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1. Cuba is turning over hundreds of state-run barber shops and beauty salons to employees in what appears to be the start of a long-expected revamping of state retail services by President Raúl Castro.

2. The Monster Employment Index Europe noted a three percent uptick in March, returning to a level not seen since May 2009. The Monster Employment Index Europe’s longer term trends also suggests there has been a modest improvement in online recruitment activity; the Index increased 4% during the first quarter of 2010 and the annual rate of contraction slowed from the rate seen in February.