Five months after the sinking of Concordia, Costa Cruises ship owner wants to turn the page by launching a new ship, the Fascinosa, luxurious building 290 meters long, up to and seventeen bridges capable of carrying 3800 passengers. Some 510 million euros have been invested to build the fleet of the fifteenth unit in Fincantieri shipyards in Marghera group, deep in the Venice lagoon. His baptism, Saturday, resulting in a ceremony dominated by the desire to forget a tragedy that, as the CEO of Costa Crociere – the Italian name of the company – Pierluigi Foschi, "would never have happened and did again ".

Foschi, who forsake the end of July the operational management group, at age 65, to remain president, attributed the sinking "only to human error," that is reckless navigation of captain Francesco Schettino, still under house arrest pending trial. "Our company is cooperating fully with the law, provides the CEO with Le Figaro. The survey should be completed in October-November. But now, Costa has significantly strengthened the security systems on its vessels. "

Seven measures were adopted, the training of crew in lifeboat drills, now imposed on all passengers before departure. A satellite tracking will allow the monitoring center of Genoa at any time to know the exact position of each ship and to correct any unexpected change of course.

Bookings up

Regarding compensation for 4205 persons on board the Concordia, the CEO says the problem of the crew is set. "Two thirds of the 3,216 passengers took up the offer of the company (14,000 euros per passenger). Remains third with which legal disputes are open in various countries. The impact of such compensation will be minimal on the accounts of the company. They will be supported by our insurers. "Compensation for relatives of 32 victims is the subject of a separate chapter.

The drama was not a result of extended commercial for Costa. "After an initial drop, cruise bookings have resumed at a rate greater than 2011. Of course, we had to cut prices because of the crisis too. Twenty million passengers go on a cruise every year. Accidents are the exception, "insists CEO.

The wreck remains. The 2,200 tons of fuel were pumped in 31 days without any pollution. Last week, Costa Cruises has signed a contract with a consortium of Italian-American, and Titan Salvage Micoperi, to redress the huge carcass beached at the island of Giglio and tan up a shipyard in Livorno. "We are given twelve months to do this but we hope to do before winter. Never do such a rescue was attempted in the world. It is a daunting challenge … ", says CEO.

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The popularity of Apple is more than ever to go. Queues of hundreds of people were already this morning in front of stores in Asia to buy the new iPad. The new version of Apple's tablet is sold from today in ten countries, including France but also Japan, the United States and Hong Kong. However, mainland China, growing market for Apple, will wait a little longer before discovering the new product, which includes the 4G.

The enthusiastic reception by fans of the new Apple iPad has still pushed the title of the company this week. The action is briefly above the $ 600 mark yesterday in New York. She had reached $ 500 for the first time last month. In one year, the stock has increased by 70% and the valuation of the company is approaching $ 560 billion. According to projections by Morgan Stanley, Apple's stock could reach $ 960 by next year if the market remains bullish. At the same maturity, the house of Jefferies sees financial services as a trading at $ 699 or $ 800 if the economic environment improves.

Since launching the first version of the iPad in 2010, Apple sold 55 million tablets worldwide. According to calculations by the Gartner Institute, sales of tablets, all brands, are expected to reach 326 million copies in 2015, and the Apple brand is expected to cut the lion's share.  

For his part, Choi Gee-sung, vice president of Samsung Electronics, Apple's biggest competitor on smartphones and tablets, said this morning waiting for a difficult year 2012 with increased competition in the electronics.

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Humiliated in 2007 by disastrous crash tests, Chinese automakers are trying their luck again in Europe. This time with more efficient models, they begin to produce locally. Great Wall, a major Chinese groups, inaugurated on Tuesday its first plant in Bulgaria on the Old Continent. Initially, it plans to sell its cars in Bulgaria and in neighboring countries. This will be the city Voleex and C10 pickup Steed 5, whose prices range from 8,200 to 12,800 euros. The site starts with 150 workers, which can produce 4,000 cars a year by assembling parts imported from China. Great Wall plans to go up to 50,000 vehicles per year and 2,000 workers. "We estimate that in three to five years, we have a variety of models produced here, and that these cars will be sold in all European countries", at "reasonable prices", said Wang Feng Ying, president of the group . The site could produce seven different models.

Great Wall is not the only Chinese to have set foot in Europe. In Italy, the former Fiat factory Sicilian was sold to Italian DR Motor, which assemble under its brand Chery models from kits imported from China. Chery also preparing, with the company Israel Corp.. the launch of a brand, Qoros, produced in China, but mainly for Europe. Goal: 150,000 sales per year in 2015-2016. In addition, SAIC, which acquired the brand MG Rover MG6 the product in the UK. As for Geely, which owns Volvo, he launched this year in Britain's E67 sedan, which, like the MG6, won 4 out of 5 stars in European crash tests.

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The lifetime of nuclear power plants should be paid beyond age 40. Such is the will of Nicolas Sarkozy, announced Minister of Industry, Eric Besson. "The president has decided to require all operators to put in a position to extend the lifetime of our reactors," he said during the Great Rendezvous, a Europe / i> TV / Le Parisien.

"It means to carry out all maintenance efforts, research of the highest standards of safety and security, to ensure that the park could be extended," he added. "The decision is," stressed the minister. "That does not mean it will happen mechanically since it is then the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN)" which must ultimately take the decision, he said. ASN will consider each of the reactors and give the green light on a case by case.  

A report commissioned by Eric Besson, to be published Monday, should warn against the consequences of reducing the share of nuclear and advocate the extension of the French nuclear fleet. This will be pursuing the development of third generation EPR reactors (1600 MW), of Atmea medium power (1000 MW) products with China and Russia as well as smaller units (300 megawatts).

Between 680 and 860 million per reactor

To the Minister of Industry, extending the life of existing plants is the best solution, including an economic standpoint. He said nuclear power is twice cheaper than wind energy and five times less than solar. On the other hand, EDF considers that extending the duration of operation of its plants would cost 680 to € 860 million per reactor. The construction of a new-generation reactor Areva cost compared five billion per reactor.

Other scenarios would cause "inevitable consequences", Eric Besson insisted, as "the rising price of electricity" and "job destruction", "150,000" direct, "300,000 to 400,000" indirect. Besides the "2 million jobs" industrial "potential" which according to the minister, "can be impacted."

As to reduce the nuclear share of 75% to 50% in the French energy mix, as proposed by the Socialist candidate Francois Hollande, it is "irresponsible" criticism Eric Besson. In a draft, this would in effect in 2030 by a decline of 0.6% of GDP. The UMP wants to maintain 75% of the share of nuclear in electricity generation French.

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An agreement in the snatch and the future still uncertain! After several months of negotiations punctuated by multiple twists and endless political after exhausting all possible time, the coalition government of Lucas Papademos has finally know yesterday that he had accepted the terms of its creditors , potentially paving the way for possible release in the coming weeks for an additional loan of 130 billion euros.

With this sum, Greece will pay a crucial deadline to € 14.5 billion on March 20 and save his place in the euro area, at least temporarily. The planned austerity measures concerning the dismissal of some 15,000 officials here in April, falling incomes, especially with the reduction of the minimum wage from 750 euros to 580 euros gross per month, and a multitude of new taxes. The pressure of the conservative party will have saved pensions in exchange for reducing the defense budget. Finally, the privatization program has been adjusted, instead of 50 billion euros so far promised, Athens privatize only 19 billion euros by 2015, with priority, the water company, the electricity and the railways.

But signs of the fragility of this agreement: soon concluded it was denounced by Giannis Koutroumanos, the Deputy Minister of Labour who has resigned. This former president of the union officials consider that "measures are not simply imposed severe, they are insurmountable for Greek workers." In a bitter letter, he denounced the blackmail that the EU and the IMF are in Greece and the lack of an effective recipe for overcoming the crisis. A highly symbolic gesture, while the street is still furious. The majority of the population believes that the "remedies" given to Greece to clean up its accounts, are not good. The unions therefore call for 48 hours general strike today and threatened unlimited strikes from next week.

Indigestible potion

These new twists in Athens were greeted with caution by the finance ministers of the euro area, which met late in the day to Brussels for an extraordinary Eurogroup. "We will not have final agreement this evening and it's not a disaster," said the president of the institution, Jean-Claude Juncker. Earlier this week, diplomats in Brussels argued however that "this time it's make or break for Greece." But obviously, time to release the aid package of at least EUR 130 billion has not yet come. "The most important thing is to listen to that troika has to say," launched the Dutch Jan Kees de Jager.

Of course, the announcement came from Athens "relieved" its partners, recognizes a diplomat. But he quickly adds: "We will still have to ensure that the agreement is concrete. For with the Greeks, the confidence is moderate. "And to list the" potential pitfalls "for the Euro:" The Greek Minister Venizelos has no room for error. His presentation should be clear as to leave no gray area. "

Arriving at the Council building in Brussels, most advisers emphasized the difficulties. "We must ensure that the situation in Greece will be sustainable," explained one of them. Privately, EU experts agreed that the succession of austerity is a particularly indigestible potion for the Greek people to the ground. But this is the only possible view the Eurogroup, which wants to end decades in which the country has lived beyond its means, without creating industrial and competitive services.

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"We are quite far from the disaster announced by some, said Herve Hatt, CEO Meilleurtaux guaranteed payday loans. Rates remain very attractive at the moment but the banks should pass gradually rising bond interest rates in coming months. "

Lower prices in the third quarter 2011

The average prices of real estate should they be on the downside. Many professionals have already announced cuts in the third quarter of 2011.

The investigation of this type of case takes on average between 12 and 18 months. But the length of the procedure does not scare GDF Suez, which the argument is simple: the law requires that the procurement costs of the company are covered by fees, and grant a small margin. Upon arrival, if the formula price was applied on October 1, gas prices for individuals would have had to climb 10%.GDF Suez's estimated shortfall by the end of the year to some 290 million euros.

For its part, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CRE), the industry policeman, issued an opinion unfavorable to the Government Order. Meanwhile, the regulator gave the Minister of Industry, a report on the Exploring the evolution rate of increase gas prices. One of the measures mentioned by the CRE is to increase – in the development of the formula – the share of the market price of gas now cheaper for the consumer and supply contracts in the long run.

This design technique should allow to reconcile the evolution of gas prices with the political imperative to avoid any increase, especially brutal.

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He emphasized the plight of small business owners whose interest rate credit cards rose from 8% to 28% after the 2008 crisis."And since this depended on credit to manage their businesses, many of them have actually been closed," he said. "At the same time, the decision not to inject capital into banks but in reality to relieve them of their bad assets and allow them to get out of the hole left banks with super-profits and allows them to pay super bonus, "he added.

Surprising support

The confession of George Soros calls and detonates. If the wealthy American investor has always denounced the current financial system, guilty in his eyes, among other things, be detrimental to the economies of developing countries, its position is unique.

Indeed, George Soros has amassed an enormous fortune based on speculation through its investment fund Soros Fund Management.It is especially known for its raid against the British pound in September 1992, allowing him to pocket more than a billion dollars in one trading session. At first glance, his career does not echo the fight against greed advocated by the protesters.

Billionaire investor but also important philanthropist, George Soros is a man of paradoxes. Seventh richest American in Forbes in 2011, with a fortune estimated at $ 22 billion, founder and adviser of the investment fund Quantum Fund domiciled in the tax haven of the Netherlands Antilles, it supports and finances together for a long time the development of societies democratic and open especially in Eastern Europe, notably through the Soros Foundation or the Open Society Institute he created.

An investor free of dogma

At the same time investor Carlyle Group, one time advised by George H.Bush, but support for Barack Obama in 2008, George Soros is an investor wants free of dogma or ideological affiliation.

After obtaining the support of George Soros, the demonstrators were hoping this week that major U.S. unions, supporters certainly less unusual but equally crucial for the future of their movement.

The movement of those that we now call "the unworthy Wall Street" and is gaining momentum in the country can count on the support of several celebrities from the beginning of its mobilization.Thus, from Susan Sarandon to rapper Lupe Fiasco through Yoko Ono not to mention the director and unconditional destroyer of American capitalist system, Michael Moore, there are dozens of personalities, mostly from the art world, displaying their support for this movement of social revolt in the heart of the world capitalist system.

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Delicate challenge

For Sharp, the bet is tricky. This is not to be the nth smartphone on the European market, running Android market segment dominated by Korean and Chinese brands. To differentiate themselves, the Japanese put on the 3D display of the phone. While it is the third, after LG and HTC to offer a device with such a characteristic. But only the Aquos almost instantly converts 2D images into 3D personal business card.It is also equipped with two optical, which can take photos or videos in 3D and then watch them on their smartphone, or share them on other screens in relief.

Abandonment of the shelf

On a strategic decision to Sharp raises some questions. The brand has announced the abandonment of its shelf Galapagos there just two weeks. But it also reflects the key role of the smartphone market for players in consumer electronics. To exist, they can not do without. Even if only a very symbolic presence. Orange has only ordered 10,000 copies of the Aquos, probably made prudent by the very small success of the 3D Optimus LG and HTC Evo 3D. Sharp will make us forget the bad reputation of free 3D, even on small screen, according to users, giving a headache and seasickness