than anticipated, IMF spokesman Masood Ahmed said.

Strauss-Kahn said the additional staff departures will allow the IMF to begin hiring "in September" financial markets specialists as part of a strategy to build the institution's strengths in that field.

As part of the restructuring, the IMF said six of its department heads had decided to leave.

Departing will be Mark Allen, director of the Policy Development and Review Department; Shailendra Anjaria, the IMF secretary; David Burton, director of the Asia and Pacific Department; Bert Keuppens, director of the Office of Internal Audit; Mohsin Khan, director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department; and Michael Kuhn, director of the Finance Department.

Earlier, the IMF said that member nations overwhelmingly approved vote and quota reform measures that strengthen the role of developing and emerging market countries.

The reform measures were approved Monday by 175 of the 185 IMF member nations, representing 92.98 percent of the total fund voting power, well ahead of the minimum 85 percent required for approval.

The reform, criticized as inadequate by a number of analysts, calls for developed countries to give up a small fraction of their voting rights -- equivalent to 1.6 percentage points -- to the benefit of emerging and developing countries.

The reallocation of voting power, which is supposed to occur every five years, extends more weight to countries experiencing strong economic growth, such as China, India, Brazil, South Korea and Mexico.

The main losers in the reshuffling are Britain, followed by France, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Russia.

The reform measures ultimately depend on member nations' legislatures to take effect.

Relocating companies spark UK tax review

Relocating companies spark UK tax review

By FT reporters

Published: April 29 2008 14:11 | Last updated: April 30 2008 03:32

Alistair Darling on Tuesday launched a review of the competitiveness of the UK’s tax system, as a leading accountant warned a “bandwagon effect” could create a flood of companies fleeing the country for tax purposes.

The move follows decisions by Shire, the UK’s third-biggest pharmaceutical company, and United Business Media, the publisher, to relocate headquarters to Ireland for tax reasons.

WPP warned the UK’s complex corporate taxation could force it to relocate. Sir Martin Sorrell’s advertising group said it would decide after examining Treasury proposals on taxing foreign profits due out this summer. AstraZeneca, the drugs group, also would not rule out relocating.

At the heart of the dispute are plans to change the tax treatment of UK companies with overseas subsidiaries to stop them reducing their bills by diverting profits to low-tax jurisdictions.

With the row threatening to further undermine the government’s reputation for economic competence after a series of budget retreats, the chancellor moved to stop the trickle of departures from growing.

Mr Darling said he was inviting multinationals to sit on a new working group to advise ministers on the “long-term challenges” facing the UK tax system. “We need to anticipate a growing problem for all governments – how to protect revenues in an increasingly global marketplace...while promoting the competitiveness of our businesses,” he said in a speech in the City.

Hilary Benn, the environment secretary, on Tuesday announced he would be selling his shares in UBM because he “does not wish to be drawn into this matter”.

KPMG warned of the “danger of a bandwagon effect here”. John Griffith-Jones, head of KPMG Europe, told the FT that the Treasury was concentrating on closing loopholes but “they need to look at this through a corporate lens...the fact is, the shop down the road is selling [business taxation] for less”.

The CBI employers’ organisation said it recognised the government had “little room for manoeuvre” to offer tax cuts in the short-term. But Richard Lambert, the CBI director-general who is expected to sit on the new working party, said he wanted to see “certainty and clarity and a sense of direction” on taxation in the medium-term. “I don’t want this to be a talking shop,” he told the FT. “There is a real problem for the UK here.”

George Osborne, shadow chancellor, said: “The chancellor doesn’t need a review to tell him now is not the time to be increasing capital gains tax, increasing small business tax and making the tax environment less attractive for multinationals.”

The Treasury said the working group would not be a “substitute” for consultation but was an overhaul of the way foreign profits were taxed. The government fears it could lose £1bn in tax revenues if it caves into industry pressure to relax the proposed anti-avoidance regime.

Greece agrees to join South Stream pipeline

Greece agrees to join South Stream pipeline

By Kerin Hope in Athens, Isabel Gorst in Moscow and agencies

Published: April 29 2008 12:45 | Last updated: April 29 2008 12:45

Greece formally agreed on Tuesday to host a section of Gazprom’s planned South Stream natural gas export pipeline, furthering its goal to become a regional transport hub for oil and gas supplies to Europe.

Gazprom, Russia’s state-run gas company, is building the pipeline in a partnership with Eni, the Italian oil company, to carry up to 30bn cubic metres a year of Russian gas across the Black Sea to Bulgaria.

From there it will split into two routes – one going north toward Slovenia and Italy, and another going south to Greece and across the Adriatic to Italy.

“The signing of the agreement to construct the Greek part of the South Stream pipeline has become the most important result [of talks],” Vladimir Putin, Russian president, said after a meeting with Kostas Karamanlis, the Greek prime minister.

Analysts say the South Stream project will pose a big challenge to the US and EU-backed Nabucco pipeline scheme. Under Nabucco, gas would come from ex-Soviet Azerbaijan to south Europe via Turkey, in an EU effort to diversify energy sources away from Russia. However, experts say the pipeline’s fruition is becoming increasingly difficult as Azeri reserves are questioned.

The Greek South Stream spur would carry up to 10bn cubic metres of gas a year under a 30-year transit arrangement, a Greek official said.

Athens opted to join the South Stream project after rejecting Russia’s request for a stake in a cross-border Turkish-Greek pipeline that began transporting Caspian gas into Europe last year.

The €300m ($465m, £235m) joint venture between Botas and Depa, the Turkish and Greek state-controlled gas companies, was intended to reduce Greek reliance on Russia as a supplier. The pipeline is being extended to Italy under an agreement between Depa and Edison, the Italian energy group. It is projected to carry up to 11bn cubic metres of Azeri gas.

Greece is also a partner alongside Russia and Bulgaria in a €1bn pipeline project to carry crude oil from the Black Sea to the north Aegean, bypassing the congested Bosphorus strait.

A Greek official yesterday dismissed a suggestion that Mr Karamanlis might head the South Stream project after Romani Prodi, Italy’s outgoing prime minister, turned down the job.

----------------
Russia, Greece ink deal to build South Stream gas pipe stretch

MOSCOW, April 29 (Prime-Tass) -- The Russian and Greek governments signed Tuesday an agreement to build a stretch of the South Stream gas pipeline in Greece, ITAR-TASS reported.

The accord was signed during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.

Under the agreement, Russian natural gas giant Gazprom is expected to supply 10 billion cubic meters per year to Greece via the pipeline, Russian Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said.

The South Stream pipeline is expected to be built by Russian natural gas giant Gazprom and Italian energy company Eni. The pipeline will run from Russia under the Black Sea to Bulgaria and then branch into two stretches. The first stretch is expected to run to the southwest via Bulgaria and Greece to Italy. The second stretch is expected to run to the northwest via Bulgaria to Central Europe. The pipeline's annual capacity is projected at 30 billion cubic meters. Gas supplies through the South Stream are expected to start in 2013.

EU signs deal on ties with Serbia

EU signs deal on ties with Serbia

By Tony Barber in Luxembourg

Published: April 29 2008 14:42 | Last updated: April 29 2008 14:42

Serbia and the European Union signed a pact on Tuesday that will put Belgrade on the road to eventual membership of the bloc.

The move provides a boost to pro-EU political forces ahead of Serbian parliamentary elections on May 11.

In an attempt to tip the balance against Serbian nationalist parties exploiting voters’ anger at EU support for Kosovo’s secession, officials signed the agreement at a foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg.

But the deal ran into immediate difficulties when Vojislav Kostunica, Serbia’s nationalist-leaning prime minister, condemned it, saying that if he and other EU critics won the election, they would annul the pact.

The step did not in any case amount to a breakthrough in EU-Serbian relations, because it came with the qualification that the Balkan state will receive no benefits from the pact until EU governments are satisfied that it is fully co-operating with the United Nations war-crimes tribunal in The Hague.

This condition, on which the Belgian and Dutch governments insisted, is generally taken to mean the arrest and handover for trial of Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb commander indicted for the massacre of thousands of Bosnian Muslim civilians at Srebrenica in 1995.

In addition, the extent of Serbian co-operation with the UN tribunal is likely to influence the speed with which the EU’s 27 member states ratify the pact in their national parliaments.

The accord, known as a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), is a first step for non-EU countries towards gaining candidate member status, but it also offers benefits in terms of increased trade and investment.

Boris Tadic, Serbia’s president, said that Belgrade “would like to become an official candidate by the end of the year”.

Apart from Bosnia-Herzegovina – which is still plagued by tensions between Bosnian Serbs and Muslims more than 12 years after the end of the 1992-95 war – Serbia is the only country to have emerged from the wreckage of the former Yugoslavia without an EU association pact.

Some European governments are keen to bring Serbia close to the EU as soon as possible, because they foresee a long-term role for it as the strongest and most stable country in a notoriously volatile region.

They also hope that the EU, which prides itself on having contributed to healing old rivalries such as that between France and Germany, can serve as an attractive alternative to the extreme nationalism that characterised Serbia under the rule of the late president Slobodan Milosevic in the 1990s.

However, Kosovo’s secession – recognised so far by 18 of the EU’s 27 countries – has placed moderate, pro-EU Serbian politicians in a difficult position in the election campaign, because it risks associating them with the loss of a province strongly identified with Serbia’s history and culture.

Vuk Jeremic, Serbia’s pro-EU foreign minister, told reporters in Luxembourg that the signature of the pact was a big moment for Serbia. “This is an important political statement that the doors of Europe are open for Serbia,” he said.

● EU foreign ministers failed on Tuesday to agree on a mandate to launch talks on a new partnership accord with Russia because of objections from Lithuania.

The banker asking Moscow for change

The banker asking Moscow for change

By Catherine Belton

Published: April 30 2008 03:27 | Last updated: April 30 2008 03:27

Andrei Kostin, president of VTB, Russia’s second-largest bank, has said Russia must free cash from its sovereign wealth fund to provide longer term funding for the banking sector amid a dearth of international financing due to the global credit crisis.

Speaking to the Financial Times as Russia launched its first auctions this month for up to Rbs600bn ($25bn) in short-term liquidity injections for the banking sector out of surplus budget funds, Mr Kostin said the central bank had eased jitters over the credit crisis. But he called for part of the country’s $32bn stored in its national wealth fund to be freed to fund the banking system.

“I can say that the problem of short-term liquidity is resolved,” Mr Kostin said. “The problem is that there is still a substantial lack of longer term resources. If you take retail deposits [they are] still lagging behind not just industrial economies but also emerging ones. There is no source of funding as pension funds or asset management.”

Rapid economic growth in Russia has been largely funded by record capital inflows that reached as much as $82bn last year. But these funds dried up because of the international financial crisis, with Russia recording a $22.8bn net capital outflow in the first quarter of this year. Russian companies and banks must pay $100bn in foreign debt this year.

The credit squeeze is sparking debate in Russia over whether to use oil and gas windfall revenues stored in its sovereign wealth funds to prop up domestic economic growth instead of investing them abroad in blue chip stocks as originally planned. A powerful banking lobby that includes Mr Kostin appears to have won the backing of Vladimir Putin, the outgoing Russian president, who last month called for the government to find ways to invest the reserves at home.

Economists warn that moves to deposit the funds as long-term funding for the banking sector could stoke inflation, which is raging at 13 per cent. Liberal economists such as Oleg Vyugin, a former deputy central banker and the chairman of privately-owned MDM Bank, say big banks should temporarily cut back lending instead of seeking more state cash with economic growth taking a temporary hit.

But Mr Kostin said he had no plans to curtail growth at VTB, which last year raised its share of the corporate lending sector from 9 per cent to 10.7 per cent and its share of the retail lending market from 3 per cent to 5.9 per cent.

VTB has bought up to $500m in credit portfolios from retail banks harder hit by the credit crisis, such as Russian Standard Bank, which financed rapid growth mainly by foreign borrowings. It has also embarked on an ambitious programme of organic growth.

“We are not cutting down our expansion plans,” Mr Kostin said. “Having a solid capital base and a good brand and enough liquidity we are in a position to take a larger slice of the market.”

With $5.4bn in foreign debt yet to be refinanced this year, VTB has been a recipient of short-term liquidity injections from the central bank and the finance ministry. Mr Kostin said the bank had raised Rbs7.5bn ($3.2m) in collateralised loans from the central bank and had another Rbs15bn in loans in the pipeline. It had also received Rbs70bn cash from state corporations as part of the finance ministry’s drive to boost liquidity and was likely to win more.

VTB has used part of the funds to provide bridge loans to Russian industry. Mr Vyugin and other economists have warned that the biggest danger for the Russian banking system is if banks use short-term liquidity injections to finance industry, which they say could lead to dangerous credit mismatches.

Mr Kostin insisted his bank was watching maturities carefully. But the situation “when the international markets which provided this long term liquidity are closed or nearly closed” highlighted the need to find more long-term financing.

Mr Kostin called for 20 per cent of the $32bn national wealth fund to be deposited with the banking system as a source of long-term funding and for the country’s pension fund to also be distributed to a select group of banks to manage. “We are talking about an opportunity for more long-term investment and the possibility for companies to issue more rouble-denominated corporate loans or bonds.”

If longer term financing is not provided, “It will lead to a situation where Russian banks and VTB may start to provide shorter term loans.”

Gulf investor warns of EU over-regulation

Gulf investor warns of EU over-regulation

By Roula Khalaf in Abu Dhabi

Published: April 29 2008 23:32 | Last updated: April 29 2008 23:32

One of the most powerful Gulf investors has warned that European attempts to force greater transparency on sovereign wealth funds are making the continent unattractive for investment.

Sultan bin Sulayem, head of Dubai World, said such moves by regulators were discriminatory and would deter him from investing. In an interview with the FT, the head of Dubai’s powerful government-backed conglomerate said Europe was now exerting more pressure on SWFs than the US, which has openly resisted Arab investment in assets deemed “strategic”.

“People who have money to invest, if they hear that somebody’s going to discriminate against them, they wouldn’t go [there],” he said. He said western officials were wrongly placing Dubai’s government or ruler-backed investment companies in the category of sovereign wealth funds, and therefore putting them at a disadvantage from competitors such as private equity firms.

Dubai World controls DP World, the fourth-biggest port operator in the world, as well as Istithmar, a high-profile investment fund. DP World in 2006 was forced to dispose of American operations that were part of its takeover of P&O, the UK container terminals and ferries operator, after a US government review. The fund has also been active in China and Africa.

Mr bin Sulayem’s criticism of Europe follows recent attacks by the Kuwait Investment Authority, one of the world’s largest SWFs, on the European Union’s proposals, made last year, for a voluntary code of conduct for such funds. The European Commission has said that if a code of transparency were not agreed, it would not rule out EU-wide regulation. Mr bin Sulayem has already faced a backlash against Arab investments in the US after the September 11 terror attacks.

Mr bin Sulayem and other Dubai officials argue that their investment funds are run on a commercial basis and therefore should not be seen as driven by politics.

“In our case, our records are open, we borrow from the banks to finance something...then the gain from the real estate business we put it in an investment [abroad],” he said.

With backing from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al-Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler, the rapidly growing emirate has set up several funds that have been aggressively investing abroad contributing to global concerns over the intentions and lack of transparency of these funds.

“These investment funds are not run by governments. I invest because there is a return and I will sell and I do not need to take permission from the government whether I’m buying or I’m selling,” said Mr bin Sulayem.

Across the Gulf, sovereign wealth funds say they resent the pressure they are put under by western politicians while at the same time being courted by banks seeking rescue from the credit crisis.

The largest SWF in the region – the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority – has sought to deflect western, particularly US, criticism by agreeing with the US Treasury on a set of principles for investment. But so far, no other Middle East fund has followed in ADIA’s path.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem, Qatar’s prime minister and head of the Qatar Investment Authority, the country’s SWF, told the FT recently: “We’re very transparent, we invest according to countries’ rules, we’re not driven politically and we are helping the international economy.” Asked about the ADIA deal with the Treasury, he said: “We’ll wait and see, we’ll see how it works.”

Memory Training Shown to Turn Up Brainpower

Memory Training Shown to Turn Up Brainpower
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR

A new study has found that it may be possible to train people to be more intelligent, increasing the brainpower they had at birth.

Until now, it had been widely assumed that the kind of mental ability that allows us to solve new problems without having any relevant previous experience — what psychologists call fluid intelligence — is innate and cannot be taught (though people can raise their grades on tests of it by practicing).

But in the new study, researchers describe a method for improving this skill, along with experiments to prove it works.

The key, researchers found, was carefully structured training in working memory — the kind that allows memorization of a telephone number just long enough to dial it. This type of memory is closely related to fluid intelligence, according to background information in the article, and appears to rely on the same brain circuitry. So the researchers reasoned that improving it might lead to improvements in fluid intelligence.

First they measured the fluid intelligence of four groups of volunteers using standard tests. Then they trained each in a complicated memory task, an elaborate variation on Concentration, the child’s card game, in which they memorized simultaneously presented auditory and visual stimuli that they had to recall later.

The game was set up so that as the participants succeeded, the tasks became harder, and as they failed, the tasks became easier. This assured a high level of difficulty, adjusted individually for each participant, but not so high as to destroy motivation to keep working. The four groups underwent a half-hour of training daily for 8, 12, 17 and 19 days, respectively. At the end of each training, researchers tested the participants’ fluid intelligence again. To make sure they were not just improving their test-taking skills, the researchers compared them with control groups that took the tests without the training.

The results, published Monday in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, were striking. Although the control groups also made gains, presumably because they had practice with the fluid intelligence tests, improvement in the trained groups was substantially greater. Moreover, the longer they trained, the higher their scores were. All performers, from the weakest to the strongest, showed significant improvement.

“Intelligence has always been considered principally an immutable inherited trait,” said Susanne M. Jaeggi, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at the University of Michigan and a co-author of the paper. “Our results show you can increase your intelligence with appropriate training.”

Why did the training work? The authors suggest several aspects of the exercise relevant to solving new problems: ignoring irrelevant items, monitoring ongoing performance, managing two tasks simultaneously and connecting related items to one another in space and time.

No one knows how long the gains will last after training stops, Dr. Jaeggi said, and the experiment’s design did not allow the researchers to determine whether more training would continue to produce further gains.

国保から移行で７５歳以上は対象外 保養施設割引や人間ドック助成…

国保から移行で７５歳以上は対象外　保養施設割引や人間ドック助成…

2008年4月29日 朝刊

７５歳以上は助成の対象外となったことを知らせる張り紙＝三重県桑名市の「名古屋市休養温泉ホーム松ケ島」で
写真

　７５歳以上を対象に始まった後期高齢者（長寿）医療制度で、市町村の国民健康保険（国保）から移行したお年寄りが、保養施設の割引や人間ドックの助成といった国保加入者向けのさまざまなサービスが利用できないことになった。国保脱退に伴い、市町村が独自に実施するこうした施策からも“締め出し”を受けたためで、困惑が広がっている。

　「そんなばかな話があるかと。同じ名古屋市の高齢者なのに」

　三重県桑名市にある名古屋市の保養施設「休養温泉ホーム松ケ島」。同市南区の男性（８５）は４月に入って初めて利用したとき、割引対象から外されたと知った。近所の高齢者同士で年数回の利用を楽しみにしてきた。

　料金は６０歳以上なら１泊２食付きで６０００円。名古屋市国保の加入者は、保険証を示せば１０００円の助成がある。ところが、７５歳以上は通常料金を請求されることになった。新制度ではこうした割引はない。

　「お役所仕事で冷たい。高齢者がどう困るのかなんて考えちゃいない。私らが国保脱退を望んだわけじゃないのに、悔しくて」

　昨年度は約７４００人が助成を受け、４割は７５歳以上だった。施設には毎日「なぜ割引されないのか」と問い合わせが相次ぐ。

　市保険年金課は「あくまで国保に加入する人の健康増進が目的だから」と説明する。

　一方、福井市では７５歳以上が人間ドックの助成を利用できなくなった。通常は４万数千円かかる費用が１万円程度の負担で済むお得な制度。「われわれは『死ね』ということか」。対象外となったお年寄りが市の担当課に詰め寄った。

　岐阜県関市でも「脳ドック」が対象外に。長野県飯田市では退院後に自宅療養する際、電動ベッドや車いすなどのレンタル料について９割の助成を受けられる制度があるが、利用できなくなった。

　市町村の間では、救済措置を取る動きも。愛知県豊橋市は近く後期高齢者医療制度の対象者向けにも脳、肺、心臓ドックの助成制度を設ける。市介護医療課は「年齢でサービスに格差があるのはよくないと判断した」としている。

The Real Crisis of Argentina's Agricultural Sector

The Real Crisis of Argentina's Agricultural Sector

* By Carlos A. Vicente

Translated from: La verdadera crisis del campo argentino Translated by: Eliot Brockner

On Mar. 11, 2008, the Argentine government established an increase in retentions on soy exports, raising the figure from 33% to 44% and applying a series of adjustable retentions that vary according to the international price of soy. It did not take long for the soy producers to respond.

The declared objective of the increase in the retentions was to assist the government in its attempts to redistribute wealth while at the same time attempting to halt the advance of the sole production of soy and to use these funds to encourage other productions. A few days later four entities representing the agricultural sector (among them Confederaciones Rurales Argentinas, Sociedad Rural Argentina, Confederación de Asociaciones Rurales de Buenos Aires, and La Pampa y la Federacion Agraria Argentina) that comprise different sectors of the soy producers (from the large landholders to the medium and smaller producers) came together to launch an agrarian lockout, blocking the principal transportation routes for food and provoking a serious problem because of the resulting food shortages. The only appeal of these protests is the elimination of this measure. Together with the protestors, the powerful communication media tied to these business interests have inundated the news talking of a "historical strike" and of the return of the "cacerolazos" (street protests). These protests are a far cry from those heard around the world in December 2001.

In spite of the president's invitation to an open dialogue, the rural organizations have decided to continue by means of force, creating an outlook of uncertainty and instability unheard of in the sector that has benefited most economically in the last couple of years since the devaluation of the Argentine Peso in 2002.

Far from the rural organizations are the farmers' organizations, who are supporting the retentions but demand an overhaul of the measures that benefited the model of the "soy republic" in place in Argentina since the 1990s.

Facing the current crisis provoked by the employers' closing of the rural soy producers, it is worth it to step back and look a little bit beyond the current situation in order to understand what it is about and to be able to look at the problem clearly, in other words without hiding behind a lone tree in the forest of problems that our society faces. Nevertheless it seems that the advance of the agricultural frontier during the last decades has left us not only without real forests but also without the capacity of seeing the plethora of ideas that are hidden behind this emerging situation.

Without a doubt the debate about the necessary distribution of agrarian income or the way of applying retentions to large and small producers is part of a necessary process and is owed to Argentine society.

However, in no way can we stop analyzing how we have arrived at this situation, what are the true problems that we are facing, and above all, what are the consequences of a system that has invaded Argentina in only 12 years. This model produces spectacular earnings for some and incredibly serious problems for an entire society that to this day has not responded, being too amazed by the siren songs of the "record productions." The Advance of Soy

It was in the middle of the 1990s when Menem's government, in tandem with then-Secretary of Agriculture Felipe Solá, authorized the cultivation of transgenic soy in Argentina. From that point on, in an increase never before registered in the history of world agriculture, transgenic soy started to invade our land, occupying today more than 50% of agricultural lands.

The imposition of this model with no type of government regulation opened the doors for what some researchers appropriately started calling "a machine of hunger, deforestation, and socio-ecological devastation"1 because of the destruction of habitat, loss of native forests, invasion of transgenic strains, monoculture, environmental contamination, displacement of regional production, concentration of land, and displacement of the rural population-culminating in an explosive combination for which all Argentines will suffer the consequences.

Let's take a look at one of the impacts of this model: the soil situation. It is absolutely essential to be conscious of the fact that given the levels of soy that we are currently exporting, we are selling one of the most precious natural resources that we posses-the soil. The brutal extraction of nutrients taking place on 17 million hectares of soy that are then shipped off to China or the European Union to fatten their livestock is bleeding our territory, leaving barren land for future generations.

It's not a coincidence that the government has announced a plan of support for agricultural fertilization at the same time as the increase in retentions. What the government does not understand is that there is no type of large scale fertilization that can return life to soil that has been exhausted in the way that is currently taking place.

On the other hand, this soil is not "property" of the landowners but rather, as a natural resource, as stated by the constitutional reforms of 1994, it is a shared cultural heritage of all Argentines. It is worth remembering Article 41 of this constitution: "All habitants enjoy the right to an environment that is healthy, balanced, and suitable for human development, that production activities satisfy the present necessities without compromising future generations, and they have the duty of preserving it ... The authorities will provide protection to this right for the rational use of natural resources, the preservation of this natural and cultural heritage, the biological diversity, and environmental information and education."

On the other hand the same constitution states in Article 17 the recognition of the "ethnic and cultural pre-existence of indigenous Argentine peoples" and the promise to "guarantee respect for their identity, and to assure their participation in the management with regard to natural resources and the other interests that affect them."

As of today, none of these obligations has been fulfilled by the Argentine state, leaving this as one of the principal internal debts to society as a whole as much as it is to the indigenous peoples. Not one of the rural entities that are protesting today has done anything to protect these common goods. In fact, they have done the opposite-each producer has advanced as far as he could (including up to the shoulder of the highway) with the green soy desert. The Real Winners

Of course the "fathers" of the model, the large agro corporations (Monsanto, Syngenta, and Cargill) remain silent and have not issued any statements or opinions, and are not present in the highway blockades.

However it has been these corporations, as Raul Montenegro defines it,2 that have made us "hostages of Monsanto" with the invasion of transgenic soy that today represents 99% of all soy cultivation in Argentina. While Argentine soy producers were blocking the highways, Monsanto announced on March 25 in New York an increase in their earnings forecast for 2008, "citing the strong demand for corn and soybeans and the greater demand of herbicides,"3 and at the beginning of 2008 they reported that they had tripled their earnings compared to the same trimester of the previous year.4

Evidently they do not seem very worried about the retentions in Argentina. Neither Cargill, Dreyfus, ADM, nor Bunge are part of the protest, although as the Grupo de Reflexion Rural5 clearly shows, they are the true exporters and those who stand to assume the costs of the retentions.

Some of the largest harvests, which surely are not very affected by a 10% change in retentions, are not even part of the party, such as the Gustavo Grobocopatel's Grobo group which does not pertain to any of the entities that came together for the protest and that represent the main segment of soy cultivation in Argentina. Farmers Sovereignty

The farmworkers' and indigenous organizations have clearly expressed their rejection of this model for more than a decade. In the "March for the defense of our rights, against life-long labor insecurity, the removal of natural goods, and contamination," which took place on Sept. 24, 2007, they spoke of "a gradual removal that in a few years will leave us without the bounties and richness of nature. Wealth for them means nature's resources. But for us they are the natural and cultural goods of our people."6

Now, the Indigenous Farmworkers National Movement (MNCI), consisting of 15,000 families in seven provinces, states with absolute clarity that "this is an opportunity to redefine the strategies of development as they benefit indigenous farmworkers' agricultural interests, the small farmer who lives on his piece of land, the rural worker. That strategy must include the people most important to the farmworkers' organizations and indigenous peoples; it must assign resources on credit and subsidies that improve the community infrastructure. It must also be productive, providing social services deep in the heartland, stopping homelessness among farmworkers and indigenous families, it must plan the redistribution of the land and the re-population of the farmland, it must guarantee the production of healthy food for the population, and it must centralize exports in the government to regulate internal prices and redistribute income."7

It is time that we listen to those who have always fed our people and who will continue doing so in the future in spite of the "farm business" and the pompous speeches from the people "of the farms." It is time that we learn to see the forest and to take care of it. End Notes

1. La soja transgénica en América Latina: una maquinaria de hambre, deforestación y devastación socioecológica, http://www.biodiversidadla.org/content/view/full/23297.
2. Argentina: rehenes de Monsanto, http://www.biodiversidadla.org/content/view/full/39814.
3. Monsanto eleva meta de ganancias de año fiscal 2008, http://lta.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idLTAN2538056820080325.
4. Triplica Monsanto ganancias en negocio de venta de semillas transgénicas, http://www.planetaazul.com.mx/www/2008/01/07/triplica-monsanto-ganancias-en- negocio-de-venta-de-semillas-transgenicas/.
5. GRR, http://www.grr.org.ar/. 6. Argentina: marcha por la defensa de nuestros derechos. Contra la precarización de la vida, el saqueo de los bienes naturales y la contaminación, http://www.biodiversidadla.org/content/view/full/35016.
7. Argentina: no al modelo de agronegocios actual. Exigimos políticas para los campesinos indígenas, http://www.biodiversidadla.org/content/view/full/39802.



Translated for the Americas Program by Eliot Brockner.

Carlos A. Vicente is head of information for Latin America at GRAIN (www.grain.org) and a contributor to CIP's Americas Policy Program (www.americaspolicy.org).

ウイルスは強毒性と判明＝白鳥の鳥インフル－秋田

ウイルスは強毒性と判明＝白鳥の鳥インフル－秋田

　秋田県と環境省は２９日、十和田湖畔で死んでいた白鳥から検出されたＨ５亜型の鳥インフルエンザウイルスが強毒性だったと発表した。国内で野鳥から強毒性のウイルスを検出したのは、２００７年に熊本県相良村でクマタカが感染しているのが確認されて以来。これまでのところ、周辺で鳥の大量死などの異常は見つかっていない。

　同県は２１日に、死亡した白鳥３羽と衰弱した白鳥１羽を回収。動物衛生研究所（茨城県つくば市）に検査を依頼していた。

　環境省は強毒性の鳥インフルエンザウイルス検出を受けて、周辺地域の野鳥がウイルスを保有していないか、ふんを採集するなどして調査する。

　同省によると、感染した鳥との濃密な接触をしない限り、鳥インフルエンザウイルスは人に感染しないという。

元親方の公判前協議始まる 力士急死事件、名古屋地裁

元親方の公判前協議始まる 力士急死事件、名古屋地裁

　時津風部屋の力士急死事件で、制裁目的の暴行で時太山＝当時（１７）、本名斉藤俊さん＝を死亡させたとして、傷害致死罪で起訴された元親方の山本順一被告（５８）の公判前整理手続きの第１回協議が２４日、名古屋地裁（芦沢政治裁判長）で開かれた。

　立証内容を示し、証拠調べの請求書を提出した検察側と、証拠の開示を請求した弁護側とで争点などの整理が行われた。協議に山本被告は出席しなかった。

　今後も協議が進められ、暴行がけいこの限度を超えていたかどうかなどが争点になるとみられる。

　山本被告は捜査段階で「あくまでけいこの一環だ」などと供述。検察側は「けいこの名を借りたリンチ」などと主張するとみられる。

　起訴状によると、斉藤さんが宿舎から逃げ出したことに腹を立てた山本被告と兄弟子らが共謀し昨年６月２５日夜、ビール瓶や木の棒で殴り、鉄砲柱に縛り付けて暴行。翌２６日午前には約３０分間の激しいぶつかりげいこをし、暴行を加え、多発外傷性ショックで死亡させた。

みずほ証券：３００人の人員削減 大幅赤字で

みずほ証券：３００人の人員削減　大幅赤字で

　みずほ証券は２８日、０８年３月期連結決算の最終損益が４１８６億円の大幅な赤字に陥ったことを受け、希望退職を募るなどして、来年３月までに従業員の１５％に当たる３００人程度を削減すると発表した。また、横尾敬介社長の役員報酬を４月から半年間、毎月３０％削減、その他の役員も役員報酬を削減する。人件費や物件費の削減も進め、０９年３月期の経費は、前期比２０％削減を目指す。

　また、サブプライムローン関連で多大な損失を計上した子会社の英国現地法人「みずほインターナショナル」でも部署の統廃合を進める。

過労認定訴訟：会社側に２億円賠償命令 大阪・男性脳出血

過労認定訴訟：会社側に２億円賠償命令　大阪・男性脳出血

　勤務中に脳出血による意識障害を起こしたのは過労が原因として、大阪府門真市の精密機器製造会社に勤務していた男性（３３）＝大阪市＝らが同社に将来の介護費用など約５億８０００万円の賠償を求めた訴訟の判決が２８日、大阪地裁であった。田中敦裁判長は「業務が心身の健康を損なう過重なものと十分認識できたはず」と述べ、会社側の安全配慮義務違反を認定し、約２億円の支払いを命じた。

　判決によると、男性は９８年４月に入社。０１年４月１日に製造工程を管理する部署に配属替えになり、同１３日、職場で倒れた。現在も意識のない状態が続いている。

　男性は意識障害を起こした後、先天的な脳動静脈奇形（ＡＶＭ）があったことが判明。会社側は訴訟で「ＡＶＭを認識していなかった」と主張し、脳出血と業務の因果関係と併せ、同社の予見可能性が争点になった。

　田中裁判長は、職場が替わってから倒れるまでの１２日間に休日が１日もなく、時間外労働が約６１時間だったことから過重労働と認定。さらに「疾患のない者でも、脳出血を発症する危険があるほどの過重労働だ」と判断し、会社側が業務を軽減すべきだったと結論付けた。

　原告側代理人の岩城穣弁護士は「会社側の義務を幅広く認めたのは画期的。これほど高額の賠償を命じたケースも珍しい」と評価している。

ヤクルト本社、インドで本格販売

ヤクルト本社、インドで本格販売

　ヤクルト本社は主力製品の乳酸菌飲料「ヤクルト」でインド市場の開拓を本格化する。デリー市郊外の工場を拠点に今後５年間で、ムンバイなど主要７都市に販売地域を広げる。65ミリリットル容器で日本の販売量の３分の１に当たる１日100万本を目指す。将来はサウジアラビアなど中東への輸出も検討する。経済成長や原油価格高騰を背景に所得水準が上昇するインド・中東で、健康志向に対応した飲料の需要が増えると判断した。

　筆頭株主である仏食品大手ダノングループとのインドの合弁会社が運営する工場から、65ミリリットル容器のヤクルトを供給する。今年１月にデリー市とその周辺で発売したが、年内にムンバイとバンガロールでも販売する。その後はコルカタやチェンナイにも進出する。営業拠点を設け、訪問販売なども視野に展開する方針だ。

棒鋼と厚板、34年ぶり高値・鋼材４品、１トン10万円台に

棒鋼と厚板、34年ぶり高値・鋼材４品、１トン10万円台に

　世界的な資源高を受けて鋼材価格が急ピッチで上昇している。建設用の棒鋼、機械などに使う熱延厚板の流通価格が28日、それぞれ１トン10万円台に乗せた。いずれも第１次石油危機直後の1973年末以来、34年半ぶりの水準。先行して値上がりしたＨ形鋼と冷延薄板を加え主要４品目が初めてそろって10万円台となった。住宅着工や公共事業が低迷する建設業界に打撃となりそうだ。

　鉄筋用棒鋼の取引価格は東京で前週比４％高い１トン10万円中心、大阪でも８％高い10万4000円中心となった。熱延厚板は東京で３％上昇し10万1500円中心となった。

自動車取得税、減税特需は不発

自動車取得税、減税特需は不発

　道路特定財源の暫定税率が30日にも復活する見通しとなり、自動車販売各社が対応を迫られている。４月から車購入時にかかる「自動車取得税」が５％から３％に下がったが、５月には税率が再び元の５％に戻る。期待された特需効果が見えないうえ、税率の再変更で事務作業などの負担増の懸念が広がっている。

　４月登録の新車から税負担が軽くなった。200万円の新車の場合、自動車取得税の税額は４万円安く済む計算だ。しかし今のところ新車販売が大きく伸びた例は少数。４月の販売台数が前年並みどまりだった東京日産自動車販売（東京・品川）は「暫定税率失効による特需は起きていない」と分析する。

中国カード「銀聯」、日本国内での利用急増

中国カード「銀聯」、日本国内での利用急増

　中国の銀行が発行するキャッシュカード「銀聯（ぎんれん）カード」の日本国内での利用が急拡大している。決済金額は2007年度に40億円と06年度の約５倍に膨らんだ。利用者である中国人の来日が増え、カードを利用できる加盟店も１万店を突破。うちビックカメラは決済金額が10倍以上に増えた。決済業務を手掛ける三井住友カードによると、08年度の決済は100億円を突破する勢いという。

　銀聯は中国の銀行が共同で運営し、日本では05年に利用が始まった。中国は5000米ドル相当の外貨しか現金では国外に持ち出せない。銀聯を使えば高額でも銀行残高の範囲内で即時決済できるうえに、日本では消費税が非課税になる店が多い。

07年人口移動、40道府県が「転出超過」

07年人口移動、40道府県が「転出超過」

　総務省は28日、住民基本台帳に基づく2007年の人口移動報告を公表した。転入が転出を上回る「転入超過」は東京都や神奈川県、千葉県など７都県にとどまり、40道府県が「転出超過」だった。改めて、地方から大都市部への人口の流出が浮き彫りとなった。

　全国の都道府県間の移動者数は257万9538人で、12年連続の減少。転入が転出を上回った割合である転入超過率が最も高いのは東京都の0.76％。２位は神奈川県（0.37％）、３位は千葉県（0.33％）で、いずれも首都圏が占めた。

　逆に転出が転入を上回った割合（転出超過率）が最も高いのは青森県の0.73％で、長崎県の0.7％、秋田県の0.61％が続いた。転出超過の実数は北海道の2万267人が最も多い。

総務省、公立病院改革を調査

総務省、公立病院改革を調査

　総務省は各自治体が抱える公立病院の改革状況の調査を始めた。4月中に都道府県や市町村に医療拠点の再編計画や改革プランの検討スケジュールを提出させ、夏までに全国の状況を集計・公表する。赤字状態が大半の公立病院の経営効率化を進めるため、自治体は病院の改革プランを年度内に策定することが義務付けられている。総務省は全国の取り組みが順調に進んでいるか点検する。

　各自治体は4月末までに、改革プランの策定に向けた検討組織の設置状況や今後のスケジュールを報告する。さらに都道府県は地域内の医療計画の見直し状況もまとめ、総務省に提出する。

生活保護受給要件を緩和・厚労省

生活保護受給要件を緩和・厚労省

　厚生労働省はこのほど、生活保護の受給要件を緩和した。一定の条件を満たせば受給者が海外渡航しても給付するようにしたほか、一部の未承認薬も公費で使えるようにした。支給のムダをなくす適正化策を進める一方で、必要な部分は厚くし、セーフティーネット（安全網）としての役割を高める。

　生活保護は今まで、国内にいる人しか支給を受けられず、一時的に海外に行く場合もその間の保護費は支給されなかった。厚労省は親族の冠婚葬祭や墓参り、学生の修学旅行などが理由であれば海外渡航中でも保護費の支給を認めることにし、その要件を自治体に通知した。

長野聖火リレーの真実

■2008/04/29 (火) 長野聖火リレーの真実 １

長野の聖火リレーの様子をテレビのニュースやワイドショーで観た人も多いと思いますが、放送されたのは、欽ちゃんが何かを投げつけられるシーンと、卓球の愛ちゃんの前に男が乱入するシーンと、乱闘してるシーンなど、誰かが何らかの意図を持って編集した断片的に映像だけでした。そして、いつもの無責任なコメンテーターたちが、分かったようなことをノタマッてただけで、真実は何ひとつ伝えられませんでした。

そうした偏向的な放送を観たあたしの感想は、沿道を埋めつくした中国の赤い旗ばかりが目立ち、とてもニポンとは思えないような異常な光景だけが印象に残った、というものでした。そして、「何で中国の旗ばかりで、チベットの旗を持った人たちはほとんど映らないのだろう？それほど参加しなかったのかな？」と思いました。これは、多くの人が、同じように思ったはずです。

で、このあたしの疑問は、実際に現場に行って来た人の報告を読んで、やっと解けました。この人は、実際にチベットにも行っているニポンの若い獣医さんで、貴重な映像をまじえて、当日の「テレビでは絶対に放送しなかったこと」を伝えています。

当日、ニポンの警察官たちは、上層部からの命令によって、中国人たちだけに沿道での応援を許し、チベットを支援している人たちをすべて強制的に排除していたのです。実際には、チベットを支援している人たちもたくさんいたのに、警察が彼らをすべて排除して、中国人だけを沿道に並ばせていたのです。そして、現場を取材に来たＴＢＳテレビの取材陣も、最初から「中国寄りの取材をするように」との指示があったのか、チベットを支持する人たちに対して、信じられないような態度をとっているのです。

以下、その人の日記を転載、公開させていただきます。
■2008/04/29 (火) 長野聖火リレーの真実 ２

「世界最低の国、日本」（2008年04月27日）

早朝、善光寺へ向かった。
Ｍちん、Ｔさん、Ｆ君、Ｙちゃんと５人で。

町には何台もの大型バスが乗り入れ、中国人が降りてくる。
僕らがそれぞれ旗を作り、プラカードを作り、前日からカラオケボックスで寝ていたのに対し、彼らは中国大使館から支給された巨大な旗と、チャーターバスで堂々登場した。

善光寺参拝が終わり、街中へ。
とりあえず聖火リレー出発地点へ向かった。
ここで日本とは思えない景色を目にした。

出発地点に、中国の旗を持った人は入場できるが、チベットの旗を持った人は入れない。
警察の言い分。
「危険だから」
じゃあ、何で中国人はいいんだ？
「......ご協力お願いします。」

は？
それやらせじゃん。
中国国旗しかない沿道って、警察が作ってるんじゃん。

この後ＴＢＳの取材が来た。
チベットサポーターの１人が、
「日中記者交換協定があるから映せないのか？」とアナウンサーに聞いた。
アナウンサーは「は？勝手に叫んでれば？」と吐き捨てて消えた。

街中に行くとどこに行ってもＦＲＥＥＴＩＢＥＴと叫んでいる。
そこに中国人が押し寄せ、罵声を浴びせてくる。

交差点で中国人と僕らが入り乱れた。
突然Ｍちゃんが顔面を殴られた。
僕は殴った中国人のババアを捕まえて、目の前の警察に言った。
「こいつ殴ったぞ！！」
警察は何もしなかった。

ババアが俺の手を噛んだ。手から血が出た。
警察と目が合った。
警察は何もしなかった。

ババアが僕の顔面を殴ってきた。
周りのチベットーサポーターが、「おい、警察、現行犯だろ、捕まえろよ！！！！」 と言ったのに、警察は何もしなかった。
■2008/04/29 (火) 長野聖火リレーの真実 ３

これが抗議活動中じゃなかったら、普通にブチ切れて乱闘になってる。
でも非暴力を貫く為、ひたすら耐えた。

Ｍちゃんが１日かけて一生懸命書いたプラカードを、中国人が叩き落とした。
拾おうとするＭちゃん。踏みつける中国人。
「おい、てめー何やってんだよ！」と制止に入った。
2ｍくらいの距離に警察がいたが、何もしなかった。

街中いたるところで抗議合戦。
救急車が来たり大騒ぎ。
僕らはひたすら抗議活動をした。

雨が降ってきた。
それでも誰も抗議を辞めなかった。
中国人がかたまってる交差点を、Ｔさんと旗を振りながら渡った。
沿道の中国人は蹴りを入れてくる。
とても沿道に入れず、車道を歩いていた。
警察が来て言った。
「早く沿道に入りなさい！！」
は？今入ったらボコられるじゃん。
なんで日本人の安全を守ってくれないの？
「じゃあ、あいつらに蹴りいれるの辞めさせろよ！！」と僕は叫んだ。
警察は「ご協力お願いします」と言った。

雨の中、聖火リレーのゴール地点へ向かった。
何故か中国人とチベットサポーターに分けられた。
警察は、「後で聖火の方に誘導するから。」と言った。
嘘だった。
ゴールの公園の外の何も無いスペースにチベットサポーターは閉じ込められた。
聖火なんか、どこにもなかった。
目の前には警察が何十人も取り囲んでいた。
こんな場所じゃ、声すら届かない。
数百人のチベットサポーターは、泣きながら警察に向かって叫ぶだけだった。
国境無き記者団もこちら側に来させられていた。
代表がマスコミのインタビューに答えていた。

聖火リレーがいつ終わったのかも分からないまま、土砂降りの中僕らは叫び続けた。
この声を、伝えることすら出来ないのかと思ったら涙が溢れてきた。
ＭちゃんもＦ君も泣いていた。
こんなのってあんまりだ。
せめて伝えて欲しいだけなのに。
この叫びを聞いていたのは目の前に並んだ警察だけだった。
■2008/04/29 (火) 長野聖火リレーの真実 ４

チベット人の代表が弾圧の現状を訴えた。
涙が止まらなかった。
内モンゴルの代表が弾圧の現状を訴えた。
涙がとまらなかった。

伝えたい。ただ伝えたいだけなのに、国家権力によって封殺された。
悔しい。悔しい。

日本は最低な国だ。
平和だ、人権だと騒ぐ割には、中国の圧力に負けて平気でこういう事をする。
警察を使って。

帰りに携帯でニュースを見た。
「聖火リレーは無事終了。沿道は大歓迎ムード。」
「聖火リレーで日本人５人逮捕。中国人留学生に怪我。」

僕は愕然とした。
この国のマスコミは終わったと感じた。

あの怒号は、
僕らが受けた痛みは、
彼らの悲痛な叫びは、
どこに反映されたのだろう。

警察によって意図的に中国人のみの沿道を作り、
そこをマスコミは撮影し、
中国人の暴力を黙認して、日本人を逮捕する。
これが日本のやることか？
ここは本当に日本なのか？
中国の旗を持たないと歩けない沿道って何なんだ？

この国は最低な国です。
チベット人は泣きながらありがとうと言っていたけれど、
僕は彼らに謝りたかった。
初めて日本人であることを恥じた。

帰り道、僕らは泣いた。
■2008/04/29 (火) 長野聖火リレーの真実 ５

これが真実です。
僕は日本政府は中国以下だと思った。
弾圧にＮＯを言えずに、言いなりになって彼らの叫びを封殺したこの国は、もう民主主義国家ではない。

4/26日長野。
そこには言論の自由はなかった。
歩行の自由すらなかった。
中国人を除いて。

追記：どなた様も、転載の許可必要ありません。
マスコミの嘘つき。大嫌い。
ＦＲＥＥ　ＴＩＢＥＴ！！

http://mixi.jp/view_diary.pl?id=787996903&owner_id=2071143

これは、ミクシーの日記なので、ミクシーに登録している人しか観ることができませんが、何本もの動画が添付されていて、ここに書かれている通りの様子が映されていました。文章だけなら鵜呑みにすることもできませんが、映像を見ると、本当に警官たちは中国人だけを沿道へと通して、チベットの旗を持ったニポン人は警官たちが壁を作って沿道の応援場所へ進めないように排除しているのです。本当に驚きました。

中国人たちの暴力的な振る舞いをすべて「見て見ぬふり」をしている警官たち。チベットの旗を持っていたニポン人の多くが、中国人に殴られ、蹴られ、何人ものケガ人が出たのに、まったく報じないテレビや新聞。

皆さん、これが、今のニポンの政府です。これが、今のマスコミです。自民党とナンミョー党による売国政権を終わらせなければ、あたしたちには、道を歩く自由すらなくなってしまうかもしれません。

買いだめ？ガソリン引火、男が缶を投げて逃走・神戸のスタンド

買いだめ？ガソリン引火、男が缶を投げて逃走・神戸のスタンド

　28日午後６時45分ごろ、神戸市北区のセルフ式ガソリンスタンドで、男が軽ワゴン車に載せた金属製の缶にガソリンを入れている間に引火した。男は火が付いた缶を車から投げ出し、車で逃走。火は従業員が消火器で消し止め、けが人はなかった。

　ドライバーが自分で給油するセルフ式のスタンドで、ガソリンを車以外の容器に入れて、持ち出すことは消防法で禁じられており、神戸北署が男の行方を追っている。

Loopholes keep Windows XP alive

Loopholes keep Windows XP alive
Steve Ballmer, Getty

PC makers are finding ways to keep selling Windows XP despite Microsoft efforts to remove it from sale.

Dell, HP and Lenovo are exploiting loopholes in Microsoft's licensing terms to extend the operating system beyond a 30 June end of life date.

XP is being phased out in favour of Windows Vista which has, so far, got a lukewarm welcome from many firms.

The news comes as Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer hints that XP could live longer if enough customers demand it.

Long life

Dell is using a clause in the conditions for Windows Vista which lets it provide XP under the terms of a "downgrade license" for the Business and Ultimate versions of the new operating system.

This means that Dell can install Windows XP Professional for free on some machines in its Latitude, OptiPlex, and Precision machines. In the main these deals are meant for business customers.

For consumers and small firms Dell will, for a fee, install XP Pro on Vostro and XPS gaming machines.

HP is also using the "downgrade" option to keep selling XP with some models until 30 July 2009.

In all these cases a PC is logged as a Vista sale and, in effect, is being sold with an unused option to upgrade to the newer operating system.

With some machines Lenovo is installing Vista but including a XP recovery disk so owners can roll back to the older software.

The news comes only days after Microsoft reported its third quarter results down 11% largely due to a fall in sales in its Windows software division.

Despite this Microsoft said its sales of Vista licenses stood at 140m - a figure that was in line with its predictions.

At the same time Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer said that XP could get a longer life if enough customers demanded it.

During a Q&A session at a press conference in Belgium Mr Ballmer said: "If customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter, but right now, we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments."

Microsoft has extended the life of Windows XP Home until 2010 on low-powered PCs, such as the Asus Eee, that might struggle to cope with Vista's power demands.

Chocolate 'may cut diabetes risk'

Chocolate 'may cut diabetes risk'
Chocolate

Scientists are to investigate whether eating chocolate can reduce the risk of heart disease in women with diabetes.

Volunteers - postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes - will be asked to eat a bar of chocolate a day for a year.

Cocoa is rich in compounds called flavonoids, which are thought to benefit the heart.

The University of East Anglia is using a specially formulated form of chocolate which contains more flavonoids than usual.

"A successful outcome of this research would hopefully mean being able to offer people at high risk better protection over and above that provided by conventional drugs"
Dr Iain Frame
Diabetes UK

This compensates for the fact that many flavonoids are destroyed in the process of turning cocoa into chocolate.

Soy - another source of flavonoids - has also been added to the special bars.

The scientists are testing the theory that adding flavonoids to the diet may give added protection against heart disease on top of that provided by prescription drugs.

Deaths due to heart disease among women increase rapidly after the menopause and having type 2 diabetes increases this risk by a further three-and-a-half times.

If the trial confirms the hypothesis then it could have a far-reaching impact on the advice given to at-risk women.

Additional protection

Lead researcher Professor Aedin Cassidy said: "Despite postmenopausal women being at a similar risk to men for developing cardiovascular disease, to date they are under-represented in clinical trials.

"We hope to show that adding flavonoids to their diets will provide additional protection from heart disease and give women the opportunity to take more control over reducing their risk of heart disease in the future."

The researchers aim to recruit 150 women under the age of 70 with type 2 diabetes who have not had a period for at least a year, and who have been taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs for at least 12 months.

Dr Iain Frame, director of research at the charity Diabetes UK, said: "We certainly don't advise people to start eating a lot of chocolate as it is very high in sugar and fat.

"We would always recommend that people with diabetes eat a diet low in fat, salt and sugar with plenty of fruit and vegetables."

"However, there are compounds found in chocolate, called flavonoids, that are thought to provide some protection from heart disease.

"A successful outcome of this research would hopefully mean being able to offer people at high risk better protection over and above that provided by conventional drugs."

Tomato dishes 'may protect skin'

Tomato dishes 'may protect skin'
Spaghetti Bolognese

Pizza and spaghetti bolognese could become new tools in the fight against sunburn and wrinkles, a study suggests.

A team found adding five tablespoons of tomato paste to the daily diet of 10 volunteers improved the skin's ability to protect against harmful UV rays.

Damage from these rays can lead to premature ageing and even skin cancer.

The study, presented at the British Society for Investigative Dermatology, suggested the antioxidant lycopene was behind the apparent benefit.

This component of tomatoes - found at its highest concentration when the fruit has been cooked - has already been linked to a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer.

Now researchers at the universities of Manchester and Newcastle have suggested it may also help ward off skin damage by providing some protection against the effects of UV rays.

Anti-ageing paste?

They gave 10 volunteers around 55g of standard tomato paste - which contains high levels of cooked tomatoes - and 10g of olive oil daily. A further 10 participants received just the olive oil.

"Eating tomatoes will not make you invincible in the sun, but it may be a useful addition to the sun protection tool box"
Professor Mark Birch-Machin
Newcastle University

After three months, skin samples from the tomato group showed they had 33% more protection against sunburn - the equivalent of a very low factor sun cream - and much higher levels of procollagen, a molecule which gives the skin its structure and keeps its firm.

"The tomato diet boosted the level of procollagen in the skin significantly. These increasing levels suggest potential reversal of the skin ageing process," said Professor Lesley Rhodes, a dermatologist at the University of Manchester.

"These weren't huge amounts of tomato we were feeding the group. It was the sort of quantity you would easily manage if you were eating a lot of tomato-based meals."

There was a warning however that tomatoes should be viewed as a "helpful addition" rather than an alternative to sun cream.

The study was both small and short, and the team are now looking at carrying out fresh research into the benefits of lycopene for the skin.

Dr Colin Holden of the British Association of Dermatologists said: "While the protection offered by lycopene is low, this research suggests that a diet containing high levels of antioxidant rich tomatoes could provide an extra tool in sun protection".

Indian Exporters Blame Banks as Derivative Losses Threaten Ruin

Indian Exporters Blame Banks as Derivative Losses Threaten Ruin

By M.C. Govardhana Rangan

April 28 (Bloomberg) -- Jasmin Mehta says that when he told salesmen from ICICI Bank Ltd. he didn't understand currency derivatives, they chauffeured him to a hotel and bombarded him with charts showing how his company could make a profit with zero investment.

Three months later, Mehta, then chief finance officer of Sundaram Multi Pap Ltd., told his chairman that two of the contracts had turned sour, incurring losses of 60 million rupees ($1.5 million). ICICI has served a bankruptcy notice to collect the money, Sundaram says.

``I was made to believe these bets don't go wrong,'' says Mehta, 33, a commerce graduate from Mumbai's Dalmia College. ``It was all about making profit, no mention of losses.'' ICICI, India's second-biggest bank, denies misleading its customers.

Indian companies may lose $4 billion on derivatives, according to Hong Kong-based brokerage CLSA Ltd. Sundaram is among a dozen firms that have filed lawsuits against banks including ICICI, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. and Axis Bank Ltd., accusing them of hiding risks to lure small businesses into contracts they didn't understand. No rulings have been issued.

``There's a lack of transparency at banks,'' says Gautam Rao, director of Business Risk & Hedge Management, a Chennai- based consulting firm. ``They don't explain the various legs of the transaction. The companies have no clue what they're doing.''

Derivatives are financial instruments used for speculation and as insurance against fluctuations in the markets. Their value is based on prices for currencies, stocks, bonds, loans and commodities, or linked to events such as changes in foreign exchange rates.

Fully Aware

The banks say clients were fully aware of the risks.

``We maintain records to show that companies knew what they were getting into,'' says Madhabi Puri Buch, an executive director at ICICI who declined to comment on specific cases. ``There were no complaints when they were making profits.''

In Sundaram's case, ICICI has a signed contract and the recording of an Oct. 24 phone call in which Mehta says, ``Yes, yes, yes, I agree,'' according to papers filed at Bombay High Court.

Indian banks may lose 16 billion rupees if they can't enforce the contracts with smaller companies, according to CLSA, the Asian brokerage arm of French investment bank Calyon. The estimate is based on the assumption that 10 percent of companies may renege on the agreements.

ICICI declined to comment on potential losses for its clients on April 26, when the bank reported earnings. Axis Bank, India's fourth-largest by market value, set aside 719.7 million rupees for possible losses April 21.

``We are still contesting that,'' said Axis President Hemant Kaul. ``Our claims are good and solid.''

Central Bank Guidance

In April 2007, the central bank issued guidelines stipulating that banks should sell derivatives only to investors who ``understand the nature of the risks.''

Some complaints about malpractice in the sale of derivatives are under investigation, central bank Governor Yaga Venugopal Reddy said March 31, without naming the banks.

``As long as the Reserve Bank of India guidelines are followed by banks, in letter and spirit, there should be no scope for dispute,'' Reddy said.

Indian exporters were persuaded to buy the contracts as insurance against currency fluctuations after the rupee registered its biggest quarterly gain in 34 years in the three months ended June 30, reducing earnings from overseas.

``Some greedy companies played into the hands of greedy banks,'' said Arunthangam, a former banker who runs ATM Tex, a garment exporter based in Karur, and uses only one name. ``I didn't take any contracts because I knew they were risky.''

No Business

Sundaram, which has no business in Switzerland, paid nothing on Oct. 24 when it bought a contract betting on the Swiss franc's value against the dollar. On that day, the franc traded for 1.17 to the dollar, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The contract guaranteed Sundaram $36,000 as long as the franc was valued at more than 1.23 to the dollar within a month, according to the company's lawsuit. If the Swiss currency appreciated past 1.095, a record high, in three months, Sundaram would have to buy $6 million at 1.23 francs to the dollar.

The franc rose to 1.08 on Nov. 20 as concerns about a U.S. recession lured traders to the Swiss currency. A second contract with a $22,000 potential profit also turned into a loser, forcing Sundaram to buy an additional $7.5 million at 1.23.

ICICI demanded 60 million rupees, more than Sundaram's annual profit, to cover the losses.

Refused to Pay

After Chairman Amrut Shah refused to pay, the bank threatened to force Sundaram into bankruptcy and liquidate the company, Shah said in an interview.

In response, Shah filed his lawsuit accusing ICICI of not adhering to the central bank's guidelines about explaining the risks of derivatives.

While Mehta was removed from his post after the losses came to light, Shah doesn't blame his former finance chief for the possible closure of his firm, which he started as a bookbinder 25 years ago with a few thousand rupees.

``We trusted the biggest name in the banking industry,'' he says. ``It has led to this mess.''

Dollar Slide Drives Budget as Japan Shuns Treasuries (Update2)

Dollar Slide Drives Budget as Japan Shuns Treasuries (Update2)

By Wes Goodman
Enlarge Image/Details

April 28 (Bloomberg) -- Add another ailment to the U.S. misery index of soaring gasoline and wheat costs and falling home values: a federal deficit that is burgeoning as foreign investors led by the Japanese recoil from the slumping dollar.

The Japanese, who own $586.6 billion, or 12 percent of U.S. government debt, had their worst quarter in Treasuries this decade, losing 7 percent in the first three months of the year as the dollar fell to the lowest since 1995 versus the yen, Merrill Lynch & Co. indexes show. Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Co., Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co. and Sumitomo Life Insurance Co., three of the nation's four-biggest insurers, would rather accept the world's lowest bond yields in Japan than buy U.S. debt.

``It's too early to say the dollar will stop falling,'' said Masataka Horii, head of the investment team in Tokyo for the $53.1 billion Kokusai Global Sovereign Open, Asia's biggest bond fund. ``The U.S. economy will be slow for a while.''

Japan owns more Treasuries than any other nation. After raising their holdings by $9.2 billion to $620.6 billion between March and July 2007, Japanese investors trimmed that stake by $34 billion through February, the Treasury said April 15.

America relies on foreign investors, who own more than half the U.S. government debt outstanding, to finance a deficit that New York-based Goldman Sachs Group Inc. predicts will expand to a record $500 billion for the year ending Sept. 30, after a $163 billion gap last year. Without their support, long-term interest rates would be 0.9 percentage point higher, a 2006 Federal Reserve study found.

Diminishing Returns

The yield on the benchmark 3 1/2 percent Treasury due February 2018 rose 16 basis points last week to 3.87 percent, according to bond broker BGCantor Market Data. The yield is up from 3.28 percent on March 17, the lowest since June 2003. The note's price declined 1 9/32, or $12.81 per $1,000 face amount, to $97. It was 3.83 percent today in New York.

Ten-year Treasury yields fell to within 2.03 percentage points of similar-maturity Japanese government bonds on March 17, the narrowest margin in more than a decade. Japan's 1.65 percent 10-year yield is the lowest of 31 bond markets tracked by Bloomberg and compares with 4.18 percent for German bunds.

A survey of Japanese funds investing overseas found 58 percent favor euro-denominated bonds, up from 20 percent a year ago, Barclays Capital Japan Ltd., a unit of the world's fifth- biggest currency trader, said in an April 24 report. Kokusai cut its U.S. fixed income holdings to a record-low 20 percent in March, from 32 percent two years ago.

European Debt

``European debt is more attractive than Treasuries,'' said Nobuto Yamazaki, executive fund manager at Diam Asset Management in Tokyo, which runs an $8.55 billion bond fund that is Japan's third-biggest. The euro, which gained 14.5 percent in the past year against the dollar, ``will continue to be strong,'' he said.

Japanese investors have lost 4 percent over the past year after converting interest income and any capital gains into yen, Merrill Lynch indexes show. That compares with a profit of 1.5 percent in Japanese debt and 4.5 percent in German bunds.

The dollar may be rebounding. It appreciated 9 percent to 104.37 yen on April 25 from the 12-year low of 95.76 on March 17. The U.S. currency fell 0.2 percent today to 104.24.

Nippon Life Insurance Co., Japan's largest, is willing to bet on the currency and plans to increase holdings of foreign bonds not hedged against swings in exchange rates by 200 billion yen ($1.91 billion) in the fiscal year that started April 1.

``The dollar at 100 yen is attractive,'' said Tomiji Akabayashi, investment manager at Nippon Life, which has the equivalent of $488 billion in assets.

Fed Concerns

Nippon Life is the only one of the four biggest life insurers willing to take the risk. Meiji Yasuda Life, the third- largest, started hedging dollar-denominated bonds in January and won't be putting new funds into overseas debt, said Yasuharu Takamatsu, head of the investment department. No. 2 Dai-ichi Mutual said it plans to focus on Japanese debt this year.

Investors are concerned Treasuries will fall as the Fed stops cutting its target rate for overnight loans because of faster inflation, said Naka Matsuzawa, chief strategist in Tokyo at Nomura Securities Co., a unit of Japan's biggest securities firm. The cost of wheat and crude oil has almost doubled in less than 12 months, helping push the annual inflation rate to 4 percent in March from 2.8 percent a year earlier.

``There's a high chance the yen will appreciate against the dollar,'' said Hirofumi Miyahara, deputy general manager of investment planning at Osaka-based Sumitomo Life Insurance, the fourth-largest. ``We're cautious on Treasuries,'' said Miyahara, whose firm is increasing purchases of Japanese debt.

No `Charm'

Asian investors outside Japan are also pulling back. Money managers in China, the second-biggest overseas holder of Treasuries, with $486.9 billion, and South Korea say they favor debt in Europe, equities or commodities.

Beijing-based ICBC Credit Suisse Asset Management Co., controlled by China's biggest bank, said last week Treasuries are ``not attractive'' because of currency risks. South Korea's $220 billion National Pension Service in Seoul said yields on the debt have lost their ``charm.''

U.S. borrowing costs will rise in the ``longer term'' because central banks may slowly cut their holdings of dollars to about 30 percent of their reserves in 15 years, from less than 60 percent now, said Kenneth Rogoff, a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund in Washington.

``The dollar's primacy in the international financial system is being eroded,'' said Rogoff, a professor at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ``Foreign investors have done very poorly in U.S. Treasuries.''

Indirect bidders, a group of investors that includes foreign central banks, bought 29 percent of the $19 billion in five-year notes the Treasury sold April 24, down from 34 percent in March.

``I wouldn't jump into U.S. Treasuries,'' said Hao Kang, who manages a $443 million fund at ICBC Credit Suisse in Beijing. ``I am not so confident about the currency.''

Europe’s economic outlook deteriorates

Europe’s economic outlook deteriorates

By Tony Barber in Brussels

Published: April 28 2008 16:48 | Last updated: April 28 2008 19:50

Europe’s outlook for economic growth and inflation deteriorated sharply on Monday as official forecasts showed the US downturn and the turmoil in world financial markets damping prospects.

In its latest six-monthly forecast, the European Commission said economic growth in the 27-nation European Union would slow to 1.8 per cent in 2009 from 2.0 per cent this year. Growth in the 15-nation eurozone would fall to 1.5 per cent from 1.7 per cent.

In its November forecasts, the Commission predicted EU growth of 2.4 per cent in 2008 and 2009 and in the eurozone 2.2 per cent and 2.1 per cent respectively.

“The financial turmoil is proving deeper, wider and longer-lasting while the downturn in the US looks set to be more pronounced and protracted than assumed in the autumn forecast,” the Commission said.

“The balance of risks for the growth outlook continues to be tilted to the downside, especially for 2009, while the risks for inflation are . . . on the upside.”

The gloomy assessment triggered an immediate response from some EU member states.

Christine Lagarde, French finance minister, expressed scepticism about the revised forecasts for France, saying the outlook for 2009 growth was “very, very pessimistic”. Paris would not revise its forecast of about 2.5 per cent.

The Commission is predicting French growth of 1.6 this year and 1.4 per cent in 2009. German growth is expected to be 1.8 per cent this year and 1.5 per cent next year while the figures for the UK will be 1.7 and 1.6 per cent respectively.

The sharpest slowdown is foreseen in Italy, with growth of 0.5 per cent this year and 0.8 per cent in 2009. Spain is forecast to grow by 2.2 and 1.8 per cent.

Brussels also forecast an EU inflation rate of 3.6 per cent this year, falling to 2.4 per cent in 2009. Eurozone inflation was forecast at 3.2 per cent this year – the highest since the euro’s launch in 1999 – and 2.2 per cent in 2009. Joaquín Almunia, economic and monetary affairs commissioner, said: “Inflation is the major problem . . . in the short term.”

But the predicted slowdown in inflation will encourage leaders critical of the European Central Bank, such as President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s prime minister-elect, to argue for what they see as an overdue interest rate cut.

Their argument will be bolstered by price data from Germany indicating that eurozone inflation fell back in April, bringing at least temporary relief to the ECB. Germany’s inflation rate dropped to 2.6 per cent this month from 3.3 per cent in March – far lower than expected – and economists predict the eurozone rate, to be published on Wednesday, could fall to 3.3 per cent.

The Commission’s forecasts suggest the slowdown is taking its toll on the budget balances of certain countries, notably France and the UK. France is forecast to have a budget deficit of 2.9 per cent of gross domestic product this year and 3 per cent in 2009 while the UK deficit is projected to be 3.3 per cent in both years.