美國航空航天局：研究同卵雙胞胎分別住在宇宙和地球一年後的區別

A few weeks ago the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

一卵性双生児:宇宙と地球、１年後の違いは　ＮＡＳＡ実験

毎日新聞　2015年03月28日　19時22分（最終更新　03月28日　20時24分）

　見た目そっくり、遺伝情報も同じ双子の１人が宇宙、もう１人が地球で１年過ごしたら、２人にどんな違いが出てくるか−−。米航空宇宙局（ＮＡＳＡ）は２８日（日本時間）、宇宙と地球に分かれて暮らす一卵性双生児の宇宙飛行士を比べる史上初の実験を始めた。

　被験者は、３回の飛行経験がある米国人宇宙飛行士のスコット・ケリー氏（５１）と、スペースシャトル「エンデバー」の船長を務めた兄マーク・ケリー氏（５１）。唯一の双子の宇宙飛行士で、顔もうり二つ。スコット氏が２８日未明、ロシアのソユーズ宇宙船で打ち上げられ、国際宇宙ステーション（ＩＳＳ）に到着した。

　スコット氏は今年１月の記者会見で、「（微小重力の影響で身長が伸び）地球帰還直後は兄をちょっとだけ見下ろすことができる」と笑いを誘った。ＩＳＳ滞在は通常半年以下で、１年の長期滞在と双子実験は、将来の月や火星探査なども視野に入れている。その絶好の被験者がケリー兄弟だった。

　ＩＳＳ内は、地球より重力が小さい微小重力状態で、宇宙放射線の影響も大きい。ＮＡＳＡによると、２人を対象に実施する研究は１０テーマ。宇宙滞在が、視力や心臓、筋肉、判断能力などにどのような影響を与えるかや、食事の違いが腸内細菌に与える影響、インフルエンザワクチンの効果などを比較する。

　宇宙航空研究開発機構（ＪＡＸＡ）の大島博・主幹研究員（宇宙医学）によると、ＮＡＳＡは今回の１年滞在を機に、宇宙飛行士らの遺伝子を網羅的に調べる研究に本格的に着手する。大島さんは「微小重力では骨が減るが、減りやすい人とそうでない人がいる。遺伝子レベルで違いが分かれば、火星探査の際に個別の予防策を取りやすくなる」と話す。【大場あい】

(試譯文)

For the twin, genetic codes were looking exactly alike; if one of them spent one year in space and another spent on earth, what kind of differences would come out for these two people - the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US on the 28^th (March) (Japan time) began the first-ever experiment to split up the living of identical twin astronauts in space and on earth so as to make comparison.

  The subject were two American astronauts: Mr. Scott Kelly (51) who had 3 times of flight experience and elder brother Mr. Mark Kelly (51) who had served as the caption of the space shuttle "Endeavor", the only twin astronauts with faces that looked exactly alike. By dawn on the 28th Scott was launched by the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and arrived at the International Space Station (ISS).

  Scott at a press conference in January this year invited a laugh in saying that "(growing taller due to the influence of less gravity) I could slightly look down upon my elder brother after returning to the earth". One stay at the ISS was usually less than six months. A long stay of one year and doing experiments on the twins had the future explorations on the moon and Mars in consideration. The ideal subject were the Kelly brothers.

  In the ISS, the gravity was smaller than that on earth, and it was in a micro-gravity state. The space radiation also had great effects. According to NASA the study put into effect would target at these two people in 10 themes: what kinds of influence did a space stay would have on the eyesight, heart, muscle and the judgment ability. Also the influence on intestinal bacteria due to the difference in meals eaten, and the effects of the flu vaccine etc. would be compared.

According to Hiroshi Oshima, the chief researcher (space medicine) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), NASA would take this one-year stay as an opportunity to initiate a study in earnest in checking astronauts’ gene in full details. Mr. Oshima said that "bones would decrease due to the minute gravity, but there are people who tend to decrease easily and people who do not. If you know the difference at the genetic level, individual preventive measures would become easy to take in the event of a Mars exploration".

Obviously the research results would be important in planning future space explorations.

提供最先進設備以鉗制中國: 期望有差別

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

中国けん制に最新鋭の装備品提供も思惑にズレ

2015年03月23日 22時50分

　安倍首相とインドネシアのジョコ大統領は２３日、海洋安全保障の連携強化を表明した。

　日本は東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）の「盟主」であるインドネシアに最新鋭の防衛装備品を提供し、南シナ海で海洋進出を強める中国をけん制したい考えだ。だがインドネシアは巨額の投資を約束する中国に接近中で、日インドネシア間の思惑のズレも指摘される。

　「共にアジアを代表する海洋国家として、戦略的パートナーシップを一層強化することを確認した」

　首相は共同記者発表でこう述べ、海洋安保を含む幅広い協力に意欲を見せた。防衛分野で日本が想定する支援は、海上自衛隊の救難飛行艇「ＵＳ２」の輸出だ。捜索救難活動だけでなく、周辺海域の巡視にも利用でき、沿岸警備の強化を急ぐインドネシアも関心を寄せている。両国は外務・防衛担当閣僚協議（２プラス２）を早期に開催し、計画の具体化を急ぐ方針だ。

(試譯文)

On the 23^rd (March) Prime Minister Abe and Indonesian president Joko expressed cooperation in the reinforcement of maritime security.

  Japan held the idea that it would like to offer the latest defense accessories to Indonesia, the "leader" of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) so as to check China that was strengthening its maritime advancement into the South China Sea. But Indonesia was closely connected to China because of the promised huge investment. A difference in expectation between Japan Indonesia was being pointed out.

  "To strengthen the strategic partnership further was confirmed; together we represent Asia maritime countries".

The prime minister said so at a joint press announcement and showed the will to widen cooperation including marine security. The support Japan took up in the field of defense was the exportation of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force "US2" rescue flying boat. Indonesia who was interested in its coastal guard urgent reinforcement could use the boats for inspecting the surrounding sea area as well as for search and rescue activities. Both countries had an urgent policy to hold foreign affairs cum defense ministerial conference (2 plus 2) as soon as possible so as to realize the plans.

Understandably Indonesia would not wish to undermine its trade relationship with China.

公共無線網絡其実有危險，日本人認知度低

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

実は危険な公衆無線ＬＡＮ、日本人の認識低く

2015年03月15日 14時38分

　観光地でインターネットに無料で接続できる公衆無線ＬＡＮについて、日本人が訪日外国人客に比べ、通信内容の盗み見などの危険性を認識していないことが、総務省のアンケート調査で分かった。

　対策を実施していると答えた人は半数以下にとどまり、総務省は注意を促している。

　無料の公衆無線ＬＡＮの多くは通信が暗号化されておらず、第三者に内容を見られたり、盗聴されたりする危険性がある。調査の結果、こうした危険性について認識している人の割合は、訪日外国人で８５・３％に上ったのに対し、日本人は６４・８％と低かった。

　セキュリティー対策ソフトの利用や、パスワード、クレジットカード番号といった重要な情報をやりとりしないなど、何らかの対策をしている人の割合も日本人は４７・１％だった。訪日外国人客（７２・０％）に比べて意識の低さが目立った。

(試譯文)

A questionnaire survey by the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications showed that, about public wireless LAN which could connect to the Internet free of charge at tourist spots, compared with foreigners visiting Japan, the Japanese did not recognize the danger that communication contents could be spied on.

  The number of people who answered that they had taken precautions was less than half, and the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications was calling for attention.

  Many communications using the free public wireless LAN were not coded, the contents could be seen by a third person and there was a danger of being tapped. In the investigation result, the percentage of people who knew about such danger went up to 85. 3% for foreigners visiting Japan and it was as low at 64.8% for the Japanese.

  On measures using security software, or not to exchange important information such as passwords and credit card numbers, the percentage of people who had taken some measures was 47.1% for the Japanese, clearly showing a low consciousness compared with the foreigners visiting Japan (72.0%).

So I think the Japanese government needs to do something to educate the people.

外務省在網頁張貼印有“尖閣列島”日本名字中國製地圖

A few weeks ago the NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国地図に「尖閣」日本語名 外務省がＨＰに掲載

3月16日 19時23分

沖縄県の尖閣諸島を「尖閣群島」などと日本語名で表記した中国政府発行の地図が見つかり、外務省は尖閣諸島が日本固有の領土であることを裏付ける新たな証拠だとして、ホームページに掲載しました。

外務省によりますと、この地図は日本の国土地理院に当たる当時の中国の「国家測絵総局」が１９６９年に発行したもので、沖縄県の尖閣諸島を、中国政府が現在使っている「釣魚群島」や「釣魚島」という表記ではなく、「尖閣群島」や「魚釣島」などと日本語名で表記しています。
この地図は、先月２３日の衆議院予算委員会で自民党の原田義昭衆議院議員が存在を指摘し、岸田外務大臣が「貴重な資料だ」と評価し、外務省が公開を検討していました。
尖閣諸島を巡って、中国政府は周辺海域に石油などの天然資源がある可能性が指摘されたあとの１９７０年代から領有権を主張し始めています。
外務省は、それ以前に中国政府が発行した地図に日本語名の表記が使われていたことから、尖閣諸島が日本固有の領土であることを裏付ける新たな証拠だとして、１６日、ホームページにこの地図を掲載しました。
外務省は「中国政府が当時、尖閣諸島を日本の領土と見なしていたことをうかがわせる資料であり、日本の主張の正当性を国際社会にアピールしたい」としています。

(試譯文)

A map issued by the Chinese government which transcribed Senkaku Islands of the Okinawa prefecture into the Japanese name "Senkaku Archipelago" etc. was found; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carried it in its home page as new evidence to support that Senkaku Islands all along belonged to Japan.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs it was China’s "State Survey and Mapping Head Office" in those days, the equivalent of Japan’s Geographical Survey Institute, that issued this map in 1969. The Senkaku Islands in Okinawa prefecture was being transcribed as "Senkaku Archipelago" and "Uotsurishima" etc. using Japanese names and not transcribed as "Diaoyu Archipelago" or "Diaoyu Islands" as used by the Chinese government at present.

LDP Harada Yoshiaki, a member of the House of Representatives, pointed out the existence of this map at the House of Representatives budget committee on the 23rd (March ) last month. Kishida the Minister of Foreign Affairs presumed it to be "an important material" and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was considering showing it to the public.

The Chinese government began to insist on the possession right after the 1970s at a time when it had been pointed out that there was a possibility that there were petroleum natural resources surrounding the sea area of the Senkaku Islands.

Because transcription in Japanese name was used in a map issued by the Chinese government before that time, the map was taken as new evidence that Senkaku Islands was a territory peculiar to Japan all along, and on the 16th the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carried this map in its home page.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs supposed that "the Chinese government at that time had made an incident suggesting that they considered the Senkaku Islands as Japanese territory, and Japan would like to appeal to the international society on their justified insistence".

It seems that to use maps as the tool to support arguments over the sovereignty right of Senkaku Islands has died down for a while.

高知・愛媛兩縣5棟縣政府相關設施隔震橡膠性能不足

A few weeks ago the Asahi News on-line reported the following:

高知・愛媛の県関連施設５棟も　性能不足の免震ゴム使用

2015年3月14日23時34分

　東洋ゴム工業（大阪市西区）が製造・販売した免震ゴムに国土交通大臣の認定基準に満たない性能不足があった問題で、不良品が使われた全国５５棟に、高知県と愛媛県で県庁や警察署など計５棟の県関連施設が含まれていることが１４日、両県への取材でわかった。

　高知県内では全国最多の９棟で不良品が使われている。県によると、内訳は県関連施設４棟、民間５棟。県関連施設では、県本庁舎が２００９～１１年度の南海トラフ地震に備えた耐震改修工事で基礎部分に７２基、県安芸総合庁舎が１３年度に新築した際に２４基を設置。１３年度新築の県警高知東署、建設中の南国署でも使った。免震装置は交換可能な構造だという。

　県は、東洋ゴム工業から具体的な情報が得られていないため危険性の有無を判断できないとしている。県の担当者は「びっくりしている。できるだけ早く説明を受け、方針を決めたい」と話した。

　愛媛県内では２棟で使われたが、そのうち１棟は県庁第１別館だった。地下１階で建物を支える柱５２本の免震装置のうち、２０本に東洋ゴム工業の免震ゴムを採用。この中に不良品があるという。大災害発生時に県災害対策本部が入る建物で、今年１月に終わった耐震改修工事で免震ゴムを導入したばかりだった。県は、東洋ゴム工業に説明を求めるとともに、耐震性に問題がないか、工事を請け負った業者などと早急に検証するとしている。

　大阪府枚方市によると、建設中の枚方寝屋川消防組合の本部庁舎も不良品が使われたと、国交省から連絡があった。今年５月ごろの完成予定で工事が進められている。

　国交省は、５５棟の内訳について公的施設が１２棟あるといった用途別や都府県別の棟数は明らかにしたが、個別の建物は「不安をあおる」などとして公表していない。国交省はデータ偽装があった製品については東洋ゴム工業の大臣認定を取り消した。同社に対し、建物所有者に連絡し、設計者などと安全性を調べて結果を国交省と所管自治体に報告するよう指示。同社は「１カ月をめどに報告したい」との回答だったという。国交省は危険と判断した建物は公表を検討する。

　東洋ゴム工業は１４日、同日午後６時までに電話窓口（０１２０・８８０・３２８）に９５０件の問い合わせがあったと明らかにした。

(試譯文)

Regarding the problem that seismic isolation rubbers produced and sold by Toyo Tire & Rubber (Nishi district in Osaka city) were lacking in performance and had not match the accreditation criteria of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, there were 55 buildings in the whole country using defective products; a press coverage on the 14^th (March) in both prefectures of Kochi and Ehime showed that among them there were 5 government offices or police stations etc. prefecture facility buildings.

   In Kochi prefecture 9 buildings had used defective products and were the majority in the whole country. The breakdown according to this prefecture was: 4 prefecture related facility buildings and 5 private buildings. During its earthquake-resistant repair work in fiscal year 2009 - 2011 on government office building preparation for the Nankai-trough earthquake, the prefecture had installed 72 bases to the foundation portion of the prefecture related facilities, and in fiscal year 2013 when the new prefecture Aki comprehensive government office was being built, the prefecture had installed 24 bases. Even the prefecture police’s Kochi east office building constructed in fiscal year 2013, and the Nangoku office which was still under construction had used this product. It was said that to replace the seismic isolators installed was possible.

   For the prefecture, it was assumed that it could not judge the presence of danger because detailed information could not be obtained from Toyo Tire & Rubber. From the prefecture a person in charge said that "I'm surprised. I'd like to have an explanation and decide a policy as soon as possible".

   In Ehime prefecture the product was used in 2 buildings, one building was the prefecture's government office first annex. On the 1st floor underground 20 out of the 52 seismic isolating pillars that supported the building had used the anti-quake rubber of Toyo Tire & Rubber. It was said that there were defective products among them. During an earthquake-resistant repair work just completed in January this year, anti-quake rubber had been introduced to the building which the prefecture’s anti-disaster headquarters would occupy at a time when a catastrophe struck. It was supposed that the prefecture had asked for an explanation from Toyo Tire & Rubber, and verified urgently with the traders who undertook the construction on whether there was a problem in earthquake resistance.

Hirakata city in Osaka was keeping in touch with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport regarding defective products because it had used the product for its Hirakata Neyagawa Fire union headquarters building which was still under construction. Construction work was being advanced and its completion was expected by around May this year.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport made known a breakdown on the 55 buildings: 12 were public facilities, and the number of buildings broken down according to prefecture and usage were made clear, but individual building was not disclosed as it could "incite anxiety" etc. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport canceled the ministerial authorization given to Toyo Tire & Rubber due to product data falsification. The same company was directed to make contact with building owners, to check with designers on safety, and to report the result to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the autonomous body that had the jurisdiction. It was said that the company replied that it "would like to make a report in about a month". The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport was considering announcing the buildings that were judged to be dangerous.

On the 14^th Toyo Tire & Rubber revealed that by 6:00 pm on the same day there were 950 enquiries at the telephone desk (0120 880 328).

I hope that people’s confidence on Japanese workmanship would not be undermined by this incident.

中國勢頭亮點......鐵路項目，進攻海外市場

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

中国勢などと火花…鉄道事業、海外市場に攻勢

2015年03月09日 07時47分

　日本の鉄道事業の海外展開が本格化してきた。官民合同で新幹線をインドなどに売り込んでいるほか、個々の企業も鉄道プロジェクトの受注に成功している。

　安全性の高さや効率的な運行が日本の強みだが、中国勢などライバルの攻勢も激しく、世界市場を奪い合う競争は熱を帯びている。

　インドのニューデリーで２月２８日、インド政府関係者ら約２００人を前に、ＪＲ東日本の深沢祐二副社長が「完成後の維持や補修にかかる中長期的な費用を抑えることができる」と新幹線をアピールした。国土交通省が各国で開催する「高速鉄道セミナー」の一幕だ。

　日印両政府は、西部ムンバイ―アーメダバード（約５００キロ）で、新幹線導入に向けた共同事業化調査を行っている。７月までにまとまる報告書をふまえ、インド政府が判断する。

　マレーシアとシンガポールを結ぶ高速鉄道計画（約３３０キロ）は、年内に国際入札が行われる予定だ。１月下旬、シンガポールの高級ホテルで、同国のテオ上級国務大臣は西村明宏国土交通副大臣に「新幹線には信頼を置いている」と語った。西村氏は「開業から死者を出していない安全性は十分浸透している」と手応えを感じている。

　両計画は共に総工費が１兆円を超える大規模事業で、受注できれば、台湾以来、２例目の新幹線輸出になる。政府は２０１３年の成長戦略で、インフラ関連輸出を２０年までに３倍の３０兆円に増やす目標を掲げた。新幹線を含め鉄道は柱の一つだ。

(試譯文)

Overseas developments of Japanese railway business had gone into full swing. Officials and private companies were joining efforts in selling the Shinkansen to India; individual enterprises were also successful in receiving order for railroad projects.

  The high safety and efficient operation were the advantage of Japan, but competitions from China and others were also intense, and the struggle to scramble for a global market was heating up.

 On February 28 in New Delhi of India, in front of about 200 Indian administration officials, vice President Yuji Fukazawa of JR East appealed for the Shinkansen in saying that "we can suppress the medium and long-term cost requirement on repair and maintenance after completion". This was one of the scenes on "rapid transit railway seminar" organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in overseas countries.

  The governments of Japan and India formed a joint operation to investigate the introduction of a Shinkansen to Munbai-Ahmedabad (about 500 kilometers) in the west. The Indian government would make judgments based on a report to be gathered in July.

  Malaysia and Singapore together jointly planned a rapid transit railway (about 330 kilometers) and would bid in an international tender to be held within the year. At the end of January in a Singapore first-class hotel, Theo the senior Minister of State of the same country told Akihiro Nishimura, the National traffic vice minister, that "trust was put in the Shinkansen". Mr. Nishimura in response said that “safety has permeated thoroughly so that there would be no fatal accidents after the operation".

  It was a large-scale business with a total construction cost exceeding 1,000,000 million yen. And if an order was received, it would be the second example following the exportation of the Shinkansen to Taiwan. In its growth strategy in 2013, the government set the target to increase infrastructure related export to be tripled to become 30,000,000 million yen by 2020. Railroad, including the Shinkansen, was a major component.

It is interesting to note the competition between Japan and China in seeking railroad building projects overseas. 

東盟局長批評中國在南中國海的領土要求

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

中国の南シナ海領有主張、ＡＳＥＡＮ局長が批判

2015年03月13日 21時21分

　【台北＝向井ゆう子】東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）のレ・ルオン・ミン事務局長が、中国が９本の境界線からなる独自の「九段線」によって南シナ海のほぼ全域の領有を主張していることに対し批判的な見解を示し、中国が反発している。

　ミン氏の見解は４日、フィリピンの英字紙「マニラ・タイムズ」（電子版）に掲載された。ミン氏は、九段線は「国連海洋法条約に沿っていない」と指摘したうえ、「南シナ海で領有権を主張する全てのＡＳＥＡＮの国は抗議している」と述べた。

　これに対し、中国外務省の報道官は１１日の記者会見で「ＡＳＥＡＮは当事者ではない。中立的立場を保つべきだ」とけん制した。

　ミン氏は、南シナ海の領有を巡り中国と対立するベトナムの外務次官経験者だ。

(試譯文)

Re Ruon Min the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed a critical view towards China's unilateral insistence on the possession of most area in the South China Sea based on the "Nine-section lines" which consisted of 9 boundary lines; China rebuked.

 On the 4^th (March), the views of Mr. Min appeared in a Philippine English paper "Manila Times" (electronic edition). Mr. Min pointed out that the Nine-section lines "is not following the UN Convention on Laws of the Sea" and stated that "all ASEAN countries protest and insist on having the sovereignty right over the South China Sea".

 In response to this, at a press conference a press attaché of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 11^th (March) rebuked that "ASEAN is not a party concerned. It should hold a neutral position".

 Mr. Min was a vice foreign minister of Vietnam that had the experience in opposing China over the sovereignty rights regarding the South China Sea.

For sure, the arguments over the sovereignty right in the South China Sea between China and ASEAN will continue in the coming years.

今年一月経常収支與上年比較有顯著改善，貿易赤字減60％

A few weeks ago the Asahi News on-line reported the following:

経常収支が大幅改善　１月前年比、貿易赤字は６割縮小

2015年3月9日09時12分

　財務省が９日発表した１月の国際収支（速報）によると、貿易や投資による日本と海外とのお金のやり取りを示す「経常収支」は６１４億円の黒字だった。過去最大の経常赤字だった前年同月（１兆５８６１億円）から大幅に改善し、７カ月連続の黒字となった。

　輸出額から輸入額を差し引いた「貿易収支」の赤字幅は前年同月より６４・１％縮小し、８６４２億円だった。原油価格の下落で輸入額が減ったためだ。日本企業の海外での稼ぎを示す「第１次所得収支」は５・２％増の１兆４１２９億円だった。

(試譯文)

  According to the announcement of the Treasury Department on the 9^th (March), regarding the international trade balance of payment (preliminary report) in January, the "Current account" which indicated money exchange with Japan due to trade and investment with foreign countries was in the black at 61,400 million yen. It improved substantially compared with the same month a year ago, which had the biggest current account deficit (1,586,100 million yen), and was continuously in the black for 7 months.

  The deficit in the "Trading account", which deducted the value of import from the export value, had dropped by 64.1 % compared with the same month a year ago to stand at 864,200 million yen. It was because the import amount decreased due to a fall in oil price. "The first income and expenditure balance" which reflected the profit of overseas Japanese companies showed a 5.2% increase to stand at 1,412,900 million yen.

Obviously Japan is benefited from a fall in oil price.

經濟衰退: 俄羅斯總統減薪

A few weeks ago the NHK News on-line reported the following:

ロシア大統領 景気悪化で給与削減

3月6日 22時55分

ロシアのプーチン大統領は原油価格の下落やウクライナ情勢を巡る欧米の制裁による景気の悪化で国民から不満の声が上がるなか、大統領自身やメドベージェフ首相の給与を今月から削減することを決めました。

ロシアでは主な輸出品の原油価格の下落に伴う通貨ルーブルの急落やウクライナ情勢を巡る欧米の制裁などの影響で景気が悪化していて、ロシア政府はことしの歳入は去年に比べて４％程度、落ち込むという見通しを示しています。
こうした状況のなか、ロシアのプーチン大統領は６日、大統領令に署名し、今月１日から年末までの大統領自身とメドベージェフ首相の給与と、ことし５月１日以降の大統領府の職員など一部の公務員の給与をそれぞれ１０％削減することを決めました。プーチン大統領は、ウクライナ南部のクリミアを一方的に編入したあとの去年４月、大統領自身とメドベージェフ首相の給与を２倍余りに引き上げていましたが、このところの景気の悪化で国民から不満の声が上がるなか、みずからの給与を減らすことで不満が政権批判に結びつくのを避けるねらいもあるとみられます。
ロシアはすでにことしの歳出を１０％削減する計画を発表していますが、現地のメディアによりますと政府内では職員が出張する際に空港のラウンジの利用を控えるなどといった追加の歳出削減案も検討されているということです。

(試譯文)

Starting from this month (March) Russian president Putin decided to reduce both his own salary and that of Prime Minister Medvedev in response to the increasing dissatisfaction voiced in the country due to deterioration in business as a result of a falling oil price, together with the sanction by both the European and American due to the Ukrainian situation.

Business was aggravated by a slump in the ruble currency due to a fall in the price of oil which was the main export of Russia, together with the effect of the European and American sanction over the Ukrainian situation. Because of that Russian government indicated that the perspective on this year’s revenue would go down by about 4 % compared with last year.

Under such circumstances President Putin signed a presidential decree on the 6^th (March) to reduce 10 % of his own salary and that of Prime Minister Medvedev starting from the first of this month (March) up to the end of the year, and also certain civil servants such as officials in the presidential palace starting from May first this year. The President increased his own salary and that of Prime Minister Medvedev by about 2 times in April last year after Crimea, located at the south of Ukraine, was annexed unilaterally. It could be thought that President Putin, in view of the dissatisfaction voiced in the country due the recently deterioration in business, reduced his salary so as to avoid the dissatisfaction being linked to criticisms of his own regime.

Russia had already announced a plan to reduce this year's annual expenditure by 10 %. But according to the local media, it was said that additional plans on cutting expenditures were also being considered in the government, such as to cut down the use of a lounge at airports when the staff made a business trip.

It is interesting to note that President Putin had doubled his salary last year and subsequently reduced it by 10% in order to appease the Russian people.