Sunday, August 23, 2015

Montebourg-Varoufakis: a high-profile meeting – Challenges.fr

Anti-austerity Speech, Europe and Bresse chicken are Sunday, August 23 menu, the Feast of the Rose Frangy-en-Bresse (Saône-et-Loire) with guest star the bubbling Yanis Varoufakis, former Greek finance minister, alongside another troublemaker, Arnaud Montebourg. Syriza government of former star Alexis Tsipras, courted by European radical left, Yanis Varoufakis economist strong temperament, had advocated a hard line against their creditors of Greece. He resigned on July 6 of the Greek government, after the victory of the “no” in the referendum on the savings requested in Athens.

After the resignation of Alexis Tsipras and the convening of legislative elections in September he is the guest of honor for this socialist appointment initiated in 1973 by Pierre Joxe in this Burgundian village of 600 souls, former electoral stronghold Arnaud Montebourg.

Frangy 2015 “which will be a Frangy discuss the future of Europe. It is important to mention the great witnesses to history but also the future of Europe. (Varoufakis) was present in the negotiations and has seen and heard ” told AFP Arnaud Montebourg, explaining the invitation.

No regrets for Montebourg

“A fairly common path” with the former Minister of Productive Recovery, Denis slips Lamard, president of Friends of the Rose. In 2014, the gathering was an opportunity for Arnaud Montebourg and guest Benoît Hamon, then Minister of Education, denouncing the austerity policies in Europe and strongly criticize the policy of Francois Hollande. The next day, Manuel Valls presented the resignation of his government, and composed a new team. Without Arnaud Montebourg, Benoît Hamon nor Aurélie Filippetti (Culture).

Arnaud Montebourg no regrets. “My position, I not only do not regret it, but a year later, (my) predictions are verified,” he says, adding: “I wanted to be wrong!”

meeting of these two troublemakers cringe at the PS and the government? The Socialist Member of Parliament Cecilia Untermaier calls for calm: “It’s not an insult to call someone who has worked with the Eurogroup”

An appointment publicized

The two men, who were strangers, met in late July with their partners in Greece, in the Varoufakis couple.

Frangy, “80 news teams are expected, against a thirty last year, “according to Denis Lamard, citing” the German media, Belgian, Swiss, Japanese “…

Varoufakis will speak in English at the podium in the afternoon after Montebourg, with simultaneous translation. “At Frangy, I will launch a European network of progressive (…) The problems which France faces are the same as elsewhere (…) We must revive dialogue and restore what has been lost completely: democracy “said Anise Varoufakis in the Sunday Journal .

A media coup for Arnaud Montebourg, who no longer has any political mandate and decided to turn to the company He has mounted “Teams of Made in France”, which he is president shareholder and is also vice president of the furnishing teaches Habitat

Frangy is the “rendezvous. forgotten, “quipped Senator Luc PS Carvounas, near Manuel Valls: Montebourg,” who wants to show he still weighs within the socialist family while saying out of the fray “and Varoufakis,” which in full election Greece must show that it still exists. “

A rare word

Since his ouster, the third man of the Socialist primary of 2011, who are always ready ambitions 2017, has the rare word. His last outing – a forum with the businessman Mathieu Pigasse currying the political executive – had spoiled the end of the PS Congress in Poitiers. This week, Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, the first secretary, he reached out, however, saying it should “stay on board” the PS because “there is no future to be the Turlupin of the left” .

This year, the organizers decided to label “European wine” bottles offered for sale for the party after the “cuvée recovery” of August 2014. The images of Arnaud Montebourg s ‘esclaffant – “I’ll send him a bottle of + cuvée recovery + to the president.” – had turned repeatedly and largely contributed to his ouster the next day

Meeting with Mélenchon

Before leaving for Frangy-en-Bresse, Yanis Varoufais met Jean-Luc Mélenchon, co-founder of the Left Party (PG). They discussed the organization of a European conference “Plan B”, that is to say a euro exit for an anti-austerity.

After the interview about twenty minutes, Yanis Varoufakis told the press talking with Jean-Luc Mélenchon “the importance of democratizing Europe again.” “This is the number one priority for all Europeans,” said former government minister Syriza Alexis Tsipras.

John Muc Mélenchon, “the idea is to do a European conference of + Plan B +. Since the Germans have a plan A, file off anyone who does not agree with them, well, we’ll have a plan B, this is done in that case. ” “Everyone has ideas on the subject. We must confront and must quickly coordinate is to organize the European resistance,” he said.

“already good news, he (Yanis Varoufakis ) agrees with the European Conference of Plan B. So there we are going to participate and agree on how it is done. And I threw him an invitation to come to our booth at the party Humanity (11, 12, 13 September), “added the leader of the Left Party.

” Everyone would agree, we do not agree with German politics, that follows the government Holland, but after how we do it … Not everyone will not agree on what we do in case of Plan B, “a-t- he said.

“The trick is to not give up. If you start to give up and spend our time or whining, or denouncing our respective governments, while it does take us anywhere First, it must make a positive proposal, something that shows the people can we do otherwise, we are not condemned to undergo Mr Schäuble Policy “, the German Finance Minister.

Holland “stuck”

In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche (JDD), Yanis Varoufakis also attacks Wolfgang Schäuble and to “the simple logic: discipline is imposed to deficit nations.” And if Greece served as a “laboratory of austerity”, “the aim is obviously to then impose on France, its social model, with its labor laws,” he warns.

For the Greek economist, “Francois Hollande is deeply basically stuck” after the adoption of the plan of austerity measures which he said they were going to “save Greece”. “Nicolas Sarkozy had already said in 2010 that Greece was saved. In 2012, Greece has been saved. Now we are even saved! It is a technique to hide the dust under the carpet (…) The only thing conducted July 12 was a huge slap inflicted on European democracy “.

(With AFP)

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For Varoufakis it is urgent to restore democracy in Europe – Le Figaro

In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche, former Greek finance minister, who is present this Sunday at the traditional Festival of the Rose, said he felt that the French government had not the necessary authority to defend his point of view, and to ensure that this account in the negotiations.

After a meeting of twenty minutes on Sunday in Paris with Jean-Luc Mélenchon, co-founder of the Left Party, Yanis Varoufakis told the press that he spoke of “the importance of democratizing Europe again.” “This is the number one priority for all Europeans,” said former government minister Syriza Alexis Tsipras. In an interview he gave to the Journal du Dimanche (JDD), the former Greek finance minister says that if the European peoples were becoming aware “of the total lack of accountability of their leaders to the electorate, opacity They would wake up and ask that it be done differently. We must revive dialogue and restore what has been lost completely: democracy “

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the idea is to hold a European conference of” plan B “that is. ie a euro exit for an anti-austerity. “Since the Germans have a plan A (…) Well, we’ll have a plan B, that’s what we did in this case (…). Everyone has ideas on the subject. We must confront and must quickly coordinate is to organize European resistance, “said Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

European network of progressive

” Already good news, Yanis Varoufakis agrees with the European Conference of Plan B. So there we are going to participate and agree on how it is done. Also I threw him an invitation to come to our booth to Humanity Day (11, 12, 13 September), “said the leader of the Left Party. In his interview with JDD Yanis Varoufakis, which makes this Sunday, the Feast of the Rose of Frangy-en-Bresse (Saône-et-Loire), where he is the guest star of Arnaud Montebourg, former minister PS talks to launch a European progressive network.

“The silence of the French, that of Michel Sapin in the Eurogroup, the fact that a different French position ever assumed provoked in me a great sadness “

” We must make a positive proposal, something that shows the people can we do otherwise, we are not sentenced to undergo Schäuble policy “, the German finance minister, continued Jean-Luc Mélenchon. In the JDD, Yanis Varoufakis is attacking, too, Wolfgang Schäuble and to its logic: the discipline to deficit nations. Confirming his confidence in Le Monde on Saturday, the former minister supports the idea that Greece has served as a “laboratory of austerity” and then “impose on France, its social model, with its labor law . “

Referring to the position of France in the European summits, within the Eurogroup, the Greek economist advance:” I felt that the French government had not the authority to defend or even simply present its views and to ensure that account in the negotiation process (…) The Silence of the French, that of Michel Sapin in the Eurogroup, the fact that a position French assumed different is never provoked in me a great sadness. “

” The only thing done July 12 was a huge slap inflicted on European democracy. History will judge harshly what happened that day and especially our leaders who continue this charade, “says Yanis Varoufakis in the columns of JDD.

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Twitter and Google combine a little more in research – L’Express

Google and Twitter now go hand in hand. Since Friday, a partnership between the Internet giant and the social network allows tweets to appear within search engine results.

The first messages from the social network began, during May, to be included in Google Search results when the research was done from a smartphone. This practice is now spreading to research done from a desktop computer.

This was confirmed by an exchange on Twitter between the two companies: “Heytwitter, party for research with us Visit desktops’.”, wrote the Internet giant on its official account. And Twitter has accepted the invitation on his promising “to bring the tweets”.

An important partnership for Twitter

The two groups had already had a similar arrangement between 2009 and 2011. The renewed partnership comes as Twitter tries to broaden its appeal to reassure worried about its prospects for growth markets.

Twitter claiming 316 million subscribers in late June and only 44% connect daily on the main markets of the social network 20. By comparison, 65% of 1.49 billion Facebook users worldwide will access daily basis.

In the last quarterly results late July, the CFO, Anthony Noto, further confessed that there would be no significant and sustainable growth in the number of users as Twitter would not touch the general public, which “take considerable time.”

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The New York stock market fell more than 3% Friday – Romandie.com


NYSE fell heavily on Friday in the wake of a Chinese manufacturing indicator fueling fears of a slowing global economy. The three benchmark indices lost more than 3%.

The index Dow Jones Featured lost 3.12% yielding 530.94 points 16’459,75. The S & amp; P 500, wider, lost 64.84 points, or 3.19%, to 1970.89. The Nasdaq Composite was down on his side of 171.45 Points (3.52%) to 4706.04 points.

This slump that followed the Asian and European stock markets have all closed sharply lower Friday. The Eurostoxx 50 index lost more than 3%.

The New York Stock Exchange came into correction phase, without, however, analysts agree diagnose a simple jolt or end an increase of six and a half years.

In the last five sessions, the index Featured Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 5.8% and the Nasdaq, dominated by technology, was down 6, 8%, with a sudden acceleration in the last minutes of Friday’s session

The broader S & amp;. P 500, considered most representative by many investors, tumbled 5.8%. This is his sharpest weekly drop since September 2011.

“The question arises whether there is a correction in a market remaining (fundamentally) oriented upwards, or a market that is moving (permanently) downward, “said Hugh Johnson, Hugh Johnson Advisors.

Addiction rather optimistic assumption for an interim inflection, Johnson confessed find the “destabilizing” situation. “It’s been a long time since the market progressed without correction,” noted Tom Cahill in Ventura Wealth Management, however, hoping that the situation stabilizes next week.

“The recovery in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in the euro area and Japan, will be offset by the current slowdown in China, low or negative growth in Latin America and Russia, which is recovering very slowly from its recession last year, “details in a note Marie Diron, head of credit policy at Moody’s rating agency

Unknown Primary:. the magnitude and speed of the slowdown in Chinese growth engine over the last decade of the global activity.

On the bond front, Treasuries have played their role of safe value against the actions of turbulence. The paper yield to ten years falling to 2.06% against 2.08% on Thursday and 2.20% one week ago

(ats / 08.21.2015 11:45 p.m.) <.! -

(TTY / 08.21.2015 11:45 p.m.) ->
 

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Saturday, August 22, 2015

Thalys attack: What happened on the train? – FranceTV info

(FRANCE 3)

A man down, unconscious. Passengers neutralized Ayoub El Khazzani. Heavily armed, he had opened fire on the passengers of a Thalys train from Amsterdam to Paris Friday, August 21.
What has happened? It is a little less than 18 hours when man locks himself in the bathroom and comes out brandishing a Kalashnikov. A French passenger tries in vain to disarm. More later in the wagon, two Americans throw themselves on him. “ I am told that the passengers were going to react and that this was perhaps our only chance to survive together ” tells Chris Norman, a passenger on the Thalys. Through this intervention, travelers have certainly avoided bloodshed.

Friday, August 21, in Arras train station, the police seized a Kalashnikov and the handgun of suspect. They also found his backpack containing a cutter and nine chargers or 300 balls in total. Supported by the emergency, passengers were aware of having escaped the worst: “ I have seen many people squat, I slipped under my seat too (…) “recalls a young girl. The passenger seriously hit in the neck is still hospitalized but his days are not in danger.

The JT

other subjects of JT

On the same subject

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Shots in a Thalys train stations Safety in question – Challenges.fr

The attack foiled a gunman aboard a Thalys raises the issue of security in railway stations and trains, complicated to make, while the actor Jean-Hugues Anglade accuses the agents of the train of have abandoned passengers Amsterdam-Paris train their fate. The Belgian government has decided from Saturday, August 22, hours after the attack, to strengthen security measures in trains and railway stations of the country. Control of reinforced luggage, intensified patrols in Thalys, but also in railway stations

Such measures are in effect decided by governments, not by the railways. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has announced that SNCF would “establish a national number for reporting abnormal situations”. The government reaffirmed “the full mobilization of government departments to ensure the safety of everyone in all parts of the country, especially in public transport”, including raising the maximum level Vigipirate in Ile-de-France since last January 7 and deadly attack against Charlie Hebdo. “A total of 30,000 policemen, gendarmes and soldiers assigned to protect sensitive than 5,000 locations across the country, including train stations and airports,” the government.



about 3,000 stations in France

Without dockside monitoring, the shooter was able to enter the Thalys with a veritable arsenal. Yet it seems unlikely that the stations that receive a flow of people 20 times that of airports, will also equip systematic security checks.

In France, gendarmes and soldiers roam the some 3,000 stations, weapon in hand. This is also the case in Britain, where members of the British Transport Police (BTP) are present at major stations, often armed. But our neighbors across the Channel do not experience either of the baggage check before boarding a train. Same in Switzerland or Germany where the Federal Police concluded in 2000 with Deutsche Bahn an agreement providing for exchange of information and video surveillance, and preventive actions. The Italian stations, known for their disorganization, submit the passengers since May 1 and from some major stations, to security checks before boarding.



Complicated places to manage

Only Spain, deeply marked by the attacks of 11 March 2004 in Madrid that killed 191 people and injured nearly 1,900 in four commuter trains, passenger baggage control long-distance trains, explained the Spanish public institution responsible for managing the rail network and security in stations, Administrador of infraestructuras FERROVIARIAS (ADIF).

Eurostar, SNCF subsidiary connecting Britain to France, also requests its passengers to arrive a half hour before the train leaves, and made them pass a security check as to the airport. But this is due, firstly, to identity checks to enter the UK, which is not part of the Schengen area, and the necessary safety measures before taking the Channel Tunnel.

“The stations are extremely complicated to manage places” because they are “old, much more open” as airports, said Marc Ivaldi, a researcher at the Industrial Economics Institute of Toulouse. Secure all stations? “In the very short term, it is strictly impossible,” he considers, saying the cost would be astronomical.

Indeed, the expenses related to the installation of barriers and other portals s’ add those induced by essential personnel so that travelers do not queue for hours before boarding. Marc Ivaldi believes however that “we can not do otherwise than to secure the Thalys and a number of TGV”.



The charge of Jean-Hugues Anglade

Car in trains, SNCF agents are not police mission, said the railway company. The actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, who was traveling in the Thalys and was wounded by triggering the alarm, told Paris Match that he had the impression of being (“prisoner) of this train ( …) (trapped) in a mousetrap. ” He questioned the board staff, which, according to him, dropped the passengers.

But the direction of the Thalys contradicted, claiming that agents of the train where is the place armed attack, had alerted the driver, and that one of them was hiding with several passengers, adding that the French regulations, officers must first alert and stop the train.

The president of SNCF, Guillaume Pepy, said Saturday he would meet in the coming days the actor. “I proposed to meet Mr. Anglade, who said yes,” said the boss of the railway: “I understand the emotion, testimony, but to conclude, we must give ourselves the time to hear everyone. “

(With AFP)

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Carnage avoided Thalys: the film events, hour by hour – TF1

Friday, August 21

5:50 p.m. A Moroccan of 26, armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle with nine chargers, automatic Luger pistol and a knife, opened fire in the high-speed train Thalys 9364 linking Amsterdam to Paris shortly after the convoy’s passage France in Oignies (Pas-de-Calais).
A first traveler, French 28-year employee in a bank in the Netherlands, tries to disarm the man when it comes out of the toilet. The assailant managed to escape, fires several shots. A passenger fifty years, Franco-American nationality, is reached. Three American passengers on vacation, including two soldiers, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone, helped by a Briton Chris Norman and an anonymous French manage to disarm the aggressor and to master it.
In the fight, Spencer Stone injured shots cutter that does not stop to rescue the passenger who was hit in the throat by a shot.
The actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, present on the train, was slightly injured while attempting to activate the alarm. He accused the Thalys agents have locked in a car and refusing to open to passengers who sought their help.
Between 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The aggressor mounted in Brussels, was arrested in Arras station (Pas-de-Calais) to which was diverted Thalys. Supported in a nearby gym, the 554 passengers on the train have their identities checked and their luggage searched before being sent to Paris at night. Technical and scientific police found only one socket.
7:30 p.m. Announcement of departure for Arras the Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.
20.45 Press Francois Hollande ensuring that “everything is done to shed light” on attack . The Elysee precisely one hour after Mr. Holland and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel “agreed” on the phone “closely cooperate” in the investigation.
8:50 p.m. The anti-terrorist section of the Paris prosecutor took up the investigation.

9:21 p.m. The French Prime Minister Manuel Valls expressed his “gratitude” to those who intervened to control the assailant.
9:54 p.m. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel denounced a “terrorist attack” and provides for a strengthening of measures Security
Saturday, August 22
1:35 US President Barack Obama welcomed the “heroic” actions of two American soldiers.
11:14 Belgian federal prosecutor opened an investigation “on the basis of the anti-terrorism law” because “the suspect boarded the train in Brussels.”
11:28 A police source said the suspect, transferred early in the morning in the premises of counterterrorism in Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine) denies being a terrorist, a version that does not take with the state investigations.
12:30 Bernard Cazeneuve said the suspect is suspected of belonging to the “radical Islamist” but he says that the identity has yet to be formally established. He resided in 2014 in Spain and 2015 in Belgium.
4 p.m. The Belgian government decided to tighten security measures in trains and stations in the country .
5:00 p.m. Manuel Valls announced that SNCF will set up a “national number for reporting abnormal situations “in trains and stations.
7 p.m. Spencer Stone leaves the clinic where he Lille was successfully operated.
7:30 p.m. The suspect is formally identified. This is Ayoub El Khazzani, reported in February 2014 by the Spanish services to their French counterparts to belong to the radical Islamist movement. Located in Berlin May 10, 2015, he would have sailed to Turkey and Syria before returning to France.
8:00 p.m. The Elysee announced that Francois Hollande will receive Monday at 9am “US citizens, French and British “that have prevented carnage.

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The attack foiled Thalys raises the issue of security in railway stations and trains – Le Point

The attack foiled an armed man aboard Thalys is the question of security in railway stations and trains, complicated to make, while the actor Jean-Hugues Anglade accuses rowing officers for abandoning passengers Amsterdam-Paris train their fate.

The Belgian government decided on Saturday, hours after the attack, to strengthen security measures in trains and railway stations of the country, control of reinforced luggage, intensified patrols in Thalys, but also in stations.

Such measures are in effect decided by governments, not by the railways. The French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, has announced that SNCF would “establish a national number for reporting abnormal situations”.

“I think the question of extending the system of airports to stations, today we can not say it’s realistic, “due to the excessive number of passengers in stations, 20 times more than in airports, according to the SNCF president Guillaume Pepy.

As to control only a few lines at high speed, or international, it needs to be, “as Eurostar, in a completely closed area. (…) You are either comprehensive or efficiency is low.”

Without dockside monitoring, the shooter was able to enter the Thalys with a veritable arsenal.

In France, gendarmes and soldiers roam the nearly 3,000 stations, gun in hand. This is also the case in Britain, where members of the British Transport Police (BTP) are present at major stations, often armed. But our neighbors across the Channel do not experience either of baggage before boarding a train.

Same in Switzerland or Germany where the Federal Police concluded in 2000 with Deutsche Bahn an agreement providing for exchange of information and video surveillance and prevention activities.

Italian stations, known for their disorganization, submit the passengers since May 1 and from some major stations, to security checks before embark

-. Complicated locations to manage –

Only Spain, deeply marked by the attacks of 11 March 2004 in Madrid that killed 191 people and injured nearly 1,900 in four commuter trains, passenger baggage control of long distance trains, told Spanish public institution responsible for managing the rail network and security in stations, Administrador of infraestructuras FERROVIARIAS (ADIF).

Eurostar, SNCF subsidiary connecting Britain to France, also asks its passengers to arrive half an hour before the train leaves, and made them pass a security check as to airport.

But this is due, firstly, to identity checks to enter the UK, which is not part of the Schengen area, and the necessary safety precautions before to take the Channel Tunnel.

“Stations are places extremely complicated to manage,” because they are “old, much more open” as airports, said Marc Ivaldi, a researcher at the Industrial Economics Institute of Toulouse.

Securing all stations? “In the very short term, it is strictly impossible,” he considers, saying the cost would be astronomical.

Indeed, the expenses related to the installation of barriers and other portals s’ add those induced by essential personnel so that travelers do not queue for hours before boarding.

Marc Ivaldi believes however that “we can not do otherwise than to secure Thalys and a number of TGV “.

For in trains, SNCF agents are not police mission, said the railway company. The actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, who was traveling in the Thalys and was wounded by triggering the alarm, blamed airline staff who, according to him, dropped the passengers.

But the direction of the Thalys contradicted, claiming that agents of the train where the attack took place army, had alerted the driver and one of them had put several passengers away, saying that in French law, the agents must first alert, and then stop the train

08/22/2015 11:03:33 p.m.. – Paris (AFP) – By Julie Chabanas – AFP © 2015

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Shots Thalys: SNCF will set up a “national number for reporting abnormal situations” – Boursorama

The SNCF will also “strengthen the number and visibility of vigilance posts in stations,” said in a statement the prime minister, who spoke in the day with President of the SNCF, Guillaume Pepy .

“All the railway group agents are fully mobilized to ensure the safety of all travelers. The transport safety also depends on the vigilance of the citizens,” said Mr Valls in this communiqué jointly signed by the Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and the Secretary of State for Transport, Alain Vidal. They discussed all three Saturday “with the main operators of public transport on due diligence measures in force.”

The SNCF “will also set up a national number for reporting abnormal situations which meet the staff specially trained to assess the nature of the threat and trigger the necessary actions. “

The SNCF president Guillaume Pepy has, however, ruled out a routine baggage control system, due to the number too important to travelers in train stations, 20 times at airports: “I believe that the question of extending the system from airports to train stations, today we can not say it’s realistic,” Has -he told AFP.

Check only a few high-speed lines, or international, are not considered. “Either you’re like Eurostar, in a completely closed area. If you are in an open area, the bad guys will go elsewhere. You are either comprehensive or efficiency is low,” said Guillaume Pepy.

It finds that “the strongest answer is that Bernard Cazeneuve and government repeated all day long, it is the tireless, intelligent action, commitment, intelligence and police. “

” The second answer is vigilance, (…) everyone is vigilant. This vigilance is also that one that helped yesterday the terror is stopped, “he said.

The government reaffirmed” the full mobilization of government departments to ensure the safety of everyone in all parts of the country, especially in transport in common, “including raising the maximum level Vigipirate in Ile-de-France since 7 January and the murderous attack against Charlie Hebdo.

” A total of 30,000 police and gendarmes soldiers assigned to protect sensitive than 5,000 locations across the country, including train stations and airports, “the government.

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Survey shooter Thalys, track radical Islam emerges – The Obs

Arras (AFP) – He denies any terrorist intent but would have been reported as radical Islamist party and would be in Syria: the investigators were trying Saturday to learn more about the heavily armed man who was subdued by passengers Friday an Amsterdam-Paris train, avoiding bloodshed.

The suspect has been formally identified as Ayoub El Khazzani, a Moroccan national reported in February 2014 by the Spanish intelligence services as belonging to the radical Islamist movement says -t-one police source.

His custody in the premises of the French counterterrorism, near Paris, was extended Saturday night. It may last four days.

The man, who turns 26 on September 3, lived in 2013 and until March 2014 in Algeciras, Andalusia (southern Spain), where he was known for drug trafficking, a source of Spanish anti-terrorist services.

More than a year later, May 10, 2015, it was located in Berlin, where he embarked for Turkey, according French intelligence, which would then learned of the Spaniards that this man was installed in Belgium.

According Madrid, the suspect would actually left France to go to Syria and would then be returned to the Hexagon, but the Spanish services say not having informed France because “they did not know it at the time”

-. Nine Chargers –

On Friday, the man is mounted in the Thalys 9364 in Brussels. Armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle with nine chargers, automatic Luger pistol and a knife, he opened fire at 17:50, shortly after crossing the French border.

French first traveler, aged 28 and employed in a bank in the Netherlands, tried to disarm him as he came out of the toilet. The suspect managed to escape and several shots were fired him, a ball hitting a passenger, Franco-American nationality.

This man of fifty years has “removed the Kalashnikov hands of the aggressor, “and” was shot by a handgun, “he told the head of the Lille University Hospital’s emergency, Patrick Goldstein, who said he was” speechless with admiration “to the patient” exceptional “.

Many Americans, including two soldiers and one British, managed to disarm the suspect. The courage of these men, one of whom was wounded, was hailed by President Barack Obama and Francois Hollande who expects to receive them soon at the Elysee.

“We heard a shot and broken glass. I saw a guy with an AK (Kalashnikov), “told Alek Skarlatos, 22 years. “My friend (Spencer Stone, another US military) and I were stooped, and then we said let’s go + + (…) He was hit in the head until he lost knowledge. “

In the scuffle, Mr. Stone was shot in the neck and cutter by hand by the attacker, who has not made use of his Kalashnikov, presumably halted.

Chris Norman, a British sexagenarian who helped the Americans, did not sleep the night “begins to realize” what they have escaped. “Now I just want to go home,” he told

-. Locked in the driving –

On film images to mobile phone on the train, the attacker can see a thin young man, shirtless, wrestled to the ground on his stomach with his hands tied behind his back. Blood was visible on a window of the car.

Slightly injured by operating the alarm signal, the actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, who was on the train, blamed the agents of Thalys s being locked in the car driving and refusing to open to passengers.

Thalys has provided support in response to the agent in question, and the boss of the SNCF, Guillaume Pepy, will meet the actor.

The terrorism prosecutor of Paris, whose jurisdiction is national, took up the investigation. The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office also opened an investigation to terrorism. Belgium has stepped up security at railway stations and trains. SNCF will it establish “a national issue of reporting of abnormal situations”.

This new attack comes eight months after the bloody attacks in January against Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper and supermarket hide from Paris.

Since then, several attempts to jihadist attacks were he seems foiled in France.

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US: Uber accused of recruiting criminals – Challenges.fr

The US authorities accuse the car reservation service with driver for smartphone Uber lying on the reliability of background checks of its drivers, which let criminals, in a complaint filed Wednesday, August 19th in San Francisco.

Prosecutors in San Francisco and Los Angeles will establish a list of 25 people who were discovered while driving for Uber despite court sentences, including a murderer who spent 26 years in prison and pedophiles.

“Nothing to Los Angeles, registered sex offenders, a kidnapper, identity thieves, burglars, and a convicted murderer spent controls + + peak in the Uber sector” they write.

These conductors were initially pinned for illegally embarked passengers at the airport or on the street, they said.

The complaint evokes false statements or Uber misleading that are “likely to harm consumers believe qu’Uber done all it can to ensure their safety and that background checks by Uber will spot all the criminal past of a candidate”.

The company employed by the control methods according to them are much less secure than those used for the traditional drivers of taxis in major cities of California, particularly failing to ensure the real identity the aspiring driver checking fingerprints.

“Security is a priority”

“The misleading representations Uber represent a particular danger public safety given the well-documented phenomenon of parents who send their child unaccompanied teenagers in Uber vehicles, “to go from school to sports training or music lessons for example, notes the complaint.

The authorities are demanding an end to alleged practices and financial penalties.

Uber agrees with the authorities that “security is a priority,” but denies the superiority of Livescan system used by companies taxis compared to its own methods of control, reacted one of its spokesmen. “The reality is that none (two systems) is 100% sure.”

She stressed that the checks carried out by Uber on “hundreds of people” had particularly helped flush out convictions for driving while intoxicated, rape, attempted murder, child abuse or violence, while Livescan “includes people who were arrested but not yet charged or convicted, which may create discrimination against minorities” .

“We are eager to solve this problem,” said the spokesman, noting that the Lyft competitor had set “an almost similar case” last year by agreeing to pay $ 250,000.

Uber is one of the most unlisted startups to Silicon Valley, but its rapid growth has created controversy over the competition it represents to traditional taxis, as well as its security.

(With AFP)

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Yanis Varoufakis: “The real target of Dr. Schäuble is France and its welfare state” – Le Monde

Le Monde | | Interview by

The former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis during a session at the Vouli, August 14th.

Provocateur, idealistic, arrogant. Yanis Varoufakis, former Greek finance minister, fascinates it annoys. Four days before his visit to France, the Feast of the Rose, to Frangy-en-Bresse (Saône-et-Loire), Sunday, August 23, the troublemaker economist received Le Monde 19 August on the Greek island of Aegina, where he has a house

Read also the meeting. The “star” Varoufakis seeks a destiny

The third plan of aid to Greece, which he defined as a “capitulation” face to creditors of Athens, will lead his country into the abyss, he explains. He denounces the opacity of the Eurogroup, which according to him, takes major decisions for the future of the euro area without the citizens being informed.

France has -t it was an ally of the government of Alexis Tsipras during negotiations with Greece’s partners?

Most Europeans think that in recent months Greece has negotiated with its eurozone partners . It is not the case. During the five months I have been involved within the Eurogroup [Finance Ministers Meeting of the euro zone], my colleagues sent back to me systematically representatives of institutions, namely the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

I never negotiated directly with Michel Sapin, my French colleague. Nor with Wolfgang Schäuble, the German finance minister, which ensured that he could do anything for me and sent me to the institutions.

Even when Mr Schäuble and I finally opened a dialogue, shortly before I left, it was clear that any degree of convergence between us could be expressed formally

This is the great lesson of recent months. Eurozone is the most powerful economic zone but nobody directs – or at least, no one elected. She created a monster, the Eurogroup, where finance ministers not really negotiate with each other.

Reproach you to the Greek government for signing the third plane help?

I voted against this program. This government, including me, was elected in January on a simple commitment: not signed with creditors economically unsustainable agreement. That is to say, which would aggravate the recession and literally make it impossible to debt repayment. Since 2010, Greece has twice committed the mistake of accepting such plans. We promised to stop it, and in my case, I never changed position

Read also the report. The incredible ” Plan B “Mr. Varoufakis

Unfortunately, the Prime Minister has come to accept this third program, yet he himself described as bad. The whole of Europe will come out the loser. For my part, I have drawn the consequences by resigning as I committed to do so

Read also the analysis. The Eurogroup, the embryo European government

This new program, 86 billion euros, has yet allowed Greece to avoid the “Grexit” an exit from the euro zone.

This is how the media present things. But I do not share that analysis. If Greece is trying, despite common sense and basic laws of economics, to apply this Memorandum and accompanying reforms, it will run right to Grexit. Because this program is designed to sink our economy

. Result: we can not keep our commitments, and Dr. Schäuble will point the finger at us and cut aid to the country. The Grexit is clearly the objective pursued.

You state that Mr. Schäuble wants to push Greece out of the euro. Why?

To reach France. The French welfare state, its labor law, its national companies are the real target of the German finance minister. He considers Greece as a laboratory of austerity, where the memorandum is experienced before being exported. The fear of Grexit aims to bring down the French resistance, neither more nor less

Also read the full interview. Yanis Varoufakis: “The real target of Dr. Schäuble is France and its welfare state “

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Twitter back to square one – Le Figaro

On the night of Thursday to Friday, the title of the microblogging site fell to 26 dollars. He thus regained during its IPO in November 2013. The Action Twitter sparked a wave of enthusiasm on Wall Street and was gone in the following months to more than 70 dollars. But then she quickly relapsed, investors are worrying to the group’s ability to maintain its growth and expand its audience as well.

The slump has accelerated during the summer at the lack of prospects company growth and governance difficulties. The main problem with Twitter is the weak growth in the number of its users. The number of users grew by only 2 million sequentially to 304 million in the second quarter. The increase reached 12% year on year, but this more modest growth from one quarter to the next is rather worrying at this stage of the development of Twitter. Finally, on its forecasts, Twitter anticipates revenue in a range between 545 and 560 million in the third quarter against 555.8 million expected by Wall Street. Twitter claiming 316 million subscribers in late June and only 44% connect daily on 20 major markets of the social network. By comparison, 65% of 1.49 billion Facebook users worldwide will access daily basis.



growth failure

The situation has worsened in early July after the resignation of CEO Dick Costolo. Since then, the interim is ensured by a co-founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, also head of mobile payments company Square, which is preparing to go public.

The task of new boss may be particularly complex. The financial director of the group, Anthony Noto, is indeed confessed at the publication of the latest results there would be no significant and sustainable growth in the number of users as Twitter would not affect the general public, which , he added, “will take a considerable time.” A confession which was heavily penalized on the stock market: the stock has lost nearly 30% of its value since the presentation of the latest quarterly results in late July

.

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Brazil. McDonald’s he respects the law? – West France

While it is still under investigation in Europe for private old continent of a billion euros in tax revenues, the fast-food chain McDonald’s US now sows confusion in Brazil .

One of the main Brazilian trade union confederations filed a complaint last week, asking the prosecutor to open an investigation for tax evasion, unfair competition and breach of duty on Arcos Dorados franchises , first operator of McDonalds Latin America (95,000 employees and EUR 3.3 billion in revenues).

On Thursday, the Brazilian Senate held a hearing on …

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Friday, August 21, 2015

SUMMARY 2-Fears about global growth after PMI surveys – Boursorama

 

(Updates with US manufacturing PMI flash) * China's manufacturing activity to a low of six and a half years * Growth remains stable in Europe * The manufacturing sector slows in the US * The economic downturn depresses equity markets by Jonathan Koh Gui Qing and Cable LONDON / BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Reuters) - Several indicators suggest that the slowdown in China is growing, the US economy lacks momentum and that the growth should remain weak in Europe have darkened a little over the outlook for the global economy Friday, causing a sharp decline in stock exchanges and commodity prices. According to a survey of purchasing managers, the vast Chinese manufacturing sector contracted in August at a pace not seen in nearly six and a half years, a development that encourages investors to retreat to safe havens such as gold and US Treasury bonds. The markets had already been stung by surprise devaluation of the yuan last week and the collapse of China's stock exchanges at the beginning of the summer. A few minutes from the close in Europe, the continent's main squares yielded between 2% and 3% and Wall Street more than 1.5%. "Uncertainties about Chinese growth are now the main factor by moving the markets," said Tim Condon has, economist at ING. "The data released today fueling doubts about global growth." On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve had already fed the concern by specifically mentioning China as a risk to the economy. Caixin The PMI / Markit "flash" purchasing managers of the Chinese manufacturing sector stood at 47.1 in August, well below the median projection of analysts polled by Reuters (47.7) and down sharply compared to the final July index (47.8). This result, which reflects a contraction in activity, is the worst since March 2009, when the global financial crisis was in full swing. ID: nL5N10U0CT CONTRARY WIND CHINA After three decades of unbridled growth that propelled China as the second largest economy, the activity of the country seems to be over more than what the authorities would do despite the many measures to try to restart. Interest rates have been lowered four times since November and the Chinese currency was devalued by 2% on August 11. Since then, she has lost nearly 3% against the dollar. For some analysts, this decline is not important enough to boost Chinese exports but it is still enough to do therefore fear a "currency war" between countries. The speed at which the Chinese economy seems to lose momentum has led some economists to conclude that Beijing was likely to have difficulty in achieving its stated goal of a 7% increase in gross domestic product (GDP) this year. Data from the United States are hardly appeared more reassuring. The growth of the US manufacturing sector slowed in August to its slowest pace in nearly two years. ID: In nL5N10W24Y first estimate, the Markit purchasing managers (PMI) stood at 52.9 in August, the lowest since October 2013. It was down from the figure of 53 8 calculated in July, while economists polled by Reuters on average had forecast a rise to 54.0. Tim Moore, economist at Markit, "the August survey highlights a lack of momentum of growth and low pressure on prices which could fuel the arguments of the 'doves' when decision-makers (the Federal Reserve note) discuss a possible tightening of monetary policy in September. " The prospect of a future rise in US interest rates fueling market volatility helping to accelerate capital outflows from emerging countries, including China. MIXED SITUATION IN EUROPE In the euro area, according to the first results of PMI surveys in August, the private sector has experienced an unexpected acceleration this month, notably driven by an increase in new orders, suggesting that the program quantitative easing from the European Central Bank (ECB) is beginning to bear fruit. ID: nL5N10W111 But the PMI also showed an acceleration of price declines that may disappoint the Frankfurt institution, including the goal of inflation close to 2% is far removed from the current level (+ 0.2% only July). The composite PMI purchasing managers Markit, considered a good barometer of growth emerged in August to 54.1 in flash version, against 53.9 last month. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a slight decline to 53.8. According to Rob Dobson, senior economist of Markit, PMI suggests growth of 0.4% in the euro area in the third quarter, a figure consistent with the average of expectations emerged of a Reuters poll released last week. "But we will see slow growth in the euro area in the coming months with the erasing positive effects that could have the low prices and the depreciation of the euro," said Jennifer McKeown, analyst at Capital Economics. She also mentions the risk of an erosion of confidence if the early elections in Greece are synonymous with a new period of uncertainty. ID: nL5N10V3UU ID: nL5N10W1BU (Benoit Van Overstraeten and Myriam Rivet for the French service, edited by Marc Angrand)

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Unexpected slowdown in the US manufacturing sector – Challenges.fr

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Growth the manufacturing sector against all odds slowed in August in the US to achieve its slowest pace in nearly two years, according to Markit of directors shopping (PMI) published Friday.

In the first estimate, the index stood at 52.9 in August, the lowest since October 2013.

s’ registered a decrease compared to the figure of 53.8 calculated in July, while economists polled by Reuters on average had forecast a rise to 54.0.

However, it remains above the 50 threshold that distinguishes growth and contraction.

The employment component also declined, from 53.8 in July to 52.2 this month, the lowest since July 2014.

“The August survey highlights a lack of momentum of growth and low pressure on prices which could fuel the arguments of the ‘doves’ when decision-makers (the Federal Reserve, ed) will discuss with a possible tightening of monetary policy in September, “observes Tim Moore, economist at Markit.

It also notes that, according to the survey participants, the stronger dollar continued to weigh on exports and competitiveness, while increased uncertainty about global growth appears to have slowed in both US consumer demand and those from abroad.

The component of the production of Meanwhile fell to the lowest since January 2014, from 55.3 last month to 53.7 in August

The US indicators in real time

(Sam Forgione. Myriam Rivet for the French service, edited by Marc Angrand)

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Market: widening its losses in the afternoon. – Le Figaro

After reducing their losses during the morning through the PMI Markit Eurozone, European stock dig again overtaken by a depressing environment for all global markets.

Athens abandons 2.6 %, Amsterdam and Zurich 2.2% 2.1% 1.6% loses London, Milan, Madrid and Lisbon 1.4%, Frankfurt, Paris and Brussels 1.1%. In New York, the Dow Jones and Nasdaq 0.9% each unleash yet

In the wake of the US indices yesterday. – Who had then suffered their worst session of the year – Tokyo lost nearly 3% late Friday session, while Shanghai still won by nearly 4.3%.

‘Global markets went into panic mode when the extent of China’s economic slowdown is beginning to be perceived without that investors have changed their forecast of an increase in the Fed’s September rate ‘, was explained this morning at IG.

The US economy has yet given a new sign of weakness that afternoon, with the Markit PMI which fell to 52.9 in flash estimate for August, its lowest level since October 2013.

‘The resignation of Alexis Tsipras, who hopes to see its legitimacy strengthened in the upcoming early elections in Greece on September 20, will also create a (small) political uncertainty in a context already anxiety ‘, also notes a manager of Barclays stock.

In a bleak context, markets do not benefit long the flash estimate of the Markit PMI for the euro area, which rose slightly to 54.1 this month, and therefore indicated an expansion continues to private sector activity in the region.

The data show a faster rise in overall activity in Germany and positive performances for France. Outside the Franco-German core, growth accelerated to its highest level since July 2007.

“These data underscore the ability of the eurozone to absorb the shock of the Greek crisis and it has created a stir last month ‘commented Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit.

In terms of values, TNT Express manages to remain close to balance (-0.1% ) in Amsterdam, FedEx has announced the launch of a friendly takeover bid for the Dutch logistics group, valued at 4.4 billion euros.

Novartis was down 2.7% in Zurich, while the Swiss healthcare group will do the acquisition from GSK (-2% in London) of all rights Ofatumumab, an experimental treatment against multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.

A reverse trend, Mercialys signed the largest increase of the Paris SBF120 and garnered 3.3%, which is explained by the increase of recommendation from Goldman Sachs’ neutral “to” buy “on the title land.

Copyright (c) 2015 CercleFinance.com. All rights reserved.

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Concerns about global growth are plunging markets – L’Express

After the turmoil on the currency market and the continued decline in oil prices, Wall Street fell sharply, the index Dow Jones Featured losing 3.12% and the Nasdaq Composite index, which concentrates the technology stocks, 3.52%.

This slump that followed the Asian and European stock markets have all closed sharply lower Friday, the Eurostoxx 50 index losing more than 3%.

The recovery in the US and, to a lesser extent, the euro and Japan region, will be offset by the current slowdown in China, low or negative growth in Latin America and Russia, which is recovering very slowly from its recession last year “explains in a note Marie Diron, head of credit policy at Moody’s rating agency.

Main unknown: the magnitude and speed of the slowdown in Chinese growth engine over the last decade in global activity.

Uncertainties about the slowdown in China rose “, confirmed the Citi US bank, in a note, predicting that the growth of the second world economy “ remain certainly soft “.

Concern heightened Friday by the announcement of a further decline in manufacturing activity in August to its lowest level in six years, according to the PMI reference calculated by Markit.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) still expects growth of 6.8% this year (against 7.4% in 2014) but many analysts doubt Chinese official figures.

The blur should continue “ at least until the end of the year ,” said Nigel Green, CEO of consulting firm deVere, considering that at that time -There, “ we will have a better view of the risks of a hard landing + + Chinese “.

– “ Little cold shower ” –

The devaluation was seen as a last weapon that the Chinese government could not revive its growth , “said AFP Jean-Louis Mourier, economist at Aurel BGC broker.

This Chinese slowdown weighed on the commodities market, where prices have fallen sharply, particularly penalizing emerging markets, including Latin America.

Many countries suffer because they depend on the export of raw materials including ores ,” detailed Mr. Mourier.

Brazil, seventh world economy sinks into recession with inflation and rising unemployment and a currency that unscrews, difficulties which are added a political crisis.

At the same time, Europe has been slow to take over from the growth of emerging countries.

After an excess of optimism is a little cold shower ,” said economist broker Aurel BGC before nuance: “ this not as the world economy is deteriorating as the international environment is not improving as expected “.

The growth slowed slightly in the second quarter in the euro zone to 0.3% (against 0.4% in the first quarter), largely because of the underperformance against France remained at a stationary, while Germany was less than expected, according to first estimates released August 14 by the European statistics office Eurostat.

If the recovery is not fast enough to taste analysts, however, on the long term prospects are quite encouraging for the euro area.

The growth of private activity accelerated in August in the euro area, including through Germany and despite the slowdown in France, according to an estimate published Friday by Markit.

The euro is undervalued and this will help strengthen the recovery of the European economy ,” said Nigel Green, which also expects the price of oil down as positive for the European economies.

The single European currency also went up significantly against the dollar, which open Friday at 2100 GMT at 1.1388 dollars, up more than 1.30% on the day.

The price of black gold continued their decline Friday, stopping just above the threshold of $ 40 a barrel.

Another pressure factor to the decline in financial markets, analysts seem confused by the US monetary policy.

In the minutes of their last meeting, officials of the central bank of the United States did not bring expected by markets indications on when they decide to raise rates, uncertainty that investors dislike.

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The tax cut will be included in the 2016 budget – Le Figaro

“It is not a promise is a commitment we keep,” said Friday the Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

Every day that passes brings new details about the tax cuts on households that has been announced for 2016, especially towards the middle classes, which have been heavily drawn upon in recent years. The move Friday at Bercy station to see the implementation of Macron law, in particular the opening of intercity bus routes, Manuel Valls said the government would tax act inscribed in the draft budget 2016 to be presented in late September by the Cabinet. “The law will organize in 2016 a new finance tax cuts for households for the third consecutive year,” said the Prime Minister as well. “We’re making tradeoffs,” he once said, as if to demonstrate that this decision had absolutely nothing political or precipitate.

And for those who can legitimately be skeptical of this new cacophony of the executive in tax matters – Wednesday, the fall would occur “if growth (getting louder) in 2016″ and Thursday “whatever happens” – starting with services Bercy who were not informed, Manuel Valls firmly told that “this is not a promise is a commitment we will keep.”

By accelerating the schedule, the Prime Minister wants send a “clear message” to the French: “They must understand that through their efforts, this movement is engaged completely irreversible.” A message that has, according to him, only one purpose: “To contribute to restore confidence and to support the recovery. “

The head of government has however refused to give details on the magnitude of the tax cut. All he has just recalled that “the recovery is more, the greater the decline in 2016 will be strong.”

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Tax: the promise of Holland entered when the draft budget 2016 – Challenges.fr

Manuel Valls said on Friday, August 21 that the tax cuts promised by Hollande for next year would be indicated on the Finance Bill 2016 “to be announced at the end of the month (September) Council of Ministers “.

” The law of 2016 Finance will hold a new tax cuts for households for the third consecutive year, “said the prime minister, the move to Bercy station to Paris to see the implementation of Macron law and in particular the opening of intercity bus lines.

“It’s not a promise, it is a commitment that we will!” Did he insisted. “We are trying to make the trade-offs for the preparation of the finance bill,” he then explained

The goal:. Restore confidence and support recovery

Manuel Valls declined to provide details on the extent of the tax cut. Just has he recalled that “more the recovery will be stronger, the decline will be strong in 2016″.

“Since 2010, taxation of households rose too sharply”, estimated the head of government. “We have always said that, through the control of public expenditure efforts, this decrease (tax) would be continued by the end of five years,” said Mr Valls.

“We are addressing a clear message to the French. They must know that, through their efforts, the movement is engaged completely irreversibly with the further implementation of the component for companies of responsibility and solidarity pact, “insisted the prime minister.

“This message should help to restore confidence and to support the recovery,” he concluded.

(with AFP)

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Greece: Alexis Tsipras resigns, new elections in sight – Boursier.com

Alexis Tsipras puts his mandate at stake, when Athens has just received the first funds of its third bailout plan …

(Boursier .com) – As Greece has received the first tranche of its third aid package, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has decided to resign in order to hold new parliamentary elections that could take place on 20 September. Alexis Tsipras, challenged by a wing Syriza party of his after agreeing to new austerity measures with international creditors, hopes to strengthen its political legitimacy …

“My mandate has its limits”

“I’ll be honest with you: we did not get the agreement we wanted before the January elections (…) the mandate that I received on January 25 has reached its limits and the Greek people now have a say, “he has said Thursday night during a televised address. For the record, despite the reluctance of its European partners, Alexis Tsipras had held a referendum on whether the Greeks would accept a third international financial aid plan.

Faced with its repayment obligations and despite victory “no”, the Prime Minister bent, angering his party … result in the parliamentary vote on the bailout plan, which took place last week, 43 MPs, one third of Syriza members voted against or abstained, confirming the fracture within the party.

Specifically, when new elections are held within twelve months after the previous vote, the Greek Constitution provides that the President of the Republic convenes at first the leaders of other parties to see if they are able to form a government. If not – which probably going to happen – then the elections are held …

Political Chain reactions …

Alexis Tsipras will therefore relies on urns … A “democratic” decision, greeted in France by Jean-Luc Mélenchon particular. “Tsipras is right. The people control (…) its decision is clean and respectful of democracy. But the project is not good. The European diktat is unacceptable,” he wrote on his Twitter account. “Tribute to Greek democracy where one man can not change the mandate for which he was elected,” he said this morning on ‘France Inter’ Eric Coquerel, policy coordinator of the leftist party.

Conversely, MEP Republicans, Nadine Morano criticizes “the lies” Syriza leader. “This is what lead between extreme unrealistic promises and betrayal of the people. To think before you vote!”, She wrote in a note posted on Facebook … In Brussels, we hope that the Greek vote will not call into question the commitments: “I remember that the new reform package broad support of the Greek Parliament and I hope that the elections will enable to get even wider support of Parliament,” wrote the president of the Eurogroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, in an email to Reuters …

  – © 2015 Boursier.com
 

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Tourism: towards a new record this year in France – Le Parisien

August 20, 2015, 5:51 p.m. | Updated: August 20, 2015, 5:51 p.m.

(AFP ) – The tourist season in France should beat a new world record attendance this year with a higher influx of tourists to 85 million, said Thursday the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of tourism, Laurent Fabius.

“We are going in 2015 to a new world record for tourism,” he said at a press conference, adding that this was the first indications of trends.

In the first quarter tourist traffic measured in overnight stays increased overall by 2% and 3.6% for foreign customers. In the second quarter, calendar effects have been particularly positive, hotel occupancy increased by 2.3% compared to last year.

This summer, business surveys and surveys professional show “excellent” trends, Mr Fabius said. Thus, the professional satisfaction rate reached 74% in the PACA region and in Brittany. In Normandy, professionals believe that attendance will be better this year than last year, while 2014 had already set a record with the 70th anniversary of the landing. The professional sales would have increased by 4 to 4.5% this summer, “but this overall figure masks contrasting realities within the profession,” said the Minister. If the hotel occupancy rate increased by example more than 2% in July on the Atlantic coast and more than 6% on the French Riviera, Paris intramural appears however disappointing figures, probably due to competition from Airbnb. Some sectors are booming, such as outdoor catering (+ 9%) year on year, amusement parks (+ 6% to + 10%) or river cruises (+ 10%).

The new hosting trends are also booming, with an increase of 25% Airbnb customers in the first half compared to the whole year 2014.

Several factors explain this success . On the economic plane, the weather conditions were very favorable this summer and the fall of the euro has encouraged foreign tourism. The French have also “largely chose France”. “Unfortunately the dreaded insecurity in the South played a role with a deferral of foreign and French clients on the Hexagon,” said Fabius. But these results are also, he says, “the fruit of efforts by professionals, and the general climate that we have created.” The number of visas issued has increased 17% since the beginning of the year.

& gt; Come discuss and ask questions on our forums!

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Greece: Tsipras puts his mandate at stake – Les Echos

Agitation never stops in Greece. Hardly he has received the country on Thursday morning, a first tranche of 13 billion euros on the new aid plan of 86 billion granted by the Europeans, Alexis Tsipras launched into the afternoon in another battle, this time political. The Prime Minister finally decided to surrender his mandate at stake quickly resigning to call for new elections in a television ad Thursday night. “We have negotiated long and hard, we resisted the blackmail. [...] The resistance of our people has become an emblem for other European countries, “he said, asking again the confidence of voters to implement its program. Following his resignation, parliamentary elections should be held on September 20, barely nine months after the previous one which had brought to power Syriza, allied to right-wing sovereignist ANEL.



Everything but a surprise

The organization of new elections in the fall is not in itself a surprise. Acceptance in July by Alexis Tsipras new painful measures (additional savings, privatization …) for keeping Greece in the euro area has caused considerable tension within Syriza. These increased further last week when were disclosed all conditions (liberalization of entire sectors of the economy, pension reforms and labor market etc.) attached to the new aid of 86 billion euros .

These have been negotiated and accepted by Alexis Tsipras, and creditors of Greece have all praised the new, more constructive spirit of their interlocutor. A significant change compared to the situation early July when Greek Prime Minister had called and got a referendum rejects the claims of creditors. Obviously, this new political line is struggling to move from the left wing Syriza. In the vote in Parliament last week, 43 party MPs (out of 149) had abstained or voted against the new aid plan. These defections in fact make obsolete the political majority Alexis Tsipras. A vote could allow it to strengthen its authority, while it remains popular and his party is leading in the polls. These have however been made before were announced draconian conditions of the new aid plan.



Technical transitional government?

Should he organize these laws expected in September or October or November? The risk by choosing the fastest option is that this political unrest postpones until later the reforms promised by Athens in exchange for help. Now it is urgent: some of the financing (3 billion) will be disbursed in October if the reforms are to go, and then an audit will be conducted by Europeans. The measures will likely be conducted by a technical transitional government.

In Brussels, however, it plays down the situation. “Fast elections in Greece can be a way to broaden support for [reform] program which has just been signed on behalf of Greece by Prime Minister Tsipras’ , tweeted Martin Selmayr , the influential chief of staff Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission. The campaign will also help to clarify the political line of Alexis Tsipras, who gave in August substantial pledges for the viability of a plan he does “not believe” in July.



Renaud Honoré
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