Archive for the ‘special’ Category

Holland sets conditions for Merkel

Posted in features, resources, special, top news, world by admin on May 16th, 2012 | Comments Off

 

It is late. But, for once, it's not his fault. Whereas in Berlin Tuesday to 18 h 30, Francois Hollande has landed 45 to 19 h. Struck by lightning, the presidential plane was forced to return to land at Villacoublay.

As he arrives on the doorstep of the Chancellery, Angela Merkel is there to greet him. They exchange a handshake. No hug, as did Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007, destabilizing his interlocutor. A little stiff, President novice discovers the protocol: a hand gesture, the Chancellor guide when passing in review the troops. It seeks its mark next to it and lack of hustle on the red carpet.

Just invested as president, Francois Hollande, like its predecessor five years ago, was keen to stress the symbolic importance and challenge of the Franco-German dedicated to Angela Merkel's first visit as head of state. "I did not know her, even if his reputation had long since crossed the border," he said after a meeting of more than an hour before a working dinner.

The Chancellor had not wanted to meet the Socialist candidate in the campaign to mark its defiance vis-à-vis the renegotiation of the budgetary stability pact. The subject was included in the course of the game menu. "I said in the campaign, I repeat again today, I wanted to renegotiate the treaty to include a dimension of growth", said Francois Hollande.

Before his election, he threatened not to ratify the text if it was not amended to include a revival of European growth. Tuesday, he paved the way for a compromise: "The method that we have agreed is to put all ideas, all proposals on the table and then see what are the translations for legal format." Everything has opposed priori attached to the socialist revival and conservative buttressed by fiscal discipline. But, obviously, the head of state does not rob his partner immediately. "We have different approaches to achieve growth, but we will share our ideas to see what are the different ways to stimulate growth," replied the Chancellor. Francois Hollande evoked improving competitiveness and Eurobonds cash advance flexible payments. To reassure the Germans, he said he was concerned about the "seriousness of the budget." But, he said, "it's because I'm for serious budget I am for growth."

Time was not on Tuesday, the settlement of underlying problems that have accumulated. "This meeting was intended to know us better, build a relationship, establish a working method," said the French president. Among the burning questions, the crisis in Greece could not be avoided, in a context where it leaves the euro area is now considered. "The Greeks must know that we will come to them to enable them to secure their place" in the eurozone, Holland assured. "I agree that Greece must remain in the Euro Area", completed Merkel, hoping, for his part, "structural reforms".

Sentenced to agree

The Head of State and the Chancellor will meet on Friday at the G8 summit at Camp David, then, in the process, that of NATO, in Chicago. Above, both meet again May 23 for an informal summit of Heads of State and Government in Brussels European. And in late June, the European Council, "French and Germans will jointly present their ideas for growth in Europe," Merkel promised.

Despite their differences, the new couple Merkel Holland was sentenced to agree. At the edge of its mandate, the French president can not afford to fail on one of its most ambitious promises, the reorientation of the European Union. For his part, Chancellor, one year of law, is obliged to strengthen its position against an opposition Social Democrats who redoubles criticism against the policy of austerity. In the presidential entourage, it is noted that the electoral victory of the SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday, depriving Angela Merkel a majority in both Houses of Parliament

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JP Morgan: shock to Wall Street and the City

Posted in international, news, people, special, top news by admin on May 11th, 2012 | Comments Off

 

If it is a voice that carried Washington to moderate the heat-regulating the political class, it is that Jamie Dimon. Basking in the solid background of his bank during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, the CEO of JP Morgan had indeed become the "king" of risk control. And for four years, it is he who plays the role of informal spokesman of the profession when it comes to denounce the excesses or inconsistencies of new financial regulations.

This means that the trading loss of JP Morgan will cause shock waves far beyond the U.S. bank itself. Because the event takes place at the heart of a highly topical debate in the U.S. and Europe: that the application of the Volcker rule. This rule, named after former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, seeks to prohibit banks that collect deposits from households to perform speculative operations. It was incorporated into the enormous legislative package – the Dodd-Frank – pass Congress in 2010 and any revision of financial regulation.

Activity called "cover"

Prevent commercial banks from becoming casino, the idea is consensual. But the implementation creates endless debates. The Volcker rule bans the proprietary trading – made with the bank's own funds and not on behalf of clients – and the management of hedge funds low fee payday loans. The definition of proprietary trading is difficult, however, and all the lobbying power of Wall Street is deployed to make it as restrictive as possible.

In the coming days, no doubt the arguments will carry less! Because JP Morgan has accused its massive loss on an activity called "coverage" – supposed therefore limit the risks taken by the bank, the kind of jobs that financial institutions want to continue in the future and they refuse to qualify speculative activities

.

What happened to JP Morgan will undoubtedly also affect Europe. The Old Continent is currently considering adopting its own "Volcker rule". A group of experts work on the matter at the request of the European Commission. Francois Hollande and included in its program a law of separation of banking activities. Jamie Dimon is in spite of himself to bring water to his mill.

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A year to reverse the unemployment curve

Posted in business, news, opinions, special, technology by admin on May 8th, 2012 | Comments Off

 

Never a newly elected president will have faced a complex situation on the unemployment front. It goes back no less than thirteen years ago to find indicators also deteriorated. The unemployment rate is nearly 10% again of the workforce, nearly one in four is unemployed, the long-term unemployed (unemployed for more than a year) adjoining 40% of registered employment center and length of unemployment has jumped nearly 20% since the crisis began, to 464 days.

Main reason: while the labor force grows, France does not create enough jobs. In contrast, the number of available positions in the economy has shrunk by 200,000 even in the last five years, a first in the Fifth Republic.

The crisis is obviously much. Nevertheless, not a head of state had signed a mandate with a negative balance. Even François Mitterrand, whose first seven were deadly with the disappearance of entire job in the steel and textiles, the odometer showed 56,300 designs in 1988.

Francois Hollande, who "give a year" to reverse the unemployment curve, in any case will be hard pressed to meet its commitment without a boost – very speculative at this stage – growth. According to the latest available forecasts of Unedic (UI), the number of job seekers expected to grow by 214,000 this year – and so cheerfully exceed the symbolic threshold of 3 million unemployed registered at employment center Class A – and the number of jobs fall by 123,000 merchants payday advance low fees.

"The year 2013, however, should be better on the employment front, predicts the new tenant of the Elysee, by improving the international situation, but also with our first steps." … ….. 100,000 jobs for the future

Among them, is a classic: the "social treatment" of unemployment. In other words, subsidized jobs. The next few weeks, 100,000 "jobs of the future" must be created in neighborhoods (50,000 more will follow on the remainder of the quinquennium). This is a version of "makeover" of jobs for young Martine Aubry: odd jobs for five years in associations or local authorities, publicly funded.

Francois Hollande also intends to create 500,000 contracts generation during his tenure. The idea, intellectually attractive but criticized for its windfall, is to link the hiring of a youth to remain in the employment of a senior until he can retire at full rate, both jobs are exempt from charges.  

The president-elect has also promised to strengthen the means to improve employment center to help the unemployed and plan to launch a green renovation of housing could create tens of thousands of jobs.

Finally, to stop the "stock layoffs," he intends to make it more expensive, give employees new ways to challenge them in court and force the relocation of businesses dedicated to repaying public aid.

From Athens to Jakarta, the other May 1

Posted in economy, features, special, technology, top news by admin on May 1st, 2012 | Comments Off

 

Athens: the message of the Communists. Five days of Greek elections of 6 May, several thousand people (18,000 according to police), especially communists showed around Athens and Thessaloniki, the second largest city, struck by a particularly harsh austerity policy. This statutory holiday, traditionally celebrated as the "day of general strike" in the private and the public gathered including more than 8,000 activists of Workers Struggle Front, close to the Communist Party, a suburb of Athens, in support of workers a steel plant on strike for several months in protest against wage cuts. In Salonika 7,000 people demonstrated, mostly militants Pame.

Madrid against the new reform travail.Sous the slogan "Work, dignity, rights. They want to destroy everything ", some 100,000 protesters marched in 80 cities in Spain. In Focus events: budget cuts and labor reform adopted in February by the Conservative government. "New labor reform: towards a world of slaves," proclaimed a huge banner displayed to the start of the parade. Introduced to boost labor market since the explosion damaged the housing bubble in 2008, the reform is far from proven: Spain has broken a new record Friday of unemployment in industrialized countries, with assets of four (24.4%) unemployed.

Jakarta against loss of activity due to outsourcing. In Indonesia, about 9000 people, supervised by 16,000 police and soldiers, marched in the capital Jakarta to demand wage increases and denounce the loss of activity due to outsourcing. With its 240 million inhabitants, Indonesia is one of the highest growth rates in the world (over 6% per year) thanks to its vast natural resources. But half the population is still below the international poverty line while the average monthly salary, which is just over one hundred euros, just to follow the continually rising cost of living no fax cash advance.

Hong Kong: a minimum wage increase. This area of ​​7 million people is home to many millionaires, but also hundreds of thousands of working poor. Of these, 5,000 demonstrators called for an improvement of pensions, supervision of weekly working hours and a minimum hourly wage hike of 28 Hong Kong dollars (2.7 euros) to $ 33.

Manila: fighting for purchasing power. In the Philippines, they were walking toward a 3000 presidential palace in Manila, waving portraits of President Benigno Aquino. Workers in this country plagued by corruption where a quarter of the 95 million population live on $ 1 a day their leader in dog caricature orders of foreign capitalists.

Moscow: 150,000 pro-Kremlin protesters. Less than a week of his inauguration, President-elect Vladimir Putin and the outgoing head of state Dmitry Medvedev joined a large pro-Kremlin protest organized for Labor Day in downtown Moscow. Some 150,000 demonstrators attended the rally, police said. The two leaders headed the procession, in a friendly atmosphere, on the bottom of a sign "We're strong!" The last appearance of a Russian head of state in a parade of May 1 was in 1996 when Boris Yeltsin was very unpopular protesters joined a few weeks before the presidential election.

New York: a test to Occupy Wall Street. The Wall Street Occupy movement that attracted international attention with its protests last September wishes to maintain its waning influence in connection with the May 1. Of gathering are planned, including New York and San Francisco. Public participation in these events will determine the future of a movement undermined by the lack of financial and internal dissent.

Germany clash on family policy

Posted in events, money, online, publications, special by admin on April 19th, 2012 | Comments Off

 

The confrontation was not as strong in the government of Angela Merkel since the controversial reform of the Bundeswehr. The center-right coalition headed by Chancellor, is torn for weeks about family policy. The bill providing for the introduction of a bonus for parents raising their children at home instead of placing them in a nursery or kindergarten, the Betreuungsgeld, causing great controversy across the Rhine. His critics believe that this will discourage women seeking to balance motherhood and work, when the German labor market already sorely lacking manpower.

The draft Betreuungsgeld is supported by the Conservative party leadership Merkel (CDU) and its Bavarian ally, the CSU, a stickler for traditional family values. In Bavaria, the tradition of the "three Ks" (Kinder, Küche, Kirche – "children, kitchen, church") continues to weigh heavily on women. The grant, which should be between 100 and 150 euros per child under 3's home, is supposed to be passed before the summer for implementation in January 2013. The Conservatives say they want to do and "evidence of heart." "The premium will be adopted and no concessions," warns Christine Haderthauer, Social Affairs Minister of Bavaria.

"Prime the stove"

But critics of the project are growing within the CDU and liberal allies in Merkel, who threaten to vote against it in the Bundestag. Philipp Rösler, deputy chancellor and patron of the Free Democrats, believes that "the objective of facilitating the reconciliation of family and professional life" is threatened by the grant. Unions and management are, in unison, standing against the wind project called the "premium in the kitchen." Dieter Hundt, president of BDA, the German employers, claiming "the abandonment of this project fundamentally harmful."

They see it as a barrier to women entering the labor market, a crucial issue for Germany. The premium would encourage mothers to stay home for years to keep their children, jeopardizing their chances of finding employment. The birth rate is already reflected in an acute shortage of manpower across the Rhine. Federation of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) estimates the loss of 400,000 skilled workers annually. By 2030, the German working population is projected to decline by a quarter, he predicts. Immigration, but also working women are supposed to compensate. Difficulties in reconciling the birth of a child and continue to work stopping the fertility rate across the Rhine, with 1.3 children per woman is one of the lowest in the EU.

Opponents of the project also felt that the premium balance of harms children by delaying their adaptation to life in society, and the chances of the poor, whose awakening would be delayed.

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Canal +: tussle with the competition authority

Posted in Uncategorized, events, features, online, special by admin on April 18th, 2012 | Comments Off

 

Relations already chilly between Canal + and the Competition Authority has further strained a little more. Without much surprise, the Sages of the Rue de l'Echelle decided to open a detailed examination phase of the acquisition of two free DTT channels Direct 8 Direct Star by Canal + with the Bolloré Group.

This decision follows a first round of talks between the policeman of the competition and Groupe Canal + on remedies for this operation. The concern of the competition authority is that Canal + uses its dominant position in the acquisition of broadcasting rights for pay-TV rights to negotiate jointly for future free channels. Clearly, the danger is that Canal + is negotiating with the U.S. studios' rights sets for both Canal + and Direct 8. Thus, the group led by Mr. Meheut could oust TF1, M6, or any other chain of the DTT market with the acquisition of rights. For example, the rights for pay-TV Desperate Housewives (produced by ABC) are owned by Canal + when those same rights for free TV are the M6. The competition authority wants to avoid in the future, that same series is broadcast on Canal + and then on Direct 8.

Second concern: the Canal + group has a film studio, Studio Canal +, which sells movies all free channels after a stint on Canal +. The competition watchdog wants to prevent the films from Studio Canal ending up systematically on Direct 8 over other competing channels cheap business cards.

These key points have been part of negotiations open between Canal + and the competition authority since 21 February. Canal + was proposed in late March, a series of commitments. But they were written so that these commitments do not seem to be very restrictive, was then analyzed the competition authority.

It must be said that the competition watchdog has been scalded by the attitude of Canal +. Five years after the acquisition of TPS by Canal + in 2006, The Competition Authority has, uncharacteristically, withdrew the repurchase authorization. the reason? Canal + has not fulfilled a number of the 57 commitments he then took. Including the fact of maintaining the quality of the channel TPS Star, premium channel distributed by all the competing platforms CanalSat.

Remedies imposed

Worse, even as the competition authority has opened new negotiations on the purchase of TPS, Canal + decided to close its chain altogether TPS Star. A decision that was very badly received by the Sages of the Rue de l'Echelle.

In deciding a thorough review of the acquisition of Direct 8 Direct and Star, the competition authority wants to put pressure on Canal +. Either it offers significant remedies or the competition authority to impose under the injunctive unilateral. Both parties have until July to agree.

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Corporate universities: training at the center of the company

Posted in events, features, international, life, special by admin on April 16th, 2012 | Comments Off

 

They are the world 4000. These are created corporate universities, including training for all employees into thinking strategy, relationships with customers and suppliers. In France, they are still relatively under-exploited compared to a country like the U.S. (they exist only in 42% of companies surveyed by Ipsos for the Panorama HR BearingPoint).

Accor has pioneered in France, with the launch of the first university (called Academy) in 1985 in Evry (Essonne). Since then, the network giant's hospitality has grown and now has 17 academies around the world, attended each year by 135,000 students (for an average of 3 days).

37 000 employees trained in Saffron

According to BearingPoint, corporate universities should be less a place of production of content for reflection on trades or animation of the sectors. The University of BNP Paribas, installed twenty years at Louveciennes near Paris, recalls in this context that 75% of training efforts are devoted to technical aspects and 25% are cross-curricular competencies.

Physical sites or campuses in schools that organize their behalf training sessions? Forms of corporate universities are diverse. The engine manufacturer Safran devotes 13 acres near Paris to house its campus, the Safran Corporate University, plus the locations in Beijing and Dallas, to train 37,000 employees each year. Same strategy for Veolia, which has 21 campuses worldwide, including 6 in France, or EDF, which has consolidated its business academy in Les Mureaux, near Paris.

Other companies prefer partnerships with academia. Like the Mazars University, founded in 2006 by the specialist in auditing and consulting. As for PSA, he plans to sign this year no less than twenty-three partnerships with colleges and universities. The manufacturer intends to target the most prestigious colleges in each region. A strategy that resulted in France by the creation of chairs at the Polytechnic or Mines.

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The line of DS9 surprise of the Chinese still conservative

Posted in Uncategorized, opinions, people, publications, special by admin on April 13th, 2012 | Comments Off

 

"We deliberately forced the line number 9 on our making it extremely low," warns immediately Métroz Thierry, head of the Citroen style. With only 1.27 m high and 4.94 m in length, it must be recognized that this concept car looks more like a shark of the road as a regular limousine. "This vehicle still contains all the genes of future DS," said Frederic Banzet, the brand manager for Chevron quick guaranteed personal loans.

The look of the number 9 is its first asset. Its large headlights stretched blending smoothly into a sculptural grille give it a personality that will not leave indifferent any motorist, whatever and wherever they are. This front is undoubtedly the first DS signature style.

The look of the number 9 is its first asset.

How to find the equivalent "Made in France" a foreign product

Posted in economy, events, finance, special, world by admin on April 3rd, 2012 | Comments Off

 

It is defined as a 'detective' Made in France '. " Sylvain Lescot, 33 years and commercial training, launched in December the site-Référence.fr France, with the ambition to "establish the habit of buying citizen." Specifically, this merchant, whose product catalog spans four themes (home, toys and entertainment, multimedia and gastronomy), offers users to compare one product with its foreign equivalent, manufactured in France. Thus, facing the mixer "Soup Maker" Cuisinart product in the U.S. and priced at 199.50 euros, it suggests to the consumer to buy the "Soup & Co" Moulinex to 229.90 euros. Salt and pepper to the duo Automatic One Touch range (29.90 euros), made in China, he opposes the salt mill Peugeot "Bistro natural" (16.50 euros).  

The concept is in tune with the times: 42.3% of French people think that promoting products "Made in France" should be a priority in the presidential campaign, according to a study site Testntrust. Or, buy French is often an obstacle course. Mentions on the origin of components and place of manufacture on the labels abound, sometimes inducing the consumer. "The offer on the shelves is a jungle," said Sylvain Lescot, that "the French do not know in general that there are local equivalents to foreign products the best known." With the exception of certain areas, such as multimedia or television, in which there is almost no offer purely French. To select products, France-Référence.fr is based on criteria adopted by the association Pro France, which manages the label "Origin France Guarantee ', the main requirement being that at least 50% of the value added product is produced in the Hexagon free business cards.

90% of products are purchased French

While websites offering a selection of products "Made in France" multiply, France-Référence.fr claims its status online retailers. "The consumer is free to choose the foreign product, we also have in stock," says Sylvain Lescot. "We respect the individual tastes and budgets." If the French massively plébiscitent local products, the price point is important in these times of crisis. Only 49% of them are willing to pay more, the last notes of the brand Observatory France. A concern that shade Sylvain Lescot. "While some French products can be twice as expensive than their foreign counterparts, others have a price lower than 20%."

Still, with this system of comparison, the offer tricolor appears to be doing on the game-Référence.fr France, 90% of the products purchased are French, welcomes its founder. "The 'Made in France' is not a utopia, but a way of future consumption," wants to believe. Therefore, after investing nearly 60,000 euros in building his company, the latter provides a second phase investment of 100,000 euros in the next three months to boost its offer of 300 references to over 1000. France-Référence.fr be able to respond to a request which, according to forecasts by Sylvain Lescot, should quickly jump from 5 to 50 orders per day.

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Global consumption of wine restarts

Posted in business, features, home, opinions, special by admin on March 24th, 2012 | Comments Off

 

Global consumption of wine is finding colors in 2011. It increases from 0.7% to 241.9 million hectoliters (hl). She stopped and started a downward cycle since 2007. "It seems that the worst is behind us. This does not mean that an immediate return to pre-crisis growth is confirmed, relativizes Federico Castellucci, Director General of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). In addition to unfavorable economic factors, changes in consumption patterns continue to see recovery in the major producing countries, such as the EU. "Indeed, European consumers now favor quality over quantity. This, however, are the Americans and Chinese who support sales.

47.4 liters per capita in France

In detail, the world's largest market, that is to say the EU wine consumption fell by nearly one million hectoliters last year, mainly due to degradation economic conditions in countries of this area and a change in customer behavior. Italian consumption shows a sharp decline of around 1.6 million hl (- 6.3%), as Spain and Britain, but to a lesser extent. Germany, meanwhile, has stagnated.

Only exception in this bleak picture: French consumption increases significantly (3.5%), almost 30 million hl. This increase is explained by massive purchases of wine last year on French territory by foreign tourists. But the OIV can not be quantified precisely. Single index, consumption rises officially in France to 47.4 liters per capita. Net purchases of tourism, it would be some 40 liters per person, a level close to that of Italy to 37.4 liters.

French cognac and champagne appreciated

For their part, the United States, second world market volume, estimated to have grown 0.9 hl (nearly triple the 2009 and 2010) and 28.5 Mhl approach. Americans like French cognac and champagne. Example: for the Charente house Courvoisier, "remains our largest market outside the U.S. where we sell 48.5 million bottles of brandy a year, or nearly 30% of our annual exports," said its president, Patrick Pinet.

China also exports have increased with the increasing popularity of a population easier for wine products. "Since 2001, exports of French wine and spirits increased by 3700%, three quarters of which relate to the claret and brandy," says Nicolas Ozanam, Delegate General for CFTS (Federations of exports of wines and spirits).

Result, world trade in wine in 2011 reached over $ 103.5 million hl, up 7.9%.

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