The Ideal City in 2050

Atlanta Barcelona instead. That is the conclusion from the report today entitled "Cities of the future, the future of cities." Barcelona is 26 times less extent that Atlanta, which reduces transportation and therefore energy consumption. "In Barcelona we consume ten times less energy than Atlanta," it said in the report, which draws the portrait of the ideal city by 2050. A city that is sure to play the card of density but without falling into the excesses of Mexico, a "monstruopole" of 22 million people suffocated by its size, which has the largest slum in the world.

To avoid this shift, Shanghai with 17 million inhabitants has a plan: develop nearby cities to ensure that services are not concentrated only in the city world fast payday loans. Another challenge: finding the right level of decision in these cities more and more large.In Toronto, for example, the five municipalities that made up this megalopolis since the early twentieth century were merged in 1995 to save money while making governance more effective. A political choice that has not been successful: the "New Toronto" was still recruited 3,500 people for its operation. And some red tape remains in decision-making.

Nuclear RWE and EON angry and France under pressure

The German government "plays with the competitiveness" of the country by accelerating the dropping of the atom civilian judge the boss's number two Germany's RWE, the megaphones and nuclear. Juergen Grossmann said that Germany wants "a future without major international groups in the energy sector," it said in the daily newspaper Bild on Wednesday in reaction to the decision of the German state of halt atomic energy by 2022.

For its part, the country's leading sector, EON, warned he would sue the position of Chancellor Angela Merkel to accelerate the abandonment of nuclear energy, and in particular not to abandon the tax nuclear fuel, saying that this tax "raises legal."The tax was created as a part-cons to a longer than twelve years of the life of the 17 nuclear reactors in Germany, decided last year and then canceled in a hurry after the disaster of Fukushima. She must report 2.3 billion euros per year in the German state. Proceeding in the same sense that Jürgen Grossmann, the group has also ensured that such decisions penalize investments in renewables and disability meet its European competitors.

A meeting Thursday, June 9 in France

In France, the pressure rises. On Wednesday morning, the Energy Minister Eric Besson announced on 9 June a meeting of the energy system to assess the consequences of the German decision. He acknowledged that France Info France would be affected "in the short term," deprived of a source of imports, when drought increases the need for electricity."The immediate halt of the seven nuclear plants in Germany removes about 10% of its electricity production", which means that "Germany will no longer be able to export, or much less," said Eric Besson.

The minister also said that delaying the opening of the public inquiry into the proposed EPR nuclear reactor Penly – it was to open on Wednesday 1 June – did not mean a "stop the process of public inquiry to Penly, recalling that President Nicolas Sarkozy had reaffirmed the nuclear option.

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Portugal: two aid plans exist

What is the real plan of assistance to Portugal? Since Friday, the question is on everyone's lips in the country. Doubts have been launched by the third television station in the country, Sic, who spoke of the existence of two different versions of the plan signed by the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the Socialist government resigning.

Thus, a first version of the document, signed May 3 by the Socialist government after talks with the troika (EU, IMF, ECB), has been submitted for approval to the two main opposition parties, the PSD (center right) and CDS (right). But it is another version of the text, including changes in schedule, which was eventually signed officially by the government on May 17 in Brussels at a meeting of EU finance ministers.

A surprise for the opposition

This revelation has caused controversy in the country, forcing the Ministry of Finance to explain. In a memo to reporters, he confirmed the existence of "ad hoc adjustments" between "the draft memorandum of agreement" developed in Lisbon and "the final version signed by the Ministry of Finance, the Governor of the Bank Portugal and the European Commission on May 17 payday loan.

Similarly, the outgoing Prime Minister Jose Socrates said the parties had signed "two documents, one with the European Commission, the other with the IMF, and the final text did the" make compatible . But for its part, the president of PSD, Pedro Passos Coelho says "not having been informed of these differences," which he said "are not just small adjustments."

For the socialist Jose Socrates, this mess falls at the worst time. The Prime Minister, who resigned in March following the rejection by parliament of its austerity program, is indeed a candidate to succeed himself for early parliamentary elections on 5 June. This Saturday, surveys conducted for the newspaper Publico and Expresso weekly show that PSD collects between 33.9 and 35.8% of the vote, beating the Socialist Party, credited with 32.3 to 34.1% of voice. CDS (right) remains in third place with 11.3 to 13.4% of the vote.

(With Agencies)

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Market movements in the outhouse

The lines are moving among specialists support the addiction. Fifteen months after its IPO, the third French player in specialist nursing homes and care facilities on, saw the arrival of a new shareholder in its capital. A shareholder not quite unknown in the health sector, far from it, because it is the family holding Ruggieri Batipart already shares amounting to 23.8% of Korian the second major player side sector.

In a statement, said Batipart have acquired from the BC Partners Funds 9.5% stake in Medica. For this, the holding company has spent about 72.5 million. BC Partners, who wanted to disengage from Medica via IPO in February 2010, also sold 18.6% of the group Medica Covéa (mutual insurance: MAAF, MMA, GMF, etc.)..Following the transaction, BC Partners, which had already reduced its stake in March by selling 14.6% stake, holds longer qu'environde 3% of specialist care dependency.

An opportunity to 'rare'

For this operation, Batipart take this particular situation of the round table Medica. "It is rare to have such a big business opportunity in health," says Nicolas Ruggieri, associate director of Batipart. This entry to the capital allows us to strengthen the sector, the second major strategic Batipart, with real estate. " Among the other listed companies, a withdrawal of investors with holdings as large as that of BC Patners (30.5% at the time of the introduction) is indeed unusual.Since health is seen to hold for the long-term investments are generally in the same same horizon.

Investors semblainet share this enthusiasm Thursday in the Paris Bourse, clinching the title Medica 3% in early trade, to 15.3 euros. "This is clearly a long-term investment from Batipart, says Nicolas Ruggieri." Remains to be seen what position to adopt the new entrant later and wants to eventually take over his new participation. "We do not exclude us strengthen, says Nicolas Ruggieri, but we will not do so significantly, if at night floating Medica, who at nearly 55%, is one of the major advantages of this investment" . Today, the largest shareholder Medica is the life insurance company Prédica, with 11.3% of the round.

Side Medica, little reaction on the operation."The arrival of a new shareholder, a priori known for its investment over time, can only be a good thing," confined to explain Bailet Jacques, CEO of Medica. The group should issue a statement in the morning.

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ICL plans to enter free

LCI she will soon be a free DTT channel? The matter is under study in TF1 wants to preserve one of its jewels. The first group of private television has quietly begun consulting the public to know under what conditions this could be changing.

The proposed solution is the demand in good and due form the High Council of Audiovisual (CSA) changes of the Convention on LCI pay channel free channel. What embarrasses the regulator, because the operation is not without risk and "give rise to litigation," promises an expert of the file.

TF1 pleads for the public interest and diversity of information in television. But critics denounce them, "a substantial modification if it completely changes the LCI media landscape." And everybody will go before the State Council.Government side, we observe with interest the maneuver. The State has to settle the sensitive issue of bonus channels, the passage of free LCI could be a good way to calm the war between TF1, M6 and Canal + since it unveiled its draft Canal20 free channel. In exchange for the rescue of LCI, TF1 calm his opposition to the arrival of new competitors.

Finding new advertising revenue

Canal + has been very clear. This is not about to pay 15 million euros per year for LCI is only CanalSat. Bertrand Meheut, CEO of Canal + 'the info is now free. " Canal + in fact no longer wants to put money on the table to distribute news channel competing with its own channel i-Tele. According to observers, Canal + could just pay 2 million euros per year. This will leave a hole in the finances of LCI.Especially as Numericable is preparing, in turn, reduce by half the fee of 5 million. Consequently, LCI, which is already losing 5.8 million euros for a turnover of 42.7 million must find the money. The news channel is currently negotiating distribution for all IPTV operators but this is not enough to offset the loss of the amount of Canal +.

If LCI chooses to stay free, we must find twenty million of additional advertising revenue to balance its accounts. But the market is crowded by BFM TV which has a total turnover of 34.5 million euros and i-Tele.

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Volkswagen recalls 71,000 vehicles

Numerous vehicle recalls involve decidedly all manufacturers. In fact, Volkswagen, known for its reliability, will turn brown cars in its factories. The German manufacturer has announced yesterday the recall of 71,043 of its Jetta model family sedans, year 2011, the United States. The cars concerned are those built between March 2010 and March 2011.

Involved, the electrical system of its anti-theft alarms. Fuse responsible for protecting the burglar and converter boxes connected to the windshield and headlights are faulty. Thus, in some cases, a short circuit occurs and prevents the power headlights and windshield wipers.

Technicians are already hard at work to replace the potentially defective. But the manufacturer wishes to emphasize that, at present, no accidents were reported.

A model at a reduced price

But the recall could feed the many criticisms of this new model produced in Mexico and mainly distributed in the U.S. where it flows close to 100,000 copies a year. For some fans of the brand, the new version of the Jetta has lost many of its assets without adding new features guaranteed approval cash advance loans. In fact, to be more competitive and attract a wider audience, the Volkswagen has trimmed its U.S. equipment. The price of this new model has also been reduced.

These price declines have been decided at the height of the crisis and while the competitive market of the automobile was particularly moribund. The big players have thus been forced to trim their costs, a fact which might explain the massive recalls of vehicles from all manufacturers.In fact, the number of recalls made in recent months in the Japanese Toyota exceeds 8 million. The Chrysler has recently issued a recall on almost 250,000 vehicles. And last week, South Korea's Hyundai Motor has recalled 190,000 cars in the U.S. while the Japanese Honda was back in its 21,700 factories in the United States and Canada.

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Lactalis takes more weight in the Italian Parmalat

The General Assembly of shareholders of Parmalat, 12 April looks tense. While the rise in the dairy group Lactalis trans caused a stir in Italy, the company headed by Emmanuel Besnier announcement having captured 29% stake in Parmalat.

Holding 11.42% last week and 13.67% on Monday, Lactalis has indeed reached an agreement with three foreign investment funds Zenit Asset Management AB, Skagen AS and Mackenzie Financial Corporation to redeem their participation by 15.3% . According to the Italian press, the three shareholders would be fiercely opposed to the current chairman, Enrico Bondi, he intends to land.

Anyway, Lactalis is more than ever the majority shareholder of Parmalat.And although the group Laval did not intend to hold more than 30% of Parmalat, which would have to launch a takeover bid in the Italian securities laws, this absolutely does not like the Italian government and in particular Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti. The latter intends to take measures to defend domestic firms when they are considered "strategic payday advance lender."

Italy wants to counter Lactalis

To block the road to Lactalis and funds, the Italian government said "very favorable" to an alliance of investors across the country.Intesa-San Paolo could be the pivot while the dairy group Granarolo and giant chocolate Ferrero (Nutella, Kinder) have expressed their interest.

After that LVMH has offered the jeweler Bulgari and EDF talks with Italian Edison shareholders to reach agreement on the control of Edison electrician, Italy could see another national treasure in the hands of French companies . Not to mention that Groupama would take a share of the holding Premafin and that the airline Alitalia is 25% owned by Air France KLM since 2009.

In this context, France's ambassador to Italy, Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, was received on Thursday by Minister of Economy Giulio Tremonti and Deputy Secretary of the Presidency Gianni Letta, the right-hand Silvio Berlusconi, to be informed of the position of Rome who wants the "rules of reciprocity."

Undermined and criticized, Carlos Ghosn remains difficult to replace a CEO

Apologies for the Renault group in respect of executives dismissed unfairly, the promises of profound internal reorganization change nothing. For the second French car manufacturer, this case is a huge fiasco that weakens the iconic Carlos Ghosn and more the group he heads mercilessly for nearly six years.

The damage from what appears to be a scam rather than industrial espionage are considerable. Internally, particularly in Guyancourt Technocentre, southwest of Paris, the company is in shock. Thousands of employees found that their management may dismiss, wrongly and with violence, promising executives or confirmed. That this direction has been trapped, presumably by one person of the security service, without being able to detect the scam.Outside too, the great unpacking damaged the image of Renault, even though car registrations do not feel it yet. They remain very strong thanks to strong sales year-end, before the case broke.

The company turned

These jerks are even worse they come after several turbulent years from the manufacturer. Upon his arrival in 2005, Carlos Ghosn promises to radically change Renault. In its first three-year plan "Renault 2009", he made three promises: hoist the Laguna on the European podium for quality, increase the operating margin to 6% and sell an additional 800,000 cars. Nobody dares to doubt the success, as the image of the savior of Nissan is strong in the automotive world.

To achieve this, it puts the company on. Too, surely.Occurs a wave of suicides Technocentre Renault leads to a reorganization of work to try to reduce the stress involved 12,000 workers. The skipper lay a little pressure. First alert.

On the front of the models, the Laguna is actually recognized for its quality, but this car lines without personality is shunned by buyers. In reality, the real success of Renault Carlos Ghosn is the low-cost Logan, the Sandero and the Duster. By adding to the growing share of small Twingo and Clio models, the manufacturer is faced with an unforeseen problem: its relationship with the French state holds 15% of its capital.

Away in France

To be profitable, the builder is indeed pushed to produce these cars cheap outside France.A transfer of production which will eventually trigger a resounding clash with the government in the affair of the Clio Renault 4 that would occur in Turkey at the expense of the French plant Flins. Carlos Ghosn is urgently summoned to the Elysee. Renault backtracked, but the image is tarnished. The CEO is suspected of having a world view and away from France. Second warning.

Recent years have also been marked by the global crisis, which hit the car head-on. Short of money in late 2008, the builder is on the brink of disaster. Third alert. Carlos Ghosn is negotiating with the state emergency credit line of EUR 4 billion (PSA received the same amount). Finally, the manufacturer recovers, the crisis passes and recorded a dramatic rebound. In 2010, Renault announced 2.6 million cars sold, a record.But we are very far, either in terms of sales and operating margin, promises of Renault Commitment 2009.

The alliance between Nissan and Renault

Carlos Ghosn, however, has never really suffered from the failure of this plan. Observers prefer to retain only its success. For many, the alliance between Nissan and Renault is a success that has continued to grow in recent years. Nissan, still led by Carlos Ghosn, is in great shape. The Japanese manufacturer, strong in the United States, China is number three, ahead of Toyota. The choice of Renault to enter the capital of AvtoVAZ, famous for his Lada, is considered very promising. The recovery of Renault Samsung Motors in Korea is real. Finally, Dacia is one of the greatest automotive success of his last years.

Although much criticized today, Carlos Ghosn still has good assets.The first is to embody almost alone the future of two automotive giants. In recent years, the manager focuses much of the resources of Nissan and Renault on the electric car. For Renault, this strategic choice is already 4 billion euros of investment. This story is only beginning. The first Nissan electric marketed since late 2010 in Japan and the United States. The Renault Zoe arrive later this year. Not easy in these conditions happen to Carlos Ghosn. The directors of Renault know this.

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Mubarak's departure relieve Wall Street

U.S. stock markets have opened lower on Friday. The Dow Jones and Nasdaq retreat in effect respectively 0.23% and 0.26% at the opening. But reversal when Egyptian authorities announced the departure of Mubarak, the U.S. indices have returned to positive territory.

Thursday, after long hesitation which direction to take, Wall Street has once again ended the session close to balance. The Dow Jones lost 0.09% at 12,229 points, the Nasdaq rose 0.05% to 2790 points and the Standard & Poor's 500 + 0.07% to 1321 points.

Tension has risen a notch in markets so what Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has left Cairo. Yesterday, it said in a speech he transferred power to his vice-president Omar Suleiman. The crowd, massed on Tahrir Square in Cairo, immediately expressed his displeasure.Meanwhile, the Supreme Council of the armed forces said in a statement it would guarantee a "free and transparent presidential election in light of the constitutional amendments decided" and has "cautioned against any threat to the security of the nation and citizens . This situation could still weigh heavily on stock markets and oil markets. Many observers fear is indeed a phenomenon of contagion and disturbance on the Suez Canal. Oil prices have opened lower: about 14.15 GMT on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of light sweet crude for March delivery traded at 86.63 dollars, down 10 cents the previous day.

On the macroeconomic front, the trade deficit the U.S. has widened in December, according to figures released this morning by the Commerce Department.The trade balance shows a deficit higher than expected at 40.58 billion dollars.

Also note, industrial production in India rose in December to its weakest pace in 20 months, gaining only 1.6% year on year, according to figures released Friday suggest the possibility of a settlement the country's economic expansion and possibly other emerging markets.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro continued its decline against the dollar to playing its role as a refuge. Around 15:30 in Paris, the euro fell against the dollar at 1.3518 dollar.

Nokia fell more than 11%

The world number one Nokia mobile phones falling 11.31% to 9.65 dollars after announcing on Friday it was preparing a series of drastic measures. The most notable is a "comprehensive strategic partnership" with Microsoftdans smartphones guaranteed online personal loans.Under the terms of the agreement, the system "Windows Phone" Microsoft is becoming the main platform for Nokia smartphones. The Nokia CEO Stephen Elop also announced that the group would cut jobs worldwide, without giving figures.

The side of values, NYSE Euronext has opened up 0.93% to 38.15 dollars. Discussions between the NYSE and Frankfurt, which could lead to the birth of the first global exchange group, have a bitter taste for American financial circles, where many see it as a sign of the waning influence of the place in New York. In its statement Wednesday, the two operators have spoken only of "fusion". But they said that the shareholders of Deutsche Boerse would be the majority of the new entity, with 59% to 60% of the shares.

U.S. food giant Kraft will decline from 2.76% to 30.25 dollars.The group yesterday announced a profit after closing up 36% in 2010 but down on the last three months of the year results in line with analysts' expectations and accompanied by a marked increase in sales. Over the whole of last year, net income group share grew 36% to $ 4.1 billion. However, for the fourth quarter alone, net income group share came to $ 540 million, down 24% year on year. The turnover of the group, which has offered Cadbury last year rose 27% to $ 49.2 billion throughout the year and 30% over the last three months of 2010 13.8 billion, a growth almost exclusively from the redemption of the British confectioner.

For its part, Yahoo! opens up slightly from 0.18% to 16.65 dollars.The web giant announced it would launch in July a digital kiosk called "Livestand, which will make a new tablet computer readable medium of personalized information. The product should be compatible with all operating systems and tablets, provided Yahoo. To begin, will be adapted to Livestand Apple iPad and appliances under Honeycomb, a system designed by Google that should fit the particular tablet Xoom Motorola.

Also in the technology sector, the social networking website Facebook plans to let employees sell for a billion dollars of shares to investors hoping to enter his capital, in a transaction that values around 60 billion dollars, according the site of specialized information, All Things Digital.

The pump prices near their record

Pressure is mounting on motorists: Never pump prices have been near record levels in June 2008 when a barrel familiarly the bar $ 150. According to the latest statistics of the administration, the super unleaded 95 (SP 95) averaged at 1.467 euros per liter, 2 cents of the historic peak of 1.488 euro. The diesel has a little more leeway: it now stands at 1.284 euro, against 1.438 in 2008.

These prices can be surprising because the Brent crude in London is changing these days around $ 100, far below the peaks here are two and a half years. However, in the meantime, the dollar has appreciated against the euro, highlighting the pump the impact of soaring crude prices. Over the next few weeks, most experts believe that prices could still rise.They are based primarily on the wave of tensions in the Middle East set to continue.

For now, fuel consumption, which covers about half the French demand for oil has not yet been severely impacted. According to figures released Friday by the French Union of Petroleum Industries (Ufip), it rose 0.2% last year, the increase in diesel sales (+2.1%) to address the decline in supplies Gasoline (- 6.2%). It is the fruit of dieselisation French fleet, with more than 70% of new registrations.