Europe acts to rescue banks

Europe acts to rescue banks

By Bertrand Benoit in Berlin

Published: October 13 2008 09:56 | Last updated: October 13 2008 12:08

The German government was on Monday preparing to endorse a bill to restore liquidity and inject fresh capital in the country’s ailing banking and insurance sector potentially worth up to €470bn – as part of a coordinated bailout campaign by European governments.

As France and Italy prepared to unveil bailout plans after Britain said it would inject £37bn into Royal Bank of Scotland, HBOS and Lloyds TSB, news that the German bill was on its way to chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet sent the Frankfurt stock exchange soaring. The exchange’s blue-chip DAX index was up 6.53 per cent, or 296.53 points by mid-morning.

Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, said that he expected other countries to follow his country’s “unprecedented but essential” bailout. “In extraordinary times, [with] our financial markets ceasing to work, the government cannot just leave people on their own to be buffeted about,” he told a news conference in Downing Street.

The Spanish government on Monday approved a guarantee for issues of new bank debt until December 2009 after eurozone governments on Sunday agreed on a broad plan to offer hundreds of billions of euros in guarantees for new, medium-term bank debt issuance.

In the US, officials were also working to finalise a plan to recapitalise their banks and other financial institutions, which could be unveiled as early as Monday.

In other moves, Australia and New Zealand announced guarantees for all bank deposits, as did the United Arab Emirates, while Saudi Arabia cut its interest rates.

The Swedish government said on Monday it would unveil steps to safeguard their financial sector in the next few days, but did not plan to inject capital into the Nordic country’s banks. Norway announced at the weekend it would offer its commercial banks up to $55.4bn in government bonds in exchange for mortgage debt and Portugal said it would make as much as €20bn ($27bn) available in guarantees for its banks’ financing.

The extraordinary series of actions, which followed record market falls last week, came amid grave concern that investors would scramble for cash this week, threatening the implosion of financial institutions.

The German bill, closely modelled on the British rescue plan unveiled last week, will be put to the cabinet at 1pm German time. It will initially empower the finance ministry to issue credit guarantees for inter-bank lending worth €400bn up to December 2009, according to leaked details.

The ministry will also be allowed to draw up to €70bn from the federal budget to inject fresh capital in the state-owned and commercial banks, as well as in the insurance companies, that decide to participate.

Any bank participating in the scheme would agree to give the finance ministry decision-making power in areas ranging from compensation for directors and staff to “business strategy” and the “utilisation of the funds” provided, as well as in the companies’ dividend policies.

The draft, which will have to go through parliament for final approval after endorsement by the cabinet, includes, among other provisions, reforms of Germany’s lending, insurance supervisory and insolvency laws.

Ms Merkel and Mr Steinbrück were expected to present the plan to the public early on Monday afternoon after informing parliament.

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経団連：移民受け入れ提言…人口減対策　定住前提に

　日本経団連は少子高齢化に伴う人口減少対策として、定住移民の受け入れを提言する。労働力不足や内需の縮小などが、日本の経済社会を不安定にする恐れがあると判断して「期間を限定した外国人労働者の受け入れ」という従来の方針を転換、１４日に発表する。だが、移民については労働条件の悪化や治安の悪化につながるとの反発も強く、提言が論議を呼ぶのは必至だ。

　国立社会保障・人口問題研究所によると、２０５５年の総人口は現在より約３０％減の８９９３万人で、１５歳以上６５歳未満の生産年齢人口はほぼ半減の４５９５万人になると推計される。その場合、高齢者１人を働き手１．３人で支える計算となり、若い世代の負担増で社会保障制度は破綻（はたん）し、医療や介護、教育、治安などの経済社会システムが脆弱（ぜいじゃく）化する。また、個人消費の長期低迷も懸念される。

　経団連は「人口減対策に早急に取り組まなければ、若い世代の将来不安は解消しない」として、移民による人口の維持が必要と判断した。日本は現在、日系人や専門技術者、技能研修などで外国人労働者約６５万人を受け入れている。しかし、定住化を前提に受け入れることで、国際的に優秀な人材の確保にもつながることや、働き手世代の増加で人件費上昇を抑えられるとの期待もある。

　提言は移民促進のための法整備や担当相の設置の必要性に言及するとともに、定住後も行政と地域、企業が連携し、日本語教育の充実、社会保障制度の適用を進めることを盛り込む。移民には反対も根強いことから、経団連は提言を議論のたたき台に国民の合意形成につなげたい考えだ。

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Soros slams 'ill-conceived' US response to finance crisis
AFP
AFP - Sunday, October 12 09:34 pm

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Billionaire businessman George Soros lobbed criticism Sunday at the US administration's "ill-conceived" handling of the global banking crisis, reserving especially harsh words for Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.
(Advertisement)

"This 700 billion dollar plan, if it had been better constructed, if they had thought about it earlier, if they would deal with the housing situation -- the damage would be less," Soros told CNN in an interview broadcast Sunday.

"The Paulson plan was ill-conceived," he said.

"It was basically the same kind of financial engineering that got us into the trouble that they wanted to use for getting us out of it. And it was just the wrong thing," he said.

The legendary financier added: "The market is now collapsing. He just is not able to ... come to terms to what needs to be done."

Soros, one of the world's richest men, also had criticism for the overindulgence of US consumers.

"We have gotten into the habit of consuming six to seven percent more than we are producing. And that game is finished. That was part of the bubble," he said.

"America, as the center of the globalized financial markets, was sucking up the savings of the world. You know, China was buying government bonds.

"This is now over. The game is out," he said, adding that the time has come for "a very serious adjustment" in Americans' consumption habits.

A Hungarian-born US citizen and fabled hedge fund manager, Soros has been active in US politics and is a fervent backer of Barack Obama for the US presidency, after backing Democratic Senator John Kerry for the White House in 2004.

Famous for speculating against the British pound in 1992, he is chairman of Soros Fund Management and the Open Society Institute.

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ノーベル物理学賞の日本人は３人、それとも２人？
海形マサシ2008/10/08
　「ノーベル物理学賞、素粒子理論の日本人３氏に

　スウェーデン王立科学アカデミーは７日、今年のノーベル物理学賞を、米シカゴ大名誉教授で大阪市立大名誉教授の南部陽一郎さん（８７）、高エネルギー加速器研究機構名誉教授の小林誠さん（６４）、京都大名誉教授で京都産業大教授の益川敏英さん（６８）の３人に贈ると発表した。」

　――これが朝日新聞の記事の見出しと前書きであるが、アメリカの有力紙ニューヨーク・タイムズによると、

　「2 Japanese, 1 American Share Nobel Physics Prize（日本人２人、アメリカ人１人がノーベル物理学賞を共同受賞）」

　というタイトルで、南部陽一郎氏を日本生まれのアメリカ人と紹介している。南部氏は１９７０年にアメリカ国籍を取得したという。

　NHKでは、そのことに触れているが、朝日と同じく「日本人３人の受賞」としている。イギリスのBBCの記事は、NYタイムズと同じ「日本人２人とアメリカ人１人」である。

　日本は二重国籍を認めてないことを考えると、NYタイムズやBBCの方が正確だと思うのだが、さてどうなのだろう。どのみち、日本人の心情としては、３人とも日本人であると思いたいのだろう。

　とにかく、おめでとうございます。

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ノーベル賞が思わぬ余波！　国籍法改正を検討　自民法務部会　　
2008.10.10 18:25

　ノーベル物理学賞を受賞受賞した南部陽一郎米シカゴ大名誉教授が米国籍を取得していたことを機に、自民党法務部会の国籍問題プロジェクトチーム（座長・河野太郎衆院議員）は１０日、二重国籍を認めない国籍法改正の検討を始めた。南部氏はすでに日本国籍を喪失しているが、ノーベル賞受賞が思わぬ波紋を広げたようだ。

　国籍法１１条は二重国籍を原則認めておらず、出生地で国籍を決める「属地主義」の米国などで生まれた日本人は２２歳までにどちらか一方の国籍を選択することになっている。

　外国籍を取得した人はその時点で日本国籍を自動的に失うが、地方法務局に届け出なければ、戸籍はそのまま残る。個人情報を外国政府に照会することはできないため、実態把握は難しいが、法務省では、外国籍取得者の約１割しか届け出ていないとみている。

　日本に戸籍が残っていれば、旅券取得や選挙の投票などが可能となり、犯罪に利用される懸念がある。一方、国際結婚などで政情不安な国の国籍を取得した人には日本国籍を残しておきたいとの思いも強い。

　法務省は法改正に慎重だが、ＰＴでは「正直者と有名人がバカを見る制度だ」（河野氏）、「二重国籍を積極的に認めた方が日本人が世界に雄飛しやすい」（猪口邦子衆院議員）など改正論が根強い。ＰＴは二重国籍の実態や問題点を洗い出していく方針だが、国籍は「誰が日本人か」という国家の根本問題だけに論争を呼びそうだ。

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Abramovich, Deripaska, Oligarchs Lose $230 Billion (Update1)

By Yuriy Humber, Greg Walters and Maria Kolesnikova

Oct. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Russian billionaires from aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska to soccer-club owner Roman Abramovich lost more than $230 billion in five months during the nation's worst financial crisis since the 1998 default on its debt.

The combined wealth of Forbes magazine's 25 richest Russians tumbled 62 percent between May 19 and Oct. 6, based on the equity value of traded companies and analysts' estimates of closely held assets they own. The loss is four times larger than the fortune of the world's wealthiest man, Warren Buffett.

Moscow's benchmark Micex stock index declined 61 percent since its peak in May. The global credit seizure, war with Georgia and falling commodity prices led foreign investors to pull $74 billion out of Russia since early August, according to BNP Paribas SA. While Russia's 1998 default and devaluation of the ruble eradicated savings for most of the population, this year's losses are wiping out its richest citizens' fortunes.

``There was a massive transfer of wealth into the hands of the oligarchs in 1998,'' said Mark Mobius, executive chairman of Templeton Asset Management Ltd., which has about $30 billion in emerging market stocks. ``Now it's going the other way.''

United Co. Rusal's Deripaska, 40, the richest Russian on the list, lost more than $16 billion and in the past week ceded stakes in Hochtief AG and Magna International Inc. Chelsea FC owner and Evraz Group SA shareholder Abramovich, 41, lost $20 billion, based on assets excluding property and cash.

Lisin's Losses

The biggest loser has been Vladimir Lisin, 52, an avid hunter and head of Russia's Shooting Club, whose 85 percent stake in OAO Novolipetsk Steel lost $22 billion in value in the period.

Novolipetsk rival Evraz declined 83 percent, shrinking 49- year-old founder Alexander Ambramov's fortune to $2.2 billion from $13.4 billion. Russia's biggest steelmaker, OAO Severstal, also fell, cutting the wealth of chief executive officer and majority owner Alexei Mordashov, 43, to $5.3 billion.

``They should take us all off the Forbes list,'' said Alexander Lebedev, ranked 39th by the magazine in May with $3.1 billion of wealth. Lebedev, 49, who owns 30 percent of state-run airline OAO Aeroflot, said in an interview on Sept. 23 that ``silly'' rhetoric by the Kremlin over the conflict in Georgia was responsible for 40 percent of the stock market's drop in August.

Lukoil, Alfa

OAO Lukoil Chief Executive Officer Vagit Alekperov, 58, saw his 20 percent stake in Russia's second-biggest oil producer decline to $7.2 billion from $19.5 billion. The fortune of Alekperov deputy Leonid Fedun, 52, declined to $3 billion from $8.4 billion. Both men have said they will continue to buy more Lukoil shares.

Dmitry Rybolovlev, 41, who controls OAO Uralkali and owns 20 percent of OAO Silvinit, the country's only potash producers, lost about $12.8 billion, leaving him with $4.1 billion.

Alfa Group partners Mikhail Fridman, 44, German Khan, 46, and Alexei Kousmichoff, 45, ranked seventh, 10th and 17th, respectively, lost at least a combined $12.1 billion.

Alfa's shareholdings include BP Plc's Russian oil venture TNK-BP, mobile-phone operators OAO VimpelCom and Turkey's Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, supermarket chain X5 Retail Group and television broadcaster CTC Media Inc.

Spokespeople for companies including Deripaska's Basic Element, Evraz, Nikolai Tsvetkov's UralSib Financial Corp. and Rybolovlev's Uralkali declined to comment on the losses.

Cashing Out

At least one of Russia's wealthiest got out in time.

Mikhail Prokhorov, 43, sold his 25 percent stake in OAO GMK Norilsk Nickel to Deripaska's Rusal for an undisclosed amount in April, just before nickel prices began to slump. The value of that stake plummeted from $13 billion on April 24 to $3.38 billion on Oct. 6.

Prokhorov received $7 billion in cash as part of the Norilsk transaction, the Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers reported then, citing unidentified people familiar with the deal.

``Are you criticizing me for feasting amid the Black Death,'' Prokhorov joked with reporters in Moscow on Sept. 30, after buying half of Renaissance Capital for $500 million. That was less than a quarter of the value the investment bank had a year ago when VTB Group sought to take it over, according to a Vedemosti report. ``Crisis time is a peak for opportunities,'' Prokhorov said. ``An absolute peak.''

Trading Delayed

Russia's Micex and RTS stock exchanges delayed the opening of trading today on orders of the market regulator. It was unclear when trading would start, a spokesman for Micex said. The RTS won't resume stock trading until ``further notice,'' the bourse wrote in an e-mailed statement.

``You can now buy the free float of the entire Russian energy sector with the market cap of Coca-Cola, and still have change to buy all the Russian banks,'' Merrill Lynch & Co. emerging markets equity strategist Michael Hartnett said in a note to clients today.

The unprecedented loss of wealth may set the stage for a new round of asset redistribution, said Pavel Teplukhin, president of Troika Dialog Asset Management in Moscow.

``We've seen quite a significant inflow of fresh money by our wealthy individuals to acquire at these very attractive levels that we haven't seen since 2003, 2004,'' Teplukhin said in a Bloomberg Television interview on Oct. 9, a day the Micex Index climbed 9.8 percent.

Next Round

The next round of wealth building may be the most intense yet, according to Renaissance Capital. The first came between 1995 and 1998 as Russia's first president, the late Boris Yeltsin, agreed to sell stakes in the nation's biggest industrial assets in return for loans from bankers including Potanin, who helped organize the state bailout.

``It will be a game with bigger stakes than in early 1990s privatizations and the redistribution after the 1998 crisis,'' said David Aserkoff, chief strategist for Russia at Moscow-based Renaissance Capital.

``Oligarchs with cash will be able to use their knowledge of the business and political landscape to find the next billions,'' Aserkoff said in a research report on Oct. 6.

``The market will grow back,'' billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, 51, one of BP Plc's four partners in oil company TNK-BP and founder of Renova Group, told reporters yesterday. ``The only issue is when. I don't think it will be soon.''

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Cyprus becoming new Mauritius for FDI into India
10 Oct, 2008, 0107 hrs IST,Rajat Guha, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: Cyprus could soon be giving competition to Mauritius as far as foreign direct investments (FDI) into India are concerned. The European tax haven is gaining ground as the favoured destination for flowing FDI into the country, beating mature economies such as France, the UAE, Germany and Japan to stand among the top 10 FDI source countries.

Total investments from Cyprus were to the tune of Rs 1,129 crore during April-June 2008-09, according to the latest data released by the department of industrial policy and promotion (Dipp). FDI from Cyprus rose more than 12 times from Rs 266 crore in 2006-07 to Rs 3,385 crore in 2007-08.

Cyprus, the eighth-largest FDI contributor to the Indian economy, was at number 14 in the list of top source countries a year ago. Government officials feel investments from the tax haven may surpass Rs 4,000 crore and surpass investments from countries like the Netherlands and pose a challenge to the UK. FDI from the UK fell from Rs 8,389 crore in FY07 to Rs 4,690 crore in FY08. Investments from the United States increased a mere 13% from Rs 3,861 crore in FY07 to Rs 4,377 crore in FY08.

The trend of global funds being routed through tax havens like Mauritius and Cyprus continues for the April-June period in FY09. During this period, total contribution from these two countries was about 45% of the total FDI inflows of Rs 41,000 crore. Investments from Mauritius and Cyprus together stood at a whopping Rs 18,300 crore. Mauritius has held on to its position of highest FDI contributor to India since 2005.

Investors routing their money through these countries pay no tax at all on profits of their investments as Mauritius and Cyprus don’t impose capital gains tax on its residents and India has double taxation avoidance agreements with them. Many foreign companies are also routing their money through Singapore to get certain tax benefits.

FDI flows into India shot up a whopping 124% during the first five months of 2008-09 to $14.6 billion, indicating that India remained an attractive investment destination despite the global financial turmoil.

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国立２病院で７千万円不明　職員が着服やデータ改ざん

2008年10月13日

　独立行政法人国立病院機構沼田病院（群馬県沼田市）と国立がんセンター中央病院（東京都中央区）で、患者から診察代などとして受け取った多額の現金がなくなっていたことが会計検査院の調べでわかった。２病院で計約７千万円にのぼるとみられる。窓口の職員が不正取得したり、領収金のデータを改ざんしたりしていたという。

　検査院は、機構とセンターに対し窓口の現金収納事務やデータ管理のあり方などに問題があったと指摘した。

　検査院や沼田病院によると、沼田病院では、窓口で会計事務を担当していた５０代の女性職員が患者から受け取った現金の一部を不正に取得。コンピューター管理している領収履歴の一覧データから不正取得分の記録を削除し、データ上の残高と現金残高が一致するように装っていた。

　病院の説明によると、昨年１２月に別の職員が履歴が削除されていることに気付いた。病院が調査したところ、０２年３月～０８年１月の約６年間に毎月５０万～６０万円ずつ、総額約４千万円が不正取得された可能性があるという。女性職員は病院側に「０４年４月に独立行政法人へ移行して給料が減った。ほぼ毎日やっていた」と話し、０４年４月以降の約４年間で総額約２５００万円を不正取得したことについては認めているという。

　病院側は今年９月、女性職員に約４千万円の損害賠償を求めて東京地裁に提訴した。刑事告訴も検討している。

　一方、がんセンター中央病院でも、窓口で患者に交付した領収書の合計金額に比べて実際の現金残高が少ないことがわかった。不明金の総額は０７年までの数年間で計約３千万円にのぼるという。

　検査院やセンターによると、現金の収納事務を担当していた複数の職員が、領収書の交付内容を記録している会計システム上の残高に比べて実際の現金残高が少ない場合、現金残高に合わせてシステムの記録を改ざんしたことを認めているという。ただ、不明金の行方は明らかになっておらず、すでに退職した職員もいるという。

　センターの会計担当者は「領収書の合計金額と現金残高が合わないことは日々の事務でよくあること。現在調査中のため詳細は答えられない」と話している。

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Go-it-alone plan on Iran sanctions

By Daniel Dombey in Washington and James Blitz in London

Published: October 12 2008 17:01 | Last updated: October 12 2008 17:22

The US and its allies are discussing a “coalition of the willing” that would impose sanctions on Iran’s energy and financial sectors without UN backing as concerns increase about Tehran’s accelerating nuclear programme and a possible Israeli military response.

A foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, recently helped to write a report that warned: “The Europeans make war more likely if they do not strengthen sanctions against Iran.”

The September report was produced by the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington-based think-tank, with the co-operation of Dennis Ross, perhaps Mr Obama’s most influential adviser on the Middle East. While backing an intensive diplomatic effort, it calls for immediate military steps to deal with Iran, such as “pre-positioning additional US and allied forces, deploying additional aircraft carrier battle groups and minesweepers [and] emplacing other war matériel in the [Gulf] region”.

Referring to discussions about a possible Israeli strike on Iranian facilities, a European diplomat told the Financial Times: “As we go along 2009, you’re going to hear more and more about it [military action].” He added there was a growing consensus that Tehran could have sufficient fissile material for a bomb by the end of next year. Iran insists its nuclear programme is purely peaceful.

The diplomat said that, in light of concerns, European countries and the US were planning to impose sanctions on Iran’s energy sector as “like minded countries” – rather than through the UN – and were discussing targeting exports of engineering products for Iranian refineries as well as refined oil itself. He said that after a largely empty UN resolution this month, western countries had concluded: “If there is another [resolution] it will take a lot of time and there will be very little substance in it.”

Another western diplomat said: “The idea would be to get together a coalition of the willing ... given the difficulties we would have getting this past Russia and China [in the UN].”

“Iran has a limited refining capacity, so they rely on petrol imports ... We are therefore working on targeting investment in the Iranian refinery industry,” he said, adding that measures, which might also target the financial sector, could be agreed in early November. “You would try and stop investment in new projects inside Iran, preventing extraction and transportation,” he said. Iran meets about one-third of its petrol needs through imports, estimated to cost more than $10bn (€7bn, £6bn) this year.

While Israel may ultimately be ready to launch a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, it is for the time being looking for other solutions.

It supports UN-led efforts to impose sanctions, al-though it has repeatedly called for a tougher line.

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Pirates threaten to destroy arms ship

By Barney Jopson in Nairobi

Published: October 12 2008 15:38 | Last updated: October 12 2008 15:38

Pirates who hijacked a ship laden with Russian-made tanks off the coast of Somalia 18 days ago have threatened to blow it up if they are not paid a multi-million dollar ransom.

A spokesman for the pirates told the Associated Press they would destroy the ship, its cargo and crew and kill themselves if the ransom was not paid by Monday night.

The MV Faina, which is carrying 33 tanks and other military hardware, has for more than two weeks been surrounded by US warships that have vowed to prevent the pirates unloading any of the cargo.

The pirates have been negotiating with the owners of the Ukrainian ship and were last week reported to have shown a willingness to be flexible on their original demand for a $20m (€15m, £11.7m) ransom. The threat to blow up the ship suggests the pirates are either losing patience or seeking to strengthen their bargaining position.

Pirates have made the waters off Somalia the most dangerous in the world in the past two months and disrupted a crucial international shipping route through the Suez Canal.

Most hijackings have been resolved with the payment of a ransom and the release of the crew, but maritime experts say this has encouraged more piracy from bases in lawless Somalia.

The MV Faina was heading for the Kenyan port of Mombasa and the Kenyan government has claimed the tanks were for its own armed forces. But evidence has mounted that they were destined for onward shipment to the government of south Sudan.

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創価学会施設に爆発物？　徳島、ガラス戸割れる

2008年10月13日19時6分

　１３日午前８時５５分ごろ、徳島市南沖洲５丁目の創価学会徳島文化会館に出勤してきた女性職員から「正面玄関のガラスドアが壊されている」と徳島東署に通報があった。同署によると、正面玄関のドアのガラスにこぶし大の穴が開いており、近くのアルミ製枠にも１０センチ四方のへこみがあった。けが人はなかった。天上や玄関床、駐車場にも破片が放射線状に散っていたことから、県警は爆発物を使ったとみて建造物損壊容疑で捜査している。

　近くの住民によると、午前４時３０分ごろ「ドスン」「バーン」など破裂するような音を聞いたという。近くに住む男性（４９）は「トラックが転倒したのかと思って外に出てみたが、不審な人や車は見なかった」と話している。

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１５人と格闘、隊員死亡　海自、集団暴行の疑いで調査

2008年10月13日11時51分

　広島県江田島市の海上自衛隊第１術科学校で今年９月、海自特殊部隊「特別警備隊」養成課程の３等海曹（２５）が、１人で１５人を相手にした格闘訓練中に意識不明になり、約２週間後に死亡していたことが分かった。海自呉地方総監部（広島県呉市）は部内に事故調査委員会を設け、傷害事件にあたるかどうか調べている。

　海自警務隊も、訓練名目で集団暴行していた疑いもあるとみて関係者から事情を聴いている。

　呉地方総監部などによると、格闘訓練は９月９日午後４時ごろから、教官２人の監督のもとで始まった。３曹は１人で次々と１５人を相手にし、午後４時５５分ごろ１４人目の隊員のパンチを受けて倒れたらしい。意識不明になって近くの病院に運ばれ、同２５日に呉市内の病院で急性硬膜下血腫のため死亡したという。

　３曹は今年３月に、特別警備隊を養成する第１術科学校の特別警備応用課程に入ったが、本人から途中で辞めたいという申し出があり、９月１１日付で同課程を罷免され、他の部隊に配属される予定だった。

　訓練は「徒手格闘」で、頭や胴に防具、手にグローブを着けて闘う。辞める隊員への見せしめのための暴行だった疑いもあり、事故調査委員会は慎重に検証している。

　特別警備隊は政府の海上警備行動の発動で不審船に立ち入り、武装解除するのが任務。

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「（１０月には）平穏な生活に戻る」　三浦元社長の手記

2008年10月13日10時20分

　８１年のロサンゼルス銃撃事件に関与した疑いで２月に逮捕され、１０日夜（日本時間１１日午後）に自殺した元会社社長、三浦和義容疑者（６１）＝日本で無罪確定＝がサイパンで勾留（こうりゅう）中に書いた手記の内容がわかった。

　９月５日付で、１０月に出版予定だった本のために書かれた。手記が書かれた後にロサンゼルス郡地裁が共謀罪を有効と判断し、今月１０日にロスに移送されたが、手記では「（１０月中旬には）日本で平穏な生活に戻っている」と先行きを楽観していた。

　４００字詰め原稿用紙で５枚分で、タイトルは「『ＳＡＩＰＡＮ　ＺＯＯ』（サイパン動物園）の独居房にて」。本は放送作家の河村シゲルさん（６５）がまとめ、年内に出版したいという。

　手記は２月２２日にサイパンで殺人と共謀の容疑で逮捕された場面で始まる。「僕は愕然（がくぜん）としました。パスポートの人違いだろうと思っていた考えは崩れ、怒りで体中が燃えるように感じました」と当時の心境を振り返り、「共に戦ってくれています。心強い思いで『頑張らねば！』という力がわいてきます」と支援者に感謝した。

　ロサンゼルスへの移送には強い抵抗感を示した。「日米合意の下で日本で裁判を行うことを決定し、１３年もの歳月をかけ日本で裁判を受けて無罪が確定したのですから、アメリカで裁判を受ける必要性もないと思ったからです」

　手記の末尾は「この本が書店に並ぶころには日本に戻り、今までどうりの平穏な生活に戻っていることを想像しつつ、静かな心で合掌です」と結んでいた。（茂木克信）

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貿易黒字が過去最大更新　中国、９月は２９３億ドル
2008.10.13 17:28

　中国税関総署は１３日、９月の貿易黒字が前年同月比２１・９％増の２９３億ドル（約２兆９５００億円）になったと発表した。３カ月連続で前年同月を上回り、前月に続き過去最大を更新した。

　輸出は電気製品などが好調で２１・５％増の１３６４億ドル、輸入は２１・３％増の１０７１億ドルだった。貿易相手別では、金融危機の発端となった米国との貿易が減速したが、欧州連合（ＥＵ）や日本とは高水準で推移、インドとの貿易も急増した。（北京　共同）

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「２００円の宿」発言で波紋　東京・山谷のいま (1/3ページ)
2008.10.13 19:17

　石原慎太郎・東京都知事の「１泊２００～３００円」発言でにわかに注目を浴びた東京・山谷の簡易宿泊所街。山谷地区がある台東区は「イメージダウンだ」と抗議文を提出、旅館には「ネットカフェより安い宿があるってホントですか」といった問い合わせが相次ぐなど、波紋が広がった。日雇い労働者の街というイメージが強かった山谷だが、その実像は様変わりしている。（徳光一輝、今仲信博）

　発端は、大阪市の個室ビデオ店放火事件をめぐり、石原知事が３日、「山谷のドヤ（簡易宿泊所）に行ってみなさいよ。２００円、３００円で泊まれる宿はいっぱいあるんだよ。そこへ行かずにだな、ファッションみたいな形でね、（ネットカフェなどに）１５００円っていうお金を払ってね」と発言したことだった。

　台東区議会・決算特別委は７日、議員らが「落胆した」「知事に現状を見てもらいたい」と発言して紛糾。吉住弘区長と木下悦希議長が知事に「重大な事実誤認で地域のイメージダウン」として訂正と謝罪を求める抗議文を出す騒ぎとなった。

　区によると、宿泊料は２段ベッドの９００円から高級個室の３５００円までで、平均２０００円程度。石原知事は同じ日に記者団に「認識不足だった。申し訳ない」とコメントしたが、吉住区長は「料金の問題ではない。山谷という都市問題に対する認識不足への大きな怒りであることを認識いただきたい」と述べ、山谷特有の課題があることを強調した。

欧米人やコミケ来場者も

　山谷は、台東区と荒川区にまたがるわずか１．６６平方キロを指す。都福祉保健局の昨年１０月の調査によると、山谷の簡易宿泊所で暮らす約４５００人のうち６４％が生活保護を受給している。９９．５％は男性で平均年齢６３．５歳。一方、日雇労働被保険者手帳（白手帳）を持っているのは１７％に過ぎない。もはや「労働者の街」ではなく、高齢化した元労働者たちが暮らす「福祉の街」になっている。

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23:39 GMT, Sunday, 12 October 2008 00:39 UK
Gene scan to predict hair loss
Man with receeding hairline

Genes that may increase by seven-fold the risk of early baldness amongst men have been uncovered by a team of international researchers.

Analysis of DNA from 5,000 volunteers with and without male-pattern baldness found two stretches of the genome linked with the condition.

One in seven men have both genetic variants, Nature Genetics reported.

Being able to predict hair loss early could boost development of preventive treatments, the researchers said.

An initial study in more than 500 men with early onset hair loss and 500 men without the condition highlighted the two genetic regions which substantially increased the risk of baldness.

"Male pattern baldness had a strong inherited aspect and understanding that may well lead to better treatments and novel approaches"
Professor Val Randall, University of Bradford

One was the androgen receptor gene and has already been linked to male-pattern baldness.

The other region is on chromosome 20 and is nowhere near any known gene.

Male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia, was already k nown to be hereditary and partly caused by male sex hormones.

More work is needed to work out how this influences risk of baldness, the researchers said.

Their findings were confirmed by the researchers in other groups of people with androgenic alopecia - including women in which they found a weaker association - in the UK, Iceland and the Netherlands.

Inheritance

A second study also published in Nature Genetics found a similar link between hair loss and chromosome 20.

The German researchers said the androgen gene which until now had been the only gene identified with baldness was on the X chromosome which is inherited from the mother.

But chromosome 20 is inherited from both mother and father and may provide an explanation for similarities in hair loss between father and sons, they said.

Dr Tim Spector, from Kings College London, said they found around 14% of men carry both genetic variants.

"At the moment we have a fairly good diagnostic tool for people who might want to know whether they will lose their hair before they are 50.

"There probably won't be many people who want to use that at the moment because there aren't any preventive treatments."

He added he hoped it would stimulate pharmaceutical companies to develop creams, gels or pills to prevent hair loss before it starts.

"The other thing is understanding how these genes actually work - it's likely to provide use with new targets for gene therapy which is actually quite easy to deliver to the hair follicle."

Professor Val Randall, from the Centre for Skin Sciences at the University of Bradford said the work was very exciting, although it was debatable whether men would benefit from finding out about their hair loss risk.

However she added: "It is always easier to prevent than replace hair growth.

"Male pattern baldness has a strong inherited aspect and understanding that may well lead to better treatments and novel approaches."

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三浦元社長：死亡真相究明まで遺体引き取らず　夫人が意向

　米ロサンゼルス銃撃事件で、ロスへの移送直後に三浦和義元社長（６１）が自殺したことについて、日本の裁判で主任弁護人を務めた弘中惇一郎弁護士が１３日会見し、「残念でやりきれない気持ちだが、なぜ自殺と言えるか明らかでない」と語った。また三浦元社長の妻から電話があり、死亡の真相が究明されるまでは遺体の引き取りを拒否する意向を伝えてきたことを明らかにした。

　弘中弁護士によると、最後に連絡を取ったのはロス移送直前の１０日。三浦元社長から電話があり、「ロスにはきちんとした裁判をやるために自分の意志で行くんです。みなさんにもそう伝えてください」と元気な様子だったという。

　しかし今月１１日午後５時ごろ、弁護方針を伝えるため元社長の妻に電話した際に「自殺だということです」と知らされた。妻の声は悲鳴に近いものだったといい、自らも「驚いて信じられなかった」という。

　元社長の家族は拘置所の刑務官への事情聴取など、死亡した経緯の徹底調査を米国側に要求しているという。弘中弁護士は「直前まで非常に元気だったわけで、死亡が自殺かどうかはっきりしていない。まず真相究明を第一に要求したい。また逮捕からの手続きは基本的人権を無視したもので、日米の捜査当局に厳重に抗議したい」と語った。【古関俊樹】