The 10 world's best cities to live

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Every year, the magazine "The Economist" publishes a ranking of the 10 best cities in the world to live. There is no English in the list.

Hong Kong ranks first, after being analyzed various items such as green areas, cultural goods, natural goods, accessibility, pollution and urban sprawl.

See the list, in order:

Hong Kong

It has four evaluations very close to the maximum value and is therefore the best city to live, according to this ranking. Why? Because there is a consistency between the surface of the metropolitan area and the total population, which exceeds seven million. Then also the public transport network, the amount of green space and natural assets also contributed to this special place.

 

Amsterdam

The natural assets of the Dutch capital, in particular the river Amstel, Amsterdam give a nice second place. With a good transport network and a network of bike paths that covers the entire city, Amsterdam has yet another strong point: the city airport terminal is the fourth most important in Europe, operating with over 100 airlines. From Amsterdam to the world: there can travel to 200 destinations.

 

Osaka

This Japanese city remains in the same position relative to the previous ranking. It is the third most populous city in the country, behind Yokohama and Toqui capital, which appears in tenth place on this list.

 

Paris

The parks and gardens of Paris are much responsible for this fourth place in the ranking. Parc de la Villette in Buttes Chaumont and Montsouris, the gardens of the Trocadero and Luxembourg, and woods of Boulogne and Vincennes are just a few examples. The extensive public transport network and the three city airports (Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Beouvals) were also evaluated. And cultural assets abound.

 

Sydney

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most remarkable buildings of performing around the world and is also one of the symbols of Australia. The metropolitan area is surrounded by parks and beaches are other attractions of this multicultural city.

Stockholm
Despite the good review that could, given its natural assets, cultural, and accessibility in terms of pollution, the truth is that this Swedish city fell two places being now in sixth place. But nothing takes away the image of one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

 

Berlin

This is the city with the best valuation with regard to cultural goods.

Berlin Wall, Edinburgh Gate, the Reichstag, which functions as the seat of Parliament, and the Alexanderplatz square and that contributed to the high score.

 

Toronto

Already occupied the first position, but this time was eighth. What fails is that the extent of urban areas has increased, without a public transport network to monitor these developments. Then there is an incentive for the use of private cars.

 

Munich

The Olympic Park, English Garden and Hofgarten park gave this city a good score on the item of green areas. And it is one of the cities with Mays quality of life in Germany.

 

Tokyo

Scores in terms of accessibility, but suffers in green areas and natural assets. Hence it has been in last place. But even so, it is best to live, according to the ranking.

Microsoft unveils new logo in 25 years

Microsoft has unveiled a new logo that can now be explicitly known at site computer giant founded by Bill Gates.

 

As is stressed by the brand, this is the first renewal of the Microsoft logo in 25 years and above, as explained, the launch of new products and updates. The new logo brings together the colors of the operating system 'Windows' under the name 'Microsoft'.

The brand revealed it will launch new versions of almost all its products this new logo to coincide with what he calls "a new era" for Microsoft.
 

 

Facebook has already authorization to buy Instagram

Idea is to boost presence in mobile services, to compete with Google.

 

Facebook has already authorization from U.S. regulator the Federal Trade Commission to buy Instagram, a popular photo-sharing service through mobile phones.

 

The social network, which is under scrutiny in its performance in the mobile sector, will acquire Instagram to boost presence in mobile services, where you need to capture the attention of more users and increase advertising. One way to compete seriously with rival Google.

 

Earlier this year, Facebook had responsible stated that sales were lower than expected, given the rise in the number of users, with a substantial part using mobile devices like tablet or mobile phone to access the social network, note the Lusa.

 

In April, Facebook made ​​an offer to purchase the Instagram 300 million dollars (238 million euros at current exchange rates) in cash plus 23 million shares, a proposal valued at 750 million dollars (597 million euros), based on the closing value of the shares of social networking on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.

 

The Instagram is a photo application on popular smart phones such as Apple, which lets users take quick snapshots, modify and share with your friends.

 

In July, Facebook said it hoped to stay the operation completed later this year.

 

The sad story of an Olympic athlete who died in a boat illegally crossing

Samia Yusuf Omar, Somalia, was in memory of the sporting world for his participation in the 200 meters race at the Beijing Olympics. Do not come running in London and died trying to reach Italy in order to train better.

The athlete Somalia became world known for the way he fought until the end, the 200 meter race in athletics, in Beijing, before opposing more prepared and fast.

Samia was born in 1991. She was the eldest of a family with six children, his father was a fruit seller and ended up being one of the victims of the civil war.

In May 2008, she was crowned African champions Sâmia the 100 meters and was present at the Beijing Olympics, with only 17 years of age.

But what makes the story of Sâmia be highlighted on Monday in the press transalpine is his sad outcome: The sprinter Somalia boarded in Libya towards Italy and the boat eventually sank. No one survived. The coach Mustafa Abdelaziz, confirmed the Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" that the athlete embarked try to continue their sporting career in Italy.

The mother, Abdelaziz recalled that sold a small piece of land to finance his trip and only meant she could realize her dream and have a life away from war.

"It was a beautiful experience, hauled the flag of my country, I walked alongside thousands of athletes from around the world," Samia said at the time.

In the Mediterranean Sea ended all his dreams.

Portuguese discovered how to increase the effect of chemotherapy: study evidence a reduction of tumor and side effects of chemotherapy

A Portuguese researcher has discovered a way to make chemotherapy more effective in fighting cancer, and minimize their side effects, according to a study published in the journal Cancer Cell.

A team of researchers at VIB / KULeuven (Leuven, Belgium), headed by Portuguese Rodrigo Leite de Oliveira, confirmed that blocking an enzyme (PhD2) normalizes blood flow to the tumor and thus improves the response to chemotherapy.

The blood vessels supplying the tumor are naturally irregular, fragile and dysfunctional, which hinders the driving of drugs to cancer cells and promotes the spread of cancer cells and metastasis formation.

This study demonstrated that when the activity was reduced PhD2 endothelial cells of tumors, the tumor vascular network stabilized and chemotherapeutic agents (in this study, cisplatin and doxorubicin) were distributed more evenly throughout the tumor, increasing its action.

Thus, the tumors were smaller and more sensitive to lower doses of drugs - an advantage in administration of drugs with high toxicity.

Inhibition of PhD2 oxygen sensor resulting in further neutralization of the side effects of chemotherapy, protecting the renal and cardiac function, generally most affected by the use of the drugs in question.

The researchers found that this protection resulted from an increase in antioxidant defenses, crucial to avoid injury to vital organs during chemotherapy treatments.

This study demonstrates for the first time a dual strategy to combat cancer: a reduction of tumor and metastases, and substantial reduction of side effects associated with chemotherapy.

The next step will be to develop specific inhibitors of the molecule PhD2 allowing its application in clinical practice.

What is made of renewable energy?

While the world is investing heavily in this area, we slowed down or even stopped. Brief portrait of an industry that contributes € 3.2 million to the national GDP and generates about 50 thousand jobs.

Once uppon a time, there was a country that dreamed of the green economy. It dreamed and made: in 2010, Portugal became the fifth European country with greater use of renewable energy, with 25% of consumption have provenance sources in environmentally "clean". The bet had started in the 90s. The crisis has changed everything? It is true that there is money for nothing and the energy is not lost on subsidy cuts, lack of bank financing, bankruptcy of companies ... But there are those who point the finger at fault in the "political will" and speech "antigreen".

"It created the idea that the government is against betting on renewables. Quite the contrary. A bet is to maintain, but not without looking at the costs, as we were passing the burden on the end consumer", adds Arthur Trindade, secretary of State for Energy. The cost of speaking the ruler, better known by the phrase "excess rents" are, in essence, state subsidies to producers of renewable energy and not only that the troika had cut. The Executive has implemented the measure, but fell far short of the intended, according to the European Commission. Still, the 1.8 billion euros that the government wants to save up to 2020 has left some producers up in arms.

However, environmentalists point out, should not be confused with excessive subsidies renewables. "Paid more in electric bills for income-guarantee that the renewable power", says Francisco Ferreira, former president of Quercus. "These weigh a third aggravation of invoices. Environmental benefits but have to be booked," he adds.

The world has long realized these environmental and economic benefits. Green is a market, should not be forgotten, creates added value and produces industrial employment. Germany followed the decision to close all its nuclear power plants with a program of 300 billion investment in renewable energy. The goal: to reach a consumption of 80% clean energy by 2050.

Siemens is putting fortunes in the wind and it is the second company in the world for offshore platforms [placed in the sea], having abandoned the nuclear. Now was the General Electric.

Facebook lost half value since it came into Stocks

Facebook has lost half its value since his debut on the stock exchange, on the 18th of May.

At the time, the actions of the social network debuted be worth $ 38, which assessed the company at 100 billion dollars, a figure that analysts always questioned and suggested to be exaggerated, given its revenue sources. Now, the shares are worth less than $ 19.

The one who promised to be the Initial Public Offering (IPO), turned out to be a disappointment. The fall in stocks, which has been consistent since the beginning, was accentuated when he finished the first lock up (investors who acquired shares before the IPO were required to keep them for a certain period). Once the shares were unlocked, last Friday, many took the opportunity to dispose of the securities.

With accumulated falls between the end of last week and this Monday, the Facebook IPO becomes the second worst ever, behind Zynga.

Facebook has played this Monday the lowest ever in $ 18.75 per share, which translates into an assessment of grantee 45,460 million. Now, follow the actions falling 0.24% to $ 19.01.

Apple is worth more than the GDP of Portugal

Apple is now the most valuable company ever, having reached, on Monday, the highest market capitalization in history. With every action in the $ 664.74, the company founded by Steve Jobs is valued at 622,600 million dollars (504 billion euros), now worth more than the GDP of some countries, including Portugal.

The portuguese GDP was around 170,000 million in 2011. All in all, Apple is worth 334,000 million.

The greatness of this company is indeed impressive. Apple is worth more than the economy of several Member States of the Eurozone, such as Belgium, Ireland and Luxembourg. Worth almost as much as Switzerland, twenty world economy. More: Apple already amounts to 50% of GDP of Spain.

To get an idea of ​​the progress achieved by the brand in the apple market, Apple was worth 77 times less (8 billion dollars) when it was founded by Jobs.

With this record, the mark of Apple dethroned Microsoft. In 1999, the company Bill Gates amounted to 618,900 million dollars.

Each share of Apple is now worth 33 times more than the titles of Facebook. The performance of the social network of Mark Zuckerberg in scholarship has disappointed almost since entering the market in May, with the company now worth only half of what that time.

Number of Portuguese students seeking foreign Universities increased 140%

European study shows that in July, 15,201 Portuguese student seeking to study abroad.

The number of Portuguese students applying for a foreign university is growing increasingly. Within a year, the percentage of young people in this situation grew 140%. In July of 2011 were just over six thousand, are now over 15,000. A number that puts Portugal among the EU countries where there is a greater willingness to emigrate even during the studies, a ranking dominated by the countries of South and East. The findings appear in the study "European Higher Education", organized by StudyPortals - online platform supported by the European Commission for research and comparison of university courses - which establishes a clear link between this development and the increasing rate of youth unemployment.

The United Kingdom, where he directed 24% of the applications, the Netherlands (14%) and Germany (7.7%) are the most sought after destinations by the Portuguese through this platform. Data were collected only between the universe of students who use the services of StudyPortals, which means it may be well short of the total numbers. Still, guaranteeing responsible are a good indicator, since all these path students was then monitored and it was concluded that about 90% even just to deliver the foreign application in a university.

For StudyPortals, the reasons for the phenomenon are well identified. This demand is directly related to the current economic situation, in which students from countries in Southern Europe see the courses in countries in northwestern Europe in order to improve their future career opportunities and to escape the economic outlook in their own countries with a high youth unemployment and lower wages.

Olympics Highlights: Bolt, Phelps, USA Dream Team

London swept by a lightning called Bolt

Jamaican Usain Bolt wins 100 meters at the Games with 9.63s, beating Olympic record and is only five hundredths of a second world record. Compatriot Yohan Blake got the silver medal, Justin Gatlin settled for the bronze.

Phelps leaves the water but the land will no longer be the same

Gold farewell to Michael Phelps of the pools. Literally: victory in the 4x100m styles and 22 Olympic medals. The extraterrestrial swimmer get out, come only the man. It's the best Olympic athlete ever to FINA, as inscribed in the last trophy career he has received.

The Massacre of the Basketball Dream Team

The Basketball Arena in London witnessed a truly historic game for the game and that memory will last for many years. The United States ran over Nigeria and truly won by ... 156-73! A difference of 83 points, the third largest ever Olympic Games (highest since 1948) and exceeds 68 with the Dream Team beat Angola in Barcelona'92.

Red Bull Cliff Diving @ Azores

In a sport that is defined by the implicit challenge to gravity by jumping from a height into water, the Red Bull Cliff Diving in the Azores comes and brings some of the best athletes in the specialty, risking jumps over 27 meters.

The volcanic crater of Vila Franca do Campo, Sao Miguel Island in the Azores, was the third test circuit of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, with an unprecedented detail: the judges who evaluate the jumps made ​​directly to the rock 29 meters when spoken for the first time.

The 13 divers challenged the volcanic crater that forms a pit in front of the islet of Vila Franca do Campo, showing all his virtuosity. After more than a practice session in the morning, on the main deck, the device was mounted to jump 28 meters in height. Came the moment of truth.

With the output order determined by lot, the action took place at an impressive pace, promising greater excitement for the final two rounds on Saturday to close the proof.

Two entries in the maneuvers and high water level earned the American Kent De Mond and Russian Artem Silchenko the same number of points, the first having been benefited by a better ranking obtained in the previous step.

"I was surprised" said De Mond, revealing being 'very decompressed "with a leap so well done. Artem Silchenko already acknowledged that it "was one of the best jumps of his career ', promising a rematch of the first two races of the championship that did not go as well.

A show that can return next year to another island, with the same natural beauty.

Olympics more valuable than Google and only surpassed by Apple?

The Olympics will be the second most valuable brand in the world. Yes, a brand that exceeds in value the second only to Google and Apple, according to a study by Brand Finance, a consultant who evaluated the four-year cycle of games, summer and winter, at about 60.6 billion euros.

The amount totaled only revenue in terms of sponsorship / advertising and broadcasting rights, among which were registered in 2010, the Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, with those estimated for the summer issue of the Games, which begin this Friday in London.

And to Brand Finance, a consultant expert in the assessment of market values, the Games as a global brand, worth more than giants like Google (60.5 billion), Coca-Cola (39.7 billion) and Samsung (48.7 billion).

The Sportcal, another consultant, estimates that the quadrennial games - compete to each cycle of four years, between 'versions' of winter and summer - record revenue of around 10.2 billion euros.

Both companies, however, did not assess, for example, the value of the World Cup and European football, and some disputes this model to evaluate the event in terms of brand.

First, it only takes into account the income regarding advertising and broadcasting rights. Simon Chadwick, sports finance expert, argued that these figures "show the willingness of the issuers and sponsors to pay for the right to be associated with the Games".

"Values ​​are not necessarily an effective indicator of the true global value [brand]", he continued, explaining that the data relating to publicity "just shows the importance that the Games are for sponsors, not to consumers".

Thus, critical to this assessment lies primarily with the disregard on the side of consumers, “perceptions about the brand", gird up the brand value to elements strictly economic.

Chadwik also noted the need to take into account the costs for the host nation, and that will often be overlooked, such as increased traffic and congestion and crime. In addition, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which collects only a slice of cake 10% of total revenues, provides favorable conditions for brands that want to join the Games.

 

The entrepreneur says the example of McDonalds, which has no limits on their food supply during the competition, or General Motors, U.S. giant that, even before the Games began, "have had believed that the return on your investment “ that have been around 255 million euros.

Moody's downs to negative the rating of the European Financial Stability Fund

The rating agency Moody's changed the rating from the European Financial Stability Fund for a negative classification, according to the website of the agency.

The decision comes in the day after Moody's lowered the outlook for the economies of Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg 'stable' to 'negative'.

Moody's said that these countries (all now have AAAs) are threatened by the problems facing the euro area, including a possible way out of the euro in Greece.

"Even if such an event is avoided, there is a probability growing stronger that is asked for help to other euro-zone countries, notably Spain and Italy”, considers Moody's, adding that "the burden "should weigh on the Member States considered as more solvents.

Havaianas: 50 years at the feet of the world

A story, a brand, a state of mind.

Brazil has witnessed the birth of their mythical beach slippers for 50 years. Under the slogan “do not deform, do not smell and do not loosen the straps”, Havaianas footwear rose from the people the product used by everyone. The Portuguese have an average of four pairs at home.

They say there is a "love affair" between Portuguese consumers and the brand Havaianas. This is because Portugal is the European country "with the greatest number of flops per capita”, says the official source of the brand. Overall, it is thought that each Portuguese have an average of four pairs of Havaianas, much more than twice that of any other European. But less than the Brazilians, of course.

In the land that saw the birth of the flip-flops inspired by Japanese zori model, exactly 50 years ago, each resident will have at least 25 pairs, all produced in the largest factory of slippers in the world, in Campina Grande, northeast Brazil. It was there that became rubber sheets in 206 million pairs of slippers sold in 2011. All in all, "six pairs of Havaianas are produced per second and 700,000 per day".

The growing demand for these slippers, which in 1962 were dubbed the shoes of the people, led the brand to approve the construction of a new factory to the end of 2012. "It will produce one hundred million pairs and will generate additional three thousand new jobs”, reveals an official source of Havaianas. Will be located to the south in the state of Minas Gerais.

When the Hawaiian born, was the sole bicolor (blue and white) and blue strips. The trend for colorful slippers was due to a technical problem: a lot of flip-flops, which should have been produced in its traditional color, blue, green turned to leave. That's when it started to produce strips in yellow, red or black.

The colors added a flashy slogan - 'do not deform, do not smell and do not loosen the straps' - and they were a simple flip-flops are considered to be a product of prime necessity by the Brazilian government, "he began to oversee the its price as it did with the rice”. He lived to the 80s, when the shoes were sold in plastic bags in supermarkets, next to shelves of detergents.

Conquered the Brazilian working class, the target of the Hawaiian became the middle class. It is not so surprising that some slippers adult will cost 12.90 euros, but there is a pair costing 160. "The most expensive model is the straps with Swarovski crystals sewn by hand by artisans in Brazil."These crystals, such as pins and ribbons in all colors and widths, can be combined based on the complete collection of soles, tailored to each client. The concept is called MYOH, 'make your own Havaianas'.

But the news for next winter boots are designed through a partnership that the mark does not intend to publish. "There will be two models irreverent and very glamorous". In addition, there will be shorter boots and galoshes child “products more orders last year". Will be available at the online store, established in 2010 in 85 countries or Space Hawaiian, a store of 300 square meters, located in Sao Paulo, where all the models.

Russia approved Internet censure

Under the pretext of "combating pornography and violence" Russia increases government control over the Internet. Several websites have joined in protest.

The Russian Parliament approved unanimously a draft law allowing the government to control the content posted on the Internet.

The bill, designed to combat child pornography, promotion of drugs abuse and youth suicide, now hopes the signing of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The opposition fears that this measure is only the beginning of something similar to what is already happening in China, where there is a closed control that blocks access to several other sites like YouTube.

Russians websites fear "great firewall of China"

Faced with protests, Parliament took into account some of the concerns of critics of this new legislation and withdrew more vague language that would make the authorities' interpretation of what is or is not considered "inappropriate content".

Even so, some of the most popular Russian websites have joined in protest. The search engine Yandex, the blogging platform "LiveJournal" Russian version of Wikipedia and closed access to their pages.

With the temporary closing of the initiative, the sites they wanted to alert you to what will be the "creation of the Russian version of the great firewall of China", as one can read in the press left on the Russian front page of Wikipedia, has now reopened to the public.

China censors "anti-party" and "anti-society" content

In China, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) said this week, in a statement, which will enter into force new rules on censorship to broadcast videos online.

Censorship will be reflected in a previous screening that will delete any content deemed unsuitable by the authorities.

Like Russia, and consistent with what has already happened, China has justified the measure on behalf of the fight against pornography, violence, pedophilia, drug use and other content deemed objectionable.

In a statement issued by SARFT, there is no definition of what is considered inappropriate or objectionable, and may pave the way for free agency in the selection of content.

Rolling Stones celebrates 50 years of life, entertainment and controversy!

It was half a century ago and about 100 people present would not be aware of watching the birth of the greatest rock band in the world.

Mick Jagger and the remaining elements of the Rolling Stones celebrated yesterday, Thursday the 12th, his Golden Jubilee in Somerset House, London, at the gala opening of photo exhibition that looks at the route of what became the biggest rock band the world.

"This is our history of 50 fantastic years", said a statement from the band, "started as a blues band playing in clubs and have come to fill the biggest stadiums in the world with the kind of show that would be unimaginable for anyone us at the beginning".
It was July 12, 1962 that the band, then officially presented as "Mick Jagger and Rollin'Stones" debuted live at London's Marquee club-basement, a concert that lasted about 50 minutes.

The approximately 80 men and 30 women who attended the premiere of the new band - marked by the influence of American Rhythm and Blues, whose name came from a song by Muddy Waters - have hardly aware of the historical moment they were watching.

At the initial success achieved in the 1960s, followed a few troubled years 1970 and 1980 with a concert with an unprecedented level of production presented in long world tours.

Just keep in Jagger and Richards Stones

The original lineup consisted of Mick Jagger (vocals), Keith Richards (guitar), Brian Jones (guitar), Ian Stewart (piano), Dick Taylor (bass) and Mick Avory (drums). Jones was forced out in 1969 and died the same month, while Ian Stewart continued to play live with the band until his death in 1985.

Of the original will be attending today's celebration Jagger and Richards, to which are added Charlie Watts (who joined the Stones in 1963) and Ronnie Wood (1975).

It is the first time in four years that the Rolling Stones again gather for a public event.

The celebrations of 50 years must be extended for next year, because the Stones feel that the band really began in early 1963 with the entry of Charlie Watts.

"We see 2012 as the jubilee of our conception, but the birth will be next year", said Keith Richards.

Nine climbers killed and four is missing because the Mont Blanc avalanche

An avalanche occurred on Thursday near the ski resort of Chamonix in the French Alps, killing at least nine people and wounded eight. Four is missing.

Spain, Germany, Switzerland and United Kingdom are the countries of origin of victims of the deadly avalanche on Mount Maudit, the Mont Blanc. The climbers have reached the level of 4000 meters when they were hit.

The missing are two British and two Spanish. At the time they were hit by the avalanche, 28 people in various groups, connected by strings, says the BBC website.

"The area of the avalanche was completely probed. The search will resume Friday, depending on the weather," said Colonel Bertrand Francois, commander of the gendarmes of Upper Savoy.

The alarm was raised shortly before 5:30 am local (4:30 a.m. in mainland Portugal) by a person who was injured on the slopes of Mont Maudit. "He gave up a plate of ice 40 cm thick," advanced as the first element of explanation from Philippe Rumigny, prefect of the Haute-Savoie, at a press conference.

This mountain where the accident occurred is a popular route with tourists summer moving towards the Mont Blanc, the highest in the Alps and the highest mountain in Western Europe.

The Mont Maudit is the third highest peak of the massif that rises in the Mont Blanc, rising to over 4450 meters high.

Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's in the sight of European regulator of financial markets

The procedures in the financial markets from Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch, the leading rating agencies, will be evaluated by the European regulator. ESMA aims to understand the real objectives of the courts by those rating agencies credit rating with banks.

The real goals of the cuts rating by the rating agencies will be analyzed by the market regulator, according to the FT. An investigation was opened to those three rating agencies, whose procedures have been criticized.

The European Security and Markets Authority (ESMA), according to the Financial Times want to know if the Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's are carrying the proper way, or if there are vested interests in the rating cuts - which have implications for markets.

The president of ESMA, Steven Maijoor, points to another major purpose of this assessment rating agencies: verify the accuracy and transparency of their analyzes.

"The bank ratings are extremely important, since they assume as a pillar in the evaluation of the rating of states and their debt," explains Steven Maijoor.

Only since last year, the rating agencies began to provide information to ESMA, after a requirement of the European Union and after the side effects that their evaluations had on national economies - especially those crossing more difficult.

Now, there are suspicions about reverse procedure: cutting the rating is not justified, or may have other goals. States and banks are battered with cuts of rating agencies in a crisis. Given the importance that a decision to either of those agencies may have in international markets, the EMSA decided to proceed with an investigation Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's.

The procedures of Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's are under suspicion since the period before this international crisis: banks that agencies appreciated (would realize later) did not have the value it was assigned, and they faced even bankruptcy.

Now, there are suspicions about reverse procedure: cutting the rating is not justified, or may have other goals. States and banks are battered with cuts of rating agencies in a crisis.

Due the importance of a decision of one of those agencies may have in international markets, the ESMA decided to proceed with an investigation Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's.

Barclays may be tip of the iceberg in the handling of bank fees

Marcus Agius, chairman of the Board of Directors of Barclays, is the first to resign as a result of match-fixing scandal of Libor and Euribor interbank rates. The case gained political contours and represents a blow to the British bank. Tip of the iceberg?

Marcus Agius is the first "head rolls" after the scandal known manipulation of interchange fees, carried out by British bank Barclays, whose name was tarnished.

The President also (is stepping down soon) you want to try to stop the case, although the practice itself recognizes that this represents a major blow to the prestige of this international bank.

"These events are revealing unacceptable behavior in Barclays and represent a devastating blow to the reputation of the institution," Agius said, quoted by AFP.

The next chapter of this case will be an internal audit carried out by the bank to realize the scope of this scandal and avoid a repeat. This audit is one of the measures, since the Barcalys will also launch a code of conduct for its professionals.

The bank would not happen again handling cases of interchange fees, knowing that all measures will be little to clean the image of Barclays.

Marcus Agius held the position of Chairman of the Board for about five and a half years, and only remain in office until his replacement is found, according to figures put forward by the British bank.

This past Wednesday, the British bank revealed it would pay about 290 million pounds to stop the investigations that the English authorities and the U.S. were to pursue.

Concerned, attempts to manipulate the interchange fee that Libor and Euribor, which define the price of money in loans between banks, but also in housing loans paid by households.

On Wednesday, another chapter in the discovery of the scandal, with Bob Diamond, CEO of Barclays, to be heard in a British parliamentary committee that will review the case that tarnished the bank.

Diamond is already very unpopular, because it represents a symbol of the excesses of British finance. It is a U.S. executive shall be bound also in this case Barclays.

Obviously, this case manipulation and fraud charges acquired political repercussions, and the British Labour opposition calls for a total remodeling of senior management of that bank, which includes the names of Bob Diamond.

The Labour leader Ed Miliband says that "Diamond was the Head of the branch of Barclays where these scandals occurred several years ago". The case gives rise to a broad debate in the UK, you want to sit in the dock bankers who resort to illegal procedures.

In the coming days, manipulated rates will be reviewed by an independent entity. However, it is feared that Barclays is just the tip of the iceberg of manipulations carried out by other banks.

 

Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee athlete, will run in the London Olympics

South African athlete wins a battle that lasted for years and is authorized to participate in the test of 4x400 relay, at the Olympic Games in London 2012.

Barely one year when he had no part of both legs. What could become a nightmare, before it became an unbelievable strength of victory, a real proof of life. Trained for years, until you get to Olympic glory, the first Paralympic Games, now with the possibility of repeating the most respected.

Oscar Pistorius, the famous double-amputee runner, has leave of the Court of Arbitration for Sport to participate in the 2012 London Olympics. The South African struggled for years against the ban can not be present in the most important event of world sport.

In 2008, for example, the athlete managed to the minimum necessary to travel to Beijing, but would eventually be banned. At the time, the Olympic Committee have argued that due to his prosthetics, Pistorius would have in the race advantage over opponents.

Now if the picture changes and 'Blade Runner', as is known, will even participate in the London Olympics, the proof of 4x400 relay, defending the colors of South Africa.

The ateta 25 years used the social network Twitter to thank family, friends, colleagues and even adversaries, classifying this data as the happiest day of your life.

Titles
Oscar Pistorius today won four Paralympic medals. In 2004 he won two Paralympic Games of Athens 2004, a bronze in the 100 meters and a gold in the 200. At the 2005 World Cup Paralympic athletics, won two more, 100 and 200 meters.