Rare metals soar on demand for efficient jets

Rare metals soar on demand for efficient jets

By Javier Blas in London

Published: June 17 2008 21:59 | Last updated: June 17 2008 23:53

The airline industry’s fight for survival in the face of soaring oil prices has triggered a massive jump in the price of a number of obscure and scarce metals that are used to improve the fuel economy of jet engines.

Traders said demand for minor metals such as rhenium, chromium, cobalt and titanium is booming as Rolls-Royce, General Electric and Pratt & Whitney buy them for new super-alloys that help cut aircraft fuel consumption.

The jump in the price of rhenium – an extremely rare metal that was the last naturally occurring chemical element to be discovered – is the most striking example of the new environment.

The rhenium price on Tuesday surged to a record of $11,250 a kilogram, more than double last year’s level and up from about $1,000 in early 2006, traders said. “At current prices it is more a semi-precious metal than an industry metal,” one trader commented. At current rates, rhenium is only a little less than half the price of gold – a boon to Chile and Kazakhstan, the largest miners of the metal.

Rhenium and other rare metals are in demand because, when combined with other industrial metals, they create strong super-alloys resistant to heat, allowing aircraft engines to run at much higher temperatures and therefore saving fuel.

With oil prices rising to almost $140 a barrel, airlines have been demanding engines that consume less fuel. Minor metals traders said the trend will strengthen as airlines fight for survival.

Allan Kerr, chief executive at Wogen, the London-based minor metals traders, said airlines were replacing older aircraft with new jets with more efficient engines. “The drive to fuel economy translates into strong demand for minor metals used in engines’ super-alloys,” he said.

Although metals such as rhenium have been used in military aircraft for decades – with Washington and Moscow keeping strategic stocks during the cold war years – their spread into commercial aircraft is more recent, Mr Kerr said.

Chromium, produced mainly in South Africa, has also benefited from the desire for fuel-efficient engines. Its price has jumped this month to a record of $11,000 per tonne, up from about $6,800 last year and less than $4,000 in 2000.

The price of cobalt, which comes predominantly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, rose earlier this year to $52.50 per pound, double its 2006 level and the highest price since at least 1978.

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Paulson eyes Sino-US energy pact

By Krishna Guha in Washington

Published: June 17 2008 21:51 | Last updated: June 17 2008 21:51

Hank Paulson called on the US and China to step up their co-operation on energy and the environment at the beginning of a two-day ­session of talks under the bilateral strategic economic dialogue.

“As the two largest net importers of oil, China and the United States face similar challenges as demand for energy increases and the ­global production capacity has remained relatively flat for the past 10 years,” the US Treasury secretary said.

“We have a strong and shared interest in avoiding supply disruptions, increasing energy efficiency, promoting the efficiency and transparency of the global energy markets to the benefit of all oil importing nations and expanding the availability and use of alternative energy sources.”

Mr Paulson had earlier told the Financial Times that the US would urge China to be more transparent about its oil stockpiles and the policies governing its strategic petroleum reserve.

“There is a natural overlap of interest between countries that are major importers of oil,” Mr Paulson said, speaking ahead of the two-day summit held as part of the ongoing US-China strategic economic dialogue.

The two nations will use the talks to flesh out the 10-year plan for co-operation on energy and the environment that was unveiled in Beijing in December. The focus will be on long-term issues but they will also discuss steps that could contribute to a less volatile oil market in the near term.

“Look at the ways in which we can and should co-operate,” Mr Paulson said. “Co-ordinating our strategic petroleum reserves, working with the International Energy Agency and among ourselves for more trans­parency.”

The US would like China to clarify that its strategic reserves exist to deal with disruptions to supply and will not be used to try to manage the oil price. US officials think more reliable information on Chinese stockpiles could help moderate oil market volatility.

In addition, the US will press China not to cushion the effect of higher oil prices through subsidies, allowing the price mechanism to reduce energy consumption

Mr Paulson said: “There are plenty of problems around the oil price being where it is today – speaking personally this is very, very unwelcome.”

The Treasury secretary made it clear that he wants to focus on the fundamental forces driving up the price of oil rather than the possible role of financial speculators.

“I would rather be dealing with some of these fundamental issues than tilting at windmills,” he said. These included the need to increase energy efficiency and develop new sources of energy.

Mr Paulson defended the strategic dialogue – his own creation – against critics who argue that it has achieved little.

He said there had been “reasonable progress” on a number of fronts, including currency appreciation and product safety.

Moreover, he said, “one of the most important economic relationships in the world has been kept on an even keel in times of ­tension”.

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US enters missile talks with Lithuania

By Daniel Dombey and Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington and Jan Cienski in Warsaw

Published: June 17 2008 23:16 | Last updated: June 17 2008 23:16

The US and Lithuania are discussing co-operating on Washington’s missile defence system in a move likely to deepen Russian opposition to the plans.

The preliminary contacts with Vilnius come after months of US negotiations with Poland, which have failed to secure a breakthrough. Those talks have been complicated by tensions with Russia, which says US plans to locate 10 missile interceptors in Warsaw and a radar base in the Czech Republic would affect its strategic deterrent – despite US assurances that the missile bases are intended to deal with a threat from Iran, not Russia.

US diplomats characterise the talks with Lithuania as a fallback plan in case a deal with Poland cannot be reached.

“We are hopeful that we can soon reach a deal with the Poles, but we have always said that there are other options available to us. There are several other European nations that could host the interceptors and Lithuania is one of them,” said Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary. “That said, we have not entered into negotiations with any other country and hope that does not become necessary.”

Audrius Bruzga, Lithuania’s ambassador to the US, told the Financial Times his country was not in formal negotiations with Washington. “We are in discussions with the US on a variety of issues related to security policy, and missile defence is included,” he said. When asked if Lithuania would host a US interceptor base, he added: “If there was such a proposal, we would look into it and of course consider it carefully.”

In the negotiations between Warsaw and Washington the two sides still appear to be far apart. Poland, which is less concerned about Iran than it is about Russia, insists the US help modernise the Polish military and beef up its air defences with a system such as Patriot missiles if Poland is to host the missile base.

“We are counting on the US treating us like it does other strategic partners in other parts of the world when it comes to talks over the missile shield,” Bogdan Klich, Poland’s defence minister, recently said in Brussels. He compared Poland with US partners such as Egypt and Pakistan, indicating Warsaw wanted tens of millions of dollars to help the Polish military.

But a US official in Warsaw said aid on such a scale was “not on the cards”.

US officials said the talks with Lithuania had been proceeding for about a month and acknowledged the US also recently considered the possibility of the Czech Republic hosting interceptors.

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US limits oil trading in London

By Joanna Chung in New York

Published: June 17 2008 20:22 | Last updated: June 18 2008 00:05

Turbulent conditions have made the crude oil market vulnerable to illegal activity, US regulators on Tuesday warned as they imposed limits on the speculative positions on some trades made on overseas exchanges.

Walter Lukken, acting chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said the environment was “ripe for those wanting to illegally manipulate the markets” and that the agency was “taking constructive steps . . . to make sure there is not excessive speculation driving the markets”.

His comments to a joint Senate hearing came as US legislators become more alarmed about surging commodity prices and the role that speculators might be playing in driving record oil prices. Legislators have been pushing for tighter scrutiny of activity by speculators.

The CFTC’s decision to impose position and accountability limits on one crude oil contract traded on London’s ICE Futures Europe exchange – which is linked to the benchmark US West Texas Intermediate contract – would bring oversight of US traders’ behaviour on overseas exchanges into line with limits on domestic markets.

Mr Lukken said: “The CFTC will also require other foreign exchanges that seek such direct access to provide the CFTC with comparable large trader reports and to impose comparable position and accountability limits for any products linked with US-regulated futures contracts.”

The futures regulator, which has repeatedly said prices are being determined by fundamental supply and demand factors, appears to be stepping up its focus on the potential impact of speculators and commodity index traders – though some market participants say this reflects the CFTC’s attempt to avoid Congress imposing tougher legislation rather than a reversal of its policy.

Mr Lukken acknowledged the widespread concerns about the surge of money flowing into the futures markets from institutional investors via commodity indices. He said there were “concerns that people are trying to evade position limits” through Wall Street “swap” dealers that handle much of this type of investment.

The CFTC is collecting more detailed information on index funds and other transactions being conducted through swap dealers and plans to provide recommendations to lawmakers in September.

But the regulator, which has recently announced a series of initiatives aimed at improving its scrutiny – inc-luding a nationwide crude oil investigation – conceded that it needed immediate ad-ditional resources and asked for more funding and staff.

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Senior lawyer hits at Guantánamo

By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington

Published: June 17 2008 21:07 | Last updated: June 18 2008 01:49

The use of harsh interrogation techniques on detainees at Guantánamo Bay was a “mistake of massive proportions” that damaged US national security, the former top navy lawyer said on Tuesday.

Alberto Mora, the former navy general counsel who battled in the Pentagon to bar interrogation techniques such as waterboarding – simulated drowning – described the Bush administration’s interrogation programme as a “policy of cruelty” that “violated our founding values, our constitutional system … and our national security”.

Appearing before the Senate armed services committee – to the backdrop of administration critics clad in orange jumpsuits holding signs reading “Mora rules” – the Cuban-born lawyer said many of the techniques approved for Guantánamo in 2002 and 2003 could “depending on their application easily cross the threshold of torture”.

While Mr Mora was praised as a “hero”, several senators portrayed William Haynes, the former Pentagon general counsel who recommended interrogation techniques over the objections of Mr Mora, as a villain.

“You did a disservice to the soldiers of this nation … you degraded the integrity of the US military,” charged Jack Reed, a former army officer and now Rhode Island Democrat.

In a heated exchange, Mr Reed criticised Mr Haynes for recommending that Donald Rumsfeld, then US defence secretary, approve certain harsh interrogation techniques in late 2003 despite objections from Mr Mora and other senior military lawyers that interrogators could both violate US law and jeopardise prosecutions of detainees.

Mr Haynes, who now works for Chevron, denied ignoring the objections which he said were expressed during a “chronic” administration debate over interrogation policy. He stressed that he was not the decision maker for a policy that was approved by President George W. Bush with the consent of his cabinet.

Mr Haynes described a debate between law enforcement officials, who were more concerned about prosecutions, and intelligence officials, who placed the priority on preventing another attack on the US. In another tense exchange, Carl Levin, the Democratic chairman of the committee, lambasted Mr Haynes for ignoring the views of Mr Mora and other senior military lawyers.

“How do you ignore that third group of those services and their lawyers who raised those red flags? How do you ignore that? Why aren’t they in your equation?” said Mr Levin.

In describing the evolution of the interrogation debate, Mr Haynes said the issue came to a head over the case of Mohammed al-Khatani, the alleged 20th hijacker who failed to enter the US before the 9/11 attacks, but was later captured in Afghanistan and brought to Guantánamo. He said interrogators were having trouble obtaining information from the detainee, who claimed to be a falconer.

“One of the things that the intelligence community was concerned about was [whether] al-Khatani … had a companion on that plane, because other hijackers had come into the country in pairs.”

Mr Rumsfeld approved a set of harsh interrogation techniques for use at Guantánamo in November 2003 following the debate. He rescinded them just two months later, however, after Mr Mora threatened to make his concerns public.

Mr Haynes would not confirm the claims by Mr Mora about his threat, which sparked criticism from Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican and a reserve colonel who serves as an air force lawyer.

“That’s a pretty quick turnaround, from December 2 to January 12. Something had to happen that was fairly earth-shattering, I would think,” he told Mr Haynes.

After Mr Rumsfeld rescinded the first set of harsh techniques, he asked Mr Haynes to convene a group of administration and military lawyers to come up with an interrogation policy. Mr Mora participated in some of the group’s meetings, but claimed he was never told that the group had recommended 24 harsh techniques in April, which Mr Rumsfeld then approved. Mr Haynes said his understanding was that Mr Mora had seen the final report.

Senators also criticised Mr Haynes over claims by retired Admiral Jane Dalton, the former legal adviser to the chairman of the joint chiefs, that she had been asked to stop a broad-based review of the request from interrogators at Guantánamo to be able to use enhanced interrogation techniques.

At the beginning of the day-long hearing, Mr Levin released documents which showed that senior Pentagon officials had requested information about harsh interrogation techniques as early as mid 2002. According to the documents, the officials wanted to know whether any of the techniques used on US soldiers as part of training in surviving interrogation, such as waterboarding, would be useful.

The documents described one internal discussion where John Fredman, a senior CIA lawyer, described waterboarding as a “very effective” technique to determine phobias.

“The lymphatic system will react as if you’re suffocating but your body will not cease to function,” said Mr Fredman.

In later describing US obligations under anti-torture laws, Mr Fredman said: “It is basically subject to perception. If the detainee dies you’re doing it wrong.”

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UK biggest in global arms trade
Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:02pm BST

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain was the world's biggest arms seller last year, accounting for a third of global arms exports, the government's trade promotion organisation said on Tuesday.

UK Trade and Investment said arms exporters had added $19 billion (9.7 billion pounds) in new business last year, giving them a larger share of global arms exports than the United States.

"As demonstrated by this outstanding export performance, the UK has a first class defence industry, with some of the world's most technologically sophisticated companies," the government's minister for trade and investment, Digby Jones, said.

UKTI said the figures were boosted by orders for Eurofighter Typhoon jets from Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest arms buyer, which imported $31 billion in weapons over the last five years.

The United States still tops the world for the last five years with $63 billion in total arms exports. Britain was second with $53 billion and Russia third with $33 billion, it said.

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Shell drivers urged to back pay deal

By George Parker

Published: June 18 2008 03:00 | Last updated: June 18 2008 03:00

Shell tanker drivers' leaders last night agreed a two-year pay deal with employers, lifting the threat of a further strike next weekend and another round of fuel shortages at the pumps.

Although details of the proposed settlement will not be presented formally to drivers until today, it is expected to include a big upfront payment, which could embarrass ministers who this week called for pay discipline to help hold down inflation.

However, government officials say the first payment reflects "historical grievances" between drivers and the haulage companies, and the pay rise in the second year is expected to be nearer the private sector norm of just below 4 per cent.

John Hutton, business secretary, said: "This settlement reflects particular conditions within this sector. However, the government remains clear, as the Treasury chief secretary said this week, there needs to be discipline in public and private sector pay if we are to keep inflation under control."

Yesterday hundreds of garages were still out of one or more types of fuel after a four-day strike by more than 600 Shell tanker drivers, which saw drivers from other companies refusing to cross picket lines at distribution depots.

Mr Hutton added: "Restocking at the pumps is now under way and we can expect things to return to normal over the next few days."

The pay deal was agreed yesterday between officials of Unite, the union representing the drivers, and Hoyer and Suckling, the haulage companies contracted by Shell to deliver fuel to its filling stations.

A brief statement said: "Hoyer, Suckling and Unite are pleased to confirm that they have successfully concluded pay talks."

Following the meeting at the union's London headquarters, Unite will present the new deal, details of which were being kept secret, to drivers.

The drivers will be balloted over the coming week with a recommendation to accept the deal. All industrial action has been called off.

The drivers walked out last Friday at 6am, returning at 6am yesterday. They picketed fuel depots and refineries, and warned of a further four-day strike from Friday.

The union had rejected a pay offer of 7.3 per cent this year and 6 per cent next, and accused Shell of refusing to intervene in the row.

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Rio Tinto Launches Study Into US$1 Billion Bauxite Mine
Dow Jones
June 17, 2008: 03:17 AM EST

MELBOURNE -(Dow Jones)- Rio Tinto Ltd. (RTP) said it is set to begin a study into a new US$1 billion bauxite mine south of its existing operations at Weipa in the Australian state of Queensland.

The deposit is adjacent to the Aurukun bauxite deposit being developed by Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. (2600.HK), also known as Chalco, and a person familiar with the situation said Rio Tinto has entered into preliminary discussions with the Chinese group over possible cooperation in the region.

Rio Tinto has now approved a US$30 million feasibility study into the development of the new mine and a new port that would service it.

The development would take Rio Tinto's bauxite production in the region to 35 million metric tons from the 18.2 million tons it produced in 2007, with first production expected in 2013, if the project is approved.

"The aluminum market remains strong, and this extension supports Rio Tinto's strategy of developing large, long life, value adding assets," Rio Tinto Alcan's Chief Executive of Bauxite and Alumina Steve Hodgson said.

Rio Tinto said the increased production would support the US$1.8 billion expansion of its Yarwun alumina refinery and give it increased capacity to sell bauxite into the export market.

The miner expects the feasibility study and the environmental impact statement for the project to take one to two years, with construction to take three years.

The development would include a new port and associated facilities, a transport system, power station, beneficiation plant and operation support infrastructure.

Chalco, the listed unit of Aluminum Corp. of China that is also known as Chinalco, plans to spend US$2.9 billion on the development of its Aurukun project, which lies to the south of Rio Tinto's planned development.

Earlier this year Chinalco, together with Alcoa Inc. (AA), surprised the market when it bought a 12% stake in Rio Tinto's London-listed stock, giving it a 9% stake in the dual listed company.

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BHP Billiton expands in Indonesia

By Lisa Murray in Jakarta

Published: June 17 2008 14:21 | Last updated: June 17 2008 14:21

BHP Billiton is expanding its activities in Indonesia, signing a joint venture agreement on Tuesday to develop two nickel mines in partnership with state-owned company Antam, an investment that could top $4.5bn.

Development of nickel laterite mines on Gag Island, off West Papua, and North Maluku would be a significant boon for Indonesia’s mining sector which, despite its vast resources, has languished amid uncertainty about the introduction of new laws.

Muhammad Lutfi, chairman of the investment coordinating board, said the two companies planned to build a smelter and could spend more than $4.5bn on the project.

BHP said it was too early to predict the size of the investment but in a presentation to investors last Thursday, Marius Kloppers, chief executive, referred to a $2bn-plus investment in an “eastern Indonesian facility”.

“We are entering into conditional agreements with PT Antam to form a 50:50 alliance to integrate and evaluate two nickel laterite resources in Eastern Indonesia,” BHP told the Financial Times on Tuesday.

“The agreements are conditional, one such condition being approval by the board of BHP Billiton.”

The board is expected to make its decision by this time next month. But BHP has already advertised for a project manager, with applications closing on Monday.

Tuesday’s agreement breathes new life into BHP’s controversial Gag Island project, which was suspended in 1999 following an environmental campaign to protect its forests and surrounding coral reef.

The government reclassified the area as ‘protected forest’. But in 2004, it changed the regulations to reinstate the rights of BHP and Antam to mine there.

The other area for development, Halmahera in the Maluku Islands, hosts several mining projects but it also poses its own challenges. In 1999 and 2000, thousands of people were killed on the island during clashes between religious militia groups.

The environmental and conflict risks for BHP may now be outweighed by the potential rewards as nickel prices have more than doubled in the past five years.

BHP is also getting back into coal in Indonesia after selling out of the industry in 2001. Motivated by a tripling in coking coal prices, BHP is building a mine in East Kalimantan, Borneo and production is expected to start by the end of this year.

Rio Tinto, the subject of a takeover bid by BHP, is also looking to develop a large nickel deposit in central Sulawesi. It has been in negotiations with the Indonesian government over the project for more than two years.

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Brazil's Petrobras to start biofuel sales in Japan: report
AFP
AFP - 48 minutes ago

TOKYO (AFP) - Brazil's state-controlled energy company Petrobras will begin sales of biofuel for motor vehicles in Japan as early as this year, a report said on Wednesday.
(Advertisement)

Petrobras, one of the world's largest biofuel producers, will supply gasoline blended with ethanol to independent gas stations, which number 10,000 in Japan, the Nikkei business daily said without citing sources.

The wholesale price is expected to be one to two yen (cents) per litre (0.26 gallons) lower than ordinary gasoline, it said.

Petrobras plans to mix gasoline and ethanol at a refinery plant in Japan's southernmost province of Okinawa operated by energy firm Nansei Sekiyu KK, which the Brazilian giant acquired in April, the newspaper reported.

There was no official confirmation of the report.

"Petrobras, as the parent company of Nansei Sekiyu, has been hoping to bring biofuel to Japan and other Asian countries and to market it," said Nansei Sekiyu spokesman Takeshi Katsuyama.

But studies are in an early stage and no details have been decided, he said.

Petrobras expects strong demand for biofuel in Japan amid concern over carbon dioxide emissions blamed for causing global warming, he added.

Brazil is the world's leading ethanol producer, with the bulk of its production going to the internal market as fuel or additive for gasoline.

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ブラジル国営ペトロブラス、バイオ燃料を日本販売

　ブラジルの国営石油会社ペトロブラスは年内にも日本でバイオ燃料を販売する。ブラジルから輸入した低価格のバイオエタノールを混合した燃料を独立系ガソリンスタンドに供給する。二酸化炭素（ＣＯ2）を排出しないとみなされるバイオエタノールの環境性能を前面に出す。1リットルあたりの卸価格は通常のガソリンより1―2円安くなる見通しで、店頭価格の下げにつながる可能性もあり、バイオ燃料の普及に弾みがつきそうだ。

　ペトロブラスは世界最大級のバイオ燃料生産会社。ブラジル国内のほか米国、中国、台湾に輸出しており、日本進出の機会をうかがっていた。

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Rio Tinto approves $667 mln iron ore investment
Reuters
Reuters - 54 minutes ago

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto has approved a $667 million (341.4 million pounds) investment in its Pilbara mining region in Australia, under a previously announced plan to boost iron ore output there to 320 million tonnes a year by 2012.
(Advertisement)

The company is defending a hostile $175 billion takeover bid from BHP Billiton , which believes the two groups could speed up iron ore production growth by putting their operations together.

Rio said on Wednesday its share of the investment in the overall project was $492 million. Its partners, Japanese trading company Mitsui and Nippon Steel , are funding the remainder.

"The cost, given an expansion of this size, is not out of line, given the massive undertaking it will require to bring about such an increase in production and comes as no surprise," DJ Carmichael & Co mining analyst James Wilson said.

"The infrastructure work required will be huge," he said.

Rio said most of the $667 million approved would be used to fund early infrastructure work, including work at its Cape Lambert port, and buying heavy equipment and construction camp materials amid competition from all miners racing to meet heavy demand for industrial commodities, especially from China.

"This ensures we will continue to lead the industry in completing projects in a timely, efficient manner," said Rio Tinto's iron ore chief executive, Sam Walsh.

Rio said $149 million would be used to study a new iron ore mine near its Tom Price operations in Western Australia, aiming to start production in late 2010.

Rio has spent or committed more than $8.5 billion since 2003 on expanding its Pilbara iron ore operations.

($1=A$1.06)

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Japan to announce joint gas exploration with China: reports
AFP
AFP - Wednesday, June 18 03:33 am

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan is to announce on Wednesday an accord with China to jointly develop gas fields in the East China Sea, resolving a spat that was a thorn in relations of the two major energy importers, reports said.
(Advertisement)

Japan will announce the deal on the long-running spat at an evening press conference by Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari, Jiji Press news agency and other media said.

No immediate confirmation was available from the government.

Japanese media said Japan would make an investment in China's already existing production at the Chunxiao gas field and win the right to resources in proportion with its financial contribution.

The exact level of Japanese investment is to be worked out later, they said.

Chunxiao, called Shirakaba by Japan, is located just west of the Japanese-proposed median line and Japan has earlier voiced worries that China's drilling may siphon gas from its own side.

China has said the gas field falls easily within its sovereign zone.

The Sankei daily also reported the two countries would make a 50-50 joint development of the Longjing field, called Asunaro by Japanese, which is the northernmost of four gas fields near the the median line.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday the long-running row on gas fields would be resolved soon.

"There is a strong likelihood that this dispute will be resolved," Fukuda told news agencies from the Group of Eight rich nations ahead of their summit in Japan in July.

"The idea is to jointly excavate and drill and produce," he added.

Japan and China have been working to repair relations which have long been tense due in part to the legacy of Japanese imperialism.

China started drilling in the area in 2003, stirring tensions with Japan.

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年金機構、民間登用2.5倍の1000人

　社会保険庁を「日本年金機構」に移行する組織改革の最終案が17日、明らかになった。2010年１月に発足する後継組織である年金機構の民間人材の採用を従来計画に比べ約2.5倍の1000人に増やすほか、懲戒処分を受けたことのある職員は３年の有期雇用に切り替える。質の悪い職員が新組織に移れないようにすることで、年金業務の信頼回復を狙う。

　改革案は社保庁がまとめたもので、19日に開く政府の年金業務・組織再生会議（座長・本田勝彦日本たばこ産業相談役）に提出する見通し。再生会議はこれを受け、新機構の人員規模や採用方針を決める。

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吉野家、傘下の米社が破産申請

　吉野家ホールディングスは18日、米国の統括会社ヨシノヤアメリカ傘下で、1店舗を運営するヨシノヤニューヨークが米連邦破産法11条（日本の民事再生法に相当）の適用を申請すると発表した。2006年11月に閉店した店舗の賃貸借契約解除の交渉が長期化しており、早期解決を目指して申請を決めた。営業は継続する。

　吉野家の米国内の店舗は5月末で84店。同社は「大半を別の孫会社が運営し、米国内の事業への影響はほとんどない」と説明している。

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シャープと関電、世界最大級の太陽光発電所

　シャープと関西電力は堺市の臨海部に世界最大級の太陽光発電所を建設する。シャープが太陽電池工場を建設している「液晶コンビナート」と隣接する2カ所に発電所をつくり、関西電力は国内電力会社として初めて本格的に太陽光発電事業に参入する。

　2009年度に着工する発電所の能力は10メガ（メガは100万）ワット。2010年にはシャープが液晶パネルや太陽電池の工場を建設しているコンビナート内の建物の屋根などに太陽電池を敷き詰めて発電する計画もある。

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三井物産、バイオＶＢを独社に売却

　【ニューヨーク＝小高航】三井物産と米投資会社は、出資している米バイオ企業を総額5億1500万ドル（約550億円）で独製薬大手のベーリンガー・インゲルハイムに売却する。ぜんそく治療の新薬開発技術が認められた。三井物産は優れた技術を持ちながら埋もれている国内バイオ企業が多いとみて、同様の投資活動を積極化する。

　売却するのは米ベンチャー投資会社、三井物産ベンチャーパートナーズ（ＭＣＶＰ）が出資する米アクティミス・ファーマシューティカルズ。アクティミスは主にぜんそくやアレルギー性鼻炎の治療薬の開発技術を持つ。

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カナダ：炭素回収貯留技術の先進国　ルン・天然資源相に聞く
　◇連邦・州が支援５００億円

　地球温暖化防止の有望な切り札として、火力発電などで排出される二酸化炭素を地中や海底に蓄える「炭素回収貯留（ＣＣＳ）技術」が脚光を浴び始めている。北海道洞爺湖サミットに向けた主要８カ国（Ｇ８）エネルギー相会合でも、ＣＣＳ普及に向け実証プロジェクト推進が合意された。ＣＣＳ先進国、カナダのギャリー・ルン天然資源相（５１）＝写真・平田明浩撮影＝に、自国での取り組みを聞いた。【聞き手・福本容子】

　－－原油価格が急騰しています。カナダの対応は？

　◆カナダは産油国として石油の増産が求められている。今後１０年間でオイルサンド（原油を含んだ砂岩）からの石油生産を、現在の日量１１０万バレル強から３００万バレルに増やそうとしているが、生産時に発生する二酸化炭素の削減が課題だ。ＣＣＳは有効な手段で、カナダの温室効果ガス排出量を、４０％削減する潜在力がある。

　－－ＣＣＳでの具体的な取り組みは？

　◆すでに石炭火力発電所と一体化した世界初の本格施設が建設に向け動き出している。経済性がまだないので、連邦・州政府それぞれが２億４０００万カナダドル（約２５０億円）の支援を表明した。さらに、１２年以降に稼働するすべての新規オイルサンド計画と石炭火力発電には、１８年までにＣＣＳ技術の導入を義務付けた。温室効果ガスを２０年までに（０６年比で）２０％、５０年までに６０～７０％削減する目標を達成する上で、ＣＣＳは重要な役割を果たす。

　－－Ｇ８エネルギー相会合では、Ｇ８で２０の大規模実証事業をスタートさせることが合意されました。

　◆カナダはそのうち最低でも三つ、できればそれ以上やりたい。

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消費税上げ「決断の時期」　首相、通信社首脳と会見 '08/6/18

　▽衆院解散、来年先送り意向

　福田康夫首相は十七日午後、七月の主要国（Ｇ８）首脳会議（北海道洞爺湖サミット）を前に、都内のホテルで共同通信社など主要国通信社首脳のインタビューに応じ、社会保障費財源としての消費税率引き上げに関し「決断しなければならない大事な時期だ」と、早期引き上げは不可避との見解を示した。衆院の解散・総選挙については来年に先送りしたい意向を鮮明にした。北朝鮮が約束した日本人拉致問題の再調査は早期実施が必要と指摘し、進展次第では経済制裁をさらに緩和する考えも表明した。

　首相は消費税問題で「５％だから財政赤字を背負っているとも言える。高齢化社会を考えると道は狭くなっている」と強調。ただ年末の二〇〇九年度税制改正での引き上げ決定に踏み切るかは「世論がどう反応するか、いま一生懸命考えている」と述べ、世論動向を見極め判断するとした。

　拉致再調査やよど号乗っ取り犯関係者引き渡しに関しては「時間がかかるのでは、約束したことにならない」と北朝鮮を強くけん制。同時に「北朝鮮の対応によっては制裁を解除することがあり得る」と述べた。

　サミットでは温室効果ガス削減へ全主要排出国が参加する国際的枠組み構築に向けて「政治的な成果を得たい」と意欲を示したが、排出量取引は「投機的になる懸念があり国際的に議論しなければならず、軽々にスタートしてはいけない」と述べ、慎重なルール作りの重要性を指摘した。原油・穀物高への対応も議題にするとした。

　衆院解散の時期については、社会保障制度改革や、道路特定財源の一般財源化を含めた税制抜本改革、消費者庁創設などの課題を挙げ「正直言って解散なんかしている暇はない」と述べた。

　自衛隊の海外派遣を随時可能にする「恒久法」制定は当面困難との認識を示し、インド洋での海上自衛隊の給油活動の延長を含めて個別法で対応していく方針を示した。イランの核開発問題は対話での解決を目指す必要性を訴えた。

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首相、増税の是非「決断の時期」　消費税

　福田康夫首相は17日、主要8カ国（Ｇ８）の通信社との会見で、消費税率の引き上げの是非について「決断しなければいけないとても大事な時期だ」と語った。「かなりの高齢化社会になりつつあることを考えると道は狭くなっている」と指摘、社会保障費の財源確保を消費増税の理由に挙げた。2009年度の税制抜本改革で検討する意向を示唆したとみられ、政府・与党内の議論にも影響を与えそうだ。

　首相は同日、7月の主要国首脳会議（洞爺湖サミット）に参加する国の通信社代表らと都内のホテルで会見した。

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消費税：福田首相の増税発言　世論説得、いばらの道　与党内対立も先鋭化

　福田康夫首相が１７日の主要８カ国通信社とのインタビューで、消費税率引き上げについて「決断の時期」と発言した背景には、０９年度の基礎年金国庫負担引き上げが迫る中、決断をこれ以上先送りできないとの認識があるとみられる。だが、道路特定財源の無駄遣いなどが問題化する中、国民の反発を抑えつつ税率を上げるのは容易ではない。決断までには曲折も予想される。

　首相は、民主党を巻き込む形での増税議論を目指したが、その舞台だったはずの社会保障国民会議は、同党の不参加で存在意義が低下。足元の自民党内も、消費税増税を巡って中川秀直元幹事長と与謝野馨前官房長官らに代表される対立が先鋭化している。その影響を受け、政府の経済財政諮問会議がこの日まとめた「骨太の方針０８」の素案でも、増税時期は触れられていない。

　こんな中、首相は税率上げの前提として、税金の無駄遣いや政策の重複の見直しにも熱意を示している。１７日の経済財政諮問会議でも、社会保障財源について「まずは『無駄ゼロ』と『政策の棚卸し』で財源を捻出（ねんしゅつ）する」と強調した。

　しかし「無駄遣い見直し」を狙った道路特定財源さえ、一般財源化後の姿は不透明。今後の議論次第では、税率上げへの国民の反発を招きかねない。

　首相発言が与党内対立をあおる可能性もある。「税率上げ派」の自民党の尾辻秀久参院議員会長は「年金の国庫負担引き上げだけでは社会保障は立ちゆかない。発言は歓迎すべきだ」と強調。一方、「上げ潮派」の町村派幹部は「首相は将来の方向性を言っただけ」と冷ややかだ。公明党幹部は「次期衆院選が近づく中、引き上げの具体化は問題だ」と警戒心をあらわにした。

　首相が対応を誤れば、与党内対立をさらに先鋭化させる上、次期衆院選に不安を抱く議員心理を刺激し、政権基盤は揺らぎかねない。

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福田、消費税アップで墓穴…公明幹部も政権離脱匂わす
“政権やじろべえ”ダッチロール必至

　支持率が低迷中の福田康夫首相が突然、「（消費税アップは）決断の時期」と述べたことに与党内で動揺が広がっている。次期衆院選を控えるだけに、「首相は財務省の言いなりになっているだけ。野党に転落するつもりか」（自民党ベテラン議員）などとの不満が噴出しているのだ。首相の出身派閥・町村派を仕切る中川秀直元幹事長ら増税反対派の反発も必至で、福田首相の政権基盤は大きく揺らぎそうだ。

　福田首相は１７日、都内で主要８カ国（Ｇ８）通信社のインタビューに応じ、消費税について「日本は世界有数の高齢化社会だ。その国が５％でやっている。だからこれだけ財政赤字を背負っている。その辺のところを決断しないといけない。大事な時期だ」と述べ、税率引き上げは不可避との認識を突然、表明した。ある政府関係者は「想定になかった発言だった」と驚きを隠せない様子だった。

　基礎年金の国庫負担割合を２００９年度から２分の１に拡大するため、今秋の税制抜本改革では消費税を含む幅広い検討が必要となる。このため、永田町では「首相の発言は消費税増税を本格的に議論する意向を示したもの」（政府筋）と受け止められた。

　ただ、消費税をめぐっては、与謝野馨前官房長官ら「財政再建派」が税率引き上げを主張する一方、中川秀直元幹事長ら経済成長力重視の「上げ潮派」は歳出削減やたばこ税増税を掲げて消費税率アップに徹底抗戦の構えを見せており、これまでも両者は激しい火花を散らしている。

　中川氏に近い議員は「首相にクギを刺す必要がある。選挙で理解を得るのは難しい」と漏らしており、両者の党内対立が先鋭化するのは必至。あるベテラン議員は「福田政権は微妙なバランスで成り立っている政権。対立が激化すれば、一気に福田降ろしへとつながる可能性も出てくる」とみる。

　さらに、与党の一角を占める公明党からも戸惑いの声が上がった。

　斉藤鉄夫政調会長は「ここ１、２年で上げられる環境にはない。（首相の発言も）今すぐということではない」と述べ、首相の言葉を勝手に“軌道修正”。別の公明党幹部に至っては「われわれが与党にいる限り、来年度の消費税アップは絶対にない」と息巻くなど、政権離脱すら匂わせて福田首相を牽制した。

　すべてが他人事で、場当たりの対応に終始する福田首相。自らのＫＹ（空気が読めない）発言で、とんだ墓穴を掘ることになるのか。

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消費税上げは今後の課題、官房長官表明

　町村信孝官房長官は18日午前の記者会見で、消費税率引き上げについて「年末に向けた税制改革論議は極めて重要だが、消費税がどういう扱われ方をするかは今後の課題だ」と述べ、現時点では未定との認識を強調した。

　福田康夫首相は17日、「（消費税増税を）決断しなければいけない大事な時期だ」と発言したが、町村長官は「この秋から冬にかけて消費税率引き上げを決めないといけないという趣旨で言ったわけではない」と説明した。

　医師不足や緊急医療対策に充てる財源確保策に関しては「全体の予算編成の中で決まる話。（社会保障費の抑制目標と）別枠という議論があったわけではない」と語った。

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Russia-Kazakhstan business forum opens in Astana Tue

17.06.2008, 06.58

ALMATY, June 17 (Itar-Tass) - A Russo-Kazakhstani business forum opens in Astana on Tuesday. It has been organised by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of the two countries, Yerzhan Ashikbayev, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, has told Itar-Tass.

Ashikbayev said the forum would be attended by the chiefs of the CCIs of CIS countries, as well as by Sergei Levedev, Chairman of the Executive Committee -- Executive Secretary of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States).

Kazakhstan CCI President Yerlan Kozhasbai has told Itar-Tass, "We are planning to discus CCI's participation in the implementation of innovations-based projects, prospects for Russo-Kazakhstani investment cooperation, the peculiarities of bank servicing of Russo-Kazakhstani economic contacts".

The Russian CCI committee on the economic integration of the member-countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the CIS, and the Russo-Kazakhstani Business Council are to hold their sessions within the framework of the business forum. The 6th session of the Council of the CCI chiefs of CIS countries will be held on Wednesday.

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Turkmenistan and Russian Gazprom discuss gas commercial price for 2009

18.06.2008, 02.33

ASHGABAT, June 18 (Itar-Tass) -- Terms for the delivery of Turkmenistani natural gas to Russia in 2009 were in the focus of Tuesday’s talks between representatives of the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom and Turkmenistani gas company Turkmengaz, the press service of the Turkmenistani government said.

Gazprom Deputy CEO Valery Golubev headed the Russian delegation.

“Apart from the detailed terms for gas supplies, the interlocutors discussed capabilities for the joint work in the spheres of the geological surveying and development of new oil and gas deposits in Turkmenistan and construction of the Caspian Sea Littoral Gas Pipeline,” the press service said.

In 2008, Turkmenistan and Russia as the parties of the 25-year-long intergovernmental gas agreement decided to review gas prices every six months, the press service said.

Under the document, the gas price was raised by 30 percent to 130 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic metres starting from January 1.

Starting from July 1, 2008 the prices will be increased to 150 U.S. dollars.

In March 2008, Ashgabat notified its major gas exporter that starting from 2009 Turkmenistan was going to set prices on the exported natural gas in compliance with market principles, that is, with taking into account the permanently changing economic situation on the global market of energy resources.

Russia annually purchases up to 50 billion cubic metres of gas in Turkmenistan.

Iran is the second largest exporter of Turkmenistani natural gas. Iran buys up to eight billion cubic meters of gas annually. Ashgabat and Tehran are also discussing the gas price issue.

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Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan discuss pipeline project

17.06.2008, 23.58

ASHGABAT, June 17 (Itar-Tass) - Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan are arranging principles of the implementation of a Caspian gas pipeline project. With that aim in view, the leaders of the Turkmen Turkmengas state concern, the Russian Gazprom gas giant and the Kazakh KazMunaiGaz company met here on Tuesday for the first session of the three-party coordinating committee for promoting the gas pipeline project and updating the existing interstate gas transportation networks, the press service of the Turkmen government reported.

The initiative to build a gas transportation network along the Caspian coast came from Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in the spring of last year, when a Turkmen-Russian-Kazakh summit meeting took place in the city of Turkmenbashi.

The leaders of three former Soviet republics signed a joint declaration on the construction of a Caspian gas pipeline, as well as a joint declaration on the development of gas transportation networks in Central Asia. Uzbekistan also joined the second declaration.

In December 2007, an intergovernmental agreement was signed in Moscow, supported by the feasibility study of the project. The reconstruction of the existing pipeline and the construction of a new one will make it possible to bring the capacity of the gas transportation system to 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year.

Like the existing pipeline, the new one will run along the Caspian coast. The Turkmen section (Belek-Garagobogaz-border with Kazakhstan) will be about 290 kilometres long, the press service of the Turkmen government said.

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Gazprom opens its first official mission in Africa

16.06.2008, 23.57

MOSCOW, June 16 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia’s gas monopoly Gazprom opened its official mission in Algeria, the first one in Africa.

The opening ceremony was held in Algiers on Monday.

The main goal of the new mission is to establish and maintain uninterrupted working contacts with the Algerian state-owned oil and gas company Sonatrach in all spheres of possible cooperation, Gazprom’s press service said.

While addressing the participants in the ceremony, Gazprom’s Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev said, “This event evidences our adherence to the development of long-term, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation in a wide range of fields and projects with Sonatrach as one of the world’s leaders on the market of hydrocarbons and the biggest energy company of Africa.”

“In addition to this, this fact corresponds to the purposes of Gazprom’ s foreign economic strategy, thus facilitating its development as a global energy company,” Medvedev said.

“The geography of our future cooperation is vast enough: North Africa and Africa located south off Sahara,” he stressed.

“Besides, we are ready to consider possible ways for joint cooperation in the three segments of the world gas market, including those in America, Europe and Asia,” Medvedev said.

In his opinion, “it will be a correct decision not to limit future cooperation only to the production, processing and sales of hydrocarbons.”

“Currently, when a special role is attached to energy-efficiency, environmental protection and the use of new kinds of energy resources in the world economy, the two companies have rich capabilities for joint efforts,” Gazprom’s deputy CEO said.

During the talks between Alexander Medvedev and Sonatrach Vice-President Chawki Mohamed Rahal, the two companies decided to implement specific projects, including joint participation of the companies in oil and gas projects in Algeria, Russia and third countries, possible asset swap deals, as well as an increase of export commercial efficiency owing to the use of “exchange” liquefied natural gas (LNG) for pipeline gas and LNG for LNG operations.

In addition to this, the parties discussed possibilities for cooperation in the joint purchase of energy facilities in the territories of third countries, as well as designing and construction of pipeline infrastructure.

Sonatrach is the largest Algerian company and the 11th largest oil consortium in the world. Sonatrach was founded in December, 1963.

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Bush in Europe tries to save the West from collapse
11.06.2008 Source: Pravda.Ru URL: http://english.pravda.ru/world/europe/105485-bush_europe-0

US President George bush tries to save the West from the imminent crisis that may result from the growth of prices on energy sources. With this goal in mind, Bush arrived in the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, to discuss the problems on an international level.

George Bush, who can already be referred to as the outgoing US president, arrived with a farewell visit to Europe for the annual US-EU summit in Slovenia, Ljubljana. Afterwards, Bush will tour several other European countries. It is hard to believe that Mr. Bush will no longer make the whole world laugh with his primitive comments and mix Austria with Australia for everyone’s pleasure.

However, Bush’s forthcoming resignation is not the most important aspect, in spite of the fact that this politician unleashed two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It goes without saying that the incumbent US president is just a lame duck. His influence and image in the States continues to decline. The world is waiting for Bush’s political will for the future. No matter whether it is Russophobe John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama to take office after November 2008 elections, the political directions of the White House are not likely to change much because of it.

Democrats decided to add more fuel to the fire of Bush’s resignation and ventured to impeach the president. It is an open secret that George Bush’s IQ is not higher than that of a gorilla. However, Democrats liken themselves to Bush with an intention to knock Bush down shortly before he retires himself.

The USA has quite a list of international problems to solve. The key issues include Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, the energy security and relations with Russia.

As for the Afghan problem, NATO members differ in their approaches to the issue. Canada, for example, has already voiced an intention to withdraw its contingent from Afghanistan in the event France and Germany do not provide their assistance. If Canada decides to withdraw from Afghanistan, other countries will follow its example. The US troops may find themselves alone in the war-torn country.

Bush needs to preserve the NATO coalition in Afghanistan, although it is obviously a hard goal to achieve. The USA administration will have to convince Germany and France to offer more of their servicemen in sacrifice in the name of the annoying war against terrorism. Even if French President Nicolas Sarkozy agreed to send 700 military men to Afghan hell, they will not be able to change the unfortunate situation of the Western troops in their struggle against Afghan guerrillas.

Iran has become yet another source of headache for the USA recently. The country does not intend to close its nuclear program, openly spits in the face of the West and threatens to wipe Israel off the map. Even if Teheran acts defiantly, there is no common approach to this nation in the international community. It seems that there is only England and France that are ready to support the USA in its endeavors.

As for relations with Russia, the USA and the European Union are concerned with Russia’s habit of using energy resources as means of political and economic pressure against its neighboring states. This problem continues to become more and more serious as prices on energy resources continue to climb higher and as Europe becomes more dependent on the Russia oil and especially natural gas.

Russia also has many reasons to reproach the West. They include the expansion of NATO, the deployment of the US missile defense system in Europe, the recognition of Kosovo’s independence. All these claims split the Western unity. Many NATO members having their own national problems do not hurry to recognize Kosovo. NATO’s key players in Europe – Germany and France – stand up against USA’s aspiration to include Georgia and Ukraine in the alliance.

Thus, the US president has a very hard nut to crack before he steps down. He needs to unite European countries in their attitude towards Russia. Bush will have personal meetings with the leaders of Europe’s major countries – Britain, Germany, Italy and France.

It is worthy of note that it was the EU summit in Ljubljana, which laid the foundation to the improvement of US-Russian relations in 2001.

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Why do foreign tourists hate Russians on holidays?
16.06.2008 Source: Pravda.Ru URL: http://english.pravda.ru/russia/history/105517-russian_tourists-0

A recent research published in the Netherlands revealed that many foreign tourists, particularly the Dutch, prefer to stay away from Russian holiday-makers in Turkey and Egypt.

The research was conducted by Esme Visser, a specialist of Eastern Europe. She personally questioned hundreds of tourists and used several hundreds of comments which she gathered at hotels and online forums. She was interested in most popular destinations with Russian tourists – Turkey, Egypt and Arab Emirates. For example, over 1.5 million Russian vacationers visited Turkey in 2006 alone.

The researcher said that she was shocked to hear so much criticism of Russians from Dutch tourists. About 40 percent of opinions included in the research touched upon Russian tourists, most of them contained complaints. There were positive comments, but they were in minority. To crown it all, there were hardly any complaints about tourists of other nationalities.

The phenomenon even led to the development of a new trend in tourism, known as “tours without Russians.”

“It does look like national discrimination. However, there is a certain demand on such tours in Europe . Such an offer can be formulated differently. A tourist agency may say that they have purchased all the rooms in a hotel especially for tourists from the Netherlands.

Many Russian and Dutch tourists prefer ‘all inclusive’ tours because they try to avoid surprises. They book such tours because they only seek comfortable, not adventurous holidays.

“I interviewed hotel managers and personnel and asked them to compare two groups of tourists – Russian and Dutch. The respondents complained of the Russians mostly. They said that Russian tourists were often aggressive and noisy and preferred to stay in their hotels all day and all night long. The Dutch, however, prefer to communicate with local population and visit local shops and cafes,” the researcher said.

Many Russians coming to Turkey or Egypt do not know English or speak it poorly. Many of them are simply unable to communicate with either other vacationers or hotel personnel. In addition, the Russian style of body language differs greatly from that of the West.

For example, Russians hardly ever smile. They smile when they hear or see something funny or when they communicate with their friends. However, they consider it weird to smile to strangers in the street. However, a smile is considered a token of friendliness with many foreigners.

The research also showed that Russian women irritate foreign holiday-makers too. “As a rule, Russian women are good-looking and feminine individuals. They go out wearing expensive outfits and exquisite makeup even in hotels. They do not hesitate to wear a skimpy bikini and walk around a pool exposing their slim bodies. Dutch wives find it especially irritating because their husbands give dirty looks to such women,” the researcher said.

On the other hand, the researcher believes that such irritation is easy to explain. A hotel often becomes a place of congregation of different cultures. People may find many things irritating and annoying about themselves. A couple of Dutch tourists will obviously be uncomfortable in a hotel packed with Russian vacationers.

Every country has its customs. If you think of Russian tourists as boozing noise-makers, just look around and you will probably see some Britons, Germans or Swedes barfing on the beach.

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築地市場の豊洲移転、与党公明も慎重論「計画再検討を」

　築地市場（中央区）の移転予定先である豊洲地区（江東区）から高濃度の土壌汚染が見つかった問題で、都議会与党の公明党は17日の本会議で「すべての先入観を排した再検討が不可欠」との見解を示した。豊洲移転について共産党など野党は土壌汚染を理由に反対している。与党の一部からも慎重論が出たことで計画の是非を巡る論議が一段と高まりそうだ。

　都議会公明は代表質問の中で「（汚染問題が発覚し）都民の多くが不安を抱いている。移転ありきの議論はやめるべきだ」と豊洲への移転計画の再検討を求めた。これに対し石原慎太郎知事は「高濃度の汚染の範囲は限られる。豊洲移転は長い年月をかけて決定した」と理解を求めた。

　移転予定地では環境基準の4万3000倍に達する高濃度のベンゼンなど汚染が見つかっている。都の「豊洲新市場予定地における土壌汚染対策等に関する専門家会議」（座長・平田健正和歌山大教授）は先月、地下2メートルまで土壌を入れ替えて2.5メートルの土を盛り、地下水も環境基準以下に浄化するなどの汚染対策を発表した。

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架空、入居中物件…ウェブに「おとり広告」　公取委が「エイブル」に排除命令
2008.6.18 15:52

　存在しない物件や入居中の賃貸住宅を自社のウェブサイトに掲載し、「おとり広告」にしていたなどとして、公正取引委員会は１８日、景品表示法違反（おとり広告、優良誤認）で賃貸仲介大手「エイブル」（東京）に排除命令を出した。

　公取委によると、エイブルは昨年３月から一時、自社の物件検索サイトなどに実際は３階に３０７号室までしかない福岡市内の賃貸マンションの「３０８号室」を掲載した。

　また、平成１８年１１月から昨年８月まで、入居者がいるにもかかわらず、都内や埼玉県内のマンション１４室の広告を出していた。中には４年以上前に賃貸契約済みの物件もあった。

　さらに、最寄り駅から徒歩２６分かかる埼玉県内の物件を「徒歩１６分」と紹介したり、東京都内の昭和５４年建築の物件を平成８年に建築された物件と不当表示したりしていた。

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急増するカーナビ盗　府警宿舎も被害に、全国の３割発生の大阪
2008.6.18 13:29

　大阪府警の警察官らが住む府金岡東職員住宅（堺市北区）で今年４月、駐車場の乗用車５台が荒らされ、車内からカーナビ５台が盗まれていたことが１８日、わかった。いずれも警察官のマイカーでトヨタ車の純正品が狙われていた。昨年の府内のカーナビ盗は統計を取り始めた１６年から８割増の約１万件で、全国の約３割が大阪での発生。今年は昨年を上回るペースで、一見、盗み出しにくい一体型の純正カーナビの被害が増えているのも特徴といい、北堺署は窃盗容疑で捜査している。

　北堺署によると、同住宅で盗難があったのは４月１２日午後３時～１８日午後５時ごろ。住人の警察官５人が、駐車場に止めていたワンボックスカーなど５台からカーナビ５台（計約１２５万円相当）を盗まれたという。

　いずれも新車購入時などにメーカーやディーラーのオプションで取り付けるトヨタの純正品で、１台当たり約２０万～３０万円の高級品だった。捜査資料などの被害はなかった。

　車は窓ガラスが割られており、同署は犯人が窓から手を入れてカギを開け、カーナビを外したとみている。現場に防犯カメラはなかった。

　住人の警察官らの目撃情報に基づき、北堺署管内を警ら中のパトカーが不審車両を発見、追跡したが逃走した。不審車両のナンバープレートは偽造品とみられるという。

　府内のカーナビ盗は、１９年に約１万件となり、１６年の約５４００件から急増している。堺市北区は府内でもカーナビ盗の多発地域で昨年１年間で約５７０件。今年も５月末までに約３３０件発生している。府警は、昨年１年間の被害状況に応じて市区町村を色分けした防犯マップをホームページで公開している。

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New EU plan for illegal migrants
African migrants off Tenerife, Spain (file pic)

The European Parliament is preparing to vote on a set of common EU rules that would allow the detention of illegal immigrants for up to 18 months.

The "return directive" was agreed by EU interior ministers on 5 June and it is backed by conservative and liberal MEPs. The vote is set for Wednesday.

Socialists, Greens and several human rights groups oppose the legislation.

The length of time an immigrant can be held before expulsion varies greatly across the 27-nation European Union.

In France the detention limit is 32 days, in Hungary it is a year, in Latvia it is 20 months and in seven countries there is no time limit.

The new rules would not automatically apply in Denmark, Ireland and the UK because they have negotiated opt-outs.

Joint standards

In the text approved by EU ministers, a maximum six-month detention limit is envisaged, extendable by a further 12 months. The extension might apply if an immigrant failed to co-operate with the authorities.

If approved by the parliament, EU member states would have two years to implement the rules.

The text envisages a voluntary departure period for illegal immigrants before their expulsion.

Once expelled, they could be barred from re-entering the EU for a five-year period.

EU officials estimate there are up to eight million illegal immigrants in the bloc.

According to the Council of Europe - a human rights watchdog - some 51,000 migrants arrived by boat in Italy, Spain, Greece and Malta in 2007, many of them asylum seekers and refugees "who lack legal avenues to enter Europe".

It urged the EU to improve the immigrants' detention conditions and legal aid, and said Mediterranean countries needed EU help to cope with the influx.

'Protects children'

In a parliamentary debate on the new directive on Tuesday, EU Commissioner Jacques Barrot said the legislation "gives priority to voluntary returns" and "protects the rights of children and families".

Parliament's rapporteur Manfred Weber, who helped draft the directive, said it envisaged "the use of detention only when necessary" and it complied with Council of Europe guidelines.

A British liberal, Baroness Sarah Ludford, said it was "imperfect but necessary to raise standards".

But French Socialist Martine Roure argued that the directive "is not adequate in terms of protection of fundamental rights".

Amnesty International's secretary general Irene Khan has condemned the directive as "unacceptable". She says it ought to "prohibit detention of unaccompanied children and ensure that they are represented by a guardian".

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Lithuanian ban on Soviet symbols
Flag at a Communist parade in Moscow on 9 May 2008

Lithuania's parliament has passed the toughest restrictions anywhere in the former Soviet Union on the public display of Soviet and Nazi symbols.

It will now be an offence in the Baltic state to display the images of Soviet and Nazi leaders.

This includes flags, emblems and badges carrying insignia, such as the hammer and sickle or swastika.

Correspondents say equating Soviet and Nazi symbols in this way is certain to infuriate Russia.

The new law also prohibits the Nazi and Soviet national anthems but does not specify if this extends to the modern-day Russian national anthem, which uses the Soviet music with different lyrics.

BBC Russian affairs analyst Steven Eke says these are the toughest bans on symbols from the Soviet past adopted in any of the 15 countries that emerged from the USSR.

'Blasphemous'

The measures go further than neighbouring Estonia's ban on Soviet symbols, he says.

Estonia's decision to put the swastika and hammer and sickle on an equally prohibited footing was described by Russia as "blasphemous", and an attempt to rewrite history.

Moscow's official interpretation of history is that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were liberated from Nazi Germany by, then voluntarily joined, the Soviet Union.

This account is rejected by those three Baltic States and most other European nations, says our correspondent.

They believe the Soviet Union illegally occupied the Baltic republics as a result of a secret agreement - the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.

The occupation continued until the collapse of the Soviet state itself at the end of 1991.

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Romania village elects dead mayor
Map

Romanian villagers have voted to re-elect a dead man as their mayor, to prevent his living rival winning.

Neculai Ivascu - who led Voinesti for almost two decades - died from a liver disease on Sunday, too late to cancel the contest.

The village's loyal residents still gave him 23 more votes than his rival, Gheorghe Dobrescu of the ruling National Liberal Party.

"I know he died, but I don't want change," one villager told Romanian TV.

In a controversial decision, the electoral commission declared the runner-up and rival Mr Dobrescu the winner.

Neculai Ivascu's party, the opposition Social Democrat Party, has said it will contest the decision.

Some villagers have also called for a fresh vote.

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Syrian leader in key India trip
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and his wife Asma on arrival in India

The Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, has begun a a key five-day state trip to India.

The visit - the first by a Syrian president in three decades - is expected to focus on promoting co-operation in trade and energy.

Mr Assad will holds talks with the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.

India, which is looking for new sources of energy, has been reaching out to countries like Syria and Iran despite its close relations with the US.

In December 2005, India and China won a joint multi-million dollar bid to buy Petro-Canada's 37% stake in Syrian oilfields.

Mr Assad arrived in the Indian capital at the head of a large delegation which included his foreign, trade and telecommunication ministers.

He will also visit the city of Bangalore, India's information technology hub, during the trip.

India has long-standing ties with the Arab world but lately has also developed strong relations with Israel.

Ahead of President Assad's visit, a Syrian cabinet minister, Bouthaina Shaaban, said he hoped India's ties with Israel would not come at the expense of its historic links with the Arabs.

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Qatari law 'will protect' maids
Abused Sri Lankan maid in Saudi Arabia

A draft law has been put forward in the Gulf state of Qatar for the first time to protect domestic workers' rights.

The law will oblige employers to pay wages on time and give their workers a paid day off per week and three weeks' holiday a year.

There will also be a new mechanism for settling disputes between employers and their employees.

Maids and nannies, mostly from South and East Asia, say ill-treatment and wage non-payment is rife in the Gulf.

The draft law has been approved by Qatar's advisory council, and has now been sent to the emir, whose approval is seen as a formality.

BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says the key question is whether the Qatari courts and police will implement the new law, or continue to give well-connected employers the benefit of the doubt.

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Greenland whale hunt 'commercial'
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website

Drying meat. Image: WSPA

Animal welfare campaigners say Greenland's whaling, held under rules permitting subsistence hunting, has become too commercial in character.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) found that a quarter of last year's catch was traded for profit through a private food company.

International Whaling Commission (IWC) rules allow hunting where there is a nutritional and cultural need.

The IWC annual meeting gets underway next week in Santiago, Chile.

WSPA campaigners are presenting their report this week to a preliminary meeting of the organisation's committee on aboriginal (or subsistence) whaling.

"If people weren't able to buy it frozen, then the waste would be very high"
Tonnes Berthelsen
Arctic Green Food

"Greenland has been on the slippery slope towards commercial whaling for years, and now, demonstrably, they've crossed the line," said WSPA's marine mammals manager Claire Bass.

"The IWC has heard anecdotally about these processing operations, but this is the first time it's been quantified, so we're expecting it to be explosive," she told BBC News

Vows renewed

Quotas for the five communities claiming a need for subsistence hunting were renewed at last year's IWC meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.

At the time, some delegates queried Greenland's plans to expand its hunt to include bowhead and humpback whales - two species it had not previously targeted - and noted allegations that whalemeat regularly changed hands for money.

THE LEGALITIES OF WHALING

* Under the global moratorium on commercial whaling, hunting is conducted in three ways:
* Objection - A country formally objects to the IWC moratorium, declaring itself exempt. Example: Norway
* Scientific - A nation issues unilateral 'scientific permits'; any IWC member can do this. Example: Japan
* Aboriginal - IWC grants permits to indigenous groups for subsistence food. Example: Alaskan Inupiat


Harpoon. Image: BBC

IWC rules do not explicitly prohibit commercial trade, but they specify that permits are granted only "to satisfy aboriginal subsistence need".

Delegates eventually voted to allow the bowhead quota, but rejected the request for humpbacks. Denmark, which speaks for Greenland in the IWC, is bidding for humpbacks again this year.

Over the last 12 months, WSPA visited markets and harbours around Greenland. Investigators posed as a documentary film crew reporting on local traditions and culture.

They concluded that at least a quarter of the whalemeat landed around the coasts was traded through a single company, Arctic Green Food, with supermarkets the principal destination.

The company advertises packets of whalemeat for sale within Greenland on its website. Products include steak, mince, salted blubber, and cuts from the fins and tails of minke whales, as well as unspecified meat from fin whales.

Tonnes Berthelsen, managing director of Arctic Green Food, told BBC News his company traded meat from about 40 whales each year.

"We're selling it frozen; and if we didn't sell it like that, if people weren't able to buy it frozen, then the waste would be very high."

But whereas the IWC says that "the meat and products are to be used exclusively for local consumption", WSPA points out that because the meat is sold in supermarkets, anyone can buy and consume it, even foreign nationals, raising the question of whether there is a genuine nutritional and cultural need.

Broken record

WSPA is one of the few groups to campaign against subsistence whaling.

Cultural claim to whale hunting

Traditional whaling boat. Image: BBC

The majority of conservation organisations support it as providing a sustainable resource to communities that need the meat.

There was a tacit agreement among anti-whaling NGOs not to oppose the renewal of subsistence quotas at last year's IWC meeting, an agreement that WSPA did not support on animal welfare grounds.

"The record of these hunts is really bad," said Ms Bass.

"Only one in five whales dies within a minute. These are the worst whale hunts in the world on welfare grounds."

Records submitted to the IWC show that in 2006, fin whales took on average 35 minutes to die, with one taking nearly six hours. Norway's overtly commercial hunters, by contrast, kill the majority of their prey within one minute.

The IWC's various committees are coming to the end of their series of meetings in Santiago before the full organisation convenes on Monday.

Its week-long meeting is likely to be dominated by South American proposals for a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic, and by discussions on whether pro- and anti-whaling blocs can find a path towards eventual compromise.

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First farmers made 'lucky beads'

Some of the first farmers in the Near East probably used green beads as amulets to protect themselves and their crops, a study suggests.

The authors of the research suggest that early agriculturalists attached special importance to this colour.

Beads they recovered from dig sites in Israel had been made from a variety of green minerals and the farmers went to great efforts to obtain them.

Details appear in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

Daniella Bar-Yosef Mayer, from Israel's University of Haifa, and Naomi Porat, from the Geological Survey of Israel in Jerusalem, examined 221 beads from eight Neolithic (or late stone age) sites dating to between 11,600 years ago and 8,200 years ago.

None of the minerals the beads were made from came from the immediate vicinity of the sites. Some were mined from as far afield as northern Syria, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia.

White, black, brown, yellow and red beads were being made tens of thousands of years before the advent of agriculture.

But the researchers point out that green beads are first found in significant numbers during the agricultural revolution which gained pace from about 10,000 years ago in the Near East.

"We propose that the green colour mimics the green of young leaf blades, which signify germination and embody the wish for successful crops and for success in fertility," the authors write in PNAS.

They suggest that the onset of agriculture brought on demographic changes such as higher birth rates, but also higher child mortality.

These early farmers may have developed new cultural devices for dealing with these changes.

Green beads were probably used as amulets to ward off evil and as charms for maintaining the fertility of both people and crops, say the researchers.

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研究資金援助：国立大は２１校５５件　グローバルＣＯＥ

　文部科学省は１８日、大学院の優れた研究に資金を援助する「グローバルＣＯＥ（卓越した拠点）プログラム」の今年度の選考結果を公表した。国公私立大１３０校から３１５件の申請があり、２９校の６８件が選ばれた。各拠点には今年度から５年間で平均約２億６０００万円が交付される。

　プログラムは、０２年度から実施していた「２１世紀ＣＯＥプログラム」の後継。昨年度から始まり、採択拠点を半分に減らす代わりに１件当たりの支援金を倍増した。

　国立大は２１校の５５件が選ばれ、全体の８０．９％を占めた。私立大は８校の１３件が選ばれた。公立大は０２年度以来、初めて一件も選ばれなかった。

　昨年度の６３拠点との合計１３１拠点に計約３４０億円が投じられる。主な採択例は「エイズ制圧を目指した国際教育研究拠点（熊本大）」「次世代型生命・医療倫理の教育研究拠点創成（東京大）」など。