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The Internet giant strikes another blow. Google announced an update to its search engine in the U.S. who will soon be extended to the world, to refine and contextualize his responses. To make, in short, more in tune with reality, according to the ambition of the group. So you type "taj mahal"? Google offers, in a box right, to limit the results to the famous Indian monument, a singer using this pseudonym or a casino in New Jersey of the same name. Also new is learned as well as the results page of Google as the Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, India, it opened in 1648 and it is 174 meters high. Research "Taj Mahal" is associated with that of "Ustad Ahmad Lahauri," the name of the architect of the monument.

"This is not just a catalog of objects is a presentation of the relationships between them. One is understanding between these different elements is the key, "says Amit Singhal, Google's vice president. To add to these changes a lighter note, Google will also offer information on the unusual subject of research. Consequence: the user can get answers to their questions without leaving the Google page.

Behind these new features lies a technology: the "graph of knowledge," or "knowledge graph", "built to understand the real things of the world," says an official from Google, Ben Gomes payday advances. The group has worked there since the acquisition in 2010, the company specializes in managing Metaweb database of movies, books, companies or celebrities. Thus, Google has learned, and quickly: from Freebase, Wikipedia or the CIA World Factbook, the giant has registered 500 million objects, places, characters and memorized some 3.5 billion relations between them.

Update Bing last week

In parallel, the group has expanded his knowledge on user searches. Google has announced in January new privacy policy to share user accounts on all its sites (like Gmail and Youtube). A change that is controversial and will be subject, in France, a meeting with the CNIL next week to clarify the new rules.

The goal for Google is taking another step ahead to face competing search engines, starting with Bing Microsoft announced last week its largest update since its launch three years ago. Among the new Bing strengthens its integration within the social network Facebook, which Microsoft is a shareholder. According to the firm Comscore, Google has widened its lead over its competitors, concentrating 66.4% of online searches in the U.S. in April, against 65.7% a year earlier. Well ahead of the 15.3% posted by Bing and 13.7% for Yahoo!.

Even at age 20, Mickey is still not profitable in France. While the festivities celebrating the 20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris are in full swing, the company operating the theme park never ceases to sink into the red. In the first half ended March 31, 2012, Euro Disney SCA posted a loss after minority interests of 100.8 million euros. Last year at this time, this loss amounted to 82.9 million euros.

The 2012 vintage, however, is not lost. It is now that he plays. "The group's business is seasonal and annual results depend significantly on the activity of the second half of the year, which is traditionally the busiest season for Disneyland Paris," says Euro Disney. Depending on the success of its summer season, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company still manages to erase a part of twelve months more or less consistently the deficit incurred in the first half. Still, in five years, ever the operator had also started the year badly.

However, against this outperformance is assumed. It is explained by a surge in costs, with nearly 20 million of additional operating costs of a semester to another. "We have significantly increased our investments," said Philippe Gas, President of Euro Disney, citing "the introduction of new products and offers entertainment and construction of improvements targeted in both parks and hotels."

Many efforts to mark the twentieth anniversary, Euro Disney sees as a great growth opportunity. "We expect a significant impact of these investments this year," says management. "We are already seeing encouraging signs for the second half with an increase in bookings in hotels," says Mark Stead to AFP, the Deputy Director General.

European ghost

This gamble is to counterbalance the gloom throughout Europe. In the first half, at least, attendance has plummeted by 1% to 6.8 million visitors. Italian, Dutch, Belgians, or Spaniards are rarer in the twirling teacups and ghost trains Marne-la-Vallee.

Meanwhile, Italians and Britons shunned hotels, who billed 33,000 fewer room nights compared to the first half of 2011. The operator has managed, however, to partially offset this drop in price increases, allowing boost of 43.24 to 44.11 euros average spending per visitor.

To fund these developments in lean period, Euro Disney had to draw 136 million in its treasury, which reached 230 million at end-March. If the situation worsened, the group has the right to postpone deadlines royalties or interest owed to Disney and other creditors.

Note also that, by dint of being planed by the losses, shareholders' equity went into the red at – 15.5 million euros. Danger? The group expects to be back above the waterline at the close of its fiscal year to September 30.  

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A rating agency on three, Standard & Poor's, has already withdrawn its prestigious AAA to France. One of his rival, Moody's, could soon follow, warned the Socialist candidate for president Francois Hollande. In the days following the presidential election.

Moody's placed under the supervision of the French debt rating earlier this year, he said in an interview with Journal du Dimanche. It "will make a decision on May 12, he argued. It will not be a consequence of the May 6 vote of the French. I warn, already, for our fellow citizens that there is no confusion (…) For now, I ask in any case to be assessed by the French and not by markets. "

How the candidate can know the date on which the decision will fall on Moody's France? Rating agencies maintain absolute secrecy about the content of their deliberations and their timing, until the publication of their decision. To predict the date of May 12, the candidate is based on the deadline set by the agency between his warning to the country concerned and the actual announcement. Moody's placed its ratings on negative watch on Feb. 14. It must give its verdict, probably too negative for the French-AAA before May 15  

Francois Hollande tried to clear the ground, should he be elected, and while his main opponent, Nicolas Sarkozy, waved the threat of an attack against France markets where Socialist victory no fax payday loan. Today, has defended the PS candidate, turbulence affecting Spain and Italy but not France. "It is particularly irresponsible for the incumbent to use the threat of speculative movements to persuade voters to abandon the alternation," he pleaded.

The first week of the next president, whoever he is, ahead eventful. First Moody's should actually decide before May 15 the fate of AAA it has issued so far in France. Then the Commission will publish its opinion on the stability program of France. This document, sent to Brussels last week, details how the government intends to restore the balance of public finances by 2016. Problem: it takes into account neither the promises of the outgoing president, nor those of his socialist opponent.

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Starbucks is more determined than ever to tackle Nespresso. The U.S. coffee chain announced the launch before next summer vacation an espresso coffee machine equipped with a high pressure extraction system. The high-end system, called verismo, was designed in partnership with the German group Krüger. It will work with the Starbucks brand capsules.

Verismo will, initially, sold online, in a selection of chain restaurants and in specialized distributors, while the United States, Canada and "certain international markets." No details were given about the distribution strategy of the capsules (the Internet, in supermarkets …) and their prices.

"France is one of the markets under consideration, such as England or Germany in Europe, said Olivier de Mendez, director of marketing France. But for now, the agreement concerns only the U.S. and Canada. "

"The coffee segment fastest growing"

This launch marks a new stage in the desire for conquest driven by Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, which took over the reins of the company in 2008. Recently asked by Le Figaro (our editions of March 3), he did not want hidden stick as closely to the expectations of customers, wherever they are. In town, in malls, but also "in stations, airports, restaurants, trains and hotels."

The founder will therefore also continue to their home, with this offer premium caps, a growing market. "This segment is the one with the strongest growth in the coffee sector," explains Howard Schultz. "At group level, this is an important innovation that allows people to replicate the Starbucks experience at home, says Olivier de Mendez. The machine will make espresso, latte, coffee and coffee filters lying. "" We now have the opportunity to reach millions of consumers, "commented Jeff Hansberry, in charge of developing distribution channels.

Years ago that Starbucks is trying to sell his coffee out of his own restaurants. A strategy not so easy to implement. The chain, which was allied with Kraft to sell coffee in bags in supermarkets, became angry with the giant global agribusiness and broke the partnership.

Record results last year

In March 2011, Starbucks announced an alliance with the first Keurig and Green Mountain in the machinery sector and pods. This agreement resulted in development since November Keurig machines offering drinks Starbucks in grocery stores and supermarkets. 100 million pods were sold, according to Starbucks. But Keurig machines are low pressure, which does not allow them to make espresso. They offer five different varieties of coffee, but only filter, and two teas.

The announcement of the new agreement between Starbucks and Krüger caused a plunge in stock prices from Green Mountain this weekend. The boss of Starbucks has yet assured that this partnership remained "solid". The stock market especially liked his strategy of moving upmarket. Last year, the company announced record results, and she is determined to put a boost in Europe.

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In the sports world, too, women were honored today. Gathered in Barcelona for the Global Sports Forum around a round table on women and sport, many iconic figures in women's sport (Conchita Martinez, Natalia Via Dufresne, Maria Vasco …) are back on the steps, the determinants and difficulties in their careers.

Difficulties that often go for female athletes on the side of the portfolio. As in a traditional business, where wage differences between men and women reach 20% in favor of men, women athletes are often less rewarded for equal performance. Less publicized, women's sports breaststroke often much less money than her male counterpart. For example, the Blue French football earn on average between 1500 and 2000 euros per month, against 42,000 euros for a player in Ligue 1, which thus is not necessarily at the international level. Therefore, the ability of an athlete to match the income of her male counterparts to take over its ability to sell its image among brands, to improve athletic performance.

Brands begin gently female sponsorship

However, "few sponsors invest in women" analysis Yannick Puaux, founder manager of Hamaé Council payday advance. "Their resources are not sufficient to consider it not to work after their sporting career. In the end, nothing very different to male / female ratio in ordinary society where, to access the same professional status, at the same level of professional remuneration or benefit from the same quarry, we must do more than men. "

As for event organizers, attitudes are changing, however slowly. In recent years, the tournament at Roland Garros and Wimbledon distribute the same earnings for men and women, or about 1.2 million euros for the tournament winners of the Porte d'Auteuil, and those in the capital in London. Faced with these ad hoc efforts, inequality remains a persistent problem that continues once hung up the cleats. "The conversion of women is also more difficult, says Yannick Puaux. They must keep a job more often in parallel and be concerned for their retirement earlier. "

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Entrepreneurs can now expect to spend less time on paperwork they must complete to satisfy the administration. The National Assembly finally passed the bill Wednesday on the easing of administrative procedures despite the guerrilla led by the left. Socialist deputies and senators have decided to seize the Constitutional Council on this legislation. François Rebsamen, President of the Socialist Group of the Senate, said the referral should be made Friday.

"Francois Hollande has displayed duplicity and said on TF1 to a contractor who asked that it was essential to reduce the administrative burden on enterprises when, at the same time, François Hollande, the Socialist member of the Assembly national, and Jean-Marc Ayrault defended a motion to dismiss on the simplification of the text. Simplification is neither right nor left. It is pragmatic and expected by economic agents, "said Frederic Lefebvre Thursday, Secretary of State for SMEs, with more of the 145 measures that will be implemented in the presence of Jean-Luc Warsmann (UMP), President of the Law Committee of the National Assembly and author of the bill.

New areas

The measures apply to both the conditions of entitlement to holiday pay as procurement of low value, the secured cabinet containing all the digital business information required by the government that the 240 million ballot wages published each year. The latter, with up to 30 lines, will be simplified in several steps. The items on the Social Security taxes and social contributions will be easier to understand from the 1st January 2013. Those on unemployment contributions, pension contributions and additional pension will be from 1 January 2015.

The device of the rescript in office, which allows a company to ask its opinion to the administration, will be improved. It will be extended to new areas such as rules for calculating payroll. The administration will respond within a specified time.

Most companies only file with the court an annual report containing information that can benefit their competitors. To monitor the implementation of 145 measures, Frédéric Lefebvre install the March 19 Committee of the reduction of paperwork consisting of officials and entrepreneurs.

A branch of the Chinese sovereign fund China Investment Corporation began purchasing shares of four major Chinese banks in trouble in the markets. The subsidiary in question, the fund Huijin rich 400 billion dollars and already the largest shareholder of the four largest banks in the country, did not specify the amounts invested in the operation, but the news was enough to reassure some investors. This morning, the values ​​of the banking sector take off in Hong Kong Stock Exchange: Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) jumped 8.9%, China Construction Bank ahead by 9.1% Agricultural Bank of China wins 12 % and Bank of China allows itself 9.8%, against an increase of 3.3% for the benchmark index of the Hong Kong, the Hang Seng.

The titles of Chinese banks have continued to decline on the stock exchanges in Shanghai and Hong Kong in recent months, reaching their lowest level in two years recently cheapest personal loan rates.These dismal performances reflect investor concerns on the issues of debt incurred by local governments in China, revealed by an unpublished government report last June. Provinces and municipalities have accumulated at least 1.16 trillion euros of debt in late 2010, with 80% financed by Chinese banks. Nearly 25% of these loans expire at the end of the year.

The explosion of informal loans, in an environment of tight credit, also weighed on banks, who have seen private individuals and companies take almost 50 billion euros over the first two weeks of September, a large part is then paid out of any legal framework.

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Astrium Geo-Information Services, a subsidiary of Astrium and ex-Spot Image, aims to be selected as the supplier of the Brazilian military and federal government satellite imagery. Maps urban civil and military ones. Brasilia wants to update. The task, gigantic, is the extent of this vast country which ranks Brazil fifth in the world by land area with 8.5 million km of which 62% of forest and 16,000 km of borders.

Faced with the challenge, Astrium-Geo Information Services in 2009 created a subsidiary 100% owned and based in São Paulo. "We presented our offer to the Department of Defense," said Pierre Duquesne, Executive Director of the subsidiary, the latest implementations of EADS in Brazil.The company presented the armed capabilities of a new satellite earth observation Spot Image of the constellation Pleiades to be launched by the Russian Soyuz rocket by the end of the year from the spaceport of Kourou. The satellite will collect images that, once retired, will offer a very high resolution of 50 cm. The Ministry of Defence who wanted to start the process of buying the pictures this year shifted a few months, normally 2012.

On the front of civil contracts, Astrium Geo-Information Services Brazil relies on feedback from pioneering three states with which it has contracts. "State of Mato Grosso, Para and Rondonia have established a precise mapping of their territory by purchasing our images with a resolution of 2.5 meters.Their experience serves as a benchmark for the federal government has decided to extend the operation to the whole country, "says the CEO of the subsidiary that conducted in 2010 4 million in revenue against 2.5 million in 2009.Ces states are particularly affected by the operations of deforestation by wild cattle and rape creditreport.

The deforestation in the Amazon increased by 15%

Time is running out. As part of the Copenhagen summit on climate in 2009, Brazil agreed to reduce from 36.1 to 39.8% its emissions of greenhouse gas emissions and 80% deforestation of the Amazon rainforest that is home 30,000 different species and contains 12% of freshwater on the planet. The Brazilians must take stock of their efforts at the summit in June 2012 "Rio +20" which marks the anniversary of the first Earth Summit, held in Rio in 1992.However, 80% of these emissions are the direct result of deforestation. Add to this the effect of climate change. To act, replanting trees, protecting certain areas … Brasilia needs to observe its territory to establish an environmental and rural cadastre. The idea is to look closer to the evolution of the Amazon forest which still covers 62% of the country but also to see if farmers comply with the legislation in terms of width of the forest along the rivers in their areas crops and forests etc. and identify the illegal loggers.

A study by the Brazilian Institute for Space Research (INPE), the deforestation in the Amazon increased 15% between July 2010 and July 2011.Clearly, 2654 km2 of vegetation have disappeared, especially in the states of Mato Grosso and Para.

In the short term, the government purchased for several tens of millions of reals (1 euro = 2.5 reais) at Astrium-Geo images collected by the SPOT satellites or belong to space agencies such as ESA. "Secondly, Brasilia could decide to buy satellites to Earth observation," said Pierre Duquesne.

The crisis of confidence in the European banking sector will not work out. While Europe is trying to convince the world of the soundness of its banks in the current crisis, the major U.S. money market funds prefer to leave the ship. A study published Friday by the rating agency Fitch Ratings, the top ten overseas funds have massively reduced their exposure to European banks. They thus cut their dollar investments in European banking shares by 8% in August, after a fall of 9% in July. Since late May, their exhibit was planed by 27% guaranteed high risk personal loans.

Today, European banking shares held by ten U.S. funds represent 676 billion dollars, or 42.1% of their overall portfolio. These investments still weighed 47.2% in late July."Reducing exposure to leading European banks is largely offset by increased investment in financial institutions in Australia, Canada, Japan and Scandinavia," said Robert Grossman, an official of Fitch Ratings.

Some European countries are more affected than others by the flight of U.S. investment.

After closing up Thursday evening, the U.S. stock markets have struggled to stay in the green Friday. At the close, the Dow gained 0.66% to 11,509,09 points, the Nasdaq is 0.58% to 2622.31 points and the S & P 500 climbed 0.57% to 1216.01 points. The benchmark index of Wall Street has finished in the green of the five sessions of the week, a performance he had not done since the last week of June. It displays a weekly increase of 4.7%.

Investors focused on news from Europe. After the announcement, positively received, a new agreement between central banks to provide dollar liquidity to European banks and Japanese eyes were riveted to Poland which is a meeting of EU finance ministers.The latter have formally agreed on the principle of strengthening fiscal discipline by imposing financial penalties on countries too lax, paving the way for formal adoption of this reform.

In contrast, the euro area and again stumbles on the guarantees requested by Finland in exchange for new loans in Athens, an issue that poisons relations within the euro area.Concerning the payment of a further tranche of loans that the country urgently needs, the euro area has decided to postpone any decision until October.

Invited exceptionally, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has also expressed concern about the divisions between governments and the European Central Bank (ECB).

U.S. consumer confidence rises

In this context, the "four witches" today is to say the expiration of four types of futures contracts on indices and stocks, have increased volatility.

Good news, however, helped keep the exchanges in positive territory: U.S. consumer confidence rises, according to the index of consumer confidence in September, published by the University of Michigan.The index, which fell in August to its lowest level since November 2008, increased 2.1 points to 57.8, according to a still provisional estimate for September. Analysts were waiting a little lower, at 56.3.

Oil has closed lower Friday in New York, suffering from profit taking less reassured investors that the day before on the likelihood of a quick resolution of the debt crisis in Europe.A barrel of "light sweet crude" for October delivery ended down $ 1.44 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, to 87.96 dollars a barrel.

RIM collapses

On the corporate side, Research in Motion (- 18.99% to 23.93 dollars), the maker of BlackBerry smartphones, collapsed after publishing quarterly results fell sharply, well below analysts' forecasts.

The rating agency Moody's said Thursday it placed under surveillance notes of the bank UBS (+ 4.16% to 11.89 dollars) with for a potential degradation due to "weaknesses in the management of risk group. "

At the heart of the news, Google (+ 0.76% to 546.68 dollars) has purchased additional patents in 1023 the computer company IBM (1.55% to 172.72 dollars) to strengthen its portfolio and attempt to discourage trial for violation of intellectual property.Google expects the other hand that the number of Internet users in India to be tripled in three years through improved access to wireless internet and at prices more affordable smartphone, reported on Friday Wall Street Journal.

Boeing (1.49% to 65.28 dollars) could finally respond to the order by Air France-KLM of 110 long-haul aircraft, including 50 firm orders, builders Boeing and European Airbus to ensure the renewal of its fleet.