from yesterday's Nikkei

日ロ、原子力協定に署名　首相会談　領土、協議加速を確認

Prime Minister Taro Aso met Tuesday with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at the Prime Minister's Residence,and they reached agreements on such issues as nuclear program cooperation and others. Under the new framework agreed with this time, the two countries will deepen their cooperation in the strategic areas like energy,the environment and security.

In terms of the so-called the Northen Territories issue,Putin said at the prece conference held after the summit meeting wit Aso that all possible options will be discussed. In spite of no specific advancement seen during the Putin's visit to Japan this time,the two countries might have confirmed their policies of making efforts in proceeding with the works for its final settlement.

from today's Nikkei

薄型ＴＶ海外生産を集約　東芝　英で打ち切り　日立　欧州から撤退　外部委託を拡大

Domestic electronics makers ,such as Toshiba Corporation and Hitachi.Ltd., are going to integrate their overseas production sites for flat-panel TVs with an eye to boosting their business efficiency.Specifically,Toshiba will cease the production in its Britain's plant by the end of 2009,and Hitachi will close its Czech plant. Sony Corporation also is seeking to revise its plant locations abroad.These movements are aimed at cutting down the so-called fixed costs and enhancing the business performances by making their production schemes more dependent on outsourcing of production,as using methods like EMS(Electronics Manufacturing Service).