中国の備蓄庫は空っぽ 組織ぐるみ横流し

中国の備蓄庫は空っぽ　組織ぐるみ横流し
2008.6.23 21:19

　【北京＝福島香織】食糧価格が高騰している中国で、中国有数の国家食糧備蓄庫がカラになっていたことが中国各紙の報道で明らかになった。食糧庫の主任、出納担当者から門衛まで組織ぐるみで備蓄食糧を横流ししていたという。中国政府は今月、四川大地震による被災地の食糧事情の逼迫（ひっぱく）を解消するため、国家食糧備蓄を取り崩す方針を決めていただけに、本格的な調査に乗り出す方針だ。

　倉庫がカラだったことが判明したのはコメどころである黒竜江省富錦市の第９０食糧庫。備蓄量は明らかにされていないが、過去には１１５万～１２０万トンが備蓄されていたという。逮捕された劉忠庫・食糧庫主任ら２人のほか、約７０人がかかわったとされる。

　報道によると劉主任らは備蓄量を中央に虚偽報告し、保管費などの経費を詐取したほか、食糧を市場に横流しして私腹を肥やしていた。横領額は５億～９億元（１元＝約１６円）とされている。

　同様の事件は今年春、安徽省などでも相次いで発覚しており、食糧備蓄の横流しは日常的に行われているとの指摘も出ている。

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士気低下…漂流する厚労官僚　今や「負担増の伝道者」
　◇「大学教授に」転身願望広がる

　年金記録漏れ問題に続き、後期高齢者医療制度でも厳しい批判を浴びた厚生労働省の官僚たち。今後は国家プロジェクトと言うべき医療、年金、介護の総合的な社会保障政策の立案を担わねばならない。ところが官僚たちは社会保障も聖域としない小泉改革の継承と、少子高齢化による必然的な負担増のはざまで方向性がつかめず、漂流している。省内には早めに退職して大学教授になろうという転身願望も広がる。厚労官僚の今を報告する。
　◇「与党批判」に喝采

　首相問責決議が可決された１１日の夜、首相を囲む有志議員の会が開かれた。福田康夫首相の激励が目的だったが、実は首相にとっては極めて不愉快な出来事が起きていた。

　首相が会場に到着する前、松浪健太・厚労政務官は「後期高齢者医療制度　与党ＰＴ案の問題点」と題するＡ４判のペーパー２枚を出席者に配った。

　「将来世代の負担に歯止めをかけるために制度を導入しながら、今年だけで（負担軽減策で）５６０億円ものツケを（国民に）負わすのは本末転倒だ」

　そこには与党があわてて作った「低所得者の保険料９割軽減」を柱とする見直し案への批判が並んでいた。

　首相と親しい衛藤征士郎衆院議員が回収を求めた。松浪氏は渋々応じたものの、遅れてきた首相にはペーパーを直接、手渡した。

　首相は無表情に「読んでおきます」と言っただけだった。

　松浪氏の直訴に官僚たちは、自分たちの気持ちを代弁してくれた、と喝采（かっさい）を送った。

　今、省内では大学教師への転職願望が広がっている。０４年以降、大学教師に移った幹部は少なくとも１１人。局長手前の審議官クラスにあたる７８年入省組はキャリア組１５人のうち、既に５人が大学教授に転じた。将来の次官候補と言われる若手官僚の中にも、「先生の職を探したい」と口にする人が複数いる。

　医事評論家の水野肇氏は「かつて大学に行くのは将来的に組織の主力になる人ではなかった。今や、一番優秀なのが教授になりたがる」と憂える。
　◇「弱者の味方」が…

　９６年末に大物官僚と言われた岡光序治厚生事務次官（当時）による収賄事件が起きた。

　０４年には年金などの保険料を、福祉施設から職員の練習用ゴルフボール代にいたるまで、約６兆円流用していた事実が発覚。その後も国民年金保険料の不正免除、年金記録漏れなどと信用を失墜させる不祥事が次々と明るみに出た。

　ただ近年の士気低下は、むしろ被害者意識に基づいている。それは消費税率引き上げを封印し、年間２２００億円の社会保障費抑制を打ち出した小泉改革路線と無縁ではない。

　後期高齢者医療制度とセットで出されたのが、高齢者の長期入院施設、療養病床を６割減の１５万床に減らす方針だ。厚労省は入院不要の患者もおり１５万床まで減らすことが可能だと説明し、結果的に３０００億円が圧縮できると試算した。

　ところが、当時保険局に財務省から課長補佐として出向していた村上正泰氏は、中央公論３月号で「医療費削減ありきだった」と暴露。３０００億円削減のために療養病床をどれだけ減らすか、というつじつま合わせをしたというのだ。

　当時、保険局にいた幹部は「マイナスシーリングの予算を作るのが最優先。哲学はその次になった」とこぼす。

　０４年の年金改革。厚労省は年金に「マクロ経済スライド」を導入した。従来は、物価が１％上がれば年金も１％増えた。だが、同スライドでは物価が１％増でも年金は０・１％しか増えない。

　改革に関与した元幹部は「物価がどんどん上がったらどうなるのか。弱者の側に立つ厚生官僚として、私はやってはならない政策に手を染めた」と話す。

　以前は族議員と組んで、増えるパイを利害が対立する関係者に配分するのが主な仕事だった。低成長の今、給付カットという我慢をだれに強いるか、その説得が中心となった。
　◇「役所の殻」破れず　細りゆく現場感覚

　削減を強いられる中で、現場感覚がますます先細ってしまったのではないか。

　「こんなことを書いてだれが喜ぶか。当事者の身になってみろ」　４月９日、国会内で自民党の尾辻秀久参院議員会長は、保険局担当の官房審議官ら幹部に声を荒らげた。

　後期高齢者医療制度には、患者の病状急変時の治療方針を文書化すれば、医師に報酬が出る「終末期相談支援料」が新設された。

　厚労省が持参した説明文には、７５歳以上の人に関して「避けることができない死を迎える」と書かれていた。尾辻氏が怒ったのは、３月末にその表現を削除するように注文したにもかかわらず、官僚が無視したためだ。

　関係した官僚は「高齢者とて、自らの死は直視できないという想像力に欠けていた」と反省の弁を口にする。しかし、その感覚の鈍さが保険料の年金天引きに如実に表れた。

　後期高齢者医療制度で保険局は「低所得者は保険料が下がり、高所得者は上がる」と説明。ところが、低所得者の方が負担増となった割合が多いと分かった。自治体に調査さえしなかったためだ。

　保険、年金両局は次官への登竜門となる部署だ。社会保険庁という現場の実動部隊を持ち、仕事の中心は制度設計。「現場を知らないのがエリート」という思い違いを生んだ。

　旧厚生省はエイズや肝炎などの薬害を引き起こした。その反省は省全体の共通認識になかなかならない。保険、年金両局の文系エリートは「薬は技官の世界の話だ」と対岸の火事を決め込む傾向があるからだ。
　◇「昔のままの感覚」

　福田首相は１７日、消費税増税の必要性をにじませた。一方、翌１８日、津島雄二党税調会長は「首相は税制は頭に入れず、政策をどんどん打ち出すのがいい」と増税には否定的な見解を示した。選挙を控えた福田自民党政権の方向性も定まらない。

　７０年度には国民所得の５・８％に過ぎなかった社会保障給付費は、２５％近くに達した。旧厚生省の掌中にあった社会保障の制度設計は、税制論議を軸にした大きな政府か小さな政府かという、国家のあり方の議論なしに成り立たなくなった。

　「これだけ社会保障は大きくなったのに、感覚は昔のまま。みな、その溝を埋められずにいる」。あるＯＢ官僚は漂流感が生まれるのは、役所だけで完結できない限界を感じているためだという。

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Vietnam suspends gold imports

By Amy Kazmin in Bangkok and Javier Blas in London

Published: June 23 2008 19:28 | Last updated: June 23 2008 19:28

Vietnam’s communist authorities have temporarily suspended all gold imports in a bid to tackle the country’s spiralling trade deficit and help support the depreciating local currency, the dong.

With Vietnamese investors rushing into gold as a hedge against skyrocketing inflation, Hanoi – which sets an annual quota for gold imports – has withdrawn licences for further imports, traders said on Monday.

The decision comes as record imports of gold bars have made Vietnam the world’s biggest market for gold bullion, surpassing India and China and helping to deepen Vietnam’s trade deficit.

The state-controlled Lao Dong newspaper reported that the trade deficit for the first half of the year had tripled to nearly $17bn, up from $5.2bn in the same period of 2007. Vietnam’s trade deficit for the whole of 2007 was $12.4bn.

The rising trade deficit has put pressure on the dong, which was effectively devalued by 2 per cent on June 11 as part of a readjustment in the official exchange rate. Despite the devaluation, the dong trades at a further discount on the black market.

Hanoi has regulated gold imports for years. But the recent collapse of the local equity and property markets, inflation which hit 25 per cent in May and concern about the weakness of both the US dollar and the dong have spurred a big increase in local demand for gold.

Gold traders in Hong Kong said the popularity of the metal in Vietnam also surged as its price jumped this year to a record high of $1,030.80 a troy ounce. It traded on Monday just below $900 an ounce. Gold prices have averaged $910 an ounce this year, against $659 in the same period of last year.

According to the industry-backed World Gold Council, Vietnam’s first-quarter gold imports were 36.8 tonnes, up 71 per cent from the first-quarter of last year. Of that, 31.5 tonnes were gold bars – or so-called investment gold – up 110 per cent over the same period last year.

Vietnamese market insiders say that the value of the country’s gold imports for the year – prior to the suspension – had hit $1.7bn, for 45 tonnes, compared to total gold imports of $1.6bn, for 70 tonnes, in 2007.

“We’ve seen high demand as Vietnamese investors have taken a rational decision that this is a hedge against higher inflation, and a weak dollar,” said John Shrimpton, a director at Dragon Capital, a Ho Chi Minh City-based boutique investment bank.

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ECB looks to learn lessons of past

By Ralph Atkins in Frankfurt

Published: June 23 2008 19:03 | Last updated: June 23 2008 19:03

Celebrating its 10th birthday this month, the European Central Bank has stressed the uniqueness of Europe’s monetary union, which now includes 15 countries. But recently there has been a retro feel to its comments and actions.

As oil prices – and eurozone inflation – have soared, Jean-Claude Trichet, ECB president, has warned about repeating the mistakes of the 1970s and prepared financial markets for a quarter percentage point rise to 4.25 per cent in official eurozone borrowing costs next week.

Almost certainly on his mind is how, in similar circumstances three decades ago, West Germany’s Bundesbank forged its fearsome reputation for combating inflation.

As oil prices rose in the late 1970s, West German inflation was less rampant and peaked lower than in other developed countries. Jürgen Stark, an ECB executive board member who worked previously at the Bundesbank, argued late on Friday that Germany’s success back then reflected its “firm defence of internal currency stability”. Crucial in Mr Stark’s eyes was the Bundesbank’s use of money supply data as inflation early warning indicators – a tradition the ECB has maintained, with current strong growth rates adding to its case for higher interest rates.

By the late 1970s the Bundesbank had refined its strategy after the disruptive collapse of the Bretton Woods fixed exchange rate system earlier that decade. Still, even if the Bundesbank fared better than the US Federal Reserve, said Michael Heise, chief economist at Allianz, the German insurer, it was not clear that inflationary dangers were recognised universally at an early stage.

“That meant that at the start of the 1980s they [the Bundesbank] had really to respond aggressively by pushing up interest rates. The lesson is, if you act early you can stop a wage price spiral developing – but not if you wait.”

Bundesbank veterans such as Mr Stark and Otmar Issing, the ECB’s chief economist for its first eight years, argue that the 1970s’ experience underlined the importance of controlling expectations about future inflation rates, especially among wage-setters – currently a main focus of central banks around the world. If a central bank cannot control oil prices, the argument goes, it should concentrate on ensuring high headline inflation does not become entrenched.

Another Bundesbank instinct – which the ECB has inherited – is a belief that “stability begins at home”, even at times of global turmoil. In other words, central banks should look primarily at controlling inflation in their own region before considering international issues.

“It [the Bundesbank] didn’t like international co-ordination and argued that everyone had to do their own homework. That has not changed at the ECB today,” says Mr Heise at Allianz.

In 1987 the Bundesbank’s stance led to a confrontation between it and US authorities. James Baker, then US Treasury secretary, complained about the German authority’s apparent unwillingness to ease its monetary policy and help support the dollar in remarks blamed for helping trigger the stock market crash of October that year. That stand-off has had an echo this month. The ECB’s clear hint on June 5 that it would increase interest rates next month resulted in the euro rising still further against the dollar – just two days after Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, had joined attempts by US authorities to talk the dollar up.

Jim O’Neill, at Goldman Sachs, argues it is not clear that the ECB has learnt the lessons of the 1980s. “Can you persist with a simple domestic target when you are a big, globally relevant institution?” he asks.

But from a conservative German perspective the Bundesbank was right to keep a grip on inflation in the years before the collapse of the Berlin Wall. During the 1990s, Japan experienced a painful adjustment after the busting of an asset bubble, points out Horst Siebert, former president of the World Economic Institute in Kiel, north Germany. The Bundesbank’s reluctance to promote Germany as an engine of global growth “was fortunate as we would have entered German unification with the busting of a bubble”, he argues.

The ECB is not yet planning interest rate increases after July. “The ECB hopes to be able to achieve its objective with only limited policy tightening, but the evolution of inflation expectations and wages will ultimately decide,” says Ken Wattret at BNP Paribas. “If the latter go awry, then we’ll really see if the ECB is like the Bundesbank.”

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Lisbon impasse dents EU-Russia hopes

By Tony Barber in Brussels

Published: June 23 2008 18:40 | Last updated: June 23 2008 18:40

Negotiations on a new pact between the European Union and Russia risk being complicated by the confusion surrounding the adoption of the Lisbon reform treaty, according to Moscow’s ambassador to the EU.

“I sincerely wish our EU partners find a way out of yet another impasse,” Vladi­mir Chizhov told the Financial Times. “Above all, we’re not gloating. It’s not entirely a sign of the EU’s strength, of course, but we’ll be closely following developments.”

Mr Chizhov was speaking ahead of a summit on Thursday and Friday of Russian and EU leaders in the western Siberian oil town of Khanty-Mansiysk.

It will be the first attended by Dmitry Medvedev as Russia’s president, which has generated cautious hopes in Brussels of a fresh dawn in relations after Vladimir Putin’s eight-year presidency.

One senior EU official said that if a good atmosphere developed it might be possible to put relations with Russia on the same footing as the EU’s ties with China by establishing a “high-level mechanism” for meetings on trade, investment and other economic issues.

Strains were eased last month when the EU’s 27 member nations agreed a mandate for starting talks on a long-term partnership accord with Moscow to replace a 1997 pact.

But Brussels is having to digest the shock of Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon treaty in the June 12 referendum. The treaty, which is almost certain not to come into effect as planned next January, aims to give the EU new foreign policy institutions and to strengthen its hand in dealings with the world’s biggest powers, a point that will not be lost on the Russians at this week’s summit.

“We are prepared to deal with the EU as it is. With or without the Lisbon treaty the EU is still there,” Mr Chizhov said. “With the Lisbon treaty in force and a clearer picture of how the EU is organised it would have been easier to negotiate the pact . . . I hope it won’t delay the negotiating process.”

He noted that talks on the new accord would open in Brussels on July 4, “while the Americans are asleep or celebrating” US independence day.

Mr Chizhov cautioned against excessive expectations of Mr Medvedev at the summit. “I don’t think anyone should expect a major shift of policy on the Russian side. But I would say it will add a new personal touch, probably,” he said.

Russia and the EU are not far apart on issues such as the Middle East and Iran, but there has been serious disagreement this year over Kosovo’s independence and friction persists over former Soviet republics such as Georgia and Ukraine.

Mr Chizhov welcomed the visit Javier Solana, the EU’s foreign policy chief, paid this month to Georgia and its Russian-backed breakaway region of Abkhazia.

“It’s not that Russia needs any mediator with the Georgians – no,” he said. “The Abkhaz fear a military solution of the problem by Georgia. The more the EU and others can do to dissuade Tbilisi from that course of action the better.”

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Somalia tops list of unstable nations

By James Blitz in London

Published: June 23 2008 23:18 | Last updated: June 23 2008 23:18

Somalia has for the first time been ranked as the most unstable country in the world, while Israel has fallen into the ranks of the 60 weakest states, according to an annual assessment of the world’s most troubled nations.

The 2008 Failed States Index, which is produced by Foreign Policy magazine and the Fund for Peace, also argues that Sudan, with its crisis in Darfur, is the world’s second most unstable country.

Sudan is closely followed by Zimbabwe. The country’s economic crisis and political turmoil have triggered the slide in this year’s index.

Israel’s low score – it ranks 58th on the list – reflects, in the words of the report, “deteriorating security in the West Bank, the country’s sharp economic disparities, political stalemates, ongoing violence, and its failure to fully integrate its Arab minority”.

According to this year’s index, seven of the top 10 most unstable countries are in sub-Saharan Africa. With Chad taking fourth place for political instability, sub- Saharan states occupy four of the top five places in the index.

Fifth place goes to Iraq. This is an improvement on last year, when it was ranked as the second most unstable country. The US military surge has been a key factor in the country’s performance in the index this year.

However, Iraq’s gains do not reflect long-term, fundamental changes, according to the report’s authors. “The desperate predicament of 4m refugees at home and abroad, the abysmal state of public services, and the discord among sectarian factions have shown no real improvement,” according to the index.

One of the biggest declines in this year’s index is registered by Bangladesh, now in 12th place. According to the report, a feuding, deadlocked government, the imposition of emergency rule last year, and the devastation wrought by a cyclone last November that left 1.5m people homeless combined to reverse much of the country’s recent economic progress.

The index shows that Somalia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Chad and Iraq are the five states most at risk of failure. These are followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Pakistan and the Central African Republic. The next five on the list are Guinea, Bangladesh, Burma, Haiti and North Korea.

The 2008 index ranks 177 states according to 12 social, economic, political, and military indicators, based on data from more than 30,000 publicly available sources.

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Chinese cities vie to be top finance hub

By Jamil Anderlini in Beijing

Published: June 23 2008 17:27 | Last updated: June 23 2008 17:27

The unveiling in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen of rival plans to become China’s leading international financial centre has prompted an unusual public spat between the cities and the intervention of the central bank.

As China tries to reduce its reliance on polluting, low-margin manufacturing and heavy industry, bureaucrats across the country are trying to attract financial services firms.

In reality, the only Chinese city that can legitimately call itself a global financial centre is the former British colony of Hong Kong, which remains outside the mainland’s authoritarian regulatory system and its largely closed capital account.

“Many cities in China have the political will and administrative ability to build buildings and hardware, but it will take them much longer to build the software,” said Dong Tao, regional chief economist for Credit Suisse, who is based in Hong Kong.

“There is no question in my mind China will have some world-class financial centres eventually, but I think it is overly optimistic to think they can do it in the next few years.”

Even so, both Beijing, China’s capital, and Shanghai, home to the mainland’s largest stock and commodities futures markets, are eager to challenge Hong Kong’s status.

Shanghai’s blueprint, with its promise of greater co-ordination of financial services throughout the Yangtze river delta region, is clearly aimed at eventually supplanting the territory.

In recent weeks a number of senior Shanghai officials have outlined plans to attract more financial professionals to the city and improve regulatory structures.

The city government has also organised closer co-operation between commercial banks in the delta region which accounted for Rmb4,670bn ($679bn, €435bn, £350bn), or 19 per cent, of national GDP last year.

In response, officials in the southern city of Shenzhen, home to China’s second stock market, have announced they intend to tie their fortunes to neighbouring Hong Kong and create an enlarged global financial centre in the Pearl river delta incorporating Shenzhen as a showcase for “socialism with Chinese characteristics”.

The city hopes to get approval from the central government to expand the cross-border renminbi settlement system to allow more remittances of the Chinese currency by enterprises and individuals.

Beijing’s plan, shown to the Financial Times by a city official, appears more focused on challenging Shanghai. Huo Xuewen, director of the Beijing Municipal Financial Service Office, said the capital’s advantage lay in its place as home to financial regulators and the large majority of offshore-listed Chinese companies.

Beijing’s newly completed Financial Street district already “has the greatest concentration of financial power in China”, Mr Huo said, and is home to 20 international financial companies.

The city hopes to attract more foreign banks and financial institutions and to expand on its ability to attract more private equity investment than any other city in China last year.

The battle between the cities drew an intervention from the People’s Bank of China last month with Li Chao, the bank’s spokesman, warning that: “A financial centre doesn’t just appear out of nowhere because some government official says the word.”

Probably more worrying for the government than the rivalry between the large cities is the prospect of lax regulatory oversight as smaller municipalities compete for regional financial centre supremacy.

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Jordan housing plan stirs anger

By Jack Fairweather in Zarqa

Published: June 24 2008 03:00 | Last updated: June 24 2008 03:00

Zarqa, a gritty, industrial city infamous for producing Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the late al-Qaeda leader in Iraq, is the unlikely home of Jordan's biggest new development project.

The $4bn scheme will be named after King Abdullah, the ruler of Saudi Arabia who is one of its principal financiers. It will ultimately house some 500,000 residents over an area the size of lower Manhattan, making it the largest real estate project in the Middle East outside the Gulf.

The development of former military land by Mawared, a state-owned investment company with strong links to the Jordanian military, aims to tackle Jordan's housing shortage, and promote Zarqa's economy, in an area long known as a breeding ground for Islamic extremism.

However, whether a "mega-project" will achieve this goal, or further alienate Zarqa's poor, is the subject of wider debate among Jordanians. Many fear the scheme is little more than a government-subsidised property deal aimed at the rich, with only a small percentage of affordable housing.

The issue is particularly contentious as food prices soar and inflation runs at more than 7 per cent, excluding many Jordanians from the rising economy.

"The government has got a real problem," says Labib Kamhawi, a political scientist and head of Cessco, a chemical supply company.

"The economy is growing at a healthy rate, but the majority of people are feeling poorer than ever because of high prices. Instead of laying the basis for a sustainable future, the government is cashing in and driving the boom . . . with these large developments," he adds.

Since 2004, the Jordanian economy has grown by an annualised 6 per cent, driven by a flow of wealth from the Gulf because of high oil prices. Jordan's real estate market has been the chief beneficiary.

Remittances from Jordanian workers in the Gulf, who have traditionally invested in land, last year contributed $2.5bn to the economy. The value of foreign direct investment in projects such as the one in Zarqa amounted to $1bn last year.

Other developments include the $1.5bn construction of a new city centre in Amman and a $5bn relocation and development of Aqaba port.

"We've created the right incentives for investment, which is why Jordan is one of the best business environments in the region," says Maen Nsour, director of the Jordan Investment Board, a government organisation that attracts private money.

But the influx of money from the Gulf and rise in the cost of real estate has brought with it high inflation, exacerbated in recent months by increasing food prices. The effect has been to squeeze the middle-classes, and widen the gap between the county's rich and poor, says Marwan Kardoosh, editor of Jordan Business, a magazine.

A recent study by the centre for strategic studies at Jordan University showed that the middle-class's share of national income shrank between 2002 and 2006 by 0.7 per cent. Unemployment is officially at 14.8 per cent, although the real number is likely to be much higher.

"There's a genuine concern among the higher echelons of the state that income discrepancies will continue to grow and that this will have a destabilising effect on a country that has sold itself as an island of stability in a troubled region," says Mr Kardoosh.

To address concerns that Jordan is becoming unaffordable, the government earlier this year announced its "A Decent Home for a Decent Living" policy, which seeks to create more than 100,000 homes at affordable prices. Some of these will be available to residents in Zarqa, but the proportion has yet to be announced.

Among those criticising the government is the Islamic Action Front, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has capitalised on discontent by opposing private development of national land.

"When people can only afford to eat meat once a month then they start looking for other solutions," says Zaki Bani Arshid, the Front's leader. In spite of faring poorly at national elections last year, the Front won the leadership of several professional worker associations, the equivalent of trade unions.

The government has responded to rising prices by cutting import tariffs on some food items, and boosting public-sector salaries, although economists such as Mr Kardoosh point out these measures may heighten inflationary pressure.

Executives at Mawared say the country needs the jobs and wealth created by its and other large development projects.

"Jordan needs to attract wealth and jobs. As we've shown in Zarqa, the private sector wants to have a strong partner like the government, whilst we need the private sector's skills and capital," says Tariq al Daoud, the project manager in Zarqa.

Profits from the sale of Mawared land go to the military. Mawared's chairman is also the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

On the congested streets of Zarqa, however, residents say they have yet to feel the benefits of the $600m being spent on the first phase of the project. Most of the 16,000 construction jobs have gone to Egyptian immigrants, they say.

"We're watching a new Zarqa being built, but none of us feel like we're a part of it," says Osama Abu Ayad, a local businessman.

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Rio shares rise on China contract

Matt Chambers | June 24, 2008

TAKING advantage of soaring Chinese spot prices, mining giant Rio Tinto has been successful in its quest to secure a freight premium for Australian iron ore, locking in the biggest-ever rise in contract prices for Australia's most valuable commodity export.

Rio (ASX: RIO: quote) settled on an average price rise of 85 per cent for iron ore it sells to China's steel mills, who were led by Baosteel in the negotiations, beating the 71.5 per cent increase secured in 2005.

The huge hike in prices for the nation's most valuable commodity export will probably be closely followed by BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP: quote) and set a new Australian benchmark that will flow on to smaller producers.

Rio announced late yesterday it secured a 79.86 per cent price rise for benchmark iron ore fines and a 96.5 per cent hike in better quality lump, for an overall 85 per cent gain.

The gains came after Rio and BHP broke with tradition and declined to fall in line after Brazil's Vale (formerly CVRD) secured price gains of 65 per cent to 71 per cent.

Rio chief executive Sam Walsh said the company was pleased to reach the agreement, which reflects the continuing demand in the market for Hamersley’s products.

“The agreement builds on the valuation premium for Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore business, the importance of which is highlighted as we move towards our 320 and 420 million tonne per annum goals from our expected capacity of about 200 million tonnes in 2008,” Mr Walsh said.

In early trading, Rio Tinto shares had risen 69 cents, or 0.50 per cent, to $138.27. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was 0.63 per cent lower.

Rio, following an unsuccessful attempt by BHP in 2005, argued that Australian iron ore miners were entitled to a higher price than CVRD because Asian steel mills were paying a lot less to ship our ore as freight rates surged.

Rio, which is defending a $US160 billion takeover bid from BHP, was aggressive in holding out for a freight premium, with chief executive Tom Albanese recently warning there was an "urgent" need to settle before June 30, when some contracts could be suspended and the ore sold on to spot markets at a big premium.

The freight premium equates to $7.43 a tonne over the fines price secured by CVRD, which is about half the long-term freight differential between Australia and Brazil but well below premiums of up to $60 a tonne under current freight rates.

It is also the first time different gains have been secured on quality by an Australian miner, and follows the lead set by Vale. It also illustrates the tight market for good quality iron ore as Chinese and Indian steel mills vie for supply.

The 85 per cent price hike was in line with analysts' expectations at Citi and Goldman Sachs JBWere, though in the last couple of months, expectations had grown, with some analysts predicting 95 per cent gains or more.

"It's a good result, and in line with expectations, though part of me is disappointed with the fines number," said one analyst, who declined to be named.

Iron ore exports were valued at $15.9 billion last financial year, more than both coking coal and thermal coal, according to Australia's government forecaster ABARE.

Rio has been playing hard for the price gains this year partly because it has a bigger exposure to moves in iron ore prices than rival BHP and a bigger hike would do more to boost Rio's argument that BHP has not offered enough in its 3.4-for-one takeover bid.

BHP, on the other hand, has stepped back from taking a lead in negotiations, keen not to stoke buyer concerns about its increased share of global iron ore exports if its bid is successful.

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European role in secret US flights criticised

By Stephen Fidler in London

Published: June 24 2008 02:40 | Last updated: June 24 2008 02:40

European governments have failed to live up to their responsibilities under international law for the parts they played in covert US rendition and secret detention programmes, Amnesty International says in a report released on Tuesday.

The report says European nations are culpable for breaches of international law even if they merely turned a blind eye to US actions.

The report says much about the programmes, including which states were implicated and their level of involvement, remains unknown. But it said European states helped the US in several ways.

The assistance included European officials helping with arbitrary detentions that led to renditions; the hosting of so-called “black sites” or secret detention centres on European soil; allowing US Central Intelligence Agency aeroplanes to carry detainees through European airports; and interrogation by European agents or the sending of questions to places where detainees faced a risk of torture.

The report describes cases involving Sweden, Germany, Italy, Macedonia and Bosnia. It also raises questions about the UK’s role in the detention and later transfer of Martin Mubanga, a British national, and Bisher al-Rawi and Jamil el-Banna, two UK residents.

It also focuses on the case of Binyam Mohamed, an Ethiopian national and UK resident. Mr Mohamed was rendered in 2002, allegedly tortured in Morocco, and has been detained for almost four years at Guantánamo Bay.

All four men were handed over to the US in third countries – neither the US nor the UK – and then taken to Guantánamo.

The report urges all European governments to adopt six measures on renditions – condemning the practice, launching independent investigations, ensuring oversight of intelligence agencies, refusing to assist in future transfers, bringing perpetrators to justice and providing reparation for past victims.

Amnesty said it wrote on Monday to David Miliband, UK foreign secretary, to seek his urgent intervention. It called on Mr Miliband to press for Mr Mohamed’s immediate transfer from the harsh environment of Guantánamo’s Camp 5 to a less oppressive part of the detention centre.

The report also recommends that European countries ask any aircraft seeking permission to fly over or land in their territory to indicate whether it is carrying any passengers who are deprived of their liberty, and give their status and the legal basis for their transfer.

The report says renditions “have typically involved multiple human rights violations, including unlawful and arbitrary detention; torture or other ill treatment; and enforced disappearance”.

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Workers of the world on the move

By Andrew Taylor, Employment Correspondent

Published: June 24 2008 04:51 | Last updated: June 24 2008 04:51

From Filipino electricians in western Australia and Indian petrochemical engineers working in the Persian Gulf, to Latvian stone masons in Northern Ireland, the world’s labour force is on the move.

Globalisation means that not only are companies are moving operations offshore to where there is cheaper labour – but workers are increasingly prepared to cross borders to find where the best jobs are.

Popular images of migrant workers are of the poor, the oppressed and unskilled. Yet according to Manpower, one of the world’s largest recruitment companies, they are more likely to be young, under 30 years of age, well-educated with university or vocational qualifications, and female as much as male.

This matters to employers who, according to Manpower, will increasingly be competing for workers, such as the managers at Irish meat processing plants “whose skilled Slovak butchers are being lured away by competitors in Norway”.

Unlike earlier migrations, today’s migrant workers are not on a one-way trip. Flights home are readily available. Irish emigrants began returning a decade ago as the economy of the “Celtic Tiger” boomed. Now, it is Indian professionals and Polish construction workers who are returning to seek new opportunities.

Competition for such workers is increasing. Even oil-rich Gulf states can no longer rely on a seemingly endless flow of cheap engineers and construction workers from the Asian sub-continent. One Gulf company, for example, told Manpower it was “starting to miss crucial project deadlines” because it could not “import the skilled expatriate engineers and project managers it used to be able to get easily.”

Propelling labour mobility over the next few decades will be huge demographic changes, in particular the ageing and stagnating populations in developed countries. According to the United Nations, Italy’s population is expected to decline from 57m to 41m by 2050 while Japan’s is projected to fall 17 per cent to 105m by 2080 .

Workers are also becoming more aware of their worth, with the internet providing much greater information on job opportunities at home and abroad, says Manpower.

Workers will also move within national boundaries to find work. China is currently struggling to accommodate “the rush of individuals leaving its poor western provinces in search of better jobs in the glittering commercial hubs of the country’s east coast,” it says.

Japan has also seen a huge population shift to its cities, imperilling its agricultural sector, while “Norway must deal with the emptying of its rural north and Mexico’s southern states contend with…a massive talent drain to the industrialised northern border states.”

Employers who have moved offshore in search of cheap labour can get caught out, however, as local economies develop and other multinationals move in, competing for a limited number of skilled workers. According to Manpower, it is not unusual for workers at call centres in Bangladesh to attend an interview, accept a new job and start straight away at a higher salary all in the same lunch hour, says Manpower.

The recruitment group warns that government policies restricting inflows of migrant workers, in response to populist demands, could prove counter-productive by leaving businesses short of both skilled and unskilled labour.

National immigration policies have concentrated on raising barriers to the unskilled while trying to encourage highly skilled professionals, engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs.

But Manpower points out that blue collar workers are also in short supply, “to the dismay of many policymakers who, for years, have focused great attention on increasing the proportion of youth that attain university degrees and become knowledge workers, only to discover a vast talent shortage of blue collar workers now upon them.”

The result is a near-universal shortage of carpenters, decorators, bricklayers and plumbers in developed countries – jobs which are increasingly having to be filled by migrant workers.

“Years of relative under-investment in vocational trades are now having an impact in western countries like Norway where butchers, drivers. chefs, plumbers, electricians and welders are badly needed,” says the recruitment company.

Labouring and similar jobs were the most popular posts filled by foreign workers in Belgium, Canada, France, Japan, Singapore, Spain and the UK, and ranked “ within the top 10 list for Australia, Austria, Germany, India, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the US,” according to the Manpower survey.

The process is not new – think of the Turkish Gastarbeiter (guest workers) in 1950s and 1960s Germany, Jamaican bus drivers in London from the same period and more recently, British financial controllers in Shanghai, where 40,000 foreigners now work. What has changed is the universal scale and ease of labour mobility movements.

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Manpower Inc. Research Reveals Competing Agendas of Employers and Jobseekers, With 37% of Individuals Willing to Relocate Anywhere in the World for a Better Career, While 31% of Employers Are Worried About Talent Migrating Abroad
Manpower Inc.

MILWAUKEE, June 24 -- Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) released today the results of its Borderless Workforce survey of nearly 28,000 employers across 27 countries and territories revealing that 31% of employers worldwide are concerned about the impact on the labor market from talent leaving their country to work abroad. A parallel Relocating for Work survey by Manpower revealed that 37% of individuals would be willing to relocate anywhere in the world for a better career. The survey gathered responses from more than 31,000 people in 27 individual labor markets worldwide.

"As the talent shortage becomes more severe, employers are naturally concerned about losing employees -- not just to competitors within their own markets, but to those based overseas, too. Individuals are now increasingly willing and able to find employment far from their homes. More people are living and working away from their home countries than at any other point in history -- about three percent of the world's population," said Jeffrey A. Joerres, Chairman and CEO of Manpower Inc. "These are not the one-way migrations of yesteryear. Talent goes where talent is needed, and we are truly becoming a global, borderless workforce," said Joerres.

The survey found that 78% of individuals would be willing to relocate within their national borders or abroad for work and 41% of those would be willing to relocate permanently. Respondents from the Philippines (96%), Ireland (93%), Brazil (93%), Portugal (92%), Colombia (92%), Mexico and Central America (92%) and Peru (90%) were the most likely to consider relocating for employment opportunities in the future.

Respondents under 30 years old were more receptive to moving for work than their older colleagues. In terms of gender differences, men were more inclined to move for longer periods of time (four to six years or longer) while women preferred assignments varying from one to three years and less than six months. The majority of people (82%) would relocate to increase their pay and 74% would move for career advancement. 47% would move across borders for the opportunity to learn another language and, interestingly, this was the strongest reason for women (50%) to relocate for work.

The most popular destinations that people would want to relocate across borders for work are the U.S., the U.K., and Spain. This preference changed somewhat based upon the region in which respondents live. The U.S. was the preferred destination in the Americas; China topped the list in Asia Pacific; and the U.K. was preferred by those in the EMEA region. The parallel Manpower Borderless Workforce survey indicates that employers are currently sourcing the largest number of foreign professionals from China, the U.S., India, the U.K. and Germany.

The Top 10 Preferred Destinations Top 10 Source Countries for
for Work Foreign Talent

1. United States 1. China 2. United Kingdom 2. United States 3. Spain 3. India 4. Canada 4. United Kingdom 5. Australia 5. Germany 6. United Arab Emirates 6. Japan 7. France 7. Spain 8. Italy 8. France 9. Germany 9. Canada 10. Argentina 10. Poland

Employers expressed concern about the potential negative impact on the labor market from talent leaving their country to work abroad. These concerns are most prevalent in: Peru (82%), Argentina (66%), South Africa (65%), Taiwan (64%), India (57%) and New Zealand (52%). The exodus of talent is least concerning to employers in China (1%), Ireland (7%), Switzerland (12%), Japan (12%), the Netherlands (13%) and the U.S. (14%).

Only 15% of employers worldwide think government and businesses are doing enough to slow the outward migration of talent and attract these people back to their country. The top 10 countries reporting concerns are: Germany, Peru, Italy, Belgium, Austria, United Kingdom, Argentina, Canada, Mexico and South Africa. Employers in Costa Rica (35%), China (35%), Hong Kong (35%) and Ireland (33%) were the more optimistic regarding government and business response to the issue.

"In most countries, the consensus is that business and governments are not doing enough to slow outward migration, or to attract individuals back to their home country. While it's true that many governments and businesses alike need to do more to keep their most talented workers, they must also consider how they can strengthen their collective employer 'brands' to attract more talented workers from overseas to fill their talent shortages," said Joerres.

Today's survey announcement coincides with the publication of a new Manpower white paper, "The Borderless Workforce." The white paper explores the complexities of today's global workforce, how employers and governments are responding to the fluidity of talent and the challenges and opportunities that talent mobility poses for both employers and individuals.

A copy of the Manpower white paper and the complete results of Manpower's Borderless Workforce and Relocating for Work surveys can be downloaded at http://www.manpower.com/ResearchCenter.

Note to Editors

Manpower's Relocating for Work survey gathered responses from over 31,574 people in 27 individual labor markets around the world including those from: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Qatar, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.

Manpower's Borderless Workforce survey gathered responses from nearly 28,000 employers across 27 countries and territories in late January to determine employer concerns about the outward migration of talent and the extent to which they are utilizing foreign talent to fill positions. To obtain the full Manpower Borderless Workforce Survey results, click on the following link: http://www.manpower.com/ResearchCenter.

About Manpower Inc.

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in the employment services industry; creating and delivering services that enable its clients to win in the changing world of work. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2008, the $21 billion company offers employers a range of services for the entire employment and business cycle including permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment and selection; training; outplacement; outsourcing and consulting. Manpower's worldwide network of 4,500 offices in 80 countries and territories enables the company to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, including small and medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as the world's largest multinational corporations. The focus of Manpower's work is on raising productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction across their total workforce, enabling clients to concentrate on their core business activities. Manpower Inc. operates under five brands: Manpower, Manpower Professional, Elan, Jefferson Wells and Right Management. More information on Manpower Inc. is available at http://www.manpower.com.

SOURCE Manpower Inc.

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Sainsbury hit by defection to Tesco

By Elizabeth Rigby, Consumer Industries Editor

Published: June 23 2008 21:01 | Last updated: June 23 2008 21:01

Justin King’s plan to accelerate the growth of J Sainsbury’s non-food business has been dealt a blow with the surprise defection of Richard Jones, its head of general merchandise, to arch-rival Tesco.

Mr Jones, who set up Sainsbury’s TU clothing business before being promoted to the post of director of the entire non-food operation, abruptly quit last week for a job in sourcing and range development at Tesco.

It is bad timing for Mr King, who is planning to build the retailer’s sales by £3.5bn over the coming three years, with a third of that growth coming from its non-food lines. Beauty, clothing, electricals and white goods account for barely 10 per cent of the group’s £19.3bn annual turnover.

Sainsbury is likely to make Mr Jones take gardening leave for his 12-month notice period – a tactic deployed by Tesco when one of its key employees quits for a rival – which means he may not start work at Tesco until another year.

Sainsbury said in a statement: “Our strategy for non-food is in place and we are well down the track in rolling out those plans. We have a great non-food senior team in place with key hires from major competitors in recent months.”

It declined to comment further on a successor.

Sainsbury has moved its general merchandise operation to Coventry and created at least 100 more jobs as part of the supermarket chain’s efforts to increase non-food sales.

In recent months, it has aligned its general merchandise offer with its food lines, introducing a “good, better, best” range. At the top end, customers can buy “Different by Design” tableware, while at the opposite end of the spectrum, the supermarket is selling polka-dot mugs for £1.29 a-piece.

Sainsbury is also investing £30m in a non-food website next spring, mirroring – although on a much smaller scale – similar efforts by Tesco and Asda.

The new website is under wraps but Sainsbury may try to sell the Tu clothing line through the site as well as the standard pots, pans and televisions.

Sainsbury already sells 3,500 non-food lines in its stores, but it can sell far more online. Tesco Direct launched nearly two years ago with 8,000 internet-only lines. It now has 11,000 different products.

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香港上海銀、初のルーブル建て個人向け預金

　英ＨＳＢＣ傘下の香港上海銀行は27日から、国内でロシアのルーブル建て預金を取り扱う。ルーブル建て預金は一部の銀行が企業向けに扱っているが、個人向け商品は初めてという。ＨＳＢＣは個人に特化した店舗を展開しており、品ぞろえの強化で他行と違いを出そうとしている。

　ロシア経済は資源高を追い風に高成長が続き、ロシア株も堅調に推移。個人の間でルーブル預金への関心が高まっていると判断した。同行に1000万円以上の金融資産を預け入れている顧客が対象で、1ルーブルから受け入れる。

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円借款政策見直し、債務帳消し国にも供与　政府方針

　政府は途上国に開発資金を低利で貸し付ける円借款の政策を転換する。過去に債務の帳消しを受けるなどした「重債務貧困国」には原則供与しない方針だったが、こうした国でも資源が豊富な国を中心に貸し出す。第1弾としてマダガスカルのインフラ整備事業に400億―500億円規模の円借款を検討。当面はアフリカを中心に対象国を広げ、アジアや中南米にも拡大する。

　円借款の対象とするのは、首都アンタナナリボにある国際空港の滑走路延伸事業と、東部のトアマシナ港の大規模コンテナの取り扱い能力の拡張事業。資源を輸出しやすくするインフラを整備する。今年度にも供与が決まる見通しだ。ほかにもガーナなどが候補にあがっている。

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京都銀、金融商品購入に紙・印鑑不要　静脈認証を活用

　京都銀行は23日、紙や印鑑を使わずに投資信託などの金融商品を購入できる接客システムを12月から導入すると発表した。タッチパネル式の画面で申し込み手続きを進め、本人確認は指静脈の認証で済ませる。事前に同行のＩＣキャッシュカードで指静脈の情報を登録することが必要だが、ペーパーレスで金融商品を購入できるシステムは全国でも初めてという。

　顧客の手間を減らし、金融商品の販売促進につなげる狙い。新システムは12月以降、全店の資産運用の相談ブースに順次導入する。設置するのは顧客向けの操作パネルと生体認証装置。顧客は行員の説明を聞き、欲しい商品の内容を伝えるとパネルに申し込み内容が表示される。パネル上の「確認」ボタンを押し、生体認証装置に指をかざして本人確認をすれば、手続きが完了する。

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三井住友銀、サンパウロ州に協調融資882億円

　【サンパウロ＝檀上誠】三井住友銀行は国際協力銀行（ＪＢＩＣ）と共同でブラジル・サンパウロ州政府向けに総額882億円の協調融資をする。地下鉄や都市鉄道の施設整備、車両購入などの資金に充てる。ブラジルでは交通インフラの不足が深刻化。州や連邦政府が整備を急いでおり、日本の商社やメーカーの関連事業も活発になっている。

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漆塗り風のスポーツ自転車　米スペシャライズドが発売

　米自転車大手スペシャライズドの日本法人、スペシャライズド・ジャパン（東京・中野）は7月1日、和風のデザインを取り入れたスポーツ自転車を発売する。アルミ製のフレームに、赤や黒などの漆塗り風の塗装を施すほか、鳳凰（ほうおう）や竹、桜の絵柄も描く。

　「ラングスター　トーキョー」はこれまでローマ字で記入していたブランド名「ラングスター」などの文字を、カタカナで表記。ギア変速はなく、若者など手軽に自転車に乗りたい層に売り込む。価格は8万6000円。東京都渋谷区の直販店や全国の小売店で販売する。

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大塚製薬、足りない栄養が分かるサイト　サプリを販促

　大塚製薬は、食生活をチェックしてお勧めのサプリメント（栄養補助食品）を紹介するサイト「サプリメントチェック」を開設した。食事ごとに、食べた物を約2500種類のリストから選んで入力すると、1日に摂取したカロリーや不足している栄養素をグラフで表示する。外出先から携帯電話のインターネット接続サービスを使って食事内容を入力することもできる。

　同社のサプリメント「ネイチャーメイド」シリーズの販売促進が狙い。商品を買った人には、体重や日々の運動量などを記録するサービスも提供する。こうしたデータを基に、食生活などに関する栄養士の助言を受けることもできるという。

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米系通信会社、千葉にデータ拠点　最大400億円投資

　米投資会社フィデリティ系の通信会社ＫＶＨ（東京・港、鈴木みゆき社長）は千葉県印西市に、企業の情報システムを預かって運用する大型データセンターを建設する。当初の延べ床面積は3万平方メートルで2010年春に稼働させる。投資額は200億―400億円となる見込み。システム運用の外部委託を進める企業の需要を取り込む狙い。

　金融機関のデータセンターなどが集中する千葉ニュータウン内の敷地約3万平方メートルを独立行政法人・都市再生機構から取得した。当初は敷地の半分を使って地上6階建てのビルを建設し、需要に応じて順次建て増す。新拠点では効率の高い空調機器や電源装置などを導入して消費電力を削減する。

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日鉱金属、低純度鉱石から銅製錬　来春メド、豪に実証プラント

　日鉱金属は純度が低い銅鉱石から効率的に銅などを取り出す技術を開発した。まず豪州に実証プラントを建設し、2009年春から稼働。10年以内に最大 1000億円を投じ、豪州など3カ所で製錬設備を建設する。新興国を中心に電線などのインフラ需要が伸びる半面、鉱山開発は遅れており銅の世界需給は逼迫（ひっぱく）している。新技術を活用すれば、埋蔵量の1割弱に相当する低純度品が利用可能になるとみられ、価格が下がる可能性もある。

　現在の技術では一般に純度99.99％の銅地金を生産するのに、含有率1％前後の銅鉱石から純度約30％の銅精鉱を作る必要があった。

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北極開発巡り国際会議、眠れる石油・ガス

　資源開発の権益を巡る対立が表面化している北極海沿岸５カ国による初の国際会議がデンマーク領グリーンランドのイルリサットで27日夕、開幕する。29日までの日程で、豊富な資源が眠る北極開発の進め方について話し合う。

　会議にはホスト役デンマークのムラー外相のほかロシアのラブロフ外相、米国のネグロポンテ国務副長官、ノルウェーのストーレ外相、カナダのルン天然資源相が参加。ムラー外相は会議の趣旨を「新たな課題に対し、国際法を順守しながら友好的、持続的に取り組む狙い」と説明。「（資源開発などで）何らかのガイドラインを打ち出したい」という。

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イラク支援、円借款2年以上実績なし　国際協力銀、発効期限延長

　【ドバイ＝松尾博文】日本政府がイラク復興支援策の柱として打ち出した円借款が、イラク側の対応の遅れによって難航している。供与を決めた12件のインフラ整備事業のうち、実際に融資を実行できた案件はゼロ。供与を表明してから2年以上工事に取りかかれないケースもある。国際協力銀行は融資契約の発効期限を延長。戦後5年が経過しても混迷が続くイラクへの支援の難しさを浮き彫りにしている。

　政府は2003年のイラク復興支援国会議で、米国に次ぐ総額50億ドル規模の支援を表明。柱となるのが35億ドルを上限とする円借款だった。これまでにバグダッド郊外の発電所や南部の肥料工場改修など12件への供与を表明。8件で国際協力銀との融資契約が完了している。

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ブラジルのヴァーレ、新日鉄傘下ウジミナスの全株売却へ

　【リオデジャネイロ＝檀上誠】鉄鉱石世界最大手のブラジル、ヴァーレ（リオドセ）は27日、ブラジル鉄鋼大手、ウジミナスの全株式を売却すると発表した。ヴァーレは、新日本製鉄が2006年にウジミナスを実質傘下に置いた後も主要株主にとどまっていた。ウジミナスが独自に鉄鉱山を取得したことから資本関係を打ち切ることを決めたとみられる。

　主要株主間の協定では既存の主要株主は60日間、優先的に株式を取得する権利があり、現在は議決権ベースで直接・間接に約23％を持つ新日鉄が追加取得に動く可能性もある。主要株主が取得しなかった場合、ヴァーレは一括売却や市場での放出を進める。

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非鉄、有力鉱脈発掘急ぐ　住友鉱山、チリなど投資倍増

　非鉄製錬大手が銅などの探鉱活動を拡充する。住友金属鉱山はチリなど環太平洋地域での2008年度の探鉱事業費用を、前年度実績からほぼ倍増させる。三菱マテリアルは30億円を投じ、フィジー諸島で銅と金の探鉱を本格化する。中国など新興国向けの需要拡大で、金属価格は高騰。需給が逼迫（ひっぱく）した状態が今後も続く可能性もあることから、10年先をにらんだ資源の囲い込み競争が加速し始めた。

　住友鉱山はチリやペルー、豪州などで電線などに使われる銅の探鉱事業を強化する。08年度の探鉱費用を前年度実績の25億円から47億円に増額。探鉱区域も1割増の24カ所に増やす。同社は現在、銅鉱石の4割を自前で調達している。将来的にはこの比率を7割程度まで拡大する狙いがある。

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US court backs Guantanamo inmate
Guantanamo's Camp Delta detention compound

A US court has for the first time rejected the classification of a prisoner held in Guantanamo Bay as an "enemy combatant".

Huzaifa Parhat, a Chinese Muslim, has been held since he was captured in Afghanistan in 2001.

He is now free to seek immediate release in a US district court.

This follows a US Supreme Court ruling this month that gave foreign Guantanamo Bay detainees the right to challenge their detention in civilian courts.

Mr Parhat is an ethnic Uighur from Xinjiang province in China, where it meets Central Asia.

The US government argued he was a member of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, which it said had links to al-Qaeda.

But Mr Parhat's lawyers said China and not the United States was his enemy.

Uighur activists are seeking autonomy from China, and there are sporadic outbreaks of violence in the province.

Headache for US

The three-judge panel directed the US military to release Mr Parhat, transfer him or promptly set up a new military tribunal to try him.

The court also specified that Mr Parhat could petition a federal judge for his immediate release in light of the Supreme Court's 12 June decision.

Mr Parhat is one of several Uighurs being held at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Their case has become a diplomatic and legal headache for the US, which has tried to find a country willing to accept the Uighurs at the same time as defending its decision to hold them as enemy combatants.

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Raids hit EU 'people-smugglers'
Iraqi Kurds (file photo)

A pan-Europe police operation has led to the arrest of 75 people suspected of trafficking Iraqi Kurds into the EU.

The suspects, believed to belong to a network of Iraqi nationals, were detained in nine European countries.

European police agency Europol said it was one of the largest co-ordinated operations against people smuggling.

The migrants may have paid up to $18,500 (12,000 euros; £9,400) each to be taken from Iraq to countries within the European Union.

The operation - codenamed "Operation Baghdad" as it targeted a network of mainly Iraqi nationals - involved some 1,300 police officers and was supported by Europol and Eurojust, the EU bodies overseeing police and judicial co-operation.

Cramped conditions

Police arrested 75 people in joint investigations in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

In a joint statement, Europol and Eurojust said: "All suspects are said to be involved in the clandestine smuggling of a large number of illegal immigrants into and within the European Union."

The network is accused of transporting illegal immigrants from Afghanistan, China, Turkey and Bangladesh to EU member states.

The migrants usually travelled in cramped conditions in camping cars, coaches, boats or even planes from Iraq via Turkey to Europe.

One of the main organisers in France is believed to have smuggled around 280 people between July 2007 and January 2008.

The migrants usually paid their money via wire transfer.

Eurojust co-ordinated the investigations at the request of French magistrates and set up an international liaison centre in Paris.

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US food giants in $4.4bn tie-up
Corn on display in a US grocery store

Two US agricultural firms are set to merge in a deal worth $4.4bn (£2.2bn) as they seek to benefit from rising crop prices.

Oilseed processor Bunge has agreed to buy rival Corn Products International for $56 a share.

The purchase will allow it to produce high-fructose corn syrup, a key ingredient used in Coca-Cola.

Rising demand for corn to produce food and clean fuel are some of the reasons why food prices are increasing sharply.

Companies that manufacture food products, such as Bunge and Corn Products International, are reaping the benefits of rising prices.

However, even they must pay more for basic ingredients and the hope is that a merger would save them between $100m and $120m a year.

"Corn Products is the leading pure-play franchise in corn refining and will add higher-margin starch and sweetener products to Bunge's product portfolio," said Bunge chief executive and chairman Alberto Weisser.

Corn prices

After the deal is completed, Corn Products shareholders will own about 21% of Bunge's shares.

The combined company will have about 32,000 employees with operations in 40 countries.

Neither company expects to close any industrial facilities as a result of the transaction, Bunge said in a statement.

Corn prices have risen by more than 60% since the start of the year, partly as a result of the huge amount of damage to farmland caused by flooding in Iowa before the crucial growing season.

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次々と浮かび上がる不正　丸明の従業員証言
　2008年06月24日08:49　

　等級偽装や加工日の改ざん、ずさんな衛生管理―。県などの立ち入り調査を受けた養老郡養老町の食肉卸小売業「丸明」。県のブランド和牛「飛騨牛」を大手スーパーなどに納入するほか、名古屋市や高山市でレストラン３店舗を経営するなど順調に売り上げを伸ばす一方、従業員らの証言から不正が常態化していた疑いが浮かび上がった。

　【等級偽装】「社長の指示で、２等級に（飛騨牛の）３等級を混ぜた。社長が、『消費者は味が分からないから大丈夫』と言われた」。元工場長は語る。店頭販売する焼肉用のパック詰め商品や量り売りなどのほか、名古屋市中区のレストランでも２等級を使っていたという。「社長は『３５０円で切れ、と指示しただけ』と言っているが、３５０円は３等級のことを指す。社長もそれは認識しているはず」と話している。

　【消費期限改ざん】元工場長は「加工日を１週間ほど改ざんしていた」と証言。消費期限の切れた肉をミンチに混ぜるのも社長の指示だったという。ある従業員は「工場の冷凍庫は１０年ほど前からモモ肉など古い売れ残りの肉が何トンもある。消費期限が切れても色のまともな肉は焼肉用などに、悪いものはハンバーグやコロッケに混ぜていた」と証言。元工場長は「加工日の改ざんは、帳簿を見ればわかるが、それも偽装されているかもしれない」と不安視する。

　【衛生管理】「カビの生えたまな板を使っていた」というのは元工場長。また元従業員は「工場内にもカビがたくさん生えていた」と証言する。これらの管理方法などに文句を言う従業員もいたが、別の元従業員は「たてつく従業員はすぐ首になっていた。長続きしない職場だ」と振り返った。

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従業員カメラの前の「反乱」　牛肉偽装にみる社長の「人望」

＜テレビウォッチ＞「従業員がやったこと」「指示はしてません」。『偽装』会見ではすっかりお馴染みの台詞が今日も聞かれた。
また新たな食品偽装疑惑が……

岐阜県の食肉卸兼小売りでレストラン業も展開、幅広く活躍する「丸明」という会社が、基準以下の品質の肉を「飛騨牛」と偽って（混ぜて）売ったほか、加工日を偽造したなどの疑惑が浮上。手口といい、社長の会見内容といい、あまりに代わり映えがしないので、「また新たな食品偽装疑惑が浮上しました」と伝える司会の赤江珠緒もなんだか気乗りがしないようだ。

ただ、今回は新たな展開が見られた。「社長の指示でやった」という従業員たちが社長の会見を聞いて直接行動に出た。会社玄関に詰めかけた怒りの従業員の声は「社長呼んでよ」「何オレのせいにしてんですか！」と迫力である。窓ガラス越しにこの光景を見ていた社長は隠れるように姿を消す。「逃げんなよ」「出てこないと話にならん！」

誰の目にも明らかに、もはや社長の権威は失墜した。メガネの奥から覗うような目つきをしながら、いつも注意深く、言質を取られない発言を心がける司会の小木逸平アナでさえ、こうコメントする。「今回も（内部）告発が寄せられたということで――普段からよっぽど社長の人望がないんだなと思わせますね」

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飛騨牛表示偽装　社長一転、従業員に指示認める

2008年6月24日6時24分

　「飛騨牛」の表示偽装が指摘されている岐阜県養老町の食肉卸小売業「丸明（まるあき）」の吉田明一社長（６５）が、２３日にあった農林水産省と県の聞き取り調査に対し、要件を満たさない格下の牛肉をブランド和牛「飛騨牛」として売るよう、従業員に指示していたことを認めたことが分かった。これまでは「（偽装は）従業員がやった」などと否定していた。

　県などは同日、日本農林規格（ＪＡＳ）法などに基づき、２８人態勢で同社の本社事務所など４カ所を約１０時間にわたって立ち入り調査した。仕入れ記録や店頭に出る前の牛肉を調べると同時に、偽装の指示をめぐって激しく意見が対立していた複数の従業員と吉田社長に聞き取りを実施した。

　県などによると、吉田社長は産地偽装については否定する一方、等級偽装は「指示した」と認めたという。指示の具体的な内容や時期・期間についてはあいまいな部分が多いため、県などは２４日も吉田社長を中心に聞き取りを続け、直営の養老店への立ち入り調査もする。

　吉田社長は、聞き取りが終わった午後８時半ごろ、事務所玄関に姿を現し、「関係の方々にご迷惑をおかけして、すみませんでした。県と農水省の方にすべてをお話ししました」と陳謝したが、偽装の指示については言及しなかった。

　同社による「飛騨牛」の表示偽装をめぐっては、複数の従業員が「社長の指示だった」と証言。肉質等級や産地の偽装、加工日の改ざんなどが指摘されていた。同社は２３日、店舗などを案内していたホームページを休止した。

　牛肉管理の方法などをめぐって吉田社長と対立し、報道陣に証言し続けた元工場長（３７）は「報道陣の前で、従業員たちは社長に偽装の責任を押しつけられた。社長が同じように報道陣の前で謝罪しない限り、何も認められない」と話している。

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橋下改革で一般会計８年ぶりの３兆円割れ　大阪府が平成２０年度予算案　
2008.6.24 14:32

　大阪府の橋下徹知事は２４日、総額４兆１５４７億円の平成２０年度本格予算案を発表した。一般会計は２兆９２２６億円で、前年度当初予算と比べ１０．２％減少し、８年ぶりに３兆円を割り込んだ。橋下知事が５日に発表した「大阪維新プログラム案」をもとに編成した予算で、人件費削減や事業の見直しなどで単年度収支は１４億円の黒字としたが、１９年度から繰り越す赤字５０億円を解消できないため、実質赤字は３６億円となり１０年連続の赤字予算となった。

　また、橋下知事は同日、本格予算案に基づく財政収支見通しも発表。２１年度に府税収入の減少などで収支悪化が見込まれることなどから２月に発表した収支見通しを改定。２８年度までの収支改善額を計１２７０億円上積みし、総額７７７０億円に修正した。

　歳入では、税収が前年度当初から７０９億円減の１兆３９８５億円。このうち、法人２税（法人事業税・法人住民税）は５３７４億円で、前年度当初（５９６１億円）から大幅に減少。景気後退や原油価格高騰などが影響しているとみられる。

　府債発行は前年度当初比３８２億円増の２６７４億円を計上。ただ、地方税の代替として７５％が補填（ほてん）される減収補填債（８５０億円）と、地方交付税で国から返還される臨時財政対策債（７９５億円）が含まれている。このため、建設事業の財源となる通常債（８４４億円）と、財源対策として職員の退職手当のため発行する退職手当債（１８５億円）を合わせた発行規模は１０２９億円で、前年度当初（１６４０億円）から６１１億円減少。府債残高は今年度末で４兆８６８４億円と、前年度当初見込み（５兆４５０億円）から減少するとみられる。

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１０年連続赤字、大阪府が０８年度予算案発表

2008年6月24日20時33分

　大阪府の橋下徹知事は２４日、総額２兆９２２６億円の０８年度一般会計予算案を発表した。人件費削減を含めた１１００億円の収支改善を盛り込んだものの、税収が０７年度当初予算案に比べ７０９億円減り、１０年連続の赤字予算になった。新たな収支見通しでは、現状の財政再建を続けても財政健全化団体に転落する恐れも出てきた。

　歳出総額は０７年度当初より１０．２％（３３２９億円）減る緊縮型で、８年ぶりに３兆円を下回った。人件費削減（０７年度当初比４８２億円減）や一般施策経費の削減（同１５６２億円減）、原則２割カットの建設事業費（同８４５億円減）など、財政再建の効果が反映された。

　しかし、歳入総額は税収の４割を占める法人２税が景気減速の影響で、０７年度当初比９．８％（５８７億円）の大幅減。自主財源が減ったため、府債は１６．７％（３８２億円）増えて、２６７４億円を新規発行。今年度は３６億円の歳入不足が生じ、来年度予算で同額を補う赤字予算を編成した。総務省によると、今年度予算で赤字予算は４７都道府県で大阪府だけだ。

　府が税収減を織り込んで長期の財政収支見通しを試算したところ、現状の改革だけでは１７年度に実質公債費比率が財政健全化団体の水準（２５％）を超える可能性がある。水準をクリアするには今年度を含めた９年間で７７７０億円の財源不足を補う必要があるという。

　橋下知事は記者会見で「税収の落ち込みはとんでもないが、今後の見通しは立った」と強気の見解を示した。

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Biotech's Assault on Mexico

* Killing Farmers with Killer Seed
By JOHN ROSS
CounterPunch, June 23 2008
Straight to the Source

As the global food crisis escalates, Big Biotech (Monsanto, Novartis, Syngenta, Dupont-Pioneer, Dow et al) are capitalizing on the desperation of the hungry at runaway prices and rapidly diminishing reserves as a wedge to foist genetically modified (GMO) seeds on a reluctant Third World.

Latin America is a prime marketing target for Big Biotech's little darlings, often tagged "semillas asasinas" or "killer seeds" for their devastating impacts on local food stocks. Now the killer GMOs are suspected of literally provoking murder most foul.

Last October, Armando Villareal, a farm leader in the Mexican border state of Chihuahua, was gunned down after a farmers' meeting in Nuevo Casas Grandes. Villareal had been denouncing the illegal planting of GMO corn in the Mennonite-dominated municipalities of Cuauhtemoc and Naniquipa.

Chihuahua Mennonite communities originally migrated from Canada after a dispute with the Canadian government over education in the 1920s and were granted land by post-revolutionary president Alvaro Obregon. Over the decades, the Mennonites have successfully cultivated up to 60,000 hectares in the northeast of the state. Acutely insular with their signature dress (denim overalls for the men, prairie dresses and calico bonnets for the women) and speaking low-German as befits their European roots, the Mennonites have never integrated into the Mexican mainstream and their success as farmers - they have benefited from Mexican government irrigation projects - has created tensions in a region where aridity limits agricultural production for most farmers.

Hundreds of tractors lined up in a cortege at Villareal's October 15th funeral during which he was compared to another Chihuahua hero, Francisco Villa. Ironically, the slain farmers' leader who claimed to have evidence that the Mennonites' killer seeds had been smuggled in from Kansas, was not opposed to planting GMO corn which his "Aerodynamica" group hoped would save strapped farmers money on pesticides and power costs. His followers had even burnt tractors to demand that the Mexican government grant them permits to plant the transgenic corn.

Eight months later, Armando Villareal's murder remains unresolved.

The Chihuahua farm leader's assassination is not the only death of a militant Latin American campesino being linked to Big Biotech's encroachments. In Parana Brazil about the same time Villareal was gunned down in Chihuahua, Keno Mota, an activist of the Movement of Landless Farmers ("Movimento de Sem Terras" or MST), affiliated with the international poor farmers coalition Via Campesina, was drilled by security guards during an action on an illegal experimental station under cultivation by the Biotech giant Syngenta - the Syngenta plot, adjacent to Iguazu National Park, a protected nature reserve, violated Brazilian strictures as to where such "semillas asasinas" can be planted.

Unlike Mexico, Brazil has few restrictions on GMO crops and indeed under social democrat president Lula da Silva, has become the second-largest GMO soybean producer on the continent. Neighboring Argentina is Numero Uno. Big Argentinean growers, who have been blocking that southern cone nation's highways in a dispute over tariffs on soy exports for weeks, have announced intentions to surpass the United States as the largest grower of genetically modified maize in coming years. Argentinean corn is grown exclusively as feed for the gaucho nation's cattle industry, a cornerstone of its agrarian economy.

Mexico, where maiz was first domesticated 8000 years ago and where corn is at the core of culture as well as nutrition, has been more circumspect in embracing GMO seed. Under the banner of the "No Hay Pais Sin Maiz" ("we have no country without corn") campaign, farmers and environmentalists have joined hands to prevent GMO contamination of native species and the nation's Bio-Security Commission, initialed CYBOGEN, an inter-secretarial government body, declared a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically modified corn in the late 1990s.

Nonetheless, millions of tons of GMO maize pour into Mexican tariff-free each year from the U.S. under provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA.)

Now, in the wake of the much-hyped global food crisis, Big Biotech is pressuring the Mexican government to permit experimental plantations of the semillas asasinas as the only solution to predicted shortages, a ploy that Monsanto and its ilk have successfully sprung on the European Union.

Although GMO corn remains officially proscribed in Europe, seven EU members will grow the modified maize this year. Agribiz combines like the British National Beef Association, insist that "all resistance to GMO crops must be abandoned" in light of the growing international food psychosis.

One motive for the industry's big push, according to Sylvia Ribero who keeps tabs on Big Biotech for the left daily La Jornada: patents for some of the major GMO seed brands like Monsanto's BT corn are set to expire in the next five years.

Buckling under the Biotech barrage, Mexico's CYBOGEN posted regulations this March for applicants who contemplate cultivation of "experimental" GMO corn. Now, with a 60-day countdown ticking, Mexican farmers could be legally planting genetically modified maiz by July.

Under ground rules issued by both the Agriculture and Environmental secretariats (SAGARPA and SAMARNAT), experimental patches of GMO corn must be limited to regions where native corn stocks will not be contaminated by windblown pollens from such fields.

But the Mennonite farmers who occupy huge tracts in Chihuahua apparently jumped the gun. Under the tutelage of Monsanto and Syngenta-Golden Harvest with the SAGARPA and the SAMARNAT turning a blind eye, the Mennonites have sewn GMO corn in at least two of their "camps" or agricultural stations (#102 and #305) in the municipality of Naniquipa where Villareal spotted the illegal patches last year. Decrying insufficient safeguards against windblown pollens, Chihuahua campesinos led by Victor Quintana of the "No Hay Pais" campaign, also affiliated with Via Campesina, and a deputy in the Mexican congress for the left-center Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), have threatened to tear out the Mennonite fields before they flower in mid-summer.

Quintana's group worries that the Mennonite "experiment" will germinate five to 25 million "granos" or kernels, each of which is a potential threat to native corn.
SAGARPA regards the Mennonite "experiment" as a field test to see just how far the pollens can be spread by winds and other weather conditions.

Windblown GMO pollens are held responsible for the contamination of maiz in neighboring Sinaloa state where Greenpeace activists found traces of genetically modified corn in 96% of samples taken in nine municipalities in 2007 - Sinaloa is Mexico's top corn producing state. Aleira Lara, Greenpeace anti-GMO campaign coordinator, considers that trying to confine experimental plots to one geographical region is merely cosmetic. Last year, the Greenpeacers listed 39 instances of windblown GMO contamination in 23 countries.

Native Mexican corn was first found to have been infected by NAFTA GMO imports in 2001 when Indian campesinos in Oaxaca's Sierra of Juarez discovered that maiz from a lot introduced from Michigan and sold by a local government DICONSA grain distribution center had been inadvertently planted in the Zapotec-Chinanteco village of Calpulapan. Subsequent investigation by the National Ecology Institute, documented in a report suppressed by the Secretary of Agriculture, turned up traces of GMO contamination (some as high as 60%) in 11 out of 22 corn-growing regions in Oaxaca and Puebla. Maiz was first domesticated in the Puebla-Oaxaca altiplano eight millenniums ago.

Although the CYBOGEN has never until now licensed the production of genetically modified corn in Mexico, the semillas asasinas have almost certainly been cultivated here since the late 1990s. The International Commission for the Betterment of Corn and Wheat (CIMMYT), financed by the Rockefeller Foundation, with experimental fields in Texcoco just outside Mexico City is thought to be one source of windblown contamination. Roberto Gonzalez Barrera, the King of the Tortilla, the owner of MASECA, the world's biggest corn flour miller now a third owned by Archer Daniels Midlands, once boasted that he had thousands of hectares under GMO corn. NAFTA imports fall off DICONSA trucks on rural highways and the pollens are blown into roadside "milpas" (cornfields.)

Now GMO infestation is about to get much more acute. In a move to offset soaring prices and shrinking reserves that invariably generate social discontent, Mexican president Felipe Calderon has announced the tariff-free importation of millions of tons of basic grains (corn, wheat, soy, sorghum.) Because the Cargill Corporation, which has dominated grain distribution in Mexico ever since the government's CONASUPO system was privatized in 1999, claims it cannot separate out GMO from uncontaminated imports, the impacts on native corn and other grains will be greatly magnified - Greenpeace estimates that 60 to 70% of all corn imports are contaminated by genetically modified organisms.

John Ross is in Mexico City pounding away on "El Monstruo - Tales of Dread & Redemption In the World's Most Terrifying Urban Monster" (working title) to be published in 2009 by Nation Books. Ross himself is available at johnross@igc.org.