Tag Archive: blogs


 

So far the olenguito did not officially exist. Certainly, this small family pet raccoons already lived for hundreds of years quietly in South America, but nobody knew it was an unlisted animal ,. A team of researchers from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington revealed, Thursday, August 15, this new species of carnivorous mammals.

"When you look at it, we just feel that it is a cross between a big cat and a teddy bear," said Kristopher Helgen, zoologist at the Smithsonian and specialist mammals . No new carnivorous mammal had been found in the western hemisphere since the Colombian weasel in 1978.

Importantly, the identification work conducted by the research team for a decade has put an end to a scientific error of nearly 100 years. The man was, in fact, already seen olinguitos before. "There has even been one that has wandered from zoo zoo in the United States," said Kristopher Helgen. But until now, they were confused with their cousins, the olingos. "Yet olinguitos are smaller, do not have the same coat and if you look well resemble very little to olingos" said Kristopher Helgen.

A carnivore that eats fruits

To make sure they were in the presence of a new species, scientists have made in the Andes. Specifically in the cloud forests of Ecuador and Colombia. This is where they found and studied olinguitos for several years. They then realized that this little carnivore … ate mostly fruits. It is certainly rare, but not impossible: the biological order Carnivora is a collection of animals (lions, cats, bears, etc..) That originally ate all the meat but some, such as Panda, changed diet.

The olinguitos are solitary about 75 cm long that live in trees "which they descend almost never" animals, says Kristopher Helgen. The research team also found that the new species was not endangered and there are currently a number thousands in South America. Watching them, they found it was not that kind of olinguitos, but there were actually four subspecies. "I do not think we discovered before long a new species that has many subspecies," says Kristopher Helgen.

Other new mammals remain to be discovered promises that zoologist, who is currently studying several possible new species. At the company's information, Google maps and other technologies, meeting with olinguitos proves, according to Kristopher Helgen that "the Age of Discovery new animals is far from over. "

 

Several elected Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress introduced a new bill to allow prosecutions against SNCF for its role in transporting Jews to the camps of death during the Second World War. If approved, the law would counter the argument that the French company can not be prosecuted in the United States because of a U.S. law that guarantees the immunity as a controlled foreign corporation.

"For a long time the survivors and relatives of those who died trying to establish the liability of the railway for the active role it played in the Holocaust, but until Now the company has managed to wrap themselves in immunity and thus avoid proceedings before U.S. courts, "said Sen. Chuck Schumer said in a statement. 

SNCF, "a cog in the Nazi extermination machine"

This law "would allow survivors and relatives [of the victims] to be accountable to the French railway company to court for sending thousands of people to death during World War II," says there. If adopted, the text must be sent to President Barack Obama for promulgation.

In 2011, SNCF president Guillaume Pepy had recognized corporate responsibility in the deportation of Jews. The railway was "a cog in the Nazi extermination machine," he declared then, pointing out that more than 2,000 railway had been executed by the Nazi occupiers. Far from any ethical consideration, many felt that the train had to present his "apology" to preserve its chances of obtaining overseas contracts.

Requisitioned by the French Vichy government at the request of the German occupation authorities, SNCF transported 76,000 Jews from France in freight cars across the country and to extermination camps between 1942 and 1944.

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Last act of the agony of the "Motor City". The city of Detroit, the birthplace of the American automobile industry, declared Thursday, July 18 bankrupt – the largest bankruptcy of a city in the history of the United States . The debt of the largest city in Michigan is estimated at 18.5 billion dollars (14 billion euros)! Governor Snyder has found that there was no other solution.

"I take this difficult decision so that the people of Detroit have access to basic public services and for Detroit to start over on a solid financial foundation that will allow it to grow the future, "said Rick Snyder, Governor of the State of Michigan, in a statement.

Before Detroit, major cities such as New York, Cleveland and Philadelphia found themselves on the brink of bankruptcy, but Detroit is the first American city to officially seek the protection of bankruptcy. 

U.S. President Barack Obama told by a spokesman for the White House that he was following the situation closely. But, unlike what happened with the great crisis of 2008, during which the federal government decided to bail out manufacturers General Motors and Chrysler , with billions of dollars, the president did not promise this time.

Detroit was once synonymous with industrial know-how. The giants of the automobile industry had developed from 1941 to 1945 to produce tanks, planes and ammunition, which had earned the city the nickname "arsenal of democracy" ,. Now synonymous with decline, ruin, crime, the city has seen its population melt gradually from 1.8 million in 1950 to 700,000 today. Now a third of the population lives in poverty and 20% are unemployed.

City destroyed

The loss of manufacturing jobs, the exodus of white residents to the suburbs, which accelerated after the race riots of the 60s, have left the city devastated. Today, Detroit has more than two for active retirees. With a quarter of abandoned buildings in some areas, no other American city has focused more heavily the burden of de-industrialization.

In addition, the city was rocked by corruption scandals over the years. Kwame Kilpatrick, the former mayor of Detroit and ex-rising star of the Democratic Party, is in prison after being convicted of several corruption, including rigging bids, then his tenure.

The murder rate is at its highest level in nearly 40 years, only one third of the ambulance fleet was commissioned in the first quarter of 2013, and some 78,000 abandoned buildings in the city created , ent "problems additional public safety and reduce the quality of life in the city," said Michigan Governor in his letter.

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The UMP mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, interviewed Sunday in issuing the Grand Rendez-vous Europe 1 on Roma and Travellers, called "the mayors of France to re flip "and offered them his" how to ".

"I have not let go of anything," he assured, saying he spoke with people from illegally installed on a plot of his city trip. "I went to see him and I said, 'Well, you'll leave.' The community would have replied 'No, we are here for three weeks and it is we who impose on you, Mr. Mayor, to stay there for three weeks, "says the elected . "'I have other mate and I materai" said he had told them.

Estrosi and list the measures put in place if the travelers do not leave. "I'm going to put cameras everywhere to monitor your every move. We will note those returning, those who leave, how minute, when and what you will do in the city […], "said the member of the Alpes-maritimes, always yielding a conversation which he had with members of the community.

Bill of € 620,000

"I'll take the plates one after the other, I referred a court as a precaution to seize vehicles," he explains the antenna. "You know, these beautiful and big cars with which they derive their beautiful and large caravans for which the French, [they] may take a lifetime to have the same [sic]."

The mayor of Nice then said to have introduced a bill of € 620,000 as a result of damage caused by caravans of "two soccer fields [of the city] in which kids can not play back. " "'Not only will you leave but before leaving, you will pay. And if you do not pay, ok, seizure of vehicles and sell them to repay what Nice and French taxpayers do not have to pay ".

Asked about his vision of travelers, the mayor of Nice simply replied: "When you break somewhere between an offender it is." Words that should not displease the former president Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front, last week – just in Nice – had raised the "pre , presence and stinging odor "of the Roma in the municipality.

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All the lights are green for Marion Bartoli. The French argument that the semi-final of Wimbledon Thursday in a 2013 edition where all the favorites have already fallen. In the last four of the London tournament, all exploits are possible, the last four players who have never won a Grand Slam tournament.

The French 28 years old, seeded 15, is opposed to the amazing Belgian Kirsten Flipkens (No. 15). Face it, Marion Bartoli hopes to repeat the feat in 2007 when she was eliminated in the semifinals on the grass of Wimbledon, another much more famous Belgian Justine Henin. The Auvergne was then granted his first and only one Grand Slam final, before losing against Venus Williams.

Despite this beautiful memory, Marion Bartoli prefer not to show confidence. "It's totally different from 2007. Then I end up with the status of favorite. There are only four players. We all have a chance to win, "she said at a press conference.

The French leader is wary of this Belgian who had imposed Wimbledon junior ten years ago: "If Kirsten is, is that it plays excellent tennis. In 2007, I played Justin Henin and I had no luck on the paper. It is she who will be the most enterprising. "

Bartoli, although surrounded

In support of this challenge, Marion Bartoli can count on a new environment. Since the beginning of the year, the player asked his father and mentor Walter, with whom she maintained a close relationship, take a step back. It is now driven by Thomas Drouet, the former sparring partner of Bernard Tomic.

"Marion Bartoli, this is really a great person, a great human. I did not expect that at all for the first Grand Slam where I found the coach, "said the young coach, the French recruited after the it had been violently assaulted by the father of Tomic last May.

The Wimbledon semi-finalist also benefits from advice Amelie Mauresmo, captain of France's Fed Cup. Bartoli can not do without the presence of his senior, who had not planned to stay so long in London: "I'll tie on a chair and she will no longer be able to from. This is not a mascot but we will organize to keep it. "

"He'll have to get organized," said Mauresmo who considers Bartoli's opponent will not be easy to maneuver, "Flipkens not change badly, she is able to serve and volley occasionally. The slice backhand. It's a different game than we usually see on the circuit. "

The other semi-final will oppose the Polish Agnieszka Radwanska (No. 4) to Germany's Sabine Lisicki (25 °).

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The "Braqueuses" have so far fallen short of expectations raised by their great adventure of the Olympics in London, where they were amazed French viewers before to win the silver medal. A Trélazé host the first round of the Euro for their group, they signed a flawless flawless, with three wins in as many games, while communing with their subjugated by going public.

The friendlies were given an overview of both the popular fervor and the value of Blue. They had won their nine games prepared by a mean difference of 21.7 points. They did even better in the three official matches, won by an average 33-point gap. Latvia (62-39) and Serbia (76-32), archi-dominated athletically, have been crushed. Britain has fared better, but could not escape a similar fate (79-47). Although this group was perhaps the least observed of all, France has hit his fist on the table. The only threat hovering over the head of Blue would be to get caught up in the euphoria and lose concentration. But demanding Pierre Vincent is keeping watch. For the rest, everything goes.

The tricolor defense, the DNA of the team is in place, with only 39.3 points per game conceded. More surprisingly, it has the second best offense (72.3 points), behind Spain.

All lights green

France is also the second most skillful team in the competition (48.9% address) through a domestic sector ravaging everything in its path. Only the address winning shots (33.3%) is not quite so radiant, without being either disastrous. But the Blues have such a variety of options that fall within the detail.

For another positive aspect of the first round is that the coach could rotate his squad at leisure, without user organizations. Celine Dumerc and Sandrine Gruda, the two most used French, have played only 21 minutes on average. This was used to assess the science of game Gaëlle thomas, which begins in the blue shirt at age 30, or the raw talent of Diandra Tchatchouang (22) and Valerian Ayayi (19 years ).

All lights are green before entering the second round. Three opponents to come in order of appearance Croatia, the Czech Republic and Belarus, only the latter seems to disturb a little France.

With four points on the board to start the second phase, "Braqueuses" need only two wins in three games to be certain to go in the quarter. But they obviously target a new tripled history to maintain the momentum of 12 consecutive wins since their defeat by the United States Olympic final, and to provide a quarterfinal not too difficult.

AFP

 

"Martyrs" for some, "terrorists" for others. It is not uncommon to find in the streets and homes of Palestinian Territories pictures of men who carried out attacks against Israel, and who died in a suicide or were killed by the Israeli army. The iconography of a warrior type is explored by Palestinian photographer Ahlam Shibli, who exhibited his work at the Jeu de Paume museum in Paris until September 1. An exhibition that debate.

More than the photographs, it is their legends that are unacceptable to the CRIF [Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France], which protested against a "glorification of terrorism" and notes that "these People are mostly members of the al-Aqsa Brigades, ISSAL-Cardinal-Qassam Brigades and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), considered a terrorist organization by the Council of the Union European ". CRIF is an example of a photograph representing Osama Buchkar, which, according to legend in the exhibition, "engaged in a martyrdom operation in Netanya." "Actually," said CRIF in a statement, "three people were killed and 59 others injured in Netanya" by this individual.

Confrontation scheduled next Sunday

The Israeli Embassy in France, which sent its services to the museum to see the exhibition, explains in turn have "raised disturbing elements" and in the exhibition and "decided to take the authorities to ask for explanations," according to information obtained by FRANCE 24. For its part, the French Ministry of Culture does not want to react at the moment.

The case is amplified by the Israeli press and relayed over the internet, where circulating petitions and appeals gatherings. An appointment is even set next Sunday, June 16 by pro-Israeli movements to express their discontent. In response, pro-Palestinian groups have called for a "get massively on Sunday preferably to see and judge […] in the interest of this achievement, "wrote the Europalestine site last Saturday. The muséea provided a security strengthened. The scenario looks the same as in 2010, when an exhibition at Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris had created great controversy and turned sour. Again, it was a reflection on the representation of Palestinians, this time via the work of German photographer Kai Wiedenhöfer. The museum had to close its doors for two hours and call the police. The next day the incident was closed and exposure could reopen.

Refusal to explain the conflict

For its part, the Jeu de Paume museum wishes to remain quiet about the subject, not to further fuel the controversy. However, it specifies that the legends were written entirely by Ahlam Shibli, at the request of the artist, and they are an integral part of œ PIECE. The museum recalls that blurb, written by the curators of the exhibition, presents these photographs and descriptions in context. Photograph of Ahlam "suspends the autonomy of the image and flips it into a system that is no longer used for informational purposes only" and believe the commissioners. The work of photographer "avoids own this medium historical obsession, that provide evidence at all costs. His images refuse to explain the conflict. "

The exhibition is not only focused on the Palestinians and their "martyrs". Ahlam Shibli strength to step back by expanding its theme to very remote countries and situations. It explores more generally uprooting, loss of home. For example, within the gay, lesbian and transgender immigrant from the Middle East, among orphans community in Poland, or the registration of memorials in France, celebrating in the same block the French resistance to the Nazis and the French colonial wars fighters. Tension between the subject and its environment, between a buried near death of his enemy. Contradictions in the same place.

The photographer saw itself in Haifa, Israel. And his work, says the blog "red glasses" on the website of Le Monde, is in line with the Israeli photographer Miki Kratsman, who emerged from anonymity and several Palestinian fighters gave a face. It has drawn the portrait (the cons) of Zakaria Zubeidi, leader of the Martyrs Brigades al-Aqsa in Jenin, weapons in hand and staring into the camera. The photograph was published in the Israeli daily Haaretz and then exposed at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

 

In the aftermath of the attack Clement Meric, a large crowd gathered Place Saint-Michel, in the center of Paris to pay tribute to the young man of 18 fatally attacked Wednesday by a group of right-wing activists.

In the collection, many anonymous came simply to show their sorrow at the sudden death of the anti-fascist activist. "It shocked me that a young man of 18 years died for nothing. It is a mourning. I have kids, "reflects fondly Marie-Louise, a Parisian. In a group, many students are also present in solidarity with Clement Meric, who was in first year at Sciences Po Some denounce "political capture" of this drama. "It bothers me, says Joachim, a student at the Sorbonne. It does not make the pub on the death of a young person. "

"The hypocrisy of political parties"

"For me, it reveals the hypocrisy of which are kept condemn violence in recent weeks and call for calm political parties. They surf it, "the young man, referring to protests against gay marriage. At his side, Sabry, one of his classmates share his point of view. For him, the politicians have maintained a poisonous atmosphere that led to such a tragedy: "There have been false debates. It was left to the movement for AKI. Both political sides, nobody really doomed. "

A little further, and his friend Alexane Luala, two students at Paris-VIII, are sharper. According to them, it is the latest right-wing excesses that are responsible for the death of Clement Meric. "What happened with AKI and for the movement of frigid Looney has a report. They poured oil on the fire. They revived the hatred that there could be between radical movements. This disgusts me, "condemns the first girls. Sensitivity to the left, the two friends admit that they now fear to participate in some events because of the violence of the extreme right: "Just now, when we arrived , es, it has reassured us to see the CRS. "

"They come to vote, because it is on TV"

In serried ranks, face hidden by scarves for some, a badge with the slogan "Clement RIP" on their t-shirt or hat, members of anti-fascist collective Paris suburbs on their way Place Saint-Michel. In the eyes of many of his comrades bed sadness and especially anger. "Clement anti-fa. Fascism is gangrene ", they yell, fist raised.

Arrived at the fountain, tempers flare. The comrades of Clement Meric do not hide their disapproval of the presence of many left-wing parties. "If Clement had been there, he would have wanted the flags to be lowered. Against fascism, there is no split, "joked one of the spokesmen of the movement at the microphone. "Go fuck yourself, no political recovery," joked another activist. "They come to vote, because it is on TV", gets carried away when he saw another Pierre Laurent, the general secretary of the Communist Party (PC). Booed, Anne Hidalgo, the Socialist candidate for mayor of Paris, even had to turn back.

After waving a banner in tribute to their deceased friend "forever one of us" and a few words, the anti-fascist group finally left the gathering, determined , not to make common cause with the political parties. Tears in their eyes, some close to Clement Meric want to fight, but they leave supported by their peers. "It disperses", ordered one of the leaders of the movement.

After they left, it is the Left Front activists who speak, red scarves around their necks. Stephen, a member of the Order of the coalition service does not include the release of members of the anti-fascist group. For him, the parties have their place in this gathering because Clement Meric "had political ideas and that is why he died."

"The only thing we can do is to dissolve"

Away from the political parties, associations were also keen to show their revolt. For weeks, the League of Human Rights has been a deepening of racist, homophobic or anti-democratic attacks. "Activists were attacked on May 1 as they went for the traditional gathering for Brahim Bouallam" said Eric Bakerdjian, branch president of the association.

The activist is concerned about the rise of the extreme right in the political field. "We're talking about Youth nationalist revolutionaries, but there is also the movement of black Lys did events in the Assembly against marriage for all." He called for political action, but according to him, these factions are difficult to neutralize, "The only thing we can do is to dissolve them, but they come together in new movements."

Pending a response from the authorities, other events will be held this week in several cities in France in honor of Clement Meric. A new rally is planned Saturday at 2:00 p.m., Place de la Bastille in Paris.

 

After Niger, Chad. According to the Nigerian President Mahamadou Issoufou, the Islamists that struck Niger twice on May 23 at Arlit and Agadez, fomented a parallel attack against Chad.

The attack "against Niger was prepared in conjunction with another attack, which was Chad. For now this attack does not happen but it was being prepared at the same time as that which took place against the Niger ", told Monday, May 27 Chief of the Nigerian state, speaking in Agadez after the ceremony commemorating the victims of the attacks.

Mahmadou Issoufou also reiterated that he believes "the home that is now destabilizing the Sahel is in Libya." He had said, Saturday, May 25, the attackers were "southern Libya." He said then fear "Somalisation of Libya."

Libyan Prime Minister denies

Contradicted by a Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zaidan version visiting Brussels. For the latter, all allegations that the attackers came from Libya are "baseless and do not correspond to reality," arguing that it was more the former leader Muammar Gaddafi "which exported terrorism"

.

"The new Libya will not tolerate it" and "is not a hotbed of terrorism," said the head of the Libyan government. He also revealed that the son of the former Libyan leader, Saadi Gaddafi, and former regime officials enjoyed the right of asylum in Niger. "I ask our Nigerian friends to take these facts into consideration and extradite these elements to be tried in Libya," said the Prime Minister.

Both attacks from May 23 to Niger were committed at dawn against a military base in Agadez, where twenty people died, mostly Nigerian military, and mine Arlit uranium where a Nigerian employee of Areva site was killed. The French special forces intervened in the morning and shot the last two Islamist fighters who resisted. In total, ten jihadists were killed, eight in Agadez and Arlit two.

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The board of Yahoo has approved the friendly takeover of the platform microblogging Tumblr for $ 1.1 billion (€ 857 million), announces the Wall Street Journal Sunday, citing sources close to the folder.

It would be the largest acquisition in the Internet portal since the arrival at its head Marissa Meyer, a former Google in July 2012.

Citing sources close to the situation, AllThingsD said that Yahoo, one of the oldest Internet names, is interested in the excitement by Tumblr youth.

Yahoo overshadowed for many years by new internet giants Google or Facebook, and wants his image and dust halting its activities. 

This comes after the failure of his plan to acquire 75% of the French online video site, Dailymotion, France Telecom.

Tumblr is one of the two social networks with the rage in recent months. The company hosts 108 million blogs and boasts 50.7 billion messages exchanged between them.

The network is just beginning to garner revenue through advertising.

Yahoo, which has declined to comment, has issued an invitation to the press conference for Monday in Manhattan "something special", without saying more.

REUTERS