UK move to boost cash supply

UK move to boost cash supply

By Chris Giles in London

Published: January 19 2009 22:21 | Last updated: January 19 2009 22:21

Britain paved the way towards unconventional monetary policy in Europe on Monday when the government gave the Bank of England authority to create money and buy a variety of private sector assets.

Although there is no sign the Bank’s monetary policy committee wants to introduce US-style quantitative easing immediately, it now has the power to buy assets ranging from corporate bonds to asset-backed securities with newly created money.

The policy, if introduced, seeks to ease the flow of finance to companies, driving down company borrowing costs and boosting the supply of cash in the economy. The Federal Reserve prefers the term “credit easing” to describe similar moves.

The decision comes as part of a package designed to ease pressure on lending in the UK economy and put a brake on deepening recession. On Monday, the European Commission said Britain had one of the most exposed economies in the world to the global recession, predicting its economy would contract by 2.8 per cent this year with stagnation continuing in 2010.

Other elements of the package were heavily trailed. An insurance scheme stands at its heart, designed to restore some certainty to banks’ finances by providing cover against catastrophic losses. This will be implemented from February on a case-by-case basis.

From April, the government will provide guarantees to wrap around simple asset-backed securities issued by banks containing high-quality mortgage and corporate assets. Subject to state aid approval from the European Commission, it is also planning to extend its current guarantee of short-term funding for banks to the end of the year.

For the first time since the crisis began, the Bank of England will also explicitly accept corporate credit risk when it begins a £50bn ($74bn, €56bn) programme of asset purchases from the private sector in return for government paper in February.

Details of the insurance scheme are sketchy because the government wants to negotiate the terms with individual banks, and is seeking to provide insurance only in catastrophic circumstances.

Paul Mortimer-Lee of BNP Paribas said the lack of specifics in the schemes implied “the impact is impossible to gauge and won’t come in for a number of months”.

Few believe it is a magic bullet to kick-start the economy, but the Bank and Treasury hope it will ease the recessionary dynamic within the economy, removing one of the causes of the downturn.

Richard Lambert, head of the CBI employers’ organisation, said: “This intervention will not stop the recession in its tracks, but it should prevent the current problems from becoming a steeper downward economic spiral . . . But they [the measures announced] are a necessary precondition for a return to stability which our economy badly needs.”

The government was careful on Monday not to commit public funds up front, preferring guarantees. With the European Commission forecasting UK government borrowing exploding to 9.6 per cent of national income in 2010, nearly 2 percentage points worse than the UK government’s latest forecast, the public finances would not easily wear greater commitment from taxpayers, officials recognised.

Sterling fell 1.5 per cent on a trade-weighted index on worries that the moves towards quantitative easing would reduce the attractiveness of UK investments.

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Arab League discusses aid disbursement

By Simeon Kerr in Kuwait City

Published: January 20 2009 00:28 | Last updated: January 20 2009 00:28

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Monday pledged $1bn for the reconstruction of Gaza and threatened to pull the plug on an Arab peace initiative with Israel as he sought to unite regional leaders whose infighting was exposed during the three week assault on the Hamas-controlled coastal strip.

At an economic summit in Kuwait City, the Saudi monarch said the Israeli government should choose between war and peace, warning that the 2002 Saudi proposal of a comprehensive peace with the Arab world in return for Israel’s withdrawal to 1967 borders would not stay on the table indefinitely.

The gathering of the 22 states of the Arab League was dominated by the aftermath of the Gaza strikes. World leaders met in Egypt on Sunday with the aim of reviving the peace process and pledging aid and technical support to shore up the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

In well received comments at the Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit in Kuwait, King Abdullah said he opened the door to Arab neighbours ”without exception”, in a bid to draw the line under differences with states such as Syria and Qatar. ”What is done is done,” he said.

Originally meant to focus on the regional economy and the global financial crisis, the summit’s closed session on Monday night was set to debate, among other topics, the potentially thorny issue of how Arab aid would be disbursed around the Palestinian territories.

As well as the Saudi pledge for a Gaza fund that ministers have said could reach up to $2bn, Kuwait made a $34m donation to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency efforts in the Palestinian territories while also pledging more than $500m for a regional fund to help companies cope with the credit crisis.

The UAE, which last year donated $280m to Palestinian causes, is to launch another direct aid project to construct 1,300 homes in Gaza after the destruction caused by the Israeli assault, an official said.

While some Arab states are looking to international agencies to disburse the money others would prefer it to be channelled via the Palestinian Authority, the body they argue best represents the Palestinian people as mentioned in Arab league and UN resolutions. But Hamas – the Islamist group which controls Gaza – on Monday warned that reconstruction aid should flow directly to the devastated area rather than via the West Bank.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority’s president, who controls the West Bank, called for a government of national unity at the Kuwait summit.

Differences between regional leaders over the last three weeks only served to deepen anger among Arabs as the civilian death toll rose above 1,300 before Israel called its unilateral ceasefire on Saturday.

Over lunch King Abdullah held a meeting with the leaders of Kuwait, Syria, Egypt, Qatar and Bahrain, as he sought to hammer out a renewed unified Arab position after weeks of competing summits and rhetoric.

Amr Moussa, the Arab League’s secretary general, described the Arab position as ”chaotic” last week as a Qatari backed summit on Friday – attended by Hamas – was boycotted by Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

The Doha summit ended with Qatar, the only Gulf state to have established ties with Israel, suspending diplomatic relations.

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2009年1月19日

ブッシュと小泉の仲（続）

　私は1月１２日のブログでブッシュ・小泉の朋友関係は作り上げられた虚像ではないか、と書いた。

　それを占う重要な根拠として、ブッシュ大統領が、イラク戦争を支持した豪州のハワード前首相をワシントンに招待して叙勲をしたこと、その時オバマ次期大統領もワシントンに滞在していたのに、ハワード前首相をブレアハウス（迎賓館）に泊める厚遇をした事、を私は人づてに聞き、それが本当なら、小泉元首相は招待されなかったのか、と書いた。

　そのブログをもしメディア関係者が読んでいれば、事実関係を調べて是非国民に教えてくれないか、と書いた。

　なにしろイラク戦争の支持においては、小泉元首相の忠誠ぶりはハワード前豪州首相の比ではない。憲法違反までして自衛隊を派遣したのだ。苦しむ国民を尻目に多額の税金を使ったのだ。

　ブッシュ大統領が真っ先に叙勲する相手は小泉元首相ではないのか。ましてや日米史上まれに見る朋友関係を結んだ仲だ。

　残念ながらどのメディアも関心がないとみえて書かない。

　しかし少なくともブッシュ大統領がハワード前豪州首相を招待した事は確かなようだ。しかもオバマ次期大統領より厚遇して。

　ニューズウィーク（日本語版）１月２１日号は、「退場ブッシュの迷惑な最後っ屁」と題して次のような記事を掲載していた。

　・・・ブッシュ大統領のせいでワシントンで大渋滞が起きている。オバマ次期米大統領は１２月、大統領の賓客が泊まるブレアハウスに就任式の２週間前から滞在したいと要請した・・・だが、ブッシュが先に予約客（ハワード前豪首相）がいるとして断ったため、オバマ一家はヘイアダムス・ホテルに宿泊することになった。どちらもホワイトハウスに近いが、ブレアハウスは遊歩道に面しているため警備が交通を妨げることはない。一方でヘイアダムスは主要な交差点にあるため、警備・・・で大混乱が起きている・・・

　ハワード前豪首相がブッシュ大統領に国賓待遇で招待されていた事はこれで確認された。後は叙勲を与えたかどうかだ。そして何よりも小泉元首相は招待されなかったのか、ということだ。

　交通渋滞なんかよりこっちのほうがはるかにニュースバリューがある。

　格好の週刊誌ネタだと思うのになぜ誰も書かないのだろうか。

-----------------------------
2009年1月20日

ブッシュと小泉の仲（最終回）

　読者から多くの情報が寄せられた。その結果ブッシュと小泉の仲が偽者だった事がわかった。

　1月１３日、ブッシュ大統領はハワード前豪州首相のほか、ブレア前英首相、ウリベコロンビア大統領に大統領自由勲章という、文民に与えられる最高の勲章を与えている。

　その理由は、「テロとの戦い」、民主化、人権擁護などでブッシュ政権に最大の貢献をしたからであるという。

　日本国民よ。この事実を、目を開いてよく見よ。そこにわれらが小泉元首相はいなかったのだ。小泉元首相はブッシュ大統領に相手にあれていなかったのだ。

　その嘘がばれて小泉元首相が恥をかいたことなどどうでもいい。これは日本国民に対する侮辱ではないのか。

　世界中の新聞が報じているこの事実を日本のメディアが一切無視している。

　あたかも触れてはいけないないかのように。

　情報提供をくれたブログの読者に感謝する。我々だけでも十分に既存のメディア以上のメディアをつくることができるのだ。

　この事について私の思いをメールマガジンで書いて見る。

-----------------------------
President Bush Honors Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients
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Fact sheet Recipients of Medal of Freedom

1:07 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon to everybody, and thank you all for coming. We have assembled quite a distinguished crowd to honor three good friends -- President Uribe, Prime Minister Howard, and Prime Minister Blair. Laura and I welcome you to the White House.

You'll always be welcome in this country. And we hope to have you come down and visit us in Texas. As you probably have heard, we're changing addresses here -- (laughter) -- in a little less than seven days.

President George W. Bush applauds former Prime Minister Tony Blair after presenting him Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, with the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom during ceremonies in the East Room of the White House. White House photo by Chris Greenberg We're delighted to have a lot of distinguished guests, people who have worked with you throughout your time in office. Members of your family who are here, we're really glad you've come.

I want to thank the Vice President, members of the Cabinet, and members of the Congress who have joined us, as well. We offer a special welcome to those who are personal friends of the honorees. I know they're as delighted to have you here as I am.

In a few moments the military aide will read the citations for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The medal is America's highest civil award. It is given in recognition of exemplary achievement, and to convey the utmost esteem of the people and the President of the United States.

In these eight years I have presented the Medal of Freedom to some of our most eminent citizens. On occasion, I've also had the honor of presenting it to citizens of other lands, who inspired particular admiration in the United States and provided courageous leadership to our world. Among these recipients have been Vaclav Havel, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Nelson Mandela, and the late Pope John Paul II.

This afternoon I'm pleased to award the Medal of Freedom to three extraordinary leaders. We honor a sitting President and two former Prime Ministers -- each one of them a true friend of the United States who met historic challenges with great tenacity, and who provides a lasting example of statesmanship at home and abroad.

The first day I met Tony Blair, almost exactly eight years ago, he was in his second term as Prime Minister and I was just starting out. After our first meeting, a reporter asked if we'd found anything in common, and I jokingly replied that we both used Colgate toothpaste. (Laughter.)

The truth is I did feel a close connection to Tony Blair. As I said after the first meeting, I knew that "when either of us gets in a bind, there will be a friend on the other end of the phone." My friend was there, indeed, after America was attacked on September the 11th, 2001. And it just wasn't on the phone line. When I stood in the House Chamber to ask the civilized world to rally to freedom's cause, there in the gallery was the staunch friend, Prime Minister Tony Blair.

He was there in a moment of trial to affirm the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. And he was there to show America, and all nations, that he understood the stakes in the war on terror. As he said, "just as the terrorist seeks to divide humanity in hate, so we have to unify it around an idea. And that idea is liberty." Under Tony Blair's leadership, the might and the moral authority of Great Britain have been applied to the war on terror from the first day. Our nations have worked proudly together to destroy terrorist havens, liberate millions, and help rising democracies to serve the aspirations of their people.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom, is joined by Australia's former Prime Minister John Howard and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe as they sit onstage in the East Room of the White House Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, during a ceremony honoring them as 2009 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Established by Executive Order in 1963, the medal is America's highest civil award. White House photo by Chris Greenberg Tony Blair's entire career is defined by his devotion to democratic values and human dignity. At his very center, this man believes in freedom -- freedom from oppression, freedom from hunger, freedom from disease, and freedom from fear and despair. In the House of Commons, as the longest-serving Labour Prime Minister in history, he fought to lift up his nation's communities and better the lives of all its people. He helped turn generations of violence in Northern Ireland into years of peace. He drew the attention and conscience of the world to the suffering in Africa, and he continues to serve the cause of peace and democracy as the Quartet Envoy to the Middle East.

Out of office but still in public life, Tony Blair remains on the world stage as a man of high intelligence and insight -- and above all, as a man of faith and idealism and integrity. The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom will stand tall in history. And today the United States of America proudly honors its gallant friend, Tony Blair. (Applause.)

John Howard of Australia has spent a lot of years in politics. He's won some, and he's lost a few. There was even a time, two decades ago, when he thought his days of political leadership might be over. A comeback, he said, would be like "Lazarus with a triple bypass." (Laughter.) The man has got an unusual way of speaking. (Laughter.)

With his plainspoken style and unpretentious manner, John Howard did make a comeback. He rose to his nation's highest elected office, won four straight elections, and served longer than all other Australian prime ministers but one. And all the while, John Howard retained his close connection with the people of his country. His time in office was marked by great national confidence and prosperity and rising global influence. He won the respect of leaders around the world for his commitment to free markets, cooperation, and the peaceful resolution of differences. He was a faithful steward of Australia's alliances, and a sturdy friend in a time of need.

President George W. Bush stands with former Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom as they listen to a citation honoring Mr. Blair as recipient of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. The presentation, held Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, in the East Room of the White House, will be the last such presentation by President Bush during his administration. White House photo by Chris Greenberg At an event here in Washington, he reflected on the many tests that our two countries faced together in the 20th century. He spoke with feeling about our shared values -- as well as our obligation to defend them, and "if necessary fight for them, and be ready to repel those who would seek to take [our] freedoms away."

As it happens, John Howard spoke those words on Monday, September the 10th, 2001 -- and in all that followed, he proved true to his convictions. He always has been brave in the defense of freedom. In these seven years, both our countries have lost innocent civilians and suffered casualties on the field of battle. But this man, who saw the burning Pentagon on September the 11th, and who confronted -- comforted the survivors of Bali, never wavered in his commitment to overcoming this great danger to civilization. He never wavered in his support for liberty, and free institutions, and the rule of law as the true and hopeful alternatives to ideologies of violence and repression. He's a man of honesty and moral clarity. He can make a decision, he can defend it, and he stands his ground. That's why I called him a Man of Steel.

In the character of John Winston Howard we see that fine Australian spirit of "standing by your mates." Our two countries, though half a world apart, have long enjoyed an easy and natural fellowship. And the 25th Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia stands for all that Americans like and admire most about his wonderful country.

So, Mr. Prime Minister, our friend, welcome to the White House, and congratulations. (Applause.)

National leaders sometimes take office without fully knowing all the tests that await them. But when Alvaro Uribe became the President of Colombia, the challenges were in full view. He knew exactly what he was getting into.

For more than a generation, good and decent people across that country had lived at the mercy of brutal drug cartels and illegal armed groups. A contagion of terrorist violence and killings and kidnappings had shaken the political system and caused many Colombians to despair for their nation's future. Early in this decade, the Republic of Colombia was near the point of being, at best, a failed state -- or, at worst, a narco-state. In those conditions, it took more than ambition and ideals to run for political office -- it required immense personal courage and strength of character.

President George W. Bush speaks on stage in the East Room of the White House Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, during the Ceremony for the 2009 Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. With him on stage are the recipients, from left: Former Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom, former Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, and President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia. White House photo by Chris Greenberg As a presidential candidate in 2002, Alvaro Uribe pledged to his people greater security, a healthier democracy, and a better chance for prosperous lives. He was elected on a theme that expressed perfectly what the Colombian people desired in a president: "Strong hand, and big heart."

President Uribe's leadership has been resolute and uncompromising. Today in Colombia, homicides are down 40 percent, kidnappings are down more than 80 percent, terror attacks are down by more than 75 percent. The forces of violence are on the defensive, and the people are reclaiming their country.

President Uribe's fellow citizens know him as someone who speaks forthrightly and follows through on his commitments. With his lifelong interest in public policy, he has a phenomenal grasp of the details of governing. At the same time, he has formed a powerful bond with his people. They met their President in town halls across the country. They've seen him deliver results. They like him and they trust him -- and they have made him the first Colombian leader in the modern era to win reelection.

Lately I've been asked to reflect on the most memorable events of my presidency. Among those is a phone call I received several months ago from President Uribe. He called to say that a group of hostages -- including three Americans that had been held in captivity for five years -- had been rescued, and were alive and safe and sound. It was a joyful moment, Mr. President. And it was a credit to your leadership.

For President Uribe, the great demands of office continue. Today the United States honors all Colombians by honoring the man they have chosen to lead them. By refusing to allow the land he loves to be destroyed by an enemy within, by proving that terror can be opposed and defeated, President Uribe has reawakened the hopes of his countrymen and shown a model of leadership to a watching world. Colombia remains a nation with challenges. But the future will always be bright in a country that produces such men as President Alvaro Uribe.

Congratulations, mi amigo. (Applause.)

Former Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, smiles as President George W. Bush presents him with the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, during ceremonies in the East Room of the White House. Established in 1963, the Medal may be presented to "any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or world peace or cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." White House photo by Chris Greenberg Each of these gentlemen we honor today has his own style and personality, and each has amassed distinctions and achievements that belong to him alone. Yet all of them have shown a firm adherence to the principles of freedom and democratic values, and a willingness to face problems squarely instead of passing them on to others. They're the sort of guys who look you in the eye and tell you the truth and keep their word. In lengthy service they proved to be leaders of character and fortitude. They are warm friends of the United States of America. The opportunity to know them and work with them has been among the great satisfactions of my time as President. I respect them and I admire them.

And now I ask the military aide to read the citations, and it will be my honor to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Tony Blair, John Howard, Alvaro Uribe.

MILITARY AIDE: Tony Blair. Tony Blair has been a powerful force of freedom and for building understanding among nations. As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he was instrumental in helping millions of people secure their freedom in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, and Sierra Leone; forging a new era of peace in Northern Ireland, providing humanitarian assistance around the globe, especially in Africa, and strengthening the relationship between our two nations. Throughout his career, and in his role as Quartet Representative to the Middle East, he has worked to provide people with opportunities to better their lives.

The United States honors Tony Blair for his lifelong dedication to building a more just and peaceful world. (Applause.)

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

MILITARY AIDE: John Winston Howard. During a career of public service spanning four decades, John Howard has been an unwavering champion of democracy and freedom. As Prime Minister of Australia, he helped deliver unparalleled prosperity to his country's people through staunch adherence to free market principles.

Relations between the two countries were never closer than under his stewardship and after the attacks of September 11, 2001. He worked steadfastly to combat the scourge of terrorism, bring freedom to millions of people, promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

The United States honors John Winston Howard for his lifelong efforts to spread hope and freedom throughout the world. (Applause.)


President George W. Bush applauds former Prime Minister John Howard after presenting the Australian leader with the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom during ceremonies Tuesday, Jan.13, 2009, in the East Room of the White House. White House photo by Chris Greenberg (The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

MILITARY AIDE: Alvaro Uribe Velez. As President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe has championed the rule of law in a country that endured decades of violence at the hands of illegal armed groups. He has demonstrated a deep commitment to the prosperity of Colombia's people, and his bold policies have spread democratic values and established the foundation for lasting peace throughout Colombia.

He has been a courageous partner of the United States. And under his leadership, Colombia has become a model for countries seeking reconciliation and the establishment of a society based on respect for human dignity.

The United States honors Alvaro Uribe Velez for his commitment to freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. (Applause.)

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: In honor of these distinguished gentlemen, Laura and I invite you to stay for a reception in the State Dining Room. Please enjoy yourselves, and thank you for joining us here at the White House. (Applause.)

END 1:26 P.M. EST

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2009/01/20090113-7.html

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Bush honours Howard as 'man of steel'
Kate Hannon
January 14, 2009

Former prime minister John Howard beamed as outgoing US president George Bush hung the US Medal of Freedom around his neck at a White House ceremony on Wednesday (AEDT).

Mr Bush invoked his famous moniker for Mr Howard - "the Man of Steel" - as he described their friendship and his admiration for the Australian leader's courage in supporting the war on terrorism.

He told the Washington DC audience of Mr Howard's lament more than 20 years ago on his chances of reviving his political career after losing the Liberal leadership as "Lazarus with a triple bypass".

"The man has got an unusual way of speaking," Mr Bush joked.

Mr Howard and fellow member of the coalition of the willing, former British prime minister Tony Blair, and Colombian president Alvaro Uribe, each received the medal, the highest civilian honour in the US.

Later, Mr Howard said the presentation was a compliment to Australia and to the strength of its relationship with the US.

"I certainly appreciated it, and I felt honoured and I felt touched," Mr Howard told reporters.

"There were some very kind things said about me. But I do, nonetheless, put it in the broader context of it being a compliment to my country."

Mr Bush described Mr Howard as plain-spoken and unpretentious and possessing a character in which "... we see that fine Australian spirit of 'standing by your mates'."

The former prime minister, who was in Washington on an official visit during the September 11 attacks, had been brave in his defence of freedom and remained true to his convictions.

"In these seven years, both our countries have lost innocent civilians and suffered casualties on the field of battle," Mr Bush said.

"He's a man of honesty and moral clarity. He can make a decision, he can defend it, and he stands his ground. That's why I called him a Man of Steel."

Mr Howard told reporters he wished incoming president Barack Obama well and was touched by the breadth of support for him.

"There is no doubt it is an historic moment for the United States to have for the first time a president who is an African-American and it must be a wonderful thing if you are part of that section of this country to feel at long last one of your own has been chosen for the highest office," Mr Howard said.

"People want him to succeed; I want him to succeed."

Meanwhile, lawyer Stephen Kenny - the man who first represented David Hicks when he was detained at Guantanamo Bay - describes Mr Howard's award as "regrettable".

Mr Kenny said Mr Howard was the "leading aider and abetter" of President Bush in his serious breach of human rights in regard to the US military facility in Cuba.

"The existence of Guantanamo Bay is a serious stain on the credibility of America and it significantly undermines the Geneva Convention relating to the treatment of prisoners of war," Mr Kenny said.

"John Howard was the only leader in the world who supported the imprisonment of prisoners of war beyond the law at Guantanamo Bay.

"His role in manipulating the imprisonment of two Australians at Guantanamo Bay and his failure to insist that they receive a fair trial and the protection of the Geneva Convention puts at risk all Australian servicemen and women who may be captured in future conflicts."

Mr Kenny acted as the legal representative for Mr Hicks during his early years in US detention and visited the Australian at the US military facility.

He was often critical of how the former coalition government handled the Hicks case.

Mr Kenny was replaced by alternative counsel in the years before Mr Hicks was returned to Australia and released from an Adelaide jail after agreeing to a plea to a charge of providing support for terrorism.

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Bush gives Blair highest US civilian honour
Former prime minister receives presidential medal of freedom for 'efforts to promote democracy and peace abroad'

* Jo Adetunji
* guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 13 January 2009 19.41 GMT

George Bush presents Tony Blair with a presidential medal of freedom

George Bush presents Tony Blair with a presidential medal of freedom. Photograph: Ron Edmonds/AP

George Bush presented Tony Blair with the presidential medal of freedom, the highest honour awarded to civilians in the United States, at a ceremony at the White House today.

The former prime minister received the medal for "efforts to promote democracy, human rights and peace abroad", the White House said. The former Australian prime minister John Howard and Colombian president Alvaro Uribe also received the medal today, during Bush's last week as US president.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bush said the three were being given the medals "in recognition of exemplary acheivement and to convey the utmost esteem of the American people and its president".

Bush described Blair as an "extraordinary leader" who had "met historical challenges with huge tenacity". Recalling their first meeting, eight years ago, Bush said he had joked that the two men had Colgate toothpaste in common. But he said the two had formed a close bond.

"When either of us gets in a bind, a friend will be at the end of the phone," he said. He said Blair had been a "staunch friend" after 9/11, and a "man of faith, ideal and integrity" who had carried the "might and morality of the British people and applied it to the war on terror".

Bush said Blair's career was entirely entirely by democracy, and he had "helped turn generations of violence in Northern Ireland". Blair would "stand tall in history", Bush said.

Bush said Blair, Howard and Uribe would always be welcome in America, and extended an invite from him and his wife to their home in Texas after he leaves office in seven days' time. "If you've heard, we're moving address," he quipped.

Blair and Bush have enjoyed a close relationship, particularly after the attack on the World Trade Centre in 2001, as Blair defied sharp criticism at home to support the so-called war on terror and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. . Howard was also a supporter of the war with Iraq. Other Bush allies to have received the award include General Tommy Franks, who led the 2003 Iraqi invasion.

Edward Davey, the Liberal Democrat shadow foreign secretary, has criticised Blair receiving the honour.

The medal of freedom, established by President Harry Truman in 1945 to reward service during the second world war, recognises "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors". Several are awarded annually, sometimes to non-US citizens. Former recipients include Nelson Mandela in 2002, the boxer Muhammad Ali in 2005 and the US playwright Tennessee Williams in 1980.

The medal is not the first Blair has received from the US. In 2003 he received the Congressional gold medal - the highest civilian award that can be given by Congress.

Blair took time out of his schedule as the official envoy of the Quartet in the Middle East - on behalf of the United Nations, the US, the European Union and Russia - to receive the medal.

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都心の路上　イライラ解消大実験（1/3ページ）

2009年1月20日15時1分

■霞が関の横断歩道

　横断歩道の信号は「赤」「青」どっち？――。一瞬、わが目を疑うような「２段階横断実験」が東京・霞が関の官庁街で行われている。財団法人・国際交通安全学会が東京大や千葉工業大、警視庁と取り組んでいる。待ち時間を短縮することで、イライラを解消するのが狙いだ。

　財務省や外務省などが並ぶ霞が関２丁目交差点。道路反対側の歩行者が動き出すのを見て、釣られて足を踏み出すと、すかさず待機していた警備員が「まだ赤ですよ」と制止した。中央帯をはさみ、信号の色が違うからだ。

　道路幅３２メートルの途中にある５．５メートルの中央帯に、新たに歩行者用信号が取り付けられた。道路を渡るときは、まず中央帯の信号の指示に従う。中央帯まで来たら、渡る先の歩道側の信号の指示に従うという仕組みだ。このため、中央帯の信号は「青」でも、向かいの歩道は「赤」という状況が起き、「どっちが本当」と迷う人もいる。

　しかし、この方式をとると、例えば、車が右折信号の場合も、車が通らない車線側は横断できる。この結果、信号の待ち時間が短くなる人も出てくる。

　最大の課題は、信号の誤認だ。今は警備員がいて制止してくれるが、本格導入するなら、歩行者が間違わないようにしなければならない。そのための工夫として、反対歩道側の信号に庇（ひさし）を取り付け、中央帯まで進まないと信号の色が分からないようにした。それでも見るべき信号を間違えたり、複数の信号に戸惑ったりする人もいる。

　実験期間は１月１３日～２月１３日の土日曜日を除く１カ月。時間帯は午前１０時から午後３時まで。期間中、ビデオで交差点の様子を映し、車や歩行者の流れを実験前と比較する。通行人にもアンケートし、どの程度勘違いする人がいるのかなどを調べている。

　実験に携わる東大大学院の家田仁教授（交通学）によると、欧州では歩行者の２段階横断は一般的という。「待ち時間短縮にはハード整備も必要だが、ちょっとした工夫による改善の可能性に取り組みたい」と話している。（水山和敬）

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■銀座のタクシー渋滞

　不況で客足が少なくなった東京・銀座で、客待ちのタクシーが毎夜のように長い列をつくっている。警察への苦情もひっきりなしで、道路をふさぐ大渋滞の解消に東京都が乗り出した。タクシー業界と協力し、１．５キロ離れた駐車場で待機させる実験を２６日に始める。

　中央区銀座５丁目から８丁目は、平日の午後１０時～翌日午前１時まで指定の乗り場１５カ所以外ではタクシーを拾えない「乗車禁止地区」に国が指定している。このため、タクシーは乗り場で客待ちの列をつくっている。

　タクシー会社３９６社が加盟する東京乗用旅客自動車協会によると、銀座のタクシー待ちの列はここ数年で長くなった。規制緩和でタクシーが増えた半面、景気低迷で客が減ったためだ。それでも「銀座は遠距離のお客さんが多い」という期待からタクシーが集まってくる。多いときは１５０台が数珠つなぎになることもあるとされる。

　このため、タクシーの列は場所によっては二重駐車になり、一般車の通行の障害になっている。管轄する築地署には、一般のドライバーらから「通れないじゃないか」という苦情の電話が毎晩のようにかかってくるという。

　財団法人東京タクシーセンターは指導員を現場に出して移動を促しているが、指導員がいなくなるとタクシーがまた戻ってくる。同センターも「いたちごっこで限界を感じている」という状況だ。

　そこで、都やタクシー業界、警視庁などは１年前から検討会で議論を重ね、新橋駅近くの乗り場で、タクシーの待機実験を決めた。待機車を約２０台におさえ、残りは車で約５分、約１．５キロ離れた築地市場そばの駐車場で待つ。客が乗るたびに担当者が無線で駐車場に信号を送り、１台ずつ出庫したタクシーが待機列の最後尾につく仕組みだ。

　実験は２６日から３週間、平日の規制時間帯に行う。問題がなければ、本格導入を検討するという。

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ブクロ炎上危機!? 旧正月迫る中、池袋チャイナタウン構想問題でにらみ合い続く

　旧暦の正月(春節)を1週間後の26日に控え、中国人が集まる池袋駅北口かいわいがヒートアップしている。中国人経営者らが昨年、チャイナタウン(中華街)を展開しようと旗揚げしたものの、地元の反発で計画が頓挫、両者のにらみ合いが続いているからだ。中国人にとって最大のイベントである旧正月に向け、日中の関係者が火花を散らす一触即発の事態に発展しかねない。

　池袋に中華街を作ろうという動きは、昨年夏、来日20年の胡逸飛さん(46)が呼びかけ人となって、任意団体「トウキョウチャイナタウン池袋」を発足しスタートした。「点在する店のネットワーク化を図ろう」(胡さん)との狙いだ。

　駅北口周辺には、中国人経営の雑貨店、食料品店、飲食店が軒を連ね、その数約200軒。地下鉄「副都心線」の開業(08年6月)と合わせタウン雑誌などがこぞって取り上げ、「池袋中華街」は既成事実化したかに見えた。

　異を唱えたのは地元商店街だ。池袋西口商店街連合会の三宅満会長(63)は、「時期尚早だ。裏でマフィアなどどんな人が暗躍しているか分からないのも不安」と顔を曇らせる。

　毒ギョーザ事件など、対中関係で不穏な出来事が続発した時期と重なったことも向かい風となり、構想は中国側が一歩引く形で表面上は沈静化している。

○26人に1人
　池袋近辺に中国人が多く住むようになったのは、ここ十数年のことだ。新華僑と呼ばれる人たちがこの地で商売を始め、同郷人が続々と押し寄せた。

　東京都によると、都内で外国人登録をする中国人は14万2213人(08年10月現在)。東京都の人口約1290万人の1.1%が中国人。池袋を抱える豊島区に限ると、中国人は人口約24万人の実に3.8%の9098人に上る。都全体の4倍近い割合で、約26人に1人が中国人という計算になる。

　駅北口付近では中国語が飛び交い、中国語の看板が目立つ。路上で中国語フリーペーパーを配ったり、国際テレホンカードを売る業者も見られる。ある日本人商店主は「ガイドブックを片手に若いお嬢さんが『池袋中華街はどこですか』と尋ねてくる。『そんなものはないんだよ』と答えているんだが」と苦虫をかみつぶすように話した。

　140年の歴史を誇る日本最大の横浜中華街は、ホームページなどで大々的に地元向け、観光客向けのPRを展開。旧正月前後を通し、中国の伝統芸能披露などイベントを開催している。胡さんは、「横浜の先輩とも情報交換したいが、まだ実現していない」。

　中国では旧正月は、日本のNHK紅白歌合戦に当たる番組「春節聯歓晩会」を観るなど家族団らんで過ごすことが多い。ほとんど外出せず、営業する店も少ない。

　日本では旧暦の元旦(今年は26日)も祝日とはならないため、池袋の中国人経営の商店もほとんどが営業。しかし、横浜中華街のような、日本人の集客は念頭にない。華やかなイメージの横浜中華街と、にわか中華街と化している池袋の違いについて、中国のある留学生は、「横浜が日本人のための中華街だとしたら、池袋は中国人のための中華街」とたとえる。

　旧正月用の買い物で、食料品店などは今週末から中国人の集客が予想される。また、本国では店が一斉休業し家族と過ごすはずの旧正月当日には、異国の地で望郷に思いをはせる大勢の中国人が池袋に繰り出し、街が中国人であふれそうだ。

　近辺では、酔っ払った日中の若者らによる小競り合いは日常茶飯事。みかじめ料を巡る中国マフィアの暴行事件も起こっている。

　構想に対し、一部の国粋主義的な団体が入り込み抗議行動を展開。一方、行政当局である豊島区は、「外国人のマナーに関する苦情がよく寄せられるが、(構想を)法で規制はできない」(文化商工部)と、当事者意識が低い。

　旧正月に向け池袋は、日本人客を蚊帳の外に、本国や伝統的な中華街以上に「中国」化しそうな勢い。中華街構想を巡り日中の不信感が渦巻く中、辛うじて平穏を保っている関係者の間で、新たなトラブルも発生しかねない状況だ。　

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海賊対策、海自特殊部隊も派遣へ…政府の活動概要

　政府がアフリカ・ソマリア沖の海賊対策で検討している海上警備行動による海上自衛隊の活動要領の概要が１９日、明らかになった。

　派遣する護衛艦は２隻とし、日本籍船など「日本関係船」と船団を組み、護衛艦搭載ヘリコプターが上空を警戒しながら、安全海域まで伴走する。保護対象は、国土交通省が貨物の重要度などを考慮して選ぶ。

　護衛艦は必要に応じて海賊船に停船命令や立ち入り検査を実施。武器使用は警察官職務執行法を準用する。武装海賊に備え、２００１年に発足した海自の特殊部隊「特別警備隊」が乗り組むことも検討する。

　また、通信衛星経由で同時進行で連絡を取り合うシステムを整備。海賊対処の状況を動画で日本に送るシステム構築も検討する。

　政府は派遣前に、護衛や海賊対処の要領、武器使用などに関する部隊行動基準を作成するが、実際に武器使用に踏み切る場合、要件を満たすかどうかなどを的確に判断するためだ。関係国は海賊の掃討より抑止を重視しているうえ、武器使用の正当性の立証責任は海自にあるため、証拠確保に万全を期す狙いもある。

　一方、海賊を拘束した場合の法執行に備え、司法警察権のある海上保安官が同乗する。拘束した海賊は沿岸国に引き渡すか、殺人など重大犯罪の場合は日本に移送して起訴する方針だ。

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Turkey links gas pipeline to EU talks

By Tony Barber in Brussels

Published: January 20 2009 02:00 | Last updated: January 20 2009 02:00

Turkey signalled yesterday it might withhold support from the Nabucco gas pipeline, a project viewed as central to Europe's drive for energy security, unless the European Union unblocked the energy section of Turkey's EU membership talks.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister, delivered the warning at a time when Europe's energy worries have never been higher, with a Russian-Ukrainian dispute depriving Europe of Russian gas supplies for almost two weeks so far this winter.

Mr Erdogan was speaking at a think-tank conference in Brussels, where he was making his first visit to EU headquarters since 2004 in an attempt to inject fresh life into Turkey's EU membership bid.

"If we are faced with a situation where the energy chapter is blocked, we would of course review our position," Mr Erdogan said, referring to Nabucco, a planned 3,300km-long pipeline intended to transport gas from the Caspian Sea and central Asia through Turkey to Europe.

Since it started its EU membership talks in October 2005, Turkey has opened 10 of the 35 chapters, or policy areas, that must be completed before a country can enter the bloc. However, the EU froze eight chapters in 2006, citing Turkey's refusal to open its ports and airports to vessels and aircraft from the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government of Cyprus.

In addition, to the dismay of EU member states sympathetic to Turkey, Cyprus is blocking the start of talks on the energy section of Turkey's accession negotiations.

José Manuel Barroso, European Commission president, said after talks with Mr Erdogan yesterday that European and Turkish energy security was too important to be held hostage by Turkey's EU membership bid.

"We should not link the question of energy security to a specific point we're dealing with in the accession negotiations," he said.

Mr Erdogan, speaking with Mr Barroso at his side, appeared to soften his warning on Nabucco without withdrawing it. "The Nabucco project is very important. We are aware of our responsibilities," he said.

Question marks hang over Nabucco, because construction of the pipeline, due to be completed by 2014, has not begun and the cost is estimated at €8bn ($10.5bn, £7.2bn), up from €5bn when it was first proposed.

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Short View: When superheroes fail

By John Authers

Published: January 19 2009 19:20 | Last updated: January 19 2009 19:20

It was only a slip of the tongue that made Gordon Brown claim that the October UK bank rescue “saved the world”, but for a while it looked as though he was right. It was the moment when fears of a global banking collapse began to subside.

Sadly, the new UK bank rescue shows that the first rescue did not even save the UK banks. And it has had the opposite effect on market confidence.

The phenomenon goes beyond the 66 per cent fall in Royal Bank of Scotland stock. As of Friday, the MSCI banks index was down 14.9 per cent for the year; MSCI’s world index as a whole was down only 5.9 per cent. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 index of European banks has underperformed the market by more than 40 per cent since early October. European banks’ share of overall market value has halved since the top of the market; the fall for US banks is about two-thirds.

This can be read as a specific fear for banks’ shareholders. Their debtholders may not be allowed to lose, but their equity could go to zero. Sell-offs after rescues, also seen in Bank of America in the US last week, suggest the market thinks nationalisation, with little or no compensation for shareholders, is a likely finale.

However, it could also be read as a sign that markets are in denial about the broader effects of the banking crisis.

If a bank nationalisation is a real possibility, then the burden this would place on governments could dent the broader economy.

Yet industrials, despite very bearish surveys of business opinion, are beating the market. And European stocks rebounded on Monday before going through their lows from last month, just as US markets did last week. Even if the worst is not yet known for the financials, there remains a questionable belief that the effect of their woes on other companies has been discounted by the market.

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The paradoxical Europeans’ view

By James Blitz

Published: January 19 2009 23:45 | Last updated: January 19 2009 23:45

Ever since Barack Obama became front-runner in the US presidential race, there has been a strange paradox about Europeans’ view of him. On the one hand, Mr Obama is deeply respected by Europeans as a man who will heal the rifts between Europe and the US created by the George W. Bush era. On the other, Europeans rarely seem willing to contemplate what the emergence of Mr Obama implies for them in terms of sharing the world’s military and political burdens.

This paradox is all too evident from the results of the FT’s latest Harris poll. On the one hand, Mr Obama, at the moment of his inauguration, is a figure much admired by Europeans. A clear majority (for example, some 92 per cent in France) are convinced Mr Obama will have a positive impact on world events. They believe his lack of experience will do nothing to hinder economic recovery in Europe. Some 67 per cent of respondents in Italy, for instance, say they are “not concerned at all” on this front.

On the other hand, Europeans have still not come to terms with the fact that Mr Obama, after the debacle in Iraq, is likely to put a much greater focus on winning the war in Afghanistan. The US is set to send an additional 20,000 to 30,000 troops to Afghanistan this year. Yet, Mr Obama’s requests for major European states to send more troops still fall on deaf ears. At the same time, European publics show little sympathy for the argument that the war in Afghanistan matters. Hence, the most striking finding of our poll: that more than half of voters in the UK, France, Germany and Italy are resolutely against any more of their troops being sent to the Afghan theatre.

This divergence between European euphoria over Mr Obama and an unwillingness to accept the consequences of his election does not just touch on Afghanistan. Other policy areas reveal a potential rift. President Obama, for example, wants to close down the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. But there is little, if any, willingness from EU states to take the 50 or so inmates who would need to be transferred to Europe. This European reluctance could significantly slow down Guantanamo’s closure.

Our poll also reveals a divergence in US and European views on the terrorist threat. Some 45 per cent of Americans believe that President Obama should continue to place this at the top of his concerns, in much the same way that President Bush did. But nowhere in western Europe is there anything like the same feeling about the threat from jihadism. In Germany, for example, just 13 per cent of people believe it should be President Obama’s top concern.

All told, the respect of Europeans for Mr Obama is striking. A clear majority in each European Union state surveyed by Harris are convinced that, in his approach to economic policy, he will act with the world’s interests in mind rather than being narrowly protectionist. US voters are not nearly of the same view. Nearly half of them believe Mr Obama will “put America’s interests first”. Yet some 71 per cent of French respondents and 67 per cent of German voters believe he will “recognise the need for the US and other major countries to work together”.

This transatlantic faith in the new president is doubtless welcome to the Obama administration.Yet, some US policymakers believe that Europeans – be they at the top of government or ordinary members of the public – have too simplistic a view of the incoming president. “It is striking how little deep thinking Europeans have actually done about what the Obama presidency will mean for them and how Europe should respond,” said a senior US diplomat last week. “The next few months may prove to be very revealing.”

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Chrysler and Fiat in joint venture talks

By Julie MacIntosh in New York and Vincent Boland in Milan

Published: January 19 2009 18:20 | Last updated: January 19 2009 21:54

Chrysler and Fiat are in talks about creating a joint venture that would give the Italian carmaker a significant stake in Chrysler , several people close to the matter said on Monday.

One person involved in the talks said the companies had signed a memorandum of understanding on a deal to give Fiat a 35 per cent stake in Chrysler and an option to buy a majority of the company. The person said the deal could be announced within days.

But other people close to the matter said terms of the deal were still being negotiated. Fiat declined to comment. Chrysler said it would “not confirm or disclose the nature of its private business meetings”.

Under the proposal being considered, Fiat would help to finance the retooling of some Chrysler factories so they could manufacture Fiat cars and components and give Chrysler access to its technology. Fiat would not inject any cash into Chrysler.

The federal government gave Chrysler – smallest of the Big Three carmakers – a $4bn emergency loan this month to avert a collapse of the company.

As part of the bail-out – through which the government also promised General Motors $13.4bn – both US companies must restructure their operations and prove their viability by March 31. Fiat, which has been looking for partners in North America, has also held talks with Ford about a tie-up.

A Chrysler-Fiat link would be similar to the venture between Japan’s Nissan and France’s Renault, which have built vehicle assembly plants together.

A Chrysler-Fiat combination would have a strong presence in North and South America and in Europe. Chrysler lost much of its capability in Europe when its unsuccessful merger with Germany’s Daimler fell apart.

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Military bases abroad: ambitions and opportunities
19:50 | 19/ 01/ 2009

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti military correspondent Ilya Kramnik) - The Russian Navy is going to return to its bases abroad. A statement to this effect was made by the spokesman for the Navy's headquarters last week. What will the Russian Navy's return be like after 20 years' absence? What goals can it pursue?

During the Cold War, the Soviet Navy was stationed in the Mediterranean to prevent an attack by Western aircraft carriers and submarines. At present, the tensions in the region have subsided because of severe cuts in the American naval forces. Yet, the region retains its importance as a key crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa.

Russian ships started to make frequent appearances in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean after the opening of the Suez Canal. The new route was actively used for travelling to the Far East. Before the opening of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the North Sea Route, this was the only way of establishing a fast and regular connection with the remotest Russian regions. However, even after these alternatives appeared, the Russian Navy strategists continued to be interested in the Red Sea route, as it is one of the busiest sea routes accounting for almost 10% of the world's cargo turnover.

The Socotra Archipelago is located off the Horn of Africa, 350 km to the south of the Arabian Peninsula. Its location makes it possible to control the navigation in the Gulf of Aden, towards the west, along the African coast to the south and along the Arabian Peninsular to the north-east. The Soviet Union established a base on Socotra in 1971, and actively used it for a variety of purposes, including fighting piracy, until the break-up of the U.S.S.R in 1991.

This base is expected to play a special role in fighting piracy, because Russia will be able to use small vessels, trawlers and other boats of minor rank, without resorting to big ships that are not designed for this purpose.

Major ships will have a reliable logistics system, which will allow them to perform operations in the Indian Ocean. It will be possible to change crews, make minor repairs, and replenish reserves without using auxiliary ships or returning home, sometimes, a thousand miles away.

At the same time, such prospects require an adequate mechanism. Any base is worth something when it can be defended, and for the time being the Russian Navy does not have enough ships to protect a regular sizeable presence in the remote seas.

Should the Navy's ambitious plans be perceived as evidence that it is going to get new combat ships, as well as carrier-planes and helicopters, armament and coastal guard equipment in sufficient quantities? If this is true, the implementation of the plans to revive foreign military bases will be one of the most successful projects of Russian foreign policy this century.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.

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The Moon still beckons
15:21 | 19/ 01/ 2009

MOSCOW. (Andrei Kislyakov for RIA Novosti) - Like 50 years ago, the Moon continues to attract the world's leading space agencies. In 2009, an impatient NASA will move to reinstate its Saturn V moon-rocket launch facility in order to repeat the triumphant July 1969 lunar landing.

Objectively speaking, the Soviet Union was the first country to launch an automated probe called Mechta (Dream) on January 2, 1959. The probe flew 6,000 km above the lunar surface. On January 4, Mechta overcame terrestrial gravity and later became the first man-made spacecraft to circle the Sun. It also attained escape velocity for the first time in history and provided data on terrestrial and cosmic radiation belts.

In September 1959, the U.S.S.R. launched its second lunar probe that delivered pennants with the Soviet state emblem to the Moon. A month later, the Luna-3 carrying a 500-kg instrument module relayed photos showing 50% of the lunar surface.

After scoring initial successes in the field of lunar research, Moscow strove to accomplish even more ambitious objectives. Unfortunately, the Soviet lunar program later faced major setbacks.

Moscow and Washington were divided on the significance of Yury Gagarin's trailblazing April 12, 1961 space flight. The United States realized that it had to implement a truly ambitious space program in order to uphold its waning superiority.

On April 20, 1961, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy asked his Vice-President Lyndon Baines Johnson whether the United States was capable of defeating the U.S.S.R. in the Space Race in the foreseeable future.

Wernher von Braun, the father of the United States space program, told Vice President Johnson that the U.S.S.R. had superior launch vehicles, and that the United States could not hope to develop the first manned orbiter in history.

Von Braun said the United States could exert every effort in order to successfully vie with Moscow in the field of lunar programs, and that its astronauts could try and fly around the Moon and land on its surface in 1967-1968.

However, Gagarin's epic flight persuaded Moscow that the Soviet space program stipulating preparations for a manned lunar expedition was far from perfect. In 1962, the design bureau of Sergei Korolyov (1906-1966), then the main Soviet rocket engineer and designer, proposed its own concept to explore the Moon.

The concept which was a response to the U.S. Apollo lunar program called for developing a system of three spacecraft for orbiting the Moon and landing on its surface.

The project seemed a mind-boggling task because the U.S.S.R. had so far failed to launch a single spacecraft with several cosmonauts onboard and to streamline orbital docking systems.

Vladimir Chelomei (1914-1984), another leading Soviet rocket engineer, proposed launching a lunar mission atop a three-stage Proton-K rocket.

In 1964, the United States successfully tested its legendary Saturn V moon rocket after von Braun was placed in charge of the U.S. lunar program. In response, the Soviet Communist Party's Central Committee issued a special resolution stipulating a manned lunar mission not later than in 1968.

This document virtually forced Korolyov and Chelomei to work separately. Korolyov dealt with the lunar fly-by program, while Chelomei began to develop the heavy N-1 rocket for launching the lunar module. As it turned out the split did not facilitate success.

The N-1 lunar rocket never became operational. Many analysts explain this by Korolyov's untimely death during surgery in early 1966 and by the mistakes of his successor, Vasily Mishin. The human factor notwithstanding, the N-1 had a number of technical drawbacks.

The N-1's four abortive test launches were caused by its defective first stage. In May 1974, the Soviet lunar program and N-1 project were scrapped, and the remaining two rockets destroyed.

The Soyuz spacecraft was initially developed for the Soviet lunar program. However, the first three unmanned Soyuz spacecraft were plagued by numerous problems. In December 1966, fire started prior to the launch of the second unmanned Soyuz, nearly destroying the entire launch facility.

Despite the aborted unmanned spacecraft tests, Soviet leaders decided to launch two manned Soyuz spacecraft in April 1967 and to dock them in orbit. Vladimir Komarov (1927-1967) who flew Soyuz-1 with a malfunctioning attitude-control system was killed during re-entry when its parachute failed to open.

A decision not to launch Soyuz-2 with Valery Bykovsky, Alexei Yeliseyev and Yevgeny Khrunov onboard saved their lives because the three men were to have docked with Komarov's spacecraft for subsequent re-entry.

Nonetheless, several cosmonauts wrote a letter to the Politburo of the Soviet Communist Party's Central Committee, requesting permission to fly to the Moon insisting that a manned spacecraft would prove dependable. However, Soviet leaders decided not to risk it.

Although the Soviet manned mission program fell behind that of the United States, Moscow compensated for all the setbacks by launching unmanned lunar probes. In February 1966, the Luna-9 became the first probe to achieve a soft landing on another planetary body, namely, the Moon. In all, 24 lunar probes gathered unique scientific data and delivered nearly 200 kg of lunar soil to the Earth.

It appears that the long-term Russian space program will continue to stake its progress on heavy-duty automated lunar probes. Sometime after January 20, Russia plans to launch a remote-sensing spacecraft for studying the Moon's inner structure. The probe will also search for mineral deposits. Under a Russian-Indian project, a new generation Moon exploration vehicle weighing 400 kg is scheduled to be launched in 2011.

The Moon continues to beckon as before.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.

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Pound Slumps to Record Versus Yen; Rogers Says U.K. ‘Finished’
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By Paul Gordon and Candice Zachariahs

Jan. 20 (Bloomberg) -- The pound dropped to a record low versus the yen and the weakest level since 2002 against the dollar on concern the government will have to rescue more banks as the economy slips into its worst recession since World War II.

Jim Rogers, chairman of Singapore-based Rogers Holdings, said the “U.K. is finished” and investors should sell the currency. Commonwealth Bank of Australia said there was a high risk of a cut to the country’s credit rating outlook and lowered its pound forecast. Prime Minister Gordon Brown authorized a 100 billion pound ($142 billion) bailout for banks.

“I would urge you to sell any sterling you might have,” said Rogers. “It’s finished. I hate to say it, but I would not put any money in the U.K.” Rogers correctly predicted the start of the commodities rally in 1999.

The pound slid to 127.44 yen, the weakest since at least 1971, as of 2:23 p.m. in Tokyo from 130.71 yen yesterday in London, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It declined 2 percent to $1.4133, the lowest since March 2002, and last traded at $1.4185. The currency slid 1.1 percent to 91.58 pence per euro.

Rogers said the currency will fall below its record low of $1.0520 reached in February 1985.

Yesterday’s package to stabilize the financial sector comes after October’s 50 billion pound bank recapitalization program, which includes a 250 billion pound bank credit line.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the nation’s biggest bank, lowered its forecast for the pound to $1.50 by the end of June from a previous estimate of $1.60.

U.K. debt may now be greater than forecast due to the additional bank bailout plans announced by the government since the publication of the government’s pre-budget report on Nov. 24, wrote Sydney-based Richard Grace, chief currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank in a research report today.

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Pound foolish

Published: January 20 2009 09:28 | Last updated: January 20 2009 09:28

Britain came off the gold standard in 1931 and sterling devalued by 28 per cent. The economic crisis that followed marked the end of the UK as a global power. It also led to an effective default on almost half the national debt, which was restructured into bonds still outstanding. Parallels with today are eerie. Since the middle of 2007, the trade-weighted pound has fallen by 27 per cent. Furthermore, as the government shoulders contingent liabilities for ever greater amounts of delinquent bank debt, worries are growing about the state’s finances.

British banks have about £4,000bn of assets on their balance sheets, equivalent to 2.5 times gross domestic product. If losses on these assets accelerate, the banking bail-out could segue into a sovereign debt crisis. Investors might push up borrowing costs, then, if rattled, refuse to buy UK government debt altogether, triggering another run on the pound.

So far it has not panned out that way. Spreads of 10-year UK government bonds over German bunds tightened up to Christmas. This year, though, spreads have widened and the cost of insuring against sovereign default has risen. In the credit default swaps market, the UK is viewed as a riskier borrower than France and similar to Spain.

A back of the envelope calculation illustrates why. Assume the state takes ultimate responsibility for all of Britain’s banks. Further, assume that 15 per cent of those banks’ assets are worth nothing. The write-off would be equivalent to about £600bn or a third of GDP. Britain’s debt to GDP ratio is about 54 per cent; add in these and other bail-out costs and the ratio could easily double. That would make the UK comparable to Belgium, Greece and Italy – none of which, as Merrill Lynch notes, has a triple A credit rating.

A downgrade could cost the UK dear. Investors obliged to hold only triple A paper would have to sell – as Spain may soon discover following its own rating downgrade yesterday. In another world, this might cause a run on the pound. In this world, however, sterling’s saving grace is that no other currency, even the euro, is in a much better situation.

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経産省、アラブ連盟と経済フォーラムを設立

　経済産業省は20日、外務省や日本経団連などとともに、22の国・機関が加盟する地域協力機構である「アラブ連盟」との間で、経済フォーラムを設立すると発表した。貿易や投資、エネルギー、科学技術など幅広い分野について関係を強化することが目的。第１回の会議を今年11月か12月に東京で開く。

　日本側はこのほか中東協力センターや日本貿易振興機構（ＪＥＴＲＯ）などが一体となって取り組む。アラブ側からは外務や産業、貿易などいずれかの閣僚が参加する見通しだ。

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金融庁、相場操縦で初の課徴金命令

　金融庁は20日、神奈川県相模原市在住の50歳代の無職男性が株式の売り買いを同時に発注して株価をつり上げたとして、金融商品取引法違反により課徴金745万円の納付命令を出した。相場操縦への課徴金納付命令は初めて。

　男性は2006年1月に塗装設備大手トリニティ工業の株式を対象に、高値で買い注文と売り注文を同時に発注するなどして株価をつり上げた。

　証券取引等監視委員会は08年12月、課徴金納付命令を出すよう金融庁に勧告していた。

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非化石燃料の導入、ガス・石油会社も義務化　経産省

　経済産業省は太陽光やバイオマスなど温暖化ガスを出さない非化石燃料の導入を電力、ガス、石油の各社に義務づける新法を今国会に提出する。国が業種ごとに非化石燃料の導入目標を設定するのが柱。石油や石炭、天然ガスなどの化石燃料の効率的な利用も求める。エネルギーの供給構造を見直し、地球温暖化対策を加速する狙いだ。

　19日に開いた総合資源エネルギー調査会（経産相の諮問機関）の総合部会で、小委員会が新法制定を含む制度改革に関する中間とりまとめを報告、大筋で了承を得た。

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太陽生命、タイ銀行大手と提携　持ち株会社に出資へ

　太陽生命保険はタイ銀行大手のタナチャート銀行と業務提携する。太陽生命がタイに進出する日系企業をタナチャート銀行に紹介するほか、同行が傘下に置く生保事業でも連携する。太陽生命は同銀行の持ち株会社に出資もする方針で、タイでの業容拡大を目指す。

　両社は19日までに業務提携に関する覚書を交わした。タナチャート銀行は2008年9月末時点の総資産が3390億バーツ（約8500億円）でタイ銀行 8位。太陽生命との提携により日系企業への融資や貿易金融を拡大するほか、生保事業でも太陽生命のノウハウを生かしていく。

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製造業の交易条件、６年５カ月ぶり改善　原油安・円高で

　製造業の収益環境の目安となる「交易条件」の悪化に歯止めがかかってきた。日銀によると2008年12月の交易条件指数（00年＝100）は88.1と前年同月より2.4ポイント上昇し、6年5カ月ぶりに改善した。原油安や円高で原材料の仕入れ価格が下がったためだ。ただ需要低迷による販売数量の落ち込みはさらに大きく、収益の改善効果は限られそうだ。

　交易条件指数は販売価格を示す産出物価を、仕入れコストに当たる投入物価で割って出す。販価の伸びが仕入れ価格の伸びを上回れば指数は大きくなり、収益環境は良好とされる。交易条件指数は昨年夏まで悪化が続き、08年暦年では前年比3.4ポイント低下し6年連続の悪化となった。原油相場が急落したのを受け、08年9月に前月との比較でプラスに転じていた。

　業種別でみると、昨年12月は石油・石炭製品や非鉄金属が前年同月より20ポイント以上も上昇した。自動車など輸送機械や精密機械はなお低下が続く。原油など国際商品相場の下落が仕入れコストに直結しやすい産業ほど改善が目立つ。

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伊フィアット、米クライスラーに35％出資　提携で合意発表

　【フランクフルト＝後藤未知夫】イタリアの自動車大手フィアットと米政府の支援下で再建中のクライスラーは20日、資本・業務提携で合意したと正式発表した。フィアットはクライスラーに35％出資する。クライスラーは環境技術の供与や販売支援を受けて事業を立て直す。過去に例のない急速な世界自動車市場の縮小が引き金となった両社の提携は、日本メーカーを含めた国際的な業界再編が始まったことを示している。

　両社とクライスラーの筆頭株主である米投資会社サーベラス・キャピタルマネジメントは同日、「世界規模で戦略的に提携する」との合意文書に調印した。財務面の精査やクライスラーの救済を進める米政府の承認を得て、4月にも正式に提携をスタートする意向だ。

　2007年のフィアットの世界販売台数は約250万台（商用車を含む）。クライスラーとのグループ化が実現すれば400万台を超え、世界6位の規模となる。

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富士通、インドネシアで海底ケーブルシステム受注　独社と組み

　富士通は20日、インドネシアの通信事業者ＰＴテレコムから光海底ケーブルシステムを受注したと発表した。同国の通信網整備の一環として、首都ジャカルタがあるジャワ島とバリ島、カリマンタン島とスラウェシ島などを海底ケーブルで結ぶ計画。ドイツのケーブルメーカーＮＳＷ社との共同受注で、受注額は両社で約1億ドル（約90億円）。

　富士通はケーブルの中継拠点に置く光伝送装置や光信号の圧縮・増幅装置を提供する。ケーブル製造と敷設工事はＮＳＷ社が手掛ける。2010年1―3月の完成を目指す。

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新日石、燃料電池の代理店網　100社組織、10年度目標１万台

　新日本石油は2009年度から家庭用燃料電池の本格販売を始める。ガソリンや液化石油ガス（ＬＰＧ）の既存の販路を活用、全国100社で組織する新しい販売代理店網を構築する。新日石は燃料電池を石油製品の販売減を補う新事業と位置付け、10年度に1万台の販売を目指す。燃料電池は環境対策に役立つとして国も補助金などで普及を支援する方針で、事業化の動きが広がりそうだ。

　燃料電池はＬＰＧや灯油などの水素と酸素を反応させて、家庭に電気を供給する装置。発電時に出る熱の利用で湯を沸かして風呂や台所への給湯もでき、エネルギー効率が高い。二酸化炭素排出量を3―4割減らすことができ、国は地球温暖化対策の切り札の1つとして、09年度から購入時に補助金を出す見込み。

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全日空、「関空―大連」路線を休止へ

　全日本空輸は19日、関西国際空港―中国・大連空港の路線を2月12日から休止すると発表した。成田空港―インド・ムンバイ、上海の2路線は2月上旬から減便する。日本航空も19日、成田―北京・上海・バンコクの3路線の減便を発表した。いずれも景気後退の影響で昨秋から旅客数が大幅に減少しており、両社による路線のリストラが拡大する可能性がある。

　全日空の関空―大連は毎日1往復し、このうち週2往復は大連から瀋陽にも飛んでいるが、いずれも休止する。成田―ムンバイは毎日一往復だが週3往復に、成田―上海は週21往復だが週14往復にする。

　日航は1月20日から成田―バンコクを週21往復から14往復に減らす。2月10日からは成田―上海を週28往復から21往復、成田―北京を週19往復から14往復とする。

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ＦＸ業界にも再編の波…過度なサービス、金融危機直撃

　急成長を続けていた外国為替証拠金取引（ＦＸ）業界に、再編の波が到来している。金融危機の深刻化に伴い、昨年７月に新規参入したばかりのトレイダーズＦＸが１２月１日に廃業したほか、事業譲渡や休業が続出。急増する取引に耐え切れず、システム障害を起こす例も出てきた。金融庁も個人資産保護のため監督を強化する方針で、業界からは「手数料無料など、過度なサービスで弱った会社の淘汰が始まった」（大手）との声も聞かれる。

　このところの相場環境の急変で、投資家は信用度の高い業者を選ぶ傾向を一層、強めている。大手のＦＸＣＭジャパンの谷中伴行社長は「事業を継続するには、業者の健全性が不可欠」と指摘。「業者間の競争に気を取られていた各社が、冷静に現状を考える時期にある」と話す。

　金融庁の規制強化案としては、顧客が業者へ預け入れる資金の、信託銀行への預託義務付けが浮上している。この場合、業者は金融機関へ差し入れる取引元金を、顧客の預かり金とは別に準備せねばならず、「余力のない数十社が脱落するかもしれない」（前出の大手）との指摘もある。

　一方、個人のＦＸ取引への関心は強い。円が１ドル＝１００円を割り込んだ昨年１０月中旬以降、各社とも口座数が増加。「リスクを抑えた、小口投資を好む顧客が増えている」（ＮＴＴスマートトレード）という。

　登録制を導入した２００５年の金融先物取引法（現・金融商品取引法）改正後、約３００社あった業者は約１２０社まで減少した。個人向けのＦＸが誕生して１０年、業界は２度目の淘汰の時を迎えているようだ。

ZAKZAK 2009/01/20

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三井金属：従業員４０００人を削減　９月末までに

　三井金属鉱業は２０日、業績悪化を受け、国内外でグループの全従業員（約１万８８００人）の２割にあたる約４０００人（正社員９６０人、非正規従業員３１００人）を、９月末までに削減すると発表した。

　同社本体のほか、八戸精錬（青森県八戸市）、三池精錬（福岡県大牟田市）などグループ主要５社の社員を対象に、係長以上の管理職（７７０人）の１５％、一般社員（約２９００人）の１割の希望退職を募集する。そのほかの内外の関連会社約５０社で約５００人を削減する方針。派遣社員や期間従業員などの非正規従業員は順次、契約を打ち切る。

　同社はまた、０９年３月期の連結最終（当期）損益が３５０億円の赤字に転落するとの見通しを発表した。金属価格下落や円高、自動車部品や電子材料の需要低迷が主因。希望退職募集による特別損失１５億円も計上する。

　業績不振の責任を取るため、役員報酬を４月から当面、最大５割削減する。同時に管理職や一般社員も４月から１年間、給与や期末手当を減額する方針で、労働組合と協議している。

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ＮＹ原油：時間外取引で急落、一時３２ドル台

　２０日のニューヨーク・マーカンタイル取引所の原油先物相場は、通常取引前の時間外取引で急落、指標となる米国産標準油種（ＷＴＩ）２月渡しは一時、約１カ月ぶりの水準となる１バレル＝３２ドル台をつけた。

　ロシアがウクライナ経由の欧州向け天然ガス供給を再開したと伝えられたことで、石油製品の需要が頭打ちになるとの見方が広がったほか、世界的な景気低迷で需要が減少するとの懸念から売られた。

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「赤旗」２１年ぶり部数増　共産党にんまり
2009.1.20 18:46
このニュースのトピックス：次期衆院選

　共産党は２０日、機関紙『しんぶん赤旗』（日曜版含む）の部数が昨年、対前年比で２１年ぶりに増加に転じたことを明らかにした。５月から１２月まで８カ月連続、前月比で増えるという３５年ぶりの“快挙”も。折からの『蟹工船』ブームが部数増を後押しした事情もあるようだ。

　同党によると、「赤旗」の発行部数のピークは昭和５５年の第１５回党大会で報告された３５５万部。６２年の第１８回大会以降は減少の一途をたどり、平成１８年の第２４回党大会時には１６４万部まで落ち込んだ。その後も減少に歯止めがかからなかった。ただ、昨年の具体的な部数については、共産党は次期衆院選後に予定されている第２５回党大会までは公表しないという。

　部数増の要因について同党は「景気・経済が悪化する中、雇用や暮らしの状況をしっかりとらえたいと思っている国民が増えているのに加え、状況改善に取り組む党の積極姿勢が評価されているのではないか」と分析している。

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富士通が自社ＰＣ購入、社員１０万人に訴え

　自社製のパソコンや携帯電話の販売を支えようと、富士通がグループを含め国内約１０万人の社員に自社製品の購入を呼び掛けている。

　景気悪化で消費が落ち込む中、２００８年度の製品出荷が前年度を下回ることが確実となったための苦肉の策だ。

　野副州旦(のぞえくにあき)社長が最近、「自分たちの会社を自分たちで守ろう。グループ全員が集まれば大きな力になる」、「Ｂｕｙ　ＦＵＪＩＴＳＵ（富士通製品を買おう）」と呼び掛けるメールを社員に送った。

　携帯電話とパソコンの購入の検討を“お願い”しているが、同社では「強制的に購入を求めるものではない」と説明している。

　企業向けの製品に比べ、パソコンや携帯電話の販売は消費不振の影響を受けやすい。特に携帯電話は、端末価格の中心が３万～５万円台に値上がりした影響もあり、同社は０８年度の出荷台数が前年度比２割減になると予想している。