International News

The U.S. computer group Hewlett-Packard announced Friday that it was revising downward its first quarter results because of the legal costs of its subsidiary Electronic Data Systems (EDS).

The judicial authorities have in fact ordered DHS to pay 300 million euros – in all – group British Sky Broadcasting and British Sky suscribers Services (BSkyB), which had continued since 2000 to a dispute concerning a development project to system update management (CRM customer relationship) second by the first …went wrong.

After delays and budget overruns (48 million pounds sterling at the base), BSkyB had then resolved to complete the project alone.

On 1 March, in addition to a sentence of 230 million euros imposed in January, HP has been added to interim payment of 77 million euros.

96 to 93 cents per share

Thus, net income amounted to 2.25 billion dollars instead of 2.32 billion announced in February. The world of computers was then revised upwards its estimates of revenues and earnings for fiscal 2010 lagged cash advance .Net earnings per share is reduced to 93 cents, against 96 cents previously.

Last November, Hewlett-Packard unveiled a decline in net income of 8% annually to 7.7 billion, although the last quarter it was up 14% yoy to 2.4 billion dollars. At this time, Dell has introduced quarterly profit falls by 54% and a revenue and earnings per share below expectations.

In May 2008, HP had offered the number two global services company EDS for $ 13.9 billion.

ALSO READ:

"Hewlett Packard: return to growth expected for 2010

"The PC sales cross a historic peak

"Acer, Apple and Google score points

»May 2008: HP offers rivals EDS and IBM in services

Polls difficult cases and poorly negotiated since the fall does not undermine the morale Elysian. Nicolas Sarkozy sees the ordinary burden of a president in mid-term and continues to relativize the scope, particularly in comparing himself to his predecessors. Since the Christmas holidays, he has also given much time to calibrate the outline of its strategy for the second half of the quinquennium. On the form, we have seen since early January that this strategy was through the reaffirmation of listening skills. On the merits, the head of state will play its trump card after the regional. After undergoing controversy that was not planned, it will take a debate front of which he knows by heart the social and political risks. But he also sees the benefits it will reap vis-à-vis the electorate.It is, of course, the pension reform.

The results of regional elections should have little impact on this strategy. The Elysee to environmental stresses that "the majority can not be further sanctioned in 2004, where she could keep only two regions. With this diagnosis, Nicolas Sarkozy has already said he would take the election results, but should still maintain its current balances in the government team, headed by François Fillon.

However, he can thank Martine Aubry. By declaring in the first instance, supported a postponement of the age of retirement at age 62, the first secretary of the PS opened the debate much earlier than expected, and it gave credibility to the government's position.Polls in support, the Elysee is now convinced that the French are ripe.

The time has come for the act

Nicolas Sarkozy wants to move quickly on this issue. No way to let the unions take to the streets in October to protest against a proposed reform dashed again. Everyone remembers the November 1995 strikes against pension reform remains the worst memory of the line for fifteen years. Sarkozy wants then arbitrate on the reform of pensions as early as June And to pass a law "in the month of July," confirmed by several sources. He then turned to a mixed solution, combining the lengthening of the contribution period and delaying the legal retirement age.Symbolically, the change of the legal age of retirement would impact tenfold, and it seems that even the Elysee Raymond Soubie, the great clockmaker of social relations which advises the president, is convinced that the time has come proceed to act. Elysian source, a special session of Parliament in July appears to have "acquired" given the workload of the two assemblies.

Of course, the government expects a tough clash with the social partners. For now, the waters unions are barely wrinkled a few ripples. But beware of "the calm before the storm," warns a minister concerned about the mobilization of the month of May According to someone close to Nicolas Sarkozy, these events present at least the advantage of reform credibility with voters."Plus there will be parades, plus French will credit him for having the courage to decide on this matter," smiled one of his friends. Another adviser very point that "nobody has noticed the reform of universities because there were no strikes at the time." In addition to the mobilization of spring, the Elysee is also expected to fall very volatile. "There will be upward pressure on wages as the recovery will be felt," admits an advisor, providing an inflow of association necessarily muscular. It's time that Sarkozy chose to discuss other reforms in 2010, including the legal proceedings or fifth risk Social Security.

But he also intends to take this year-end 2010 to return in force on the international stage. "He will chair the G20 in the month of November 2010, and until summer 2011, said his entourage.The president wants to play again when the partition that had been so successful during the presidency of the European Union in late 2008. The regional elections, hopefully it will be so far.

ALSO READ:

"Pensions Sarkozy launches countdown

"The French loan to a decline in retirement age

"INTERVIEW -" Pension reform is a sign of seriousness "

"Fillon lays the groundwork for pension reform

A rock concert without a little moss, is like "a guitar without the strings" in the words of Didier Wampas. "Beer is part of the concert!" Confirms Franck Le Bihan, head of debit, the company that supplies drinking the Zenith in Paris. In good years, that is to say those who have many dates of foreign rock bands or hard and metal, he sold 70,000 liters of beer and worse (when the French variety is the poster) 40,000 liters. "This is hard rock that consumes the most," says he, even if the reggae concerts Appliances are not left behind. Thus in 2009, Motörhead concert which brought together 3000 spectators, it is 3000 liters of beer are gone, one liter per person! Some shows, however, reserve some surprises to the landlord of the premises."To Vanessa Paradis, spectators often come in pairs, drank lots of champagne," says he. However, at 8 euros cutting cons 4 euros the 33 cl beer, has quickly made. But beware, even if an artist sells a lot more drinking than another, it affects not percentage. The drink is for the room.

Unlike the Zénith, the Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy (POPB) does not go through a dealer, is the room that takes care of the bar to which it employs, as the night between 40 and 70 people. Again, these are the concerts or hard metal that consume the most. Thus, for two performances of AC-DC (17,000 spectators each time), fans of Angus Young have drunk more than half a liter per person …cons under 25 for Bénabar cl.

The sale of alcohol is so important for rooms that Zenith is a 10% discount on the amount of rent if the artist makes an intermission … It must be said that at the Zenith in Paris, the bar is not less than 20% of annual turnover! In POPB is 10% "only" because of the large number of sporting events for which it is forbidden to sell alcohol. "I often say, if one takes away the bar, the ticket prices will increase by 20%!" Says Daniel Colling director of Zenith in Paris. Certainly, it is the artist who set the ticket prices and not the room, but if it earns more money from the bar, it will increase the rent and the amount of seats will be increased.Therefore Pascal Negro, CEO of Universal Music France sums up the situation thus: "the lemonade is the future of music-hall!".

Minor awards of the bar at the Zenith in Paris

For the 2008-2009 season, viewers spent an average per person:

2.34 EUR Bénabar (variety)

4.04 euros for Trust (French hard rock)

6.97 euros for Alpha Blondy (reggae)

7.06 euros for Prodigy (electro)

ALSO READ

"SPECIAL – The best paid singers in 2009

European consumers should avoid this year's gas war, which traditionally opposes Russia to Ukraine. However, last week, the European Union monitors to close another front – this time oil – which is taken to Moscow and its close neighbor, Belarus.

It is populated by the republic of 10 million inhabitants, formerly subservient to the Soviet government, which handles a significant part of Russian oil destined for Europe. Now, Moscow intends to Minsk taxing exports of black gold, which should account for this small country a net loss of about 1.8 billion euros. In tough negotiations are taking place in the Russian capital, with the fear still present, the Russian government abruptly interrupted deliveries of oil.

Flowing through the Druzhba pipeline, the oil supplies to refineries in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Lithuania. Further downstream, 15% of oil consumed in Germany goes through this famous pipe, a proportion which reaches 75 in Poland! "We remain very attentive to the changing situation, said Thursday the spokesperson of European Commissioner for Energy, Andries Piebalgs. Brussels has negotiated with Moscow the introduction of an early warning system, designed to prevent energy crises.

"Bringing the country in the right way"

As usual in energy, trade dispute that combines economic and political considerations. Moscow wants to change the preferential treatment that allows today to Belarus, as a former Soviet republic, to pay no duty on the oil it imports from Russia.

The unspoken goal of the Russian government is to "bring in the right way" Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is attempting a rapprochement with the EU. Oil, which constitutes 37% of Belarusian exports, is easy ammunition. Meanwhile, Moscow and Minsk – allies in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan – three negotiating the creation of a customs union, hardly compatible with the flirtation European Belarus. Between the Russian oil and Brussels, Alexander Lukashenko will probably choose.

ALSO READ

"Putin, the prime mover gas in Europe

"Russian-Ukrainian agreement on oil transit

Around 13 hours, the CAC 40 in advance from 0.72% to 3784 points, after a cumulative loss of 2.34% over the last three sessions. Operators conducting repurchases cheaply despite the announcement by Standard & Poor's. The agency said that Spain risked a deterioration of its sovereign rating to a two-year horizon. It has downgraded the outlook to "negative" cons "stable" before, while maintaining its rating of "AA +" to the long-term debt of the country.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday proposed a "global compact long term" of banking regulation. They would support a tax bonuses in banks and greater coordination of economic policies of states.

Values follow

BNP Paribas Assurance acquires 100% of Dexia Epargne Pension. The bank wishes to complete the transaction before the end of first quarter 2010.The transaction amount was not disclosed. The title takes BNP Paribas 0.92%.

Sanofi-Aventis (0.53%) and the American biotechnology company Alopexx Pharmaceuticals have signed a cooperation agreement on a new monoclonal antibody for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases contracted in hospitals. Moreover, the vaccines division of Sanofi Pasteur, will expand into Latin America program of clinical trials of its vaccine against dengue.

Thomson collapses over 7%. The title returns to below 1 euro to 0.90 euro. The group released its backup plan to reduce its debt by 45% and will be submitted to its creditors on 21 and 22 December. Thomson provides a capital increase of approximately 348 million euros.

According to the Financial Times, RWE and E. ON would have to choose between Areva (0.81%) and Toshiba to build four to six reactors in the United Kingdom.The decision will be rendered within six months. Nuclear projects could reach 20 billion pounds (22 billion euros).

Malaise in the drafting of TF1 and LCI. During these two days, a petition full of anxiety concerning the working conditions of editorial running in the first group of television. The fear expressed is that of seeing down the "information quality" of the first media of France, given the new organization that is gradually established. This should lead eventually to a complete merger of the newsrooms of the two channels.

In this document signed by all the trades the group's information, the signatories say loud and efforts on behalf of the savings plan of the chain. Nonce Paolini, CEO of the group, has promised to market savings of some 70 million euros to spare no one. Thus, the wording has already recorded a score of departures on its total to 330 journalists. Or 200 and TF1 and LCI 130.But it is also the organization of work teams worried: less time to subjects, and especially fewer people to make reports.

"Standing"

TF1 teams are restricted to two instead of three. Pell-mell added demands on the growing intensity of the pace of work and wages deemed insufficient and that some classes require to upgrade. "We do not BFMTV, whispers it in Backstage. TF1 has a luxury it must keep. The restrictions must not impair the antenna. "

A position that is far from denying Catherine Nayler, director of information of the first string of France: "This document from an Inter-five organizations including the apparent desire to maintain the quality of work. It is a concern that I share too.As a major general news channel, TF1 must absolutely and always respond to this need and keep its label. No reform will be to the detriment of the quality of the newspaper, "says she. "The questions that arise so concentrated in this text today, we talk every day together. We are facing a double challenge: that of an economic crisis affecting all media, forcing them to reorganize and that of the pooling of resources between the two antennas.The organization of TF1 was frozen for twenty years, I understand evolve is not clear. "Not to mention that November 25 will be holding elections to appoint professional staff delegates.

ALSO READ

"Fighting for the Rights of the France team

"TF1 and M6 are raising their heads

"INTERVIEW – Nayl: Duroux would not rule out Ferrari

"Nonce Paolini, one to run at TF1

It's a real paradox. While many disabled people are unable to find their place in the labor market, companies snapped up those who have attended graduate school. Their recruitment is the same headache for companies seeking profiles from bac + 2. "There are so few … We all want the six-legged sheep," says François-Xavier Krieg, head of pole insertion of Generali Group, which recruits mainly bac + 4.

"It's a problem, recognizes Laurence Mialleret, Human Resources Areva. We may have a real disability policy and a lot of goodwill, we are sometimes forced to abandon research on certain positions. "From bac + 3 blocks it.We find more candidates, "added Franz Bléhaut, director of France Michelin.

Disabled people are still struggling to gain access to skills training. (AFP) Photo credits: AFP