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

 

Spain-led venture halts work on Panama canal over $1.6 bn overrun

Spain-led venture halts work on Panama canal over $1.6 bn overrun

 

[caption id="attachment_12031" align="alignnone" width="400"] (View of halted expansion works at Panama Canal locks, in Cocoli, near Panama City, on 5 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman (AFP, Rodrigo Arangua))[/caption]

 

By Katell Abiven (AFP)

 

Madrid — A Spanish-led consortium said Friday it has halted work on expanding the Panama canal, which handles five percent of world sea trade, in a row about cost overruns.

 

The multi-billion-dollar project to build extra locks on the 80-kilometre (50-mile) waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans ground to a halt because of a dispute over who will pay for $1.6 billion (1.2 billion euros) in overruns.

 

"While awaiting an agreement to enable the finalisation of construction, work has been suspended on the project," said a statement by the GUPC consortium, led by Spanish construction group Sacyr.

 

The project to widen the canal so massive cargo ships can pass through it -- one of the biggest civil engineering operations in the world -- was due to be completed next year.

 

But GUPC has said completion may be delayed by up to five years, as each side has accused the other of breaking the deal.

 

The European Union's industry commissioner, Antonio Tajani, who has mediated the dispute, warned that the interruption of the dig would be "bad news" for the world economy.

 

The consortium accused the Panama Canal Authority of breaking off negotiations.

 

It says the authority failed in obligations to pay a $50 million bill and to help pay workers and subcontractors.

 

GUPC had offered to split the cost of finishing the dig with the canal authority and then let arbitrators decide who pays for the overrun.

 

It said late Thursday it had submitted a further new proposal to settle the dispute.

 

"The GUPC continues as always to seek an agreement on co-financing in line with the contracts and relevant legislation, with the aim of a joint and immediate resolution," the consortium said.

 

The canal authority had claimed on Wednesday that the builders had already stopped work, but Sacyr denied that at the time, insisting it was seeking to avoid a shutdown.

 

The canal is being widened to permit the passage of ships carrying up to 12,000 containers, twice the current limit.

 

But the disputed contract to build a third set of locks, due initially to be completed this year, was already running nine months late and since the beginning of this year work has slowed down further.

 

GUPC is in dispute with the canal authority in part over geological difficulties which have obliged the builders to spend much more on cement than expected.

 

The canal, completed in 1914 to offer a short cut and safer journey for maritime traffic, is used by 13,000-14,000 ships each year.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

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

 

 

Animal feed business to grow 12 % in 2014

Animal feed business to grow 12 % in 2014

 

The animal feed business is expected to grow by 10-12 percent this year on the back of increasing demand for chicken, according to a national association.

 

They said large election-related gatherings this year would contribute to heightened demand for chicken dishes — one of the most common sources of protein for Indonesians.

 

Desianto Budi Utomo, secretary general for the Indonesia Animal Feed Producers Association (GPMTI), said the group projected the animal feed business to grow 10-12 percent this year, compared to 9 percent last year.

 

“There will be more food orders to caterers, and chances are there will be meat on the menu. This will surely boost poultry demand, and positively impact animal feed enterprises as well,” Desianto said over the weekend.

 

He added that the continued growth of the nation’s economy and middle class would also contribute to the growth of animal feed industry.

 

“The country is estimated to maintain growth above 5 percent this year, and that is actually quite good because it ensures that Indonesians’ purchasing power will remain strong and keep them consuming meat products,” he said.

 

According to him, the country would see its animal feed production rising to 15.5 million tons this year.

 

Last year, the country produced about 14.8 million tons of animal feed.

 

Desianto, who is also the deputy director of the country’s biggest animal feed producer, PT Charoen Pokphand, said his company was set to see its revenue grow by about 12 to 15 percent this year.

 

He added that his company was looking to build 8 new processing facilities in 2014 and 2015.

 

The publicly listed Thailand-based firm now operates seven feed mills.

 

The company has yet to publish its 2013 annual results, but previous reports said that it was upbeat it had reached its 15 percent growth target for 2013, equal to Rp 24.51 trillion (US$2 billion) in revenue.

 

A recent report published by investment consultant Investa Sarana Mandiri advises investors to keep an eye on stocks of publicly listed animal feed companies.

 

Historically, meat consumption — especially chicken — increases significantly during an election year.

 

Usually, 70 percent of the country’s gross domestic product [GDP] goes toward consumption during a political year, with 50 percent of that being for food,” said Kiswoyo Adi Joe, an analyst with the firm.

 

“Here is where we almost always find chicken in the main course.”

 

(JP/Anggi M. Lubis)

 

(The Jakarta Post, 4 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Apple rachète 14 milliards de ses actions, sous la pression de Carl Icahn Apple buys $14 billion of its shares, under pressure from Carl Icahn

Apple rachète 14 milliards de ses actions, sous la pression de Carl Icahn

 

[caption id="attachment_11969" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Le logo d'Apple sur la vitrine d'un magasin (AFP/Archives, Anthony Wallace)) (The Apple logo on the window of a Cigar Shop (AFP/Archives, Anthony Wallace))[/caption]

 

De Luc OLINGA (AFP)

 

New York — Sous la pression du milliardaire Carl Icahn, le groupe informatique américain Apple a accéléré le rachat de ses propres actions lors des deux dernières semaines et n'exclut plus d'acquérir de grosses entreprises.

 

Dans un entretien au Wall Street Journal publié jeudi sur le site internet du quotidien des milieux d'affaires new-yorkais, le directeur général Tim Cook a révélé que la marque à la pomme avait racheté 14 milliards de dollars de ses propres actions.

 

L'opération s'est faite en deux étapes: Apple a d'abord racheté "en accéléré" et en bloc 12 milliards d'actions et ensuite il s'est procuré 2 milliards sur le marché.

 

Elle rentre dans le cadre de son programme de rachats de 60 milliards d'actions sur deux ans annoncé l'an dernier, a précisé le successeur du charismatique Steve Jobs.

 

En un an, le groupe en est déjà à 40 milliards d'actions rachetées, selon son dirigeant, qui dit avoir été surpris par la chute du titre après la publication de ses résultats annuels fin janvier.

 

L'action du fabricant des iPhone et iPad avait dégringolé de 8% dans la foulée de ses résultats sur des craintes au sujet de sa rentabilité future.

 

Elle a terminé quasi stable jeudi à 512,51 dollars à Wall Street.

 

110 milliards de dollars de rachat d'actions

 

Cette annonce intervient alors que l'investisseur activiste Carl Icahn lui demande d'intensifier son programme de rachat d'actions, une façon indirecte de rémunérer ses actionnaires et de valoriser le titre.

 

Le milliardaire, réputé pour ses raids boursiers hostiles et son interventionnisme sur les activités des entreprises où il investit, a accrû ces derniers jours ses investissements dans Apple et possède désormais quelque 0,9% du capital.

 

M. Icahn entend demander aux actionnaires, lors de l'assemblée du groupe le 28 février, de voter une augmentation de 50 milliards de dollars du programme de rachat annoncé, ce qui représenterait un plan total de 110 milliards, soit quasiment le quart de la valorisation (457,15 milliards de dollars) d'Apple jeudi soir à la Bourse de New York.

 

Son objectif affiché est de pousser le groupe à reverser aux actionnaires une partie de son énorme trésor de guerre estimé à 160 milliards de dollars.

 

Sans le nommer, M. Cook s'en prend à son son fougueux actionnaire dont il dénonce la vision à court terme.

 

Le patron du fabricant de l'iPhone dit vouloir "être à même de s'adapter à l'intérêt à long terme des actionnaires, pas à celui d'un actionnaire à court-terme, pas à un trader d'un jour".

 

Grosses acquisitions en vue

 

Cette stratégie pourrait pousser la firme de Cupertino à faire de grosses acquisitions, rompant ainsi avec sa frilosité traditionnelle.

 

"Nous avons déjà regardé de grosses entreprises", indique M. Cook.

 

"Nous n'avons aucun problème à mettre un prix à 10 chiffres sur la bonne, celle qui fait sens pour le développement d'Apple à long terme", poursuit-il, faisant remarquer qu'Apple a racheté 21 entreprises lors des quinze derniers mois.

 

Alors que les spéculations vont bon train sur la sortie très attendue cette année de nouvelles catégories de produits pour succéder à l'iPhone, notamment une montre, un produit de salon lié à la télévision ou un service de paiements, M. Cook est resté vague.

 

"Nous travaillons sur de bons produits", a-t-il simplement déclaré.

 

Outre Samsung, Apple voit ses autres rivaux comme le chinois Lenovo qui multiplie les acquisitions, --dont récemment celle de Motorola--, lui grignoter des parts de marché dans le juteux secteur des smartphones.

 

Lors du premier trimestre de son exercice décalé (octobre-décembre), Apple n'avait écoulé que 51 millions d'iPhone, un appareil qui représente à lui seul plus de la moitié de son chiffre d'affaires, alors que les analystes tablaient sur 55 millions d'unités après le lancement fin septembre de deux nouveaux modèles, le 5S et le 5C.

 

Copyright © AFP 2014. Tous droits réservés.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 7 vendredi février 2014 le Roman)

 

 

 

Apple buys $14 billion of its shares, under pressure from Carl Icahn

 

Luke OLINGA (AFP)

 

New York - Under pressure from billionaire Carl Icahn, the U.S. computer company Apple has accelerated the acquisition of its own shares during the last two weeks and no longer excludes acquire large companies.

 

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published Thursday on the daily media website of New York business, CEO Tim Cook revealed that the Apple brand had bought $14 billion of its own shares.

 

The operation was done in two stages: First Apple bought "accelerated" and block 12 billion shares and then it got itself 2 billion market.

 

It falls within the framework of its program to buy $60 billion of shares over two years announced last year, said the successor to the charismatic Steve Jobs.

 

In one year, the group is already 40 billion of shares repurchased, according to its leader, who said he was surprised by the drop in titer after the publication of its annual results in late January.

 

The action of the manufacturer of iPhone and iPad had tumbled 8 % in the wake of its results on fears about its future profitability.

 

They finished almost unchanged Thursday at $512.51 on Wall Street.

 

$110 billion share buyback

 

This announcement comes as the activist investor Carl Icahn asked to increase its share buyback program, an indirect way to remunerate its shareholders and enhance the title.

 

The billionaire, known for its hostile stock raids and interventionism on the activities of companies in which it invests, has increased in recent days its investment in Apple and now has a 0.9 % stake.

 

Mr. Icahn intends to ask shareholders at the meeting of the group on February 28, to vote an increase of $50 billion share repurchase program announced, which would represent a total level of $110 billion, almost a quarter of the recovery (457,150,000,000 dollars) Apple on Thursday evening at the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Its objective is to push the group to be paid to shareholders a portion of its huge war chest estimated at 160 billion dollars.

 

Without naming Mr. Cook takes his fiery shareholder which he denounced the short-term vision.

 

The boss of the iPhone maker says it wants "to be able to adapt to long-term interest of shareholders, not to that of a shareholder in the short term, not a day trader."

 

Large acquisitions for

 

This strategy could push the Cupertino company to make large acquisitions, breaking with its traditional reluctance.

 

"We have already looked at large companies," says Cook.

 

"We have no problem putting a price to 10 digits on the right, it makes sense for Apple's long-term development," he says, noting that Apple has bought 21 companies in the last fifteen months.

 

While speculations are rife about the highly anticipated release this year of new product categories successor to the iPhone, including a watch, a salon product related to the television or service payments, Mr. Cook was vague.

 

"We work on good products," he said simply.

 

During the first quarter of fiscal offset (October-December), Apple had elapsed than 51 million iPhone, a device that alone represents more than half of its sales, while analysts expected 55 million units after the launch in late September with two new models, the 5S and 5C.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

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

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

 

 

 

Ocean thermal power generation to start on Kume-jima Island

Ocean thermal power generation to start on Kume-jima Island

 

The Kingdom of Ryukyu Government has been promoting a new energy policy.

 

The Deep Sea Water Research Center on Kume-jima Island has been carrying out proof tests for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) since April.

 

This is a pioneer project for the new form of energy.

 

Such proof tests for power generation plant in the water have not yet been carried out anywhere else in the world.

 

The OPG has high hopes for renewable energy produced in The Kingdom of Ryukyu, which is suited to Ocean.

 

Thermal Energy Conversion because of the temperature of its waters.

 

This power generation makes use of the energy that converts the temperature difference between the ocean’s warm surface and cold deep water into electric power.

 

This can only happen if there is a temperature difference between the surface and deep water.

 

Possible sites that have more than 20 degrees difference are Kume-jima Island, Ishigaki Island and Miyako Island.

 

According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan’s energy self-sufficiency rate, including natural energy and fossil fuels, was about 4 percent in fiscal 2010.

 

“Fossil fuels will run out soon, so from now we should try to increase the figure of 4 percent,” said Shin Okamura, a section chief at Xenesys Inc., which is responsible for managing the OTEC.

 

Producing high-quality energy by attracting Japanese technology will help to create new jobs and industries.

 

“ ‘Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion’ can generate more stable electricity than wind or solar sources due to its constant temperature.

 

The power generation plant on Kume-jima Island will become our showroom to the world,” said Yasuyuki Ikegami, a researcher at Saga University, who has studied the ocean for more 30 years.

 

The plant is now successfully generating 10 of its maximum output of 50 kilowatts.

 

It will connect its transmission lines with those of the Okinawa Electric Power Company from June and will be able to use private power generation in the facility.

 

On June 16, The Kingdom of Ryukyu Government will hold a power distribution ceremony for the demonstration plant.

 

(Ayako Sakaguchi)

 

(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 4 Tuesday June 2013 The Roman)

 

BoE cyber attack exercise shows banks unprepared

BoE cyber attack exercise shows banks unprepared

 

Simulated three–day attack on Britain's financial system reveals problems

 

[caption id="attachment_11878" align="alignnone" width="400"] (The scenario simulated an attack on Britain's financial system, including denial of service attacks on the global websites of major banks, the penetration of secure networks by hackers, and problems with core payment systems. (Photo: EPA))[/caption]

 

A Bank of England–led exercise simulating a major cyber attack on the British financial system has revealed a lack of knowledge among banks about how and when to report security breaches, as well as problems with coordinating the response to any incident.

 

In a series of findings published yesterday, the Bank said its exercise had revealed "considerable progress" since a previous test but that there was a need for a single body to coordinate communications in the event of a real crisis.

 

The British Bankers' Association was recommended as the official mouthpiece of the financial system in the event of a cyber attack.

 

If handed the role, the BBA would be expected to manage the response of the banking industry if it were hit by a sustained and widespread attempt to disrupt the financial system.

 

"It was noted that there was no central industry coordination for financial sector information–sharing and communication to the wider public," said the Bank in its report.

 

Operation Waking Shark II was run by the Bank last year to test the readiness of the UK's financial infrastructure in the event of a hostile country launching an all–out cyber attack on critical financial infrastructure.

 

The scenario involved simulating a three–day long attack on Britain's financial system, including denial of service attacks on the global websites of major banks, the penetration of secure networks by hackers, and problems with core payment systems.

 

To add to the realism, the exercise assumed an attack coincided with the so–called "triple witching" period in which a series of important financial contracts, such as index futures and stock options, expire.

 

About 220 people were involved in the war games, which included 14 investment banks and major lenders, six providers of financial infrastructure, as well as represenatives of the Bank of England, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Treasury.

 

The first Operation Waking Shark took place in 2011 and, with the increased focus on cyber threats, the number of future exercises is expected to increase.

 

Regulators will hold shorter but more frequent war games.

 

With the threat increasingly coming from abroad and the impact of a major attack likely to have international ramifications, the authorities have been asked to widen the scope of future war games to allow more foreign participants.

 

Cyber attacks have been identified as one of the biggest problems for the banking industry and major financial services groups face regular attacks on their systems from a variety of sources, including both criminal gangs and foreign governments.

 

Most of these attacks are relatively small–scale but some have led to severe security breaches and the collapse of core systems.

 

(The Telegraph, 6 Thursday February 2014 The Roman)

 

British businesses fall victim to 'cybersquatters' amid domain name rollout

British businesses fall victim to 'cybersquatters' amid domain name rollout

 

As hundreds of new web suffixes become publicly available, some of Britains top brands are falling victim to 'cybersquatters'

 

This week sees the rollout of hundreds of new generic top-level domain name suffixes, from شبكة. – pronounced dot-shabaka (.web in Arabic) – to .sexy, .technology and .singles.

 

Over the next year, more than 1,000 new top level domains (TLDs) will come online, taking the number well beyond the 22 that are used today, such as .com, .net and .org.

 

This has been hailed as one of the biggest changes to the Internet since its inception.

 

However, new research reveals that some of the UK’s biggest companies are failing to protect their intellectual property, with many domain names relating to British brands already being bought up by third parties.

 

For example, one of the most highly anticipated new extensions is .web, but 80 per cent of the .web domain names relating to the UK’s 50 most valuable brands have been reserved by unknown entities – including HSBC.web, JohnLewis.web and Burberry.web – according to ICANN's Trademark Clearinghouse, the centralised repository of validated trademarks.

 

Similarly, third parties have attempted to pre-order 78 per cent of the UK’s top 50 most valuable brands under the .online domain name, 72 per cent under .app, 70 per cent under .shop and 68 per cent under .blog.

 

This practice is known as 'cybersquatting', because the third party is essentially holding the brand's domain name to ransom.

 

“The research shows that some of the UK’s biggest brand names are at risk of IP infringement online as new TLDs are rolled out, with other parties keen to capitalise on the traffic a branded website will generate," said Jan Corstens, project director at the Trademark Clearinghouse.

 

"This not only compromises the reputation of each brand targeted, but also has much larger implications. Looking at the bigger picture, if brands fail to prevent third parties from registering domains relating to their trademarks, the economy as a whole potentially stands to lose millions to grey and black market activities, with consumers inadvertently buying counterfeit products from third parties posing as the brand online”.

 

Further analysis revealed that 54 per cent of these brands are currently not in control of key domain names across major existing domain extensions.

 

The findings include examples of familiar brands from the telecoms, financial services and petroleum industries not owning key domain names such as VirginMedia.info, RBS.biz and Shell.net.

 

Brands in the food grocery space were most notable in this regard, with tesco.co, asda.org, sainsburys.info, morrisons.org all found to be under the control of an unofficial party.

 

Around 70 per cent of the brands studied have already taken legal action against third parties infringing on their IP online.

 

One way for companies to protect their intellectual property is to pre-register domains such as tesco.shop and tesco.web, to prevent cybersquatters from getting their hands on them.

 

However, each of these new domains costs about £10 to £30 a year to own, and the sheer number of new TLDs means that costs will add up.

 

Alternatively, companies can record their trademarks in the Trademark Clearinghouse.

 

This allows them to secure all the domain names relating to a particular trademark ahead of wider public availability, and be warned if any third party seeks to take control of a domain which matches their IP.

 

It costs £92 to record a trademark for a year, £267 for three years, and £446 for five years.

 

"We believe that in these instances, prevention is better than cure and cheaper than costly litigation associated with domain disputes," said Corstens.

 

(The Telegraph, 5 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Twitter reports quarterly loss of $511 million

Twitter reports quarterly loss of $511 million

 

San Francisco (AFP)

 

Twitter said Wednesday it lost $511 million in the fourth quarter, in the first published results since its highly anticipated stock market debut last year.

 

The results showed revenues doubled from a year ago to a better-than-expected $242.6 million, but Twitter shares slid more than ten percent in after-hours trade.

 

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

 

Gates shifts role at Microsoft, new CEO named

Gates shifts role at Microsoft, new CEO named

 

Washington (AFP)

 

Microsoft moved Tuesday to reboot for a mobile future, naming Indian-born Satya Nadella chief executive as founder Bill Gates shed his title of chairman for a more hands-on role.

 

Gates "will devote more time to the company" in his new role on the board as "founder and technology advisor," a company statement said.

 

Nadella, 46, who becomes the third CEO at Microsoft, has been executive vice president of its Cloud and Enterprise group.

 

The moves come with Microsoft losing ground to rivals like Apple and Google amid a shift away from the traditional personal computer to mobile devices and cloud services.

 

"As the industry changes we have to innovate and move forward," Gates said in a video released on the Microsoft website.

 

"I'm thrilled that Satya has asked me to step up. I'll have over a third of my time available to meet with product groups."

 

The 58-year-old Gates said that "during this time of transformation, there is no better person to lead Microsoft than Satya Nadella."

 

He called Nadella "a proven leader with hard-core engineering skills, business vision and the ability to bring people together."

 

Gates stepped down as CEO in 2000 and left day-to-day operations in 2008 to devote more time to his multibillion-dollar Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

 

Microsoft said John Thompson, lead independent director, will assume the job of chairman at the tech giant.

 

Nadella, who takes over from the retiring Steve Ballmer, said, "Microsoft is one of those rare companies to have truly revolutionized the world through technology, and I couldn't be more honored to have been chosen to lead the company."

 

He added, "The opportunity ahead for Microsoft is vast, but to seize it, we must focus clearly, move faster and continue to transform. A big part of my job is to accelerate our ability to bring innovative products to our customers more quickly."

 

The shake-up at Microsoft drew positive responses from analysts.

 

"I think this is a terrific development for the company," said Greg Sterling at Opus Research.

 

"Nadella also seems to have encouraged the new Gates role, which will be good for the company too. Personally, Nadella is a more humble and understated figure than Ballmer, which will be good for the company's image. I also think Nadella brings a strong mix of business and technology expertise to the role."

 

Frank Gillett at Forrester Research said Nadella has shown "a willingness to shake things up, so that seems positive to us."

 

Gillett added that by using Gates as a key advisor, "he's reaching for Gates's experience in running the company but also in the successes in that era. But by having him in an informal role, it also says we are in a new era. All in all, it seems quite positive."

 

Roger Kay at Endpoint Technologies Associates said Nadella will need to articulate a vision for Microsoft, which under Ballmer was undergoing a transformation from software to "devices and services."

 

"Nadella has to come up with the vision," Kay said. "Gates's vision was appropriate for the 1970s and 1980s."

 

Kay said Nadella "admits that he is green in asking support from Gates but that's OK. I think people can come into a job green and grow into it."

 

Nadella "has been the enterprise guy, so I would expect him to go in that direction. They may even spin off the consumer business."

 

Deutsche Bank analyst Karl Keirstead said Nadella was a "good choice."

 

"Although Microsoft is a big ship to turn, in our view Nadella will push to make Microsoft more innovative and agile, more like Apple and less like IBM," Keirstead said in a research note.

 

Matthew Hedberg at RBC Capital Markets called Nadella "a safe choice" and said his background "could mean a bigger emphasis on cloud and enterprise than Microsoft has had in the past."

 

Hedberg added that the shift in roles for Gates would be a "bigger positive for investor sentiment."

 

In late morning trading, Microsoft shares were up 0.33 percent at $36.60.

 

Nadella heads the team that runs the public, private and service provider clouds for Microsoft.

 

Previously, Nadella was president of Microsoft's $19 billion server and tools business.

 

He is a native of Hyderabad, India and earned degrees from Mangalore University, the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and the University of Chicago.

 

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

Saudi Arabia to launch $9.5 bn mining industrial city

Saudi Arabia to launch $9.5 bn mining industrial city

 

[caption id="attachment_11784" align="alignnone" width="630"] (The new industrial project would focus on mining, a sector which started “contributing to the national economy,” Saudi Arabia’s finance minister said. (File photo: Reuters))[/caption]

 

Saudi Arabia signed contracts worth 36 billion Saudi riyals ($9.5 billion) for the establishment of a new mineral industrial city in Waad al-Shamal.

 

The kingdom’s mining company, Maaden, also signed a number of deals worth $3.6 billion for the establishment of five new plants in the new city.

 

The new industrial city will focus on mining, a “promising sector that started contributing to the national economy,” Dr. Ibrahim al-Assaf, Saudi finance minister, told Al Arabiya News Channel.

 

The project will bring larger diversity to the country's exports and increase economic growth to the kingdom and the region, according to officials’ remarks during the launch.

 

According to the minister, the project is important on a domestic level, but also more important on a regional scale, “in terms of [providing] employment, and finding services to support the mining sector.”

 

The Ministry of Finance, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the national Saudi Railway Company (SAR), the Industrial Development Fund, and Sanabil Investment Company were among the parties involved in the development of the new industrial city.

 

“The Ministry of Finance [participated] directly through financing the infrastructure of the project, and through institutes associated with it, such as the Public Investment Fund, which participated directly to the investment of the project, or indirectly through providing loans for projects to be established within the city,” Assaf explained to Al Arabiya News Channel.

 

Ministers of petroleum, electricity and economy were among the officials that attended the ceremony.

 

Maaden, the Gulf’s largest miner, recently announced expanding its aluminum exports after signing several contracts to supply Asian markets during 2014, reported the Saudi Gazette in January.

 

The company reported a net loss of $7.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, mainly due to low prices for its petrochemical products, Reuters reported.

 

(Staff writer, Al Arabiya News)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 5 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Seaweed Food Fair held in Onna Village

Seaweed Food Fair held in Onna Village

 

Onna Village is the birthplace of cultivating seaweeds such as sea grapes, mozuku and sea lettuces.

 

In the village, the Seaweed Food Fair started on January 29.

 

Twenty-three restaurants took part.

 

The event continues until April 30.

 

According to the Village Commerce and Industry Association, it is the first time the Seaweed Food Fair has been held in The Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

The previous day, at the Village Rapport Experience Learning Center, participating restaurants unveiled dishes that they will sell in the fair.

 

Many people see seaweed as sashimi garnish.

 

However, the chefs creatively used it to provide 39 colorful dishes such as Mediterranean pasta, Italian pizza, bowls of rice topped with sashimi, and hamburgers.

 

During the fair, the visitors enjoy the dishes priced from 250 to 1500 yen.

 

The Village Fisheries Cooperative produces about 1,500 tons of mozuku, about 60 tons of sea lettuce and about 65 tons of sea grapes every year.

 

The cooperative aims to increase demand for seaweed from The Kingdom of Ryukyu because many buyers of their products are outside of The Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

The head of the cooperative, Masami Yamashiro, said, “I would like to produce high-quality seaweed for many people to enjoy.”

 

(English translation by T&CT)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 29 Wednesday January 2014 The Roman)

 

British Petroleum says 2013 net profit more than doubles to $23.45 bn

British Petroleum says 2013 net profit more than doubles to $23.45 bn

 

London (AFP)

 

British Petroleum, BP, said Tuesday that net profits more than doubled in 2013, compared with the previous year when it faced huge fines linked to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

 

Earnings after taxation soared to $23.45 billion (17.33 billion euros) last year, boosted by strong oil and gas output growth, the British energy giant said in a results statement.

 

That compared with $11.017 billion in 2012.

 

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

Big blue marlin caught off the coast of Kumejima Island

Big blue marlin caught off the coast of Kumejima Island

 

On January 30, the day before the New Year of the old calendar, a big blue marlin or kurokawa kajiki, 4 meters long and weighing 333 kilograms was caught on Kumejima Island.

 

Captain Kunio Nakamichi, 63, a member of the Kumejima Fishery Cooperative, caught the big fish after a struggle of about two hours.

 

Nakamichi said with a big smile, “This is the first time that I have caught such a large marlin. I can celebrate a good New Year.”

 

Fishermen on the island caught a big catch, including seika or diamond squid and albacore tuna.

 

This blue marlin was put up for auction at the fish market on the main island of The Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

(Yoko Morinaga, correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo)

(English translation by T&CT)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 31 Tuesday January 2014 The Roman)

 

 

A Malaysian buys bananas

A Malaysian buys bananas

 

[caption id="attachment_11735" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Mohd Rasfan)[/caption]

 

Bananes

 

Une Malaisienne achète des bananes dans une échoppe de fruits à Ampang, dans la banlieue de Kuala Lumpur.

 

Bananas

 

A Malaysian buys bananas in a fruit stall in Ampang, in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur.

 

(AFP - Mohd Rasfan)

 

(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)

 

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

 

Energy giant Shell posts sliding 2013 profits

Energy giant Shell posts sliding 2013 profits

 

London (AFP)

 

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell on Thursday posted a 39-percent slump in annual net profits, two weeks after shocking the market with a profit warning.

 

Earnings before taxation dived to $16.371 billion last year, compared with $26.712 billion in 2012, the London-listed company confirmed in a results statement.

 

The Anglo-Dutch energy major also outlined plans to sell off $15 billion of assets over the next two years and slash capital expenditure.

 

Shell shocked investors earlier this month with its first profit warning in a decade, blaming high exploration costs, pressures across the oil industry and disruption to Nigerian output.

 

The group confirmed Thursday that profit on a current cost of supplies (CCS) basis or current-cost accounting -- which strips out changes to the value of oil and gas inventories -- sank to $16.7 billion from $27.2 billion.

 

CCS profit plunged 70 percent to $2.2 billion in the fourth quarter, or three months to December, compared with $7.4 billion in the same part of 2012.

 

"Our momentum slowed in 2013. We must improve our financial results, achieve better capital efficiency and continue to strengthen our operational performance and project delivery," said chief executive Ben van Beurden in the earnings release.

 

He added: "Our overall strategy remains robust, but 2014 will be a year where we are changing emphasis, to improve our returns and cash flow performance."

 

Van Beurden revealed that the group would increase the pace of asset sales to $15 billion in 2014-2015.

 

Capital spending will also be reduced to $37 billion in 2014, from $46 billion in 2013.

 

The group also confirmed that CCS profit excluding one-off items sank to $2.9 billion in the fourth quarter, down from $5.6 billion.

 

Shell's 2013 performance was also hit by higher depreciation, lower upstream volumes and weak industry conditions in downstream oil products.

 

This month's surprise profits warning and dire results mark a disappointing start to van Beurden's tenure as chief executive.

 

The Dutch national took over from Peter Voser on January 1.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 30 Thursday January 2014 The Roman)

 

Future Auditorium

Future Auditorium

 

[caption id="attachment_11456" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Bertrand Guay)[/caption]

 

Salle

 

Le futur auditorium de la maison de Radio France à Paris.

 

Room

 

The future auditorium in the building in Radio France in Paris.

 

(AFP - Bertrand Guay)

 

(Agence France-Presse, 29 Wednesday January 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 30 Thursday January 2014 The Roman)

 

Plus belle voiture de l'année : l'Alfa Romeo 4C triomphe Most beautiful car of the year: The Alfa Romeo 4C triumph

Plus belle voiture de l'année : l'Alfa Romeo 4C triomphe

 

Le Festival de l'automobile a remis ses prix sous le dôme des Invalides à Paris et révélé le choix des internautes pour la plus belle voiture 2013.

 

[caption id="attachment_11430" align="alignnone" width="400"] (La 4C a été un ouragan dans le monde de la voiture sportive car elle met une approche radicale du pilotage à la portée de (presque) toutes les bourses. Ses lignes ont été justement distinguées pour le prix de la Plus belle voiture 2013. © Alfa Roméo) (4C was a hurricane in the world of sports car because it puts a radical approach to control the scope of (almost) every budget. Lines were distinguished for just the price of the Most Beautiful Car 2013. © Alfa Roméo)[/caption]

 

AUTO-ADDICT

 

Voilà l'exemple même du classement subjectif, celui qui concerne les goûts et les couleurs de chacun et ne fait pas forcément l'unanimité.

 

Mais cela peut faire une majorité, comme on va le voir.

 

Élire la plus belle voiture de l'année relève de ce défi, répété depuis 29 ans par Rémi Depoix, l'auteur de l'idée et promoteur du Festival qu'il a porté avec la foi intacte du passionné.

 

D'une initiative privée, le Festival est devenu un événement dans le milieu automobile, mais aussi une manifestation publique qui rencontre aujourd'hui une vraie considération internationale.

 

Aux côtés de l'exposition des concept cars, qui est une manifestation en soi (voir notre article) et dont les portes s'ouvriront au grand public jusqu'à dimanche, le Festival proprement dit a réuni mardi soir aux Invalides les plus belles carrosseries de l'année, régulièrement commercialisées auprès du grand public.

 

Le jury expert réuni par Rémi Depoix et comprenant des membres venus du monde des arts, de l'architecture et de la communication - dont Étienne Gernelle, le directeur de la rédaction du Point, étroitement associé avec Auto-Addict à l'événement - a jeté les bases du classement.

 

Une voiture à l'internaute gagnant

 

Le jury s'est penché sur les nouveautés surgies dans l'année 2013 et a sélectionné, ce qui est une gageure, huit voitures dignes de figurer dans le palmarès.

 

Pour concourir, les critères d'inscription sont simples : la voiture doit avoir été commercialisée pour la première fois dans l'année en cours et afficher un prix public inférieur à 55 000 euros.

 

Le constructeur gagnant emporte une campagne d'affichage d'une valeur de 100 000 euros offerte par JCDecaux.

 

Mais surtout, un votant a été tiré au sort en fin de concours pour gagner une voiture de la marque victorieuse d'une valeur de 30 000 euros, mais pas le modèle couronné, afin de ne pas fausser les votes.

 

C'est déjà une victoire à part entière de figurer à ce stade, parmi les nommées.

 

Après de longues délibérations du jury, ont été retenues les Alfa Romeo 4C, BMW Série 4 Coupé, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Lexus IS 300 h, Mazda3, Mercedes CLA, Peugeot 308 et Renault Captur.

 

À partir de cette liste, le jury n'intervenait plus, et c'était au tour des internautes d'entrer en lice pour manifester leurs préférences.

 

Pas moins de sept mini-sites dédiés, dans six langues différentes, ont permis en deux mois à plus de 100 000 personnes dans 52 pays de choisir leur voiture préférée.

 

Une sélection intermédiaire avait éliminé les deux françaises, la Lexus et la Jeep pour ne laisser aux prises que deux berlines de grande diffusion (Mazda3 et Mercedes CLA) et deux coupés (BMW Série 4 et Alfa Romeo 4 C).

 

Aucune voiture dénuée de mérites, comme on peut le voir.

 

Mini-supercar

 

Celle qui a rassemblé le maximum de suffrages autour de la planète est finalement l'Alfa Romeo 4C, un petit coupé très performant et dont la constitution et les techniques de fabrication renvoient aux supercars.

 

Son moteur est certes plus modeste avec ses 240 ch que celui de la prestigieuse et très confidentielle 8C dont le V8 titre 200 ch de plus.

 

Mais, les votants ne s'y sont pas trompés, la 4C est la voiture qui réhabilite les valeurs de la marque au trèfle à quatre feuilles tout en restant (relativement) accessible.

 

La 4C, écrivions-nous lors de notre essai, ouvre une nouvelle ère pour Alfa Romeo.

 

Renouant avec le glorieux passé du constructeur italien, elle dépoussière son image afin de mieux préparer son redéploiement sur les marchés américains et asiatiques.

 

Conçue à Turin, mise au point à Balocco sur le site d'essai historique d'Alfa Romeo, assemblée chez Maserati à Modène, et en partie construite dans une nouvelle usine spécialisée dans la fibre de carbone récemment inaugurée près de Naples par le patron de Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, la 4C joue à fond la synergie du groupe Fiat pour proposer l'excellence technique au meilleur prix.

 

À partir de 51 500 euros au tarif, la 4C suscite immédiatement la passion mais n'en fait pas payer le prix.

 

(Le Point.fr - Publié le 28/01/2014 à 23:05 - Modifié le 29/01/2014 à 09:51)

 

 

Most beautiful car of the year: The Alfa Romeo 4C triumph

 

Festival of automobile gave its prices under the dome of the Invalides in Paris and found the choice of users for the most beautiful car of 2013.

 

AUTO-ADDICT

 

That is the epitome of subjective ranking, one concerning the tastes and colors of each and does not necessarily unanimity.

 

But it can make a majority, as we shall see.

 

Elect the most beautiful car of the year this challenging, repeated for 29 years by Rémi Depoix, the author of the idea and sponsor of the Festival he wore with the passionate faith intact.

 

From a private initiative, the Festival has become an event in the automotive industry, but also a public event today encounters a true international recognition.

 

Alongside the exhibition concept cars, which is an event in itself (see article) and the doors will open to the public until Sunday, the festival itself was held Tuesday evening at the Invalides most beautiful bodies of the year, regularly sold to the general public.

 

The expert panel convened by Rémi Depoix and comprising members from the world of art, architecture and communication - which Gernelle Stephen, the editor of Le Point, closely associated with Auto-Addict at the event - a laid the foundations of ranking.

 

A car to win the Internet

 

The jury considered the new arisen in 2013 and selected, which is a challenge, eight cars worthy to figure in the charts.

 

To compete, the criteria for inclusion are simple: the car must have been marketed for the first time in the current year and display a price of less than € 55,000.

 

The winner wins a display manufacturer worth 100 000 euros offered by JCDecaux campaign.

 

But above all, a voter has been drawn at the end of the contest to win a car brand victorious worth € 30,000, but not crowned model so as not to distort the votes.

 

This is a victory in its own right to appear at this stage, among the appointees.

 

After much deliberation the jury were chosen the Alfa Romeo 4C, BMW 4 Series Coupe, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Lexus IS 300 h, Mazda3, Mercedes CLA, Peugeot 308 and Renault Captur.

 

From this list, the jury not intervened, and it was the turn of the users to enter the fray to express their preferences.

 

No less than seven mini-sites dedicated in six different languages, allowed two months to more than 100,000 people in 52 countries to choose their favorite car.

 

An intermediate selection had eliminated two French, and the Lexus Jeep to leave struggling two sedans widely (Mazda3 and Mercedes CLA) and two cut (4 BMW and Alfa Romeo 4 C).

 

No car devoid of merit, as you can see.

 

Mini-supercar

 

One that has gathered the most votes around the world is finally Alfa Romeo 4C, a small high-performance coupe and whose construction and manufacturing techniques refer to supercars.

 

Its engine is certainly more modest with 240 hp than the prestigious and highly confidential 8C whose title V8 200 hp more.

 

But voters do not make a mistake, the 4C is the car that rehabilitates brand values to four-leaf clover while remaining (relatively) accessible.

 

4C, we wrote during our test, opens a new era for Alfa Romeo.

 

Reviving the glorious past of the Italian manufacturer, she dusted her image to better prepare its redeployment in the U.S. and Asian markets.

 

Designed to Turin, developed at Balocco on the historical test Alfa Romeo site meeting with Maserati in Modena, and partly built in a new factory specializing in carbon fiber recently opened near Naples by boss Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, 4C plays the synergy of the Fiat group to provide technical excellence at the best price.

 

From 51,500 euros costs, 4C immediately arouses passion but does not pay the price.

 

(Le Point, 28 Tuesday January 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 29 Wednesday January 2014 The Roman)

 

VietJetAir to finalise $ 6.1 bn Airbus order

VietJetAir to finalise $ 6.1 bn Airbus order

 

Hanoi (AFP)

 

Communist Vietnam's first private airline, VietJetAir, said Wednesday that it was close to finalising a $ 6.1 billion order for 62 Airbus aircraft.

 

The deal is expected to be signed at the Singapore Airshow next month, VietJetAir's managing director Luu Duc Khanh told AFP.

 

VietJetAir and Airbus signed a letter of intent in September for the purchase of 62 A320 medium-haul aircraft worth US$ 6.1 billion at catalogue prices, and for options for another 30.

 

The low-cost carrier began operating in late 2011 and is the first private airline in Vietnam to offer domestic and international flights.

 

It currently serves 11 cities in Vietnam plus Bangkok.

 

Last year, the carrier took delivery of a ninth leased A320.

 

The letter of intent was for 14 of the current single-aisle A320 model and 42 of the new A320Neo due to enter into service in 2015, which promises airlines considerably better fuel efficiency.

 

Another six planes will be the longer A321 version, which can be configured with up to 220 seats.

 

While VietJetAir has a good foothold in the Vietnamese market, analysts say it is facing stiff competition in the low-cost segment in Southeast Asia, behind Malaysia's Air Asia, Lion Air of Indonesia, Singapore's Tiger Airways and Jetstar of Australia.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 28 Tuesday January 2014 The Roman)

 

Pakistani barber

Pakistani barber

 

[caption id="attachment_11397" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Aamir Qureshi)[/caption]

 

Barbier

 

Un barbier pakistanais rase un client dans la rue à Islamabad.

 

Barber

 

A Pakistani barber shaves a customer in the street in Islamabad.

 

(AFP - Aamir Qureshi)

 

(Agence France-Presse, 28 Tuesday January 2014 The Roman)

(Edited and Translated: R.S.F toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 29 Wednesday January 2014 The Roman)