International
Obama Visits India With Focus on stopping China Economy
November 06, 2010, 1:21 AM
Nov. 6 2010.
President Barack Obama’s mission overseas in his first two years in office was improving the U.S. image abroad. His next round of travel is focused on repairing the U.S. economy and his relationship with businesses at home.
During a 10-day, four-nation trip, Obama is peppering his schedule with events linked to expanding U.S. exports. On his first day in India, the president will today address the U.S.- India Business Council in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, and huddle with a group of chief executive officers including Jeffrey Immelt of General Electric Co. and Jim McNerney of Boeing Co. to help push along multibillion-dollar deals for U.S. companies.
“The primary purpose is to take a bunch of U.S. companies and open up markets so that we can sell in Asia, in some of the fastest-growing markets in the world,” Obama said Nov. 4 after meeting with his Cabinet at the White House. In an opinion piece published yesterday in the New York Times, he said companies will announce contracts worth “billions of dollars” in India.
While planned long in advance around scheduled meetings of the Group of 20 nations in South Korea and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Japan, Obama’s trip begins four days after U.S. voters in midterm elections turned control of the House of Representatives over to Republicans and narrowed the Democratic Party’s Senate majority. Obama described his party’s losses as a “shellacking.”
New Focus
The sluggish U.S. economy, a national jobless rate that has been at or above 9.5 percent for 14 consecutive months and a federal budget deficit forecast by the administration to hit $1.4 trillion this year were top issues in the campaign.
Obama’s previous overseas trips focused on his vision for U.S. relations with the world, said Heather Conley, director of Europe Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
“Post midterm election, it’s the balancing act of addressing the domestic urgency at home and jobs and being responsive to a very fast-paced international scene,” she said.
Obama said he wants to “show the connection between what we’re doing overseas and what happens here at home when it comes to job growth and economic growth.”
The Indian government is helping the president make his case. “Our investment is creating, saving or supporting tens of thousands of jobs in the United States,” Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters in New Delhi Nov. 4.
Longest Stay
Obama’s three-day stay in India will be his longest in a foreign country as president. Asia’s third-biggest economy, India offers a rapidly growing market for U.S. companies, including Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Fairfield, Connecticut-based GE, the world’s biggest maker of jet engines, power-plant turbines and locomotives.
GE last month won India’s biggest single order for gas and steam turbines, a deal the company valued at more than $750 million, and is seeking nuclear plant contracts there.
Chicago-based Boeing expects to bid for $31 billion worth of military contracts in the next 10 years as it competes with Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin Corp. and other suppliers for orders following a tripling of India’s defense budget.
India is the U.S.’s 12th-largest trading partner and commerce between the two countries more than doubled to $37 billion in 2009 compared with 2003, according to U.S. Commerce Department data. In the first eight months of 2010, total trade topped $32 billion.
High Priority
Obama has given closer relations with India a high priority, as illustrated by his hosting of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the first state visit of his presidency.
Indian officials are looking for the Obama administration to loosen restrictions on trade in high-technology goods, especially those that may have both military and commercial uses, and help in battling extremists, said S. Chandrasekaran, director of the South Asia Analysis Group, a policy-research organization in India.
“It has to be two-way,” Chandrasekaran said. “India is looking for access to dual-technology and better cooperation in counterterrorism, while the U.S. wants business access in India.”
While Obama’s stay in India is likely to yield “a few workman-like agreements,” there is “going to be no big bang” to boost the slowly growing economic and strategic partnership, Sumit Ganguly, an Indian-American political science professor at Indiana University, said in a phone interview in New Delhi.
Memorial Service
“Unless both governments suddenly pull some rabbits out of their hats, the results will not be as dramatic as they’d hoped,” he said.
Obama begins his trip with a memorial service today for the victims of the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. He’ll stay in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, the scene of dozens of deaths. Tomorrow he’s scheduled to leave for New Delhi, the capital, where he will hold talks with Singh. Obama will address India’s Parliament Nov. 8.
The president will also find some time for cultural excursions. He will visit a former Mumbai residence of the Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, and the New Delhi tomb of a 16th century Mughal emperor, Humayun.
After India, he will squeeze in a twice-delayed trip to Indonesia, where he lived as a boy, before heading to the G-20 summit in South Korea’s capital, Seoul, and the APEC meeting in Yokohama, Japan. That portion of the trip also is focused on U.S. economic concerns.
‘New Markets’
“We need to find new customers in new markets for American-made goods,” Obama wrote in the New York Times. “Our government, together with American businesses and workers, must take steps to promote and sell our goods and services abroad — particularly in Asia.”
“Obama in his international globetrotting now has to show that he is creating benefits for American business,” said Steven Clemons, an analyst at the New America Foundation, a Washington-based policy research group. “He is shifting from a kinder, gentler, less unilateral stance in terms of foreign policy to one where he needs to show bottom-line benefits from American engagement abroad.”
| Rank |
Name |
Organization |
Age |
| 1 |
Hu Jintao
President
|
People’s Republic of China |
67 |
| 2 |
Barack Obama
President
|
United States of America |
49 |
| 3 |
Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud
King
|
Saudi Arabia |
86 |
| 4 |
Vladimir Putin
Prime Minister
|
Russia |
58 |
| 5 |
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope
|
Roman Catholic Church |
83 |
| 6 |
Angela Merkel
Chancellor
|
Germany |
56 |
| 7 |
David Cameron
Prime Minister
|
United Kingdom |
44 |
| 8 |
Ben Bernanke
Chairman
|
Federal Reserve |
56 |
| 9 |
Sonia Gandhi
President
|
Indian National Congress |
63 |
| 10 |
Bill Gates
Co-Chair
|
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
55 |
| 11 |
Zhou Xiaochuan
Governor
|
People’s Bank of China |
62 |
| 12 |
Dmitry Medvedev
President
|
Russia |
45 |
| 13 |
Rupert Murdoch
CEO
|
News Corp. |
79 |
| 14 |
Silvio Berlusconi
Prime Minister
|
Italy |
74 |
| 15 |
Jean-Claude Trichet
President
|
European Central Bank |
67 |
| 16 |
Dilma Rousseff
President
|
Brazil |
62 |
| 17 |
Steve Jobs
CEO
|
Apple |
55 |
| 18 |
Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister
|
India |
78 |
| 19 |
Nicolas Sarkozy
President
|
France |
55 |
| 20 |
Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State
|
United States of America |
63 |
| 21 |
Carlos Slim Helu
Chairman
|
Telmex |
70 |
| 22 |
Larry Page
Co-Founder
|
Google |
37 |
| 22 |
Sergey Brin
Co-Founder
|
Google |
37 |
| 23 |
Michael Bloomberg
Mayor
|
New York City |
68 |
| 24 |
Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister
|
Israel |
61 |
| 25 |
Michael Duke
CEO
|
Wal-Mart |
60 |
| 26 |
Ali Hoseini-Khamenei
Grand Ayatollah
|
Iran |
71 |
| 27 |
Naoto Kan
Prime Minister
|
Japan |
64 |
| 28 |
Timothy Geithner
Secretary of the Treasury
|
United States of America |
49 |
| 29 |
Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
Chief of Army Staff
|
Pakistan |
58 |
| 30 |
Lou Jiwei
Chairman
|
China Investment Corporation |
59 |
| 31 |
Kim Jong-il
Supreme Leader
|
North Korea |
68 |
| 32 |
Li Changchun
Propaganda Chief
|
People’s Republic of China |
66 |
| 33 |
Warren Buffett
CEO
|
Berkshire Hathaway |
80 |
| 34 |
Mukesh Ambani
Chairman
|
Reliance Industries |
53 |
| 35 |
Jeffrey Immelt
CEO
|
General Electric |
54 |
| 36 |
Li Ka-shing
Chairman
|
Hutchison Whampoa & Chueng Kong Holdings |
82 |
| 37 |
Dominique Strauss-Kahn
Managing Director
|
International Monetary Fund |
61 |
| 38 |
Masaaki Shirakawa
Governor
|
Bank of Japan |
61 |
| 39 |
Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
|
Tibet |
75 |
| 40 |
Mark Zuckerberg
Founder
|
Facebook |
26 |
| 41 |
Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General
|
United Nations |
66 |
| 42 |
Lloyd Blankfein
CEO
|
Goldman Sachs |
56 |
| 43 |
Bernard Arnault
Chairman
|
Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) |
61 |
| 44 |
Lakshmi Mittal
Chairman
|
ArcelorMittal ADS |
60 |
| 45 |
Robert Zoellick
President
|
The World Bank Group |
57 |
| 46 |
Robin Li
CEO
|
Baidu |
41 |
| 47 |
Jamie Dimon
Chairman
|
JPMorgan Chase |
54 |
| 48 |
Larry Fink
CEO
|
BlackRock |
58 |
| 49 |
Rex Tillerson
CEO
|
ExxonMobil |
58 |
| 50 |
Bill Keller
Executive Editor
|
The New York Times |
61 |
| 51 |
Sebastian Pinera
President
|
Chile |
60 |
| 52 |
Igor Sechin
Deputy Prime Minister
|
Russia |
50 |
| 53 |
Abdalla Salem El-Badri
Secretary General
|
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) |
70 |
| 54 |
Charles Koch
CEO
|
Koch Industries |
75 |
| 54 |
David Koch
Executive Vice President
|
Koch Industries |
70 |
| 55 |
Masayoshi Son
CEO
|
SoftBank |
53 |
| 56 |
Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan
President
|
United Arab Emirates |
62 |
| 57 |
Osama bin Laden
Founder
|
Al Qaida |
53 |
| 58 |
Eike Batista
CEO
|
EBX Group |
54 |
| 59 |
Bill Gross
Co-Founder
|
PIMCO |
66 |
| 60 |
Joaquin Guzman Loera
Drug Trafficker
|
Sinaloa Cartel |
55 |
| 61 |
Ratan Tata
Chairman
|
Tata Sons |
72 |
| 62 |
Wang Yong
Chairman
|
State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of China (SASAC) |
55 |
| 63 |
Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar
Leader
|
D-Company |
54 |
| 64 |
Oprah Winfrey
Media Personality
|
The Oprah Winfrey Show |
56 |
| 65 |
Joseph "Sepp" Blatter
President
|
International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) |
74 |
| 66 |
Jeff Bezos
CEO
|
Amazon |
46 |
| 67 |
Jacques Rogge
President
|
International Olympic Committee |
68 |
| 68 |
Julian Assange
Editor-In-Chief
|
WikiLeaks |
Sarkozy fait le Kow Tow à Hu Jintao chef de l’empire du Dragon et de la répression !
29/04/2010
C’est la photo qui tue. Sans doute ce « moment décisif » cher à Henri Cartier-Bresson était-il trop tentant pour symboliser la nouvelle puissance chinoise et la contrition de Nicolas Sarkozy qui cherchait à se réconcilier avec LA nouvelle superpuissance. Et peut-être que cette image est totalement trompeuse, ne montrant qu’un instant déconnecté de son environnement.
Il n’empêche, cette photo de l’agence Reuters est violente car elle illustre à merveille les nouveaux rapports de force mondiaux tels que cherchent à les signifier les dirigeants chinois, d’abord à leur peuple, et au reste du monde.
Nicolas Sarkozy aurait pu s’éviter cette scène s’il s’était référé à l’histoire récente, et à celle plus ancienne.
Début avril, Barack Obama avait été sévèrement critiqué par ses adversaires républicains pour s’être incliné devant Hu Jintao, avec la même courbette que celle de Sarkozy, lors de la visite à Washington du président chinois pour assister au sommet sur le nucléaire. « Obama s’incline devant un communiste chinois », avait titré le Drudge Report ! En novembre dernier, le président américain avait déjà encouru les foudres des Républicains pour une courbette très similaire devant l’empereur Akihito du Japon.
Certains commentateurs avaient rappelé au passage que Dick Cheney avait salué le même empereur « le dos droit », et que le général MacArthur, à la défaite du Japon à l’issue de la deuxième guerre mondiale, avait rencontré son père Hirohito, les mains sur les hanches…
Le « kow tow » devant l’empereur
Plus loin de nous, mais de manière tout aussi pertinente, les premières rencontres diplomatiques entre la Chine et le reste du monde avaient été totalement ratées à cause de cette histoire de courbettes.
Lorsque l’émissaire de la Couronne britannique, Lord MacCartney, est arrivé à Pékin en 1793, il lui a été signifié que pour être reçu par le tout puissant Empereur Qianlong il fallait faire le « kow tow », c’est-à-dire trois courbettes.
Estimant qu’il s’agissait d’un signe d’allégeance qu’un représentant du roi d’Angleterre ne pouvait accepter, MacCartney avait quitté Pékin sans avoir vu l’empereur.
Un deuxième émissaire britannique, vingt ans plus tard, William Pitt Amherst, se retrouvait dans la même situation, et repartait bredouille sans avoir accepté l’infamant « kow tow ». Cette incapacité à communiquer entraîna par la suite les guerres de l’opium et une confrontation entre la Chine et l’Europe qui laissa bien des traces douloureuses.
Alors, la courbette devant Hu Jintao s’apparente-t-elle au « kow tow » d’antan ? Ce serait malhonnête et polémique de l’affirmer, d’autant que la pratique de la courbette ne figure plus au protocole chinois. Même si la raideur du président chinois face à la malléabilité de ses interlocuteurs occidentaux, même s’il était la puissance invitante, ne peut manquer de susciter des commentaires amusés, et parfois inquiétants, sur le monde qui s’annonce.
On ne sait si la délégation française a répété la scène de la rencontre avec le président chinois, si les conseillers en communication et en « image » de l’Elysée ont fait des recommandations en ce sens.
Mais il en est un qui a cru bon de s’abaisser très très bas, c’est Jean-Louis Borloo, le ministre de l’Ecologie, que l’on voit ici en pleine action.
C’est sa secrétaire d’Etat Chantal Jouanno qui appréciera, elle qui avait dénoncé (entre autres) la Chine parmi les responsables de l’échec du Sommet de Copenhague…
Photos : Nicolas Sarkozy et Jean-Louis Borloo serrent la main du président chinois Hu Jin Tao le 28 avril 2010 à Pékin. Le kow-tow devant une cour de justice.
Happy Comeback of Harry Reid
Harry Reid played every angle in his quest for reelection. | AP Photo Close
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A lot of people have gone broke betting against Harry Reid over the years, and Tuesday was no exception.
How, exactly, did the Senate majority leader win a decisive reelection victory after being all but left for dead?
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Listen
The answer serves as a textbook-worthy case study of hard and soft campaign science. Reid played every angle. If there was an advantage to be taken, no matter how slim, he seized it. Aided by a top-flight campaign team and prodigious fundraising, he made sure no opportunity went to waste.
In the end, he captured over 50 percent of the vote to Republican Sharron Angle’s 45 percent. He overcame his home-state voters’ often intense disapproval of his performance and President Barack Obama; a Republican wave that brought down long-serving Democrats across the country; the fury and passion of the tea party; and dire local and national economic conditions.
What follows is a step-by-step guide to the Harry Reid method of winning elections.
Plan ahead
Reid saw years ago that he would have a tough reelection in 2010, and he vowed not to let happen to him what happened to his friend Tom Daschle, the Democratic leader who was defeated in South Dakota in 2004. There’s a school of thought that believes Daschle was caught napping. Reid had actually started building up the Nevada Democratic apparatus back in 2002, after the party suffered a series of defeats in statewide races to a better-organized state GOP. After Reid’s easy 2004 win and ascension to leadership, the work for 2010 began in earnest. He raised nearly $25 million for his campaign, demolishing the previous record — about $7 million — for the state’s most expensive campaign ever. He hired top-flight national consultants to work on the race, and they ran a scorched-earth effort, ensuring that every Angle gaffe was unearthed and responding quickly to any new development.
Build a machine
Reid and his top political adviser, Rebecca Lambe, turned the Nevada State Democratic Party from a squabbling club into a second-to-none professional operation. He used his considerable fundraising muscle to ensure the party had plenty of cash, and oversaw — not to say micromanaged — operations and candidate recruitment at all levels. Reid successfully lobbied the Democratic National Committee to put Nevada on the presidential nominating calendar in 2008 right after Iowa and New Hampshire; Obama, Hillary Clinton and other candidates competed hard in the state, and the party registered 30,000 new Democrats the day of the caucuses alone.
Reid’s grass-roots operation dovetailed nicely with the Obama campaign’s organizing effort, and, as soon as the 2008 election was over, Reid fine-tuned it to work for him. With multiple campaign offices across the state and legions of staffers and volunteers, Reid’s turnout operation ensured that even in a Republican year, in a state mad at Democrats, more of his voters were flushed out of their houses and to the polls than Angle’s.
Zero South Biodiesel Electric Hummer – Click above for high-res image gallery
Zero South, a company that popped up at SEMA in2008, is back again with its Biodiesel Electric Hummer. The heavily modified H1 rides on tracks at all four corners – a necessary modification, since this Hummer is designed for an expedition to the South Pole.
The trip is going to be documented by Chris Paine, who’s best known for the film Who Killed the Electric Car? It was reported back in 2008 that the vehicle was going to be driven by Buzz Aldrin and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. The film is called Drive Around the World and was shot in 3D. Drive Around the World is also the name of an organization that works to inspire an urge to explore while raising money for various charities. The H1 shown above is Zero South’s vehicle for participating in these expeditions.
The Zero South Biodiesel Electric Hummer was originally setuo to run on B99 fuel, but Jay Leno joined the team and modified the powertrain so that a four-cylinder diesel Volkswagen engine would act as a generator to four electric motors. Each motor would then provide power to the individual track it’s coupled to. It’s one heck of a Hummer, and we invite you to check it out for yourself in the gallery below.
It’s time for Episode #202 of the Autoblog Podcast, and the cast of characters keeps on revolving as auto show season starts ramping up. Steven Ewing joins Chris and Dan this week to kck the ball around about SEMA, the Consumer Reports Reliability survey for 2010, the refreshed Dodge Grand Caravan and Avenger and the Cadillac ATS. We wrap it up with your feedback and questions before calling it a night at the hour and a half mark. Thanks for listening, see you next week!
Reliability, Chrysler interiors and the Cadillac ATS
Design Ferrari 458 Italia – Click above for high-res image gallery
HRE had a trio of cars parked in its booth, one of them being a Ferrari 458 Italia tuned by British aftermarket house Oakely Design. The car was showed off for the first time in June, and in white, and Oakley said it would build just five. The production was upped to the seven, and this one here comes in a hue red rich enough to make Sleeping Beauty want to take another bite.
The carbon fiber lip up front boosts downforce by more than 50 pounds, and the sliver of a rear spoiler adds about 48 more pounds of aero downforce to the rear axle at 150 miles per hour. A carbon fiber roof panel, mirror housings and 20-inch HRE wheels complete the coupe’s Jenny Craig makeover, with the rims subtracting 11 pounds at each corner. Performance mods tune the car to 632 horsepower, and a reflashed ECU is meant to make the most of it. Oakley’s work is said to reduce the 0-62 mph time to three seconds and top speed is a lofty 208 mph.
Just in front of that was a Gumpert Apollo, rarely seen on the big-rim circuit, wearing a set of single-lug-nut HRE’s, and a Porche GT3 RS with some fire-engine red multi-spokes. They’re all in the gallery of high-res photos below.
Ford Fiestas
Perhaps the biggest (or smallest) champion car for Ford this year has been the 2011 Fiesta. The fizzy little sedan and hatchback duo are drawing a lot of attention to Blue Oval showrooms, and thus, Ford has a whole flock Fiestas represented at this year’s show.
A host of aftermarket tuning companies have put their touches on the pint-sized Ford – modified Fiestas from 3DCarbon, H&R Springs, Steeda Autosports and FSWerks are all on hand, just to name a few. Our favorite, though, might be the automaker’s own Ford Racing Performance Parts Fiesta, powered by a modified version of FoMoCo’s 2.0-liter EcoBoost four (bumped to 2.3 liters), that produces a staggering 350 horsepower. We’ll take two. See the full grip of Fiestas live from Las Vegas in our high-res gallery below.
The Real Deal: A 1964 Shelby Cobra, CSX2557
Shelby and Factory Five Racing have been going at it for years. Back in 2000, Shelby filed suit against the Massachusetts-based replica builder, which resulted in Factory Five being allowed to continue building cars as long as it made no reference to the terms "Cobra," "427 S/C," "Shelby," "Shelby Cobra," "Daytona Coupe" or "Daytona Coupe Cobra." Eight years of apparent peace passed until Shelby again filed suit against FFR because the company felt that the the replica builder’s Type 65 Coupe name was too close to its Shelby Daytona Coupe. The court ruled in favor of Factory Five.
The two companies went back to court a third time because Shelby recently attempted to patent the shape of the Cobra. Well, the case has been settled and the result is yet effectively another victory for Factory Five Racing. The United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board felt that the shape of the Cobra does not solely belong to Carroll Shelby. Factory Five had the following to say:
"On October 13th, 2010, the court denied his application and our opposition was successful. We felt that if he were to get a trademark on the Cobra shape, his PR machine would use that to make the legitimate replica industry look bad. Our position was that a Shelby trademark would have ignored the factual history of the car, which started life as an AC car with a Ford engine in it, as well as completely discounting the huge contributions that replica guys have made to the car’s continuing legacy since the 1970’s. We have never denied Shelby’s part in history, but he has enjoyed huge popularity, in-part, due to replicas.
Looking back, our little company has done more than anyone ever to secure this car for all. Factory Five Racing and our customers have made such a huge contribution to the industry over the years.
I am attaching the Court’s opinion as a PDF document here so you can read it for yourself. Factory Five Racing does not use the word COBRA to describe our products."
You can weigh in on the outcome for yourself and read the full, 49-page ruling of the of the court here: Shelby vs FFR. Thanks for the tip, Bip-D-Bo!
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Toyota Prius Plus Performance Package
Looks like Honda isn’t the only automaker trying to cash in on the idea of a "sport hybrid." Toyata has just debuted its new line of Plus performance parts at this year’s show, and the first vehicle to benefit from these new accessories is the Prius hybrid.
The Prius Plus Performance Package (say that three times fast) includes a seven-piece aero kit that still allows the sleek hatch to maintain its 0.25 coefficient of drag. The new front and rear bumper spoilers, side skirts and rear diffuser are rounded off with an attractive set of 17-inch forged wheels wrapped in slick 215/45-series tires.
In an effort to keep things as economical as possible, the Prius’ hybrid engine does not receive any upgrades, but the hatch’s suspension has been tweaked to provide better overall handling. Sport-tuned lowering springs have been fitted and a rear sway bar has been put in place to keep things flat and stable during cornering.
Toyota will be offering the Plus Performance Package in limited quantities beginning in April of next year. Follow the jump for the official details and see the modded-up Prius for yourself in the galleries below.
Never say Toyota doesn’t understand the crowd at SEMA, bringing a Sienna minivan and Scion xB with bodies engorged several feet like rolling demonstrators for ExtenZe. How else do you put the swagger in your wagon?
2011 Honda CR-Z Mugen – Click above for high
Heads up, CR-Z fans: Honda has announced that the company will be releasing a mere 300 Mugen accessory kits for the Japanese sport hybrid. The ultra-rare bodywork includes bits like a completely revised front fascia with an altered grille design, a massive rear spoiler and flashy 17-inch rollers. Under the hood things stay nearly completely stock, though Honda has swapped the
blasé plastic oil filler cap with a billet aluminum piece. Astounding, we know.
But all of that pales in comparison to the interior work. Along with a new shift knob, Honda has installed "sport mats." We aren’t entirely sure what makes a floor mat sporty, but we’ll take their word for it.
The body kits will be available in all five CR-Z colors. So far, there’s no word on how much the kits will cost, but we can’t imagine they’ll go cheap.
Ford Police Interceptor Stealth Concept
While we should be excited to see Ford show off a new, updated cop car, the Police Interceptor Stealth Concept already has us checking our rear-view mirrors. The full details on this cop cruiser were released yesterday
, but seeing it under the bright lights. The man behind the car, Ford designer Melvin Betancourt, says he drew inspiration from the SR-71 Blackbird stealth plane. The blacked-out finish and hidden blue and reds, coupled with the potential for hosting a 365-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 under the hood are more than enough to cause speed-limit scofflaws to think twice about pushing harder on that gas pedal.
It’s not only the outside that incorporates the idea of stealth design. The interior features a police radio hidden in the console, along with the on-board computer and the glove box has a hidden space to hide weapons. Slow down and check out the Stealth concept in our high-res gallery, below.
7Tune.com’s Adam Zillin was chilling at Fuji Speedway when two Lexus LF-As arrived for some race-quality testing. This blue example flashed yellow brake calipers, some of the infinite customization Toyota promised for its supercar fans.
If you’ve ever heard of the Dacia Sandero, it’s probably from Clarkson teasing James May about it on Top Gear. The no-nonsense, bare-bones hatchback – sold alternatively as a Renault in markets where its budget subsidiary Dacia doesn’t exist – is a favorite of Captain Slow.
In South America, the Sandero also comes as a crossover version called the Stepway, and taller though it is, it’s just as decidedly spartan. That didn’t stop Renault from drumming up some excitement over the budget range, however, with the show car you see here.
Envisioned as a successor to the current model and closer to a junior Duster, the Sandero Stepway Concept dials up the glitz factor just a touch with a sporty body kit, three-tone paint scheme and enough blue LEDs to light up the trendiest of night clubs. Also, some flower decals… for some reason. The result is something akin to a futuristic cup of cappuccino, and you can check it out in further detail in the high-resolution image gallery below.
Gallery: Renault Sandero in Brazil
[Source: Renault]
Airhead Kustoms Ford F-350 Super Duty
Airhead Kustoms is going big for the show . Calling its creation the Pit Boss, Airhead Kustoms has teamed up with Cars by Kris to transform the rugged 2011Ford F-350 Super Duty into the ultimate tow and support truck. The already lofty power numbers of the stock pickup have been given a boost thanks to the addition of a Snow Performance water/methanol injection system, Nitrous Express diesel nitrous system and an AFE Power cold air intake.
Sorting out the ride and handling is a DJM Suspension setup that uses front lowering beams, a rear flip kit and beefy shock absorbers. Hellwig anti-roll bars and Firestone Ride-Rite air helper springs further aid in keeping this Pit Boss in check.
Inside, the Super Duty interior has been upgraded with a custom headliner and leather upholstery. A Rockford Fosgate sound system and a Dashboard Devices in-dash computer provide plenty of entertainment and information. The Pit Boss was built to get a race car to the track but the interior keeps things cozy once you are there. Have a look for yourself in our high-res gallery below.
If you own a 2011 Genaral Motors vehicle equipped with OnStar and you also carry an iPhone or Android-based phone, then you are in for a treat. Two new apps have just been released for your smartphones: myChevrolet and OnStar MyLink. OnStar MyLink works with the onboard OnStar system in your car and offers location-based services, such as a GPS parking reminder and vehicle reference material. The MyLink app also features a searchable database of warning lights, dashboard indicator lights and a variety of commonly searched features from the owner’s manual.
The myChevrolet app takes things a step further. Working in conjunction with the OnStar app, the myChevrolet application allows you to lock or unlock the doors, start the engine and access a wealth of diagnostic information. The app allows you to see fuel level, remaining oil life and current tire pressure.
These features aren’t just for Chevy owners either; the app is available for Buick, GMC and Cadillac models, as well, in the form of myBuick, myGMC and myCadillac. All of the apps are available as a free download from the phone’s respective app marketplace. The full details are available in GM’s press blast, after the jump.
[Source: General Motors]
This is what happens at SEMA: you’re strolling the aisles minding your own business, you turn your head and then a cluster of mighty malicious metal rocks you like a
pow! straight out of vintage Batman. Holy Toledo! In this case it was the Savini Wheels booth, loaded up with a sedan and four coupes that should be parked outside the Legion of Doom. A Rolls -Royce Ghost inscribed with the ominous phrase "The Omen Machine" (probably meant for Lex Luthor), sits among a Lamborguini Murcielago with white-carbon-fiber-accented rims, Mercedes SLS, Bentley Continental GT and aFerrariu 458 on a delicious set of spokes.
We couldn’t get any more information on the cars or wheels because the hall wasn’t open yet… but what more do you need? Beastly cars for bad, bad men are in the high-res gallery below.
Platinum Motorsports SL65 AMG at Continental’s SEMA booth – Click above for hiigh-res image gallery
The Mercedez-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series isn’t short in the tooth, but gussied up correctly it can still make a worthy meal for the autophile – even when it’s dressed in everybody’s-doin’-it matte gray. Continental tire’s booth, showcasing its ExtremeContact DW and ExtremeContact DWS rubber, had this light-eating creature from Platinum Motorsports glaring from the corner. ‘Roided-up skirts and splitters with carbon fiber trimmings abound, and every transparent plane has been remedied by the liberal application of tints. We’d buy that for it for a dollar, no doubt.
There was something else under covers that we’ll be bringing you later. For now, the SL65 AMG was left to preside over a back-up band consisting of a Bentley Continental GT, a Maybach as black as the intergalactic void itself, and a BMW racer with a set of slick slicks. Enjoy the view in the galleries below.
2009 Mazda MX-5
Mazda is hard at work on the next-generation MX-5. We know the automaker has set a target weight of 2,200 pounds for the forthcoming roadster, and it plans to keep weight distribution at the magic 50/50 figure. A new report from
Autocar, however, reveals a bit more information about what’s in store for the new MX-5.
Mazda showed off a concept vehicle back in 2003, called the Ibuki, that previewed the styling of the current generation car and many believed that was all it revealed. However, the Ibuki concept featured a twin-backbone frame that can be found in the current Mazda RX-8. This layout allows for vital components, such as the powertrain, gas tank and exhaust system, to be placed between the front and rear axle. The twin-backbone setup also enables the automaker to produce an open-top car with the rigidity of a fixed-roof vehicle. If the next-generation MX-5 receives these updates, it will allow Mazda to take its iconic two-seater to new heights.
Takao Kajima, who was in charge of the suspension on the first generation car and then promoted to program manager for the second, says:
"The MX-5 must always be lightweight sports. The car has got bigger and heavier over the past decade, but it’s now time to reverse the process and get back to basics."
Those words are pure symphony to the ears of Miata owners around the world. As for what Mazda is planning for the next-gen MX-5, consider us on the edge of our seat.
The R/T version of the reworked Dodge Charger peeped out from under the covers at SEMA long enough for us to grab a few shots, showing Dodge gaining supremacy in the race for fake ducts.
Neiman Marcus 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Behold one of the quickest-selling special edition vehicles in General Motors history – the Neiman Marcus 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible A total of 100 models just like the one you see above sold in a scant three minutes, which is nothing short of astounding given the vehicle’s lofty $75,000 price tag. With its show-car quality metallic purple paint (GM calls it Deep Bordeaux), unique red-trimmed wheels and high-end interior, the droptop is likely to be the nicest Camaro to roll out of Detroit anytime soon.
Don’t let anyone tell you that exclusivity isn’t worth something.
The Neiman Marcus 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is laying the groundwork for the production model, which is slated to land next year with a more manageable MSRP of around $30,000.
2010 Audi A3 TDI – Diesel is slowly making an impression here in the United States and Audi has been paying attention. Parent company Volkswagen has been selling a steady stream of diesels for many years, and the enthusiasm for the oil-burners has filtered up into the luxury segment. By 2015, Audi plans to have a diesel variant available for every volume product in its lineup.
This means we still won’t see a production R8 V12 TDI, but it does mean we can look forward to seeing the A4 , A6, A8 and Q5 with TDI variants. Currently, the A3 and Q7 are the only US Audis available with diesel engines. You’ve no doubt seen rolling past you as you stop for gas, since the diesel version now accounts for nearly half of all A3 sales. 40 percent of Q7s have the diesel engine under the hood, and Audi is having trouble keeping either model in stock.
Automakers face stricter fuel economy targets in the coming years, and one way to improve their lineups’ mile-per-gallon figures is by adding diesel versions across the entire range. Audi believes that by 2015, diesels will make up 20 percent of the U.S. sales volume – a vast improvement over the current 5.5 percent.
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet has made it clear that the company has a strong interest in helping owners get the most out of vehicles like the Corvette and the Camaro on a race track. While the epic Covette Z06X Concept was seemingly envisioned as the Bow Tie answer to the Dodge Viper ACR-X, Chevrolet is showing the Camaro similar love via the SSX Concept. The car makes use of a host of carbon fiber in places like the trunk lid, hood, fenders and doors to keep weight as low as possible, and while the company isn’t saying exactly how many pounds it managed to shed compared to the standard SS, we’ve got to imagine that the figure is far from insubstantial.
In addition to putting the Camaro on a diet, Chevrolet also took it upon itself to play havoc with the 6.2-liter under the hood by bolting on tricks like new CNC aluminum cylinder heads, sliding in a new camshaft and swapping in a dry-sump oil system. Make no mistake, with around 524 horsepower on tap, this dog will hunt. Hit the jump for the full press blast.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06X Concept
Chevrolet was kind enough to give us a sneak sampling of what the company has planned for SEMA 2010, and the star of the show looks to be the car you see above. Called the Corvette Z06X, the bruiser is effectively a race-ready behemoth with a host of suspension tweaks and a slew of weight-reducing materials on board. Built by the Corvette legends at Pratt and Miller, this Satin White machine started its life as a Z06
with the CFZ carbon-fiber package. Throw in an adjustable rear wing borrowed straight from the C6R along with a full SCCA roll cage and you’ve got the bones for go-fast trackday goodness.
Nov. 2 2010 – 5:28 pm
Operating without a net, I am writing this prior to the polls closing (not to mention the counting of absentee ballots and of course recounts). The number one activity in D.C. for tax folks is trying to figure out what is going to happen after the elections in regards to taxes. I thought it useful to tell you not only what may happen but also why certain things may or may not happen.
Let’s start first with the known. The Democrats are going to have a night that is somewhere between bad (lose the House) and absolutely awful (lose 8 or more Senate seats, lose the House badly — 55+ seats, dog eats salsa and gets sick). The unknown is what will be the President’s reaction to all this — will he seek to move to the middle or will he “stay the course.” The L.A. Times is reporting that the President has scheduled a press conference for Wednesday afternoon — that should hopefully give a strong indication of whether the toast falls butter up or down. In someways everything else discussed below is based on whether the President engages the new Congress or not.
Lame Duck
First a background point on lame duck. Recall that there are four Senate seats that are to fill a position of an appointed Senator – Colorado, Delaware, Illinois and W Virginia. As I understand it, because those are elections to complete a term of office (not a new term of office) the winners of those elections will fill that seat immediately — i.e. they will be seated in lame duck. The Republicans have the wind blowing somewhat their way in Colorado and Illinois in the most recent polls (see realclearpolitics.com), a close race with the Democrat ahead in West Virginia and the Democrat is way ahead in Delaware. My prediction the Republicans will have at least two additional Senators in lame duck – making for a 57-43 lame duck Senate. This makes it all the more difficult for the Senate Democrat leadership to try to force the hard hand — keeping their members together and picking off the needed Republicans to get to 60.
Second, a general point — from discussions with folks on the Hill there is not much sentiment for doing anything regarding tax in a lame duck. Having been there both as windshield and bug after big elections the first reaction is folks are usually pretty stunned (not to mention the zombie factor of a lot of elected officials wandering around who just lost) and after the shock wears off (and grinding of teeth) there comes a sense (for good or bad) to leave the mess to the next crew coming in as a lovely housewarming gift.
AMT and Extenders: If the Congress was going to do anything regarding tax these would probably be the easiest tax matters to deal with in lame duck. Everyone on both sides loves tax extenders and AMT is a given. The fight is about offsets. Chairman Baucus has already white-flagged on the S Corporation tax increase — that I first highlighted in a previous column. That leaves the other contentious revenue raiser of carried interest — aka the weather tax — everyone likes to talk about it but no one ever does anything about it. I expect that the carried interest as currently drafted will be signficantly watered down, delayed or discarded if there is any lame duck deal. If the Democrats would agree to half a loaf (some revenue raisers that partially offset the extenders and AMT and that don’t raise red flags to the Republicans) then these two items could get done in lameduck. I could also see a clean one-year AMT/extender package with no offsets as the last train out before members leave for Thanksgiving/Christmas.
The Bush Tax Cuts: The Democrats have been in the balloon float exercise lately — putting out ideas of allowing all the tax cuts to stay in place (for an unstated period of time) except for those making over $1 million or alternatively that they would provide a permanent (or five-year) extension of all the Bush tax cuts for households making less than 250k and a one-year extension for those making more than 250k (the “decoupling” strategy). These political gambits will not survive the impact of the election results. The Republicans will insist on a clean extension for everyone (my guess is for two years).
Solving the Bush tax cut problem in lame duck will be a tall order. The Democrats don’t have the votes to force their proposals (and to seek to do so in the face of the election results seems unlikely), Alternatively, it would be hard cheese for Democrats (many who will be turning in their Congressional parking passes) to have to vote for the Republican proposal.
The delay in enacting tax legislation has the very real problem of potentially reducing the amount of dollars in paychecks for working families who are struggling enough already (as the withholding tables are adjusted to reflect the new-higher tax rates). Not only would the smaller paycheck hurt families but it would also have a significant negative impact on the economy (and yes, for tax professionals a journey of hell dealing with filing season, withholding, etc.).
However, readers should know that there is a growing consensus that Treasury/IRS has the authority to not change the withholding tables IF there is strong indication from elected officials that there will not be an increase in taxes.
This authority by Treasury/IRS to not change withholding tables points to what may be the likely path for taxes: Little to nothing done in lame duck for the reasons mentioned above. However — if the President does indicate a willingness to work with Congress on Wednesday – negotiations could begin now with the new House Republican leadership and Senate Democrats and Republicans on a consensus tax package (most likely — a two year extension of all Bush tax cuts as well as additional items favored by the President such as a payroll tax holiday and expensing).
For these discussions to succeed the President will need to recognize the results of the election and work with Republicans AND the Republicans will also need to be gracious in victory and bear in mind that the President is still the President and that they need to work with him (including a payroll holiday being an example). A consensus tax package would be announced hopefully very quickly (giving consumers confidence going into the holiday shopping season) and then enacted in January when the new Congress is seated.
We will see — readers should bear foremost in mind that the outlook on taxes is a very wide open situation (although I think certain scenarios can be ruled out) and much will depend on the President’s response to the elections.
L’Empire du Dragon (La Chine), est le outsider de la présidence française du G20
Nicolas Sarkozy espère rallier cette semaine la Chine à ses propositions pour un nouvel ordre économique et monétaire mondial dans le cadre de la présidence française du G20, dont il attend beaucoup sur le plan intérieur.
Nicolas Sarkozy espère rallier la Chine à ses propositions pour un nouvel ordre économique et monétaire mondial dans le cadre de la présidence française du G20, dont il attend beaucoup sur le plan intérieur. (Reuters/Jonathan Bainbridge)
Le président français aura deux entretiens et deux dîners, jeudi à Paris et vendredi à Nice, avec son homologue chinois Hu Jintao, en visite d’Etat, pour tenter d’obtenir un soutien crucial pour le succès de sa stratégie.
Il veut que le G20 sous présidence française pose en 2011 les premiers jalons d’une réforme du système monétaire (SMI), s’attaque à la volatilité des prix des matières premières, se penche sur la gouvernance économique mondiale et promeuve des "financements innovants" en faveur de l’aide au développement.
Un programme si ambitieux qu’il fait tiquer plus d’un partenaire de Paris et n’a de chance d’aboutir à des résultats concrets que si la France s’assure la coopération de la Chine, désormais deuxième puissance économique mondiale.
Nicolas Sarkozy, qui retrouvera Hu Jintao le 12 novembre au sommet du G20 de Séoul, semble avoir retenu les leçons des négociations sur le climat, que Pékin a largement contribué à faire capoter en décembre 2009 à Copenhague.
Il s’abstient désormais de sermonner Pékin sur le yuan, qu’il accusait naguère d’être artificiellement sous-évalué et de favoriser outrageusement les exportations chinoises.
Il s’efforce d’associer la Chine à la préparation de la présidence française, qui débutera au lendemain de Séoul, et lui a proposé d’organiser un séminaire sur la réforme du SMI.
L’"HÉGÉMONIE" DU DOLLAR
"Les Chinois sont intéressés par la démarche française parce que ça leur permet de poser la question de l’hégémonie du dollar. C’est un point de convergence avec la France", explique l’économiste Jean-Joseph Boillot, spécialiste de l’Asie.
Le gouverneur de la Banque de Chine, Zhou Xiachuan, a lancé le 23 mars 2009 un pavé dans la mare en proposant de faire des droits de tirage spéciaux (DTS) du Fonds monétaire international une monnaie de réserve "déconnectée des nations individuelles".
Paris a pris la balle au bond : "Ce sera un des sujets que nous aborderons dans le cadre du G20", a dit le 1er septembre dernier la ministre de l’Economie, Christine Lagarde.
La France sonde depuis quelque temps ses partenaires sur la transformation de cette unité de compte en monnaie de réserve et sur le développement d’un marché des DTS.
Selon une source gouvernementale française, Paris pousse également l’idée d’une introduction du yuan dans le panier de monnaies sur lequel repose la valeur des DTS, ce qui serait un pas vers une internationalisation de la monnaie chinoise.
Si la convertibilité du yuan est encore un horizon lointain, la Chine expérimente déjà son utilisation dans des transactions internationales en Asie et en Amérique Latine.
Toute la question est de savoir jusqu’où peut aller le soutien de Pékin à la démarche française, à un moment où les dirigeants chinois sont eux-mêmes en plein débat stratégique.
Economistes et sinologues s’accordent tous sur un point : si la Chine est prête à envisager une appréciation progressive et régulière du yuan, toute proposition conduisant à un brutal renchérissement de sa monnaie sera jugée inacceptable par Pékin.
Ils s’accordent aussi à estimer que si la Chine a intérêt à jouer le jeu du dialogue multilatéral pour éviter l’isolement, les Etats-Unis demeurent son interlocuteur principal.
"IDIOT UTILE" ?
Pas plus que les Français, les Chinois ne souhaitent voir le débat dégénérer en une guerre entre le dollar et le yuan, dont "personne ne sortirait vainqueur", dit-on à Paris.
"S’il y a une chose dont les Chinois ne veulent pas, c’est d’un affrontement direct avec les Américains", confirme l’économiste Michel Aglietta.
Pour Christian de Boissieu, président du Conseil d’analyse économique du Premier ministre, l’Europe aurait beaucoup à perdre à une telle confrontation : "Si les Chinois sortent de l’orbite du dollar et vont vers l’euro, cela provoquera un énorme choc sur les taux de change. Il faut faire attention. Un euro à deux dollars ne serait pas un cadeau."
Ecueil supplémentaire, l’Union européenne n’existe guère en tant qu’entité aux yeux des dirigeants chinois, malgré l’euro.
La France risque donc de n’être pour la Chine qu’"un allié tactique, un idiot utile", estime Jean-Joseph Boillot.
"L’important, pour les Chinois c’est de neutraliser tout discours sur une réévaluation du yuan et tout ce qui pourrait leur faire perdre le contrôle de leurs leviers économiques", dit-il. "L’Empire du milieu ne veut surtout pas s’ouvrir."
Enfin, les sinologues s’accordent à considérer que la France reste en observation et son offensive de charme à la merci de tout ce qui serait interprété à Pékin comme une "trahison".
Nicolas Sarkozy, qui a scellé sa réconciliation avec les dirigeants chinois lors d’une visite d’Etat en Chine en avril, après une période de froid provoquée par ses positions sur le Tibet, s’efforce de mettre toutes les chances de son côté.
Il s’est ainsi abstenu de commenter l’attribution du prix Nobel de la Paix à l’opposant chinois Liu Xiaobo, laissant ce soin à son ministre des Affaires étrangères, Bernard Kouchner.
Sarkozy et le Premier Ministre Britannique Cameron concluent un accord militaire "historique"
En vertu du second traité, les deux pays simuleront à partir de 2014 le fonctionnement de leur arsenal nucléaire dans un même laboratoire, implanté près de Dijon, dans le centre-est de la France. Parallèlement, un centre de recherche sera ouvert aux spécialistes des deux pays, dans le sud-est de l’Angleterre.
Le président français Nicolas Sarkozy et le Premier ministre britannique David Cameron ont inauguré mardi à Londres un partenariat "historique" en matière de défense, qui prévoit la création d’une force militaire conjointe et d’un laboratoire d’essais nucléaires commun.
"Aujourd’hui, nous ouvrons un nouveau chapitre" dans nos relations, a déclaré M. Cameron lors d’une conférence de presse conjointe peu après avoir paraphé avec M. Sarkozy deux traités lors d’un bref sommet bilatéral à Londres.
Les accords, d’une ampleur inédite, sont un "fait historique qui va nous permettre de réaliser un certain nombre d’économies", a souligné M. Sarkozy. M. Cameron a de son côté évoqué des "centaines de millions de livres d’économies", sans plus de précisions.
Soulignant la volonté des deux pays de travailler "main dans la main", le président français a estimé que "toutes les conditions sont réunies pour une relation absolument exceptionnelle entre la Grande-Bretagne et la France", jugeant qu’il existait dorénavant entre les deux pays "un niveau de confiance jamais égalé dans l’Histoire".
L’un des traités signés mardi prévoit la création d’une force militaire conjointe de plusieurs milliers d’hommes, mobilisable pour des opérations extérieures bilatérales ou sous drapeaux de l’OTAN, de l’ONU ou de l’Union européenne.
En vertu du second traité, les deux pays simuleront à partir de 2014 le fonctionnement de leur arsenal nucléaire dans un même laboratoire, implanté près de Dijon, dans le centre-est de la France. Parallèlement, un centre de recherche sera ouvert aux spécialistes des deux pays, dans le sud-est de l’Angleterre.
"Nous considérons que l’effort de sécurité ne doit pas être relâché dans le monde dangereux qui est le nôtre", a souligné M. Sarkozy. "Au moment où certains disent que l’Europe souffre d’un certain rétrécissement stratégique, nous montrons, Anglais et Français, que ce n’est pas le cas", s’est-il félicité. "On ne résoudra pas les problèmes du XXIe siècle avec les idées du XXe", a-t-il encore fait remarquer.
"Aujourd’hui, je suis très heureux de pouvoir dire que contrairement aux apparences, les montres de la France et de l’Angleterre marquent strictement la même heure", a lancé M. Sarkozy. "Je sais bien qu’il y a la Manche entre nous, mais nos valeurs sont les mêmes", a-t-il asséné.
David Cameron a quant à lui souligné que "la Grande-Bretagne et la France étaient des partenaires naturels" mais qu’ils entendaient "rester des nations souveraines", en réponse aux nombreuses inquiétudes qui sont apparues au Royaume-Uni sur la souveraineté militaire britannique.
"Il ne s’agit pas d’une armée européenne", a promis M. Cameron, dont le parti conservateur est encore largement eurosceptique. "Il ne s’agit pas de partager notre pouvoir de dissuasion nucléaire. La Grande-Bretagne et la France sont et seront toujours des nations souveraines capables de déployer leurs forces armées de manière indépendante et dans nos intérêts nationaux quand nous décidons de le faire", a-t-il poursuivi.
Renault-Nissan rentrent en Russieen partenariat avec le constructeur russe d’Avtovaz
AFP – publié le 02/11/2010 à 13:57
Poutine donne le feu vert à Renault-Nissan dans le capital du constructeur russe.
Des employés d’Avtovaz, dans une usine en Russie.
Denis Sinyakov / Reuters
Le Premier ministre russe Vladimir Poutine a indiqué mardi n’être pas opposé à ce que l’alliance Renault-Nissan prenne le contrôle du constructeur automobile russe Avtovaz, a indiqué le patron de l’alliance, Carlos Ghosn, cité par les agences russes.
"Le Premier ministre a indiqué qu’il n’était pas opposé, mais qu’il était d’accord, pour que la part de Renault Nissan (dans Avtovaz) soit élargie, et qu’elle puisse atteindre 50%", a-t-il déclaré, après une rencontre à Moscou avec le Premier ministre. L’alliance franco-japonaise deviendrait ainsi l’actionnaire largement majoritaire du constructeur russe.
Actuellement, le japonais Nissan ne détient pas de part dans le Russe, dont les principaux actionnaires sont, outre Renault (25% plus une action), le conglomérat russe Rostekhnologuii (25,1%) et la banque d’investissemnt Troïka Dialog (25%), selon le dernier rapport d’activité disponible d’Avtovaz. "Bien sûr, nous réagissons de manière positive à cette demande", a ajouté M. Ghosn, précisant avoir répondu à M. Poutine que Renault-Nissan allait "étudier cette possibilité avec les autres actionnaires d’Avtovaz, à savoir Rostekhnologuii et Troïka Dialog".
"Pour Renault-Nissan, c’est absolument logique et nous comprenons cette demande. Nous allons étudier cette possibilité avec plaisir", a renchéri M. Ghosn. De son côté, Vladimir Poutine a indiqué, cité par les agences russes, "saluer" une éventuelle hausse des parts de l’Alliance dans Avtovaz. "Nous saluons la possibilité d’élargissement de votre participation dans le capital de la compagnie" Avtovaz, a déclaré Vladimir Poutine à Carlos Ghosn.
La semaine dernière, Carlos Ghosn avait fait part à la chaîne russe Russia Today d’un éventuel rachat des 25% de la banque d’investissement Troïka Dialog dans Avtovaz, précisant toutefois qu’aucune décision concrète n’avait été prise. Renault a acquis en février 2008 25% plus une action dans Avtovaz pour un milliard de dollars. Mais le fabricant des célèbres Lada a entre-temps été pris au piège de la crise économique mondiale et s’est retrouvé confronté à une dette colossale.
Le patron de Rostekhnologuii Sergueï Tchemezov a par ailleurs réitéré mardi la possibilité qu’il vende à Renault-Nissan 4% d’Avtovaz, issus d’une augmentation de capital, annoncée en juillet et qui devrait faire grimper la part du conglomérat à 29%. "Il n’y aucune raison pour que Rostekhnologuii détienne plus de 25% (dans Avtovaz), c’est pourquoi nous avons un partenaire stratégique en la personne de l’alliance (Renault-Nissan), avec lequel nous coopérons, et si il a l’intention d’élargir sa part, nous sommes prêt à soutenir cela", a déclaré M.Tchemezov, selon les agences.
Le Yémen a annoncé hier un renforcement draconien des mesures de sécurité dans ses aéroports après la découverte à Dubaï et en Grande-Bretagne de colis piégés par Al-Qaïda, prêts à exploser, en provenance de Sanaa. Une unité spéciale chargée de la protection des aéroports sera créée et des mesures de fouille exceptionnelles seront pratiquées sur toutes les cargaisons quittant les aéroports yéménites. Parallèlement, Washington a décidé d’envoyer au Yémen des experts pour améliorer la sécurité du fret aérien : ils auront notamment pour tâche de fournir une formation et des équipements aux agents de sécurité de l’aéroport de Sanaa chargés d’examiner le fret à destination des Etats-Unis. Face à la menace sur le transport aérien, l’Allemagne a décidé d’interdire les vols passagers en provenance du Yémen. Elle a ainsi étendu l’interdiction qu’elle avait décidée dès samedi concernant les vols de fret, à l’instar de la France et de la Grande-Bretagne. Le Royaume-Uni a d’ailleurs étendu à la Somalie de la suspension des vols fret déjà en vigueur pour le Yémen, évoquant des « contacts possibles entre Al-Qaïda au Yémen et des organisations terroristes en Somalie ».
Concernant l’enquête, les autorités yéménites ont arrêté « de nouveaux suspects » et ont dans le même temps relâché une partie des employés des compagnies de transport aérien FedEx et UPS, arrêtés samedi. La première acheminait le colis découvert à Dubaï, la seconde celui trouvé en Grande-Bretagne dans un avion cargo de sa compagnie. Certains employés demeurent néanmoins encore en détention et sont soumis à des interrogatoires. De plus en plus de responsables militaires et de l’administration Obama jugent nécessaire que certaines équipes des forces spéciales américaines chargées d’éliminer des insurgés au Yémen passent sous le contrôle de la CIA, rapportait le Wall Street Journal d’hier. A Londres, le nouveau chef d’état-major britannique, le général David Richards, prévient que le Yémen « ne doit » pas devenir un nouvel Afghanistan, où sont actuellement déployés plus de 150.000 soldats étrangers, écartant l’hypothèse d’une intervention militaire dans ce pays.
