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Christine Lagarde sounded the call to order. The Director of the International Monetary Fund, speaking on Thursday, a week before a meeting of its 187 Member States in Washington, has directly addressed to world leaders that "procrastination" and "policy failures" resulting , led to the establishment of a "vicious circle" that affects all economies.

The director of the institution states that "the weak growth and fragile balance sheets, those States, financial institutions and households, reinforce one another, fueling the crisis of confidence and slow demand, investment and job creation. " For Christine Lagarde, "there is too much debt in the system.The uncertainties in the States in all advanced economies, the banks in Europe and on households in the United States. "

To "common front"

Since this vicious circle "is gaining momentum," the IMF said that "the time is not the withdrawal, to halftone or palliative No teletrack payday loans." One solution can work: the "common front". More alarming than ever, Christine Lagarde warned that "if the developed countries fall into recession, emerging markets will not be spared. In fact nobody will. "

Wednesday already, Christine Lagarde called for the establishment of a "collective action, immediate and bold." She asked especially to countries that have the fiscal space to support growth. "My role is to ensure that this call to action is heard. I can not believe that governments do not share my opinion, "she explained.He added that "countries have an incentive to act collectively in the interest of the economy."

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After controversy and mediocre at best a few misunderstandings, we must acknowledge the political change in the euro area conducted this summer under the leadership of Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel. Once again, it faces its most serious problems that Europe is taking its greatest progress.

After the 2008 financial crisis, Europe has faced since last year in a sovereign debt crisis that is partly rooted in the first. Some countries have seen their debt rise significantly because of the money committed to bail out large parts of their financial sector they have decided to nationalize. This is not the case of France, who withdrew 2.7 billion euros of its plan to support the banking sector. The impact of financial crisis on the real economy have also weighed on state budgets.The current difficulties are also punished too complacent management of public finances, with the vote for decades of budget deficit and rising debt.

This crisis is not unique to the euro zone, whose levels of debt and deficit, relative to the size of its economy, are lower than those of the United States or Japan. But markets have begun to test its strength and cohesion. Appropriate responses are partly national.

Spain and Italy have in recent weeks strong measures. Without being affected by financial stress comparable to other countries have taken appropriate action.

From 2007, France decided to apply the rule of non-replacement of an official two. A path of public finances has been defined, which provides for the return to a deficit of 3% in 2013 and is intangible.For the first time in 2010, spending on Medicare have remained within the limits set earlier this year. Pension reform has also strengthened our financial statements in the long term.

Nobody has the right to lie to the French on the efforts that we must make.No one can return to these measures to ensure financial and social sovereignty.

Appropriate responses are also European.

A fierce solidarity between Member States of the euro zone must win against the selfish temptations or protectionist.

With the creation of the European financial stability, the effective capacity of intervention was increased to 440 billion euros, then the decision July 21 to expand its missions in a preventive role, the Heads of State and Government of the euro area set up in a few months a true European Monetary Fund. It demonstrated its flexibility and means that interventions are tailored to the leads.

Some advocate the creation of European bonds, the "Eurobonds", they present as a panacea.But they forget to say that this would increase the cost of the French debt and could even jeopardize its credit rating. Above all, they pretend to believe that this solution may be considered now as an immediate response to market disturbances.

How to accept today the pooling of public debt through Eurobonds, while the decision to spend public money is taken in each Member State? How to separate the financial responsibility for the management decision?

It is clear that in practice eurobonds can be achieved without considerable strengthening of fiscal discipline and economic governance within the euro area. This means they pass through an integration which there is currently no political consensus.In this regard, I find it ironic that some criticize the initiatives through which we move, but called for the establishment of eurobonds.

The adoption by the Member States of the euro area of ​​a balanced budget rule with constitutional and binding on the annual budget, as proposed by the President of the Republic and the German Chancellor to their counterparts, will s ensure that everyone present as soon as possible accounts tending toward equilibrium. This will give the length of sanitation in the country finance in the euro zone credibility that will restore confidence and to discourage speculation. It would be wrong not to adopt it for the future in all Member States of the euro area. France must, on this issue, set an example.It is in the national interest.

This collective discipline would be meaningless without a collective ambition for growth. The growth in Europe requires an investment in fixed intelligence and knowledge economy. With the tripling of the tax credit research and investment program for the future is the strategy adopted by France. It also requires a better orientation of the Cohesion Fund and European Structural Funds.

In addition, a new step is necessary in the economic integration of countries in the euro area. France defends years the creation of a European economic government. It is proposed that the President of the Republic and the German Chancellor.

Seventeen countries can make the choice to adopt a single currency without incurring a movement of reconciliation of their economies, their tax systems and their social models.France and Germany have always been the motors of European integration. This week with Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, both countries have decided to take the next step, including the creation by 2013 of a common corporate tax. On the eve of 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty, by which General de Gaulle and Chancellor Adenauer to seal the reconciliation between our two countries, France and Germany show their will to strengthen their convergence and start a new governance European.

Given the magnitude of these challenges, I appeal to the unity and sense of responsibility of all political parties.

Constrained by its primary, the opposition seems to say no in advance, regardless of the question. Yet there is the Socialist Party of economists and officials informed sincere.Unfortunately, while the president and German Chancellor put all their credibility in the balance to defend our currency and that the policy we conduct ensures the maintenance of the rating in France earlier, the Socialist Party seems committed to the proliferation of government jobs and contracts helped, showing that it has not yet taken the measure of effort we need to do to keep our commitments to reduce the deficit and debt.

A message of national unity is still the best answer to the doubts of markets and investor concerns. Indeed, this message most of the major European political forces have chosen to focus.

Nobody asks the French Socialist leaders to renounce their beliefs or even their legitimate ambitions.Recognize the efforts of France and Germany out of the crisis, embark on a "golden rule" of common sense, it would show responsibility and a sense of national interest that would to their credit.

The pendulum swings between her fingers. "As soon as the balance is broken, it means that there is radiation." So potentially the water flowing underground. Small round glasses and goatee-like of the eccentric Professor Calculus of Hergé, Hervé Laurent is no less serious. His profession: divining, or "geobiologist." A broader term to refer to a specialist in environmental influence on living organisms. In 2007, after receiving specific training in Vannes and have trained for three years, the former surveyor of 49 years decides to create his own company, Art of the place, to practice his passion. Since then, he walks every week in its adoption of Normandy, but also in Seine-Maritime, near Paris or in Normandy, in search of blue gold.

To do this, Hervé Laurent uses the methods of dowsing.This technique, which is controversial in the scientific sphere, based on the faculty of feeling "all that shines, like electromagnetic waves", including water. Once on the ground, sticks and other clocks are involved, "they function as amplifiers of radiation," said he. But according to him, "a trained diviner may very well do without it, once it knows how to put his body in condition to capture any breach of magnetic fields." Although it states "take them out to professional confidence to the customer …" In addition, Hervé Laurent also uses the "scintillation counter, an electronic device can also detect water" and that confirms a first trial.

"A failure rate of 10%"

Like the rods, the pendulum is used to find water. Photo: PM

LE FIGARO. – Your net half-year euro rose 17% to 6.7 billion euros. Part of the French public displays Total estimated benefits "insolent." What do you tell him?

Christophe de Margerie. – What do you want Total to answer those who have already tried? However, I am ready to discuss the importance of our results and what they serve. In the first half, we invested 11.3 billion euros. We prepare the future, not just to look for oil and gas but also by positioning ourselves on new energy sources such as photovoltaic. In the second quarter, our results in dollars rose by 7% yoy and 19% in the first half.This is a more moderate increase than in oil and gas knowing that it mainly benefits the producing countries, our average tax rate was increased to nearly 60%.

It blames the gasoline pumps, starting with Total, a secret on prices …

There are no more transparent than the fuel market in France: the prices are posted daily on the Internet and on motorways. But the best protection for consumers is competition. The distribution market in France is hypercompetitive, with margins among the lowest in Europe, less than 1 cent per liter. This has led almost all the major oil companies to withdraw from the French market, but at least not total! For me, the fewer stations in France is a concern because it affects access to energy for all the French.Let us not forget that if our brand image of a monopoly, it is never that 20 to 25% of the market based on fuel. Far from the supermarkets, which account for more than 60%.

In France, Total is testing gas stations cheap, will you extend this experience?

The first results are satisfactory. We intend to extend the experience. Many issues remain unresolved, including the name and position in relation to our current network. One thing is certain, if we convert the try, we'll do it our way, with low prices, certainly, but also a real quality of service. Before any changes, a necessary preliminary: the dialogue with social partners.

You explore and exploit deeper and deeper, further. Is not it risky?

We do not manage a pension.Our goal is to identify and develop the reserves today that will meet the demands of tomorrow payday advance. For this, we must actually take calculated risks but the real risk of being hindered in accessing new reserves. So yes, we are going to countries 'difficult' in the political, technical or environmental: Burma, Nigeria, Libya or Canada and its oil sands … Production costs have soared. A barrel today is much more investment than ever, it is of a barrel of "high technology". Macondo after (the explosion of the BP platform in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico, Ed), our security requirements are more than ever the priority but it will take part in rising costs, as well as requirements energy efficiency and reducing emissions of greenhouse gas emissions.I remind you that Total is committed to halving its volume of gas flared between 2005 and 2014.

What is your strategy to access these new reserves?

We are strengthening our strategy begun almost two years. We have made acquisitions of high quality. While we were rather conservative on sales, we prove that we know sell and sell well. We have sold our interests in the Spanish company Cepsa, to nearly $ 4 billion in an offshore block in Angola, most recently in the Norwegian gas pipeline network.We breathe our asset portfolio and disclaim cash flow for future growth on younger workers, focused on our growth areas in high technology – the ultra-deep offshore, liquefied natural gas (LNG) or gas as unconventional shale gas – while ensuring a good geographical balance. These eighteen months we have seen thus strengthen our position in Russia, Australia, Canada or in East Africa.

With shale gas, Total is it becoming a group more gas?

Our strategy includes both oil and gas. Today, gas is essential, it is cleaner than coal and oil to produce electricity. Gas now accounts for 45% of the total production, oil 55%. Shale gas has upset the market in the United States.In Europe, we start – when you can – just exploring, although many of exploration permits for the shale gas is already taken. However, we are already permits in Denmark, Poland, with Exxon, and Argentina.

Black Series for Chinese railways. After the disappointments of the Beijing-Shanghai line, widely derided by the Chinese Web, is this time a drama that causes the emotion of the public and raises new questions about the reliability of high-speed rail of the Middle Kingdom. The derailment on Saturday night, a fast train in the province of Zhejiang, near Shanghai, has made at least thirty-six dead and more than two hundred wounded.

The flagship of the national technology transformed in the process of death, it was enough to unleash the critics. The subject quickly became number one on Weibo, the Chinese Twitter, where some users even ask for the resignation of the new Minister of Railways, Sheng Guangzu.Determined to reassure public opinion, the central government responded quickly with the dismissal of three officials of the Bureau of Shanghai Railway and the opening of an inspection "urgent" for the entire rail network quickly. It is already the largest in the world with nearly 8000 kilometers. Beijing plans to build 25,000 km of rowing in 2015 and 50,000 in 2020.

"Management very opaque"

An incident signal is the cause of the tragic accident following a storm that would have cut the power supply.The first train came to rest on the line Hangzhou-Fuzhou up to the city of Wenzhou, before a second can come and hit on an overpass, four cars going overboard.

The recent revelations of corruption, which led to the dismissal of Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun, in February and the disappointments of the Beijing-Shanghai line, since its inauguration on June 30, have seriously damaged the reputation Fast Train "Made in China" held by the Chinese insecure themselves savings account payday advance. But the accident Wenzhou available as a "bloody lesson to all of the rail industry in China. This should be the starting point for standard rail safer, "said an editorial in the very official Global Times."The main problem of Chinese trains, the Ministry of Railways and its management very opaque bidding," says Thibaud Voïta, a researcher at Asia Centre.

Media and Chinese researchers close to the government are desperately trying to save face. While the label "100% Made in China" was praised at the opening of the Beijing-Shanghai, he suddenly recalled that part of the DNA is also imported Chinese railway. "The key technologies, such as control systems and the locomotive from overseas and they are perhaps not safe," said Professor Wang and the University Transportation Southwest Chengdu, known for his special train.

Today, the drama of Wenzhou could not only slow the pace of network expansion, but also jeopardize the future of the train overseas Chinese.Other emerging markets in South America or the Middle East were, however, referred to in Beijing.

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After another clash Friday night between Barack Obama and Republican representatives in Congress, the White House will again this Saturday, the scene of fierce debate between Bush and senior Republican and Democratic policies. A new summit meeting, almost the last chance to try to finally find a compromise on measures to offset the U.S. debt, on which are fighting foot by foot for weeks the two historical parties.

Are expected at the White House to 17 hours (French time) John Boehner, Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Harry Reid, the chairman of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, the leader of Republican senators and Nancy Pelosi, head of the Democratic minority in the House, all four urgently summoned by the president.

Obama too demanding

That night, the U.S. has escalated in the power struggle between elected Republicans and Democrats. Having failed to reach an agreement with Barack Obama, Republican John Boehner, slammed the door to negotiations with the president.

At issue this time, according to Boehner: will the Democratic president to push through $ 400 billion of additional tax increases. A demand unacceptable, according to Boehner, while the two sides had previously agreed to a ceiling of one trillion dollars in additional tax revenue.This Saturday, the threat of a default by August 2 of the world's largest economy has thus further increased.

Of default formally excluded

The President has convened a number of political leaders to an emergency meeting Saturday afternoon at the White House to try yet again to reach compromise. Both sides say they are confident of raising the debt ceiling (14.294 billion U.S. dollars), reached on May 16, but whether common ground had been reached on the amount of the uncapping. Barack Obama and John Boehner have ruled out a formal non-payment within 10 days.

But the talks still face the question of the amount of budget cuts and debt reduction.Republican side, John Boehner said that after the new clash, he preferred to look to the leaders of the Senate to find a "reasonable" on these issues. Which casts a big doubt about the outcome of negotiations Saturday with the president, which is called Boehner. Democratic side, Barack Obama is prepared to assume full political responsibility to raise the debt ceiling in order to unlock at least for a time, the status quo. "If that's all Congress can do, I will sign an increase in the ceiling to take us to 2013," the president said.

Obama recalled that he had proposed to the Republican's $ 1.65 trillion spending cuts various offers an "extraordinarily fair" said the president.But still not enough for John Boehner, who accuses the president's inability to take "tough decisions" on reducing public spending. Boehmer wishes to bring to the 3 trillion budget savings over 10 years.

Ds critical deadlines

The time to find common ground is critical. The readiness of Barack Obama to convene a further meeting this Saturday is a sign that the U.S. president does not want to wait until the deadline of August 2 to reach an agreement. "We have more time in front of us," he said.

Recalling that Wall Street opened Monday, the president pointed to the impact on financial markets of such uncertainty. "Americans are outraged" by the inability of Congress to act, he said.This willingness to find a solution is also shared by the Republican camp, in which counsel highlighted the urgency of an agreement by Monday. What then leave both parties ten days to write a non-redundant legislation and get it validated by Congress.

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New boss to change the head of the Sunday Journal (JDD). The managing editor Olivier Jay, who had succeeded in February 2010 in Christian de Villeneuve, will give up his post. It will soon be replaced by Jérôme Bellay, former head of France Info, a LCI and Europe, as revealed by the site of the weekly Le Point.

According to our information, features Jérôme Bellay in the day of the seventh day of the Lagardère group is expected to exceed the strict framework of the chief editor. He should be appointed as director of next September. Faithful group Lagardère, Jérôme Bellay it now runs the production company Maximum.Founded in September 2000, Maximal Productions (a subsidiary of Lagardère Entertainment) produces reports, documentaries and magazines for information and knowledge, which the magazine "C in the air" presented by Yves Calvi on the channel France 5.

Olivier Jay was received by Lesouëf Bruno, the CEO of Lagardère Active magazine, and Denis Olivennes, the new head of group media information center (Europe 1, Paris Match and Le JDD). Its future within the group is not yet known. Neither Lagardère Active or Denis Olivennes have commented on the desired information.

Le Journal du Dimanche, which opened a new formula on March 6, saw its circulation fall by France paid 13% in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, according to OJD, reaching 233,445 copies.The change at the head of management to allow, according to sources familiar with the matter, to give "even more attractive to breath and JDD to be a major news magazine seventh day."

What do you think this initiative by the British retailer Tesco in South Korea, which allows customers to shop in the subway?

It is first and foremost a marketing coup. Tesco is thus found in a modern day, is displayed at the forefront of latest technological innovations. It is a showcase, which due to its exceptional side, can promote the brand in the world, not just in Korea-du-Sud. For convenience, I do not think waiting for a subway train is the best space-time to go shopping …Ultimately, this may be convenient for some occasional purchases, but we will not fill his cart with 50 products in virtual stroll along a crowded dock.

In its promotional video, the retailer is betting to develop without physical opening of hypermarkets, while stating that fill his truck is increasingly seen as a chore …

True, but again, the subway is not a place suited to supply his larder. On the other hand, we can already go shopping on the subway-or any other place, using a smartphone connected to the Internet. Some retailers have already launched e-commerce applications that allow specific to shop and have them delivered at home.The American distribution, for example Amazon gives this possibility to its customers.

However, can we imagine the future of virtual supermarkets to open in place of traditional retailers? This would help retailers to make significant savings on logistics …

Shopping with a mobile scanning cryptograms is not really practical! And if so, what is the point to go to the store, then you can order from home via e-commerce sites? However, distributors do seek how to take advantage of m-commerce [trade through mobile, note] no fax pay day loan. Some think, for example at the opening of showrooms to boast a handful of new products, which could include purchase and take delivery via a smartphone.But this type of project is still in the pipeline.

What tomorrow will look like m-commerce in the distribution?

Initiatives will gradually emerge. The advantage of m-commerce is that you can set up "stimuli" throughout the city, like some promotional posters in the subway showing visual cryptograms. Once registered via a smartphone, they can learn about the offer, or buy the product directly boasted. But we must not forget that everyone does not have a smartphone in France *, unlike South Korea where the penetration rate is much higher.This is particularly the reason why this country is the world leader on the development of e-commerce and multichannel distribution, based on the joint development of natural supermarkets and online offerings.

* Nearly one in three French (31.2%) have a smartphone, according to figures published in March 2011 Médiamétrie.

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A TV for unlimited calling. Sony chose an original niche to highlight its TV connected: video conferencing over Skype, a service that allows free calls, provided you have an Internet connection.

If Japanese is not the only one to offer this service – Samsung, LG and Panasonic offer it as well – it is the first to make it as widely promoted. This choice is indicative of the state of the market for connected TV, which is considered a powerful source of growth for manufacturers, but that is slow to take off. For now, in fact, consumers are not rushing to acquire these new displays, including the additional cost can reach 20%. Now, Sony has chosen to generalize the TV connected to nearly all its range: 90% is provided.The ability to enjoy a free video conferencing service, regardless of the destination of the call could be a vehicle purchase.

Microsoft, another winner

But this initiative also risks alienating the telecom operators, who see emerge a new type of competition. However, competition is already fierce between service providers that continue to add "free" to their offering. Not to mention the risk of flooding posed to Internet networks likely this additional data traffic.

The highlighting of Skype, which is a service offered by Sony on its TV connected, enter the group's strategy to "bring consumers to their television, they gradually abandoned in favor of their PC, smartphone or tablet.The President of the Japanese giant, Howard Stringer, has willingly TV connected as an element "family structure" which may again find themselves in a room.

Although, paradoxically, the fact chat on his television to watch television prevents! Indeed, if technically nothing prevents the embedding of a "picture in picture, television channels are radically opposed to the idea of ​​content that eludes them inserted in" their "emissions. And even if the content is generated by the viewer himself.

For TV makers, adding new services, including Skype is the illustration, also aims to maintain the value of their products in a market where prices are falling fast.

Finally, the main beneficiaries of development of the offer should be Skype and its new owner Microsoft.The software company was criticized for having paid dearly (8.5 billion dollars) the service provider, has everything to gain. Since March, banner ads can be inserted into the video chat. On the big screen, they will be better highlighted! The benefits of Skype may finally take off.

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Member states of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), announced that the race to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head IMF will open on Monday. The board of directors composed of representatives from 24 countries and country groups, will collect applications until June 10 nominations. He has set a "target" to designate a replacement directeurdémissionnaire and prosecuted for sexual crimes in New York "by 30 June."

The board has promised that that choice would be "an open, merit-based and transparent." In a statement, the U.S. Treasury secrétaie, Timothy Geithner had these words, calling hopes for the selection process "open and fast."The procedure that has consistently taken a European to head the institution in Washington, however, remained unchanged.

The "consensus" is not unanimously

If there are three or less, they will be revealed at the closing depots, June 10 If there are more than three names will be kept confidential to determine time preference "by consensus", except by a vote, a shortlist of three candidates in the best position. The Board may also select the chief executive by majority vote.

On Thursday, India's representative on the board Arvind Virmani had told AFP he wanted a vote, more "democratic" consensus that is "not transparent".It has not been heard.

The daily procedures of the Board of the IMF mix a little of both: the 24 members vote formally well, but in practice they do not submit voting decisions over which they have previously agreed. Daniel Bradlow, professor of law at Washington specializing in international institutions and the IMF, the transatlantic axis remains dominant in every way. "Voting does not necessarily mean democracy. Even imagining a secret ballot, administrators do not necessarily want to go against a European given as a favorite, nor among those who do not announce publicly that they voted for the new CEO, says he AFP.

The emerging shared

The European continent has clearly shown its desire to present a candidate, Christine Lagarde the French who appear to be the favorite.Last votes to rule in his favor, his German counterpart, Finance, Wolfgang Schäuble, who has judged Saturday "as a perfectly appropriate person for this position."

Countries emerging BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), which could provide a solid weight-cons to a European candidate, showed no unity.

The Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega is not completely hostile to the idea of ​​a European, although he preferred a priori elsewhere. Moscow already has its candidate, Grigory Marchenko Kazakh. South Africa and India could push the front of the stage they are ready candidates, respectively Trevor Manuel and Montek Singh Ahluwalia. And Beijing is considering to submit one, that has not been clearly chosen.

Another emerging importance, Mexico, now officially campaigning for the governor of its central bank, Agustin Carstens.The Turk Kemal Dervis, who was considered a good compromise between the European and emerging markets, had withdrawn from the race.

The United States, without whose support it is not possible to win, wanted "a candidate with strong experience and leadership qualities required, and able to obtain broad support." Very popular in Washington, Christine Lagarde fits this description.

The description of the ideal candidate given by the IMF is almost the same as when recruiting Dominique Strauss-Kahn in 2007: "outstanding experience in the design of economic policy at high levels, which helps finance ministers , or "communicating effectively", a quality attributed to the French minister for those who soutiennent.Timothy Geithner, who regularly meet at the G8 or G20, wrote in Time Magazine in May 2009 she was one of these "extraordinary individuals" that the world needed at crucial moments such as those caused by the financial crisis.

(With agencies)

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