China's economic growth eases to 7.7 percent in Q4, marks shift to less heady times

China's annual growth eased to 7.7 percent in the fourth quarter as investment and demand flagged late in the year, and analysts say it could cool further in 2014 as Beijing focuses on rebalancing the economy and other major reforms.

That leaves growth in the Chinese economy at 7.7 percent for all of 2013, unchanged from revised levels in 2012.

The fourth-quarter growth rate compared with 7.6 percent forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll but eased from 7.8 percent in the previous three months.

On a quarterly basis, gross domestic product (GDP) rose 1.8 percent from July-September, slower than expectations for 2.0 percent and a reading of 2.2 percent in April-June.

"The economy may be a little more robust than people thought coming into 2014. I had thought the monetary tightening in 2013 would pose a downside risk in 2013. The numbers reduce that downside risk," said Tim Condon at ING in Singapore.

"I don't see any evidence of an (economic) rebalancing last year. It doesn't look like there's any reduction in the current account surplus and the savings and investment gap probably didn't change."

Still, analysts say activity could cool further this year if China's efforts to increase domestic consumption at the expense of exports and investment gather pace.

Other key risks include policymakers' success in executing reforms and Beijing's prolonged battles to clamp down on risky lending, soaring home prices and a mountain of local government debt.

The Australian dollar firmed slightly after the data while most Asian stock markets pared early losses.

Source: Reuters

Hydrogel could dispense pain-killing medicine to joints as they move

People suffering from joint problems such as osteoarthritis tend to take a lot of anti-inflammatory drugs, even though such medications affect their whole body, all of the time. Scientists at the University of Delaware, however, are developing what could be a more effective alternative. It's a hydrogel that can be injected into the joint, and it releases medication only in response to mechanical force – in other words, whenever the joint is used.

In laboratory tests, it was confirmed that when the hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel was compressed, encapsulated drugs that had been mixed into it were discharged into the surrounding environment.

The researchers now hope that if the drug-containing gel were to be injected into the bad knees or hips of arthritis patients (as an example), it would help keep down the inflammation and associated pain as they performed rehabilitative exercises. It wouldn't necessarily be a permanent solution to their problem, but it would allow them to partake more thoroughly in physiotherapy, which hopefully would be a solution.

Animal testing performed at Chicago's Rush University has indicated that the gel is biocompatible – this makes sense, as hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in cartilage.

The research, which is being led by Prof. Xinqiao Jia, was described in a paper recently published in the journal Biomacromolecules. The scientists are now investigating whether the gel could also be used to deliver medication that would help regenerate damaged tissue.

Source: University of Delaware

New object recognition algorithm learns on the fly

Scientists at Brigham Young University (BYU) have developed an algorithm that can accurately identify objects in images or videos and can learn to recognize new objects on its own.

Although otherobject recognition systems  exist, the Evolution-Constructed Features algorithm is notable in that it decides for itself what features of an object are significant for identifying the object and is able to learn new objects without human intervention. The researchers say that unlike other methods, it does not require retuning or reworking for different tasks.

"In most cases, people are in charge of deciding what features to focus on and they then write the algorithm based off that,” says Dr. Dah-Jye Lee, professor of electrical and computer engineering at BYU and author of the paper. “With our algorithm, we give it a set of images and let the computer decide which features are important."

According to Dr. Lee, most other algorithms require a lot of fine-tuning of parameters and methods to achieve their best accuracy, whereas the Evolution-Constructed Features algorithm does not. Despite this, the researchers ay the algorithm has performed as well or better in object recognition tests than other leading object recognition algorithms.

For example, the Evolution-Constructed Features algorithm achieved 100 percent accuracy on motorbike, face, airplane and car image datasets from CalTech.

CalTech's database is used to benchmark the algorithm against other similar research, with other "published well-performing object recognition systems" scoring 95-98 percent accuracy in the same tests.

Lee and his team suggest that the algorithm could be used applications such as detecting invasive fish species or identifying flaws in produce such as apples. To this end, it was also shown to have 99.4 percent accuracy on fish species image datasets from BYU’s own biology department.

"Within some predefined criteria and situation, object recognition will continue to show its progress," predicts Lee. "Who knows? Maybe one day, when the computation power of computing platforms increases to be close to human brain, we could see some real breakthrough."

Source: Brigham Young Uninersity

Karzai demands US airstrikes end in Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s President, Hamid Karzai, says the US can no longer carry out military operations or airstrikes in his country.

Karzai made the statement on Sunday after being presented with the findings of an investigation into a deadly airstrike in the eastern Parwan province last week. The attack occurred during a joint Afghan-US military operation and resulted in eight civilian deaths. Karzai has blamed it on US soldiers.

The US-led international military coalition, however, have provided a sharply different account of what happened during the two-day operation. They say it was an Afghan-led effort and was carried out at the request of the government. Karzai has warned that the US must jump-start peace talks with the Taliban before Afghanistan signs a security deal to keep American troops in the country after 2014.

Source:CCTV

Japan hopes seabed will yield data and resources

With scant energy and mineral reserves of its own, and nuclear plants mothballed since the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan is investing heavily in exploring beneath the oceans for resources that will power its future.

On the first day of 2014, the Japanese research ship Chikyu set a new record by drilling down to a point 3,000 meters beneath the seabed off southern Japan. It was an appropriate way to ring in the new year and signals an increased commitment to learning more about the secrets that lay beneath the floor of the ocean close to Japan.The research has two distinct but connected driving forces. As Japan prepares to mark the third anniversary of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake, the Chikyu is undertaking the most extensive survey ever attempted of the Nankai Trough, a geological fault that extends for several hundred kilometers parallel to the southern coast of Japan and widely seen as the source of the next major earthquake that will affect this tremor-prone nation. And with all of Japan's nuclear reactors presently mothballed in the aftermath of the disaster, which destroyed the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant, there is a new sense of urgency in the search for sources of energy and other natural resources close to Japan.

Source: NewsOnJapan

Japan: Recieved 10 million 363,900 tourists in 3013

The Japan National Tourism Organization says the government's annual goal of hosting 10 million foreign visitors was achieved last year for the first time.

Its statistics show that 864,600 foreigners visited Japan last month, making a yearly total of 10 million, 363,900.

The yen's decline contributed to the increase in travelers from abroad. The easing of conditions on visa issuance pushed up the number of visitors from Southeast Asia and this helped the overall number to increase.

At a meeting on Friday of the relevant ministers for promoting tourism in Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave instructions to work out a new action plan to raise the annual number of foreign visitors to 20 million.

Source:  NHK

Japan: PM Abe Priority Economic Reconstruction

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday that his administration will continue to put priority on economic reconstruction.

Abe said at a regular convention of his Liberal Democratic Party that his government wants to bring about economic recovery across Japan. It has to "ensure a positive economic cycle," Abe said.

The prime minister said he aims for early approval of a supplementary budget for fiscal 2013 and a main budget for fiscal 2014, which starts in April, during an ordinary parliamentary session to be convened on Friday.

Source: Jiji Press

China's "maritime silk road" initiative vital to further enhance ties with ASEAN: Cambodian experts

Cambodian experts have voiced their supports for China's initiative of a "maritime silk road" in cooperation with the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), saying this ambitious plan would bring better connections and closer maritime cooperation if it became a reality.

"This initiative is very good since China and ASEAN are neighbors and have good cooperation in all fields," Mao Thora, secretary of state at the Ministry of Commerce, told Xinhua. "This expresses China's strong commitment to build a region of peace, development and prosperity."

"If such project comes to a reality, it will further enhance the relations and cooperation between China and ASEAN in economy, trade, investment, tourism and so on," he said. It will be easier to exchange goods between China and ASEAN and among ASEAN countries themselves."

He said for Cambodia, it really needs more investment in port infrastructure development.

The idea of a "maritime silk road" was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Indonesia last October and also by Premier Li Keqiang during the 16th China-ASEAN leaders ' meeting in Brunei the same month.

Ros Chantrabot, advisor to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, said Beijing's vision of reviving the "maritime silk road" showed China's good intention to help develop maritime infrastructures in ASEAN.

"This approach, if happens, will bring better connectivity between ports and maritime cooperation will further develop stronger economic, political and security relations between China and ASEAN," he said.

However, he said disputes on the South China Sea could be a major obstacle to such ambitious project.

"If the spats on the South China Sea have not been solved out peacefully, they will be still a major challenge for the initiative," he said.

Nguon Meng Tech, director general of Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said the vision of "maritime silk road" was an ambitious approach, but it could be achievable if all sides are willing to build it.

"This is an ambitious proposal, but I believe that it can become a reality if all ASEAN nations support it...," he said. "It will be great for regional integration and prosperity."

Source: Xinhua

2014 Spring Festival Gala wraps up first rehearsal

It’s less than two weeks until the Spring Festival and of course CCTV’s annual gala. Although the full official program for this year’s event hasn’t been revealed yet, the first rehearsals wrapped up on Saturday which gives us some hint as to what to expect.

A major highlight every year is the "language category", which includes crosstalk and comedy sketches. For Shu Huan, the man behind several hit sketches at previous Spring Festival Galas; it was local news that inspired his new creation. Taking news stories based on Beijing "clamping down on apartment group rentals", he approached the director of the gala with the idea of telling stories of tenants living in the capital.

"Originally I had several ideas for the theme of the sketches and the story about tenants in Beijing was one of them. As soon as I presented this idea to Director Feng, he said "this is it, let’s do that". Just like that it was settled." said Shu Huan, Scriptwriter.

And for the dance section, the director has chosen to go retro. Soon after he was appointed director of the 2014 Spring Festival Gala, Feng Xiaogang announced that China’s National Ballet would perform "The Red Detachment of Women" on the night.

The classic piece has been staged for over half a century, but this is the first time it will hit the biggest stage in China.

"I was really excited when I got the call from Director Feng. For the all-star line-up from the National Ballet of China to perform at the Spring Festival Gala, it’s huge. According to Feng, we will be featured in a section dedicated to the past, saluting the classics. " said Feng Ying, Director, National Ballet of China.

Wang Zhengliang performing his hit record "Where did the time go?" was also one of the first acts to be confirmed in the line-up. The stage designer of this year’s gala, Cheng Yan says the hard part is not just to decorate the stage but also be able to tell a story through the stage design. And for the Year of the Horse, Chen has chosen the Chinese knot to be the key element of his design.

"The whole stage will look like a giant Chinese knot and it will be three dimensional. It will be pure and simple." said Chen Yan, Chief Art Designer, 2014 Spring Festival Gala.

As to the hosts of the gala, actor Zhang Guoli will be joining last year’s four hosts. Exactly what kind of surprise the gala has in store for us, we’ll have to wait and find out on Chinese New Year’s eve.

CAS: China 2014 growth at 7.6%, CPI at 3.1%

The Chinese Academy of Sciences, a government think tank, forecasts modest growth for the world's second largest economy this year. It also projects a mild uptick in inflation relative to other developing economies.

As China shifts its economic model, its growth will moderate and stabilize. Amidst a push of structural reforms and less reliance on resource intensive industries, top government think tank, the Chinese Academy of Sciences projects growth in China to clock in at 7.6 percent in 2014.

"The 2014 GDP growth we forecast is about the same level with that of 2013. China will continue growing faster than advanced economies and its growth will still be relatively high versus other emerging market nations," Chen Xikang, Research Fellow at Chinese Academy of Sciences, says.

As for consumer prices, the Academy predicts a rise of 3.1 percent year on year versus 2013.

"Compared with other developing countries, a projection of a 3.1-percent rise in consumer prices is actually a mild increase," Yang Xiaoguang, Deputy Director of Center for Forecasting Science of CAS, says.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences stresses that rising labor costs and energy prices will be the main contributors to inflation this year. However, it’s not concerned about runaway inflation, as it's confident the prudent policies from authorities will keep prices in check.

Source:CCTV

China working on bank bankruptcy rules

Another hot issue concerning the CBRC is bankruptcy rules for commercial banks. The regulator recently confirmed that it’s working out the details of bankruptcy rules and a deposit insurance scheme. 

Once the two issues are implemented, depositors will not lose the full amount of their savings if a bank fails. Preliminary forecasts call for deposit insurance to be set at 500,000 yuan. That news triggered worries among depositors that certain banks may be in trouble, prompting some to distribute their money in different banks. But analysts say the worries are not necessary. That’s because most big banks in China are running smoothly under the supervision of the C-B-R-C and the P-B-O-C. The analysts do say, though, that while bank bankruptcies are tail risk events, some small-and-medium sized banks still face risks due to high interest rates promised to depositors.

Source: CCTV

Joseph Stiglitz: Advanced Malaise

Real (inflation-adjusted) per capita GDP in France, Greece, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States is lower today than before the Great Recession hit. Indeed, Greece’s per capita GDP has shrunk nearly 25% since 2008.

  There are a few exceptions: After more than two decades, Japan’s economy appears to be turning a corner under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government; but, with a legacy of deflation stretching back to the 1990’s, it will be a long road back. And Germany’s real per capita GDP was higher in 2012 than it was in 2007 – though an increase of 3.9% in five years is not much to boast about.

 Elsewhere, though, things really are dismal: unemployment in the eurozone remains stubbornly high and the long-term unemployment rate in the US still far exceeds its pre-recession levels.

In Europe, growth appears set to return this year, though at a truly anemic rate, with the International Monetary Fund projecting a 1% annual increase in output. In fact, the IMF’s forecasts have repeatedly proved overly optimistic: the Fund predicted 0.2% growth for the eurozone in 2013, compared to what is likely to be a 0.4% contraction; and it predicted US growth to reach 2.1%, whereas it now appears to have been closer to 1.6%.

It is possible, even likely, that US growth in 2014 will be rapid enough to create more jobs than required for new entrants into the labor force. At the very least, the huge number (roughly 22 million) of those who want a full-time job and have been unable to find one should fall.

   But we should curb our euphoria. A disproportionate share of the jobs now being created are low-paying – so much so that median incomes (those in the middle) continue to decline. For most Americans, there is no recovery, with 95% of the gains going to the top 1%.

America’s new problem is long-term unemployment, which affects nearly 40% of those without jobs, compounded by one of the poorest unemployment-insurance systems among advanced countries, with benefits normally expiring after 26 weeks. During downturns, the US Congress extends these benefits, recognizing that individuals are unemployed not because they are not looking for work, but because there are no jobs. But now congressional Republicans are refusing to adapt the unemployment system to this reality; as Congress went into recess for the holidays, it gave the long-term unemployed the equivalent of a pink slip: as 2014 begins, the roughly 1.3 million Americans who lost their unemployment benefits at the end of December have been left to their own devices. Happy New Year.

  Meanwhile, a major reason that the US unemployment rate is currently as low as it is, is that so many people have dropped out of the labor force. Labor-force participation is at levels not seen in more than three decades. Some say that this largely reflects demographics: an increasing share of the working-age population is over 50, and labor-force participation has always been lower among this group than among younger cohorts.

So, with Europe’s Great Malaise continuing in 2014 and the US recovery excluding all but those at the top, count me dismal. On both sides of the Atlantic, market economies are failing to deliver for most citizens. How long can this continue?

Source: Project-Syndicate Org. Joseph Stiglitz

Stopping the Syria Contagion

Syria’s civil war has become a wretchedly complicated problem. As the parties prepare to meet in Geneva for the second round of United Nations-sponsored peace talks, the government has launched vicious barrel-bombs attacks on Aleppo and other cities; more moderate Islamist rebel groups, including the Free Syrian Army, are openly at war with Al Qaeda affiliates; and Al Qaeda-linked groups are now fighting among themselves.

  Meanwhile, the war’s spillover effects are worsening. The fighting has heightened instability in the region; US and European citizens are streaming into Syria to take up jihad; and there is a growing consensus that the post-World War I Middle East boundaries are coming undone. Indeed, the viability of Syria, a multi-ethnic state, is being threatened by multiple armed groups supported by external sponsors – Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Russia, the United States, Turkey, France, and many private donors – who themselves have conflicting aims.

First, the most important contribution that this conference can make to the possibility of a negotiated settlement and a political transition in Syria is to change the principal parties’ incentives. In the run-up to Geneva II, each party has sought to strengthen its hand at the negotiating table by killing as many adversaries and holding or regaining as much ground as possible. The task now for would-be peace brokers is to halt that dynamic by agreeing on criteria for participation in whatever elections will eventually be held, regardless of whether President Bashar al-Assad remains in power until then.

Those criteria must include the parties’ willingness to allow humanitarian aid to flow to all Syrian civilians under their control and an end to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including systematic targeting of medical personnel, starvation of populations under siege, and executions of war prisoners.
  Governments must protect their citizens. If Assad’s Ba’ath party cannot uphold that responsibility, it forfeits its own legitimacy as a participant in any future government.

Second, the international community must re-establish the basis for its engagement. When the Syrian conflict began, it was an internal matter, with UN involvement limited to humanitarian and refugee issues. But now the conflict has spread across the Middle East, destabilizing Lebanon and Jordan and threatening to fracture Iraq. The UN Security Council is charged with addressing breaches or threats to international peace, a criterion that is now clearly met.
Finally, the single most important step that US President Barack Obama could take is to put the credible threat of force back on the table. In three years of increasingly bloody conflict, the only diplomatic success was achieved when Assad believed that he faced US missile strikes. He suddenly saw the desirability of getting rid of his chemical weapons.
Obama should announce that the US is committed to a political solution in Syria, and that his government will do whatever it can to bring about such a solution through next week’s peace conference and follow-up action. But if a ceasefire has not been achieved in the next three months, the US should work with regional organizations and all friends of the Syrian people to authorize a set of military strikes on Al Qaeda-linked forces and on the killing machine that Assad’s government has aimed at civilians.

By Anne-Marie Slaughter Project-Syndicate. Organization

Kiev, migliaia in piazza per l’Europa Violenti scontri con la polizia, 100 feriti

• Ucraina
  3

UN ALTRO ARGOMENTO

In duecentomila sono in piazza Maidan a Kiev, a favore dell’ingresso in Europa dell’Ucraina. Una minoranza di manifestanti (10-15 mila secondo i media locali) hanno fronteggiato la polizia domenica sera e sono scoppiati violenti scontri lungo la strada che conduce al palazzo presidenziale e al Parlamento. Alcune persone, con il volto coperto, sono armate di bastoni e bombolette di spray irritante. Gli agenti rispondono con manganelli e gas lacrimogeni. È di 100 feriti dei quali 40 agenti - 4 in condizioni gravi - il bilancio provvisorio fornito dal ministero dell’Interno ucraino. In serata la Casa Bianca ha emanato un comunicato in cui si chiede lo stop alle violenze.

LA CASA BIANCA: «STOP A SCONTRI» «Esortiamo il governo dell’Ucraina ad adottare misure che aiutino il Paese ad andare avanti, compresa l’abrogazione della legislazione anti- democratica entrata in vigore nei giorni scorsi, il ritiro della polizia anti-sommossa dal centro di Kiev, e l’inizio di un dialogo con l’opposizione politica». Nel pomeriggio sul palco della piazza in rivolta era salita anche Tetiana Chornovil la reporter e attivista politica picchiata brutalmente nella notte di Natale .

LE PROTESTE - I gruppi più violenti di manifestanti hanno attaccato e devastato vari mezzi delle forze dell’ordine, alcuni dei quali sono stati dati alle fiamme. Alcuni manifestanti hanno anche smantellato un marciapiede per lanciare pietre contro le forze dell’ordine. Gli scontri, durissimi, si stanno consumando con temperature polari, a meno sette grandi centigradi. L’opposizione manifesta in maniera ininterrotta contro Yanukovich da novembre quando il presidente decise di far saltare la firma dell’Accordo di Associazione con l’Ue. Nonostante le basse temperature, i manifestanti sono tornati in piazza: molti, con il volto coperti da maschere, in quello che è un evidente tentativo di prendersi gioco della nuova legge che impone di manifestare a viso scoperto.

Paris, perle du Japon

ou Nââândé ! ? (NiL éditions), d'Eriko Nakamura, une Japonaise expatriée à Paris, pour apprécier l'étendue des différences entre la France et le Japon. Pourtant, les deux pays restent réciproquement fascinés l'un par l'autre. En témoigne le nombre d'adresses nippones à Paris. "Il y a vingt ans, quand je me suis installée à Paris, il n'existait pas autant de lieux japonais. Depuis trois ans, le phénomène s'est accéléré", remarque Minako Norimatsu, journaliste et auteur du Guide du Japon à Paris (Editions du Chêne). En effet, depuis la catastrophe de Fukushima en 2011, on n'avait jamais assisté à une telle énergie chez les Japonais. "Cet événement nous a tellement affectés que de jeunes talents ont ressenti l'urgence d'exporter leur entreprise et de participer à la promotion de la culture japonaise partout dans le monde", note Yoko Nakamura, créatrice de l'agence Red Dot and Blue Stripes, qui aide les entreprises nippones à s'expatrier en France (et inversement).

Elle est d'ailleurs chargée de l'exposition ambitieuse consacrée au Japon qui aura lieu au Bon Marché en septembre 2014. Une année importante puisqu'elle marque aussi les 90 ans du partenariat culturel franco-japonais et devrait être rythmée par des événements sur tout le territoire (www.institutfrancais.jp/fr/). "Jamais l'intérêt des Français pour le Japon n'a été aussi fort, confirme Yoko Nakamura. D'autant que l'Unesco vient d'ajouter l'alimentation japonaise - washoku - à la liste des patrimoines culturels immatériels." Une cuisine réputée saine qui bénéficie aussi des dernières phobies nutritionnelles, comme celles du gluten ou des produits laitiers, peu utilisés par les Japonais.

Mais l'obsession des Français pour les traditions japonaises ne se borne pas à l'art culinaire. "Au salon Maison et Objet, le nombre d'exposants nippons progresse régulièrement. Leurs objets originaux séduisent car ils s'inscrivent dans une tradition de savoir-faire agrémenté d'une touche de modernité", explique Philippe Brocart, directeur général du salon. Il existe même depuis peu des e-shops d'artisanat japonais, à l'instar de Shopu.fr, qui importe des objets rares en petites quantités. Un développement qui témoigne de ce goût partagé pour les métiers d'art. "La France possède une sensibilité particulière. Son attirance pour le Japon réside peut-être dans cet écho lointain entre nos cultures. Comme deux faux jumeaux qui se reconnaîtraient dans la foule", analyse Takeshi Sato, créateur de la Galerie Nakaniwa, à Paris.

Le Monde

Film, La Grande Belleza. Sorrentino: «non è la Dolce Vita Il mio film è un romanzo vivente» Il regista: «Non parlo del presente ma dell'eterna fatica dello scorrere del tempo». Servillo: storie di occasioni mancate

Fellini dichiarava di essersela inventata la Roma della Dolce vita e di Otto e mezzo. E poi quello era un capolavoro, il nostro è un film». Paolo Sorrentino a Cannes gioca in casa: tutti suoi film hanno avuto la benedizione del festival, il premio della Giuria nel 2008 a Il divo ha coinciso con la consacrazione internazionale. La grande bellezza, dopo aver diviso i critici, ora affronta il doppio esame: quello della giuria del festival presieduto da Steven Spielberg e quello del pubblico italiano (è appena uscito nei nostri cinema). Nessuna ambizione, spiega il regista napoletano di farne un Otto e mezzo del 21esimo secolo: sbaglia, dice, chi lo interpreta come una parabola sull’Italia del presente. «Una lettura approssimativa e superficiale fa pensare che parli del presente, ma avrei potuto farlo dieci anni fa o tra dieci anni e non sarebbe cambiato molto. Il film si interroga su sentimenti, sulle dinamiche degli esseri umani, la grande bellezza della fatica di vivere, dello scorrere del tempo».

ROMANZO VIVENTE - Quelle feste in cui Jep Gambardella/Toni Servillo semina il suo talento, in cui è facile riconoscere spezzoni di attualità, non sono il cuore del film, ma uno sfondo, in cui Jep, come spiega Servillo, sempre più alter ego di Sorrentino (che il regista spiega così: «Lavoriamo così spesso insieme per uan combinazione ottima di senso della famiglia e sua capacità di essere sempre imprevedibile e inedito, spreca con indifferenza il suo talento». Come Flaiano diceva di Soldati, «anche Gambaredella sembra l’unico capace di vivere la propria autobiografia. E come Flauberto non essendo stato capace di scrivere il romanzo sul niente, ha continuato a scrivere vivendo. Non è riuscito a scrivere il nuovo romanzo dopo L’apparato umano e allora lo vive, muovendosi in questi ambienti romani, mondi dove si officiano diversi riti». Mondi popolari non da nuovi mostri giudicati dal di fuori, ma persone che inanellano occasioni mancate. «Fellini con La dolce vita - spiega Servillo - che doveva intitolarsi La grande confusione, guardò Roma dolcemente appoggiato a una balaustra e vide un’Italia che viveva sulla spinta del rilancio dopo la guerra. Per Paolo nessuna balaustra, è caduto nella tromba delle scale».

L'opposition syrienne en exil participera à la conférence de paix Genève 2

La Coalition de l'opposition syrienne s'est prononcée, samedi 18 janvier à Istanbul lors d'un vote, pour l'envoi d'une délégation la semaine prochaine à la conférence de paix dite Genève 2. Lors de ce vote à bulletin secret, 58 membres de la Coalition ont voté oui à cette participation, 14 ont voté non, 2 se sont abstenus et un a voté blanc, selon les résultats officiels communiqués par la Coalition.

Ce vote a sanctionné plusieurs heures de vives discussions entre les membres de l'opposition modérée au président syrien, Bachar Al-Assad, réunis depuis la mi-journée à huis clos dans un hôtel de la lointaine banlieue d'Istanbul. « Les négociations de Genève 2 ont comme unique but de satisfaire les demandes de la révolution (...) et avant tout de retirer au boucher [Assad] tous ses pouvoirs », a déclaré M. Jarba, le chef de la Coalition de l'opposition syrienne.

Le ministre britannique des affaires étrangères, William Hague, a salué samedi cette décision. « La Coalition nationale a pris cette décision difficile malgré un contexte marqué par les attaques brutales et continuelles du régime contre les civils syriens et le blocage délibéré de l'aide humanitaire », a-t-il déclaré. M. Hague a rappelé que tout accord en vue de mettre fin au conflit syrien exigerait que le président Assad quittât le pouvoir.

L'OPPOSITION TRÈS DIVISÉE

La Coalition était très divisée sur l'opportunité de s'asseoir à la table des négociations avec les représentants du régime de Damas, ainsi que l'y poussent depuis plusieurs semaines ses parrains occidentaux et arabes.

L'opposition syrienne de l'intérieur, tolérée par le régime, avait annoncé mercredi 15 janvier qu'elle ne participerait pas à la conférence de paix de Genève 2, censée s'ouvrir le 22 janvier, à Montreux, en Suisse. Le Comité de coordination nationale pour les forces de changement démocratique (CCND), qui ne fait pas partie de la Coalition nationale de l'opposition syrienne (CNS), le principal rassemblement d'opposants au régime Assad, estime que « les conditions ne sont pas réunies pour réussir cette conférence ».

Le Monde

Un mort à la suite des inondations dans le Var

Un homme est décédé dimanche dans sa voiture emportée par les eaux à Pierrefeu, deuxième décès recensé dans les inondations affectant le Var après des pluies intenses, a annoncé la préfecture du département.
« On déplore deux victimes, un homme de 73 ans décédé dans sa cave à La Londe et un autre homme décédé dans sa voiture emportée à Pierrefeu, et un disparu sur son bateau à La Londe », indique la préfecture dans un communiqué. Une personne était par ailleurs portée disparue sur son bateau à la Londe.

Plusieurs communes du Var, du côté de Hyères et La-Londe-les-Maures, ont été durement touchées et plus de 150 habitants hélitreuillés dimanche après des crues provoquées par les pluies qui se sont abattues depuis vendredi sur la région, où l'alerte orange a en revanche été levée pour les Alpes-Maritimes et les Bouches-du-Rhône. Jean-Marc Ayrault se rendra lundi matin, avec le ministre de l'intérieur Manuel Valls, dans le Var, a annoncé dimanche Matignon.

« La situation est très préoccupante, ça ne va pas s'améliorer cette nuit », a déclaré le préfet du Var, Laurent Cayrel, lors un point presse, évoquant un « record historique de précipitations » à Hyères. Selon la préfecture, le préfet souhaitepouvoir évacuer avant la nuit les personnes des zones où le niveau des cours d'eau peut encore monter.

Alors qu'une accalmie avait permis une légère décrue des cours d'eau varois dans la nuit de samedi à dimanche, un nouvel épisode orageux, localisé mais violent, s'est produit dimanche matin, affectant La Londe, le Lavandou, Bormes-les-Mimosas, Hyères, Pierrefeu, le Luc et Flassans. Au total, 4.000 foyers restaient privés de courant après 16h.

155 PERSONNES HÉLITREUILLÉES

Dix hélicoptères de la gendarmerie, de la Sécurité civile, de la Marine et de l'arméede l'air ont déjà secouru 155 personnes à La Londe, Bormes-les-Mimosas et au Lavandou. Cinq cents sapeurs-pompiers venus du Var et de départements voisins sont déployés sur le terrain.

A la mi-journée, les pensionnaires de maisons de retraite du Lavandou et de Bormes ont été mis en sécurité dans les étages, a indiqué la préfecture. A Hyères, le quartier de l'Oratoire, tout près du cours d'eau le Gapeau, a été évacué, le maire ayant mis en place dès samedi soir préventivement un centre d'hébergement au Forum du casino, dans ce département encore meurtri par les inondations meurtrières de juin 2010.

Au moins six centres d'hébergement ont été ouverts dans les communes sinistrées, dans un gymnase au Luc ou dans un hôtel à Pierrefeu. Pour le maire de Hyères, Jacques Politi, la situation est « sérieuse », plusieurs quartiers ont les pieds dans l'eau, la voie rapide entre Hyères et La Londe-les-Maures également inondée.

Plusieurs cours d'eau connaissent une montée significative, notamment la Nartuby, dont « une hausse assez marquée du niveau est probable d'ici ce (dimanche) soir », selon la préfecture. Même constat pour l'Argens et le Gapeau dont les niveaux pourraient remonter encore. Une vingtaine de routes départementales sont coupées et la SNCF indique que la circulation des trains est interrompue entre Toulon et les Arcs-Draguignan.

LE VAR RESTE EN VIGILANCE ORANGE

Le Var reste en alerte orange pour pluies et inondations jusqu'à lundi 6 heures. Sur les Alpes-Maritimes et les Bouches-du-Rhône, les précipitations moins abondantes permettent de lever le niveau de vigilance.

Sur le Var, les cumuls de pluies mesurés depuis le début de cet épisode pluvieux vendredi sont généralement de 70 à 110 mm, atteignant localement 120 à 160 mm. Les cumuls prévus pour l'ensemble de l'épisode devraient ainsi atteindresouvent 80 à 120 mm, jusque localement 150 à 200 mm, prévoit Météo-France.

Sur les Bouches-du-Rhône en revanche, il devrait continuer de pleuvoir dans les prochaines heures, « mais l'activité faiblit ».

Dans les Alpes-Maritimes, où à Nice 100 mm de pluie sont tombés depuis jeudi soir (contre 85 mm pour un mois de janvier moyen), une dizaine de routes métropolitaines restaient fermées à la circulation dimanche à cause d'éboulements notamment. Au total, une cinquantaine de routes ont été touchées, nécessitant 140 interventions des services techniques de la métropole Nice Côte d'Azur, a indiqué son président Christian Estrosi.

Un éboulement de plus de 150 m3 de roches bloquait toujours l'accès aux villages de Saint-Etienne de Tinée et d'Isola et aux stations d'Auron et d'Isola 2000, dans la vallée de la Tinée.

Le Monde

Le Monde: Affaire Lambert : « Je souhaite que l'on respecte Vincent, au-delà de toute considération idéologique »

Rachel Lambert commente la décision du tribunal administratif de Châlons-en-Champagne qui refuse l'interruption de la nutrition et l'hydratation artificielles de son mari. Une mesure prise par un collège de médecins.

Comment vivez-vous la décision du tribunal administratif de Châlons-en-Champagne ?

Je ressens de la tristesse et suis terrassée par la violence des mots et du non-respect des souhaits de Vincent. La justice a statué sur une décision médicale. C'est ce qui m'interroge le plus aujourd'hui, car les juges ont remis en cause une décision prise par un collège de médecins, sans même avoir vu Vincent. Pour moi, il est difficilement acceptable que la décision reste en l'état. Mais je ne donnerai pour l'heure pas mon avis sur mon prochain engagement judiciaire.

Comment avez-vous vécu l'audience, durant laquelle vous faisiez face à vos beaux-parents ?

Certes, nous avons parlé de l'état de Vincent, on l'a comparé avec l'autisme du fait des difficultés de communication, mais je me suis demandé où il était dans tout ça. Où était sa personnalité d'avant son accident, ses goûts et dégoûts, ses désirs, ses convictions ? Où était son positionnement sur la question de ladépendance ? Où étaient ses volontés ?

Je reste donc dubitative. Vincent a toujours été très clair, il ne souhaitait pas êtrediminué psychologiquement et cognitivement, et pas être dépendant. C'est une question dont nous avions discuté à plusieurs reprises, sans tabou. Je ne suis pas toute seule à le dire. Son frère l'a dit aussi, des frères et soeurs se sont positionnés, et moi j'ai fourni une attestation assez détaillée. Je ne sais pas ce qu'on pouvait attendre de plus. D'ailleurs, ses parents n'ont jamais dit que Vincent n'avait pas tenu ces paroles.

Votre histoire personnelle est désormais sur la place publique, et largement commentée. Qu'en pensez-vous ?

Au-delà de la violence de la décision, la médiatisation de ma vie privée est désagréable. Certains sont allés jusqu'à me demander ma position sur la fin de vieet sur l'euthanasie. Je la garde pour moi. Mon seul intérêt, mon seul désir, c'est defaire entendre la volonté de Vincent.

Le cas de votre mari s'est inscrit dans le débat voulu par le président de la République, qui a promis un projet de loi sur la fin de vie. Comment le vivez-vous ?

Contrairement au lobby « pro-life », les mouvements en faveur de l'euthanasie ne m'ont pas importunée. J'ai l'impression que Vincent est otage d'un mouvement pour la vie coûte que coûte dans le cadre des futures discussions politiques. Mais c'est d'un homme dont il est question ! C'est inadmissible. Je souhaite que l'on se recentre sur lui. Respecter ce qu'il est au-delà de toutes les considérations politiques, idéologiques et sociétales est le plus important.

Source: Le Monde

En Ukraine, la loi restreignant les manifestations promulguée

"Une loi ukrainienne destinée à durcir la législation concernant les manifestations, votée à main levée jeudi par le Parlement, a été promulguée, vendredi 17 janvier, par le président Viktor Ianoukovitch.

Ce texte prévoit notamment des peines allant jusqu'à quinze jours de prison ou des amendes de près de 500 euros pour l'installation de tentes, de scènes ou de haut-parleurs non autorisés au préalable. Les personnes et organisations accusées de fournir des équipements aux contrevenants pourraient elles aussirisquer une amende de près de 1 000 euros ou une peine de dix jours de prison".

"Le vote de cette loi a provoqué le mécontentement de nombreux responsables politiques.

Le secrétaire d'Etat américain John Kerry a fustigé devant la presse cette législation « antidémocratique » qui « [viole] les normes de l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe et de l'Union européenne ». Des élus américains ont par ailleurs prévenu mercredi qu'ils envisageaient d'imposer des sanctions à l'Ukraine et de priver de visas les responsables de la répression des manifestations pro-occidentales à Kiev".

Plus tôt dans la journée, la chef de la diplomatie de l'Union européenne, Catherine Ashton, a elle aussi exprimé son inquiétude. « Je suis profondément préoccupée par les événements de Kiev », a affirmé Mme Ashton, en dénonçant des textes votés « précipitamment » et qui limitent « les droits fondamentaux »des citoyens ukrainiens « à un moment de crise politique ». Somme toute, des lois« qui ne contribuent pas au renforcement de la confiance », a-t-elle conclu.

De son côté, le commissaire chargé de l'élargissement, Stefan Füle, s'est déclaré « profondément préoccupé par une législation qui limite les libertés et contredit les aspirations européennes de l'Ukraine et ses engagements pour un accord d'association » avec l'Union européenne.

Source: Le Monde