Report confirms political hiring at DoJ

Report confirms political hiring at DoJ

By Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington

Published: June 24 2008 23:29 | Last updated: June 24 2008 23:29

Officials at the US Department of Justice illegally favoured conservative candidates when they made hiring decisions for the department’s top recruitment programme, according to a report by the DoJ’s inspector general.

The findings marked the first time that allegations of illegal hiring and firing practices, cited for some time by former DoJ officials and Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill, were confirmed by an independent report. The review cited numerous instances in which qualified candidates were passed over for jobs because they were perceived as politically liberal.

The department’s inspector general is still reviewing allegations that the DoJ fired nine US attorneys for political reasons, a controversy that led to the resignation of Alberto Gonzales, former US attorney-general.

While it is legal to consider political views in some DoJ appointments, it is illegal to discriminate based on ideological affiliations for so-called “career” appointments, such as the DoJ’s honours programme and its summer internships.

According to the report, data showed that candidates for 2002 recruitment programmes with Democratic and liberal affiliations were left out of consideration at a “significantly higher” rate than candidates with Republican, conservative or neutral affiliations.

The inspector general also accused two former DoJ officials, Esther Slater McDonald and Michael Elston, of violating federal law and DoJ policy by taking political or ideological affiliations into account when making hiring decisions in 2006.

In one case cited in the report, Ms McDonald indicated she had concerns about a candidate who was a Harvard graduate because the individual, who was fluent in Arabic, was a member of the Council on American Islamic Relations.

According to Daniel Fridman, who reviewed applications with Ms McDonald, she also expressed concerns about candidates who she perceived as liberal, were members of organisations such as the American Constitution Society, or worked for liberal members of Congress.

Ms McDonald refused to be interviewed by the DoJ’s inspector general, and did not return a call for comment at Seyfarth Shaw, a law firm where she is now an associate, according to the firm’s website.

In an interview with the inspector general, Mr Elston denied making hiring choices on political grounds, but acknowledged the playing field was “not as level” as it should have been.

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Rich scale back exposure to property

By Peter Thal Larsen in London

Published: June 24 2008 18:38 | Last updated: June 24 2008 18:38

Rapid growth in emerging markets enabled the world’s richest people to shrug off the credit crisis last year and expand their assets by more than 9 per cent to $40,700bn, an authoritative study of global wealth has found.

But, the wealthy have responded to the turmoil in the markets by scaling back their exposure to property and hedge funds in favour of safer investments.

The study, compiled by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini, underscores how the world’s rich have managed to avoid some of the heavy losses that have hit the banking business and continue to reap disproportionate benefits from expansion in the global economy.

The World Wealth Report shows there are more than 10m people on the planet with financial assets worth more than $1m (€641,000, £507,000), an increase of 6 per cent over 2006. Their wealth is projected to expand to $59,100bn – a growth rate of 7.7 per cent a year – by 2012.

However, the ranks of the ultra-rich – those with $30m or more to invest – grew at an even faster rate of 8.8 per cent and expanded their wealth by 14.5 per cent.

The expected growth in global wealth is unevenly distributed. The assets controlled by rich people in Latin America expanded by 20 per cent last year, while in the Middle East and Asia the growth rates were 17.5 per cent and 12.5 per cent respectively. This contrasts with a growth rate of just 4.4 per cent in North America, and 5.3 per cent in Europe.

This trend is expected to continue in the next few years, with the total wealth controlled by rich people in Asia expected to overtake that in Europe by 2012.

“While there is still a lot of wealth tied up in the mature economies, the in-crease is more rapid in the new economies,” said Chris Gant, head of wealth management at Capgemini Financial Services in the UK.

The report shows that wealthy investors last year scaled back their exposure to property, allocating just 14 per cent of their portfolios to the asset class, down from 24 per cent in 2006. The shift is partly the result of the poor performance of property investment trusts and other such investment vehicles, which have been hit hard by the credit squeeze.

The allocation to hedge funds shrank to 9 per cent, down from 10 per cent in 2006, while the amount of money committed to cash and bank deposits increased to 17 per cent, from 14 per cent, reflecting investors’ increased caution and the higher deposit rates currently on offer. Bonds, which are also seen as safer, accounted for 27 per cent of assets, up from 21 per cent.

However, Nick Tucker, market leader for UK & Ireland in Merrill Lynch’s Global Wealth Management arm, said he expected investors to return to alternative investments such as hedge funds once the crisis has eased. “The long-term drivers of global growth are still very much intact,” he said.

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Algerian prime minister returns

By Heba Saleh

Published: June 24 2008 23:29 | Last updated: June 24 2008 23:29

In a move linked to his plans to stay in office for a third term, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Algerian president, has brought back as prime minister Ahmed Ouyahya, three years after he sacked him from the same job.

This will be the third time that Mr Ouyahya, who heads the National Rally for Democracy party, RND, has served as prime minister of the country – a major natural gas exporter to Europe.

Long reputed to be close to the country’s powerful military intelligence, Mr Ouyahya is said by some analysts to have been reappointed to manage, on behalf of his backers, arrangements for the constitutional change that would allow the president a third term in office.

“The army needs to be party to these changes in order to control them,” said Ihsane El Qadi, an Algerian political analyst. “In the discussions about the content of the constitutional change, the presence of Ouyahya at the head of the government is a guarantee for the army.”

Mr Ouyahya played a similar role during the 2003 election which gave Mr Bouteflika his second term in office.

This was followed by the launch of another phase of Mr Bouteflika’s national reconciliation plan which offered an amnesty to Islamic militants who laid down their arms, and at the same time made it a punishable crime to criticise the conduct of the military during the civil conflict of the 1990s.

Many in Algeria believe this was the product of a deal between Mr Bouteflika and the military under which he protected them from scrutiny over their human rights record and they allowed him to consolidate his power as president.

Algeria was plunged into a decade of political violence in 1992 after the army aborted a general election to preempt a victory by an Islamist party.

This unleashed an armed Islamist rebellion which the army tried to put down by force. Both sides have been accused of committing atrocities against civilians.

Mr Bouteflika was the army’s choice as president in 1999. Since then he launched a series of amnesties for Islamic militants and presided over a dramatic reduction in the level of violence across the country.

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Saudis rely on Khurais to speak volumes

By Andrew England and Carola Hoyos

Published: June 25 2008 02:58 | Last updated: June 25 2008 02:58

Just two years ago it was simply another stretch of desert occasionally crossed by wandering camels. Today huge steel structures rise from the sand to dominate the skyline as about 20,000 men work in the blistering heat on what Saudi Arabia claims is the world’s largest industrial project.

The Khurais oil field development is expected to add 1.2m barrels a day of light, highly desirable crude to Riyadh’s reserves. It is a critical element of the country’s energy investment plan, which was initially expected to eat up $70bn (€45bn, £35.7bn) but has since ballooned.

The plan, which is little more than half way to completion, will increase Saudi Arabia’s oil capacity from 9.5m b/d to a targeted 12.5m b/d, almost 15 per cent of current world demand, by the end of 2009.

It would also go some way to silencing the kingdom’s doubters. One reason international oil prices are trading at record highs of about $140 a barrel, double last year’s level, is that traders worry that Saudi Arabia is having trouble meeting that target amid an industry-wide shortage of skilled labour and equipment.

Their fears have solid foundations. Khursaniyah, a 500,000 b/d field that Saudi Arabia had expected to come on stream last September, then early this year, now has a start date of August, according to officials at Saudi Aramco, the national oil company which retains exclusive control of the country’s oil projects.

Some even believe Saudi Arabia’s oil fields are about to peak. This view, though still in the minority, received a boost when Ali Naimi, the energy minister, reiterated at an oil summit in Jeddah at the weekend that the kingdom would only add new capacity past 12.5m b/d “when and if” demand warranted it.

Most forecasts, including those of the International Energy Agency, the developed countries’ watchdog, leave no doubt that extra Saudi oil will be needed.

A timely start at Khurais could help counter Saudi Aramco’s doubters and is critical to Riyadh’s ambition to remain the central bank of oil by maintaining a cushion of spare capacity it can tap when shortages appear in other parts of the world.

But it is a massive undertaking that few other companies in the world would be able to tackle. Officials say the $10bn project is using enough pipeline to – in ­theory – connect this remote part of eastern Saudi Arabia to Moscow and almost enough steel to build San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge twice over. Some 26 contractors are involved in the project and they are in turn employing more than 100 subcontractors.

“We acknowledge that we are sometimes criticised for not being more forthcoming about our work but in Saudi Aramco we have a tradition of making our actions and accomplishments speak for themselves,” says Amin Nasser, an executive at the company.

“Despite all the critics and all the cynics, we have seen unscrupulous doom and gloom theories come and go, emerge and fizzle, rise, peak and decline, whereas we continue to act rather than claim.”

Saudi Aramco’s officials at the Khurais field try to counter those critics by ­listing the start-up dates for their company’s main output expansions.

In addition to Khursaniyah, 250,000 b/d of extra crude will be available from Shaybah in December 2008, and Manifa, with capacity of 900,000 b/d, could be producing by September 2011, ­Aramco says.

Then there is the Khurais project. Inside the site, workers wearing hard hats scale the steel structures and work on the construction of a blast-proof, octagonal command centre. Security is paramount, as securing Saudi Arabia’s plants is inextricably tied to global energy security. Al-Qaeda linked groups have made it clear that oil infrastructure is a target.

In February 2006 there was a failed suicide bomb attack on the Abqaiq plant, which processes two-thirds of the kingdom’s daily output. The government has since begun recruiting and training a 35,000-strong special security force to protect its facilities.

Whether the kingdom’s efforts and mega-projects will go far enough to convince sceptics in the market that it can meet its targets on schedule and satisfy ­global demand remains to be seen.

“This is more than PR, it’s going to the heart of their role in the market,” says Raad Alkadiri of PFC Energy, an industry consultancy based in Washington. “It’s about convincing people in the long term that the crude will be there, that if demand is there they can produce it and still keep their spare capacity.”

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French takeover bid raises US concerns

By Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington

Published: June 24 2008 19:52 | Last updated: June 24 2008 23:13

A leading US maker of identification cards is stoking national security concerns about Safran after the French defence electronics maker submitted a rival, unsolicited bid for Digimarc, another US ID card company that has contracts with the Department of Homeland Security.

Robert LaPenta, chairman and chief executive of L-1 Identity Solutions, raised doubts about whether Safran could win US government approval for its proposed $300m (€193m, £152m) all cash bid for Digimarc, citing the French government’s 30 per cent ownership interest in the company. The Oregon-based Digimarc announced this week it had received an “indication of interest” from Safran and that its legal advisers believed the potential transaction could be superior to L-1’s $263m stock and cash offer, which has already received regulatory approval. Digimarc said it was entering discussions with Safran but that its board had not yet withdrawn or modified an earlier agreement with L-1.

“Placing the credentialing of US citizens in the hands of a foreign entity calls to question many potential dangers, including concerns of national security,” said Mr LaPenta. “I am certain that the federal government . . . will not prefer to place US citizens’ personal information . . . in the hands of a company outside our national borders.”

Safran’s offer is subject to review by Cfius (the Committee on Foreign Investment), the inter-agency panel that investigates transactions for potential national security problems. Under new proposed regulations, the proposed deal would automatically face an intensive 45-day investigation following a more standard 30-day review because of the French government’s partial ownership of Safran.

The proposed deal could be the first test of a new provision that would allow a senior Bush administration official on the Cfius panel, such as Robert Kimmitt, deputy Treasury secretary, to waive the 45-day review if the official deems the proposal does not constitute a potential threat. According to its website, Safran has operated in the US for 30 years and its biggest customer is US aerospace group Boeing. Safran technology is used by the US air force, navy and army.

In recent years, deals in which US companies such as L-1 compete with foreign groups for US assets considered sensitive have been prime targets on Capitol Hill. In 2005, Chevron helped to fuel a congressional backlash against CNOOC after the Chinese oil company made a rival, superior bid for Unocal, the California energy group. CNOOC eventually dropped its bid under the weight of congressional scrutiny and Chevron took over Unocal.

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Russian hits at EU fear of Gazprom

By Neil Buckley in Moscow

Published: June 24 2008 23:17 | Last updated: June 24 2008 23:17

One of Russia’s leading liberal reformers has accused the European Union of trying to limit access to its natural gas market for Gazprom for political reasons, motivated by misguided fears about the Russian gas giant.

Anatoly Chubais, architect of Russia’s 1990s privatisation programme, told the Financial Times the EU often used discussions about the need to “unbundle” or separate ownership of production and distribution assets as “cover for its concerns about Gazprom”.

After months of wrangling, EU countries recently agreed a compromise on energy market reform that would not compel companies to be unbundled. However, a suggested curb on ownership of networks by non-EU groups such as Gazprom remains, an EU official said.

Russia is unhappy about the proposed curbs – which must still win European parliament approval.

“It’s an attempt to wrap up in beautiful clothing an absolutely paternalistic and geopolitical viewpoint which has no relation to liberal economics,” Mr Chubais said.

Mr Chubais has spent the past 10 years masterminding the break-up of UES, the Russian electricity monopoly, which will cease to exist next week after selling off its generators in the biggest liberalisation of Vladimir Putin’s presidency. His insistence that Europe is misreading Gazprom is striking as he is a frequent critic of the gas monopoly.

He warned Europe’s actions were part of a broader international tendency in oil and gas towards increasing state intervention and closing domestic markets – which he warned were a “dead end” and posed big risks “for the world and for Russia”. A return to protectionism was “madness”.

“When the EU tries to limit access for Gazprom … it is squeezing supply. What’s the result? Growth in prices … It means you’re forcing your population and your economy to pay for your political fears.”

“Of course we made mistakes on our side, scaring people when there was no need to scare them,” Mr Chubais added. But he said western fears were excessive.

“Look at this story of raising gas prices to Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia. This was perceived by the west quite wrongly – dishonestly, if you like. And…Putin was stigmatised for energy blackmail, for turning energy into a weapon…These stock phrases have penetrated deeply into the consciousness of the European elite.”

Mr Chubais insisted ending subsidised gas supplies to former Soviet states was about “stopping handing out money for free”.

“Why the hell should we supply gas to Ukraine” for discount prices, he asked. “And meanwhile, forgive me, these scoundrels are stealing gas…

“Putin’s actions were absolutely right – actions that by any other country would be seen as normal,” Mr Chubais insisted. “But from Russia they’re seen as energy blackmail, as the Kremlin’s tentacles stretching out to Paris or London, as the KGB strangling us; Russian gas is [seen as] more frightening than Soviet tanks.”

“So here I have many more complaints about the west than I have about our own blunders.”

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Walesa was a police informant, book claims

By Jan Cienski in Warsaw

Published: June 25 2008 03:44 | Last updated: June 25 2008 03:44

Lech Walesa, the leader of the Solidarity labour union who helped overthrow communism, has been accused of being an informant for the secret police in the early 1970s and of trying to doctor his police files in the 1990s.

The accusations come in a book published this week by two right-wing historians.

Mr Walesa, who went on to become Poland’s president, insists he was not an informant, and the evidence the authors have unearthed from past files is not beyond question. Mr Walesa’s defenders point out that the secret police did doctor files about him in the 1980s in order to discredit him.

The claim that Mr Walesa was a secret agent called “Bolek” has been around for years, but the book has unleashed a storm in Poland.

Many of those who accuse Mr Walesa of being a collaborator are his political enemies, who view the 1989 negotiations that ended communist rule as being fatally flawed because they did not prosecute communists and exclude them from public life.

They accuse Mr Walesa of botching the transition to democracy because of past links to the secret police.

The prime advocates of this theory are supporters of the opposition Law and Justice party and the Kaczynski twins, who blame the failings of today’s Poland on the imperfect transition from totalitarianism.

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Match divides Turkish migrants’ loyalties

By Hugh Williamson in Berlin

Published: June 25 2008 03:28 | Last updated: June 25 2008 03:28

Judging by the flags on display on Tuesday, loyalties in the heartland of Germany’s largest Turkish community are split. Shops, homes and cars in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg boasted a medley of German and Turkish flags ahead of tonight’s landmark football match, which observers believe could further the integration of migrants in Europe’s biggest economy.

“In my heart I want Turkey to win,” says Ismail Anar, a Turkish shopkeeper, referring to the European championship semi-final match between Germany and Turkey. “But I also don’t mind if Germany comes out top. I really want a draw – although I know that’s not possible,” he adds.

Such mixed feelings are shared by many in Kreuzberg, Berlin’s most famous multicultural district, where locals are planning joint Turkish-German open-air screenings. The teams have not met in an international tournament since 1954.

Many of Germany’s 2.7m people of Turkish origin who have grown up in the country “feel they have a genuinely mixed identity”, says Dirk Halm at the Centre for Studies on Turkey, so tonight’s match “actually poses a rather artificial choice for them”.

Germany has struggled for decades with the idea that migrants may settle long term. This has begun to change over the past decade, with citizenship laws that have made it easier for young Turkish people to hold both German and Turkish passports. The process of gaining full citizenship has been streamlined, and 900,000 people of Turkish origin are now German citizens.

The support shown this week for both football teams from many in the Turkish community is a further sign of progress, says Mr Halm.

Yet integration is “far from complete”, argues Tülin Duman, owner of a Kreuzberg shop.

Ahead of tonight’s match in Basel, Switzerland, “patriotic feelings for Turkey” have come into play, showing that the community still feels at a distance from Germany, she says.

Discrimination against Turkish people persists, posing another hurdle to full integration. Unemployment rates are often twice as high as the national average. “Young Turkish men without work and prospects find it tough to identify with Germany,” Ms Duman adds.

In addition, parts of the Turkish community remain deeply conservative, for example, regarding the role of women in society. This has led to some resistance to German and wider European values.

But Turkish people still feel more integrated than many Germans think. In a recent poll 52 per cent of Germans said there were “problems” in relations between the two communities in their country. Only 22 per cent of Turks in Germany saw such problems.

“German society has much more adapting to do,” says Mr Halm. “If Germany wins the match, many Turkish people will still be cheering. I would hope for a fraction of this tolerance from the Germans if it’s the other way round.”

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Fresh fight looms over Europe GM crops

By Andrew Bounds in Brussels

Published: June 24 2008 23:34 | Last updated: June 24 2008 23:34

Europe is poised for a fresh battle over genetically modified crops as its top regulator moves to relax a zero-tolerance policy on unauthorised GM imports.

Androulla Vassiliou, European Union health commissioner, is set to recommend lifting the threshold for GM “contamination” in response to pressure from farmers and the food industry, which claim they are spending millions of pounds finding alternatives.

Environmental campaigners, however, say warnings that the EU could be unable to find supplies are scaremongering. Diplomatic sources in Brazil and Argentina, which supply almost all the EU’s animal feed supplies and soya for processed food, also question the apocalyptic scenario.

“We produce to satisfy our clients. We are not going to produce something they are not going to buy,” said a Brazilian source.

Ms Vassiliou is likely to propose lifting the threshold from zero to 0.1 per cent. That would cover most of the recent contamination cases, such as the LL601 incident in 2006 when genetically modified rice came into the EU from the US and had to be withdrawn from the market, costing companies involved millions of euros.

The change would not require new legislation and the subsequent support of a qualified majority of EU ministers and the European parliament. Ms Vassilliou’s spokeswoman said that experts from member states, however, would have to agree the policy change.

“We are looking at a technical solution that would not require changing the law,” said Ms Vassiliou’s spokeswoman. It is the least radical option called for. The food industry had pushed for 0.9 per cent, in line with the amount of GM allowed in foodstuffs without having to be labelled. The US wants 5 per cent.

EU citizens and their governments are broadly hostile to GM. It can take up to four years to approve a new product even for animal feed imports, the most uncontroversial area. In the US, by contrast, the process takes a few months so there are many more approved crops.

With the EU dependent on imports for 77 per cent of its animal feed, farmers are left paying about 10 per cent more for supplies than rivals, and trade is occasionally disrupted when an unauthorised genetically modified organism is found.

Friends of the Earth has condemned the commissioner’s plan.

“If the EU was serious about listening to its citizens, it would not be quietly weakening GMO laws behind closed doors,” said Helen Holder, European GM campaigner at the group.

“The EU is falling for the biotech industry’s pro-GM hype. European livestock farmers need real solutions not measures that will simply increase the industry’s control and profits.”

The EU has approved about 20 GM substances for imports. Brazilian and Argentine sources say the change would be more aimed at cutting costs than ensuring supply.

“There is no crop grown in Brazil that is not allowed in the EU,” said one. “We only grow traditional maize. They do not like being reliant on one source. Brazil uses its vast landmass to grow separate GM and non-GM crops. There are separate roads, ports and ships used to avoid contamination.”

Argentina grows almost entirely GM soya. Yet the prevalent Round Up Ready variety by the US’s Monsanto, is approved in the EU. Brussels is expected to approve Round Up Ready 2, the successor, before Argentina does.

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UK seeks private bids on welfare delivery

By George Parker and Alex Barker in London

Published: June 24 2008 23:07 | Last updated: June 25 2008 07:25

Britain’s entire welfare system is to be opened to offers from the private and voluntary sectors, in a far-reaching drive to shrink the role of the state and improve service delivery.

James Purnell, work and pensions secretary, will on Wednesday announce a “radical” initiative in which private companies will be encouraged to come up with innovative business models to deliver welfare.

The move opens up a potential multi-billion pound market for private companies and voluntary groups, which could bid to run everything from welfare-to-work schemes to projects to rehabilitate former prisoners.

Mr Purnell, regarded as one of the ruling Labour party’s leading modernisers and sometimes tipped as a potential future leader, told the Financial Times the move represented a “big step” in transforming Britain’s welfare system.

Current rules, under which Mr Purnell’s department decides which services to put out to tender, have seen the value of services run by the private and voluntary sectors rise to £1.8bn ($3.5bn, €2.3bn) from £600m in 2001.

On Wednesday he will announce “a complete reversal” of that approach, so that outside contractors will be encouraged to come up with proposals for the services they want to run under a so-called “right to bid”.

“This is us saying very clearly the only limit is the quality of service and the imagination of the provider,” Mr Purnell said. He said all services would potentially be up for grabs, with his department reserving only a few policy functions for itself.

He said Job Centre Plus, a government agency, provided “world-class” services in helping people back to work, but even that operation could be transferred to outside contractors if they had a better business model.

The test of Mr Purnell’s ambition will be the extent to which business proposals turn into contracts, but the secretary of state said every offer would be properly evaluated by a commissioning team reporting to him and his top civil servant.

He said British companies exploiting this new market would be able to expand into world markets for welfare delivery. He said only Japan operated a similar “right to bid” philosophy.

The “open invitation” to new ideas extends across welfare provision, including proposing welfare to work schemes that would pay private and voluntary sector service providers from the government savings made from finding jobs for the unemployed. “I’m not ruling anything out,” said Mr Purnell.

The measure is a further sign that Britain is willing to open up the “multi-billion pound” welfare-to-work market for private and voluntary providers envisaged in the Freud report, an independent examination of welfare reform.

Several international welfare-to-work companies – including Maximus and Rescare, two big US providers, and Igneus, the Australian owner of Work Directions, the UK-based group – have already begun targeting Britain as a potential growth market. They are joining domestic providers of existing programmes including A4e and Reed-in-Partnership.

Several big government decisions over systems of funding for welfare-to-work schemes and programmes to tackle the 2.6m people on incapacity benefit are expected in coming weeks.

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Siemens too white, German and male, says chief

By Richard Milne in London

Published: June 25 2008 03:00 | Last updated: June 25 2008 03:00

Siemens' top management is too German for its own good as well as too white and male, according to its chief executive.

Peter Löscher, the Austrian-born chief of the German industrial conglomerate, said the priority for his second year in charge would be to improve the "global diversity" of managers and warned that Germany's competitiveness could be threatened if it failed to do so.

"The management board are all white males. Our top 600 managers are predominantly white German males. We are too one-dimensional," he said in an interview to mark his first year in charge.

His comments underline a crucial issue for many German companies, who have benefited enormously from globalisation but still have nearly uniformly home-grown management and supervisory boards.

James Stettler at Dresdner Kleinwort, pointing to companies such as ABB, said: "It is generally a weakness of German groups. Swiss and Swedish companies have generally been better at building a more global management and culture." Herman Simon, a management consultant, said: "It is one of the key tests for German groups: can they bind their international managers into the companies? Why don't you see more Chinese or Indians at the top?"

Siemens actually has a high number of foreigners on its management board. Mr Löscher is Austrian and two of the remaining seven members are American. The other five are German. But of its 15 divisional heads, 11 are German. More than 80 per cent of its revenues come from outside Germany.

German companies suffer from a lack of international talent, even more so on supervisory than on management boards. The situation for women is even worse: there is not a single female executive in the Dax-30 group of companies.

"It is not a question of quotas," said Mr Löscher. "But I would like to see a much more diverse board. I would like to see a big Chinese running China and a big Indian running India."

Asked if such diversity was critical to Germany's future, he replied: "Absolutely. This is the biggest thing. If you are not representing your global customer base then you won't tap your full potential. If you are doing well you will have a massive advantage." Siemens has instigated a mentor programme among senior managers. The young executives Mr Löscher is in charge of include four Germans, two Chinese, a South African, a Pakistani, an American and a Brazilian.

Hermann Requardt, Siemens' chief technology off- icer, said: "There is a global battle for talent. It will be a core competence for senior management in the future." Companies are facing a particular fight in countries such as China where employees often switch jobs. Siemens relocates 18,000 of its 430,000 global workers each year but Mr Löscher said more needed to be done.

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Macau's gambling icon going public
AFP
By Polly Hui AFP - 13 minutes ago

HONG KONG (AFP) - Stanley Ho, who for decades held a monopoly on casinos in Macau, is taking his flagship firm public Thursday as he battles the Las Vegas giants that have shaken up the territory's gambling industry.
(Advertisement)

Once the only game in town, the 86-year-old tycoon's iconic casinos are now just one piece of the multi-billion-dollar gaming industry in the southern Chinese city, which last year topped the Las Vegas Strip in revenues.

Now Ho is offering shares in Sociedade de Jogos de Macau Holdings (SJM), the company that made him one of Asia's richest men -- and that is believed to still be Macau's biggest casino operator despite losing the monopoly in 2002.

A company source who declined to be named said SJM is looking to raise more than five billion Hong Kong dollars (655 million US) for the shares, which go on subscription offer from June 26 to July 2.

The move has been repeatedly delayed, reportedly due to a bitter fight for control with his estranged sister Winnie. But the tycoon, who also owns most of the lucrative ferry services to Macau, said this week it would go ahead.

"I want everyone to know we will launch the initial public offering according to plan," Ho said in Hong Kong at a meeting this week with potential investors. "We will not let anyone stop us."

Analysts say that taking SJM public will bring greater transparency to the former Portuguese colony, long saddled with a murky reputation but now seen as a premium destination for gamblers from across Asia and beyond.

Ho, born in 1921 into one of Hong Kong's most powerful families, moved to Macau in his 20s and carved out his fortune by cornering the market on gambling, holding a monopoly for around four decades.

Macau ended the monopoly six years ago, allowing in foreign casino companies that answered to much stricter laws and regulation of the industry in their home countries.

The arrival of Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts, and the rapid development of a reclaimed parcel of land dubbed the Cotai Strip, has transformed the sleepy territory into a gambling and nightlife hotspot.

Macau's casinos took in more than 10.3 billion dollars last year, topping the Las Vegas Strip for the first time -- and Ho has made no secret of his desire to remain a major player.

Last year he opened the Grand Lisboa hotel and casino, a 500-million-dollar, 430-room golden tower that dominates Macau's skyline, and he is now looking for a cash infusion by taking the company public.

"It will turn SJM into a public company that has transparency and a regulatory compliance mechanism," said Jonathan Galaviz of Globalysis, a travel and leisure consultancy.

He said that SJM, a home-grown Asian company, enjoyed an unmatched relationship with junket operators and travel agencies, but that it had less access to capital markets than its listed international competitors.

With the new source of capital, SJM can play a larger role in turning Macau into not only a casino destination, but a tourism destination where people would visit several times a year and stay longer, Galaviz said.

"SJM has to develop tourism value propositions that are large and attractive enough to be interesting for consumers all the way from Singapore to China to Korea," he said.

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Anglo American to invest 400 million dollars in Zimbabwe: report
AFP
AFP - 33 minutes ago

LONDON (AFP) - Global mining giant Anglo American is planning to invest 400 million dollars (257 million euros) into a platinum mine in Zimbabwe, The Times reported Wednesday.
(Advertisement)

The mine at Unki, central Zimbabwe, is set to be operational by 2010, the newspaper said, citing a spokesman for the Anglo-South African company.

"We are developing the Unki platinum project because we have responsibility to our employees, contractors and the local community," the Anglo American spokesman was quoted as saying.

"We are keeping the situation in Zimbabwe under close watch."

A spokesman for the company did not immediately comment on the contents of the report when contacted by AFP, and a British foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment.

Several British companies have operations in Zimbabwe, but many of them have pledged not to expand -- The Times said British American Tobacco and Barclays Bank would not add investment, while energy giants BP and Shell were "reviewing their presence in the country" according to the report.

Anglo American said in February that its 2007 net profit jumped 18 percent to 7.3 billion dollars, boosted by high output and soaring metals prices.

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EU upset at Russian ban on 70 European meat exporters
AFP
AFP - Tuesday, June 24 06:40 pm

BRUSSELS (AFP) - Russia, which recently lifted a ban on Polish meat, is now barring chicken and pork imports from 70 European companies, EU officials said Tuesday, ahead of an EU-Russia summit.
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The problems emerged in April, according to European Commission officials, when Moscow began refusing certain imports because they contained traces of antibiotics.

Now 70 companies, from seven EU nations -- Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Spain -- have been placed on the Russia embargo list, representing restrictions on produce worth "certainly more" than 100 million euros (156 million dollars) one official explained.

"Of course Russia has the right to its norm and to not want traces of antibiotics," another official said.

"But there must be clear rules which are not applied in an arbitrary manner," he added.

The worst-hit country is Denmark, which has seen its pork exports to Russia halved to the ban hitting its biggest exporters.

The commission suspects Russia is seeking to boost its national producers.

"There is a suspicion," one of the officials said, as the measures appeared "shortly after Russia officials called for higher levels of self-sufficiency in the farm sector."

"And all of a sudden, there are stricter import controls."

Moscow's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, said Russia was obliged to take the action due to "concerns linked to public health," adding that the matter could be "easily solved by stopping the use of antibiotics."

"It is the habit of the European Union to give antibiotics to chickens and pigs as a preventative measure, but that can pose problems for human health," as the antibiotics in question are still used in human medicine in Russia, he explained.

An EU official said the issue would be brought up at the EU-Russia summit in Khanty-Mansiysk, Siberia on Friday, "even if no one wants to give it too much importance."

"We have already had a problem with Polish meat which affected the (diplomatic) atmosphere for a long time, we don't want to dramatise this," he added.

The European Union and Russia will give the formal go-ahead for talks on a new strategic partnership accord at the summit, the first in which Russian President Dmitri Medvedev will take part.

Poland held up the start of the talks for 16 months due to the Russian embargo on its meat.

Moscow formally lifted the embargo in January after Warsaw made a peace offering by dropping objections to Moscow beginning talks on membership of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which groups industrialised nations.

Fresh EU-Russia negotiations are deemed key to improving ties which soured under former president Vladimir Putin, who is now prime minister, as well as ensuring a reliable energy supply from Russia and reviewing human rights.

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EU declares war on illegal fishing with tougher sanctions
AFP
AFP - Tuesday, June 24 06:32 pm

LUXEMBOURG (AFP) - EU governments agreed Tuesday to step up the fight against illegal fishing with plans for hefty fines for the worst offenders amid a row over whether tuna fishermen declared all of their catches.
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The measures, unanimously adopted by fisheries ministers at a meeting in Luxembourg, "set an example for other world countries," said Slovenian minister Iztok Jarc, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency.

Under the package, a European blacklist would be set up not only for vessels deemed to flaunt quotas or regulations, but also for countries that turn a blind eye.

In the worst cases, violators see their boats confiscated and pay fines as high as eight times the value of seized cargo if they are repeat offenders.

Meanwhile, the European Commission wants to step up monitoring of the unloading of fish at port to ensure catch figures are not fudged.

The package, which is due to go into force in 2010, "adds to the tools that are necessary for fighting illegal fishing," said EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg, who frequently laments undeclared fishing in Europe, especially for bluefin tuna.

The commission called an early halt to industrial bluefin tuna fishing at the peak of the season this month because it considered that quotas were filling up much faster than member states were declaring.

The move released a wave of protest especially in France and Italy.

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東証、処理能力を倍増　株式売買システム

　東京証券取引所は来年秋に、1日に処理できる株式注文件数を5000万件に倍増する。欧米の取引所より見劣りしていたシステム能力を増強し、海外のヘッジファンドなどからの注文急増に対応する。東証は2006年1月、システム能力上の問題で全銘柄の売買を停止する措置に追い込まれており、こうした事態が再び起きないようにする。

　東証の現在の1日の株式注文件数は平均で700万件程度で、最も多い日で1150万件程度。コンピューターで株式を自動売買する「アルゴリズム取引」の普及などで、ここ数年、国内外からの注文件数は東証の想定以上に増加してきた。東証も処理能力を数カ月おきに段階的に引き上げており、今年7月には処理可能な注文件数を現在の2300万件から2800万件に増やす計画だ。

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7月15、16日に一斉休漁　全漁連が25日提案

　全国漁業協同組合連合会は燃料価格の高騰に伴う採算悪化を受けて、7月15、16両日に全国で一斉休漁する方針だ。大日本水産会など主要団体の代表者が 25日に開く対策会議に全漁連が提案、主要団体も同調する方向だ。今月18、19日にはイカ釣り漁船が推計で3000隻休漁したが、今回はさらに大規模になる。タイ、ハマチなど養殖魚についても新たに出荷休止を検討しており、市場や食卓にも影響が及ぶ可能性がある。

　世界的な原油高を背景に燃料のＡ重油の価格は5年間で約2.7倍に高騰、漁業の採算が急速に悪化している。

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住宅ローン、落ち込み鮮明に　新規貸出額5.7％減

　住宅ローンの落ち込みが鮮明になってきた。2007年度の国内銀行による新規の住宅ローンの貸出額は約14兆8000億円で、前年度に比べて5.7％減少した。2年連続の前年割れで、融資額は6年ぶりの低水準となった。改正建築基準法の施行に伴う住宅着工の減少や、不動産価格の上昇による需要の落ち込みなどが主因。大手銀行は金利や手数料の優遇などで、少ない需要を取り込もうと懸命だ。

　日銀の統計によると、国内銀行が07年度に新たに貸し出した住宅ローンは14兆7920億円にとどまった。過去の住宅ローンを含めた今年3月末の融資残高は約97兆6000億円と前年同月比3.6％増えたが、足元では「景況感の悪化などで、個人は住宅ローンの借り入れに慎重になっている」（全国銀行協会の杉山清次会長）という。

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消費税上げ、大幅先送り　政府に警戒感

　福田康夫首相が消費税率引き上げについて「2、3年の単位で考えたい」などと発言したことが、政府内に波紋を広げている。首相は24日、自らの発言の報道について「極端な表現だ。ヒートアップしないほうがよい」と語ったが、一部では「税制改革が腰砕けになり、消費増税が大幅に先送りされるのでは」との観測も浮上している。

　消費税率上げを巡っては、首相が17日の会見で「決断しなければならない大事な時期」と発言。23日には「2、3年とか長い単位で考えたい。もう少し先の段階」と内容を後退させた。7月初旬の自民党税制調査会の直前だけに、「税制改革の論議が後退し、数年内の消費税率上げすら難しくなるのではないか」との声も出ている。

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５月の外食売上高0.8％減　２カ月連続でマイナス

　日本フードサービス協会が25日発表した5月の外食売上高（既存店ベース）は、前年同月に比べ0.8％減少した。前年を下回るのは2カ月連続。客単価が1.7％増加した一方、客数は2.5％減少した。同協会は、食品などの相次ぐ値上げの影響で消費者が外食を控えつつある可能性があるとみている。

　売上高を業態別に見ると、ファストフードは0.4％増、パブ・居酒屋は1.1％増だった。一方、ファミリーレストランは2.7％減った。利用客数は、各業態とも軒並み前年割れになった。

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海外旅行の景況感、4―6月も大幅悪化　旅行業協会

　旅行会社で構成する日本旅行業協会（ＪＡＴＡ）は25日、4―6月の「旅行市場動向調査」をまとめた。海外旅行の景況感を表す業況判断指数（ＤＩ）はマイナス53となった。1―3月はマイナス33で、07年10－12月より22ポイント悪化していたが、今回はさらに20ポイント低下した。燃料価格の高騰に伴う燃油特別付加運賃（燃油サーチャージ）の上昇、四川大地震などの影響による中国旅行の低迷が響いた。

　ＤＩは、需要動向が「良い」とした旅行会社の割合から「悪い」とした会社の割合を引いた値。

　地域別にみると中国とオセアニアがマイナス60だったほか、北米はマイナス52。最も高かったアジアでもマイナス24だった。客層別でも「学生」がマイナス75となるなど、すべての層でマイナスだった。

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旭硝子、自動車用ガラスの値上げを発表

　旭硝子は25日、原燃料高に対応するため自動車用ガラスを値上げすると正式発表した。10％程度の引き上げを求め、日本・アジアの完成車メーカー各社と交渉に入った。4月出荷分にさかのぼっての適用を目指し、10月までの合意を目指す。実現すれば第二次石油危機の1979年以来、29年ぶりの抜本改定となる。

　自動車部材は鋼板や合成樹脂などの価格が軒並み上昇しており、自動車各社にとって製品価格の値上げ圧力が強まりそうだ。

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東京電機大、足立区に進出　ＪＴ社宅跡地に新キャンパス

　東京都足立区は24日、東京電機大学（東京・千代田）のキャンパスを誘致したと発表した。電機大は2012年4月、北千住駅東口周辺地区の日本たばこ産業（ＪＴ）社宅跡地に約1万9000平方メートルのキャンパスを開設する予定。収容学生数は5000人規模の予定。同駅周辺には東京芸術大学や児童関連の学部を持つ東京未来大学の教育施設もあり、区は同駅周辺を23区東部の文教拠点と位置付け、産学連携や街づくりを進める。

　同日、東京電機大がＪＴと売買契約を結んだ。取得額は非公表。ＪＴの社宅跡地に隣接する都市再生機構（ＵＲ）の所有地も、電機大に譲渡する方向。ＪＴの社宅跡地の街づくりに取り組んできた区が5月、ＪＴ・ＵＲと電機大を仲介した。

　新キャンパスには工学部と、ロボット関連技術や情報メディア技術を教える未来科学部、大学院が進出する。電機大は東京・神田地区にキャンパスを持つが、複数の建物に校舎が分散し、建物も老朽化していた。新キャンパス開設で神田地区の校舎を集約し、キャンパスの一体性を高める。

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村上春樹さんを特集　「最も成功」と英ＢＢＣ

　【ロンドン25日共同】英ＢＢＣ放送は24日、ノーベル文学賞の有力候補とされる作家の村上春樹さんを特集番組で取り上げ、「村上ワールド」を約1時間にわたって放映した。

　番組では、村上さんを「日本で最も成功した国際的なベストセラー作家」と紹介。「海辺のカフカ」「ノルウェイの森」など代表作の一節を、村上さんの人生の変遷に重ね合わせるように伝えた。

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Critic's choice - Imagine… (BBC1)

Last Updated: 12:01am BST 25/06/2008

Have your say Read comments

By Clive Morgan

Imagine… (BBC1)
Novelist Haruki Murakami has turned Japanese literature on its head with his novels and short stories that are contemporary, humorous and surreal all at the same time.

Here Japan’s most successful writer gets the Imagine… treatment in this impressionistic portrait. Alan Yentob travels to Japan in search of clues to Murakami’s make-up, but since the author is notoriously media shy this proves to be problematic.
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Undeterred, Yentob delves into the social and political background of Murakami’s offbeat and sexually charged work.

With contributions from some of Murakami’s fans, critics and translators, this film paints an absorbing picture of why the jazz-loving Murakami was transformed from a fashionable art-house writer to a commercial success (his novel Norwegian Wood sold 3.5m copies in Japan in its first year of publication).

Yentob also “meets” one of Murakami’s characters, a talking cat – which makes you think that the BBC’s arts supremo may have had one glass of sake too many.

But in the end, although Yentob pulls off a coup with a rare off-camera interview with the writer (Murakami’s responses are read by the show’s producer), it appears that he is left with more questions than answers.

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大学院生への経済支援広がる　東工大は博士課程の授業料を免除

　大学院生に対し、まとまった規模の経済支援策を講じる動きが有力大を中心に相次いでいる。慶応大は今年度から、医学研究科博士課程の1、2年生全員に奨学金を出す仕組みを導入。東京工業大は博士課程全員の授業料を免除したほか、東京大も博士課程の9割が授業料半額免除以上の支援を受けられるようにした。優秀な学生の囲い込みが狙いで、学生を引きつけられる大学とそうでない大学の二極化も一段と進みそうだ。

　慶大の医学研究科の奨学金は年最大60万円。博士課程の1、2年生は全員、3、4年生は優れた業績をあげた学生が対象になる。毎年200人が対象となる。

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「競馬は財テク」うたい７０億円…投資会社元幹部逮捕

　馬券の共同購入で高配当を約束する「競馬ファンド」を設立し、違法に資金を集めたとして、愛知県警などの捜査本部は２５日、出資法（預かり金の禁止）違反の疑いで、東京都目黒区にあった投資会社「東山倶楽部」の元幹部ら３人を逮捕した。

　捜査本部は２００７年から海外に逃亡している主犯格の元取締役の男についても逮捕状を取っており、近く国際刑事警察機構（ＩＣＰＯ）を通じて国際手配する方針。

　県警によると、同社は０４年１０月ごろから競馬ファンドの出資者を募集。約２年間で全国の５０００人以上から約７０億円を集めたとみられる。調べでは、元幹部らは「元本に対し毎月５％の配当金を提供する」などと説明して元本の保証と配当金を約束し、不正に資金を集めた疑いが持たれている。

　同社はホームページなどで「競馬の的中確率が７２．５％と高い『ビクトリー方式』を開発した」と宣伝。「競馬はもはやギャンブルではありません。高利回り、高収益獲得の財テクです」などとうたって出資者を募っていた。

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「優等生」がついに陥落…ブランド卵１割値上げへ

　「ＪＡ全農たまご」など鶏卵生産卸大手各社が飼料価格の高騰などを受け、たまごの値上げに踏み切る。今回の対象は１パック３００円前後で販売されているブランド卵で、早ければ８月１日から店頭価格が１割前後値上げされる。普通の卵の価格にも影響がありそうだ。食品の値上げが相次ぐなか、「物価の優等生」として長年価格がほぼ据え置かれていた卵の値上げは、家計を一段と圧迫することになる。

　値上げの対象は、特別な飼料など使って生産されているＪＡ全農たまごの「しんたまご」、イセ食品の「森のたまご」など各社のブランド卵。今は１パック（１０個）が３００円前後で販売されているが、各社は取引価格で３０－４０円のアップを求める見通し。

　バイオ燃料の増産や投機マネーの流入などでトウモロコシなど穀物が高騰し、配合飼料の価格が急上昇しているほか、原油高でパック代なども上昇。業界関係者は「企業努力の限界を超えた」と訴える。

　店頭価格の値上げ幅や時期はスーパー側の販売戦略にもよるが、仮に値上げ分がすべて転嫁されれば１割前後の値上げとなる。

　鶏卵業界でＪＡ全農とイセ食品は、２社で約４割のシェアを持つ最大手。これまでは大手が増産戦略を取っていたことでも価格が据え置かれ、その影響もあって廃業する中小の業者が増えていた。大手が値上げに踏み切れば、中小業者も追従する動きが広がるのは必至とみられ、１パック２００円（Ｍサイズ）前後の普通の卵の価格にも影響が出そうだ。

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飛騨牛偽装：直営店販売の焼肉用９割が２等級

　岐阜県養老町の食肉卸売会社「丸明（まるあき）」（吉田明一社長）による「飛騨牛」偽装問題で、従業員らが毎日新聞の取材に対し、「直営店で焼き肉用として売った飛騨牛の９割近くが、飛騨牛の基準を満たさない２等級の肉だった」などと証言した。

　農林水産省岐阜農政事務所と岐阜県は２５日午前１０時から、ＪＡＳ（日本農林規格）法と牛肉トレーサビリティー法に基づき、丸明本社工場で３日連続となる立ち入り調査を実施。吉田社長や従業員らの聞き取り調査をするなど実態解明を進めている。

　本社工場そばにある直営小売店「養老店」では、「飛騨牛赤身焼肉用」「３等級」と表示し、１００グラム当たり３５０円で販売していた。

　１年前から店で働く男性従業員（４４）によると、吉田社長は脂がある程度肉に入った２等級の牛肉を「３５０円用に切れ」と指示。従業員らは３等級と２等級を混ぜてパック詰めにした。この従業員は「９割近くは２等級の肉で、３等級はほとんど入っていなかった」と証言。また、元本社工場長の男性（３７）も「『飛騨牛赤身焼肉用』のほとんどは２等級だった」と話した。

　飛騨牛は、岐阜県内で１４カ月以上肥育された黒毛和種で、肉質が５～３等級でなければならない。吉田社長は農水省などの調査に対し、等級が満たない肉を飛騨牛として売るよう従業員に指示したことを認めている。また、吉田社長は２１日の記者会見で、「２等級でも見た目で３等級と見違えるほど良い物もある。肉の良しあしは最終的に客が決めること」と発言している。

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飛騨牛偽装：「豚肉も」従業員謝罪会見

　「丸明」直営小売店「養老店」の店長（３３）や元本社工場長の男性（３７）ら４人が２５日午前１０時４０分から、本社近くで会見し、「豚肉も産地を偽装していた」と証言した。また「結果的にうそをついた形になり、すみませんでした」と謝罪。吉田明一社長に対し「社長と一緒に謝りたかった。公式の場で早く謝ってほしい」と訴えた。

　元工場長と養老店長によると、岐阜県産の豚肉と一緒に愛知県産や滋賀県産を、産地を表示せずに直営小売店３店舗へ出荷。店側が「岐阜県産」や「美濃ヘルシーポーク」のシールを張って販売したという。こうした行為は、美濃ヘルシーポークなどが足りなくなった時だけ、吉田社長から指示されたという。

　美濃ヘルシーポークは、県などが飛騨牛と同様、県ブランドとしてＰＲしている。同社は美濃ヘルシーポークを扱えるＪＡの指定精肉店だった。

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千葉・柏の家族殺害：「殺意３度抱いた」　通報の７７歳男逮捕

　千葉県柏市鷲野谷の民家で家族４人が死亡しているのが見つかった事件で、県警柏署は２４日、この家に住む無職、木内芳雄容疑者（７７）を殺人容疑で逮捕した。調べに対し「健康上の問題を抱え、普段から妻に邪魔だと言われていたのでやった。家族全員を殺せば楽になると思った」などと容疑を認めているという。

　調べでは、殺害されたのは、木内容疑者の妻とき子さん（７５）▽長男茂さん（４９）＝柏市立風早中教諭▽茂さんの妻みゆきさん（４４）＝看護師▽ 茂さんの長女麻奈美ちゃん（４）＝私立手賀の丘幼稚園年少組。木内容疑者は２４日午前６時ごろから７時ごろにかけ、自宅母屋と離れで、自宅物置から持ち出したハンマー（全長約１メートル、頭長約２０センチ、頭径約５センチ）で４人の家族全員を次々に殴って殺害した疑い。

　同署員が木内容疑者とみられる男の１１０番で駆け付けた際、木内容疑者も母屋で倒れて気を失うなどしたため、無理心中を図ったとみていたが、搬送先の病院で「これまでにも家族を３回くらい殺そうと考えたことがある。今朝起きた時に『今日殺してやろう』と思った。ごめんなさい」などと供述したことから、同署は明確な殺意があったと判断、殺人容疑で逮捕した。

　木内容疑者は約１０年前に心臓病を患い入退院を繰り返していた。

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大学入試調査書：校長が成績かさ上げ　刑事告発へ－－静岡

　静岡県教育委員会は２４日、浜松市内の県立高校で０６年、校長（当時）と教諭４人が、３年生２人の大学入試調査書を改ざんして成績をかさ上げしたと発表した。教諭４人を減給１０分の１（１カ月）の懲戒処分とし、前校長の主導だったとして有印公文書偽造の疑いで刑事告発することを検討している。

　県教委によると、５人は０６年秋ごろ、推薦入試で重要な「平均評定」を上げるため、各科目の点数を増減させて調査書を改ざんした。県教委は、今春定年退職した前校長が主導したとみているが、前校長は否定しているという。教諭４人は当時、生徒の担任と進路担当で、事実関係は認めている。

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落書き：岐阜市立女子短大がＨＰにお詫び　謝罪訪問も

　岐阜市立女子短期大学の学生がイタリア・フィレンツェの大聖堂に落書きした問題で、松田之利学長は２５日、同短大のホームページに「ご迷惑をおかけし、心からおわびする」とのコメントを載せた。

　落書きは、黒で、日付や名前、ハートマーク、大学の略称の「岐女短」などと書いた。

　松田学長は「海外研修の自由行動時間に愚行に及んだ。修復については、今後も大聖堂と協議し、現地への謝罪訪問も行う」としている。

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生存権訴訟：老齢加算廃止巡り　２６日東京地裁で判決

　７０歳以上の生活保護受給者に上乗せ支給されていた老齢加算を廃止したのは、生存権を保障した憲法に違反するとして、東京都内の高齢者１２人が、居住する３市７区に廃止処分の取り消しを求めた訴訟の判決が２６日、東京地裁（大門匡裁判長）で言い渡される。全国８地裁で係争中の同種訴訟では初の判決になる。

　「生活が苦しくなると削るのは食費。肉などは２、３回に分けて食べるようになったよ」。原告団長の横井邦雄さん（７９）は１人暮らしの都営住宅で苦笑いした。がんを患い、緑内障で左目の視力を失いながらも、裁判を闘い続けてきた。

　横井さんは活版印刷の元職人。バブル経済の崩壊で雇い先がなくなり、９６年から生活保護を受けている。現在の収入は生活保護の月約７万５０００円のみ。２年前、老齢加算制度が「特別な需要はない」との理由で完全廃止された。約１万８０００円を減額され、「年間２０万円以上のカットはきつすぎる」と嘆いた。

　生活はぎりぎりの状態で、香典を出せず、弔電で済ます。京都の姉の見舞いも年１回に減らし、「自宅のお風呂もやめて、区が配布した月４回の入浴券でしのいでいる」と言う。

　高齢者には消化のよい食べ物や暖房などが必要で、墓参りなど社会的な費用もかかるとして、１９６０年に老齢加算制度ができた。裁判で横井さんらは、憲法が保障する「健康で文化的な最低限度の生活」が損なわれていると強調してきた。「正当な理由がなければ、保護を不利益に変更できない」とする生活保護法にも反すると訴えた。

　「判決に期待したい。我々の裁判は年寄りだけの問題じゃなくて、底辺の声なんです」。ワーキングプアの問題にも心を痛める横井さんは力を込めて語った。

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奈良トヨタ：修理会社が提訴「自動車購入強制された」

　取引継続の見返りとして自動車購入を強制されたとして、奈良県御所市の自動車修理会社が２５日、奈良トヨタ自動車（本社・奈良県田原本町）に約４７６５万円の損害賠償を求め、奈良地裁に提訴した。奈良トヨタの菊池攻社長は現在、県公安委員長を務めている。

　訴状によると、修理会社は０５年３月、奈良トヨタの下請けとして板金修理を請け負うようになった。０６年１０月までの間、奈良トヨタ側から「車を購入すれば取引を継続する」などと言われ、車１３台を計２６９０万円で購入した。このうち１１台を奈良トヨタの県内各店舗で代車として利用、自賠責保険や任意保険は修理会社側が負担した。

　奈良トヨタとの取引額は０５年９月ごろ月５００万円を超えたが、修理会社は車購入を徐々に渋るようになったため、０６年１２月に奈良トヨタから取引停止を通告された。

　取引停止の理由について、奈良トヨタ側は修理会社社長（３８）による奈良トヨタ従業員への暴力を挙げているが、修理会社社長は「奈良トヨタは取引の優越的地位を利用し車購入を強制した。下請け業者への物品購入強制を禁じた下請法に違反している。暴力を振るった事実はなく、取引は不当に打ち切られた」と主張。奈良トヨタ側は「訴状を見ていないのでコメントできない」としている。

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カルテル対策：指南書公表へ…ＥＵ制裁多発受け　経産省

　日本企業が欧州連合（ＥＵ）の執行機関、欧州委員会にカルテルで摘発され、巨額の制裁金を科されるケースが相次いでいることを受け、経済産業省は２５日午後、対策を列挙した指南書を公表する。同省の研究会がまとめた報告書で「競争業者（同業他社）との会合に同席したら終わり。（カルテルに）賛成したと思われる」などと、違反歴を持つ企業からのアドバイスが盛り込まれている。

　学者や弁護士、公正取引委員会職員らで構成する研究会が今年１月から論議してきた。▽他社との会合は極力避ける▽どうしても出席しなければならない場合、価格に関する話が出たらすぐに帰る▽帰ると波風が立つことが予想される場合、弁護士を連れて行く－－などとしている。

　欧米では常識とされる事項ばかりで、「『違反を犯すはずがない』と考え、危機意識を持っていない場合が多い。摘発を受けて初めて制裁の重さに驚く」などと日本企業の甘さを指摘し、意識改革を呼び掛ける。

　同省によると、ＥＵ当局が００年以降に摘発したカルテルの件数は９０年代の約３倍。日本企業は０３年～今年４月、１７社が摘発され、最高で１．５億ユーロ（約２４０億円）の制裁金を科された。一方、公取委が命じた課徴金は、セメントカルテル（９１年）の小野田セメントに対する約２４億円が最高。

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特集：中国・冷凍食品工場はいま　安全性確保へ、光るカメラ

　今年１月の中国製冷凍ギョーザ事件は消費者に中国産食品への不信感を募らせた。この余波を受け、中国に生産拠点を持つ冷凍食品メーカーは軒並み出荷を減らし、厳しい経営を強いられた。ただ、今回の事件は無差別の「食品テロ」への対処という課題も残し、安全対策の強化も促した。事件発覚から５カ月。ようやく生産が戻りつつある冷凍食品大手３社の中国拠点を訪ねた。

　◆連雲港・味の素
　◇取引先７０社を緊急査察

　上海から車で北へ約４時間。山東省に程近い江蘇省連雲港市に味の素冷凍食品は二つの合弁工場を持つ。同市の人口は約４７０万。沿海に１４ある経済技術開発区の一つで、世界の主要港と貨物船が行き来する港を持つ。国内各地への空の便も良く、交通の利便性が当地進出の理由という。

　第１工場の稼働は９６年。第２工場は０１年に操業した。主力はオニオンリングやレンコンの挟み揚げなど日本向け冷凍食品で、９６％が家庭用だ。

　事件後の生産減は著しく、１月と春節（旧正月）の休暇で例年稼働日数が減る２月を挟んだ、昨年１２月と３月を比べると、生産量は６３９トンから３１５トンに半減。出荷額も約２億４３００万円から約１億５０００万円に減り、２１００人から１７００人（うち５５０人は自宅待機）への人員整理も余儀なくされた。「暴動が起こるんじゃないかと、まじめに考えた」と、小林匠・董事長兼総経理が振り返るように従業員への通知は慎重を期した。労働当局者の出席を請い、中国人幹部から説明させ、日本人の出席は控えた。解雇に際しては補償金の給付や生産回復後の優先採用なども確約したという。

　「原産国　中国」のパッケージ表示だけで敬遠されるという事態に、いくつかの業務上の改善にも取り組んだ。従来、収穫時と工場搬入時に行ってきた野菜などの残留農薬検査を輸入後の日本で製品に対しても実施するように変えた。調味料や野菜などの取引先７０社を訪ね、製品管理などの「緊急査察」も実施。査察を拒んだトウバンジャンのメーカーとは取引関係を断絶した。

　従業員管理では工場内への入退場時の持ち物チェックのほか、持ち込み品がある場合は申請書の提出を義務づけた。薬品の管理も強化。１００人前後の生産ラインの班長らには、作業時間・人員などを細かく記録して、保管させるようにした。

　工場では２０歳前後の若い女性たちが、一つ一つの食材を注意深く見つめながら黙々と作業に当たる。小林さんは「これまで以上に話を聞くよう努めている」と話し、「彼女たちが『自分たちが作った物を食べてくれる人は家族。家族には安全でおいしい物を食べてほしい』と言っているのを聞いて、そういうことだろうなと思った」と続けた。大平正芳・副総経理は「日本での反応も十分わかる。だけど従業員は精いっぱいやっていて、残念で」と悔しげな顔をした。

　◆青島・日本水産
　◇工場に３０台、作業撮影

　経済技術開発区に指定された８０年代以降、外国投資の増加で発展を遂げる山東省青島市。人口は７００万を超え、市中心部には高層ビルが林立する。日本水産は０４年６月、開発区内の郊外に食品企業、山東山孚集団との合弁会社、山東山孚日水有限公司を設立した。敷地は約７万２０００平方メートルと、東京の八王子総合工場よりひと回り大きく、１階を第１～３、２階を第４、５工場とする建物が中央に横たわる。屋上に上がると、青島を本拠とする中国最大の家電メーカー、ハイアールの工場群が至近に迫る。

　五つの工場は焼き魚、フライなどの水産加工・調理食品、きんぴらごぼうやひじきの煮物などの冷凍食品、さらにパン粉などと品目ごとに分かれる。原料、加工、包装の各区に更衣室があり、区ごとに作業衣を着替える決まりになっている。敷地内には３０台の監視カメラが置かれ、工場の８台は従業員の動きを記録し続けている。

　日本向け家庭用冷凍食品の輸出額は１月の約７０００万円から２月は約５８０万円に激減。３、４月は約２１７０万円、約３３７０万円と持ち直したが、１月の数字は程遠い。

　事件後、包装材メーカー約１０社を訪問し、殺虫・殺鼠（さっそ）剤などの管理状況を点検。味の素同様、不十分な１社との関係を解消した。

　５月末には日本から役員５人が来訪し、取引のある中国１５社と初の経営者会議を持った。各社のトップら４０人に加え、省政府の食品担当者７人も出席。垣添直也・日水社長が品質管理の考えを説明し、日本の小売関係者や大学教授らによる「中国産食品の信頼回復のために」と題した討論会も開いた。

　日水は０３年、青島に中国品質管理センターを設置。業務量の増加などから今年４月、青島日水食品研究開発有限公司として独立させた。

　日水の渡部裕人取締役・中国室長は「買い手の立場で日本以上の検査をやっている」と話す。また、事件後には魚の切り身にまで農薬検査が求められるほど、検疫当局の態度が厳格化し、出荷が滞ったという。

　◆〓陽・マルハニチロ
　◇画像保存、１年に延長

　青島から北へ約２時間。山東省煙台市を構成する〓陽市は人口約９０万。市街を少し離れれば、農村一色の風景が広がる。マルハニチロ食品（当時はニチロ）は０５年５月、食品メーカー、龍大食品集団と合弁で煙台日魯大食品有限公司を設立。同社もまた弁当総菜など家庭用が９８％を占める。

　１月に２４０トンあった出荷量は２月は半分の１１７トン、３月は４４トン、４月に至っては業務用の２トンのみという惨状を呈した。年初に作りだめした在庫がはけず、２月２０日には生産停止に追い込まれる。従業員をつなぎ留めるため、やむなく５月中旬まで、龍大食品の中国向け業務を請け負い、工場を稼働させたという。入佐豊・副総経理は「龍大の仕事は利益はないが、人をやめさせないためだった」と打ち明ける。生産は再開したが、６月の見通しは２０トン強と厳しい。昨年同時期に約６００人いた従業員は現在３９０人という状態だ。

　同社は家庭用比率の高さと、昨年１０月のマルハ、ニチロの合併に伴う生産アイテムの減少が今回の打撃を大きくしたと分析。入佐さんは「利益率は低いが、今後は業務用の比率を高めることも検討したい」と対策を示す。

　事件後は、残留農薬検査の対象を水産物や使用水、油を含むすべての食品にまで広げ、工場の監視カメラも８台から１１台に増設。画像の保存期間を従来の出荷までの１週間から賞味期限と同じ１年間に延長した。

　食材などの検査は日本や欧米並みの最新機器をそろえる龍大の検査機関「煙台傑科検測服務有限公司」に委託している。煙台日魯の王呈濤・総経理は「ホウレンソウの問題から、我々は多くを学んだ。龍大グループ挙げて、しっかりした検査をしている」と話す。数年前の中国産ホウレンソウ事件が警鐘となり、中国国内の検査体制が厳しくなったというわけだ。

　福利厚生にも力を入れている。従業員は省内の農村出身が多く、品質保証部の堀幾太郎副部長は「何もない所なので、社内旅行や文化活動でやる気を起こしてもらっている」と話し、「海を見たことのない子も多く、日帰りで海を見せに行くと喜んで。先に見える島を、あれが日本だよなんて言うと、ほんとに信じちゃって」と笑った。
　◇チェック体制、「入荷から出荷まで」主流に－－日本基準で検査、野菜は契約農場から調達

　食品の安全性確認は工場内の衛生や環境保全を前提に最終製品の抜き取り検査によってきた。だが、この方法では必ずしも危険食品を抜き取れる保証はない。最近は「検査」から「監視」に重点が移り、原料入荷から製品出荷までの生産工程の重要管理点を継続的に監視する「ＨＡＣＣＰ方式」が主流となっている。中国の日系企業でも既にＨＡＣＣＰやＨＡＣＣＰ同等の自社システムを導入している。また、０６年の改正食品衛生法施行で農薬が残留する農産物の流通は原則禁止となった。残留基準値のない作物には規制がなかったネガティブリストから、残留が許される場合のみ作物ごとに基準値を示すポジティブリストへの変更で、合弁企業の多くもこれに対応した日本基準の検査を実施している。

　３社に共通するのは野菜などを契約農場で調達している点だ。煙台日魯では龍大グループの農場と契約。農場には作業員が昼夜常駐し、品種ごとに農薬や肥料をまいた日、使用量、濃度、面積などを細かく記録。野菜に病気が出たり、ハエやカなどが異常発生すると、品質保証部の専門員に連絡する体制を取っている。

　その一方で不安も共通している。人件費や原材料費の上昇だ。日水によると、この５年間で最低賃金は５０％前後上昇。３市で最も低賃金の〓陽市で月６５０元。連雲港市では毎年１００元単位で上昇し、７００元にまでなった。各社とも残業代を含め１０００元前後を支給し、人材確保に努めている。味の素冷凍食品の小林さんは「手作業だった袋詰めに包装機を導入するなど単純作業の機械化を進めている」と話す。日水の渡部さんは「魚を触るのが嫌とか、日本ではなかなか食品工場に人が集まらない。こっちはどの仕事が嫌などと言わない若い人がたくさんいる」と述べ、賃金は上昇しても、豊富な労働力がある点を強調した。

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知的障害児施設：「契約制度」適用、６割が低所得世帯

　全国の知的障害児入所施設で、障害者自立支援法に基づき保護者に原則１割の施設利用料などを課す「契約制度」を適用された子の６割が低所得世帯であることが、日本知的障害者福祉協会の調べで分かった。また、入所児の２人に１人が、一人親世帯か祖父母・親せきが保護者であることも判明。施設にいる障害児の多くが、不安定な家庭環境のもとで契約制度を適用されている実態が浮かんだ。

　全国の知的障害児施設（約２６０カ所）に、今月１日現在の世帯状況などを調査。２８日までに回答があった１３７施設分をまとめた。

　知的障害児施設の入所児に、契約制度か、公費負担による「措置制度」のどちらを適用するかは都道府県が決める。調査では、回答があった施設の入所児の約６割の２６５３人に契約制度が適用されていた。このうち、生活保護受給世帯は２２８人（９％）、住民税が非課税となっている世帯も１３５８人（５１％）に上り、計１５８６人（６０％）が低所得層だった。

　また、回答施設の入所児の約５０％が、父母のどちらかがいないか、両親ともいないために祖父母や親せきが保護者だった。こうした世帯の６５％に契約制度が適用されていた。

　協会は「当事者責任の契約は、児童とその家族を社会全体で支援する制度とは言い難い。制度の見直しが急務だ」と話している。

---------------------------
詐欺：生活保護費８００万円詐取容疑、就労を隠した板金工逮捕－－鹿角署　／秋田

　鹿角署は２０日、鹿角市花輪三日市、板金工、関忠行容疑者（５５）を就労を隠して生活保護費約８００万円をだまし取った詐欺容疑で逮捕した。

　調べでは関容疑者は０３年３月、勤務先が決まっていたにもかかわらず同市役所に生活保護申請して認定を受け、０３年４月～０８年３月まで計約８００万円を毎月、銀行口座に振り込ませてだまし取った疑い。同署によると期間中、市内の２カ所の板金業者のところで勤務していたが、収入を低く申請したり収入がないなどと申請していた。容疑をおおむね認めているという。

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Scare as Sarkozy departs Israel

Confusion has marred French President Nicolas Sarkozy's farewell to Israel, after a soldier shot himself dead during an airport departure ceremony.

Mr Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, were rushed into their plane after the shot. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was also hurried to safety.

The incident at Ben-Gurion airport came at the end of Mr Sarkozy's three-day visit to Israel and the West Bank.

A police spokesman said the security officer had committed suicide.

Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the incident, which happened just as Mr Sarkozy and Ms Bruni were about to board their plane, had posed no threat to the visitors.

He denied reports that it might have been an assassination attempt on the French president. Other reports suggested the soldier may have shot himself accidentally.

Witnesses said the incident was over within minutes and that Mr Olmert had then boarded the Sarkozys' plane to say farewell and explain what had happened.

'A priority'

Israel Radio reported that the soldier had been stationed on the perimeter of the airport, some 100m to 200m (330 - 660 feet) from the Sarkozys' plane, when he shot himself as a band played.

Carla Bruni and Nicolas Sarkozy in the West Bank, 24 June

Television footage showed the French president and his wife being hustled up the steps into the aircraft.

Israeli President Shimon Peres, who was also present for the farewell ceremony, was also taken to his armoured car.

Mr Sarkozy's visit was intended to improve relations between France and Israel.

He also held talks in the West Bank on Tuesday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Sarkozy voiced his support for the creation of a Palestinian state.

"The security of Israel is non-negotiable for France, but the creation of a viable, democratic, modern state for the Palestinians is a priority for France," he said.

He also repeated his call for Israel to halt its building of settlements in the West Bank.

It came a day after he told Israeli politicians in the Knesset that there would be no lasting Middle East peace without a freeze on Jewish settlement construction on Palestinian land.

Mr Abbas said the Palestinians were "relying a great deal on the European role" in the peace process, particularly as France takes on the rotating European Union presidency next month.

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Biofuel use 'increasing poverty'
A palm oil plantation in Ivory Coast

The replacement of traditional fuels with biofuels has dragged more than 30 million people worldwide into poverty, an aid agency report says.

Oxfam says so-called green policies in developed countries are contributing to the world's soaring food prices, which hit the poor hardest.

The group also says biofuels will do nothing to combat climate change.

Its report urges the EU to scrap a target of making 10% of all transport run on renewable resources by 2020.

Oxfam estimates the EU's target could multiply carbon emissions 70-fold by 2020 by changing the use of land.

The report's author, Oxfam's biofuel policy adviser Rob Bailey, criticised rich countries for using subsidies and tax breaks to encourage the use of food crops for alternative sources of energy like ethanol.

"If the fuel value for a crop exceeds its food value, then it will be used for fuel instead," he said.

"Rich countries... are making climate change worse, not better, they are stealing crops and land away from food production, and they are destroying millions of livelihoods in the process."

Opportunity - or crime?

Biofuels are a divisive issue with strong arguments on both sides.

Leaders such as Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have suggested the biofuel boom provides developing nations with a great opportunity.

He says it creates a profitable export for energy crop producers in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean that could enable them to claw their way out of poverty.

But several aid agencies and analysts have warned of the possible downside of biofuel crop cultivation.

One UN adviser went as far as describing biofuels as a "crime against humanity".

----------------------
Developer 'used Vatican in scam'
Rafaello Follieri (L) was boyfriend of Anne Hathaway, file image 02/08

An Italian-born businessman has been charged in a US court with inventing Vatican connections to dupe investors out of millions of dollars.

Raffaello Follieri, 29, told potential investors he could buy land owned by the Catholic Church in the US at bargain prices, prosecutors say.

But instead he used their money to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Mr Follieri gained a high profile when he was the long-term partner of actress Anne Hathaway. He did not enter a plea.

'Overwhelming evidence'

According to the indictment unsealed in Manhattan's District Court, the businessman told potential clients that the Vatican had formally appointed him to manage its financial affairs.

"In short, your honour, he is a con man, and he was able to defraud a lot of people out of a lot of money over a long period of time"
Prosecutor Reed Michael Brodsky

To bolster his claims he kept various ceremonial robes at his office in New York, including those of senior clergymen, according to witnesses cited by the prosecution.

He also allegedly hired two clergymen to help with his business, and asked one clergyman to dress up in the vestments of a more senior rank.

From 2005 to 2007 he received millions of dollars from an unnamed private equity firm, which he used to fund an upmarket Manhattan flat and charter private jets.

Mr Follieri has been charged with several counts of fraud, money laundering and conspiracy.

Assistant US Attorney Reed Michael Brodsky said the evidence against Mr Follieri was "overwhelming".

"In short, your honour, he is a con man, and he was able to defraud a lot of people out of a lot of money over a long period of time," Mr Brodsky said.

The prosecutor argued for detention without bail.

Mr Follieri was released on bail of $21m (£10.6m), his passport was confiscated and his movements have been restricted to within Manhattan.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

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Pirates 'seize family off Yemen'
Map of Somalia

Pirates have kidnapped a Western family from a yacht off Yemen and taken them to the breakaway republic of Somaliland, officials there have said.

A Somaliland elder told the BBC that the family was German and that he had visited them.

Somaliland's Vice-President, Ahmed Yusuf Yasin, said earlier that an operation to find the family had begun.

Pirate attacks against fishing boats, cargo ships and yachts off Somalia's coast have surged over recent months.

Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 after the overthrow of military leader Siad Barre.

The breakaway republic has been relatively peaceful in comparison to Somalia, which has experienced almost constant civil conflict since then.

Somalia's coastal waters are close to shipping routes connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and the country's interim government lacks the resources to police its own coastline.

Restraint urged

Mr Yusuf Yasin said at least three members of the family - a father, mother and child - were taken to a mountainous area of Somaliland by their kidnappers.

The Somaliland elder who said he had visited the family also said he was negotiating with the pirates who had captured them.

He urged restraint from authorities in Somaliland and neighbouring Somali state of Puntland who have troops massed on their border, 10km (6 miles) from where the hostages are being held.

Sporadic fighting has broken out between Puntland and Somaliland over the ownership of some border areas.

Earlier this month, the UN Security Council voted to allow countries to send warships into Somalia's waters to tackle the pirates.

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Helping Lebanon's torture victims

By Mike Sergeant
BBC News in Beirut

Ehab al-Banna People rarely talk openly about torture in Lebanon; even the victims are reluctant to speak out, much less seek treatment.

But a new centre in Beirut is trying to help those who have suffered at the hands of vicious interrogators and ruthless prison guards.

Centre Nassim, in the eastern part of the city, aims to rehabilitate victims of torture. The idea is to bring everything people may need under one roof.

Here, they can get legal and financial advice. They are also offered medical treatment for their physical and mental wounds.

Some of the people who come to the centre experienced cruel treatment in detention during the civil war in Lebanon, which ended in 1990. Others say they were tortured much more recently.

"There is nothing worse you can do than torture someone," says Cynthia Petrigh, the director of the centre.

"But we are here to help the worst-off. It's so rewarding when you see a smile on the face of someone who has been through hell in detention."

'Nobody gets justice'

Ehab al-Banna says he knows what it is like to be on the receiving end of brutal treatment in prison. He was arrested in 1999 after clashes with the Lebanese army and held for four-and-a-half years.

"They gave us no food no water for three days," he alleges.

"No sleep, no toilet, until we signed a confession. They used electrical torture, water torture and they tied our hands behind our backs and lifted us."

Sign at Centre Nassim He shows me some of the techniques he says were used against him. On one occasion, he says, he was so badly beaten that he ended up in a coma for three days - something he still has not fully recovered from.

"It's a very bad feeling" he says. "You have this fear for the rest of your life. They make you a very bad person in the eyes of society."

I ask his lawyer Tarek Shindab about compensation. He just laughs.

"Never - not in this country. They will put you in prison again. That's it," he says.

"Nobody ever gets justice for this."

At the Centre Nassim, however, victims can get practical assistance.

Very often there is a link between the physical and mental effects of torture. The psychological pain sometimes lasts the longest.

Rabih Chammaay, the psychiatrist at the centre, says that some of the victims tortured 20 years ago are still depressed.

There are also those newly released from jail, whose symptoms are slightly different. "They are more agitated and anxious," he explains.

Terror suspects

The first step for treating the victims is to get them to relax.

Selim al-Hilwee, a physiotherapist, tells me he often likes to use calming music and massage to help them open up and accept more specific treatment.

A victim of torture receives a massage at Centre Nassim The centre has only been open a few months, but the specialists employed here say they are already seeing positive results.

Lebanon signed up to an international convention against torture in 2000, and in recent years legislation has given victims greater legal protection.

But according to human rights organisations, forms of torture are still widely practised.

Wadih al-Asmar, of the Lebanese Centre for Human Rights, says that the main issue in Lebanon is that the police think that torture is a method of interrogation.

"It's a particular problem with cases of terrorism," he says.

"Every time a terrorist is suspected, we suspect torture."

The fact is that Lebanon probably has a better record on torture than many countries in the Middle East - but even here, it seems to have taken place much too frequently.

Only now are the victims starting to talk more openly about their experiences, and getting the help they need to recover.

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Signs of division on Egypt's brow

By Magdi Abdelhadi
BBC News, Cairo

Muslim men praying in an Egyptian workplace

The zebiba used to be the mark of an elderly Muslim man, the fruit of a lifetime's devotion, but it is increasingly seen on the faces of young Egyptians.

Literally meaning "a raisin", the zebiba is a patch of hardened skin where the forehead touches the ground during Muslim prayers.

Some welcome the trend as a sign of devotion, others say it is ostentatious piety.

Worse still there are fears public displays of faith like the zebiba and the hijab, or headscarf, are spilling over into vigilantism.

Liberals or Christians who don't conform in the workplace or on the street say they are being harassed.

Gift from God

A practising Muslim's forehead is meant to touch the ground at least 34 times a day - in symbolic submission to God's will - which could add up to more than a million prostrations in a lifetime.

"The relentless rise of political Islam over the past few decades has succeed in rolling back significant parts of Egypt's secular tradition "
But over the past few decades, as more and more Egyptians turned to religion, the zebiba began appearing among young men as the veil did among young women.

But not every Muslim gets one, and opinions vary as to where it comes from. It could something to do with skin-type, or created artificially, or come from particular kinds of matting. Others believe it is a gift from God.

Many young Egyptians I asked believe some kind of light will emanate from the prayer mark on their foreheads on the Day of Judgment, marking them out as truly devout.

One of Egypt's greatest living and most popular poets, Abdelrahman al-Abnoudi, has another explanation - in times of crises people turn either to drugs or to religion.

Egyptians have always been religious, he adds, but since being religious has also become fashionable, people now press their foreheads against the ground a little harder to acquire the appearance of a devout Muslim.

Dalia Ziada of the American Islamic Congress - an non-governmental organisation based in Cairo - says some men deliberately pray on straw mats, and rub their foreheads until they eventually develop the zebiba.

Relentless rise

The increased public display of religious devotion is part of a wider phenomenon, affecting what women wear, and what people read or watch on their television screens.

Egyptian man with prayer mark (Photo courtesy of Youssef Abdelaal/Flickr) The relentless rise of political Islam over the past few decades has succeed in rolling back significant parts of Egypt's secular tradition.

For radical Islamist politicians, like Magdi Hussein, that is a move in the right direction, away from the Westernisation which started over two centuries ago with the French and British invasions.

He sees the the zebiba phenomenon in the context of government-inspired "darwasha", an atmosphere of unpolitical religious devotion which goes against the Islamists' self-professed aim of reforming society and fighting corruption and despotism.

But Mr Hussein refuses to acknowledge that the increased public display of piety has had any downsides.

Intimidation

"Suddenly the girls - all of whom were veiled - surrounded the car and start banging on the windows "
Shahinaz

Egyptian women and Liberals I spoke to tell a different story. A Coptic doctor, who did not want to be named, told me she had been spat upon in broad daylight for not wearing the veil.

A young Muslim engineer, Shahinaz, who refuses to cover her hair, said she has become scared of intimidation.

"I was driving home one evening and had to stop next to a girls' school. Suddenly the girls - all of whom were veiled - surrounded the car and start banging on the windows and screaming: 'Infidel! Apostate!' I was terrified."

Dr Sayyed al-Qimni, one of Egypt's best known liberal writers and historians, says society has been hijacked by a very conservative brand of religion, which he characterises as Saudi Wahhabi Islam.

"There are now 13,000 religious schools [in Egypt] that produce terrorists, like the Taliban madrassas in Pakistan. At religious schools they teach children that Muslims who do not pray should be killed."

There is no doubt that in one way the Islamists are winning their struggle to increase the role religion plays in social life and public debate in this country.

The question now for Egypt is what kind of Muslim society it is going to be - one that is at peace or at war with modern values.

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'Shake-up' for internet proposed
By Darren Waters
Technology editor, BBC News website

Cable

The net could see its biggest transformation in decades if plans to open up the address system are passed.

The net's regulators will vote on Thursday to decide if the strict rules on so-called top level domain names, such as .com or .uk, can be relaxed.

If approved, it could allow companies to turn their brands into domain names while individuals could also carve out their own corner of the net.

The move could also see the launch of .xxx, after years of wrangling.

Top level domains are currently limited to individual countries, such as .uk (UK) or .it (Italy), as well as to commerce, .com, and to institutional organisations, such as .net, or .org.

To get around the restrictions, some companies have used the current system to their own ends.

For example, the Polynesia island nation Tuvalu, has leased the use of the .tv address to many television firms.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann), which acts as a sort of regulator for the net as well as overseeing the domain name system, has been working towards opening up net addresses for the last three years.

"It's a massive increase in the geography of the real estate of the internet"
Dr Paul Twomey, Icann

The plan would also allow for the new domain names to be internationalised, and so could be written in scripts for Asian and Arabic languages.

Dr Paul Twomey, chief executive of Icann, told BBC News that the proposals would result in the biggest change to the way the internet worked in decades.

"The impact of this will be different in different parts of the world. But it will allow groups, communities and business to express their identities online.

"Like the United States in the 19th Century, we are in the process of opening up new real estate, new land, and people will go out and claim parts of that land and use it for various reasons they have.

"It's a massive increase in the geography of the real estate of the internet."

Arbitration process

Hundreds of new domain names could be created by the end of the year, rising to thousands in the future.

HAVE YOUR SAY
" I'm all for tighter regulation, not opening it up further which would only facilitate fraud"
Karen, London
Read your comments

Icann says any string of letters can be registered as a domain, but there will be an independent arbitration process for people with grounds for objection.

The openness of the new system could pave the way for a .xxx domain name, after more than half a decade of wrangling between its backers and Icann.

The latest attempt to launch .xxx was rejected by Icann last year on the grounds that approval would put the agency into the position of a content regulator.

When asked about the possibility of a .xxx domain name, Dr Twomey repeated only that the new system would be "open to anyone".

The move could yet be blocked as the independent arbitration panel can reject domains based on "morality or public order" grounds.

Dr Twomey said Icann was still working through how much the application fee to register a domain name will be, but it is expected to be at least several thousand dollars.

'Cost recovery'

"We are doing this on a cost recovery basis. We've already spent $10m on this," he said.

Individuals will be able to register a domain based on their own name, or any other string of letters, as long as they can show a "business plan and technical capacity".

While companies will be able to secure domain names based on their intellectual property easily, some domain names could become subject to contention and a bidding war.

Dr Twomey said: "If there is a dispute, we will try and get the parties together to work it out. But if that fails there will be an auction and the domain will go to the highest bidder."

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Africa fish fall blamed on Japan
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website, Santiago, Chile

Protesters stand near an inflatable whale outside a hotel where the IWC holds its 60th annual meeting in Santiago, Chile. (AP)

A coalition of conservation groups and a leading fisheries scientist have accused Japan of damaging the fisheries interests of poorer countries.

They say Japan promotes the argument that whales are responsible for declining fish stocks in order to boost support for whale hunting.

They say this stops poor countries from focussing on real causes of decline.

A spokesman for Japan's whale research institution described the accusation as "absurd and irresponsible".

The groups involved presented their conclusions on the sidelines of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) annual meeting.

Daniel Pauly, director of the University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre, said there was abundant evidence that whales are not behind the decline in fish stocks.

"Blaming whales is an issue that is not only false - whales are no more responsible than the Martians - but which prevents the very small resources of West African countries from being devoted to understanding the real reasons why their fisheries are declining," he said.

Decline and fall

There is little doubt that fish stocks globally are shrinking. One recent major study projected there would be no commercial fisheries left in 50 years if current trends continued.

Some developing countries, notably along the west coast of Africa, have seen stocks fall abruptly as fleets from Europe and East Asia have moved either legally or illegally into grounds that had previously been the preserve of small scale local fishermen.

But some of these countries evidently believe the fish are disappearing largely because whales are eating them.

'Only 50 years left' for sea fish

Fisherman casting a net (Image: AP)

In February, a group of 11 African countries - all members of the IWC - published conclusions from a workshop held in Rabat, Morocco, at which senior Japanese whaling officials were present, referring to "the natural competition existing between whale species and (human) populations of developing countries in regard to utilisation of living marine resources".

Dr Pauly said that focussing on whales diverted attention from the real causes of depletion.

"In some countries, a fisheries division would consist of just five or six people; and if their minister comes along and says 'it's the whales', how are they going to be motivated to look for illegal fishing, to look at the access agreements (signed with European or Asian governments) that feed back only 1% of the value of the fish landed?"

In a paper written for the IWC meeting, Dr Pauly argues that whales cannot be a significant cause of fisheries decline because in the past, numbers of both whales and fish were much higher than they are now.

He also cites evidence assembled in the 1990s showing that only about 1% of the food eaten by any group of marine mammals was taken in areas home to important fisheries for human consumption.

Local impacts

Dan Goodman, a councillor to Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research which manages the nation's scientific whaling programme, said Japan had never said that whales were the cause of declining fish stocks.

However, he told BBC News: "In the western North Pacific off the coast of Japan, whales are eating large quantities of at least 10 species that are the target of commercial fisheries; some of these stocks have significantly declined.

Guide to Great Whales
Infographic

"What the Japanese Government has been saying is that their research, as well as research done by Norway and Iceland, clearly indicates that at least for some areas whales do consume large quantities of fish and that interactions between whales and fisheries need to be addressed in ecosystem approaches to management."

Mr Goodman also dismissed as "an absurd allegation and a gross misrepresentation" the notion that Japan can be held responsible for how African countries address overfishing in their waters.

But Remi Parmentier from the Pew Environment Group said Japan has been raising the issue "to scare and recruit countries into supporting its move to end the (whaling) moratorium."

There was now so much evidence against the "whales eat fish" argument that it should, he said, now be closed.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi answered media questions on East China Sea here Tuesday. Following is a tentative translation of the questions and answers:

I. Q: What's the purpose of China to reach consensus with Japan on East China Sea issue? What benefits could China gain from this? 　

A: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expounded China's stance time and again. I would like to emphasize here one more time that the understanding inked between China and Japan on East China Sea issue through consultation is a key step to implement the major consensus reached by leaders of both countries in an effort to make the East China Sea a place of peace, cooperation and friendship. The outcome is mutually beneficial and in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples.

II. Q: A senior Japanese official said recently that Japan has not recognized China's sovereign rights over Chunxiao oil and gas field. What's your comments?

A: I would like to make two points: first, it is with no doubt that the sovereign rights of Chunxiao oil and gas field belong to China; secondly, both China and Japan have agreed that Japanese enterprises would participate in the relevant cooperation in Chunxiao oil and gas field in accordance with the Chinese laws governing the external cooperation on offshore oil resources development and accept Chinese jurisdiction. This fully embodies that China has the sovereign rights over Chunxiao oil and gas field.

III. Q: Why does China allow Japanese companies to join the development of Chunxiao oil and gas field?

A: Absorption of foreign capitals in participating through cooperation in tapping offshore oil and gas resources is a common practice that complies with the Chinese laws and the international practice. Relevant Chinese companies have already undertaken cooperation with Unocal, Shell and other foreign companies in Chunxiao oil and gas field.

The Chinese companies concerned allow the Japanese enterprises to participate in the development of Chunxiao oil and gas field in accordance with the Chinese laws, the nature of which is the same as the cooperation with Unocal and Shell and bears no special meaning.

I would like to stress that it is just for that reason that such development through cooperation is under Chinese jurisdiction and is led by the Chinese companies.

IV. Q: Some Japanese officials said that whether the development of Chunxiao oil and gas field should be called the joint development depends on the definition of joint development, and it is not important to call it "joint development" or not. What's the comment from the Chinese side?

A: The development through cooperation is totally different from the joint development. Joint development is a transitional arrangement which is not valid under laws of any party involved. What the Chinese and Japanese companies will do in the Chunxiao oil and gas field is the development through cooperation, an act that will be done in accordance with Chinese laws.

V. Q: Certain people in Japan said that the joint development between China and Japan in the northern sea areas of the East China Sea is based on the "median line". What's your comment?

A: On the East China sea delimitation, China has never and will not recognize the so-called "median line" as advocated by Japan. China upholds the principle of natural prolongation to solve the delimitation issue of East China Sea continental shelf. The ultimate delimitation of East China Sea will be solved through negotiations between China and Japan.

VI. Q: What is the impact of relevant agreements reached by China and Japan on the two countries' rights and interests at sea?

A: The principled consensus reached by China and Japan on joint development is a transitional measure, or a temporary arrangement. It will not affect China's sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the East China Sea.

Source: Xinhua