BANKS: Suspected tax fraud: French raid on the headquarters of UBS

AFP

The French headquarters of Swiss bank UBS in Paris was raided Wednesday in the investigation for "laundering tax fraud", the bank was suspected , have introduced a double accounting and facilitated the opening of undeclared accounts in Switzerland.

A dozen investigators from the national judicial customs (SNDJ) entered Wednesday morning in the premises of the bank with the judge Daïeff Guillaume Paris, in charge of the investigation, AFP a source close to the matter.

Two people were indicted in this case, a former leader of the UBS office in Lille and a framework UBS employee in Strasbourg. Several searches have been conducted in the premises of the bank in Strasbourg, Lyon and Bordeaux since late June.

A spokesman for the bank in Paris confirmed Wednesday that the "judge has actually visited the headquarters of UBS in Paris France as part of its investigation."

"We are cooperating fully with the authorities. The search is part of searches in other subsidiaries of UBS in France since April 2012, "said his side a spokesman for UBS in Switzerland AFP.

"As a group, we have an internal regulation which requires that the laws of the country are met. If employees have violated these laws, then they will be punished, "he added.

The first Swiss bank is suspected of having set up a dual accounting, designed to hide certain capital movements between France and Switzerland, and have enabled its Swiss business to solicit clients on French territory, in violation of the law. Denunciations of former employees

These facts have been particularly criticized by former employees. 

An anonymous note sent to the Prudential Supervisory Authority (ACP), seen by AFP, outlines the existence of "books of milk" between 2002 and 2007, a system designed to register new accounts undeclared Swiss made by salespeople.

She described the alleged role of responsible business in Switzerland and France and executives of UBS in France this double counting.

This system allowed not to leave a trace in the official tools while allowing the bank to calculate business operations for their year-end bonuses, according to this note. 

The judicial practices of the Swiss bank in France was opened in April for "banking or financial by unauthorized persons and tax evasion and laundering of funds obtained through an illegal solicitation, committed by an organized gang. "

Initially, a preliminary investigation was opened by the Paris prosecutor's office in March 2011 after transmission by the ACP in charge of banking supervision, a note on the practices commercial bank.

Meanwhile, another judicial inquiry opened in Paris in April for "obstructing the functioning of the committee on health, safety and working conditions (HSC)" and "harass Lement moral "at UBS, told AFP judicial source. Several officers had denounced the conditions of their departure from UBS.

In 2009, an agreement was reached with the United States to UBS reveals the names of 4,450 American clients whom he had offered to conceal funds to the IRS. The first Swiss bank had also paid a sum of $ 780 million, including a fine and back taxes.

(AFP)

IRAN: Ban Ki-moon urges Iran progress "concrete" on nuclear

 

AFP – The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged Iran's leaders to take swift "concrete measures" to ease international concerns about their nuclear program and contribute to a peaceful resolution to the Syrian crisis.

Mr. Ban was received including the Guide of the Islamic Republic Ali Khamenei, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalil, on the eve of the opening of the 16th summit in Tehran Non-Aligned countries which he must attend.

According to his spokesman Martin Nesirky, M. Ban asked his interlocutors to "take concrete steps to address the concerns of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy) and prove that its nuclear program is peaceful purposes. "

The Secretary-General, however, that this issue could be settled that "a diplomatic and peaceful solution", then qu'Israëla threatened to conduct strikes against Iran.

Mr. Ban also stressed that "human rights in Iran remained a concern" and that "civil and political rights (the Iranians) must be respected" reported Mr. Nesirky.

He also condemned the remarks "offensive", "provocative" and "unacceptable" that Iranian leaders regularly call for the destruction of Israel.

Secretary General of the UN has finally asked Tehran to "use his influence" to convince the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad to "stop Emergency violence "in this country plagued for more than 17 months of conflict and create" conditions.

According to his spokesperson, Mr. Ban "believes that Iran, given its regional influence and its influence on Syria, may play an important role in regulation" of the Syrian crisis.

The U.S. State Department, which had expressed strong reservations about the trip Mr. Ban in Iran, once joked about this statement by claiming to be "agreement (…) to say that Iran has a role to play" if "it ro , is the break with the Assad regime to stop and to provide material aid, weapons and advisors. "

The United States and Israel have found that the presence of the Secretary General of the UN summit of Non-Aligned gave extra weight to a bishop ment widely exploited by Tehran to try to break its international isolation.

Mr. Ban said he wanted to go to Tehran to "convey the concerns and expectations of the international community."

But faced with critical calls and Secretary General of the UN, Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that Tehran had no intention to acquire the weapon NUCLEAR , area, according to its official website. And accused the IAEA of trying to "sabotage" Iran's nuclear program at the instigation of the United States.

Reports UN agency does not exclude that Iran's nuclear activities have a military objective are the original six resolutions of the Security Council of the UN condemning tehe , ran, who do never considered.  

Ayatollah Khamenei also criticized the "domination" of the major nuclear powers, the United States in mind, the Security Council, and accused the UN of being "ineffective" to promote disarmament.

The Middle East, "the Zionist regime which Americans gave nuclear weapons is a serious threat to the region and the United Nations should take steps to address them" ,, he said.

Holland receives Samaras and aligns with the position of Merkel

 

REUTERS – François Hollande Saturday confirmed the Greek Prime Minister's desire to see Greece keep the single currency, urging Athens to the "credibility" and European Union to "it must" maintain the integrity of the euro area. After a one-hour interview with the Head of State at the Elysee Palace, Antonis Samaras made the maintenance of the single currency a matter of "pride" for his country, where hope should return, he said, otherwise threaten social cohesion.

François Hollande has reiterated that Greece should remain in the euro area while focusing on the efforts that the country must make to consolidate its fiscal position.  "We must ensure that the issue of Greece in the euro area does not arise because for me, it does not arise: Greece is in the eurozone and Greece must remain in the euro zone, "said the French president in the courtyard of the Elysee. "It must demonstrate the credibility of the program and the commitment of its leaders to go through while making sure that it is bearable for its people," said François Hollande, scoring his concern for social risk in Greece.  Eve in Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel had also pleaded alongside Antonis Samaras for Greece in the euro, despite the doubts expressed by some of its citizens a year of elections in Germany. Facing its fifth year of recession, Greece would receive a reprieve to meet its budgetary commitments agreed under a second plan international aid of 130 billion euros. The eyes of François Hollande, the clock is ticking and Europe must move quickly after receiving the report on Greece by the troika – the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund – expected in mid-September.  Athens creditors will then decide if they unlock new aid tranche in October and they give more time to Greece for its re ; forms. "GREECE Y HAPPEN" DIT SAMARAS called Questions to be discussed at the Eurogroup meeting on 8 October and Luxembourg, before the EU summit on 18 and 19 October in Brussels. Once the report is submitted and confirmed commitments Greek, "Europe will do what it needs," stressed François Hollande. "It's been two and a half years that the question is asked. There are no more time to lose. There are commitments to reaffirm both sides, to make decisions and the sooner the better. "

French Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance Laurent Fabius and Pierre Moscovici, attended the meeting between Francois Hollande and Antonis Samaras, who saw for the first time. In his statement, the new Greek Prime Minister, elected on June 17, said the European Union had everything to gain by keeping his country in the euro. "Greece will succeed, it will remain in the euro area," he said. "And that Greece will be successful European success. We will show that Europe is able to overcome its difficulties and problems, united. "  "We will fulfill our goals and commitments," he said while emphasizing growth, "if all these efforts will lead to a race to the bottom". "Greece, the Greek people are a proud nation: we do not like to depend on others and take," he said. "We must restore hope because without hope we will lose social cohesion." After a relative lull in the markets this summer, the crisis in the euro zone back on front of the stage with renewed concern Greece but also in Spain, Italy and Portugal.  François Hollande will be next Thursday in Madrid to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Italy in early September for a meeting with the chairman, Mario Monti. Agitated in Germany and in other countries such as Finland and the Netherlands, the possibility of an outflow of Athens remains outside the euro in Paris. The French authorities consider that it would be a disaster for the Greeks, not to mention the risk of lead others along this path. "The integrity of the euro zone is the basis of the action that we must lead," said a source in Paris

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Syria: Aleppo insurgent neighborhoods plagued by relentless fighting

 

AFP-The Syrian army and the rebels delivered Wednesday a fierce battle for control of Aleppo, the second largest city and a crucial challenge for the rest of the rebellion that shook from Syria sixteen months.

Backed by tanks and armored forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad launched before dawn a major ground offensive and entered the main area of ​​dissent ' Aleppo Salaheddin.

The offensive came a day after the promise of President Bashar al-Assad to "purge" the country "terrorists", a term used to describe his regime rebels.

At midday, the arméea claimed to have taken control of this neighborhood landmark, that the insurgents were immediately denied. 

"Our armed forces have taken full control of Salaheddin, inflicting heavy losses on terrorist groups," said an official source quoted by SANA.

The source said "dozens of terrorists were arrested, others went into giving up their weapons" and "large quantities of weapons used by the terrorists to terrify the people and commit murder against the police were seized. "

Colonel Abdel Jabar dissenting Oqeïdi confirmed "a barbaric and savage attack of the neighborhood," adding "it is wrong to say that the military regime took full control of the district" . 

The fighting "focus primarily Salaheddine since the neighborhood is of great symbolic value for us and the army of the regime," said the head of the Military Council for the region of Aleppo .

By mid afternoon, the Syrian rebels said they recovered some lost ground a few hours earlier after having been reinforced by 700 fighters from Sukkari (south), al Bustane -Qasr (center), and Hanano Chaar (is).

Cons-offensive

"We launched an offensive against-back and lost three of five streets," said Wassel Ayoub, the brigade commander Nur al-Haq Army Syrian free (ASL rebels).

Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (OSDH), has said the army had destroyed two schools as the basis for the rebels. 

"These are the fiercest fighting around the neighborhood" since the conflict started in Aleppo on July 20, according to OSDH.

The arméea sent 20,000 troops to carry out this crucial battle for the regime, facing mid-March 2011 in a revolt that has militarized over time against repression brutal. Nearly 17 months of conflict were 21,000 dead according to OSDH.

Amnesty International has denounced the violence of the shelling of the last days based on satellite images that show more than 600 craters formed by the impact of shrapnel in Aleppo and in the nearby town of Anadane.

Elsewhere in the country, the army continues to bomb the province of Homs (center), the town of Deir Ezzor (is), and Kurdish villages in the province of Latakia (northwest), according to OSDH that counts at least 82 people killed Wednesday (41 civilians, 15 rebels and 26 soldiers), including 34 in Aleppo.

According to this NGO based in Britain, who works with a network of activists and witnesses through Syria, 225 people were killed Tuesday on the whole territory. 

Meeting Thursday in Tehran

"The Syrian people and its government are determined to purge the country of terrorists," promised Tuesday Bashar al-Assad receives a messenger from his Iranian ally.

The envoy, Saeed Jalili, told him that "Iran will never allow the destruction of the axis of resistance which Syria is a key pillar".

Iran hosts a meeting Thursday with a dozen countries have "a realistic" about the crisis, according to Tehran.

Lebanon has already said he would not participate in its observance of "neutrality" in the conflict. No more than Kofi Annan, the mediator has resigned from the UN and the Arab League.

On its 48 nationals abducted on Saturday by the Syrian Army free (ASL) in the region of Damascus, Tehran called "cooperation" of the Secretary General General of the UN Ban Ki-moon to secure their release.

While the kidnappers accused the Iranians of being Revolutionary Guards, the elite corps of the Islamic regime, Tehran, which in turn ensures they are pilgrims, nevertheless stated that a number of them were "retired Revolutionary Guards and the army".

OJ – Canoe Slalom: Tony Estanguet: "It's great to finish the story like that"

 

Four years after his failure at the Beijing Olympics, Tony Estanguet has succeeded to win a third Olympic title in a canoe, in the artificial basin of Lee Valley.

At 34, the Pau coming off the apotheosis of his career by becoming the first French to glean three Olympic titles in the same disciple, better that the EPR ist Lamour and judoka David Douillet.

"It's not important to enter the legend. The important thing is to have done, "he said just out of the water.

The charismatic canoist finally outstrips the German Sideris Tasiadis and Olympic champion in Atlanta (1996) and Beijing (2008), Slovakia's Michal Martikan, who was also three in a row and finishes only third ; me.

Listen to his reaction to the micro RFI:

Tony Estanguet, triple Olympic, World and Europe has achieved nothing short of a feat on Tuesday 31 July in the stormy waters of the basin of Lee Valley.

Henceforth, the standard bearer of the delegation tricolor of 2008 aims to join the International Olympic Committee (IOC), through the Athletes' Commission, whose members will be elected during Games for a term of eight years.

FRANCE: Jean-Marc Ayrault reveals the social reform agenda of the quinquennium

 

AFP – Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault Tuesday unveiled the "roadmap" Social five years, with the menu including the negotiations on pensions, the financing of social protection or sites equal work and re-industrialization.

Follower of "give and take" with the social partners, Mr Ayrault was closed Tuesday afternoon conference that brought together social unions, employers and experts for two days to the Economic , social and environmental.

From the outset, Mr. Ayrault has sought to respond to those, particularly in the opposition, who criticized the conference that no concrete steps had to go out.

"Structural reforms can be undertaken in a cavalier, because then they are reforms rejected by society, what reforms are stillborn," he warned Mr. Ayrault, in a pique addressed to Nicolas Sarkozy and his stormy relationship with the unions at the end of the quinquennium.

"After two days of exchanges, my intention is not to conclude on precise measurements, because it would mean that the exercise was that it was artificial and that a facade of dialogue for decisions already taken in reality, "added the former mayor of Nantes, preventing further social dialogue that would" brand manufactures "of his government.

The Prime Minister is, however, came to the Palace of Jena with his wallet in ads for discussion and clarification of schedule.

It thus confirmed that constitutional reform would be carried out on social dialogue, "after an extensive consultation". 

Social protection and its sensitivity funding will also be subject to legislative reform in 2013, again following discussions with employers and unions, promised Mr. Ayrault, without giving track concrete such that an increase in CSG. Pensions will also be a consultation beginning next spring.

Another priority is employment. "Will we allow our country to remain the scene of social plans that are multiplying, that undermine confidence and morale of employees and all stakeholders in the economy?" questioned the Prime Minister.

He promised that the system of partial unemployment would be "improved" from autumn 2012. Negotiating "competitive employment" launched by Nicolas Sarkozy to allow companies to adapt the work under a reduction of activity is against "further order of days ".

About the decline of French industry, the former chairman of EADS, Louis Welsh, will be on a mission on the competitiveness of enterprises with the aim of "preparing implementation of concrete actions by the end of the year ", to improve their" environment ".

The minimum wage will also be reformed before the end of the year, so, promised Mr. Ayrault, to better take into account growth. The premium "dividends", announced in 2011 by Mr. Sarkozy but deemed ineffective by the social partners, will be "removed".

Unions and employers will finally consulted regularly on all subjects, across a "board or commission of social dialogue and foresight" that will emerge in the coming months.

SPAIN: The famous bullfights of Pamplona began

 

AFP – Dressed in white, red scarf around his neck, thousands of fans screamed and jumped for joy by sprinkling wine on the town hall square of Pamplona on Friday to mark the occasion of sending of San Fermin, most famous bullfighting festivals in Spain.

"It's crazy, amazing, I love it!", Enthused, hair and clothes dripping wine, Louise Haley, 28, from Australia to attend This medieval fair, that fascinated Ernest Hemingway in his time.

With cries of "Viva San Fermin!" And "Gora San Fermin" in Basque, followed by the "chupinazo", run it from the balcony of the mayor of a rocket, fireworks, new day celebrations punctuated by the very famous bull runs were officially opened at noon. 

Waving their red scarves in a charged atmosphere, thousands of revelers from around the world were sprayed with wine, transforming the immaculate white of their traditional clothing in an original pink gradient. Dancing, singing, they went to enormous balloons, others, many, watching from the balconies overlooking the square.

Early in the morning, already, some had begun the festivities, drinking beer and sangria sitting in class or while walking and singing through the narrow cobbled streets of the city, their huge plastic glasses containing as much as one liter of beverage.

Punctuated by religious processions, traditional dances, concerts, watered by streams of drinking in bars allowed to open until dawn, the holidays are primarily famou ; members for their running of the bulls. 

Every morning at eight o'clock, hundreds of intrepid riders will engage with six fighting bulls of half a ton each, trying to avoid their horns over a distance of 850 meters leading to the arena of the city.

The bravest, or perhaps the most reckless, will run as close to the horns, hoping not to be injured during the four minutes that lasts the race through the heart historic city.

The first release, one that traditionally attracts the most people, will be held Saturday.

"It's a great feeling, your heart starts to beat faster," Anderson testifies Goyoaga, unemployed plumber of 34 years came from Bilbao.

He has already participated in the bull runs and getting ready to try again experience. 

"Every time I tell myself that this is the last but I can not help but go back," he admits.

In 2011, 20,500 runners participated in the eight bull runs, mostly men 18 to 35 years with nearly half were from overseas, especially U.S., d Australia and the United Kingdom, according to the mayor of Pamplona.

This curious mediaeval tradition could have inspired the butchers, to run before the animals brought to the campaign for the festival of San Fermin.

Each year, dozens of runners are injured, often because of the rush that sometimes falls under the legs of bulls.

The race sometimes turns into tragedy. The most recent death date three years ago, when a bull gored a Spaniard was 27 years.

To avoid injury, the organizers are trying to ban drunken revelers to participate in the release and have sprayed the road of a chemical to prevent slipping.

Pamplona, ​​which has 200,000 inhabitants, is expecting a half million visitors this year and hope the holidays bring him in about 70 million euros.

"I saw the images on television and I had no choice but I had to come," enthuses David Higgins, a British man 25 years came with three friends.

"This is probably the craziest party in the world!"

SCIENCE: The Cern particle discovers a "compatible" with the Higgs boson

 

Reuters – Scientists at CERN in Geneva showed a new subatomic particle that could be the Higgs boson, considered crucial in the formation of the universe.

"I can confirm that a particle was found which is consistent with the theory of the Higgs boson," said John Womersley, Director General of Science & Technology Facilities Council UK at an event in London. 

Joe Incandela, spokesperson for one of two teams trying to prove the existence of the famous elementary particle, has told his side of people collected at the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva: "This is a temporary result, but we think it is very solid" …. ….

The Higgs boson is a central component of the Standard Model, the theory that illuminates the fundamental structure of matter.

This theory, which describes the interactions between particles at the quantum level, is based in part on the idea that two of the four fundamental forces, the weak force and electromagnetic force, are to me ; my nature. 

This force, called electroweak bring together electricity, magnetism and light, but this unification is conceivable that if the force-carrying particles have no mass, which n is a priori not the case.

In the 1960s, the Belgians Robert Brout and François Englert, on one side, and the British Peter Higgs, the other, were resolved by postulating the existence of the "boson" ;, which would have allowed the field to other particles acquire mass, just after the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago.

EURO AREA: Madrid calls for EU support for its banks

 

AFP – Spain's fourth largest economy in the euro area, has resigned Saturday to call for EU support for its banks, which could reach one hundred billion euros, a scenario long departed from Madrid, but now face the inevitable worsening of the debt crisis.

This support plan will be the fourth for a country of the euro area since the crisis began in late 2009, after Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

It will be this time to bail out the banking sector in Spain, asphyxiated by its exposure to real estate, for an amount estimated by the Eurogroup to one hundred billion at most. 

Spain will seek "a European financial aid" to restore its banking sector, announced in Madrid the Minister of Economy Luis de Guindos, after a telephone conference Finance Ministers of 17 countries in the euro area.

He said that in exchange, there will be no conditions of economic reforms "outside the scope of the financial sector".

"The conditions will be imposed on banks, not Spanish society," added the minister, trying to reassure the country, the record unemployment rate of 24.44% and already ; subjected to a harsh austerity measures to reduce its public deficit to 8.9% in 2011 to 5.3% this year.

"This has nothing to do with a rescue," insisted Mr. of Guindos, adding that the assistance will be restricted to "30% (banks) that have the most difficulty," and identified as such in the report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday evening.

"This announcement is good for the Spanish economy and the future of the euro area", "this is a very positive signal about the political will of the whole euro area," said de clared the Minister, who has strongly denied having undergone any pressure from its European partners.

Mr. of Guindos explained that such aid is considered a "debt" Spanish, which will therefore increase, and "absolutely must be repaid."

It will be injected into the Spanish public funds to assist the sector (Frob), which will award the money to the "banks that request," he said.

The IMF will participate in the plan help, but will have a supervisory role, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Hours earlier, the finance ministers of the euro area had a video conference to draw the outlines of this plan.

"It will in fact one of the largest bailouts in recent history," stressed the Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country is not part of the monetary Union silent. 

Fourth largest economy in the euro area, Spain is in fact 12% of GDP in the euro area, against only 6% for Ireland, Portugal and Greece combined. The rescue of the three countries respectively have cost 85 billion, 78 billion and 292 billion euros.

So far, Madrid had refused to issue a call for help for fear of being imposed, such as Greece, a program that would be associated with strict conditions dictated by its international donors.

But the Spanish government had to bend under pressure and extreme markets of Europe, probably anxious to resolve the issue before the elections in Greece June 17, fear of contagion. 

Just this week, the government remained adamant: "I'll wait for the IMF and independent experts may give their opinion on the recapitalization needs of the Spanish financial system and ; from there, I will give my number and tell the government what needs to recapitalize the system ", said Thursday the head of government couservateur, Mariano Rajoy.

The IMF report has estimated the industry needs at least 40 billion euros, the euro area but it was prepared to "respond positively to a request for assistance" of the Spain in favor of its banking sector and to lend up to 100 billion euros. 

"It's a sum up," said Luis de Guindos, and, "very clearly, there is a margin of safety" in this figure.

To make a specific request, Madrid expected, in addition to the IMF report, the results of the audit conducted by the German firm Roland Berger and American Oliver Wyman. They will be known "in a few days," said the minister.

The German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, for its part, quickly welcomed the agreement reached with Spain, he considers the "track".

"I greet, as with other colleagues of the Eurogroup, the Spanish government's determination to proceed with the recapitalization (banks) and through this program to use to fund European aid (EFSF) or of the bailout (MES) with the corresponding conditions, "he said.

Top 14: Toulouse reinforces its leadership position after his victory against the French stage

 

The Toulouse strengthened its leading position in the Top 14 and lost valuable points in the French stage in the race for the finals by winning (22-18) including seventeen points Lionel Beauxis its opener Saturday at the Stade de France, at the 22nd day.

One week before their quarter-final of European Cup in Edinburgh, Toulouse have managed to get out of a hotly contested match against the Parisians catchy. They are four points ahead of Clermont, beaten to Biarritz (15-14). The Parisians are found, them out of the first six qualifying places for dams and must battle against their main rivals Montpellier and Racing Metro, both winners on this day.

Solid and realistic, the champions of France made a difference through the boot of Lionel Beauxis (17 points, 6 of 7) and their conquest generally reliable. A powerful melee output Gillian Galan relayed by Thierry Dusautoir notably led the only test given to Florian Fritz despite a slump of David Martin Rodriguez (26).

Patients and assisted by their scorers Felipe Contepomi and Julien Dupuy (100% both), the Parisians have returned to a point ten minutes from the end of a penalty from scrumhalf after watching a trial refused to Sergio Parisse quarter of an hour earlier for a slump of a Parisian center of Beauxis near the line (55).

But after missing two "match points", a penalty from 55 meters (74) and one drop (78), Beauxis has confirmed the victory of a new penalty the last minute. 

The Parisians will erase their regrets at the last four days, including three trips to Clermont (23rd day) against the rival Racing Metro (25th day) and Biarritz (26th day).