The river Seine and the Eiffel Tower in Paris

The river Seine and the Eiffel Tower in Paris

 

[caption id="attachment_12351" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Ludovic Marin)[/caption]

 

Eiffel Tower

 

A picture shows the river Seine and the Eiffel Tower in Paris on 13 Thursday February 2014 The Roman.

 

(AFP - Ludovic Marin)

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 14 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

 

President Barack Obama and President Francois Hollande

President Barack Obama and President Francois Hollande

 

[caption id="attachment_12261" align="alignnone" width="538"] (Photo AFP - JEWEL SAMAD)[/caption]

 

Press conference

 

Barack Obama and Francois Hollande hold a press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington.

 

(AFP - JEWEL SAMAD)

 

(Agence France-Presse, 11 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Trouble at the Panama Canal: A $1.6 billion row will have ripple effects on global trade at sea

Trouble at the Panama Canal

 

A $1.6 billion row will have ripple effects on global trade at sea

 

ON FEBRUARY 4TH 1889 the French Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interocéanique de Panama was declared bankrupt, marking the first catastrophic failure to build the Panama Canal.

 

On the same date this year (the centenary year of its completion in 1914) talks collapsed on how to finish the canal’s expansion.

 

Seafarers, a superstitious bunch, will not interpret this as a good omen.

 

After weeks of negotiations between the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) and a consortium led by Sacyr, a Spanish builder, and its Italian counterpart, Salini Impregilo, the two sides have failed to reach agreement on who pays for $1.6 billion of cost overruns on their $3.2 billion portion of the project to widen the waterway.

 

The consortium, GUPC, said the endeavour was on “the brink of failure”.

 

The PCA’s head, Jorge Quijano, said the consortium had downed tools the morning after the talks dissolved with the project only 70% completed.

 

His team will now decide whether to hire new builders to complete the work, which may cost another $1.5 billion.

 

“We will finish this job in 2015 with or without GUPC,” he said, though he acknowledged there might be tough legal battles ahead.

 

The kernel of the dispute is a $785m advance payment the PCA made to the consortium.

 

Mr Quijano said GUPC had asked for a moratorium on repayment until 2018.

 

The PCA, which has already granted a year’s extra time, was prepared to extend it only until 2015.

 

The row has pitted two forceful personalities against each other.

 

Though coverage of the consortium has focused on Sacyr of Spain, it is Pietro Salini, the Italian businessman whose company last year bought control of Impregilo, who is said to be calling the shots

 

Last month he accused Mr Quijano of inexperience on such big projects.

 

He also implied that an Italian subcontractor, Cimolai, would not deliver a set of massive lock gates if GUPC loses the contract, setting the expansion back by three years.

 

Mr Quijano told The Economist that sounded like “extortion”.

 

The dispute has already cost precious time.

 

It started in the early part of the dry season, the only four months when conditions are right for mixing concrete.

 

During a visit on January 31st to a canyon-like expansion site on the Pacific coast, the concrete mixers were already inactive.

 

There were few workers.

 

It was a forlorn sight compared with a mural at the PCA’s headquarters that shows the original canal swarming with labourers 100 years ago.

 

On the same day, Mr Quijano hosted the American ambassador to Panama at the expansion site, which he said underscored the importance of its completion to the United States, the canal’s biggest user.

 

The head of Miami’s port was in Panama the same week.

 

Miami has $2 billion in port improvements under way that were originally timed to coincide with the opening of the expanded canal this year or next.

 

As far north as New York and New Jersey, authorities are deepening ports to cater for the “new Panamax” ships that will be able to carry almost triple the cargo that can currently fit through the canal on a single vessel (albeit at three times the toll, or about $1m).

 

Caribbean ports, too, are expanding.

 

Shipping firms hope a larger canal will cut the time to take liquefied natural gas from America to Asia and containers in the other direction.

 

However, the dispute has drawn attention to the alternative routes for big ships, such as that to America from Asia through Suez, or using trains and trucks between America’s coasts, or even relocating manufacturing to Mexico instead of Asia, experts say.

 

Aaron Ellis of the American Association of Port Authorities says there is a common misconception that bigger ships depend on the canal’s expansion.

 

“It’s a big, big event in world trade but it isn’t the only game in town.”

 

(The Economist, 8 Saturday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Hollande and Obama confirm strong Franco-US friendship

Hollande and Obama confirm strong Franco-US friendship

 

The presidents of France and the United States have confirmed the strong friendship between the two countries at a press conference in Washington on Tuesday.

 

Obama and Hollande said they were both in agreement on foreign policy, trade and the environment.

 

On the subject of Iran, Obama said sanctions would continue for now.

 

“President Hollande and I agree on the need to continue enforcing existing sanctions even as we believe that new sanctions during these negotiations would endanger the possibility of a diplomatic solution.”

 

After the press conference, a state dinner will be held in honour of Hollande.

 

The next time the two will meet will be in June.

 

Copyright © 2014 euronews

 

(euronews, 11 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Vogt wins first women's ski jump gold, Takanashi fourth

Vogt wins first women's ski jump gold, Takanashi fourth

 

Rosa Khutor (Russia) (AFP)

 

Germany's Carina Vogt made history on Tuesday, winning the first ever women's ski jumping event at an Olympic Games in a nail-biting finale that left favourite Sara Takanashi off the podium.

 

Vogt, who had led after the first run, grabbed a total 247.4 points with jumps of 103 and 97.5 metres, and sank to her knees after seeing the results.

 

Austrian favourite and 2011 world champion Daniela Iraschko-Stolz was second with 246.2 points, ahead of France's Coline Mattel at 245.2 points.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 11 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Flooded street

Flooded street

 

[caption id="attachment_12171" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Fred Tanneau)[/caption]

 

Submersion

 

Un camion de pompiers dans une rue inondée de Redon, en Bretagne.

 

Submersion

 

A fire truck through a flooded street Redon, Bretagne.

 

(AFP - Fred Tanneau)

 

(Agence France-Presse, 11 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 12 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Obama y Hollande revisan las raíces de la amistad franco-estadounidense Obama and Hollande review the roots of Franco-American friendship

Obama y Hollande revisan las raíces de la amistad franco-estadounidense

 

Washington (AFP)

 

Barack Obama y François Hollande efectuarán este lunes un peregrinaje a las fuentes de la amistad entre Washington y París, en el primero de los tres días de una visita de Estado del mandatario francés a EEUU.

 

Vuelo en el Air Force One, honores militares y cenas fastuosas: EEUU agasajará a Hollande en la primera visita en su primera etapa a Washington y en la primera de este género por parte de un jefe de Estado en 18 años, en la que Hollande viajará solo, tras su reciente separación de Valérie Trierweiler.

 

Antes de una jornada protocolaria el martes en la Casa Blanca, Obama y Hollande viajarán a la zona de Monticello, tierras del tercer presidente estadounidense, Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809), una referencia histórica para ambos países.

 

Esta escapada permitirá a ambos mandatarios encontrarse en un ambiente más informal para "charlar de las relaciones (franco-estadounidenses) en un entorno que evoca su historia y de las posibilidades que detentan", explicó un responsable del Gobierno de Obama a la AFP.

 

En el ámbito económico, Hollande cenará este lunes en la casa de Francia con la directora general del Fondo Monetario Internacional.

 

El martes, la jornada será mucho más solemne, con himnos nacionales, cañonazos y una entrevista en el Despacho Oval antes de una rueda de prensa en la que se tratarán seguramente cuestiones internacionales ( Irán, Ucrania, Sáhara y Libia) y económicas.

 

Tras una comida oficial con el secretario de Estado estadounidense, John Kerry, y un homenaje a los militares del país, Hollande será el martes por la noche el invitado de honor de una cena de Estado que reunirá a centenares de invitados selectamente escogidos por la Casa Blanca y donde será obligatorio el esmoquin y la etiqueta.

 

La visita concluirá el miércoles con una escala en San Francisco, región que alberga empresas punteras en materia informática.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 10 lunes febrero 2014 la Roman)

 

Obama and Hollande review the roots of Franco-American friendship

 

Washington (AFP)

 

François Hollande and Barack Obama on Monday made ​​a pilgrimage to the sources of the friendship between Washington and Paris in the first of three days of a state visit by French president to the United States.

 

Flight on Air Force One, military honors and lavish dinners : USA regale Hollande in the first visit in the first stage to Washington and the first of its kind by a head of state in 18 years, in which Hollande travel only, after his recent separation Valérie Trierweiler.

 

Before a protocol day on Tuesday at the White House, Obama and Hollande will travel to the Monticello, land of the third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809), a historical reference to both countries.

 

This package will enable the two leaders meet in a more informal setting for "chat relations (Franco-American) in a setting that evokes the history and the possibilities they hold," the Obama government official told AFP.

 

On the economic front, Hollande dine Monday in the House of France with the general director of the International Monetary Fund.

 

On Tuesday, the day will be much more solemn, national hymns, gunfire and an interview in the Oval Office before a press conference on international economic issues that will surely (Iran, Ukraine, Sahara, Libya) and treated.

 

After an official dinner with Secretary of State, John Kerry, and a tribute to the country's military, Hollande will be Tuesday night the guest of honor at a state dinner bringing together hundreds of guests selectamente chosen by the House white tuxedo and where the label is mandatory.

 

The visit will conclude on Wednesday with a stop in San Francisco, region harboring leading companies in IT field.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 10 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 10 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Ligue 1: Un sommet capital pour Monaco et le Paris SG League 1: A crucial summit to Monaco and Paris SG

Ligue 1: Un sommet capital pour Monaco et le Paris SG

 

[caption id="attachment_12146" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Les joueurs du PSG manifestent leur joie après le but de Zlatan Ibrahimovic en demi-finale de la Coupe de la Ligue contre Nantes à la Beaujoire, le 4 mardi février 2014 le Roman (AFP)) (The PSG players express their joy after the goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the semifinals of the League Cup against Nantes Beaujoire, 4 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman (AFP))[/caption]

 

De Keyvan NARAGHI (AFP)

 

Paris — Les deux superpuissances financières de la L1, le leader parisien, emmené par un Ibrahimovic au sommet de son art, et son dauphin monégasque, toujours orphelin de Falcao, ont rendez-vous dimanche au stade Louis-II pour un choc capital dans la lutte pour le titre.

 

Avec 5 points d'avance sur son rival, le PSG des Qataris aborde cette échéance en position de force et pourrait, en cas de succès, assommer le championnat et se diriger inexorablement vers un deuxième sacre d'affilée.

 

Pour l'ASM du milliardaire russe Dmitry Rybolovlev, il s'agira surtout de maintenir le suspense jusqu'au bout.

 

Cette affiche de gala devrait en tout cas devenir un "classique" de la Ligue 1 durant les prochaines saisons, aucune autre formation française n'ayant les moyens économiques de venir perturber le duopole Paris-Monaco.

 

Cette nouvelle rivalité n'en est qu'à ses débuts mais elle a déjà éclipsé la concurrence, obligée de se partager les restes laissés par les deux ogres.

 

Une situation appelée à perdurer.

 

A l'aller (1-1, le 22 septembre au Parc des Princes), le club de la Principauté avait tenu la dragée haute au champion de France mais à l'époque il pouvait compter sur un buteur de dimension mondiale, Falcao.

 

Le "Tigre" colombien, gravement blessé au genou et très incertain pour le Mondial-2014, manquera cette fois à l'appel.

 

Sans Falcao ni Cavani (cuisse) côté parisien, cette rencontre de prestige se voit ainsi délestée de deux des trois plus grosses vedettes du championnat.

 

L'absence du Colombien a pour le moment été assez bien compensée par le duo Germain-Rivière.

 

Mais les deux attaquants auront-ils les épaules assez larges pour inquiéter une défense de niveau européen dirigée par le "Monstre" Thiago Silva, capitaine du Brésil et du PSG ?

 

Pour muscler son secteur offensif, Monaco a fait venir le vétéran bulgare Berbatov (33 ans), transfuge de Fulham, qui devrait théoriquement débuter le match sur le banc.

 

Guerre des mots

 

Sur le papier, le forfait de Cavani a de quoi soulager une arrière-garde monégasque vieillissante.

 

Pas sûr qu'Abidal (34 ans) et Carvalho (35 ans) soient en revanche particulièrement enchantés à l'idée de se frotter au colosse Ibrahimovic, toujours capable de gestes de génie.

 

Meilleur buteur de L1 (18 réalisations), le géant suédois n'en finit pas de multiplier les coups d'éclat.

 

Le souci pour l'entraîneur Laurent Blanc c'est qu'il est bien le seul ces dernières semaines.

 

Lucas et Lavezzi, terriblement inefficaces, sauront-ils épauler Ibra et faire oublier Cavani (13 buts en L1) ?

 

A moins que Blanc ne décide de sacrifier l'Argentin pour gonfler son milieu en incorporant la recrue Cabaye.

 

Un coup de poker tactique n'est pas exclu des deux côtés.

 

La bataille des mots a elle déjà commencé.

 

Le technicien monégasque Claudio Ranieri ne cesse ainsi de répéter depuis une semaine que le championnat est joué et promis au PSG.

 

"Qui fait la course au titre ? Nous ? Non ! Le Paris SG, ce sont des extra-terrestres. Seuls eux peuvent perdre le titre. Et il leur faudrait beaucoup d'erreurs pour le perdre. Parce que, même avec sa deuxième équipe, le PSG gagnerait le titre", a-t-il encore déclaré vendredi.

 

Un argumentaire balayé avec le sourire par Blanc.

 

"S'il veut, on ne joue pas le match", a-t-il répondu alors que le milieu de terrain Matuidi a parlé de coup de "bluff".

 

Pas de doute pour Laurent Blanc: la pression est bel et bien sur Monaco malgré ces tentatives de diversion.

 

Toute la question est en fait de savoir si l'ASM, promue "dopée" par les 170 millions d'euros investis l'été dernier dans le recrutement, peut se hisser dès cette saison au niveau du PSG ou si elle devra attendre la saison prochaine pour réellement le titiller.

 

Copyright © AFP 2014. Tous droits réservés.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 10 lundi février 2014 le Roman)

 

 

League 1: A crucial summit to Monaco and Paris SG

 

Keyvan NARAGHI (AFP)

 

Paris - The two financial superpowers L1, the Parisian leader, led by Ibrahimovic at the top of his art, and his Monegasque dolphin, always orphan Falcao have appointment Sunday to Louis II stadium for a shock in the capital fight for the title.

 

With 5 points ahead of his rival, PSG Qataris addresses this term in a strong position and could, if successful, knock the championship and move inexorably towards a second consecutive coronation.

 

ASM for the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, the emphasis will be to maintain the suspense until the end.

 

This poster gala should in any case become a "classic" in the Ligue 1 next season, no other French training having the economic means to disrupt the duopoly Paris - Monaco.

 

This new competition is still in its infancy, but it has already eclipsed the competition, forced to share the leftovers from both ogres.

 

A situation set to continue.

 

In the first leg (1-1, Sept. 22 at the Parc des Princes), Club Monaco had held a candle to the champion of France but at the time he could count on a global scorer Falcao.

 

The "Tiger" Colombian serious knee injury and a major doubt for the World Cup 2014, this time missed the call.

 

Without Falcao or Cavani (thigh) Parisian side, the meeting of prestige is thus relieved two of the three biggest stars of the championship.

 

The absence of the Colombian has been time well enough compensated by the duo - Germain River.

 

But the two attackers will they pretty broad shoulders to worry a defense of European level led by the "Monster" Thiago Silva, captain of Brazil and PSG ?

 

To beef up its offensive sector Monaco brought the veteran Bulgarian Berbatov (33), defector from Fulham, which should theoretically start the match on the bench.

 

War of words

 

On paper, the package Cavani has something to relieve a rearguard Monaco aging.

 

Not sure qu'Abidal  (34) and Carvalho (35) are however particularly thrilled with the idea of ​​rubbing the colossus Ibrahimovic still capable of acts of genius.

 

Scorer L1 (18 goals), the Swedish giant never stops multiply strokes of brilliance.

 

Concern for coach Laurent Blanc is that it is only in recent weeks.

 

Lucas and Lavezzi , terribly inefficient, will they support Ibra and forget Cavani (13 goals in L1) ?

 

Unless White decides to sacrifice Argentina to inflate its environment by incorporating rookie Cabaye.

 

A favorite tactic poker is not excluded from both sides.

 

The battle of words has already started it.

 

Monaco technician Claudio Ranieri and keeps repeating week that the championship is played and promised to PSG.

 

"Who does the title race ? We ? No! Paris SG, they are aliens. Only they can lose the title. And it would take a lot of mistakes to lose. Because even with his second team, PSG win the title," he said again Friday.

 

An argument with a smile swept by White.

 

"If he wants, we do not play the game," he replied while midfielder Matuidi spoke kick "bluff ".

 

No doubt Laurent Blanc : the pressure is well and truly on Monaco despite these attempts at diversion.

 

The whole question is whether the ASM promoted "doped" by 170 million euros invested last summer in recruitment, can climb from this season at PSG or if it will wait until the season next to really tickle.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 10 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

(Text Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 10 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

 

The castle of Pontivy in Bretagne

The castle of Pontivy in Bretagne

 

[caption id="attachment_12107" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Frank Perry)[/caption]

 

Ecroulé

 

Le mur de fortification du château de Pontivy en Bretagne, datant du 15e siècle, écroulé après le passage de la tempête dans la région.

 

SHATTERED

 

The fortification wall of the castle of Pontivy in Brittany, 15th century, collapsed after the passage of the storm in the region.

 

(AFP - Frank Perry)

 

(Agence France-Presse, 9 Sunday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 10 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

 

World sales of the Nissan-Renault, a new record high

World sales of the Nissan-Renault, a new record high

 

日産・ルノーの世界販売台数、過去最高を更新

 

日産自動車は２月７日、提携するフランス大手ルノーとの連合による２０１３年の世界販売台数が、前年比２・１％増で過去最高を更新する８２６万６０９８台だったと発表した。

 

世界大手のランキングでは、トヨタ自動車グループ、米ゼネラル・モーターズ（ＧＭ）、独フォルクスワーゲン（ＶＷ）に次いで、２０１２年と同じ４位となった。

 

日産とルノーに、傘下のロシア大手アフトバスも合算した台数。

 

前年実績を上回るのは５年連続。

 

日産は３・３％増の５１０万２９７９台を売った。

 

米国での伸びが貢献した。

 

ルノーは３・１％増の２６２万８２０８台。

 

アフトバスは、１２・１％減の５３万４９１１台だった。

 

米国の１２４万８４２１台、ロシアの８２万１４０４台、日本の６８万２５９２台が続いた。

 

２０１３年の販売台数は、ダイハツ工業と日野自動車を含むトヨタグループがトップで約９９８万台。

 

２位はＧＭの約９７１万台で、３位はＶＷの約９５０万台（一部商用車を除く）だった。

 

（神奈川新聞、２０１４年２月９日）

 

Translated article will be later

 

His Holiness Pope’s Harley sells to mystery buyer for 241,500 euros

His Holiness Pope’s Harley sells to mystery buyer for 241,500 euros

 

Paris (AFP)

 

A Harley-Davidson motorbike that briefly belonged to His Holiness Pope Francis was sold for 241,500 euros ($326,000), 16 times its highest original valuation, at an auction in Paris on Thursday.

 

The US motorbike maker gave the 1,585cc Dyna Super Glide to the pope in June to mark the brand's 110th anniversary, and while the 77-year-old never rode it, he signed it before donating it to Roman Catholic charity Caritas Roma.

 

"It's a record for a post-vintage motorbike, from the 21st century," said Bonhams France, the auction house, adding the bike was purchased by an unidentified European buyer.

 

The funds from the sale will go towards the restoration of the charity's hostel and soup kitchen based at Rome's Termini railway station.

 

A jacket that was also given to the pope by Harley-Davidson was snapped up for 57,500 euros.

 

The bike is on show at the Grand Palais in Paris -- where the auction took place -- among hundreds of other iconic vehicles such as Rolls-Royces and Cadillacs.

 

According to Bonhams, His Holiness Pope Francis has another Harley-Davidson, although the famously humble pontiff is more of a fan of buses.

 

He opted to ride one the day after his election last year instead of taking a limousine, and regularly used them in his homeland Argentina instead of taxis.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 6 Thursday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

A firefighter

A firefighter

 

[caption id="attachment_11997" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Valery Hache)[/caption]

 

Décombres

 

Un pompier au milieu des décombres après l'effondrement d'un toit à l'entrée d'un Carrefour à Nice.

 

Rubble

 

A firefighter amid the rubble after the collapse of a roof at the entrance of Carrefour in Nice

 

(AFP - Valery Hache)

 

(Agence France-Presse, 7 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Budget: les fonctionnaires sont bien dans le collimateur Budget: Officials are in the crosshairs

Budget: les fonctionnaires sont bien dans le collimateur

 

François Hollande va présider, samedi 8 février, un nouveau comité stratégique de la dépense publique afin de faire le point sur les pistes d'économies budgétaires. A ce stade, le gel de l'avancement des fonctionnaires est bien à l'étude malgré les dénégations du ministre de l'Education nationale

 

[caption id="attachment_11978" align="alignnone" width="580"] (Bercy a les dépenses de fonction publique dans le collimateur (Olivier Laffargue-BFM-TV)) (Bercy public spending in the crosshairs (Olivier Laffargue-BFM-TV))[/caption]

 

François Hollande va présider ce samedi 8 février un nouveau comité stratégique de la dépense publique.

 

Il fera le point avec les ministres concernés sur l'état d'avancement des réflexions sur la recherche de 50 milliards d'euros d'économies budgétaires prévues d'ici à 2017 pour financer les baisses de charges du pacte de responsabilité.

 

Depuis une confidence, mercredi 5 février, de Vincent Peillon, le ministre de l'Education nationale, expliquant que le gel temporaire des avancements et promotions des fonctionnaires est à l'étude pour tenter de dégager 1,2 milliard d'euros, l'affaire gène l'exécutif.

 

A preuve, Bernard Cazeneuve a affirmé, ce 7 février à l'AFP: "les fonctionnaires ont déjà fait beaucoup d'économies, la stabilisation du point d'indice, la stabilisation des effectifs", a déclaré le ministre.

 

"Je ne suis pas du tout dans l'approche de l'opposition qui consiste à considérer qu'un fonctionnaire est nécessairement suspect (...) Un fonctionnaire, c'est une richesse".

 

Il n'empêche, pour le seul Etat, les dépenses de personnel représentent, en effet, 132 milliards d'euros sur 334 milliards inscrits au budget, soit 39,6% du total.

 

Toutes fonctions publiques confondues, la masse salariale globale atteint 270 milliards.

 

Difficile donc de faire l'impasse sur ce poste budgétaire si l'on veut faire des vraies économies.

 

La CGT réclame une hausse des traitements des fonctionnaires

 

Ce n'est pas anormal de poser la question des promotions!".

 

Voilà ce que l'on dit au plus haut niveau.

 

La masse salariale des fonctionnaires est bel et bien un sujet dans le cadre des economies massives à réaliser à l'horizon 2017.

 

Si on veut jouer dessus, il n 'y a pas 36 solutions : soit on réduit l'emploi, soit on réduit les salaires.

 

Cette dernière piste semble être en reflexion.

 

Car il y a actuellement dans la fonction publique de nombreux effets de carrières, dont des promotions automatiques qui ont un coût.

 

La Cour des Comptes a déjà recommandé d'en diminuer le nombre.

 

Alors, un gel integral ? On en est pas là, nous dit on dans l'entourage de François Hollande.

 

Le dossier est explosif, car les syndicats de fonctionnaires sont à cran.

 

Il n'ont eu aucune hausse générale de leur salaire depuis 2010.

 

Jeudi, sur BFMTV, Thierry Lepaon, le secrétaire général de la CGT, affirmait que la hausse des salaires des fonctionnaires était une priorité !

 

(Mathieu Jolivet et Patrick Coquidé)

 

(BFMTV, 7 vendredi février 2014 le Roman)

 

 

Budget: Officials are in the crosshairs

 

François Hollande will preside, Saturday, Feb. 8, a new strategic committee of public spending in order to take on the slopes of budgetary savings. At this stage, the gel advancement of civil servants is well studied despite denials by the Minister of National Education

 

François Hollande will chair this Saturday 8 February, a new strategic committee of public expenditure.

 

It will update the ministers on the progress of discussions on research 50 billion euros of budget savings planned by 2017 to finance cuts costs Pact responsibility.

 

Since a secret, Wednesday, February 5, Vincent Peillon, the Minister of Education, explaining that the temporary freeze on promotions and promotion of staff is being studied in an attempt to reach € 1.2 billion, the case gene executive.

 

A proof Bernard Cazeneuve said this on February 7th AFP : "Officials have already done a lot of savings, stabilization of the index, the stabilization of the workforce," said the minister.

 

"I 'm not at all in the approach of the opposition is to consider an employee is necessarily suspect (...) An employee is an asset."

 

Nevertheless, for the single state, staff costs represent, in fact, 132 billion euros budgeted 334 billion euros, or 39.6 % of the total.

 

All public functions together, the total payroll reached 270 billion euros.

 

Therefore difficult to ignore this budget item if they want to make real savings.

 

CGT calls for a salary increase for civil servants

 

It is not unusual to ask the question of promotions.

 

That's what they say at the highest level.

 

Payroll staff is indeed a subject in the context of mass to achieve economies by 2017.

 

If you want to play it, there's not 36 solutions: Either cut jobs or wages are reduced.

 

This last track seems to be reflection.

 

Because there currently in the public career of many effects, including automatic promotions which have a cost.

 

The Court of Auditors has recommended to decrease the number.

 

So an integral gel ?

 

It is not there, we are told in the entourage of François Hollande.

 

The file is explosive because unions officials are on edge.

 

He had no general increase in wages since 2010.

 

Thursday on BFMTV, Thierry Lepaon, the secretary general of the CGT, said that the increase in salaries of civil servants was a priority !

 

(Mathieu Jolivet and Patrick Coquidé)

 

(BFMTV, 7 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 7 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Freighter crashed

Freighter crashed

 

[caption id="attachment_11930" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Gaizka Iroz)[/caption]

 

Cargo

 

Malmené par la mer en furie, un cargo espagnol s'est brisé sur une digue de la plage d'Anglet, dans les Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

 

Cargo

 

Battered by the raging sea, a Spanish freighter crashed on a pier of the beach of Anglet, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

 

(AFP - Gaizka Iroz)

 

(Agence France-Presse, 6 Thursday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 7 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Après Petra, une nouvelle tempête sur le Nord-Ouest After Petra, a new storm on the North-West

Après Petra, une nouvelle tempête sur le Nord-Ouest

 

[caption id="attachment_11910" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Une vague à Ploemeur, en Bretagne, dans la tempête, le 5 mercredi février 2014 le Roman (AFP, Frank Perry)) (A wave Ploemeur, Brittany, in the storm, 5 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman (AFP, Frank Perry))[/caption]

 

De Anne MEYER (AFP)

 

Rennes — Après la tempête Petra mardi, une nouvelle tempête hivernale s'apprête à déferler jeudi et vendredi sur un large quart nord-ouest du pays, où 29 départements sont en alerte orange, le Finistère étant même passé au rouge pour les crues.

 

Ce nouvel épisode tempétueux, avec des vents violents "pouvant occasionner des dégâts", de fortes précipitations sur des "sols déjà saturés" dans certains départements bretons et un phénomène de "vagues submersions" sur le littoral, doit débuter vers 13H00 ce jeudi et se poursuivre jusque vers 11H00 vendredi.

 

La Bretagne, les Pays de la Loire, la Normandie, l'Ile-de-France, ainsi que les départements de la Charente-Maritime, des Deux-Sèvres, de la Vienne, d'Eure-et-Loir, d'Indre-et-Loire, de Loir-et-Cher et du Loiret sont concernés.

 

Des rafales de vent à 90/110 km/h dans les terres et 120 km/h sur les côtes sont attendues par Météo-France, qui prévoit des cumuls de pluie importants, de l'ordre de 30 à 50 mm, et localement 60 à 70 mm sur le nord du Finistère.

 

De fortes vagues et une élévation du niveau de la mer (élévation) risquent aussi de submerger des parties du littoral, fragilisé par les coups de vent qui se succèdent depuis le mois de décembre.

 

Les pluies devraient d'abord s'intensifier jeudi, en particulier sur l'ouest de la Bretagne avant de se décaler vers la Normandie et le Centre vendredi matin.

 

Le vent, lui, se renforcera sur les côtes des Pays de la Loire et du sud de la Bretagne jeudi soir, avant de progresser vers le Nord-Est, la Normandie et l'Ile-de-France en deuxième partie de nuit, relève Météo-France.

 

Tempêtes en rafale

 

A la pointe de la Bretagne, le Finistère a une nouvelle fois été placé en alerte rouge pour les inondations, les prévisionnistes s'inquiétant de crues potentiellement importantes de la Laïta, à Quimperlé, et de la rivière de Morlaix, deux petits fleuves côtiers.

 

"Une réaction hydrologique rapide et importante est attendue" jeudi sur la rivière de Morlaix, prévient le service de prévision des crues, soulignant que les niveaux atteints "pourraient être similaires, voire supérieurs" à ceux de Noël dernier, quand la basse-ville avait été subitement envahie par les eaux.

 

Idem pour Quimperlé où la Laïta, qui traverse la basse-ville, devrait réagir "de façon importante" aux fortes pluies prévues, entraînant "des débordements dommageables".

 

"Tout fonctionne normalement pour le moment", a indiqué jeudi midi la maire de Morlaix, Agnès Le Brun.

 

Mais si la pluie tombe autant qu'annoncé, "ce serait vraiment très embêtant car l'eau monterait jusqu'à 2m10 et la rivière déborde à 1m80", a-t-elle expliqué, ajoutant que le pic était attendu à partir de 16h00.

 

Cette dépression suit de près la tempête Petra qui a déjà frappé la côte Atlantique mardi.

 

Conséquence spectaculaire de cette tempête, un cargo espagnol s'est encastré dans une digue à Anglet (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), se coupant en trois et entraînant une fuite de gasoil.

 

Jusqu'à 40.000 personnes ont aussi été privées d'électricité, principalement en Bretagne.

 

Depuis le 15 décembre, cinq épisodes significatifs d'intempéries ont été recensés en Bretagne par la direction interrégionale Ouest de Météo-France à Rennes, selon un rapport provisoire.

 

"On ne décèle pas d'évolution significative du nombre d'événements tempétueux depuis 1950, mais une grande variabilité d'une année sur l'autre", assure le service études et climatologie.

 

"En terme de fréquence et d'intensité de tempêtes, on reste pour l'instant très loin de la période de référence de janvier et février 1990", quand une dizaine de tempêtes majeures s'étaient abattues sur la région, souligne l'organisme.

 

En revanche "les submersions marines répétées lors des grandes marées de début janvier et début février 2014 peuvent d'ores et déjà être considérées comme exceptionnelles".

 

Copyright © AFP 2014. Tous droits réservés.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 6 jeudi février 2014 le Roman)

 

 

After Petra, a new storm on the North-West

 

Anne MEYER (AFP)

 

Rennes - After the storm Petra on Tuesday, a new winter storm is about to break on Thursday and Friday on a wide northwest quarter of the country, where 29 departments are orange alert, Finistère even being turned red for floods.

 

This new episode stormy with winds "that can cause damage," heavy rainfall on "soil already saturated" in some departments of Brittany and the phenomenon of "waves flooding" along the coast, should take place around 13:00 on Thursday and continue until about 11:00 on Friday.

 

Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Normandy, Ile -de- France, as well as the departments of Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres, Vienne, Eure-et-Loir, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher and Loiret are concerned.

 

Wind gusts to 90/110 km/h in land and 120 km/h on the coast are expected by Météo- France, which provides significant accumulations of rain, 30 to 50 mm, and 60 locally 70 mm in the north of Finistère .

 

Strong waves and rising sea level (elevation) are also likely to submerge parts of the coast, weakened by the gales which follow from the month of December.

 

The rains should intensify first Thursday, particularly western Britain before shifting to Normandy and the Centre on Friday morning.

 

The wind, it will become stronger on the coasts of Pays de la Loire and southern Britain on Thursday evening, before progressing to the North East, Normandy and Ile-de-France in the second half of the night, falls Météo-France.

 

Storms burst

 

At the tip of Brittany, Finistere has once again been placed on red alert for flooding, forecasters worrying about potentially significant flood Laïta to Quimper and Morlaix River, two small coastal rivers.

 

"A rapid and significant hydrologic response is expected" Thursday on the river of Morlaix, prevents flood forecasting servic, noting that the levels "could be similar or superior" to those of last Christmas, when the lower town had was suddenly flooded with water.

 

Ditto for Quimper where Laita, which crosses the lower town should respond "significantly" to heavy rains due, causing "harmful excesses."

 

"Everything works normally for the moment,” said Thursday afternoon the mayor of Morlaix, Agnès Le Brun.

 

But if the rain falls as announced, "it would be really annoying because the water would rise up to 2m10 and 1m80 river overflows," she said, adding that the peak was expected from 16:00.

 

This depression closely Petra storm has already hit the Atlantic coast Tuesday.

 

Spectacular result of this storm, a Spanish freighter is embedded in a dike in Anglet (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), intersecting at three and causing a leak of diesel.

 

Up to 40,000 people were also without electricity, mainly in Britain.

 

Since December 15, five of significant weather events were recorded in Britain by the Interregional westbound Météo France in Rennes, an interim report.

 

"We did not detect any significant change in the number of stormy events since 1950, but a large variability from one year to another," says the studies and climatology service.

 

"In terms of frequency and intensity of storms, there remains yet very far from the period of January and February 1990," when a dozen major storms had lashed the region, said the agency.

 

However "marine repeated flooding during high tides early January and early February 2014 can already be regarded as exceptional."

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 6 Thursday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 6 Thursday February 2014 The Roman)

Pissarro and Picasso records broken at London auction

Pissarro and Picasso records broken at London auction

 

London (AFP)

 

A Paris street scene painted by Camille Pissarro sold for £19.9 million ($32.1 million, 24 million euros) at a London sale on Wednesday, almost five times the previous record for the Impressionist master at auction.

 

The Danish-French painter's "Boulevard Montmartre, Matinee de Printemps", widely considered to be one of the most important Impressionist works to come up for sale in the last decade, went under the hammer at London's Sotheby's auction house.

 

The 1897 painting, an elevated view of a typical spring scene on the famous Paris thoroughfare, was originally owned by Jewish industrialist Max Silberberg, who was based in Breslau.

 

The painting was restituted to his family in 2000.

 

"It is an honour to be entrusted with offering the greatest work by Camille Pissarro ever to appear at auction –- a work that encompasses such a richly painted canvas and a supremely elegant composition," said Helena Newman, Chairman of Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art Department Europe, prior to the sale.

 

"The appeal of these extremely desirable attributes to discerning collectors is enhanced by the painting's history of having been housed in a collection as important as Max Silberberg's," she added.

 

The auction also saw the highest price for a Vincent Van Gogh painting at auction in the British capital for 25 years when a bidder fought of competition from six rivals to secure "L'Homme est en mer" for £16.9 million.

 

The work features a woman cradling a baby as she sits next to a fire.

 

Record prices were also achieved for a print by Cubist master Picasso and for a work on paper by Swiss sculptor, painter and draughtsman Alberto Giacometti.

 

Two weeks of London auctions kicked off on Tuesday, when paintings by Picasso, Rene Magritte and Juan Gris pushed a sale at Christie's to a record for London of nearly £177 million.

 

Gris's still-life "Nature Morte a la Nappe a Carreaux" ("The Checked Tablecloth") led the way, selling for £34.8 million to smash the world auction record for the Spanish artist.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 5 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Putin takes Olympic officials to meet Sochi leopards

Putin takes Olympic officials to meet Sochi leopards

 

[caption id="attachment_11926" align="alignnone" width="375"] (Russia’s President Vladimir Putin caresses a Persian leopard cub as he visits the Persian leopard breeding and rehabilitation centre in the National Park in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on 4 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman (AFP Photo/Alexei Nikolsky))[/caption]

 

Sochi (Russia) (AFP)

 

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday took senior members of the IOC to meet leopards that are to be re-introduced in the Sochi region, in an attempt by Russia to show the Games are positive for the environment.

 

However one of the leopards called Grom (Thunder) took none to happily to the arrival of the large group of guests and attacked two journalists inside the cage, state Russian media said.

 

Putin took Jean Claude Killy, the French skiing legend who has been the International Olympic Committee's pointman for Sochi, and IOC Executive Director Gilbert Felli in his own jeep to the nature reserve above Sochi.

 

Russia is working to reintroduce the Persian leopard to the mountains above the city as part of measures aimed at showing that the Olympic Games will benefit and not hurt the environment.

 

"The ecological situation has improved many times over," said Putin.

 

"According to some estimates, it has improved by a factor of four."

 

"There are questions which always crop up during such huge construction but in general the situation has not worsened but improved."

 

However environmentalists scoff at such claims, saying that the Games have irreversibly damaged once virgin environments by the sea and in the mountains.

 

After six-month old Grom had lashed out at journalists, state television noted that the media left the cage and Putin went in himself to calm the animal.

 

One reporter was scratched on the hand and one lightly bitten in the knee, the RIA Novosti news agency said.

 

State television showed Putin cradling Grom on his knee with the animal now seemingly at ease.

 

"I like animals, it seems I have a feeling for them," said Putin.

 

"We liked each other."

 

Putin is well known for his meetings with wild animals which he uses to burnish his hardman image.

 

As well as leopards, in the past he has met beasts including a tiger and a polar bear.

 

Three pairs of adult leopards being kept in the big cages of the reserve have already given birth to four leopards in the last months.

 

Leopards have been extinct in this part of Russia since the 1950s.

 

To start the reintroduction programme, Russia received two male leopards as gifts from Turkmenistan and two females from Iran.

 

The first two offspring come from another leopard pair who came from Lisbon zoo.

 

But then a Turkmen-Iranian partnership then produced two more leopards.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 4 Tesday February 2014 The Roman)

French President François Hollande

French President François Hollande

 

[caption id="attachment_11744" align="alignnone" width="307"] (Photo AFP - Patrick Kovarik)[/caption]

 

Allein, allein

 

Der französische Präsident François Hollande steht allein vor dem Elysée-Palast und sieht der norwegischen Ministerpräsidentin Erna Solberg nach.

 

Vor kurzem erklärte Hollande, dass er sich von seiner langjährigen Partnerin Valérie Trierweiler getrennt hat.

 

Zuvor war eine Liebesaffäre mit einer französischen Schauspielerin öffentlich geworden.

 

Alone, alone

 

French President François Hollande stands alone in front of the Elysée Palace and sees toward the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

 

Recently Hollande declared, that he has separated from his long-time partner Valerie Trierweiler.

 

Previously, a love affair with a French actress had become public.

 

(AFP - Patrick Kovarik)

 

(Agence France-Presse, 4 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 5 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

France and Germany rebuild ties but EU waits for old axis

France and Germany rebuild ties but EU waits for old axis

 

Brussels (AFP)

 

With France and Germany apparently patching up their economic differences, their decades-old axis could retake its place at the heart of Europe, but analysts are waiting for actions to back up the rhetoric.

 

French President Francois Hollande's recent promises of economic reform have been welcomed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition as a step away from socialist policies towards Berlin's austerity-minded approach.

 

The eurozone's two biggest economies have meanwhile launched a series of measures to jumpstart stalled ties after the financial crisis exposed major differences in approach to budgetary discipline and growth.

 

"There is a chance this is a real one (rapprochement)," Janis Emmanouilidis of the Brussels-based European Policy Centre think tank told AFP.

 

"Each side knows that they have to interact with each other for many years to come."

 

Paris and Berlin have struggled to reconcile their policies on recovering from the eurozone debt crisis ever since Hollande took office in 2012 promising to spend France's way out of trouble.

 

The previously strong bond between Merkel and Hollande's centre-right predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy -- dubbed "Merkozy" -- has been replaced by a lack of communication, exacerbated in 2013 by Merkel spending months building a new left-right coalition after elections.

 

But earlier this month Berlin warmly welcomed what Hollande called "social democratic" reforms to spur the beleaguered French economy.

 

They included 50 billion euros ($68 billion) in public spending cuts and a 30-billion-euro reduction in corporate payroll charges.

 

Since then it has been a veritable love-in between the former foes.

 

Germany offered logistical support to the French operation in the Central African Republic, while their foreign ministers are considering joint trips to some of Europe's troubled neighbours.

 

'Franco-German phoenix'

 

"It's a social-democratic convergence which reconciles supply-side reforms with a reduction in social inequality," said Claire Demesmay, of the German Council on International Relations.

 

Emmanouilidis said there was time for Germany and France to find common ground on changing the EU's treaties to strengthen joint economic governance in the 28-nation bloc.

 

But the negotiations would be "complex" and there were also a host of differences on technical issues such as banking union, the financial transactions tax and others.

 

The two leaders also face different situations at home.

 

The main problems in France are youth unemployment, competitiveness and the bloated state, whereas Germany faces issues with internal consumer demand.

 

Others were more sceptical that the relationship between France and Germany could return to the heady days when they effectively built the European Union together.

 

"I'm not sure how much rapprochement there actually is between France and Germany," Mats Persson, director of Open Europe, a eurosceptic think-tank based in London, told AFP.

 

"One senior German told me recently that they are far more worried about France than about Italy."

 

One EU official was cautious.

 

"The rebirth of the Franco-German phoenix is a recurrent phenomenon," the source added on condition of anonymity.

 

"For citizens, words have to be translated into lasting actions."

 

But Persson said the relationship was still "relevant and important for Europe."

 

"In the grand scheme of things it is good that France and Germany get on," he said.

 

Britain and other northern European countries could in particular benefit from the alliance, despite appearances to the contrary.

 

Prime Minister David Cameron has been wooing Germany in a bid to win support for his quest to renegotiate Britain's relationship with the EU before putting the new terms to a national referendum in 2017.

 

But close ties between Merkel and Hollande would not necessarily scupper this, particularly as there is appetite for treaty change from Berlin.

 

"A Franco-German axis on the whole is more open to reform than the sum of its parts," Persson said.

 

"It could therefore be more sympathetic to the UK's reform agenda."

 

(Agence France-Presse, 31 Friday January 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Nissan and Renault will enhance cooperation

Nissan and Renault will enhance cooperation

 

日産とルノー　連携を強化

 

日産自動車（横浜市西区）は１月３１日、フランスのルノーとの連携を強化し、２０１６年までにコスト削減などの相乗効果の目標を、年間４３億ユーロ（約６０００億円）まで引き上げる方針を明らかにした。

 

日産自動車とルノーは１９９９年から提携しているが、今後はさらに研究開発、生産・物流、購買、人事の４分野を中心に、統合を深めることを検討するという。

 

日産とルノーの提携は自動車業界で最も長い１５年間に及び、これまでにも情報システムや物流、購買などの分野で機能を統合するなどして、スケールメリットによるコスト削減などを加速させてきた。

 

今後は、両社で共通の人事プロセスの策定を検討するほか、生産部門でも標準化を一層徹底し、設備投資の最適化や、両社の工場でのパフォーマンス向上を図る。

 

研究開発では、日産・ルノー間で行なう次世代技術の研究領域での役割分担を検討し、経営資源の効率化を目指すという。

 

カルロス・ゴーン社長は「ルノーと日産のパートナーシップは、両社にとってウイン－ウインとなるプロジェクトを推進する精神が基本。新たな統合プロジェクトでも、将来の方向性を互いに尊重し、透明性を持って加速的に推進していく」とコメントしている。

 

（神奈川新聞、2014年2月1日）

 

Translated article will be later