US legal eagles fly in for Moscow case

US legal eagles fly in for Moscow case

By Neil Buckley in Moscow and Joanna Chung in New York

Published: June 29 2008 22:53 | Last updated: June 29 2008 22:53

Titans of the US legal system will argue before a Moscow judge on Monday over a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit being brought under American law that is highly unusual – even by the standards of Russian justice.

At issue is a $22.5bn damages claim against Bank of New York Mellon by the Russian Federal Customs Service with potentially far-reaching implications. It relates to a decade-old money laundering case that had been thought resolved.

Bank of New York reached a $14m settlement with US federal prosecutors in 2005 after two Russian émigrés, one a bank vice-president, admitted helping to launder $7bn of Russian money in the late 1990s. Now Russia is demanding billions in unpaid taxes on the money.

Russian customs has brought in Alan Dershowitz, the Harvard law professor who advised on the defence of OJ Simpson, as an expert witness. They are also fielding Robert Blakey, an author of the US racketeer-influenced and corrupt organisations (Rico) statute – which they are trying to use in the Moscow Arbitration Court. Bank of New York’s lawyers are fielding Dick Thornburgh, a former attorney-general and Pennsylvania governor.

The case is an important test of whether Rico can be applied outside the US. It will put a spotlight on President Dmitry Medvedev’s pledges to strengthen the Russian judiciary’s independence.

Background

Alan Dershowitz is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at the Harvard Law School. As well as his legal work, he is known for his commentary on the Arab-Israeli conflict.

As a criminal appellate lawyer, Mr Dershowitz successfully argued to overturn the conviction of Claus von Bulow for the attempted murder of his wife. He also served as the appellate adviser in the trial of O.J. Simpson, the former American football player and actor.

Mr Dershowitz was made a full professor of law in 1967, aged 28, becoming, at that time, Harvard’s youngest full law professor.

As Mr Medvedev has admitted, Russian courts frequently become tools of state authorities or wealthy businessmen. Some Moscow observers suggest the BNY case could not have got this far without support from a high-level “sponsor” in government, the security services, or business – or one well-connected in all three areas.

Podhurst Orseck, the Miami-based lawyers representing Russian customs in association with a Moscow firm, are demanding $22.5bn damages, based on claimed direct and indirect losses to the Russian budget of $7.5bn. Rico allows damages to be trebled on a punitive basis.

BNY and its lawyers, Boies, Schiller & Flexner, insist the case is frivolous. They argue Rico claims cannot be brought outside the US, and a public, criminal law cannot be adjudicated on by a private commercial court.

“To be in the Moscow [Arbitration] Court trying to bring a US public law case such as Rico is barred by Russian and US law,” says Jonathan Schiller, co-founder of Boies, Schiller & Flexner and lead counsel on the BNY case. Mr Thornburgh backs that argument.

Mr Schiller also says the case lacks the two “predicate” crimes required for a Rico case. Bank of New York was never charged with or admitted to money-laundering, he says; it admitted only to monitoring failures. Lucy Edwards, the employee involved, and her husband Peter Berlin also admitted only to conspiracy to launder and violating reporting laws, not money-laundering itself.

But Mr Dershowitz and Mr Blakey argue Rico can be applied outside the US. That question, not the case’s merits, is the focus of Monday's’s hearing, with BNY attempting to dismiss the case. “There is nothing in the Rico statute or legislative history that precludes the Russian court from applying Rico,” says Mr Dershowitz, who adds it is “very important” for Rico laws to be applied extra-territorially.

He points out Rico is both a criminal and a civil law, and the Russians are seeking to apply only the civil part. “We have to prove that money laundering occurred, but that will not be hard to do. The burden of proof is much lighter in a civil case than in a criminal case.”

This is raising questions about whether BNY should establish a reserve against a possible loss. Ken Thomas, an independent expert retained by the Russian side’s lawyers, wrote this month to Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve chairman, warning an adverse ruling could not just damage the 12-largest US bank but pose potential systemic risks.

Mr Schiller says the bank has few assets that could be pursued in Russia, and a damages ruling could not be enforced in the US or many other countries where the bank has significant assets thanks to the “revenue rule” barring authorities from collecting foreign tax claims.

“The US will not permit, and has not for 200 years, the application of a foreign government’s tax laws in the United States,” he says. “Just as Russia would not expect the US to collect its taxes over there.”

BNY says US accounting rules require a reserve only if losses are “probable and reasonably estimable”.

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China, Russia and India lift company profiles

By Simon Briscoe, Bernard Simon, Peggy Hollinger and Mark Mulligan

Published: June 27 2008 23:15 | Last updated: June 27 2008 23:15

China, Russia and India – helped by their surging economies – have the fastest-growing presence in the FT500 list of the world’s most important companies, which is published on Saturday.

They have breached the top 10 and muster 50 companies between them in the top 500, against having hardly any presence a decade ago.

But the performance of the developed world in the rankings since the mid-1990s has been intriguing. The dominance of the US has weakened, yet the number of Canadian companies has risen.

In Europe, the number of British and Dutch companies has fallen and the amount of German and Swiss companies has been broadly stable. Yet, French and Spanish representation has nearly doubled since 1996, when the Financial Times published its first Global 500.

What accounts for some of these mature economy success stories?

In Canada’s case, its presence in the FT500 has risen from 10 to 24 companies since 1996.

The period has seen a seismic shift from the traditional financial services, manufacturing and transportation industries of Ontario and Quebec to the resource-rich western provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

Strong commodity prices have bolstered the cash reserves of energy, mining and fertiliser producers, and made their shares a valuable currency to finance expansion and takeovers.

Capital spending in northern Alberta’s oil sands, estimated at C$20bn ($19.7bn) this year, now exceeds investment by the entire country’s manufacturing sector. Barrick Gold, still based in Toronto, has become the world’s top gold producer through several large acquisitions.

By contrast, the big five banks, which dominated corporate Canada a decade ago, have been held back by politicians’ refusal to allow mergers and takeovers in the sector for fear of triggering branch closures and job losses.

A handful of fast-growing, entrepreneurial businesses has also made a mark, notably Research In Motion, which manufactures the BlackBerry.

France’s economy may be sluggish, its consumers depressed and its politicians as wary of globalisation as ever, but the country’s companies are far from defeatist and their representation in the FT500 has risen from 18 to 31 companies. Success has come in spite of the costly imposition of the 35-hour work week at home, burdensome regulation and heavy social and fiscal charges.

Not only have French companies been aggressive buyers of businesses abroad to deliver the growth that was impossible at home, but some company bosses suggest they have been able to deliver higher returns there by using the survival techniques developed for a restrictive French market.

But not all of France’s gains can be put down to growth. Four of the new entrants since 1996 are privatisations, such as the partial sell-off that brought electricity group EDF and carmaker Renault to the market.

There have also been a number of mergers and takeovers creating companies of sufficient size – such as ArcelorMittal or EADS – to elbow their way into the FT500 ranks.

Spain has lifted its presence in the rankings from six to 14 companies. But even today, more than 20 years after Spanish companies began expanding abroad, the idea that one would run an airport, offer a mortgage or provide mobile telephone services in the UK, generate electricity in the US or operate a toll road in Canada might still cause surprise.

However, Ferrovial, Santander, Telefónica, Iberdrola and Cintra, are all Spanish companies that started life as small family concerns, state monopolies or private sector competitors and today are among the world’s biggest in their sectors.

Initially focused on buying privatised utilities and banks in Latin America, Spain’s big corporate names have, since the late 1990s, swung their spotlights on to North America and Europe, as cheap credit fuelled a mergers and acquisitions boom.

Having consolidated the fruits of their earlier forays, Spanish multinationals had both the financial muscle and managerial expertise to seek out other opportunities.

The liberalisation of the Spanish energy, telecommunications and financial services markets that came with European Union membership left many companies with little room to increase domestic market share, but still small enough to be taken over by European or US multinationals. The idea was to acquire or be acquired.

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Gazprom chief warns Ukraine on gas price

By Catherine Belton in Moscow

Published: June 28 2008 01:46 | Last updated: June 28 2008 01:46

The price Ukraine pays for gas imported from Russia could more than double next year, the head of Gazprom warned on Friday.

Alexei Miller said prices for Ukraine could rise to more than $400 (€254, £200) per 1,000 cubic metres in 2009 – up from $179.5 this year – if, as expected, the Russian state-controlled monopoly has to pay more for the gas it buys from Central Asia.

The increase could spark a new price dispute as Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukrainian prime minister, headed for Moscow on Friday evening.

Gazprom delivers more than a quarter of Europe’s gas supplies, mostly through Ukraine. Previous pricing disputes have led to disruptions in supplies to Europe.

Gazprom has signalled that deals with Central Asian suppliers could be reviewed upwards. It is yet to agree any new contracts.

Mr Miller’s comments came as Gazprom elected Viktor Zubkov, an ally of former president Vladimir Putin and a former prime minister, to take over from Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s president, as chairman of the world’s largest gas company at its annual meeting on Friday.

Arguing that state energy companies were set to dominate the global battle for new resources, Mr Miller told shareholders that Gazprom intended to extend its global reach by buying power and oil assets abroad.

He also said that Gazprom intended to expand its presence in the Russian oil sector.

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Berlusconi in race for immunity

By Guy Dinmore in Rome

Published: June 28 2008 02:46 | Last updated: June 28 2008 02:46

Racing against time before a verdict in a corruption trial involving Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s cabinet on Friday approved a bill that would give blanket immunity to the prime minister and three other senior officials.

The bill now moves to parliament, where Mr Berlusconi’s new centre-right coalition has a large majority. It could become law by the end of July if Giorgio Napolitano, the head of state, gives his assent.

Meanwhile, the trial in a Milan court of Mr Berlusconi and David Mills, a British lawyer, is nearing conclusion in spite of efforts by the prime minister’s legal team to remove a judge on grounds of bias.

“Either I work as prime minister or I dedicate my time preparing for court appearances. One cannot do both,” said Mr Berlusconi, billionaire media mogul and three-time prime minister.

“Now we are becoming a normal country,” he said, reiterating the official argument that Italy was falling in line with other democracies. Constitutional experts disagree, although some heads of state, including the presidents of France and Germany and the English sovereign, enjoy considerable immunity.

Twice in the past week Mr Berlusconi has denounced judges as anti-democratic and a “cancer”, accusing them of hounding him and denying the wishes of the “sovereign” electorate since he first took office in 1994. His outbursts have convinced commentators that his lawyers fear a guilty verdict in Milan. It would not be his first, and two stages of appeal exist, but some commentators have speculated that Mr Berlusconi might resign because of the damage to his standing after just a few weeks back in office.

Given his resounding poll success in April, resignation would seem unlikely. However, he runs the risk of repeating his 2001-2006 term, when his court battles overshadowed economic reform efforts.

Already the centre-left opposition has broken off dialogue on constitutional reform, accusing Mr Berlusconi of going too far with his “security” measures. Separately, the government has also tabled emergency legislation that would suspend some non-priority trials, including Mr Berlusconi’s, in order to speed up more urgent cases.

Mr Berlusconi is accused of giving $600,000 to Mr Mills, his former lawyer, to give false testimony in cases related to alleged secret accounts held in the billionaire’s business empire. Both men deny the charges.

Mr Berlusconi has faced the courts many times – 17 according to his lawyer – and undergone dozens of investigations. Either cases have been dismissed or convictions have lapsed during the appeals process because of the statute of limitations. Two other cases are pending.

The bill would shield the prime minister, president and speakers of both houses. In 2004 the Constitutional Court rejected a similar bill passed by the previous Berlusconi government. Ministers say this new bill meets the court’s objections. Constitutional experts disagree.

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Noodle Made in Japan Isn't Just About Ramen as Commodities Soar

By Yoshifumi Takemoto
More Photos/Details

June 27 (Bloomberg) -- From dusk till midnight, office workers in suits and T-shirted tourists crowd Fukuoka's open-air food stalls to perch on benches and slurp steaming pork-bone broth with thin, yellow noodles.

Hakata ramen, a specialty of Japan's southern island of Kyushu, is popular for its firm, chewy noodles made with high- protein wheat flour milled from grain grown in the U.S., Canada and Australia. Higher global prices have hit noodle sellers hard.

``Rising wheat and energy costs are hurting our business as we can't pass on the increases through higher ramen prices,'' says Yasutomo Yamagami, ladling soup into large bowls. Vendors in the port city keep prices as low as possible to win customers.

The solution may be just down the road, where scientists are testing new varieties of wheat in an effort to satisfy local tastes and reduce imports. The project is just one of the ways Japan is trying to lessen its reliance on overseas suppliers as commodity prices hover near record highs.

Nippon Steel Corp., the world's second-biggest maker of the metal, opened a furnace last month that cuts use of high-quality coking coal, which tripled to $300 a metric ton in the year through March. Shimaya Co., Japan's second-largest maker of powdered soup bases called dashi, uses more monosodium glutamate and less whey after the milk by-product quadrupled in price from late 2006 to mid-2007.

``Japan is good at coping, judging by what they did during the oil shortages'' in the 1970s, says Masayuki Kubota, who oversees $1.7 billion at Daiwa SB Investments Ltd. in Tokyo. ``It may take some time, but they can produce surprising results.''

Japan increased fuel efficiency after the price shock and now uses less oil for each $1,000 increase in gross domestic product than either the U.S. or Europe, according to the International Energy Agency.

Too Soft

In Fukuoka prefecture, Japan's second-largest wheat-growing area with an annual harvest of 68,000 tons, farmers traditionally could produce only lower protein varieties used to make a thick, white udon that is too soft for many diners' tastes.

``Wheat demand for making udon noodles in Fukuoka was saturated, and we had to create new opportunities,'' says Yuji Hamachi, the director of the Fukuoka Agricultural Research Center, which started looking for alternative crops in 2004.

Researchers tested 2,000 hybrids to find a variety that could thrive in Kyushu's humid, rainy climate. The crops were grown on test plots surrounding the hilltop center where scientists previously developed larger, sweeter strawberries now exported to Hong Kong, Thailand and the U.S.

`Very Tasty'

Three grain types were shortlisted and used in ramen dishes that were taste-tested by judges including Fukuoka Prefecture Governor Wataru Aso. In October 2006, he declared the winning noodle ``very tasty'' and said it improved the dish, according to Yoshihiro Kanegae, the prefecture's manager of rice farming.

The favored hybrid was planted last year at five farms in Fukuoka for harvesting this month. Researchers plan to grow enough wheat for 60 million servings of ramen, half the annual sales at Fukuoka's 2,500 ramen restaurants, by 2012.

That may help Japan, the world's biggest net food importer, achieve its goal of boosting food self-sufficiency to 45 percent in 2015 from 39 percent now.

``Given improving lifestyles in China and India, soaring grain prices are not a one-time phenomenon and Japan will not be able to buy as much food as we used to,'' Hamachi says.

This year's crop will be tested by Kyushu's largest flour mill, the Torigoe Co.

Won't Change

Success isn't guaranteed. The wheat has to win over vendors who fear that tampering with the dish, which has been popular for half a century, may reduce its appeal.

``I won't change the noodles I've used for decades,'' says Tadakatsu Takenaka, who has run a ramen stall in Fukuoka's Nagahama district since 1971.

More expensive imports mean stallholder Yamagami, who charges 500 yen ($4.62) for a bowl of Hakata ramen, is more amenable.

The government in April lifted the price of imported wheat sold to millers by 30 percent, the most since 1973. Japan imports around 5 million tons of the grain a year, meeting 87 percent of national consumption.

Wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade reached a record $13.495 a bushel on Feb. 27 after adverse weather in 2007 curbed global yields.

Fukuoka-based restaurant chain Ippudo, which has 34 shops in Japan and opened one in New York in March, raised the cost of its most popular ramen dish by 15 percent to 750 yen in January, the first increase in 12 years.

The chain is considering a request from the regional government to use local wheat, spokeswoman Hisae Izumi says.

``If there is a stable supply of the wheat in enough volume, we may be able to use it,'' Izumi says.

At his port stall, Yamagami, who plans to open a restaurant, has already made up his mind.

``I can't wait for the new flour,'' he says. ``If we have a local alternative, that will help us.''

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トヨタ、シベリア鉄道で輸送　ロシア向け部品

　トヨタ自動車は2009年春にも、ロシア工場への部品輸送でシベリア鉄道の利用を始める。国営ロシア鉄道と提携している三井物産に業務を委託、現在の船舶輸送から順次切り替える。輸送日数はほぼ3分の1になる見込み。世界的な燃料高や二酸化炭素（ＣＯ2）排出規制を背景に、国際物流での鉄道利用に弾みがついてきた。

　部品を船で極東のウラジオストクに運び、トヨタの乗用車工場があるサンクトペテルブルク市まで鉄道で輸送する。輸送期間は20日程度の見込み。欧州回りの船舶を使う従来方式だと60日程度かかっていた。

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大手商社、配偶者の海外転勤同行者に休・復職制度導入

　大手商社が配偶者が海外転勤になった社員の休職を認めたり、帰国後の再雇用を保証する制度を相次ぎ導入している。女性社員が夫の転勤を理由に退社するのを防ぐ狙い。好業績で事業を拡大している商社は慢性的な人材不足になっており、女性が働きやすい環境を整え定着率を上げる。

　住友商事は4月に最大3年間の休職を認める新制度を導入。女性社員1人が利用している。「女性の離職率の大幅低下を期待している」（人事部）という。

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石原都知事の作家所得1784万円　都資産公開

　東京都資産公開条例に基づき30日公開された2007年の所得報告書によると、作家の顔を持つ石原慎太郎東京都知事の「著述業等」の事業所得は1784 万円（前年比355万円増）だった。05年に出版された「息子たちと私　子供あっての親」（幻冬舎）などの文庫版の印税収入が中心。

　1999年の知事就任以降も作家活動を続けており、2002年にベストセラーとなった「老いてこそ人生」の印税収入などで1億円を超えたこともある。

　知事報酬などを加えた07年の所得総額（課税対象額）は4224万円（前年比267万円増）で、2年連続の増加となった。

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都議の平均所得1785万円　都資産公開

　現職の東京都議会議員で昨年1年間を通じて都議だった118人の所得報告書も30日、公開された。1人当たりの平均所得は1785万円で、前年を295万円下回った。

　会派別平均のトップは自民党で2087万円。以下、共産党が1707万円、民主党1619万円、公明党1562万円、地域政党の東京・生活者ネットワークが1524万円だった。上位20人の内訳は自民党17人、民主党2人、共産党1人。

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伊大聖堂の落書き、日本語多数

　【フィレンツェ＝共同】ハートマークに相合い傘――。イタリア・フィレンツェの世界遺産登録地区にある「サンタ・マリア・デル・フィオーレ大聖堂」の壁には、これまで判明した京都産業大や岐阜市立女子短大の学生らによるもの以外にも多数の日本語の落書きが書かれていた。

　観光客に混じり28日、大聖堂に入ると、クーポラ（円屋根）に上る階段の壁に多数の落書きが見つかった。特にひどいのは階段を上りきったクーポラの展望台。多くの観光客が市内の展望を楽しむ場所だ。

　ほとんどはイタリア語、英語、スペイン語など欧米の言葉で書かれ、日本語は全体の1割程度だったが、ハートマークの中に多くの女性の名前が書かれ、その下に「本当の愛をさがしにいくよ」との落書きも。都内の私立大生を名乗るものもあった。

　「落書きをしないで」とのイタリア語と英語の警告もあったが、警備員が少ないこともあり、効果は期待薄。落書きをしようとして止められた韓国人らしいグループもいた。

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奨学金返済、滞納９カ月で法的措置　学生支援機構

　日本学生支援機構（旧日本育英会）は延滞の増加が指摘されている奨学金の返済について、9カ月以上の延滞者全員に対して法的措置をとることや、卒業生の延滞が改善しない大学の名前を公表することなどを柱とする返済促進策をまとめた。返済開始時期を現行の10月から、最初のボーナスが出た直後の7月に繰り上げることも検討する。

　奨学金事業は2008年度予算での事業費が9305億円、貸与人数は120万人余に上る。進学率の上昇に伴って事業規模は拡大を続けており、延滞も増加。07年度末には2252億円に達した。同機構は有識者の検討会議で対応策を議論してきた。

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平均所得は２５００万円超　上位は世襲議員

2008年6月30日13時47分

　３０日に発表された国会議員の０７年分所得報告書では、対象となった国会議員一人当たりの平均所得は２５８０万円で、０６年より約１４０万円増えた。２５００万円を超えたのは５年ぶりで、民主党の松野頼久衆院議員の突出した所得が影響している。所得上位には「世襲議員」が多い傾向も浮かび上がった。

　０７年の１年間を通じて国会議員だった衆院議員４７５人、参院議員１７０人の計６４５人が対象で、昨年７月の参院選初当選組などは含まれない。

　院ごとの平均は衆院２７０３万円、参院２２３５万円。政党別の平均は自民２４７１万円（前年比１１６万円減）▽民主３０４４万円（同８３０万円増）▽公明２０４１万円（同３万円減）▽共産１９８９万円（同３７万円増）▽社民２１７６万円（同２４万円減）▽国民新党２７０６万円（同３５０万円増）だった。

　党首では、福田首相（自民党総裁）が前年比３７６万円増の２７２０万円で１位。民主党の小沢代表は、０６年には書籍出版で１５００万円超あった原稿料収入がほとんどなくなり、前年比２７１９万円減の２０５９万円だった。他の党首は国民新党の綿貫代表２６１６万円、社民党の福島党首２４５１万円、共産党の志位委員長２１７５万円、公明党の太田代表２千万円の順だった。

　また、世襲議員は非世襲議員との「資産格差」がこれまで指摘されてきたが、所得面でも恵まれている傾向があるようだ。

　国会議員を経験した親や親族をもつ世襲議員の平均所得３４６９万円に対し、非世襲は２２５６万円だった。当選回数別でみても世襲がほぼ上回っており、当選１回では世襲２５１６万円、非世襲２３１８万円。所得上位５０人でみると、半数近い２３人を世襲が占めた。

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麻生氏ら雑所得で存在感　ポスト福田、印税増やす
2008.6.30 20:35
麻生太郎氏麻生太郎氏

　平成１９年分の国会議員所得報告書では、ポスト福田候補に挙げられる自民党の麻生太郎前幹事長や小池百合子元防衛相が、著書の印税などで「雑所得」を大幅に伸ばし存在感を示した。民主党では、年金記録不備問題で政府追及の先頭に立った長妻昭衆院議員が、引っ張りだこのテレビ出演料などで雑所得を大きく増やしたのが目立った。

　麻生氏は昨年の参院選前に出版した著書「とてつもない日本」の印税やテレビ出演料などで前年に比べ４・６倍、１１１６万円の雑所得を計上。４６万円だった１８年からは実に２４・３倍。雑所得ランキングも３年で２１２位、６３位、４位とうなぎ上りだ。

　小池氏も昨年８月の防衛相退任後に出版した、前事務次官との暗闘をめぐる著書「女子の本懐」が話題を呼び、印税や講演料などの雑所得は前年の５・７倍の１６５３万円に。順位も４６位から２位に躍り出た。

　一方、民主党の長妻氏の雑所得は、テレビ出演料を中心に前年の１・５倍の４１０万円で、順位は５６位から１５位に上がった。

　河野洋平衆院議長は約４０２８万円と所得を大幅に減らした。事務所によると、神奈川県平塚市内の建物の取り壊しに伴い賃貸収入がなくなったことなどが要因という。

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Mittal considering takeover of Rio Tinto: report
AFP
AFP - Monday, June 30 02:34 am

LONDON (AFP) - Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, the biggest shareholder in ArcelorMittal, is considering entering the takeover battle for Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, the Financial Times reported on Monday.
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Citing unnamed individuals familiar with the matter, the business daily said that Mittal was interested in securing larger supplies of iron ore.

"Mr Mittal has considered some involvement in the takeover, such as the idea of taking a stake in Rio through buying from existing shareholders," an unnamed banker was quoted as saying by the FT.

"On the other hand, he could wait until later when, quite possible, some of the iron ore assets (of Rio Tinto) go on sale as a result of demands by antitrust regulators."

Earlier this year, BHP Billiton increased its takeover proposal for Rio Tinto to 147.4 billion US dollars (94 billion euros), which would create a behemoth at a time when commodity prices are enjoying record highs because of surging demands for raw materials.

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Brazil's Petrobras ready to pump oil in Nigeria
AFP
AFP - Sunday, June 29 12:50 am

BRASILIA (AFP) - Brazil's state-run Petrobras on July 21 will start pumping oil from Nigeria's offshore Agbami oil field, in partnership with Total and Chevron-Texaco, the company said Saturday.
(Advertisement)

Currently rated at 100,000 barrels per day (bpd), the Agbami oil field is expected to yield 250,000 bpd next year, one third of which belongs to Petrobras, a company statement said.

Since 1998, when Agbami was first discovered, Petrobras has invested some 2.2 billion dollars in Nigeria, with an additional 1.4 billion dollars expected by 2013. It also has stakes in two other oil fields in the west African nation.

The Petrobras/Total/Chevron-Texaco consortium expects Nigeria's Akpo oil field to kick in next year with 185,000 bpd.

Petrobras said it plans to invest some 15 billion dollars from 2008 to 2012 in foreign oil ventures.

Currently, it has invested 6.6 billion dollars in 23 countries and extracts some 200,000 bpd of oil in eight countries including Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the United States and Venezuela.

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Tax means fewer travellers at main Dutch airport: report
AFP
AFP - Saturday, June 28 07:45 pm

THE HAGUE (AFP) - Some 50,000 fewer passengers are expected to use Amsterdam Schiphol airport, one of Europe's busiest, this summer on account of a Dutch environmental tax on flights, it was reported Saturday.
(Advertisement)

"We're expected zero growth in 2008, and in fact a decrease (in passenger numbers) in July and August," an airport spokesman was quoted as saying by the domestic ANP news agency.

The Netherlands is the only country that levies an environmental tax on flights departing the country -- 11.25 euros per passenger (17.75 dollars) for European destinations and 45 euros for intercontential points.

With higher fuel prices pushing up air fares worldwide, travel industry experts say the tax will hurt business at Schiphol and see many Dutch travellers go to nearby German airports instead.

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日本国債の格付け、「Ａ１」から「Ａａ３」に引き上げ　米ム社
2008.6.30 18:09

　米格付け会社ムーディーズ・インベスターズ・サービスは３０日、日本国債の格付けを上から５番目の「Ａ１」から、４番目の「Ａａ３」に引き上げたと発表した。昨年１０月に続く引き上げで、見通しも「安定的」としている。「Ａａ３」は台湾やマカオと同じ。米英など先進７カ国（Ｇ７）の中では依然、最も低い。

　ムーディーズは引き上げ理由について「政府、与党の財政再建への取り組みが強い。不安定な世界経済に対し、日本経済は強さを維持するとみられる」と説明している。

　また「日本の物価上昇率は他の先進国に比べ緩やかで、経済の安定性を脅かしたり、日銀による予防的な金融引き締めにつながったりすることは考えにくい」と分析。日本は多額の債務を抱えているが「構造上の強みにより、極めて高水準の債務を維持していくことが可能」とみている。

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アジサイの葉食べ食中毒　大阪市の居酒屋で

2008年6月30日20時57分

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　大阪市は３０日、大阪市都島区の男性会社員（２５）が同市北区の居酒屋で、だし巻き卵の下に敷かれていたアジサイの葉を食べ、シアン化水素（青酸）中毒になったと発表した。会社員は２６日にアジサイの葉を食べ、４０分後に嘔吐（おうと）した。現在は快方に向かっているという。

　市によると、アジサイの葉や根には青酸配糖体と呼ばれる成分が含まれ、食べると体内の消化酵素で分解されて有害なシアン化水素になり、死亡する可能性もあるという。

　この居酒屋はアジサイが有毒との認識がなく、６月に入って、従業員が季節感を出すために、自宅近くで摘んだ葉を刺し身のつまなどに使っていたという。市は居酒屋を３０日の１日間の営業停止にした。茨城県つくば市でも１３日、アジサイの葉を食べた８人が中毒になっている。

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旭鷲山が当選確実　モンゴル総選挙、与党が過半数獲得へ

2008年6月30日20時18分

　【北京＝坂尻信義】６月２９日に投票されたモンゴル国民大会議（国会、定数７６）の総選挙は、３０日夕までの開票で最大与党・人民革命党（現有議席３９）が過半数議席を獲得して勝利する見通しとなった。最大野党の民主党（同２３）は伸び悩んだ。確定後、人民革命党を中心とする新政権が発足する見通し。

　両党関係者や地元メディアによると、人民革命党は地方で票を伸ばし、３８議席前後を獲得。同党幹部は「首都ウランバートルでも８議席を獲得できる」と自信を見せた。モンゴル情勢に詳しい関係筋は「民主党は現有議席前後にとどまるのではないか」との見方を示した。

　民主党は、将来の鉱物資源開発から得られる利益を国民１人あたりに１００万ツグリク（約１０万円）分配する方針を公約に掲げて優勢とみられていたが、人民革命党も１５０万ツグリク（約１５万円）を支給すると対抗した。

　ウランバートルの選挙区では、大相撲の小結・旭鷲山として活躍した実業家バトバヤル氏が民主党から立候補し、知名度を生かしての当選が確実な情勢だ。

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相撲協会、信頼回復に決意　再発防止策には文科省難色
2008/05/26

　１７歳の序ノ口力士、時太山（本名斉藤俊さん）が制裁による暴行を受け、けいこ後に急死したとされる事件から２６日でちょうど１年。日本相撲協会の北の湖理事長（元横綱）は「あのような悲しい出来事を絶対に起こしてはいけない。各師匠は肝に銘じ、しっかりとした指導で立派な力士を育てなければならない」と信頼回復への決意を新たにした。

　相撲協会は昨秋、外部有識者も交えた「再発防止検討委員会」を発足させた。５月には同委員会がまとめた再発防止案が理事会で承認されたが、改革は思うように進んでいないのが現状だ。

　実は斉藤さんの命日であるこの日に、北の湖理事長が監督官庁の文部科学省へ出向き、死亡事件に関する報告書を提出する予定だった。だが関係者によると、事前に文科省に書類を見せたところ、肝心の再発防止策の内容があまりにも物足りないとされ、書き直すことになったという。報告書の承認を得るために開催予定だった２５日の理事会も中止になった。

　再発防止委の伊勢ノ海委員長（元関脇藤ノ川）は「今後も協会一丸となってやっていくし、５３部屋の全師匠も同じ思いだろう」と語気を強める。だが先月には新たな暴行問題が発覚し、外部役員の起用も本格的な人選には至っていない。相撲協会は重い宿題を背負ったまま、再出発への２年目を迎える。

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力士暴行死：愛知の時津風部屋宿舎で斉藤さんの一周忌法要

　昨年６月に起きた大相撲の力士暴行死事件で亡くなった斉藤俊（たかし）さん（当時１７歳）＝序ノ口・時太山（ときたいざん）＝の一周忌法要が２９日、現場となった愛知県犬山市の時津風部屋宿舎で営まれた。

　けいこ場には祭壇が設けられ、お経が読み上げられる中、時津風親方（元幕内・時津海）と豊ノ島ら３人の関取が献花し、手を合わせて冥福を祈った。

　時津風親方は「二度とあってはいけないこと。肝に銘じて一生懸命、指導していく。力士はけいこに精進して、斉藤君のためにも（７月１３日からの名古屋場所で）いい結果を出せるよう頑張ってもらいたい」と話した。

　この事件では、前時津風親方の山本順一被告（５８）＝元小結・双津竜＝と兄弟子３人が傷害致死罪で起訴されている。

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時王丸は番付から消える　力士急死事件の３被告

　時津風部屋の力士急死事件で起訴され、出場停止中の兄弟子３人のうち、先場所は東序ノ口８枚目だった時王丸のしこ名が番付から消えた。これで引退となるわけではないが、再び土俵に上がる場合は新弟子と同じ前相撲からとなる。

　３被告は昨年九州場所から休場中で、今場所で５場所連続全休となる。明義豊は西三段目９９枚目に降下し、怒濤は西序ノ口１２枚目に落ちた。

　力士急死事件は２６日で１年を迎えた。日本相撲協会は裁判で有罪が確定すれば３力士を解雇とし、それまでは出場停止にする処分を下している。

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新銀行東京、１０１６億円分減資確定　株主総会で可決

2008年6月30日19時49分

　経営再建のため、東京都が４００億円を追加出資した新銀行東京の株主総会が３０日開かれ、資本金を１５８９億円から５７２億円に減資する案が全会一致で可決された。１０１６億円の累積赤字は解消されるが、都が設立時に出資した１千億円のうち８５５億円の棄損が確定した。

　総会には８８％の株を持つ都や、出資企業が出席。都は「旧経営陣の責任を明確にし、新事業も積極的に考えてほしい」と要望した。同行によると、今回の減資は「累積赤字を一掃して早期再建に取り組む」ため。追加出資４００億円は棄損されない。

　出資企業も出資額の約８５％を棄損されたが、２５億円を出資した日立製作所は「経営監視は都に任せ、今後も立場は変わらない」、同額のＮＴＴコミュニケーションズは「再建計画の推移を見守る」、２０億円を出したあいおい損保は「０７年度に一部減損処理は済んでいる」としている。

　また、東京都民銀行の内田泰司・元常務執行役員（６３）の社外取締役就任が認められ、経営監視強化のために取締役会会長が新設され、総会後の取締役会で元都副知事の大塚俊郎・同行取締役会議長の就任が決まった。

　共産党都議団は同日、「さらなる損失をもたらす危険性が高い。都は都民の税金を守るため銀行から撤退すべきだ」とのコメントを出した。

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中央三井トラスト、７月に公的資金１７５７億円返済へ

2008年6月30日19時29分

　中央三井トラスト・ホールディングスは３０日、国から投入された公的資金のうち１７５７億円分を７月中に返済すると発表した。残りは約１８７５億円で、来年８月までにすべて返す方針。

　公的資金注入の結果、整理回収機構が中央三井トラストの優先株を簿価で３６３２億円分持っている。中央三井トラストは、このうち９９２億円分を買い入れ、さらに７６５億円分を普通株に転換。整理回収機構は普通株を市場で売る。整理回収機構には合計で約２４７４億円が入り、簿価との差額の７１７億円が国の利益になる見込みだ。