Archive for the ‘top news’ Category

The May 1 marches less filled than last year

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Mobilization "significant" according to unions, but still significantly lower than last year. Despite the thorny issue of pension reform, the traditional procession of May 1 did not fill, bringing some 350,000 people across France, according to the CGT, against 1.2 million people a year ago.

Trade unions, left parties and student organizations were called to take to the streets, in the words of Secretary General of the CGT, Bernard Thibault, "create a balance of power in discussion" with the government. The pension reform is expected before the end of the year and a new appointment office at the Elysee Palace will be held prior May 10

For its part, Workers Power had returned to tradition by going it alone.Its secretary general, Jean-Claude Mailly, said Saturday morning on Europe-1 radio that "the repeated demonstrations will not shake the government" on the proposed pension reform fast cash.

"Putting pressure on politicians'

In Paris, between 21,000 protesters and police said 45,000 people marched from one union between the Place de la R?publique and the Op?ra, against 160,000 in 2009 according to the CGT.In the march included union leaders sat Bernard Thibault (CGT), Fran?ois Ch?r?que (CFDT), Alain Olive (UNSA), Annick Coupe (Solidarity) and Bernadette Groison (FSU), as well as student union UNEF Jean-Baptiste UNL schoolboy Antoine Prevost Evennou.

In Toulouse, between 5,000 people, police and organizers said 6,000 marched in the rain Saturday morning, behind a banner of the Inter-CGT, CFDT, FSU, UNSA and Solidarity proclaiming: "All public-private jobs, wages, pensions and retirement. A procession much shorter than last year, when there were between 15,000 and 30,000 participants according to sources.

Parade and sparse rainfall in Lyon.

Total units sold in Norway

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Always with a view to separate its non-strategic activities for its "upstream" Total assigns those of its oil fields Valhall and Hod – whose group owns 15.7% respectively and 25% – located in the North Sea Norwegian. Transaction amount: $ 911 million, or 680 million euros.

"In the coming years, the group intends to maintain its level of investment in order to optimize its Norwegian oil and gas reserves," he said in a statement released Tuesday morning.

Note that Norway is the largest contributor to the production, with nearly 330,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe / d) produced in 2009.This production, which represents about 15% of the total group, from 35 fields on the Norwegian continental shelf in which Total holds a no fax pay day loans.

Began production in 1982, the Valhall oil field production has reached an average share for the group of approximately 8,000 boe / d in 2009. The Hod, in production since 1990, produced in 2009 an average of approximately 1,000 boe / d in proportion to the group.

Total currently holds interests in 77 licenses in Norway, including 15 as an operator.

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HSBC: 8000 French in the stolen files

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

The files stolen by Herve Falciani the Swiss subsidiary of HSBC bank, and who found themselves in the hands of justice and the French tax authorities have been decrypted. In total, 172,000 accounts have been identified, held by 79,000 people, including 8,000 French. The prosecutor of Nice, Eric de Montgolfier, announced Tuesday evening.

It is well beyond what had been said, on March 11 last, the CEO of HSBC Private Bank, Alexander Zeller. The theft "committed by an employee of the department about three years ago, could affect some 15,000 customers," he declared at a news conference.Regarding the French, it is also far escaped the 3000 tax raised by Eric Woerth, budget minister last summer.

Return a long history

The French court before January 20, 2009 at the home of French Herve Falciani encrypted computer files containing a list of accounts held by customers of HSBC. The search was conducted as part of a request by Swiss judicial authorities, suspecting the employee of misappropriation of confidential data between 2006 and 2007.

But before passing to the Swiss, French investigators have analyzed the content of these seizures, which have proved of great interest for justice and the French tax authorities.Prosecutors in Nice opened an investigation for money laundering and tax administration has used the data to identify suspected fraudsters No teletrack payday loans.

The Battle of France

Shareholders who were illegally will pay for it keeps those who do not. Of the 6 billion euros of capital identified in the accounts in Switzerland, 700 million penalty in 2010 will be released. And 700 million euros will be refunded to taxpayers whose tax exceeds 50% of revenues.

In Italy, the method was different. Silvio Berlusconi has been voted an amnesty which showed 95 billion euros of capital and reported $ 6 billion in the Italian Treasury.

But the amnesty is not on the agenda in France. "Because the amnesty called fraud until the next amnesty," said Eric Woerth.

Italy on the alert

"Prosecutors in Turin we sent a request for mutual legal enforcement. He asked to get copies of the data we have captured, "said Eric de Montgolfier. According to the prosecutor, the Italian justice has opened an investigation for tax evasion.

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The weather is also a business

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

They are two to share a new market of several million euros, that of "weather-sensitivity. Climpact and Metnext are young shoots. First established in 2003 and the second since 2007. To their customers, especially large groups, they provide indicators on the impact of weather on their operations. All markets are concerned, especially those of energy, insurance or consumer.

Subsidiary to 52% of M?t?o France, Metnext is very active in the energy sector with 16 contracts signed so far. The company works for major energy companies such as EDF or GDF Suez for Poweo as alternative actors or local operators like the Company of heating the Grenoble region.It also offers support services to hedge weather risk, for example with Pierre & Vacances.

For its part, Climpact works for a small score of the food industry such as Nestl? Waters, Lactalis or Bonduelle. For the latter, which is part of its subscribers this year, the company provides 150 per week for clues to help the vegetable processor to manage its production capacity.

Railing against the consumer

It is precisely in this area of food consumption, very sensitive to climatic changes, the two companies now want to strengthen their positions us fast cash. At weekly intervals, and Climpact Metnext have launched bids very close to making available to manufacturers and distributors of hundreds of clues in many product categories.Do not have any data in sales, and the other one signed strategic partnerships with leading market research specialized in sales in hypermarkets and supermarkets. Climpact has forged a partnership with IRI and Metnext with Nielsen. The goal is to use the databases represent cash available to these two panelists to enrich information "weather-sensitive.

In 60 families (solar products, ice creams, soups, water …), and offers 10 indices Climpact weekly (9 regional indices and 1 national index). Metnext has created an Internet platform on which it offers its customers the same battery on geographical indications in over thirty categories of products. Sixty will be available in June.The idea is to help retailers drive more precisely their supply chain to reduce inventory and prevent breaks, one of the weaknesses of the French distribution.

Vinci project would benefit the TGV Tours-Bordeaux

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

This Tuesday morning that the candidate for the mega railway project LGV Sud Europe Atlantique (SEA) to over 7 billion euros should be announced by R?seau Ferr? de France. This route will connect Tours to Bordeaux on a journey of 300 km, involving the construction of 40 overpasses and 390 bridges. Companies Bouygues, Vinci and Eiffage are on deck for this contract to allow linking Paris to Bordeaux in two hours instead of three now.

The winner will design, financing, construction and maintenance for 50 years in this concession. In return, it will be paid by revenues paid by companies using the railway line.

Work could begin in mid-2011, year of recovery for a provision in 2016.

Vinci, the darling

Vinci is anticipated to win this huge contract.According Latribune.fr Monday evening Vinci would have won the tender.

For Natixis Securities analysts, the business model of manufacturer-dealer and know-how are relevant for this type of project cash advance payday loan. In addition, its financial situation is excellent.

"If the group Vinci was nominated for LGV SEA, the title should react positively. This contract represents nearly 30% of its backlog, "said the broker.

Such an announcement could also benefit other manufacturers, the market showing that these large projects as expected will actually materialize.In fact, keep in mind that the candidates approached other railway projects will be announced in the coming months, including LGV Bretagne (4 billion estimated), which will link to Paris in 1h30 Rennes and Brest in 3 hours and N?mes-Montpellier (1.2 billion).

According to Natixis, "it seems unlikely that a candidate wins more of these three railway projects.

Funding unpublished

In terms of funding, the project should receive the government guarantee and the savings of the CDC.

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Sarkozy calls Obama "listen Europe

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

From one of our correspondents in New York

Sarkozy the American, the return. Dampened by the failure of regional confronted with doubts of his majority, battered in the polls, the president could not find better than this visit to the United States to escape the burdens hexagonal. The chances of diplomatic agenda sometimes things well. A discreet arrival Saturday in New York, along with Carla Sarkozy, the ritual of jogging in Central Park on Sunday morning, then a family day, away from cameras and microphones before the official on the scene Monday morning, with a speech at Columbia University.

The opportunity for Nicolas Sarkozy to urge "a friend" the United States to "work with Europe to invent a new global model", in order to regulate capitalism, stabilize currencies and improve governance World."If Europe and the United States do not invent this new model, nobody will," argued the head of state before several hundred students and professors from the prestigious University of New York. Amount to the podium in an imposing neoclassical dome, Nicolas Sarkozy has openly made his speech to his aide – "if you read this kills creativity", he said, before launching into a very controlled improvisation. "The crisis we've known we offer extraordinary opportunities," said the head of state. By asking the regulation of capitalism, I lay the groundwork that will save capitalism without rules is killing freedom, "he said, a few" blocks "of Wall Street, the epicenter of the financial earthquake.

"Irresponsible"

In the field of environment, access to raw materials, Nicolas Sarkozy has also called for support of the United States. "In two years, the price of oil has risen from 30 to 150 dollars, is this normal?," He noted. Have we no interest in laying the foundations for a regulation that would have a barrel to 80 dollars? "Even imperative of transatlantic cooperation for reform of global governance" that the United States and Europe must request. It will, he said, the resolution of major challenges such as Iran, against which "the alliance with the United States is fundamental, but also the fight against terrorism.

"We love you, admire you, we expect a lot from you," Nicolas Sarkozy has launched the Americans.A friend, therefore, but a demanding friend, who also does not hesitate to lecture the United States, calling for tolerance, "not closing" on themselves and listen to Europe. For, he launched the first world power, "no nation, however strong it is, can the twenty-first century impose its views to the world."

"Some hundreds of irresponsible done anything with the money of others is indefensible," he also said the French president, warned that "the same are ready to begin. "There are hundreds of thousands of Americans who lost their jobs because of this crisis, is this normal?" Asked by a student on the reform of the health system, Nicolas Sarkozy congratulated Barack Obama. But he also gave a pike: "When we see this debate on health, it was sometimes hard to believe, in Europe it is fifty years we have solved the problem.In France, we do not ask your credit card before going to hospital ", he shackled, before launching his audience:" Welcome to the club of states that do not allow people to fall sick! "

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Minutes Zacharias: pugnacious defense of the former CEO of Vinci

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Three-piece suit, white shirt and dark tie, the former CEO of Vinci, Antoine Zacharias, has always understated elegance of a great boss. Yet this 70-year-old retiree, who wears a hearing aid, had presided at Thursday yet another board. He appeared for abuse of company property before the fifteenth penal court of Nanterre. Specifically, he complains of having put his own men in the compensation committee of the group to inflate his fees have skyrocketed: a severance bonus of 12.5 million euros, an annual retreat of 2 1 million, gains on stock-option 124 million …

Faced with such accusations, it was expected that Antoine Zacharias lose its superb. After all, it is the first French skipper prosecuted for excessive pay, while his business was booming.In fact, he kept his legendary pugnacity and always distills his little quips. When the President, Isabelle Prevost-Desprez, asks him to track his career, thanked the engineer by Vinci in June 2006 took the opportunity to give a few scratches. Guy Dejouany, his former boss at the General Society of waters in the 1990s? "The man was a tyrant. Perhaps the most difficult period of my life. "Alain Minc who sat on the board of Vinci? "He has a big ego."

And as Isabelle Prevost-Desprez do not let them count, this gives rise to a few passages of arms tasty payday loan . Especially when it comes to whether Antoine Zacharias has ensured that the remuneration committee Vinci is completely renewed."Mr Faure, who was sitting there says you have transferred to establish a committee more complacent. So, did you collect? "Asks the president. "No," replied tit for tat the former CEO of the CAC 40. They lie. "

A retreat "exceptional"

Gradually, Isabelle Prevost-Desprez is accumulating evidence that endanger Antoine Zacharias. Thus, it is disturbing that this new committee has ignored the advice of Towers Perrin warned against "inflation risks" associated with a change in the calculation of salary Zacharias.Also troubling that the point of view of the firm Cardif estimating the amount of the pension provided for ex-boss "exceptional" has been ignored.

In response, Antoine Zacharias has a clear line of defense that summarizes in one sentence: "One thing that is ignored by any board, and they do not know an ounce is the pay of the boss. "He received the unexpected support of Vinci, yet civil party in the record. "When they vote earnings for 2004 by Zacharias, administrators know that all this makes up 14%," said Georges Jourde, counsel for the construction group. This morning, it was the turn of the attorney to his indictment. It is surprising that it shares the same view.

Huge haul to the City

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Accused of laxity in recent years, the Constable of the British stock exchange and banks takes action. And hits hard. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) conducted yesterday in the arrest of six professionals from the City, after a commando operation, "the largest ever conducted in the context of a case of insider trading." The arrests come crown over two years efforts have gathered 143 of the FSA investigators and officers of a police unit attached to the Ministry of Interior.

London south-east England, computers and documents were seized sixteen addresses professional and personal. Of those arrested, one was working, according to the BBC, at Moore Capital, a hedge fund's most prominent in London guaranteed high risk personal loans .Two senior bankers from leading firms have also been arrested, said the FSA. These professionals are suspected of passing insider information to traders who have been through it, realize significant profits.

Earlier this month, the FSA had already ordered an ex-banker veteran Cazenove, broker to the queen. The UK intends to muscle its fight against market abuse. She plans to ask the firms in the City store and keep mobile phone conversations of some 16,000 employees.

The Greeks in the street, an emergency meeting of EU

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Against "unfair and ineffective sacrifices, Greek officials Wednesday manifested in big cities. A 24-hour strike was launched by the Union Public Service ADEDY, with more than 300,000 members. Employees of public protest against wage cuts announced by the Socialist government to reduce deficits and thus reassure the markets. Tuesday, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou reiterated wage austerity measures provided for in the Public Service wage freeze, down 10% premium, 30% decrease in overtime, stoppage of recruitment in 2010, except in the sectors of health, education and security. Labor Minister, Andreas Loverdos, proposed back two years to 2015 the average age of retirement to raise it to 63 years.

In Athens, about 5,000 union members protesting in the rain in the streets, which must be added the separate gathering of 5,000 activists of the union Struggle Front (PAME), an offshoot of the ultra-orthodox communist party (KKE). In Salonika, is counting down nearly 3,000 officers pounding the pavement.

Moreover, tens of thousands of officials have answered the call to strike the ADEDY. Air traffic controllers joined the strike and there was no traffic Wednesday in Greece.

Meeting of Finance Ministers of the euro area

These events occur when the finance ministers of the eurozone plan to meet as Wednesday by teleconference to discuss the situation in Greece, several diplomatic sources.

According to Le Monde, President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet and the chairman of the Eurogroup forum of finance ministers from the eurozone, Jean-Claude Juncker, will join the discussions.

This meeting will be held on the eve of a summit of EU leaders on the issue in Brussels free credit report . At this stage, there is "not agree" on a plan of aid to Greece. The signs, however, a support mechanism for this country is growing. A senior parliamentary Conservative German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Michael Meister, has indicated that preparations were underway in the German Government for an assistance plan.It could take the form of housing provision of bilateral loans to certain countries of the euro area in favor of Greece, to help cope with higher prices for its cost of borrowing on the markets since the beginning of the crisis.The option of an advance payment of EU subsidies to Greece is also considered.

Papandreou lunch with Nicolas Sarkozy

Prime Minister George Papandreou, who visited on Wednesday in Paris, where he has lunch with French President Nicolas Sarkozy had called in an attempt to limit the impact of the strike, officials to "lead by example" to contribute to the crisis.

Furthermore, President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday held a joint press conference after the informal EU summit in Brussels, including the situation in Greece, said Wednesday the spokesman for the French government, Luc Chatel. "Under the EU summit, the president will have the opportunity to hold a joint press conference with Merkel on various subjects.I guess the question (of the situation in Greece) will be addressed, "said Luc Chatel in reporting to the press the work of the council of ministers.

"The French government is involved as its European partners on the situation of the euro and the situation in Greece in particular," he said, adding that the Economy Minister Christine Lagarde had "routine contacts with counterparts "on this issue.

Hartz IV: "Germany must reduce its spending"

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

LE FIGARO. – Ruling of the Court puts it into question the whole system "Hartz IV"?

Niels Diederich. – No. The decision of the Court concerns only the welfare of minors. In the system of "Hartz IV", children whose parents are unemployed or who are raised in single-parent families, indirectly affect the state aid. However, they receive only 70 to 80% of the amount awarded to an adult. In 2005, the legislature had found that children have lower needs than adults and had applied a standard reduction. The judges felt that we can not calculate the social benefits attributed to children on the same basis as for adults. They require the development of a new scale of separate calculation, so that their needs are taken into account.The government will soon review the text to make its corrections.

The competitiveness of German companies is in danger?

Not because this decision they will not carry more loads, it does not hurt German exports. The companies co-finance the system of unemployment insurance by 50%. But it is a separate mechanism. The system "Hartz IV" is funded through taxes. But the state has pledged not to raise taxes. It will therefore reduce expenditure to finance the surco?t.La Court is often accused of conservatism.

That shutdown threat does not modernization of Germany?

Politicians always moan against the Constitutional Court. Created after the Nazi era to serve as a safeguard against the state, it has, indeed, enormous powers. But judges do not prevent the country's modernization.On the contrary. In 1949, when the conservative party (CDU) had held that in cases of dispute over the education of children, the man still had the last word on the woman, the Court ruled that the law contradicted the principle of equality between citizens. Since the 1950s, it required that disputes be settled by a judge, thus laying the foundations of the principle of equality between men and women in the country.

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