from today Nikkei

「ポイント」１兆円規模に　買い物で発行、相互利用拡大　実質値引き　業績圧迫も

In Japan, many private companies issue so-called " points" acoording to the purchases of their customers. And the market size of such kinds of points is expected to surpass the 1 trillion level in fiscal 2009.In fiscal 2008, the amount of the issuance is estimated to be around 820 billion yen. This year, another type of the point called "eco-point" as a sales -promoting measure for the energy-saving household appliances is added to the category.
Now,in various areas of our daily lives,including the use of mobile phones,utilization of air flight services,or buying through the Internet, the point-issuance service is widely spread.In some companies like Yamada-Denki Comapny,Limited there has occured a move that companies coopetate with each other in issuing or utilizing the point servicce.Then the value of the point service as a kind of currency has been increasing. However, it is virtually a discountof the price, so there is a possibility that it will squeeze the company's business performance.

from today Nikkei

資源確保へ円借款活用　政府　アフリカや南米の銅山周辺　インフラ整備支援

According to sources,the government likely will secure resources, espacially so-called rare metals, by utilizing yen-loan assistance scheme in such regions as developing countries. Specifically,implementing building the infrastructure around the copper mines in the coutries in Africa and South America is to be carried out under the yen-loan scheme.

from tgoday's Nikkei

民社が政権公約発表　生活支援を前面に　子育てや農業など　必要財源１６．８兆円　消費税増税　鳩山氏、議論は容認

The Democratic Party of Japan has anounced its political pledges, and it has put to the front livelihood assistances in the fields of child rearing and africulture. The necessary resources for them is expected to be about 16.8 trillion yen. With regrd to the consumption tax, the DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama refused to calrify whether the party is for the tax rate increase or not,but said cleary that the discussion of how the tax should be is necessary.

扇子と英語

理由ははっきりとしないが、確実に感じられる事として、英語の勉強に扇子の使用は有効である。扇子の中でも、端の部分（手元でない部分）の竹が幅広になっている扇子が使い勝手がいい。この扇子を持って、英語をしゃべりながら、適当にリズムをとる。具体的には、自分の片方の手のひらとか、太ももとか、本でもいいから、そこを扇子でたたく。すると、英文が見事に英語らしくしゃべれている。かつ、頭の中に見事に記憶される。時には、扇子を打つのではなく、空中で指揮棒のごとく動かしてみる。見事な効果が時間できる。体を動かしながらしゃべってほうが英語はしゃべりやすい。カラオケを歌うときでも、自然に体の動作が伴うことが多い。それらと共通するところに、理由があるのだろうが、口では説明できない。興味のある方は、試してみてはいかがでしょうか。

from today Nikkei

企業の農業参入加速　規制緩和背景に　イオン３年で１０農場運営　ＰＢ野菜を全国販売

General companies' participation into agricultural business has accelerated recently. Specifically, Aeon Co.,Ltd has a plan that it will have ten or so agricultural farms in the areas including Ibaragi Prefecture within the next three years and will put on sale nationwide its private brand products, which are 10 to 30 percent cheaper than others.
These kinds of deals by general companies are the result of deregulation in the field of domestic agriculture.

参考：accelerate は自動詞でも他動詞でも使える。