Detroit is the largest American city to go bankrupt

 

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.

With news

FRANCE: Estrosi for travelers: "You will go, but before you pay"

 

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.

With news

PHOTOGRAPHY: Exhibited in Paris, the pictures of "martyrs" are controversial Palestinian

 

"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.

INTERNET: Yahoo! ready to get their hands on Tumblr for $ 1.1 billion

 

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

TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Facebook called home on Smartphone

 

Mark Zuckerberg is about to end more than three years of rumors, expectations and extrapolations about a possible Facebook phone. The young CEO of the king of social networks must disclose, Thursday, April 4 to 19 hours (French time), the "new home on Android [operating system for mobile Google, Ed ] "from his website with over one billion fans.

It probably should not be a 100% pure smartphone Facebook. Since the first articles in 2010 on the U.S. site TechCrunch very informed about this, officials of the social network and always very officially denied work on the construction of a TV , mobile phone home. The announcement Thursday would indeed still following TechCrunch, a launching pad to a telephone Taiwanese manufacturer HTC – HTC called First – with an entirely new interface , to the glory of LY social network.

Facebook would have worked in recent months, even years, to transform Android smartphones with best friends addicted to updating their status. For this new interface, after unveiled the HTC, could also be installed on Samsung smartphones and other devices of the Galaxy Android (60% of market share of smartphone sales in the world), explains AndroidPolice, a blog specializing in the mobile world.

And advertising in all this?

The interface replaces the traditional presentation of applications on an Android smartphone and would add functions to quickly access various services of Facebook (Facebook like camera, instant messaging, social networking or yet the application to make phone calls to his son on Facebook contacts Skype model). 

For the social network, the success of the offensive in the mobile world is crucial. Since 2012, Mark Zuckerberg encourages all its employees to "think mobile first," recalls Bits, the technology blog of the American newspaper "The New York Times." More than 600 million users spend priority by their smartphone to access Facebook, recognize site managers.

Problem: Facebook saw almost as through advertising and "mobile users" are much less likely to consult on a mobile phone than from a traditional computer. Redecorating smartphones in the colors of the social network, Mark Zuckerberg & co increase the chances that users see advertising.

Remains whether the world really need a smartphone that would ostensibly before Facebook. This innovation may, in fact, resemble "the solution to a problem that does not exist," says the "New York Times" s January Dawson, an analyst specializing U.S. and in telecommunications. For this expert, "Facebook fans" are already widely used by different applications published on the social network for smartphones miss nothing of what their many virtual friends.

DIPLOMACY: At the UN, Ahmadinejad denounces intimidation against Iran

 

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday accused the West and Israel of trying to "intimidate" his country "the means of nuclear weapons."

"The persistent threats wielded by the Zionists uncultivated resort to military action against our great nation clearly illustrates this bitter reality," he said from the rostrum of the Assembly e UN General.

"The arms race and the means intimidation of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction by the hegemonic powers prevail," said Mr. Ahmadinejad. "Test of new generation of ultra-modern weapons and threatening to brandish in time became a new way to threaten nations to force them to accept the hegemony."

During his last speech before the Assembly, the United States and Israel boycotted Ahmadinejad has nevertheless refrained from engaging in its usual diatribes, favoring long considerations philosophical peace or justice.

President Barack Obama said Tuesday morning before the Assembly that the United States would do "what to do" to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb. Europeans considering new sanctions against Iran, and Israeli leaders have threatened to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.

The West and Israel suspect Iran of wanting to develop a bomb under cover of a civilian nuclear program, which Tehran denies.

This was the last speech of Ahmadinejad in the General Assembly because he must leave power in 2013, after two terms as president, the maximum allowed.

During speeches in the past at this very podium, including Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denied the Holocaust and relayed conspiracy theories concerning the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States, triggering the start of the hall and Western U.S. diplomats.

AFP

JUSTICE: Extradited to Lomé, Le Floch-Prigent revives the legal troubles

 

"Stubborn as a Breton," says the proverb. Again, Camp Le Floch-Prigent, a native of Brest (Finistère), shouts to the plot at a time when the former leader of the former oil company franç , ais Elf finds himself in the hands of justice in Lome Togo. If you believe his lawyer Patrick Klugman, told FRANCE 24, the fraud case in which it is pursued in Togo "do [him] not apply."

"Whether we return to Mr. Le Floch-Prigent its rightful place in this case is probably that of a witness. Definitely not the place of a person subject to a warrant, "he says about his client's extradition to Lomé, 24 hours after his arrest on Friday 14 September, , Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Le Floch-Prigent is indeed the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by the Togolese authorities. This mandate follows a complaint by a businessman from the United Arab Emirates, Abass al-Youssef, who said that the former CEO and two Togolese have mounted a scam that would have cost more than $ 36 million. The French businessman says about the UAE but denies attempted to defraud.

Several stays in jail

A conspiracy, that's what Le Floch-Prigent had already denounced in 2003. At that time, he was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzlement in the Elf affair, a corruption scandal in which the investigation was entrusted to a some Eva Joly, then judge. It offended then the only oil company boss prosecuted in this case.

After 19 months of detention, Le Floch-Prigent regained his freedom, but claimed ruined and regretted that all his friends have turned their backs. "I live mostly on income from my wife. What little I had was seized and officers scrutinize accounts permanently empty. It will not let me live, "he said in 2006 the weekly" Le Nouvel Observateur ".

The following years have not been so much brighter. In 2010, an engineer by training performs additional six months in prison for failing to comply with the terms of his parole. Who could have imagined such troubles 25 years ago?

CEO, Consultant … and writer

In the 1980s, under the presidency of François Mitterrand, Le Floch-Prigent was a leader of the leading companies who occupied the head of several large hexagonal. During the wave of nationalization, officer near the left becomes number one Rhone-Poulenc (1982-1986), he recovers accounts, Elf-Aquitaine (1989-1993), GDF (1993 -1995) and SNCF (1995-1996) before being caught by the Elf affair.

Today, he claims to have turned the page. "I no longer think it is completely behind me," he said in an interview with AFP late August. At 69 years old soon, however, he returned to the energy sector as done today consultancies in oil. "Fifteen days per month in Brazzaville, Abidjan, Addis Ababa and Dubai, the other 15 days in Paris with trips to Italy and in the countries of Eastern Europe," he explained.

But especially fishing enthusiast tries to spend most of his free time Trébeurden in his native Brittany. There he devoted himself to pleasure found in prison writing. The action of his fourth book, the novel "Granite rosse" (ed. Coop Breizh), is also on its cherished land.

In this detective story, the PDG-novelist depicts a Parisian who does not understand the intricacies of local life and stick to the designated culprit … As a nod to his own legal problems. Today, Le Floch-Prigent seems to be trying to clear his name in the Elf affair. Stubborn as a Breton, say …

(FRANCE 24 with dispatches)

FRANCE: Holland, heckled in the polls, made his return to the newspaper media 20 h

 

AFP – François Hollande, who beats records of popularity just four months after his election, will attempt Sunday night on TF1 to regain the French won by anxiety and doubt to the acceleration of the crisis.

The Head of State, who will answer questions from Claire Chazal have 25 minutes to convince his countrymen that he is the man of the situation, a leader, not this evil personality and hesitant to authority described by many critics and columnists.

Especially in the polls, all the lights turn red.

Poll after poll French morale plunges while their disillusionment with the ability of the head of state to keep its promises is growing. 

According to a survey published in Ifop in Le Journal du Dimanche, they are more than 48% believe it is his campaign pledges against 57% in August. According to another survey, BVA to Le Parisien, nearly six in ten French (59%) say they are "somewhat dissatisfied" with the beginnings of five years, while 40% consider themselves " , somewhat satisfied. " On May 31, the rate of satisfaction of François Hollande was 62%, 34% dissatisfaction.

So much anticipated tax measures and drastic budget that will inevitably be taken to ensure that France meets its European commitments, François Hollande, the last television interview e back to July 14, should "set the course without going into the details," said a relative.

"It is not for him to do, he is not to have a technician speech but for a speech strategist, is the government members that belong to do, "insists the same source.

Just his entourage he promises "probably an indication" on the government's fiscal intentions gnawing at the French. For the rest, it will be "clear roadmap of the government, the political agenda, with all measurements."

The president should not, however, escape to a question about the tax of 75% on income above 1 million, campaign promise that allowed him to bounce then Nicolas Sarkozy regained ground but, these days, seemed to be stuck in the maze tax.

The debate was revived Saturday by the revelation of a naturalization application filed in Brussels by the richest of the French, the head of the empire of luxury LVMH, Bernard Arnault. 

He can not escape an explanation on how to avoid rising "general and indiscriminate" tax, as it is committed Friday, while achieving the deficit reduction effort public "largest in 30 years."

Since 5 to 10 billion euros in taxes already voted and 10 billion in savings that the State intends to make its expenses, it remains to find 15-20000000000 tax increases in 2013.

Not a "cap over water"

François Hollande must also impose his style and readily acknowledges. "A style that is printed at the As," he observed in the confidences World published Saturday. President "normal" is looking for a balance between the "presidency haughty and rare" one, and François Mitterrand "maximum reactivity" of Nicolas Sarkozy.

"I do not want to be like the cap over the water," he said, claiming the right to "consistency" in action.

"In this period of rising prices, the social and rising unemployment, the chronology of French does not match that of the government action" recog he however.

Face "social suffering of the French" and "rising unemployment, it must redefine the course," he said Friday on Canal + one near the head of the state, Labour Minister Michel Sapin.

Mr. Holland will also whistle the end of recess after several government ministers between outbursts. According to a government official, "we can understand hiccups government on substantive issues, but not the quack of ego which is the mark of inexperience."

FOOTBALL: Ligue 1: Lyon turns head, Montpellier finally wins

 

AFP – Lyon, with goals in Vercoutre, temporarily took the lead of the Championship of France by ending the unbeaten Valenciennes (3-2), while Montpellier was given a little air with his first win at Sochaux (3-1), Saturday, for the account of the fourth day.

OL, with 10 points, going so temporarily to Marseille (9 points), which may go up to his throne on success Sunday against Rennes.

After the setback in Valenciennes Gerland, Marseille is now the only team not to have conceded a goal this season in Ligue 1.

A Gerland, it was a special game. Lloris, who signed for Tottenham, came to do a lap of honor and farewell before the game. And his successor, Vercoutre, lived a very emotional evening. The former understudy, playing only his 63rd match of L1 in 32 years, committed an error of judgment on the first goal northerner, but had nothing to reproach himself on the second, showing even strong late in the game.

"It was a bit complicated these days, told Vercoutre, star of the day. I have not slept too well. I did not know, personally, what sauce I would be eaten. "

The first two goals were scored by Lyon Bastos and Gomis, two players who have had to leave the summer transfer window, according to the wishes of President Jean-Michel Aulas, in full austerity. The third goal of the OL, superb, was the work of Grenier, promising young Lyon, who also could go through an exchange of players with Nice. But coach Remi Garde was opposed and had to say Saturday that he had done.

Giuly first goal

Not to mention that aborted departures to Lyon, note the very good match Malbranque, a ghost, who despite his 32 years, has made a full match, in real boss.

The other event of the evening was the first victory of the season champion title in France, Montpellier, who occupied a position unworthy of his rank before that day: 18th with one small point. Montpellier is now 12th.

The inspiration called Belhanda, which led to a penalty and is responsible for sending the goals in Sochaux, rust machine. And Herrera, rookie offensive instructed to forget Giroud scored his second goal in L1. Cabella finished the work late in the game, after a score reduction Privat (3-1).

"We missed our start to the season, we still lacked something, we need to power up," said the micro BeInSport the side Montpellier Bedimo.

The situation is catastrophic for Sochaux, red lantern without any point. Martin's departure to Lille was not digested.

The beautiful story of Saturday's third place Lorient, who won 3-0 against Nancy, with, notably, the first goal of the season Giuly.  

Saint-Etienne, who had sprayed Brest (4-0) last weekend, went for a walk in Bastia (3-0) with a gem of a goal to toe Aubameyang, who smuggler was also decisive.

In other matches, Ajaccio beat Evian (2-0) defeated Brest Troyes on the wire (2-1) while Toulouse and Reims are neutralized (1-1).

Sunday is the game that everyone expects, Lille-Paris SG. With this question: PSG will he finally win this season after three draws, two non-profit?

Carlo Ancelotti can count on Ibrahimovic but not Thiago Silva, still injured.

Holland receives Samaras and aligns with the position of Merkel

 

REUTERS – François Hollande Saturday confirmed the Greek Prime Minister's desire to see Greece keep the single currency, urging Athens to the "credibility" and European Union to "it must" maintain the integrity of the euro area. After a one-hour interview with the Head of State at the Elysee Palace, Antonis Samaras made the maintenance of the single currency a matter of "pride" for his country, where hope should return, he said, otherwise threaten social cohesion.

François Hollande has reiterated that Greece should remain in the euro area while focusing on the efforts that the country must make to consolidate its fiscal position.  "We must ensure that the issue of Greece in the euro area does not arise because for me, it does not arise: Greece is in the eurozone and Greece must remain in the euro zone, "said the French president in the courtyard of the Elysee. "It must demonstrate the credibility of the program and the commitment of its leaders to go through while making sure that it is bearable for its people," said François Hollande, scoring his concern for social risk in Greece.  Eve in Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel had also pleaded alongside Antonis Samaras for Greece in the euro, despite the doubts expressed by some of its citizens a year of elections in Germany. Facing its fifth year of recession, Greece would receive a reprieve to meet its budgetary commitments agreed under a second plan international aid of 130 billion euros. The eyes of François Hollande, the clock is ticking and Europe must move quickly after receiving the report on Greece by the troika – the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund – expected in mid-September.  Athens creditors will then decide if they unlock new aid tranche in October and they give more time to Greece for its re ; forms. "GREECE Y HAPPEN" DIT SAMARAS called Questions to be discussed at the Eurogroup meeting on 8 October and Luxembourg, before the EU summit on 18 and 19 October in Brussels. Once the report is submitted and confirmed commitments Greek, "Europe will do what it needs," stressed François Hollande. "It's been two and a half years that the question is asked. There are no more time to lose. There are commitments to reaffirm both sides, to make decisions and the sooner the better. "

French Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance Laurent Fabius and Pierre Moscovici, attended the meeting between Francois Hollande and Antonis Samaras, who saw for the first time. In his statement, the new Greek Prime Minister, elected on June 17, said the European Union had everything to gain by keeping his country in the euro. "Greece will succeed, it will remain in the euro area," he said. "And that Greece will be successful European success. We will show that Europe is able to overcome its difficulties and problems, united. "  "We will fulfill our goals and commitments," he said while emphasizing growth, "if all these efforts will lead to a race to the bottom". "Greece, the Greek people are a proud nation: we do not like to depend on others and take," he said. "We must restore hope because without hope we will lose social cohesion." After a relative lull in the markets this summer, the crisis in the euro zone back on front of the stage with renewed concern Greece but also in Spain, Italy and Portugal.  François Hollande will be next Thursday in Madrid to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Italy in early September for a meeting with the chairman, Mario Monti. Agitated in Germany and in other countries such as Finland and the Netherlands, the possibility of an outflow of Athens remains outside the euro in Paris. The French authorities consider that it would be a disaster for the Greeks, not to mention the risk of lead others along this path. "The integrity of the euro zone is the basis of the action that we must lead," said a source in Paris

.