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Eighteen months after the initial concerns about the European debts, the situation on the old continent is still fragile. However, the euro remains surprisingly strong. The euro hovered around $ 1.45 since April, and rose more than 8% since the beginning of the year, and 15.5% in one year. "The first explanation that justifies the euro strengthens and weakens the dollar is in the interest rates: in Europe, they are likely to be faced by the ECB on Thursday, reaching 1.50% while those U.S. Federal Reserve and will still remain long remain between 0 and 0.25%, "says Bruno Rodier, private banker and portfolio manager at Pictet & Cie.This differential rate encourages investors to take advantage of the "carry trade", this technique to generate returns by borrowing in dollars at a rate unusually low, and place it in euros, which pays better.

"The situation should not change in the coming months because when the European Central Bank has the sole purpose of containing inflation by raising interest rates, the Fed also has the task of supporting growth and employment and maintain long-term rates low and a weak currency to do so, "said Harry Sebag, an analyst at Saxo Bank.He said the Fed will not change its monetary policy anytime soon because it looks especially the real estate market across the Atlantic, the one who caused the economic crisis and financial crisis in the summer of 2007, which is still not out business.

The dollar is kept artificially low

But even more than the strengthening of the euro, especially on the weak dollar that the experts agree. And has been a little more than a year: the Fed announcement as it injects new astronomical quantities (600 billion) dollars in the global economy. Instantly, the dollar lost its value against other currencies, and the effect lasted until now."There is also the effect 'end of world supremacy' of the dollar plays, including the report of the World Bank has recently anticipated that by 2025, that is to say tomorrow, the market currencies will be dominated also by the Chinese yuan, not only by the dollar and the euro, "notes Vincent Juvyns, strategist at ING IM cash advance no fax.

The role of the dollar as the global benchmark fading as global governance wants to reform the international monetary system. In this perspective, little by little, investors include the future landscape of the exchange market and exchange their dollars into yuan and euro. "At the same time, we must take into account the cultural dimension of geographical areas: Europe, under the influence of Germany was a culture of rent, we want to keep a strong currency.This contrasts with the current pattern of currency war, which is to artificially push down its currency to promote its own foreign trade, "said Bruno Rodier.

Europe is going less badly than the U.S.

Finally, if Europe goes wrong, it will hurt less than the United States. Bad news on the macroeconomic front here and on the other side of the Atlantic, lower the respective currencies, but the U.S. figures are still worse than the European data, the dollar fell more than the euro. So the euro / dollar rate goes up anyway. "If you took away the effect debt, the euro was trading at least $ 1.50," Harry Sebag plans.Recently, the growth forecasts for the European Union were found, while those for the United States have been degraded.

Thus, the twists in the case of Greece, or fears of contagion from the crisis of sovereign debt of countries in the euro area peripheral to Italy or France, they have had little effect on the euro itself. "The currency market is highly sensitive to very short term. But in the coming weeks, the scenario of an outbreak of the euro area remains the least plausible of all, "says Vincent Juvyns, underlining that" challenges remain whole in the longer term. " The markets seem optimistic about the ability of European governance to agree to find solutions to problems of public finances of member countries."And Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel, and Jean-Claude Trichet has always reassuring words to soothe the markets when tensions rise," added the expert.

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No waffling. The Paris Air Show is clearly a prime target for terrorists of all stripes. "The means are enhanced this year given the international context," admits Gilles Fournier, director of the show. Everything is made to ensure that nothing spoils the biggest party in the aviation world. The device, classified top secret, similar to that established for a G8 or the movement of a Barack Obama in Normandy. But the BBC is able to detail some components.

The government and relevant ministries including Defence and Interior, make available to the people living in 2000 to carry out missions of security, air traffic management, protection of public figures and the public. In total, no fewer than 45 state departments are present. Le Bourget hosts a control center.This PC has 80 permanent crisis covering all areas: safety, security, public order, land and air circulation. Protection services and intelligence are also at work, the DCRI provides security industry while teams of HPPD (protection service VIPs) are deployed French and foreign. At least 50 cameras monitor every corner, while ground crews are based in the crowd of visitors. Officially, no foreign intelligence service is present on the site but "it is well known that the Bourget swarms of spies from all over the planet," says one industry.

A public prosecutor is always present on the site in order to treat all topics: crime, air accident, fire or bombs … "We conduct rehearsals of all scenarios.In a crisis the PC can trigger the red plan, "said Gilles Fournier. The show requisition, order of the prefect, a representative of the Association of radio amateurs (ADRASEC). "If everything is cut and the saturated mobile is the ultimate way to help to communicate with the outside," says the executive director of the show.

70 hectares to monitor

Mobile police squads roam the 70 acre site while the Air Force ensures its protection Air Show. A special device for aviation security (DPSA) is deployed in order to "put the Bourget in a protective bubble" without disrupting the airports of Roissy and Le Bourget. A temporary exclusion zone (FTZ) flight is drawn from the south to the north of Roissy Le Bourget. This space is reserved for bounded planes and pilots accredited with flight plans, passenger names were submitted.An intruder is likely to be intercepted "by any suitable means." AWACS surveillance aircraft and helicopters for surveillance and intervention runs continuously and monitors "anything that flies." On the ground, the Air Force is on alert: the Mirage are ready to take off. Rattlesnake missiles are pre-positioned and radar detection of the Air Force record "everything that moves." All are ready to respond regardless of the scenario: small escort the aircraft flying club that has accidentally wandered into the FTZ, to land an aircraft in emergency or eliminate a target whose trajectory is clearly hostile. "

On the ground, military aircraft are under the protection and monitoring of specialized private companies but also armed them support like the American aircraft.As for civilian aircraft, they are under the protection of security companies licensed by the prefecture and the Ministry of Interior. Three companies subsidiary of ADP Alysia, GPS and Stand-Up is under contract with the organizers of the show. "These are companies of reference, approved in the prefecture who usually major events at the Stade de France or Cannes. They carry out checks at the entrances of the show, searches and identity checks, "said Gilles Fournier.

Similarly, vehicles entering the territory of the exhibition are all controlled and searched by teams cynotechniques explosion of Police.

The site displays a complete medical device. An advanced medical post (PMA) managed by the EMS Department is mounted. It also relies on the private firefighting resources in the Order of Malta delegating nearly 80 people throughout the show.A field hospital is also there with his two centers equipped with defibrillators, resuscitation and 8 beds. "Every year it handles about 150 cases: this is the little bobo heart attack through the heat stroke," says Gilles Fournier. The medical task force also has in its ranks doctors, nurses and firefighters from the brigade of Paris. "Around the room, barracks and hospitals were placed on standby, ready to intervene and welcome. Beds reserved in hospitals in Paris, "said Louis Le Portz.

Stringent safety rules for flight demonstrations

Another aspect to manage public safety and residents during the presentation of aircraft flights. Le Bourget is also a city of more than 13,000 residents, schools and shops. "The rules of safety are absolutely stringent," the organizers insist.The show is under the authority of an Interministerial Commission of Control, chaired by the Prime Minister. From it depends on the Organizing Committee and Coordination Committee (COC) which brings together representatives of the Ministry of Defence and Interior, the Air Force, Airport of Paris, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the prefecture of Seine Saint Denis. The COC approves the demonstration flights daily that drive the show from 14 hours.

The space dedicated to demonstrations is well defined this is called the volume-flying aerial displays and controlled by radar trajectory to track and record real-time trajectory and the exact position of a plane in 3D. Station to the driver that does not follow the strict rules.Prohibition is made out of "volume of flight," to fly across the room, the crowd, to make figures prohibited from encroaching on the airspace close to Roissy. A system of penalty and prohibition of flights is planned but it is very rarely used, say the organizers of the show. The drivers are all experienced professionals who have been approved by the direction of flight at Le Bourget.

From Wednesday to Saturday before the show opens, theft of repetition and validation takes place. Pilots, flight plans and the figures have to be approved by Stéphane flick, the director of flight appointed by the state. The former head of the school test pilots is still active. It is the center pilot flight test of the Directorate General for Armaments (DGA).

Not more than five hours of music per month. The platform for online listening Deezer decided to put its users on a diet. At the launch of its new, faster and more social interaction through Facebook, a new policy was implemented. It marks the end of unlimited listening obtained in exchange for advertisements viewed. The internet has thus no choice beyond the five hours of music heard, you have to pay.

The goal is "to accelerate the conversion of most active users towards premium offerings," says the streaming platform in a statement. For if Deezer is used by millions of Internet users, only 5%, or 1.2 millionsd'utilisateurs are paying subscribers. The shortfall is significant and Deezer trying to correct the situation since 2010.Became a shareholder in Orange since July includes such subscription to the site in some of its plans for mobile and broadband. Its main competitor Spotify has followed the same path in alliance with SFR. Since April, the platform also knows the same kind of restrictions: listening to you free is now more than ten hours beyond the first six months of registration and it is impossible to listen to more than five times the same song.

Pressed to see close the valves of the free and unlimited internet, the majors have strongly influenced these decisions. Their fight is also not complete: Universal Music has always Deezer impose the same restriction to five songs played. But all the stakeholders do not rejoice in this decision, as Adami, a collecting society of intellectual property rights of performers."Why limit listening to five free hours a month just announced as the champion French streaming? We see the requirement for producers who once again is the wrong economic model. Imagine that limits the radio listening to a few hours per month. Record sales they would find it doped? "She asks in a statement. "The proposed model opens the door to the concentration and will affect the diversity," says Adami.

The future of such limitations may depend on decisions made in the U.S. by other Internet giants. Amazon and Google have decided to launch their music service without the majors, at risk of being prosecuted or with a limited catalog of titles. Facebook should ally themselves to Spotify normally while Apple has its side chains agreements for its music service, expected to be announced Monday night.

The European Union (EU) comes to the rescue of its farmers. The Agriculture Ministers of the EU meeting in Luxembourg this afternoon, should decide to unfreeze 150 million euros in aid proposed by Brussels on Tuesday morning. This is to cope with the losses suffered by the fruit and vegetables after the psychosis to EHEC bacteria has killed 23 people in Europe.

"We will propose a $ 150 million" financial aid to cover losses of farmers, whose products are shunned by consumers, concerned as salads, tomatoes, cucumbers and others may be carrying the potentially deadly bacterium , told the press the Agriculture Commissioner, Ciolos. The exact amount of aid will however be adjusted estimates by country."We will take the period from late May, marking the beginning of the crisis at the end of June" to calculate the amount of compensation, "said the European official.

Already, the 150 million mentioned seem insufficient, as the amount of losses made by European farmers. The only Spaniards consider that the bill because of the boycott of their products by European consumers has cost them 200 million euros. In France, the bill, according to professionals, is approaching 5 million.

Berlin slammed

Germany on the other hand was roundly criticized for his handling of the crisis by European Commissioner for Health in the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg on Tuesday. She had made allegations, soon withdrawn, cons of cucumber Spanish after the demonstration of the first cases of contamination."It is critical that national authorities are not lining up to give alerts unproven, because it creates problems and psychosis," warned John Dalli. "It is important to trigger alerts when certain scientific data," he said.

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In recent days, European health authorities are engaged in a real police investigation and a race against time to trace the trail of a new epidemic. Prime suspect: a bacterium Escherichia coli, accused of causing bloody diarrhea and kidney complications. Yesterday, Europe accounted for 1 000 patients in Germany, England, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria. In France, six suspects, three of which the Germans are under investigation. All had lived in Germany. Fifteen deaths are regrettable in Germany, one in Sweden.

Where is the health survey? Is this really the cucumber?

At first, the deadly bacteria was traced to imported Spanish cucumbers in Germany. But the German authorities admitted Tuesday that the latest tests showed that the vegetable was not the offending bacteria.

Only the stool of patients contain Escherichia coli enterohaemorrhagic (EHEC). The hypothesis of a contamination plant is however maintained. Tomatoes and salad greens are suspected. The question remains: the vegetables have been infected in Spain, Germany, during transport?

Next Monday, all European health ministers meet in Luxembourg for an update. Francois Grossetete MEP, said "the need to label products to determine their origin."

What is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)?

HUS is a severe complication, sometimes fatal, infections of the digestive bacteria Escherichia coli enterohaemorrhagic (EHEC) types of E. coli that produce Shiga toxin. After 3-7 days of incubation, these infections are revealed by diarrhea, which may be bloody.Nine out of ten patients recover within ten days. HUS occurs in 10% of cases, linked to the spread of the toxin. It is characterized by acute renal failure, anemia and thrombocytopenia (low platelets). This complication is fatal in 3-5% of cases, a patient care on two renal sequelae. One hundred cases are reported each year in France, mainly in children under 15 years.

How to transmit these infections?

Cattle that are healthy carriers, are the main natural reservoir. Transmission to humans is most often through ingestion of undercooked beef (hamburgers, for example) or products containing raw milk. Water and other foods like vegetables contaminated by feces, can also be a source of infection. A direct human transmission is possible.Many serotypes of EHEC are identified, the most common is O157: H7.

What previous epidemics?

The first two outbreaks due to these producers shigatoxin coli were reported in 1982 in the United States. In total, about fifty people were infected with E. coli O157: H7 via hamburgers. In 1996, Scotland, over 500 people who were victims of the same serotype, also by eating beef. The largest epidemic was recorded in Japan in 1996. More than 9400 cases and 12 deaths had been identified, contaminated radish sprouts. In 2000, Canada, 2000 cases of infection were identified among the 4600 inhabitants of the town of Walkerton.In this area of ​​intensive farming of cattle, the infection was transmitted by drinking water.

What precautions should I take?

In general, these bacteria are destroyed by heat, "two minutes at 70 degrees or 100 degrees a minute," says Professor Patrick Berche, microbiologist (Necker Hospital, Paris). Currently, there is, in his view, no reason not to eat raw vegetables. "The only precaution is to wash your hands before and after preparing raw vegetables, and wash vegetables and fruit, possibly with hot water," he insists.

What is special about the current epidemic?

The first is the serotype in question, O104. "It's fantastic, I have not had a case several years ago, said Professor Edouard Bingen (Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris), whose laboratory is associated with the National Reference Center for E.coli-Shigella. This serotype O104 has been the source of an epidemic in the United States in 1994. "It's odd to have a highly virulent strain and immediately resistant to powerful antibiotics such as cephalosporins," adds Dr Berche. Moreover, the current epidemic affects mostly women, while the hemolytic uremic syndrome usually involves children. A difference that, according to Professor Bingen, may be related to the origin of infection: the hamburger more often, raw vegetables in this case.

If, in the very heart of the crisis, the French government has relied on a policy to boost investment-oriented, because he knows that eating is a hexagonal solid growth. A study published Friday by the INSEE has once again confirmed: the actual consumption of households French volume was 13% higher than the average for 27 European countries in 2009.The differences in spending have also been significant – in a ratio ranging from one to three – the Luxembourg being the largest consumer, the Romanian bringing up the rear.

France "is part of a group of six countries (with the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Austria and Denmark) that have a comparable level of consumption (between 12% to 16% more than the European average, after adjusting for purchasing power parities), noted INSEE.

Nevertheless, all Europeans do not spend their money the same way … If a German is spending more than its European neighbors to furnish his home, a Spaniard and an Italian consume more hotels and restaurants, and an Englishman in clothing and shoes.

Cultural reasons

For cultural reasons, the French consume more to eat and drink at home than their neighbors.On average, they buy "three times more fish a German and a half times more meat." By contrast, consumption of products from cereals and soft drinks are higher in Germany than in France. Allen consumption of alcoholic beverages is also above the European average.

But that does not mean that the French drink more! This may "reflect the different levels of scope in products purchased," said INSEE. Compared to their neighbors, they also consume more for housing, transportation, recreation, health and education, but less on clothing and restaurants.

The actual household consumption expenditure includes supported by government, including education, health, or housing.These costs "vary in a ratio of one to three and a half years between Bulgaria and Denmark." Level in Germany is close to the European average, while that of France is greater than 25%. The study finds that finally, despite a tightening, the price levels differ between countries of the European Union, "although these countries belong to the same economic union." In France, in 2009, prices are 14% higher than the European average. Logically, the prices are higher in countries where the standard of living is too.

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In Brussels

The debt restructuring is no longer taboo Greek nor the Ministry of Finance in Berlin, or Frankfurt, headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB). For the first time on Monday, an official with the ECB discussed a possible rescheduling of debt repayments Greek, which should reach 340 billion euros (150% of GDP) at year end.

The restructuring is "not an option," said the Dutch governor, Nout Wellink, faithful to the official policy of the ECB. But to honor its debts "may sometimes take longer than expected.Sometimes this can lead to a restructuring – but not in the sense that some would defend – which leads to a longer maturity debt, "he added, in response to questions from students at the University of Tillburg, Netherlands.

Although measured, this evocation goes beyond the usual discourse of the ECB, very hostile to the idea of ​​restructuring. Just last week, Governor Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo said that this scenario would be "devastating" to the markets that the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers.

Fear of contagion

The German Finance Ministry, Wolfgang Schäuble, who was the first to break the taboo this winter, yet working very seriously on this assumption.

More recently, Clemens Fuest, chairman of the department advisors, considered this issue "inevitable make quick cash."This weekend, Lars Feld, one of economic advisers to Angela Merkel, said that the restructuring was "the only way forward so that Greece is a little relieved that creditors and help to solve the Greek problem" .

Prudente, Greece prepares the ground for this hypothesis, while repeating that there was no question of restructuring. "It is better that it still extends the repayment period of 110 billion euros that we have lent our partners and we further decline in interest rates," said Monday the Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou, in an interview with Liberation. The EU has already lowered in March the interest rate on its loans and rescheduled repayment.

Concerned about the risks of contagion, Brussels continues to exclude the scenario of restructuring."It does not and will not be part of our strategy," hammered on Monday, European Commissioner for Financial Affairs, Olli Rehn, citing implications "potentially devastating for the country itself and for the eurozone as a whole" . Athens has set up programs "very ambitious," he said. On Monday, the yield of ten-year bond rose by 14 basis points to 15.80%.

Malkin family, which controls the majestic Art Deco skyscraper overlooking Manhattan, plans an IPO for a new real estate company that will include the building of 106 floors. Everyone would theoretically invest in the tower of 381 meters climbed by King Kong film from 1933.

Still be there as Malkin cross some obstacles. In particular, obtain the consent of the heirs of the millionaire Leona Helmsley, their main partners, and about 3400 other co-investors. In the middle of New York real estate, we can already imagine the rat race. But Malkin has proven, since their takeover of the skyscraper five years ago after a bitter struggle with the eccentric billionaire Donald Trump, they had flair guaranteed payday loans.They restored the decorations of the Art Deco lobby, added a touch of green in the older building will reduce energy consumption by 40% and, especially, more than double the rent of offices, which remain among the most prestigious Manhattan.

At a time when the real estate sector rebounded in New York thanks to foreign clients, it might be a wise investment. Still, co-owner or not the Empire State Building, it will always pay $ 20 at the entrance to climb up.

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One morning, Veronique Skalli has been cutting hair in the subway on her way to work at the Hopital Saint-Antoine in Paris. "I got up and I did not like my head, so I decided to make a cut and I was very happy," she says. The living room (so to speak) Beauty Bubble is installed since Christmas in a row RATP at Gare de Lyon, between metro and RER. 80 000 people pass by every day.

Born last year, the chain offers cut or blow dry for 10 euros in ten minutes flat. This new low-cost hairdressing case prices even further as the sector's pioneers. In recent years they have multiplied. The leader, Tchip, aligns more than 400 rooms, followed by Styling & Co (about 200) or Self'Coiff (37). Their packages range on average from 14 to 21 euros.

Beauty Bubble goes further and distinguishes itself from traditional competitors city.To practice his prices low and ensure returns, he bets on volumes, in places with very high attendance. His first six sites have sprung up in stations (Montparnasse), airports (Lyon-Saint Exupery), malls (Part Dieu) and even hypermarkets, Carrefour Planet in Lyon.

The concept was devised by a young business school graduate, Nicolas Langer, 27 years after a first experience in the cosmetics industry with L'Oreal and Coty, supported by his father, a former marketing specialist in the pub and supermarkets one hour payday loan.

"The market of hairdressing is one of those who have slipped the most in terms of price, said Patrick Lang, the father.We offer a quality, quick delivery. Like easyJet, we have removed a number of parameters to focus on the heart of the trade: the cut. "

No shampoo

Beauty Bubble does not shampoo and we ask our customers to come clean hair, which saves about a water supply, space and time bins. In Self'Coiff, you get yourself a blow dry after cutting. No appointments, no wardrobe, coffee or scalp massage. We go to the essentials.

The Beauty Bubble hairdressers are trained in a dry cutting technique imported from Britain. "They make refreshments, but also a complete change of style, some customers tell us they had the same thing for 45 euros usually" welcomes Ouis Lekhtari, one of ten hairdressers Gare de Lyon .In this space without a door or wall, open from 7 am 30-19 am 30, a hundred cups per day are made.

After its promising start, Beauty Bubble goes into high gear and provides fifty openings this year, including in partnership with the RATP, SNCF and Carrefour. The company is also open to membership by offering contractors a fair concept "turnkey" for an initial investment of 25,000 euros and an annual turnover of 150,000 euros per outlet.

Growth has accelerated in late 2010. It was posted at 0.4% in the fourth quarter after a modest increase of 0.2% in the third, according to Insee. It's a bit better than the previous estimate of 0.3% of the National Institute of Statistics. The figure for the year was left unchanged at 1.5% contrast.

Household consumption has firmly taken its French business. Consumption expenditure of households grew by 0.9%, while business investment slowed to +0.3% against +0.5% in the previous quarter.

The last three months of 2010, trade has contributed positively to growth. Although exports have slowed, but imports have them squarely fell 1.2%. The latter being credited domestic production accounted for in GDP to decline traced mechanically growth.