news/notes 2009.02.21

[Top News]-from "The Japan Times"
UBS, U.S. raise stakes in bank secrecy row
IRS asks Swiss giant for list of 52,000 alleged tax evaders
Swiss banking giant UBS AG and U.S. authorities were locked in a high-
stakes legal tussle over banking secrecy Thursday despite a pact meant to
settle a massive tax fraud case that has rattled the Swiss banking industry.

Iran has enough nuclear fuel for bomb, IAEA says
Iran has enough nuclear fuel to build a bomb if it decides to take the
drastic steps of violating its international treaty obligations, kicking out
inspectors and further refining its supply.

Turbulence hurts 47 over Narita
Rough air left 47 passengers and crew members injured aboard a NA jumbo
jet Friday as the flight from Manila was in a holding pattern off Chiba
Prefecture awaiting clearance to land at Narita airport.

FTC Probes Seven-Eleven over 'bento' discount ban
The Fair Trade Commission is investigating Seven-Eleven Japan Co. for
allegedly restricting franchise stores from discounting sales of boxed
lunches and other food products close to their expiry dates, the
company's owner said Friday.
It is the first time the antimonopoly watchdog has opened a full
investigation into "member-store bullying" by the head-quarters of a
major convenience store chain since it announced new guidelines on the
franchise system in 2002.

Topix falls to lowest since '84

Three acquitted in brazen slaying of Russian reporter
A jury in Moscow voted unanimously Thursday to acquit three men in the
killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, dimming hopes for justice in
a case that has mocked Russia's claims to be a modern democratic
nation.

[Sports]-from "The Japan Times"
Ishikawa struggles in PGA Tour debut
Teen sensation Ryo Ishikawa suffered a bout of stage fright and carded
a 2-over 73 in the opening round of NTO on Thursday.
Making his debut on the PGA Tour as a commissioner's foreign exemption,
the 17-year-old made a dream start with a birdie on his first hole but
struggled with his short-range putting and had two bogeys and a double
bogey before picking up another shot on the 13th at the par-71 RCC.

[Born This day]-from "Britannica"
Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe, born this day in 1924, was the first prime minister
(1980–87) of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), its president from 1987,
and a black nationalist of Marxist persuasion who established one-party
rule.

[On This day]-from "Britannica"
1965: Malcolm X assassinated
Malcolm X, who articulated concepts of racial pride and black nationalism
in the United States, was assassinated this day in 1965 and became an
ideological hero after the posthumous release of The Autobiography of
Malcolm X.

[Words]-from "英辞郎"
stake
【1-名-4】引き受けるべき債権と債務
【1-他動】～に資金を与える、資金援助する、～を賭ける
・Nothing stake, nothing draw. 《諺》何も賭けなければ何も取れない。
・It was a last-ditch effort upon which the existence were staked.
存亡をかけた決死の出陣であった。

evade
【他動-1】～を逃れる、避ける、回避する、～から巧みに逃げる(escape)、
うまく切り抜ける、うまく逃れる
・He was arrested for evading over 1 billion in income tax.
彼は十数億円を超える所得税脱税容疑で逮捕された。
・To evade taxes Sam invests his money abroad.
税を逃れるために、サムは海外で投資を行っている。

tussle
【名】激しい格闘［闘争］、取っ組み合い
【自動】激しく格闘［闘争］する、取っ組み合いをする

rattle
【他動-3】慌てさせる、混乱させる、～の平静さを失わせる、いら立たせる
・Ratings agencies rattled executives.
格付け［評価］機関は経営陣［会社役員たち］を慌てさせた。

acquit
【他動-1】～が無罪であることを決定［宣言］する、～に無罪判決を言い渡す◆【対】convict
【他動-2】釈放する、放免する
・Harold was acquitted by the jury.
ハロルドは陪審に無罪とされた。
【他動-3】～を義務から解放する
【他動-4】〔義務などを〕果たす◆【用法】acquit oneself of

slay
【他動-1】殺す、殺害する、虐殺する、破壊する、消滅させる、絶滅させる
・He thought carefully whether he should slay the snake or not.
彼はヘビを殺そうかどうしようか注意深く考えた。

mock
【他動-1】ばかにする、まねをしてからかう
・The teenager mocked the teacher behind his back.
少年はすぐ後ろで教師のまねをしてふざけた。
・He mocked his opponent by imitating his voice.
彼は、敵の声をまねて相手を嘲った。
【他動-2】だます、欺く
【他動-3】無視する
・She mocked her frustration and stress.
彼女は自分の欲求不満とストレスを無視した。