"The industry experienced a number of headwinds during the first half of the year, including a significant adverse movement in exchange rates, due to the relative strength of the US dollar, combined with higher fruit, " Fyffes said.

BBC: Man with bananas

Even though Toyota is officially still committed to support its manufacturing base in Japan, it hopes to ride out the current slump in demand and adverse foreign exchange movement through cost-cutting, hyper-efficiency and collaboration on new technology with parts suppliers.

FORBES: Toyota Burned By Land Of The Rising Yen

Arguably the most important new factor arguing against the Bush Administration's Soviet energy bail-out scheme, however, is its likely adverse impact on the movement toward structural reform in the USSR.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy