The year 2011 got off to an extremely promising start for the French luxury group LVMH and the Italian jeweller Bulgari, which will very soon be joining its ranks.

The world leader in high quality products, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton recorded sales in the first quarter of 2011 of 5.2 billion Euros, an increase of 17%. Organic growth ...

NEW ORLEANS -- In their neighborhoods, they are sometimes taunted with dirty looks and jeers. Their pictures hang on the walls of local community centers where their children and grandchildren play. And their names and addresses are listed in newspapers and mailed out on postcards to everyone in the neighborhood.

Landing a job or even finding a landlord willing to give them a place to stay is a challenge.

These women wear a scarlet letter -- rather, 11 letters -- spelled out on their driver's licenses in bright orange text: SEX OFFENDER.

They aren't child molesters or pedophiles. Most are poor, hard-luck black women in New Orleans who agreed to exchange oral or anal sex for money. In doing so they violated the latest version of Louisiana's 206-year-old Crime Against Nature law, which carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and registration as a sex offender.

Opponents of the law say it is discriminatory and targets poor women and the gay and transgendered community who engage in what they call "survival sex." In March, the Center for Constitutional Rights filed a lawsuit on behalf of nine anonymous plaintiffs against the state, Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) and a host of state agencies, calling the law unconstitutional.

"There are a number of absurd things in the Louisiana laws, and this is one of the more absurd," said R. Judson Mitchell, a law professor at the law clinic at Loyola University in New Orleans. "There are crimes against nature happening at strip clubs on Bourbon Street every single night. The difference is we are dealing with women that didn't have a fancy strip club to go to."

Indeed, New Orleans has long been a historic bastion of sex and vice, synonymous with food, jazz and the lore of Storyville, the fabled red-light district that clinched the city's reputation for high-class prostitution more than a century ago. Any night along the city's seamy side streets and in hotels that dot the French Quarter, tourists and locals pay for a variety of sexual pleasures.

Read more at The Huffington Post.

 

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Local food blogger Alexander Lobrano reveals the best places in Paris to taste bistro classics like coq au vin and tarte tatin

Josephine "Chez Dumonet"

For a delicious sepia-toned experience of pre-war Paris, this beautiful art-nouveau bistro on a chic street in Saint Germain is worth the wound to your wallet. The fact is that old-fashioned bistro cooking in Paris has become almost as expensive as it is rare – thank France's 35-hour working week for making slow cooking so pricey. But if you're craving old-school dishes like morel mushrooms stuffed with foie gras, truffles and country ham; millefeuille of boned pigeon; and bœuf bourguignon, you won't do better than this 1880 vintage dining room. Note that many dishes are served in half portions, the boeuf bourguignon is so ample it feeds two, and the reasonably priced house Bordeaux is what all the regulars drink.
• 117 rue du Cherche Midi, 6th, +33 1 4548 5240. Métro: Duroc or Sèvres-Babylone. Open Mon-Fri lunch and dinner. Average à la carte €50

A la Biche au Bois

It's miraculous that this really good traditional French bistro hasn't become a major tourist destination, a reprieve explained by its location in a workaday part of Paris near the Gare de Lyon that's impervious to trends and also by its ardent crowd of exigent regulars. Many of those gents with giggle-inducing matching ties and socks come here daily at noon, and they'd know in a flash if the kitchen stopped making its superb frites from freshly peeled and cut potatoes or the cheeses on offer were pasteurised. So no one makes a big deal about the very good and reasonably priced food here, because they see it as a French birthright. In season, this is the place to go wild for game, and otherwise they serve oeufs mayonnaise, coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon, and other great Gallic monument-type dishes.
• 45 avenue Ledru-Rollin, 12th, +33 1 4343 3438. Métro: Gare de Lyon. Open Tues-Sat lunch and dinner, Mon dinner only. Average à la carte €35

Le Baratin

For anyone craving a taste of la vie bohème in Paris as much as a really good meal, Argentine-born Raquel Carena's funky bistro in the rough-and-tumble Belleville quarter is the perfect choice. During the past 20 years, rising property prices have driven most working artists and creative types over the périphérique (the Paris ring road) into the suburbs or into the provinces, but ethnically eclectic and bracingly scruffy Belleville still has an edge. The self-taught Carena moved to Paris some 25 years ago, and her cooking is a delicious hybrid of the kitchens of France, South America, North Africa, Spain and other countries, as shown by dishes like tuna tartare with pitted black cherries, and ox cheeks braised with citrus fruit, carrots, onion and red wine. Her slightly gruff husband runs the mostly organic and biodynamic wine list, and this crowded little dining room is where many of the great chefs of Paris head on their nights off, Joel Robuchon, Yannick Alléno and Jean-François Piège among them.
• 3 rue Jouye-Rouve, 20th, +33 1 4349 3970. Métro: Belleville or Pyrénées. Open Tues-Fri lunch and dinner, Sat dinner only. Average €40

Les Bistronomes

Now over 20 years old, the New Bistro movement in France – which started in the early-1990s recession, when ambitious young chefs opened bistros instead of formal restaurants – has added a whole new generation of bistros to the culinary landscape of Paris, and they just keep getting better. A perfect example is the recently opened Les Bistronomes, a pretty restaurant with a beamed ceiling and oatmeal-and-taupe striped wallpaper next to the Palais Royal. Like so many New Bistro chefs, Cyril Aveline earned haute cuisine credentials – he was most recently sous-chef at the three-star Le Bristol – before going out on his own, and this pedigree is reflected in the impeccable technique and clever use of the occasional luxury product that make his bistro food so good. At a recent lunch, a rustic starter of foie gras and duck breast-studded pate en croute was more than worthy of Michelin accolades, as was his chicken with a supreme sauce and basmati rice. Courteous, well-organised service and an affordable but interesting wine list are other winning attributes of this excellent bistro.
• 34 rue de Richelieu, 1st, + 33 1 4260 5966, lesbistronomes.fr. Métro: Pyramides. Open Tues-Fri lunch and dinner, Sat dinner only. Set lunch €26 two courses, €35 three courses, average à la carte €50

Le Bistrot Paul Bert

With the sort of old-fashioned film noir Paris bistros the world craves becoming scarce as hen's teeth, restaurateur Bertrand Aboyneau deserves a fancy French chest fob for creating a new old-fashioned bistro 14 years ago. In 1997, the back-of-beyond Bastille neighbourhood was beginning to gather some serious gastronomic credentials as a herd of trendy young types in search of cheap flats and atmosphere charged into the quarter. With its delicious trad Gallic grub, retro atmosphere – created by old enamel adverts and cracked tile floors – and excellent wine list, this place became the roaring hit it still is today. So expect a happy, noisy international crowd and great grub like terrine de campagne, marinated herring, steak tartare, and veal chops.
• 18 rue Paul-Bert, 11th, +33 1 4372 2401. Métro: Faidherbe-Chaligny. Open Tues-Sat lunch and dinner. Average €40

Christophe

Hidden away in the Latin Quarter, young chef Christophe Philippe's simply decorated bistro with poppy-coloured walls and bare wooden tables is a find for two reasons – his modern French bistro cooking is delicious, and he's open for both lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday, when most Paris bistros are closed. Philippe, who's originally from Menton, on the Riviera, brings a southern touch to the traditional bistro register, using the lemons his Mum occasionally sends him to make a superb citrus millefeuille, and he also sources his menu from some of the best suppliers in Paris, including butcher Hugo Desnoyer. Don't-miss dishes include his escargots in Provençale butter, steak with potato puree, and unctuous chocolate mousse.
• 8 rue Descartes, 5th, +33 1 4326 7249. Métro: Maubert-Mutualité or Cardinal Lemoine. Open Fri-Tues lunch and dinner. Average €45

Frenchie

The news that chef Gregory Marchand is expanding his tiny bistro in Le Sentier, Paris's old garment district, into a twin space opposite the original address in the small pedestrian lane where it's located has Paris abuzz, which tells you a lot about the impact the place has had since it opened in 2009. Originally from Nantes, Marchand cooked at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen in London and Danny Meyer's Gramercy Tavern in New York before returning to Paris to open his own place. The atmosphere at his tiny exposed-brick space with factory lamps and a minuscule kitchen nods at his Anglo-American experience as much as his brief market-driven menus do. Marchand, who picked up the nickname "Frenchie" in London, says his stints abroad "unleashed" his gastronomic imagination, but he still displays the deeply disciplined skills of a classically trained French chef. Think hip Gallic comfort food like cream of mushroom soup with a poached egg and grilled bacon, ox cheeks with swede, and white chocolate pannacotta with raspberries.
• 5 rue du Nil, 2nd, +33 1 4039 9619, frenchie-restaurant.com. Métro: Bonne Nouvelle or Réamur Sebastapol. Open Mon-Fri dinner only. Average à la carte €40

Le Pantruche

A perfect example of the excellent neighbourhood bistros that remain the bedrock of Paris's credentials as a gastronomic mecca, this new place in the trendy 9th arrondissement also offers excellent value. Talented chef Franck Baranger worked in the kitchens of Christian Constant (Les Cocottes, Le Violon d'Ingres) and three-star chef Eric Frechon at the Hotel Bristol before deciding to set up shop in bohemian "So-Pi" (South of Pigalle). Large aluminium suspension lamps over the bar are about as much decor as this place has, but service is friendly and Baranger's contemporary French cooking is precise, often delicate and delicious, as seen in starters like his succulent terrine de foie gras or coddled egg on a bed of creamed baby leeks and main courses such as a rib chop of free-range pork with potato puree or cod with tandoori spices on a bed of lemon-spiked braised cabbage.
• 3 rue Victor Massé, 9th, + 33 1 4878 5560, lepantruche.com. Métro: Pigalle or Saint-Georges. Open Mon-Fri lunch and dinner. Set lunch €17, set dinner €32, average à la carte €35

La Régalade Saint-Honoré

When young chef Yves Camdeborde opened the original La Regalade in a remote 14th arrondissement location in 1992, no one saw a revolution coming, but this lusty bistro completely reset the pendulum on Paris bistro cooking. Today it's owned by talented chef Bruno Doucet, and a few months ago he launched a much more convenient Right Bank branch that's been a roaring hit. The 1950s-vintage dining room, a former cafe, doesn't offer much by way of eye candy, but you come for the food. Doucet changes his menu often but dishes like chicken-broth-and coconut-milk soup with grilled shrimp and spaghettini, free-range pork belly by Basque producer Eric Ospital on a bed of lentils, and cod steak on a bed of wilted spinach with chopped hard-boiled egg and tomato and tiny croutons in a light vinaigrette show off his talent. And the €33 prix-fixe menu makes this place is one of the best buys in Paris right now.
• 123 rue Saint-Honoré, 1st, +33 1 4221 9240. Métro: Louvre-Rivoli. Open Mon-Fri lunch and dinner

Chez Georges

Yes, it's expensive, and yes, at least half of the dining room will be speaking a language other than French – usually various colonial permutations of English – but this is only because the entire English-speaking world comes to Paris on an enthralled mission to eat the great bistro dishes so lovingly described by writers like Elizabeth David and Julia Child. The hard fact of the matter is that this sort of cooking is harder and harder to find in Paris. So tune out the prattle from New Jersey and Melbourne and enjoy such brilliant old-fashioned bistro dishes as celeriac rémoulade, grilled turbot with béarnaise sauce, duck breast with cèpe mushrooms, cassoulet, and pot-au-feu (beef and marrow bones simmered with root vegetables). And for proof that a recent change of ownership at this 1964-vintage address hasn't changed the place a jot, order the tarte tatin with ivory-coloured crème fraîche for dessert.
• 1 rue du Mail, 2nd arrondissement, +33 1 4260 0711. Métro: Bourse. Open Mon-Fri lunch and dinner. Average €60

• Prices are per person excluding wine. Alexander Lobrano is the author of Hungry for Paris

French Tribune

Mexico's BBVA profit rises on loan, deposit growth MarketWatch MEXICO CITY -(MarketWatch)- BBVA Bancomer, Mexico's largest bank, said Thursday its after-tax net profit surged 17.3% during the first quarter to 7.19 billion pesos ($603 million) as deposits grew and it extended more credit. ... Spain drags, Mexico shines on BBVA's Q1Reuters all 150 news articles »

Two years since Adam 'MCA' Yauch was diagnosed with cancer, the Beastie Boys have burst back with a rap album that revels in fun. They pick up where they left off with Angus Batey

A friend was givin' me a hard time about this the other day," says Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz. "They said, 'You've been doin' this since high school – how have you only had eight albums? That makes no sense.'"

There always seems to have been something that's stopped the Beastie Boys operating on the sort of timescale most bands stick to. The brat-rap superstars of the late 1980s have grown into shrewd music-business mavens, with record labels, magazines and film production companies vying for their creative attention; and when they have got around to making albums, those records have sketched out new possibilities, reminding anyone who cared to listen that the hip-hop genre they grew up in is about taking sounds, styles and inspirations from across the musical map and turning them into something new and definably your own. But, as Ad-Rock's friend pointed out, eight LPs in almost 30 years is a pretty poor return.

Two years ago, though, it looked as though Ad-Rock and bandmates Michael "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "MCA" Yauch were going to break into what was, for them, a sudden gallop. Barely two years after their previous album – admittedly, an all-instrumental affair called The Mix-Up rather than a "proper" LP – they had finished a new record. Called Hot Sauce Committee Part One, it was to be released in the autumn of 2009. That June, the trio undertook a promotional trip to Europe, giving interviews to media (including Film&Music;) in which they explained that Hot Sauce Committee Part Two – "the weird shit" they couldn't fit on to the album – would arrive within a year or so of Part One, possibly as a series of 7in singles.

Then, on 20 July, in a video posted to YouTube, Yauch broke the news that he had been diagnosed with cancer in the parotid gland and a lymph node in the left side of his neck. Surgery would be routine, but the record would be postponed.

In October 2009, Yauch told the Beasties' email list he was "feeling healthy, strong and hopeful that I've beaten this thing". A year later, they announced, first, that Hot Sauce Committee Part One had been shelved but that Part Two would be coming out "on schedule" in the spring of 2011; then, as Yauch wrote: "Strange but true, the final sequence for Part Two works best with all its songs replaced by the 16 tracks we originally had lined up in pretty much the same order we had them in for Part One." Like, d'oh!

The widespread conclusion – based on a confirmed release date, and the back-to-normal goofiness of the announcements – was that Yauch had recovered. But this wasn't entirely the case. "Reports of my being totally cancer-free are exaggerated," he said in a statement this January. "I'm continuing treatment, staying optimistic and hoping to be cancer-free in the near future." Speaking now, Yauch's bandmates confirm their friend's medical problems are not yet over.

"He's doin' OK," Horovitz says. "He's still in treatment, so it's not 100%. But things are lookin' good. We're not touring, we're just getting the record out – and we're not making any plans until he is better. Which is definitely gonna happen."

"It's a very strange thing," says Diamond. "Unfortunately, we've had a high attrition rate of friends growing up in New York, but more from drug overdoses and crazy shit like that. This is, actually, the first time that a friend who is a contemporary – basically one of my best friends for life – called me up to say: 'Hey, I've got some really bad news,' and having a really serious illness. And when you're friends for a long time, and one of that group of friends gets a very serious, potentially terminal illness, it's just kind of like … It's a game-changer, if you will."

Though they are a band who have built a career out of behaving like naughty schoolboys, the Beasties haven't shied away from serious themes. Galvanised by Yauch's travels to the country, they staged several huge concerts to support the cause of a free Tibet, and between the one-liners and pop culture references, their best songs are often peppered with sociopolitical seasoning. So if these eternal teenagers' response to their close encounter with mortality is to laugh a little louder, party a little harder, that should come as no surprise.

Hot Sauce Committee Part Two revels in the kind of instinctive lyrical and musical fun the Beasties seem to have made their own. In 2009, they'd explained how its joie de vivre was in some ways a response to the times of its creation. The same thing had happened with their previous rap album, To the 5 Boroughs – a record that rang with the defiance of liberal New York natives responding both to the terrorist attacks on the city in 2001, and to the way a rightwing government dealt with them.

"During the course of making To the 5 Boroughs, the US was going round invading different countries, and we had a complete moron as president," Yauch told Film&Music; in 2009. "We'd be on our way to the studio and either walking past soldiers on the street in New York, or seeing newspapers about us invading or threatening to invade some country, and I think a lot of that ended up feeding into the mood of the record. But with [Hot Sauce Committee], part of it was done much more with the thinking that Bush's term was almost over, and the latter part was recorded knowing that Obama had been elected. And there's probably a lot more sense on our part that we can be free to just talk trash, because someone else is gonna be responsible for what goes on in the world. I definitely feel like, could it all be going this right? When I hear Obama speak, most of the time I agree with what he's saying, and I trust him. And it's almost a strange feeling, because I'm so accustomed to not trusting or liking politicians."

"Yeah," agreed Horovitz. "It's weird to have things in common with the president. Seriously! Dude watches The Wire, he plays basketball, he's tryin' to quit smoking …"

Two years later, with the political atmosphere poisoned by conspiracy theories and Obama's consensus-building stymied by the confrontational stance of the Tea Party right, the Beasties' euphoria could seem out of kilter with the times.

"In the time we made To the 5 Boroughs there was a political seriousness because of what was happening in the world," says Diamond. "And I guess if you look at the last two years, the big thing you would point to would be an economic seriousness, as well as, in the last six months, the social and political reordering of a lot of the world, specifically in the Middle East. All that being said, more than ever, I think, people wanna listen to music and have a good time."

"We're all still very optimistic about Obama here," Horovitz says. "We also knew that it wasn't like everything was gonna change the minute he took office. We knew that it was gonna be a struggle; and the right wing in America would go crazy. But I don't think the album would be that different if we were recording it today, as opposed to two years ago."

The enforced delay has brought some benefits. After periodically revisiting the new tracks, the group began to feel that the production – which, as with To the 5 Boroughs, they'd handled themselves – could do with a bit of sprucing up. So they called in an outsider, the French producer Philippe Zdar, to remix the album.

"When you get to a point where you're not beholden to a record company," Diamond explains, "then it's up to you to say, 'OK, enough knob-turning, we're done.' When we talked to you two years ago, we had taken our best shot and thought we were done. I'm actually really glad: it's almost like we got to do the reissue of the record without it ever coming out in the first place."

They have been able to give the album a typically over-the-top launch, too, with the video for the first single, Make Some Noise, assuming epic proportions. Yauch had begun to foment an idea for a short film based on the 1986 Fight for Your Right video, and last November they shot the Yauch-directed film Fight For Your Right Revisited, filmed in New York with a cast of suitably ridiculous proportions. It features two alternate lineups of '86-attired Beasties (Elijah Wood, Seth Rogen and Danny McBride in the first; Will Ferrell, John C Reilly and Jack Black in the second) having a breakdance battle that degenerates into – literally – a pissing contest on a Manhattan street corner, before the real Ad-Rock, Mike D and MCA turn up, dressed as cops, and bundle them all into a police van.

A quarter of a century since their emergence as gifted rappers and superlative satirists, both film and album are perfect reminders of why so many people still care so much about the Beastie Boys. They may look like they're making it all up on the spot, but those in-jokes and elaborate rhymes are crafted with the precision and care of masters of the art. This is the secret of their success: as seriously as the trio take the job of getting the music, the lyrics and the accompanying visuals right, the end results look and sound like ebullient, uncomplicated fun.

Personally, as well as politically, the new LP still gives an accurate reflection of the feeling in the Beastie camp today, even though it was made before the discovery of Yauch's cancer. While there are no plans beyond giving him time to get well, Diamond and Horovitz agree that, if their friend's illness affects their music at all, it is likely to push them to ever more ludicrous extremes.

"I have a feeling the next record is gonna be the most insane party record you ever heard," Horovitz says. "Because if you go through something like what Yauch's goin' through … I mean, shit. After that, you must feel pretty good."

"I'm always careful to even guess, at any juncture, about things before we do them," Diamond says. "But in an odd way I almost feel that it could more intensify the goofing-around aspect of what we make together. Because that's the release – that's what you really value it for. When we're all together, are we gonna want to have fun together, and remember that? Or are we gonna wanna kind of hang our heads low and mope around? No, we're gonna wanna really enjoy it, and savour those moments."

Now Glencore is going public, the destructive power it can wield to force up food prices could be even greater

What does it take to make the food speculators at Goldman Sachs look like they're playing for lunch money? A secretive Swiss-based company, and one of the world's largest commodity trading firms, knows. With its initial public offering announced on Thursday, Glencore – a multibillion-dollar mining, energy and food trader that will soon list in London and Hong Kong – is the envy of Wall Street. When Goldman Sachs was floated, the then CEO Hank Paulson made off with $219m. Glencore's chief executive, Ivan Glasenberg, has already earned the moniker "The Ten Billion Dollar Man" for his share of the bonanza.

Glencore will be the first company in 25 years to make the FTSE 100 on its first day of trading, with an estimated valuation of about $60bn. The company has had an average return on equity of 38% (compared to Goldman Sachs's 12%). Its base in the Swiss town of Baar has freed it of even the minimal regulation US-based companies entertain. Not by accident does Glencore find itself in Switzerland. Like the mining and oil trading company Trafigura, Glencore is a descendant of the Marc Rich group. Rich fled the US in 1983 after being indicted by a federal prosecutor, Rudolph Giuliani, for tax evasion and trading with Iran (though he was pardoned by Bill Clinton). As Marcia Vickers reported in a Businessweek exposé: "Rich's philosophy is that no law applies to him."

In exchange for going public and raising money for further acquisitions, Glencore will now have to submit to the bared gums of UK regulators – whose rules are far less onerous than their US counterparts. With the funds from its flotation, the company looks set to dominate the fields in which it chooses to operate. Although primarily a mining and energy company, it has substantial interests in food – controlling around a quarter of the global market for barley, sunflower and rape seed, and 10% of the world's wheat market.

In the weeks before flotation, Glencore allowed us a glimpse of the kind of power it wields. Last year Russia, the world's third largest wheat exporter, experienced a drought the like of which had never been recorded; fires damaged tens of thousands of acres of cereal.

Glencore has now revealed its traders placed bets that the price of wheat would go up. On 2 August Glencore's head of Russian grain trading called on Russia's government to ban wheat exports. Three days later, that's what it did. The price of wheat went up by 15% in two days. Of course, just because a senior executive at one of the world's most powerful companies suggested a course of action that a country chose to follow doesn't mean Glencore made it happen. But happen it did, and the consequences rippled round the world.

At the time, Mozambique experienced a massive uprising in response to increased food and fuel prices. Protests were organised via text messages and, in actions that foreshadowed those of governments in the Arab spring, the Mozambican state responded by shutting down text capability for pre-paid phones and sweeping up hundreds of protesters. Over a dozen people died, many were injured, and millions of dollars of damage was caused. It's safe to say that tens of thousands were pushed further towards hunger as a result of the higher wheat prices.

According to the Financial Times, Glencore's speculation didn't necessarily bring riches to the company. Although the bets on the future price of wheat paid off, Glencore is so big that other parts of the company were tripped up. Its wheat customers in the Middle East had contracts that needed to be fulfilled, and the company was left scrambling after its Russian supplies were walled away.

But Glencore itself admits to prodding the boundaries of how markets ought to work – its flotation prospectus reveals that its Belgian agricultural subsidiary is embroiled in charges of corruption, allegedly involving inside information on European export subsidies.

This story may help economists who are having a hard time understanding how speculation works. In its recent thoughts on the global food market, the Economist defended speculators because "trading cannot drive prices up in the long term since for every buy, there is a sell". By definition, for every smart or lucky trader who comes out with a yacht, some other trader loses their shirt. It's all very nicely confined to the paddling pool of the futures exchange, and the yellow water needn't taint the rest of the market, where the real demand is.

While the economic world ought to work this way in theory, it doesn't in practice. Goldman Sachs has an investment structure that is only about buying food futures. Despite what the theorists say, speculators have profited from hunger. And there's now mounting evidence from some economists that the rush of money into commodity funds is indeed driving prices higher.

But even these kinds of analysis assume that there are rational moves made by actors within the market's confines. When financial powerhouses like Glencore are able to control and engineer the terms on which they are governed, economics has painfully little to say. Rather than being "price takers", today's financial behemoths are price makers. To understand the power at play, we're better served by the insight of the French historian Fernand Braudel – that capitalism is, at its pinnacle, not about the facilitation of free exchange, but about its destruction.

Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: MNTA) reported higher-than-expected revenue for the first quarter, due to sales of a generic version of a blood thinner made by French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY). The Cambridge, Mass.-based biotechnology company reported net income of $57 million, compared to a net loss of $16.1 million, for the same period in 2010. Revenue for the first quarter of 2011 was $78.2 million, compared to $3.7 million for the first quarter of last year. The company’s generic version of blood thinner Lovenox, called M-enoxaparin, received FDA marketing approval in July 2010, and is marketed by the generics division of Swiss drug maker Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS),...

Unrest in Egypt weighed on the French construction group, which lowered its growth forecast, as it reported a net loss in the first quarter

• Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: "The Mavericks officially have the Los Angeles Lakers’ attention. And the rest of the NBA’s, too. Announcing themselves as serious championship contenders, the Mavericks took down the Lakers for the second time in three nights at the Staples Center. Dirk Nowitzki was a beast, the reserves dominated their LA counterparts and the Mavericks pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 93-81 victory Wednesday night. They took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven conference semifinals. The Mavericks have never been up 2-0 in a series that they started on the road. Only once in franchise history -- the 2006 NBA Finals -- have they lost a playoff series after going up 2-0. The Lakers’ series record when falling behind 2-0: 2-16. Theoretically, it could have been the last home game of the season for the two-time defending NBA champs. The next two games are at American Airlines Center and while the series is a long way from over, the Mavericks are in wonderful shape going into Game 3. The two-time defending champions clearly are on the ropes."
• Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "If this season turns into the special one the Dallas Mavericks hope it will be, they're going to look back at Wednesday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers as the turning point. With an opportunity to put the two-time defending NBA champions on their heels, the Mavs seized the moment in a big way with a convincing 93-81 victory at Staples Center. With the win, Dallas took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series after it stunningly won both games in LA. The Mavs will host Games 3 and 4 Friday and Sunday at American Airlines Center, opening the door for them to sweep the series without having to come back to the West Coast. And who would have imagined that happening before this series started? 'We're a great road team because we're resilient,' center Brendan Haywood said. 'We're a family -- everybody roots for each other. And we have a lot of different guys that can hit big shots. So on the road usually when we're down, we never feel that we're out of it.' "
• Jeff Miller of The Orange County Register: "Ugly, empty and quiet. It was so silent in Staples Center on Wednesday that you could hear a champion drop. That was the Lakers hitting the floor, ironically on a night when they couldn't hit anything else. They fell stunningly and meekly, 93-81, now trail Dallas two games to none and face a mudslide of history and statistical data that suggests their survival is in dire jeopardy. 'It's unfamiliar,' Derek Fisher said of the feeling of being in a 0-2 hole. 'It's not a great place to be. (We have) a big uphill climb to make from here, but the opportunity is still there. We have to clean up a lot of things and get a lot better in 48 hours.' We're not burying the Lakers, yet. But in a postseason that already has made the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics (for the past two games, at least) look like graying, bygone champions, the Lakers appear mighty creaky at the moment. And before it was over Wednesday, Ron Artest brought even more embarrassment to the prouder franchise, hammering Dallas' J.J. Barea and getting himself booted from the game in the final seconds. Gotta give Artest credit, though. He found a way to do something the Lakers failed to do all night -- discourage Barea. Among other things in Game 2, the Lakers were beaten by a man who stands 6 feet tall but might as well have been a 7-footer while twirling through all those motionless Laker bodies."
• Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times: "When the story of the end of the Lakers' attempt to win three consecutive championships is written, it will begin, and end, with Pau Gasol. You want a scapegoat for a 93-81 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals? You want to attach a name to a two-games-to-none deficit that will be historically improbable to overcome? Gasol is, sadly, your man. He has a great smile, a warm personality, two rings' worth of skills, and the love of Lakers fans who will forever link the team's three-year resurgence to his arrival. He is also disappearing before our disbelieving eyes. The melting that began in the first round against New Orleans ended in a puddle on the Staples Center floor Wednesday when Gasol was once again pushed, shoved, and battered into the sort of submission that the other Lakers could not overcome."
• Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times: "The last time the Bulls had the coach of the year and MVP in the same season, it was 15 years ago, and Hall of Famers Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan received the honors. Now it’s Tom Thibodeau and Derrick Rose’s turn. In the last 72 hours, they received the coveted individual awards. And their futures look pretty good, if still a little unsteady. And that’s mostly because the Bulls have an uneven team with some holes in the lineup and a number of dents. After the 86-73 victory Wednesday, the Bulls even seemed a bit downcast, perhaps angry and resolute. This is not a larger-than-life team. And they know it. This is not West-Chamberlain-Baylor. Not Magic-Kareem-Worthy. Not Bird-McHale-Parish. And certainly not Jordan-Pippen-Rodman. This is a team of one superstar and fill-in-the-blanks. Some darned good fill-in-the-blanks, mind you. But will anyone else on this team ever even be an All-Star? Luol Deng? Maybe. And the once-stellar Carlos Boozer? Injured and blocky, he seems to be disappearing before our eyes."
• Mark Bradley of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Truth to tell, the Hawks saw nothing in Game 2 that should make them think they can’t beat the Bulls a few more times. They shot poorly. Horford was badly outplayed by his college roomie Joakim Noah. Johnson needed 15 shots to score 16 points, Smith 14 to score 14. With all that, this still was in doubt inside the final four minutes. And that, conveniently enough, is where this series stands: Tied at 1, very much in doubt."
• Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Through the series’ first two games,  Chris Bosh is averaging 12 points on 40-percent shooting and 11.5 rebounds. For the Celtics, Garnett is averaging 11 points on .379 shooting and 7.0 rebounds. Both can do better. Both teams would appreciate if they did. But if the Heat can offset Garnett and keep Rajon Rondo in relative check, it positions LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to be the difference-makers, which has been the case in the first two games of this series. So far, Bosh is pleased with the effort against Garnett. 'He is a great shooter from outside,' he said. 'We need to keep a body on him and make him work for everything in the post. When he shoots a turnaround jump shot, over his head fading away, he is going to make some of them. We just wanted to limit his easy baskets, push him out, and not let him get those easy post touches.' So far, there has been little easy offense in the post, with backup center Joel Anthony offering a secure second line of defense. Bosh said he has no issue being positioned to merely offset Garnett. 'Our defense is always going to be our backbone,' he said."
• Howard Beck of The New York Times: "As partners, James and Wade have indeed seen their stature erode. James received only four first-place votes for most valuable player, after winning the award in 2009 and 2010. Wade appeared on 10 ballots. In securing a better supporting cast on his own terms, James invited a harsher spotlight. Once he was cheered in nearly every arena. Now the Heat might be the most hated team in the league. Critics contend that James took the easy way out. But James’s experience -- the jeers, the profane taunts, the off-color signs -- indicates otherwise. In a society that is eager to forgive and forget the transgressions of its sports stars -- from Pete Rose to Alex Rodriguez, Ron Artest to Ray Lewis -- James seems destined to rise again. He is no expert in Q scores, but he seems to sense as much. As he considered the antipathy, James said confidently, 'I think it’s going to die down in the next couple years, of course.' "
• Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald: "Kevin Garnett isn’t the problem in the Celtics Eastern Conference semifinal series against Miami. There is too much competition for that title to pick a clear winner. But Garnett needs to be a major part of the solution if their season is to extend beyond Monday. Shaquille O’Neal didn’t walk through that door for Games 1 and 2. Well, he did, but he was limping. Therefore, even if he does play in Game 3 Saturday, he won’t be left out there for long. Garnett simply must be a larger factor on both ends of the court. The fact that he hasn’t been all the Celtics need him to be has the club concerned. The numbers scream and shout. The Celtics took just 40 free throws in the first two games while the Heat were attempting 68. Considering Miami also hoisted a total of 35 treys in its two wins, the fact that the Heat got 28 more shots from the line is stunning. And so, too, is the fact that Garnett didn’t attempt a single free throw. Joel Anthony, meanwhile, is 6-for-6 from the line. Chris Bosh has taken 13."
• Julian Benbow of The Boston Globe: "After several years of discussion and debate stretching from sports talk radio to the White House, Bill Russell, the Celtics’ legend and civil rights activist, will be honored with a statue in Boston. In February, when President Obama invited Russell to the White House to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, he could not help but ask a simple question: How was it possible that a city that had honored so many of its sports legends had yet to commemorate the legacy of one of its most transcendent ones? 'I hope that one day in the streets of Boston, children will look up at a statue built not only to Bill Russell the player, but Bill Russell the man,' Obama said. The words will ring true. The Celtics announced plans yesterday to build a statue of Russell, the player who not only helped bring 11 NBA titles to Boston but also served as a symbol for the racial tension in the city during the civil rights movement and the progress ever since."
• Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: "On Wednesday, Scott Brooks came as close as he'll ever come to lashing out on a topic. It was no surprise it had to do with the growing criticism and scrutiny surrounding point guard Russell Westbrook. 'With Russell, we analyze ever possession,' Brooks started. 'I do that myself when we break down the films. But it seems like everybody's breaking down the film. They're like, in my meetings or in my head. It's not fair to him.' Brooks then brought up Westbrook's achievements and how far he's come in such short time, developing into an All-Star and helping to lead the Thunder to back-to-back playoff appearance despite playing mostly at off guard in college. 'He gets criticized for every bad game,' Brooks said. 'He's not the only player that has a bad game. He's not going to be the only player in the future that has bad games. But the only thing I can say about that is Russell knows what he needs to do. And we talk to him and he's coachable and he wants to get better.' ... When asked if Westbrook is the most overanalyzed point guard in NBA history, Brooks didn't hesitate to put him near the top of the list. 'Maybe not the history,' Brooks said. 'But for what he's accomplished in three years, absolutely. He's right up there.' "
• Ronald Tillery of The Commercial-Appeal: "The Grizzlies began round two of the NBA playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a similar fashion as their opening series against the San Antonio Spurs. After stealing Game 1 on the road, the Griz lost their identity for most of Game 2 and returned to Memphis with a split. Perhaps the only difference in the early stages of both series is the Grizzlies' reaction after Game 2. Memphis seemed angry after losing to San Antonio because of a prevailing attitude that it was a game it gave away. The team displayed a more solemn mood following its defeat Tuesday night at Oklahoma City. The Griz had been beaten. Yet the series shifts to FedExForum for Game 3 on Saturday night with the Griz owning an edge, even if it appears that the Thunder now have momentum. Memphis left Oklahoma City having accomplished its goal of stealing home-court advantage -- with the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals series tied at 1-1, the Griz could win just their home games to advance. So far, the Griz are 3-0 in FedExForum during their eye-popping postseason run but are sure to be challenged more in this series than in their waltz with the Spurs."
• Vincent Goodwill Jr. of The Detroit News: "New Pistons owner Tom Gores sat courtside at Game 2 of the Lakers-Mavs series on Wednesday night at Staples Center. In the first half, Ron Artest, who people around these parts are more than familiar with, acquainted himself with the new guy when he dove into the stands after a loose ball. Gores, in a blue shirt and seated next to his brother Alec, didn't seem to flinch when Artest came his way. On the other side of Gores? Jack Nicholson, perhaps the biggest celebrity fan in the NBA. While the deal transferring ownership from Karen Davidson to Gores isn't expected to become official for another two weeks or so, seeing Gores courtside at a big game should make Pistons fans smile. He recognizes the severity, even from a fan's perspective, of the playoffs. Don't forget, he was courtside during Game 7 of the Finals last year, so he is a fan, which should equate to passion."
• Bob Kravitz of The Indianapolis Star: "This is a term you rarely hear in French Lick, but it applies to Larry Bird: The man has chutzpah. How else do you explain his statement that he would consider returning as Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations if owner Herb Simon, who has always been generous with Bird and the franchise, is willing to spend the cash necessary to improve the team? It's OK to have those private concerns; it's not OK to go public with them. It's wrong from a personal standpoint -- Simon has been extraordinarily good to Bird -- and it's wrong from a business standpoint, sucking the air out of the room after the team's energizing late-season improvement. I like Bird immensely, appreciate his accessibility and honesty, but when did his team play in the Eastern Conference finals? Did I miss something? In the last year of The Plan, Bird's team won a sub- mediocre 37 games and only made the playoffs because the Eastern Conference stinks. The truth is, if the Pacers were in the West -- in which case, they probably wouldn't have won 37 games -- Indiana would have missed the playoffs and everybody would be calling for Bird to pack his bags. Now he's talking like he's Pat Riley or even Memphis' Chris Wallace: I might think about coming back, but only if you give me some assurances. Really? Even if Bird's concerns are valid -- though it's never been my sense that Simon is hiding the checkbook -- this isn't something you drop on your owner in a public setting."
• Mike Jensen of The Philadelphia Inquirer: "Of the Sixers top seven players, a majority of respondents wanted only Andre Iguodala gone. Makes sense to me. Let's get rid of the team's top perimeter defender, the guy who often handled the ball down the stretch in tight games. Collins figured out how to use him, Iguodala bought in, the team took off ... and now, goodbye? I'm more than fine with trading Iguodala for value, preferably a shooting version of himself. If this season turned him into a tradable commodity, fantastic. But despite obvious flaws, Iguodala remains the best basketball player in this city and will be next season. Just because he wants to go doesn't mean the Sixers should let him."
• Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press: "The Pistons are not commenting on the recent comments Grant Hill made about the foot injury and subsequent treatment he received from the Pistons and Orlando Magic medical staffs during the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons. Robert Teitge, the team's orthopedic surgeon when Hill was a Piston, did not return two phone calls from the Free Press, and Arnie Kander, the team's strength and conditioning coach, was advised not to speak on the matter by current management with the potential sale of the team pending. 'The health of our players is and always has been the No. 1 priority of our organization,' said Kevin Grigg, the team's vice president of public relations."
• Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express-News: "Most wait to say these things, but there’s no reason to. Mike Mitchell deserves to hear them now. He deserves to hear what was lost in transition from franchise to franchise, and in translation from America to Italy. He deserves to hear he was one of the best basketball players San Antonio has seen. Because he was, and because he hasn’t heard that enough. Mitchell is 55 years old now. He has some good days, but mostly bad ones. His wife, Diana, says he rarely leaves his bed in San Antonio, comforted by hospice care and family. His 6-foot-7 body has betrayed him, when it had always been a reliable ally. No current Spur has the combination of power and touch that Mitchell had. ... Mitchell occasionally played charity golf tournaments, and he sometimes made appearances at various Spurs functions. But he lived as he played, quietly going about his business. Then came November of 2009, when he went to see a doctor because of neck and shoulder pain. The diagnosis was staggering -- he has an unusual form of lung cancer, one that takes place outside the lining of the lungs. Treatments followed, as did moments of hope. But the cancer returned last September. Now, at this stage, he needs assistance to stand. When the pain medication doesn’t overwhelm him, he can be awake and alert. He was last week, when he and his family stayed up to watch the Spurs. So, during these times of clarity, he deserves to hear a few things, about how he played, and how his basketball career is remembered. There’s no reason to wait for that."
• Bob Finnan of The News-Herald: "The Cavaliers are accepting applications to be their next radio play-by-play announcer. Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Tait retired at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season, having been the radio voice of the Cavaliers for 39 seasons. 'We'd like to invite all qualified candidates to apply,' Cavs president Len Komoroski said. '(We have already received) a great mix of impressive broadcasters, but we'd like to also officially encourage anyone that is interested to now apply as we start this important process. We will undergo a deep and thorough review as we search for just the right person to be the new radio play-by-play voice of the Cavs.' "

Forex Pros – European stock markets were down on Thursday, as shares in the financial sector led markets lower ahead of a policy setting meeting by the European Central Bank, while U.S. futures indexes pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street. <br /><br />During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 slumped 0.5%, France&rsquo;s CAC 40 dipped 0.4%, while Germany's DAX 30 edged 0.15% lower.<br /><br />The ECB was expected to prepare markets for a possible rate hike, with investors waiting to see if ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet would use the phrase "strong vigilance" to signal a follow-up rate rise in June after last month&rsquo;s rate increase.<br /><br />Meanwhile, French lender Societe Generale tumbled 4.1% after reporting a 14% drop in first quarter income to EUR916 million, as it took a higher-than-expected charge after a revaluation of its own debt.<br /><br />Across the sector, shares in Deutsche Bank dropped 1.3%, Spain&rsquo;s second largest lender BBVA fell 1.9%, while Italian bank Unicredit saw shares sink 1.1%<br /><br />On the upside, Dutch financial service provider ING Groep saw shares climb 1.7% after reporting a 12% increase in first quarter profit, as both its banking and insurance units contributed to the improved performance.&nbsp; <br /><br />Shares in French spirits maker Pernod Ricard jumped 1.3% after it said first revenue rose 5% to EUR1.62 billion, surpassing expectations for revenue of EUR1.56 billion, as sustained growth of strategic brands underpinned sales.<br /><br />In London, the FTSE 100 edged 0.1% lower as shares in Lloyds Banking Group plunged 8% after reporting that it swung to a first quarter loss of GBP2.44 billion, as it set aside more money to cover bad loans, mainly in Ireland. <br /><br />The disappointing results weighed on other banks, with Royal Bank of Scotland dropping 4.1% and Barclays slipping 1.2%. <br /><br />The Bank of England was to announce its benchmark interest rate later in the day.<br /><br />The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was modestly upbeat ahead of earnings reports from media giants Cablevision and DirecTv. Insurance provider AIG and online travel company Priceline.com were also due to release earnings later in the day.&nbsp; <br /><br />The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a gain of 0.1%, S&amp;P 500 futures indicated an increase of 0.06%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.18%. <br /><br />Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish official data on initial jobless claims, while Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke was to speak at a public engagement.<br /><br /><br />


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It’s one thing to measure political risk in terms of swings in currencies, stock markets and CDS spreads. It’s another to count the costs in your P&L which is what Societe Generale has had to for its operations in Egypt, Tunisia and the Ivory Coast. The French bank on Wednesday disclosed, in its first quarter …

Things I’m craving: - Caesars pizza (pictured above) and hotdog rolls - Apple Pie from Choowy Goowy - Shawerma from Dandosh - Kit Kat Chunky Hazelnut - Quarter Pounder with cheese from McDonalds - Little Ruby’s french fries - Goowy hot chocolate cake from Chocolate Bar - KDD Silver ice cream - Chocolate pudding from [...]

On May 4, the Contact Group for Libya meets in Rome. The summit is co-chaired by the Italian foreign minister, Franco Frattini and the Qatari prime minister and minister of foreign affairs Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani. Hillary Clinton will be there along with NATO secretary, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the British and French foreign ministers as well as representatives of the Arab League and the Libyan Transitional National Council. In all there will be 23 countries, 7 IGOs and four observer countries.

Italy is a crucial player in the Libyan issue; Italy is Libya’s largest trading partner, its first exporter supplying 17.5% and taking 20% of Libya’s exports equivalent to 4.6% of Italy’s imports, almost all oil and gas, fifth after Germany, France, China and the Netherlands. Until the February crisis, Libya supplied Italy with a quarter of its oil and 10% of its gas. Unfreezing Libyan oil and assets is an important item on tomorrow’s agenda, especially for Italy. There are Libyan investments in the engineering giant Finmeccanica, the UniCredit bank, the formerly public energy company ENI and even the Turin football club Juventus. In 2008 Qaddaffi and Berlusconi signed a much trumpeted friendship agreement.

The two countries have historical links, as Italy was the colonial power from 1911 to 1943 and they are almost contiguous. Apart from the close mutual involvement of economic and security interests between the two countries, Italy is still an important player on the world stage. Its economy is seventh or eighth in the world. It is a major contributor to UN agencies both in money and peacekeepers and it is one of the EU’s big four. By just about any measure, Italy should be at the forefront of international affairs (‘the least of the great powers’ as it was once called) and should be leading the international community in its attempts to resolve the Libyan crisis. And yet this is clearly not the case. Since Douglas Hurd declared that Great Britain “punched above its weight” it has been a conceit of UK foreign policy that Britain achieves more than its hard power should give it. This may or may not be true for Britain but Italy undoubtedly punches well below its weight and the present Libyan issue is a perfect illustration.

The eternal problem is Italy’s lack of reliability. As Corriere della Sera commentator and former diplomat, Sergio Romano put it in 1993, Italy is equivocal and marked by “the anxiety to participate and the desire to avoid the rule of participation”. (Or as Bismark put it a century before “Poor Italy, such a big appetite but such poor teeth”).

With Italian planes flying combat missions over Libya, the Northern League first said that Italy should not be fighting and threatened to bring the government down if the Italian air force continued bombing Libya. As we know, this was posturing in view of the local elections on 15 May. But it does send out a very peculiar message to Italy’s partners and allies at tomorrow’s summit. There are three League cabinet members and if the League deputies voted against a motion in either house, the government would lose the vote (unless of course the opposition supported them, but that would still mean a minority government).

In the event, a compromise was reached and this morning, the League and the main government party, Berlusconi’s People of Freedom, voted for a motion which purports to put an end date to the military action and underlines Italy’s constitutional rejection of war. It and the League’s first draft could well have been written by pacifists on the left in the past while today, the centre-left and the centrist opposition support the NATO action against Gaddafi.

The whole Libyan crisis has been marked by ambiguity in Italy. The 2008 treaty still has not been revoked so, in law at least, Italy is committed “not to interfere in Libya’s internal affairs” and to “not allow its territory to be used for hostile acts against Libya”.

Two months ago, Berlusconi said that Gaddafi should not be disturbed and then that he was upset at the thought of a friend of his being attacked. Finally, he allowed Italian aircraft to fly combat missions even though it is almost certain that they were already doing so before the official order. Immediately afterwards, the government almost falls because half of them do not want to go to war.

It is easy to criticise the present government but the centre-left has been equally ambiguous or uncertain. In 1999, D’Alema denied that Italian aircraft were attacking Kosovo and Serbia (in order to protect his own left flank) while they were in fact very active. And in 2007, the Prodi government lost a vote on the financing of missions abroad and was only saved when the centre-right came to help. A year later, the government did actually fall, two years into its mandate, showing the world that long term cooperation was uncertain and difficult.

Then there are the personalities. Leave aside Berlusconi’s endless bricks, when his foreign minister, Frattini appeared on BBC Newshour during the first Libya Contact Group meeting interviewed by Jeremy Paxman, he showed why the US dispatches called him a messenger boy; not a figure to inspire confidence.

Three weeks ago, at an EU meeting in Luxembourg, three Italian ministers gave a hurried statement in a corridor and refused to take press questions, while other countries’ ministers were holding serious press conferences.  Only yesterday, Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa was caught on camera during a talk show asking his gopher “Who is Lukashenko?” Thankfully, that was just for domestic consumption.

Other prime ministers, foreign and defence ministers have been better able to deal with the press and foreign colleagues but none have been able to overcome the fundamental unreliability of Italian foreign policy. So even tomorrow, when Italy should be at the centre of the ring, it will still be punching below its weight.

Californian surfwear firm Volcom Inc - which is to be bought by French retailer and luxury goods giant PPR for US$607.5m - has booked a 39% drop in first quarter profit it emerged yesterday (3 May).

Luxury goods group PPR posted healthy gains in revenue during the first quarter of 2011, thanks to emerging markets which now represent more than 20% of the French company's revenues.

Forex Pros – European stock markets were broadly higher on Wednesday, as BNP Paribas led shares in the financial sector higher after upbeat earnings, while U.S. futures indexes pointed to a higher open on Wall Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 climbed 0.15%, France&rsquo;s CAC 40 added 0.35%, while Germany's DAX 30 rose 0.3%.<br /><br />Stock indices pared gains after official data showed that retail sales in the euro zone declined 1% in March, confounding expectations for a 0.2% increase. <br /><br />France&rsquo;s largest bank BNP Paribas saw shares jump 3% after it reported first-quarter net profit rose 15% to EUR2.62 billion, surpassing expectations for profit of EUR2.17 billion. Revenue for the group rose 1.3% to EUR11.69 billion, led by a strong performance by its capital markets business.<br /><br />The upbeat results boosted other shares across the sector, with Societe Generale climbing 2%, Deutsche Bank gaining 1.1%, while Spain&rsquo;s second largest lender BBVA saw shares add 0.9%. <br /><br />Shares in BMW advanced 1.8% after it said first quarter profit more than tripled to EUR1.2 billion, blowing past expectations for profit of EUR992 million. Revenue rose 29% to EUR16.04 billion, driven by booming demand from China and a recovery of the U.S. market.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />Across the sector, Daimler saw shares rise 1.4%, while French automaker Renault added 1.05%.<br /><br />On the downside, Nokia saw shares tumble 5.1% after the chairman of the company&rsquo;s board of directors, Jorma Ollila said he would step down from his position at the end of the year.<br /><br />In London, the FTSE 100 edged 0.3% lower as metal producers led losses after commodity prices tumbled amid concerns over signs of economic slowdown in China. <br /><br />Mining giant Rio Tinto saw shares slump 1.1%, silver producer Fresnillo saw shares tumble 3.5%, while shares in copper producer Antofagasta plunged 6%.&nbsp; <br /><br />The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was modestly upbeat ahead of earnings reports from media giant News Corp. and Time Warner. Organic grocer Whole Foods was also due to release earnings later in the day.&nbsp; <br /><br />The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a gain of 0.1%, S&amp;P 500 futures indicated an increase of 0.06%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures eased up 0.04%. <br /><br />Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish its ADP non-farm payrolls report, while the U.S. Institute for Supply Management was to publish its non-manufacturing PMI.<br /><br /><br />


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Commodities trader Glencore will be worth around $61bn (£36.5bn) in its forthcoming flotation, in line with early forecasts but still priced to allow a strong market debut when dealings start.

The Swiss-based company has priced its offering - London's biggest - at between 480p and 580p, giving the $61bn valuation at the mid point of the range. Initially the company indicated a market value of between $45bn and $73bn.

The flotation could see the secretive business join the FTSE 100 and will push it firmly into the public eye. It will make paper billionaires of many of its directors, including chief executive Ivan Glasenberg.

Glencore intends to raise $10bn, with a 10% over-allotment option according to demand, and will use the cash for deals in the booming commodity sector. It already owns a stake in Xstrata, and there has been much talk of a possible merger between the two.

The company has received backing from a number of key investors who will take 31% of the total offering. These are believed to include the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The full prospectus is due later today, and conditional dealings are expected to start on May 19.

The flotation has not been without its controversy, especially regarding the company's board of directors. Lord Browne was reported to be joining as chairman, only to drop out to be replaced by Simon Murray, a Hong Kong businessman and former soldier in the French Foreign Legion. Murray immediately sparked uproar when he said that he was reluctant to employ women in senior positions because they tended to go off on maternity leave. He later retracted his remarks.

Meanwhile Tony Hayward, head of BP during the Gulf of Mexico disaster, was appointed as senior independent director.

As well as the float price, Glencore also gave a positive update on first and second quarter trading. John Meyer at Fairfax said:

The shares should be priced to go and the market is likely to lift on the back of a successful issue. Glencore is in the middle of a near perfect storm regarding commodity prices and trading conditions although there is much room for trading volumes to increase further. Glasenberg has built an astonishing trading business which should gain much from its transition from secretive Swiss trader into a new listed and rather more open public company. We believe investors have much to gain but should remember that trading and mining companies remain volatile according to the state of global demand.

Miriam Hehir, analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said:

The IPO remaining on track and an encouraging trading update continue to support the credit story here. We expect further relative spread outperformance as we move towards May 19, notwithstanding the strong performance ahead of IPO confirmation in mid-April and a somewhat flat performance since.

By: Jordan Flaherty

For seven days spread across two weekends -- beginning on the last Friday in April -- nearly 400,000 people attend the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (informally known as Jazz Fest), an annual event that features hundreds of acts, representing a wide range of music on a dozen stages. Jazz Fest is one of New Orleans' signature cultural products, and for two weeks the entire city is filled with related events, including several smaller music festivals around the city and high-profile performers every night at the city's bars and clubs. With so much happening at once, it can be overwhelming. Below is a guide to getting the most out of your visit.

Despite the name, Jazz Fest showcases a wide range of musical styles, from pop and punk to hip-hop, blues, gospel folk and many different kinds of jazz. The festival is a great place to catch local acts from Rebirth Brass Band, Dr. John and Glen David Andrews to Big Freedia and Mystikal, as well as Mardi Gras Indian performances, second line parades and children's programming.

The festival always delivers a roster of big names, which this year includes musicians from Lauryn Hill to Arcade Fire, John Mellencamp to John Legend and Tom Jones to Lupe Fiasco. But any Jazz Fest veteran will tell you the greatest joys are to be had in the discovery of less well-known acts on the smaller stages.

The Gospel Tent features breathtaking performances in a more intimate setting, while the Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage often has unguarded interviews with a range of musicians and cultural figures. This year's festival also features a focus on Haitian music, shining a light on the shared cultural heritage of New Orleans and Haiti.

There's also much more than music on which to feast. Jazz Fest features the best food New Orleans has to offer, which likely means the best food of any music festival in the world. In addition, the best of the city's artists and craftspeople spend the year looking forward to booking a stand at the fest, and the competition for a spot is high. If you want to support the city's grassroots culture workers, be sure to spend some money here.

When you visit, put some planning into how you'll get around. Alternative transportation is always a good idea, because every night after the last performance, thousands of people wait in a line several blocks long for taxis, and parking is scarce for miles in every direction. New Orleans is a small city -- if you rent a bike, you can easily get to most neighborhoods.

While many nationally known music festivals are located in remote areas, Jazz Fest is located at the New Orleans Fair Grounds, a racetrack in a residential neighborhood in the middle of the city. During the festival, this community is filled with house parties every night and local entrepreneurs selling crafts and more every day.

Be sure to stop by Bayou Road, just a few blocks away, to catch the street performers at local record store Domino Sound, and a range of events and great conversation at a neighborhood gathering spot called the Community Book Center. A few blocks from Bayou Road, a Krishna temple offers free vegetarian food every night of the fest. Also not far away from the Fair Grounds, but still off the regular tourist route, are Bullet's, a bar noted for featuring local legend Kermit Ruffins on Tuesday nights; and JuJu Bag, a café with regular performances on weekends.

A visitor can have a vacation filled wall to wall with music and entertainment without ever actually entering the festival grounds. Many people choose to spend their time watching street musicians all day and checking out the local nightlife until late. Remember: Bars and clubs in New Orleans never have to close, and on streets like Frenchmen and St. Bernard, the music is often still going strong at 4 a.m.

There are also other nearby music festivals competing for your attention. The best of these is the Festival International de Louisiane, in nearby Lafayette, La. This free festival dedicated to francophone music and culture takes over the entire downtown of the Cajun capital city on Jazz Fest's opening weekend.

As you walk down the streets of Lafayette, you may overhear an animated conversation in French between a group of musicians from Haiti, Senegal, Vietnam and the Louisiana swamps. Closer to home is Chaz Fest, a backyard festival started by a group of New Orleans musicians who were frustrated that not enough local talent was booked at Jazz Fest. While it was started as a lark, Chaz Fest has become a beloved tradition in the city.

Too many tourists make the mistake of spending all their time in the French Quarter and not exploring the city. To really enjoy a visit to New Orleans, consider having a picnic by the Mississippi River, then taking a ferry across the river to the West Bank neighborhood. From there, you can engage in political conversation at BlackStar Books and Caffe or get some dinner at Tan Dinh, one of the many restaurants run by members of the city's large Vietnamese community.

Or take a drive out to the New Orleans East neighborhood for a visit to Big Momma's Chicken and Waffles, owned by one of the founders of the pioneering New Orleans rap label Take Fo' Records. If you want to connect with the city's Mardi Gras Indian culture while visiting the Lower Ninth Ward neighborhood, consider taking a trip to the House of Dance & Feathers, a museum and cultural center built in that still-struggling community.

A short walk from the French Quarter is the historic Tremé neighborhood. While it is mostly residential, there are a couple of spots to catch live music here, including the Candlelight Lounge, which features the Treme Brass Band every Wednesday night, and an audience that mixes neighborhood locals with visiting celebrities like Mos Def and Tim Robbins.

According to the most recent census, New Orleans has a population of 110,000 fewer people since Hurricane Katrina. Perhaps even more alarming, the city has lost more than 300,000 since its population peak in the 1960s -- a loss that coincided with the departure of much of the local economic base. One of the best ways that individuals can help the city rebuild is to support the local artists, musicians and craftspeople who have made this city such a special place to live and work in. Jazz Fest is an opportunity to assist in the recovery while having the time of your life.

Jordan Flaherty is a journalist based in New Orleans. His book Floodlines: Community and Resistance From Katrina to the Jena Six is available for purchase at the book tent at Jazz Fest.

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Increased competition in Europe and political upheaval in Egypt badly dented first-quarter profits at France Telecom (FT) Orange. While the company reported sales for the group up 2.5 per cent at €11.23 billion compared to the same period in 2010, EBITDA for the quarter was down 1.3 per cent at €3.73 billion.

Stéphane Richard, chairman and CEO of FT, maintained that the quarter's performance had been strong, according to a report carried by the Financial Times, "despite intensified competition in France and exceptional political conditions in certain emerging countries."

In an effort to improve its financial position, Richard said that FT is reviewing its European portfolio, with its business operations in Austria, Belgium, and Romania being evaluated as to their future.

With the exception of France, Poland and Spain, all the other countries in the company's portfolio are involved in the review, which will look at ways the company can consolidate or even sell operations, FT CFO Gervais Pellissier told reporters on a conference call, according to Bloomberg.

The operator also said its businesses in Africa and the Middle East were powering ahead with sales growth for the quarter of 5.8 per cent (excluding Egypt), and had targeted these regions to double their revenues by 2015.

France Teleocm had warned in February that multiple factors were weighing down its profits in France, where company gets more than half of its sales and profit. The company said the arrival early next year of France's fourth 3G operator, Free Mobile, had already triggered intense competition among existing operators, and that the increase in value added tax, which can only partially be passed on to customers, had been particularly damaging.

While FT is expected to launch several marketing initiatives to improve its performance in France, Reuters reported that analysts are awaiting the outcome of FT's strategic review before they change their negative outlook for the company. No disposals are thought to be under negotiation currently, and the company is expected to provide an update on its portfolio review at an investor meeting planned for May 31.

For more:
- see this Financial Times article
- see this Bloomberg article
- see this WSJ article (sub. req.)
- see this Reuters article

Related Articles:
France Telecom, Telefónica push for content charging
DT, France Telecom combine equipment purchasing activities across Europe
France Telecom seeks network sharing deals, mulls asset sales
Free Mobile promises 50% cut to French consumers' telecom costs

Uncertainty about First Solar’s future operations led investors to smash the company’s shares in trading after the bell today after the company failed to grow its revenues in the first quarter this year — a sign of weakness for the last major independent solar panel manufacturer in the United States.

Net income for the solar panel provider fell 33 percent to $116 million in the first quarter this year, down from $172.3 million in the first quarter last year. The company beat Wall Street estimates by bringing in $1.33 in earnings per share, up from the $1.13 expected by analysts. FirstSolar also beat estimates on revenue, bringing in $567.3 million when compared to Wall Street estimates of $554.6 million.

The company specializes in thin-film solar panels (pictured above) that are more flexible and can be placed on more surfaces than typical wafer-style photovoltaic cells. The panels capture sunlight and convert it to electricity, and are able to capture around 11 percent of the sunlight shining on then panel. That’s less efficient than wafer-style solar panels, which can capture anywhere from 20 to 25 percent of the sunlight shining on the panel.

But that’s not why First Solar has opted for thin-film solar panels. The company has focused on driving the costs of manufacturing down to bring costs down across the board. First Solar was one of the first companies to bring the cost-per-watt of solar energy below $1 — a critical step in making solar power more competitive with typical energy sources.

“There hasn’t been that much innovation in efficiency, really what’s happened in the solar equipment universe is that there’s been a greater focus in process engineering than in new technology development,” said Ed Fenster, chief executive of SunRun, which leases out and installs solar panels on residential homes. “The solar panel you install today is similar to what you installed in 1980, it just costs one-sixtieth of the price.”

But beating estimates still didn’t help the fact that First Solar’s revenues failed to grow significantly — the company also brought in $568 million last year in the first quarter. First Solar also left its outlook for the rest of the year unchanged, which implies that no new headwinds against solar power have cropped up since the company last released its guidance for the remainder of the year.

First Solar has to protect its empire against major Chinese competitors like SunTech and JA Solar, which have been growing quickly and opening new projects across the world — which includes the U.S. Foreign solar power competitors benefit from low-cost manufacturing and a lax regulatory environments. First Solar also became the last U.S.-based independent solar panel manufacturer after French oil company Total bought a majority stake in SunPower.

Investors slammed the company, bringing its shares down around 7.5 percent, to $124.75, in extended trading today. There are also concerns about the long-term viability of the company after a number of high-profile insiders sold off large portions of their shares and left the company, investment company Kynikos Associates president James Chanos said in an interview with CNBC.

Tags: solar energy, solar panels, solar power, thin-film solar panels

Companies: First Solar, SunPower, Suntech

Tax and Mideast weigh on France Telecom Financial Times While the incumbent French operator unveiled first-quarter sales of €11.23bn, up 2.5 per cent on a like-for-like basis, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation for the quarter were down 1.3 per cent to ... and more »

Forex Pros – European stock markets were broadly lower on Tuesday, as shares in automakers led declines, while U.S. futures indexes pointed to a lower open on Wall Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 slipped 0.35%, France&rsquo;s CAC 40 shed 0.3%, while Germany's DAX 30 slumped 0.45%.<br /><br />Shares in European automakers performed poorly amid concerns lagging recoveries in many developed economies would weigh on sales and earnings.<br /><br />Europe&rsquo;s largest automaker Volkswagen tumbled 3.2%, rival Daimler saw shares drop 1.65%, while BMW slumped 2.3%. French automakers Renault and Peugeot declined 0.9% and 1% respectively.<br /><br />Shares of German supermarket operator Metro fell 2.5% after it said its first-quarter net loss narrowed, while sales were flat.<br /><br />On the upside, shares in semiconductor manufacturer Infineon Technologies climbed 2.7% after it said second quarter net income soared 86% from a year earlier to EUR572 million. Revenue in the quarter rose 27% to EUR994 million. <br /><br />In London, the FTSE 100 returned to action after a long-holiday weekend edging 0.2% higher as shares in hedge fund manager Man Group jumped 3.2%.<br /><br />The group announced the successful launch of an open-ended fund in Japan, which has raised USD1.5 billion thus far.<br /><br />Meanwhile, shares in cigarette maker Imperial Tobacco added 2.1% after Morgan Stanley recommended buying the stock, calling it &ldquo;the cheapest stock in global tobacco&rdquo;. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />However, shares in raw material producers were broadly lower after oil and metal prices retreated from multi-year highs. Mining giant BHP Billiton saw shares slip 1.05%, silver producer Fresnillo sank 1%, while gold producer Randgold Resources slumped 2.9%. <br /><br />The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was downbeat ahead of earnings reports from credit card giant Mastercard and media group CBS. Pharmaceutical major Pfizer was also due to release earnings later in the day.&nbsp; <br /><br />The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a decline of 0.21%, S&amp;P 500 futures indicated a drop of 0.25%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 0.2% <br /><br />Later in the day, the U.S. was to release government data on factory orders.<br /><br /><br />


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Stumbling upon Molly Boyles for the first time is like wandering into a random club in the French Quarter and finding some virtual unknown playing better than most nationally known acts.

For those new to the column: I’m tracing the formative events in my life that made me what I am today: A Special Effects Make Up Artist, searching for relevance in the 21st Century…At this point in my life, I am fourteen years old… Just off the corner of Royal Street and St. Ann Street in the French Quarter, there was a white building with green shutters framing tall windows. Stacked in the windows, peering out like eyeless sentinels were rows and rows of Don Post Monster Masks. No longer just two dimensional, black and white images in the back pages of Famous Monsters of Filmland Magazine, they were there, in three-dimensions, painted in their garish colors. I was at the right place, alright: The Vieux Carre Hair Shop. Inside, two gentlemen greeted me. The first one was roughly thirty; he had a fringe of dark hair circling his baldpate and was mustached. This was Bob Saussaye. The other was a dapper older gentleman with a kind face; this was the owner of the store and Bob’s father, Herb Saussaye. Herb was more than the owner of the best-known theatrical wig and make up store in New Orleans. He was more than a knowledgeable make up artist. He was Willy Wonka, and I had just stepped into his factory. I introduced myself as the son of Janet and Al Shea and he smiled broadly; he knew them well. He treated me like extended family, taking the time to introduce me [...]

Forex Pros – European stock markets were broadly higher in thin holiday trade on Monday, after President Barack Obama confirmed that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan, while U.S. futures indexes pointed to a higher open on Wall Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 climbed 0.3%, France&rsquo;s CAC 40 rose 0.4%, Germany's DAX 30 jumped 0.85%, while London&rsquo;s FTSE 100 remained closed for a holiday.<br /><br />President Obama announced late Sunday in an address from the White House that Osama bin Laden had been killed in a targeted assault outside Pakistan&rsquo;s capital, Islamabad, ending a nearly ten-year worldwide hunt for the mastermind of the September 11 attacks.<br /><br />Shares in the airline sector performed strongly after crude oil prices retreated from a 31-month high. Europe&rsquo;s largest airliner Deutsche Lufthansa saw shares rise 1.2% while Air France-KLM added 1%. <br /><br />Automakers also performed strongly, with Volkswagen climbing 1.3%, rival BMW saw shares advance 2%, while Daimler jumped 1.9%. French automakers Renault and Peugeot saw shares add 1.35% and 1.3% respectively.&nbsp; <br /><br />Meanwhile, shares in the world&rsquo;s largest food-ingredients company Danisco jumped 3.2% after U.S. chemicals group DuPont late Friday raised its offer for the Danish firm to USD6.64 billion.<br /><br />On the downside, Dutch parcel delivery company TNT saw shares slump 3.7% after reporting a 14% drop in first quarter net profit to EUR123 million, as its express unit continued to struggle because of higher oil prices.&nbsp; <br /><br />The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was upbeat ahead of earnings reports from payrolls processing firm Automatic Data Processing and hotel operator Loews.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a gain of 0.41%, S&amp;P 500 futures indicated a rise of 0.44%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.45%.<br /><br />Later in the day, the U.S. Institute for Supply Management was to publish its manufacturing PMI.<br /><br /><br />


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Forex Pros – European stock markets were mixed on Wednesday, as traders digested earnings from some of Europe's largest companies, while U.S. futures indexes pointed to a higher open on Wall Street ahead of the outcome of a critical Federal Reserve policy meeting later in the day. <br /><br />During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 climbed 0.45%, France&rsquo;s CAC 40 advanced 0.4%, while Germany's DAX 30 gained 0.5%.<br /><br />Shares in network-equipment maker Ericsson soared 8.2% after it reported first quarter net income jumped to EUR459.3 million, blowing past expectations for income of EUR336.1 million. Sales in the quarter rose 17%, as demand for wireless technology remained healthy during the quarter.<br /><br />Shares in French automaker Renault climbed 3.5% after it reported a 15% increase in first quarter revenue, as results were boosted by healthy demand from Brazil and Russia as well as an improved product mix. The company said that while the tsunami in Japan may slow production, it still expected higher sales volumes and revenue this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />The upbeat results boosted other shares across the sector, with Volkswagen rising 2.4% and BMW gaining 1.1%.<br /><br />On the downside, shares in Europe&rsquo;s largest semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics slumped 3.45% after it said first quarter revenue totaled EUR1.73 billion, short of expectations for revenue of EUR1.76 billion.&nbsp; <br /><br />Meanwhile, shares in Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse fell 0.8% after it said that first-quarter net profit slid 45%, as revenue from debt trading fell and earnings were hurt by the Swiss franc's strength against the euro and dollar.<br /><br />In London, the FTSE 100 edged 0.15% lower as shares in the world&rsquo;s third largest lender Barclays plunged 4.5% after reporting disappointing first quarter results. The lender said first quarter profit fell 5.2% to GBP1.01 billion, as results were weighed by a drop in revenue from fixed-income sales and trading. <br /><br />The disappointing results weighed on other banking shares, with Lloyds Banking Group dropping 2% and Royal Bank of Scotland falling 1.75%.<br /><br />Earlier in the day, official data showed that first quarter U.K. gross domestic product increased 0.5%, broadly in line with market expectations. <br /><br />The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was upbeat ahead of earnings reports from Dow component Boeing. Online retailer eBay and the world&rsquo;s biggest coffee-house chain Starbucks were also due to release earnings later in the day.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a gain of 0.14%, S&amp;P 500 futures indicated a rise of 0.15%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.38%.<br /><br />Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish official data on durable goods orders, while the Fed was to announce its federal funds rate. The announcement was to be followed by the first-ever post policy meeting press conference by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.<br /><br /><br />


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Notes: Major credit cards accepted. Reservations accepted but not required. Specialty New Orleans-style cocktails, and many draft and bottled beer selections.

Over 11.4 million French consumers are now using their handsets to access the mobile Web once a week, according to an annual study conducted by WPP's media purchasing and Internet content subsidiary, GroupM. The usage represents a third of all French mobile customers compared to less than a quarter of subscribers a year ago.

Also of note, the number of French consumers who have access the mobile Web at least once had increased to 51 per cent, up from 40 per cent a year earlier.

Digging further into the data, GroupM said that mobile app ownership in France doubled over the past year, with users downloading (on average) 20.6 free apps and 3.2 pay apps. The top five app categories were media (17 per cent), weather and traffic (16 per cent), social networks (13 per cent), utility apps (11 per cent), with games and m-banking also being popular.

However, the most heavily accessed service was mobile video, which registered as the top activity with over 80 per cent of mobile Internet users, or 9.2 million subscribers. A full 37 percent of mobile Internet users said they watched mobile video at least once per weekly.

For more:
- see this Telecompaper article

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I've finally started reading Vasily Grossman's Жизнь и судьба (keeping the Chandler translation Life and Fate by my side to help resolve difficult passages), and I've run across an interesting German etymology. Grossman uses the German word Revier (in Cyrillic transliteration) in the military sense 'sick quarters, sick-bay,' and of course I was curious about the etymology. I looked it up in my ancient and crumbling Lutz Mackensen, and it turns out it was originally borrowed from French rivière 'river(bank)'! (The French word is from Latin riparia, an adjective to ripa 'bank.') Apparently the basic sense was 'district, quarter' (especially 'hunting ground'), and in a military context revierkrank was used to mean 'sick enough to be confined to quarters,' whence in the nineteenth century Revier itself developed the sense 'sick quarters.' Etymology can be a twisty business.

For the first time, Google's Android platform has become the leading smartphone operating system across three major European countries, according to market data released by market research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

The research outfit claims that, based upon sales figures in the first quarter of 2011, Android achieved nearly 36 per cent of the French market, 25.5 per cent in Germany, and a 38 per cent share in the UK. Of note, the platform has now gained over 54 per cent of the US market, and 58.3 per cent in Japan, according to Kantar's statistics.

While these figures are impressive, the research firm's consumer insight director, Dominic Sunnebo, said in a statement: "Whilst it may seem that Android is moving forward virtually unchallenged in Europe, once you start to dig a little deeper, it can be seen that each country has a very different OS make-up.

For example, in the UK, BlackBerry is responsible for nearly 25 per cent of all smartphone sales with its customer base increasingly dominated by those under the age of 25 and women; while in Germany BlackBerry's market share is just 3.4 per cent, as the brand is still primarily seen as a business-based device."

Symbian, according to Sunnebo, is also holding up well in Germany where it accounted for 25 per cent of all smartphone sales over the last three months, while in Italy it is still holding a very respectable 46.9 per cent of the smartphone market.

Commenting on the challenges faced by Nokia and its OS strategy, Sunnebo claimed that key to its success was at which speed  it could develop and build a competitive Windows-based smartphone. "As Nokia's core customer base does not comprise early adopters, a compelling range of Windows handsets brought out in the next 12-18 months would mean a large, untapped market of consumers could be tempted to move into the smartphone market - this is where Nokia could begin to fight back."

For more:
- see this Guardian article
- see this 3G article
- see this T3 article

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The annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or simply Jazz Fest, is a massive springtime music and cultural festival that takes place over two consecutive weekends in late April and early May. Many music lovers of all ilk consider it the country's premier music festival and return year after year. Others have called it the best party in America.

The name Jazz Fest is somewhat misleading, as jazz is only one component of the festival's musical offerings. Performers represent a wide range of genres including jazz, rock, blues, gospel, R & B, Cajun, zydeco, folk, bluegrass, African, Caribbean and Latin. Non-stop performances take place on a dozen stages scattered around the festival site. In addition to music, there's a huge selection of regional cuisine, arts and crafts booths, second line parades and numerous other attractions.

Over its seven-day run, the festival typically attracts around 400,000 visitors. Jazz Fest is really big and big-time fun.

When and Where
Most people attend Jazz Fest for only one of two weekends, though some stay for the duration. The first weekend begins on the last Friday of April and runs through Sunday. After a three-day hiatus, festivities begin again on Thursday and conclude on Sunday. The dates for Jazz Fest 2011 are April 29-May 1 and May 5-8. The festival takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, about three miles from Downtown and the French Quarter. Daily hours are from 11am to 7pm which leaves fest-goers time in the evening to explore the city's famous restaurants, bars and clubs.

Read more at Gadling

 

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Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Festivals and Events, North America, United States

The annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or simply Jazz Fest, is a massive springtime music and cultural festival that takes place over two consecutive weekends in late April and early May. Many music lovers of all ilk consider it the country's premier music festival and return year after year. Others have called it the best party in America.

The name Jazz Fest is somewhat misleading, as jazz is only one component of the festival's musical offerings. Performers represent a wide range of genres including jazz, rock, blues, gospel, R & B, Cajun, zydeco, folk, bluegrass, African, Caribbean and Latin. Non-stop performances take place on a dozen stages scattered around the festival site. In addition to music, there's a huge selection of regional cuisine, arts and crafts booths, second line parades and numerous other attractions.

Over its seven-day run, the festival typically attracts around 400,000 visitors. Jazz Fest is really big and big-time fun.

When and Where
Most people attend Jazz Fest for only one of two weekends, though some stay for the duration. The first weekend begins on the last Friday of April and runs through Sunday. After a three-day hiatus, festivities begin again on Thursday and conclude on Sunday. The dates for Jazz Fest 2011 are April 29-May 1 and May 5-8. The festival takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, about three miles from Downtown and the French Quarter. Daily hours are from 11am to 7pm which leaves fest-goers time in the evening to explore the city's famous restaurants, bars and clubs.

Continue reading A first-timer's guide to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

A first-timer's guide to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EDF wholesale electricity price set World Nuclear News Up to one quarter of the nuclear electricity generated by EDF will be made purchasable by alternative suppliers in the French electricity market from 1 July. The price of this wholesale electricity has been initially set by the French government at €40 ... EDF wins in French electricity rate decisionIndustrial Fuels and Power France fixes electricity rate at 40 euros/megawatt hour in 2011istockAnalyst.com (press release) French Min: NOME/ARENH Electricity Price EUR40/MWh From JulyAutomated Trader Wall Street Journal -Platts -Reuters Africa all 38 news articles »

French Tribune

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French Quarter residents and business owners are standing by actor Nicolas Cage after his weekend arrest.

le.chicken.farmer@gmail.com

Dear Cheap Eats Lady,

Where did you go? New Orleans? That is great.

It is the news. It is the unkind heart of government, our American government, that makes me want to stop what I'm doing, which is watching television, and go to sleep. This is easy, because I am lying on the couch anyway. All it requires is a rollover and the determination to jettison my responsibilities for the day. Students be damned, the government got me so down, I could not grade your papers.

The thing that's great about me is that, I do roll over and go to bed for the day. It is a habit I've had all my life. I didn't get to use it so much when I worked full time in an office. But those days were, in the scope of all the jobs I've had, short-lived.

There was a time, during the Bush eras, when I thought I would simply drop out of society. And I did. It was too much to take. I felt like democracy was over, and nobody cared. So I quit. I quit the whole thing. I am a man of accomplishment and purposefulness. Especially when it comes to not doing anything. The complete quitting. Oh, how I excel.

This has been kind of going on for a few weeks. My job doesn't seem to notice. But I know I can't go on like this and maintain any sort of a paycheck. Eventually the work will pile up so much that I will not be able to get it done anymore. I feel like the mailfolks who stash all the mail they don't feel like delivering in their houses.

I have a tiny bedroom filled knee-deep with research papers about gun control, abortion, global warming, and how cell phones are very convenient. You would think that someone would be interested.

Yers,

Earl

Dear Earl Butter,

Goddamn it, man, deliver that mail! Seriously, you don't have to worry about the government. David Byrne and I have that taken care of. What you do need to do is put every one of those student papers in its own private individual envelope, address them to as many different mail carriers as you can think of, and: stamp, boom, gone!

The USPS is in fact an evil institution, point taken. But I don't know why you are letting the TV news roll you over. This is Cheap Eats! Switch to sports. I mean, not that it's any less depressing than what may or may not be happening in the world of ... the world, for all I know. On my way to the basketball game last night, for example, I learned that there might not be a pro football season next season. But wait, shouldn't you be downstairs playing with my cat?

Yes, New Orleans. Where else is there? The first thing I ate this time was crawfish pieroghi. And it's so hot here now that Hedgehog and I almost have no choice but to lick Hansen's satsuma-flavored snow-blizzes off of each other.

Technically, hers may have been coconut-flavored, unless that's my sunscreen I smell, typing this.

Other than that, it's pretty kinda weird, living with someone you don't live with in a town where you don't live. I mean, in the morning she goes off to make TV (of a very different nature than the kind rolls you over), and I go off to change diapers, and then after work we go eat crawfish pieroghis just like any other northeast Ohio/central Pennsylvania bred couple in New Orleans.

Except some nights last week there was the French Canadian Quarter Festival, where we were not only rocked by brass bands and zydeco, but by Crabby Jack's boudin sausages, which changed my life, and then Love at First Bite's cochon du lait po'boys, which changed my life.

And then, as if my life weren't different enough already, on the weekend we went to the mall. We went to Metarie. That's like going to San Mateo. Except after we stopped for refreshment at Acme Oyster House, which changed my life.

Earl, I'll be back next week. Our beloved Bay Area is not exactly unknown for its oysters, either. If you can find me a place that has char-grilled ones as good as this, or even half as good, if not better, then I will take you there.

And grade your papers.

And kill your television.

No you worry,

Your L.E.

 

I tell you if there’s one thing I don’t even miss about college all that much it’s Mardi Gras.    I think the reason is simple:  it’s because I was in college.   Going to the french quarter where you could barely move wasn’t all that fun.  The parties around school were definitely the place to be. [...]

A passionate voice for New Orleans

Bail bondsman Duane Chapman, known as "Dog the Bounty Hunter" to reality TV fans, says he put up the $11,000 bond that got actor Nicolas Cage out of jail Saturday after his arrest in the French Quarter.

Bail bondsman Duane Chapman, known as "Dog the Bounty Hunter" to reality TV fans, says he put up the $11,000 bond that got actor Nicolas Cage out of jail Saturday after his arrest in the French Quarter.

All right, T4P readers, I'm turning today's post over to you: what's the coolest, most interesting piece of technology (broadly defined - doesn't have to have anything to do with social media unless you want it to) you've encountered recently? Time to share your finds with the rest of us...

I'll go first: French Quarter Fest app (available for both iPhone and Android). It is really well designed: it allowed you to easily construct a personalized schedule, find out "what's playing now?" at any given time, connect with performers' online platforms (for those who cared to share, and yes, Amanda Shaw is now following me back on Twitter!), locate stages, find out about the food and beverage offerings, follow the hashtag - it even included an "encore flame." All for 99 cents. Money well-spent.

A witness has said the reason for Nicolas Cage’s arrest this weekend in New Orleans was because he was drunk and kept trying to get into homes that weren’t his and arguing with his wife of where their home in the French Quarter was located. According to WBRZ.com in Louisianna, “Police say that the couple [...]

Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage went on a drunken tear in New Orleans ' French Quarter Friday night that ended with his arrest on several charges, including domestic abuse battery, according to a police spokesman.

French Quarter, New Orleans. Image Credit Wikipedia Commons Over at Triple Pundit, Royce DuBiner of the Sturm College of Law discusses the issue of preservation and energy conservation. He writes:

One inevitably wonders why we are building new "green" structures when we could just use the ones we already have. Reusing an old water bottle instead of buying a new one is a ...Read the full story on TreeHugger

Maison des Sciences de l'Homme quits its Latin Quarter home in Paris to settle in a new building next to the National Library

The telephone line was due to be cut at 6pm on 17 December. Two hours later everyone was supposed to have left the building, opening the way for the big move. By midnight on New Year's Eve, the Maison des Sciences de l'Homme (MSH) in Paris will finally have completed its term at 54 Boulevard Raspail, in the Quartier Latin. For half a century the revolutionary glass-and-aluminium building, which opened its doors in 1964 and hosted many foreign researchers, played a pivotal role in France's intellectual life. The move was justified by the need to strip the building of its asbestos cladding.

Visiting MSH on 16 December, Le Monde found the sociologist Michel Wievorka in the office from which he has headed the MSH Foundation since July 2009. Surrounded by piles of boxes, he looked up suddenly and exclaimed: "Ah, they haven't taken the chair yet. It belonged to Fernand Braudel, you know." Wievorka has used it constantly, and although the battered leather seat has grown stiff and uncomfortable, he would not think of changing it. Indeed it will be accompanying him and MSH to their new home, on Avenue de France in the 13th arrondissement, where the research team will settle for the next nine years, next to France's National Library (BNF). MSH also accommodated the Graduate School of Social Studies (EHESS), headed by François Weil.

As the chair suggests, Wievorka's office on the second floor was originally occupied by the historian Braudel, who directed the Revue des Annales and hatched the idea of a Maison for the social sciences. Led by Gaston Berger, nine well-known scientists – including Jacques Chapsal, Gabriel Le Bras and Jean Sarrailh – realised the project in the early 1960s.

It is hard to leave such a place without a pang of nostalgia. "It was here that I discovered the joys of true intellectual life," says Wievorka, who studied under Alain Touraine, a fellow sociologist. Together they founded the Centre for Sociological Analysis and Intervention (Cadis). "I worked alongside [people from] other fields, history, political philosophy, anthropology," he adds. "This place knows how to combine [disciplines] and rise above them."

MSH also did a great deal to promote French social sciences and attract gifted people from abroad. During the cold war it was one of the few places in Paris where you might meet Soviet researchers, authorised to study here in exchange for the occasional concession to the apparatchiks in Moscow. The connection was largely due to Clemens Heller, a predecessor of Wievorka.

"I couldn't say how many victims of Latin American dictatorships I've seen here," the MSH head recalls. In fact, academics from all over the world gravitated here, drawn by the intellectual renown of the centre itself and of Braudel, who was a doctor honoris causa of numerous universities, including Yale, Cambridge, Oxford, Padua, Madrid and Montreal.

In the corridors plastic bags have been filled with documents ready for the bin, after much fraught hesitation. But there are all the books, too. In one corner there is a long row of carefully labelled boxes, belonging to the historian Patrick Fridenson. A 1960s leftwing militant, he wrote a thesis on Renault car workers. Two exhausted secretaries laugh at the boxes: "And you haven't seen his office yet!"

It is almost 8pm and for their last night at MSH the research team of the Centre for European Sociology (CSE) – founded by Raymond Aron and headed by Pierre Bourdieu after 1968 – have decided to hold a wake. For Rémy Lenoir, 67, who directed the CSE for 13 years, leaving the place is a wrench. He worked with Touraine, then Bourdieu in the days when the two sociological heavyweights were engaged in open war. "They were both competing for a seat at the Collège de France," Wievorka says with a sigh. Both were convinced they would be elected, on the strength of promises from on-high, but as it turned out Bourdieu's backers wielded more clout.

In the overheated postgraduate common room it all seems a distant memory as the wine brings colour to people's cheeks and the noise level rises. Outside in the corridor Robert Castel, 77, another sociologist, is having a smoke. "You're crazy," Wievorka scolds with a smile. "I know what I'm doing," Castel replies. A disciple of Bourdieu and Michel Foucault, Castel remains "loyal and grateful to this place, which was quite a privilege". He adds: "It was comfortable here, but you had to stay on the ball."

The view from the top (ninth) floor is superb. The recently renovated towers of Saint Sulpice shine in the darkness.

Christophe Prochasson, a historian and a director of studies at EHESS, has just locked up his office for the last time. He is not particularly upset. "I tend to look on the bright side. We're going to a nice building. The school is undergoing a complete change, fuelled by a new dynamic," he says. A sentiment echoed by Wievorka, who has plenty of projects up his sleeve. "This all started as an extramural body, but it was also enshrined in this place," he admits.

Prochasson opens his office again to grab one last treasure: a manuscript by François Furet on secondary schools in pre-revolutionary France. It was based on a work by the 17th-century writer Joseph de Jouvency: Of the Reasons for Teaching and Learning. Whatever the location, the title is just as relevant. "I'm not leaving that for the movers," he says and locks the door.

This article originally appeared in Le Monde

Dec. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Frances economy expanded less than originally estimated in the third quarter, national statistics institute Insee said. Gross domestic product grew 0.3 percent in the three months

(Updates with economist in third paragraph, consumption and output data starting in fourth.) Dec. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Frances economic expansion slowed more than originally estimated in the third quarter