Presidential in major cities Paris | Leeds | Lyons | Toulouse | Leeds | Sheffield | Liverpool | Bordeaux | Lille
The conservative party of Angela Merkel (CDU) just make a new turn to conquer the center-left electorate for the election scheduled next year. Once he was fiercely opposed for several years, the union of conservative Chancellor has finally decided to support the introduction of a minimum wage in Germany.
Holding that the adoption of a "generalized minimum wage" in German might undermine negotiations between industry by industry employers, unions and employees, the CDU had long opposed the project.
But the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced the development of a bill going in this direction. According to his plan, an apolitical committee comprising representatives of employers and employees will be trained to fix a minimum wage at the federal level. This committee will reassess the amount of income each year. Industrial areas that have already negotiated a minimum wage, will not be affected by the introduction of national minimum wage, even if its level is lower. It remains to convince liberal allies of the Chancellor. Advocate for the Mittelstand, the SME network which is the strength of German industry, the FDP strongly opposes the minimum wage.
Centrist electorate
By offering a new bone of contention with the FDP, the Chancellor has again demonstrated that it has no intention of taking gloves with the Liberals in disarray. Her greatest hope is to cut the grass under the feet of his rival Social Democrats and environmentalists, who planned to make the minimum wage one of their main proposals for the parliamentary elections in September 2013. Since coming to power in 2005, Angela Merkel has pushed his party to focus on issues traditionally left – environmental issues, education and child protection – to seduce the centrist electorate. The Chancellor made his most dramatic turnaround last year after the disaster of Fukushima, deciding in the closure of German nuclear power stations and programming for 2022 abandonment of atomic energy. Von der Leyen hopes his proposal will offer a minimum wage "huge boost" to the CDU at the regional elections scheduled May 13 in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous regional state of Germany.
The CDU, however, risk of alienating some of its traditional supporters. "The disastrous consequences of such solutions can be found in European countries that have adopted similar rules, and judge Dieter Hundt, president of German Employers (BDA). Once again it is the weakest who suffer from these measures, because this will complicate their entry into the labor market. "The unions believe instead that the shortage of manpower across the Rhine to help negotiate end of the precariousness of wages.
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The principle is simple: the competition is based on a survey indicating that Australians belonging to the male does not spend enough time with each other. The beer brand Fourex (XXXX), which belongs to the Lion Group, proposes a trip "with friends" on a desert island for six acres, located south of the Great Barrier Reef. For the occasion, "Pumpkin Island" has even been renamed "XXXX Island" for a three-year lease.
Develop a desert island "between guys"
But before you get to this paradise on earth supposed to make men happy, certain conditions must be met. At the risk of disappointing many, it must reside in Australia and be an adult. Then it comes to submit ideas to the team Fourex on ways to make this island as "the best destination for vacation with the guys." In this qualifying phase, the proposals tributary to the site. Rugby ground in the lagoon to the equipment that can fly from one beach to another and from one bar to another, via a fishing platform that includes a bar, all dreams or spend almost. The contest organizers urge participants to be "brilliant, or even brilliantly horniest horniest ', like Robinson Crusoe.
Once the five candidates selected by the votes of Internet users and the brand, they can apply their ideas on the island, in a spirit of idleness, and, once again, "the guys", the only company "feminine "is that of beer at will.
XXXX Island: "The Good Life", the island reserved … by Gentside
A general trend in advertising
For Cesvet Bertrand, chairman and senior partner of the Canadian ad agency Sid Lee and marketing, the campaign Fourex is part of the current trend of big brands. "Before, the traditional advertising scheme was the recurrence of a clear message to force the consumer to purchase. Now there is a desire for participation on the part of consumers. It is about creating conversations around the brand, encouraging word of mouth rather than traditional media. There is no real communication about the product but rather a fact of life here in this case the decline in male camaraderie "he says.
Also according Cesvet Bertrand, who also manages the advertising of brands Adidas, Heineken, Grimbergen, Dom Perignon or Ubisoft, this big campaign costing several million dollars is quite intelligent and successful, especially that it does not associate the clichés often found in advertisements for beer (sexist, girls in bikinis …). Finally, the operation conducted by the Australian brand is in full interactivity, just like the advertising campaign conducted in 2010 by Tipp-Ex on Youtube, featuring a multiple scenario between a bear and a hunter.
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Personal loans and other revolving loans no longer seduce the French. In January, output fell by 7.4% compared to January 2011, according to the ASF (French Association of Financial Companies). Last year, after a strong first quarter (+9.3%), it had already begun a sharp decline: – 1.8% in the second quarter – the third and 3.7% – 4.5% in the fourth . "The French market fell to its 2000 level. Production in 2011 was 14% below the historic peak of 2007, "said Bruno Salmon, president of the ASF.
The revolving credit continues to decline
To explain this disaffection, professionals invoke the loss of consumer confidence in an economic anxiety, but also lower sales of new cars, and therefore the associated credits. The car loans decreased by 14.5% in January over the same month last year, and 7.8% over the last three months.
Also involved, the law Lagarde who oversaw the marketing of revolving credit, these "reserves" of money in which the borrower draws at will as and its needs.
This law compels such professionals to offer clients an alternative to the revolving loan in excess of 1000 euros. They must also include in each monthly payment a minimum repayment of capital. The loan term is shortened, and the amount becomes smaller. Revolving credit is transformed gradually into a cash credit for small amounts, for short periods, for small repetitive purchases.
The impact of the law Lagarde
"The law Lagarde has reduced from 12% to 15% of the openings of new revolving loans and a decrease of 20% of new uses of credit lines already open," said Francoise Guillabert Palle, general delegate of the ASF.
In total, the production of these loans fell by 6.1% in 2011. This is the fourth consecutive year of decline. They also represent more than 35% of consumer loans made by members of the ASF, against 40% in 2009.
In a recent study, the French Banking Federation (FBF) also emphasized the lower French interest in the consumer credit. Only 3.6% of respondents were planning to buy one within six months, against 4.1% a year earlier.
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In a mobile market completely disrupted by the arrival of Free Mobile, Bouygues Telecom said it had lost 159,000 customers, of which 134,000 went to Free Mobile. This represents 1.4% of its fleet of 11.3 million mobile customers. Last week, Orange announced that it had lost, for its part, 201,000 mobile customers in total, or 0.7% of its fleet.
Result, Bouygues Telecom expects a decline of 10% of its turnover in 2012 to 5.14 billion euros. The arrival of Free Mobile is not the only cause. Martin Bouygues, CEO of the group, also cited pell-mell "regulation, the end of the differential termination, terminal costs, Chatel law which is one of the most protective for the consumer."
To resist, the group announced a plan to reduce costs this year. "Our goal is a plan to save 300 million euros, which will be achieved in part through new commercial offerings but also using our flexibility on external loads," said Martin Bouygues. The group, which has 9,800 employees in late 2011, should not undergo abrupt reduction of the workforce. "By cons, what is clear is that staffing levels, recruitment Bouygues Telecom are completely blocked (…). We will let the natural decline to do, "he said, adding that cost savings could affect contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.
"Free Mobile makes the cuckoo"
Bouygues Telecom is also focusing on innovation. The group decided to have a strong positioning in the offers "bare" (without telephone and commitment, 100% web) with B & You, and with the offers services through Eden. It will market its new box with the Sensation "the most powerful processor market and offers the largest VOD thanks to agreements with TF1," said Martin Bouygues. He announced that the band would embark on the next generation mobile (4G) this year and was pleased to have obtained frequencies' en o "- in the band 800 MHz – stressing" they allow a very good coverage inside buildings. "
Martin Bouygues has admitted that the offer of Free Mobile was very aggressive. "But it is by no means a reflection of its production costs. Free Mobile is the cuckoo on the Orange network, he said. The telecom industry is a fixed cost. If someone could have a variable cost structure, if there was distortion of competition, it would in my view extremely serious, "he added, without elaborating.
On the roaming agreement that allows to use the Free Mobile network Orange, Martin Bouygues considers it "would not be unusual that this contract be made public, since the two competitors know, and two others not." All these topics should be discussed at the meeting between Martin Bouygues Telecom and Constable (ARCEP). "If we must suffer and die, it will be the fault of the regulator," he concluded.
Yesterday, Bouygues share lost 2.09%, to 23.88 euros, while the action Iliad (Free) clôturait on a record 99.55 euros, up 2.10%.
Deezer is seeking to raise between 50 and 100 million euros, showed Les Echos. The site for listening to music online is doing the rounds of investment funds to continue financing its ambitious international expansion strategy.
Orange, who had taken 11% stake in Deezer in August 2010, should not call the pot. For the telecom operator, the integration of a range of music in its subscriptions is essentially a "marketing advantage", says a close case.
Deezer, however, sees its financing needs explode as it launches in new countries or new terminals. Each time, the service must make further advances to the music majors, who often index their demands on the size of their partner.
This is also why the Swedish Spotify, Deezer competitor in France, seemed to leave in search of money, in the last Midem, just a year after raising $ 100 million on a valuation of $ 1 billion.
Valuing Deezer should not reach such heights. According to Les Echos, the site expects a value of 500 million euros, "ten times its 2011 revenues." The latter is however mostly generated by subscriptions of Orange, who had entered the capital on a valuation of Deezer … 80 million euros.
Saturday accused by Marine Le Pen to slaughter according to halal "all meat" distributed in the Ile-de-France, industrialists defend themselves. President of the National Association of interprofessional Livestock and Meat (Interbev), interviewed by France Info, the judge charged the president of the National Front "absolutely false".
"In the Ile-de-France, a vast majority of meat is not slaughtered according to halal or kosher," which involves killing animals without stunning, ensures Dominique Langlois. "It may be that parts or pieces of meat from carcasses are slaughtered according to these rites, but that does not change the quality of meat and it does not change at all the qualities of the product," adds Will it.
For professionals in the meat, the charge of Marine Le Pen "is meant strictly political and did not match the reality of things." "It's a debate that can only be detrimental to both the meat industry to French and French production that does not need it," warned the president of Interbev.
The animal rights groups mobilized
This debate is not new. Last year, six associations have denounced the increasing proportion of animals slaughtered according to Jewish or Muslim rites. According to the Foundation Brigitte Bardot, who had made an investigation in slaughterhouses, more than 60% of sheep and goats, 28% of adult cattle and 43% of calves were then killed without stunning, but that consumers are warned.
In France, however, requires the slaughter, since a decree of 1964, the stunning of animals before killing, thereby mitigating their suffering. But European legislation provides an exemption, "when stunning is not compatible with the ritual prescriptions under the free exercise of religion."
Approval before waive stunning
Two bills were filed in late 2010, the Senate to the Assembly, without success, to obtain a specific labeling of meat slaughtered without stunning. "The consumer has the right to know what he eats. He has the right not to eat meat slaughtered in a ritual which does not believe him, "argued the UMP deputy Nicolas Dhuicq. A new amendment, introduced in September 2011, was also rejected.
On 29 December, a decree was published in the Official Journal, however, requiring slaughterhouses to obtain, on or after 1 July 2012, before an official authorization from the rule of stunning. "It does [may] be granted only to slaughterhouses in favor [...] of a registration system to verify that it is used to slaughter without stunning as a result of justifying the commercial orders, "said the Ministry of Culture.
Marine Le Pen wants to complain
The animal rights groups have expressed quite satisfied with this text. "Being able to justify a ritual slaughter is a specific order is important because, currently, most of the meat of this kind of slaughter is found in conventional circuits without any indication to consumers," recalled Christophe Marie, spokeswoman Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
Marine Le Pen was not in favor waiting for the entry into force of the decree. On the sidelines of the convention of his party, being held this weekend in Lille, it announced its intention to attack "a few major retail supermarkets in Ile-de-France for misrepresentation of the product." She said wanting to file a complaint with a civil order for a judge to be seized, which could lead to an investigation of several months.
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The European Investment Bank (EIB) – the financial arm of the European Union – has granted 61 billion in new loans to about 70 countries in 2011. A level down compared to the historical peak reached in 2009 (79 billion euros), years during which the Bank was actively involved in the economic recovery of the Old Continent. But a level that remains particularly high compared to the average pre-crisis.
Most of these loans – 54 billion on 61 – was awarded to Europe. One way for the EIB to support the activity declining in Europe. In this context, France has been particularly well served. The Hexagon has received over 5 billion euros in loans, representing 9.2% of EU commitments. A figure up from 7.78% awarded in 2010.
Research projects
The Bank took part in the financing of the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique, TGV and Britain Pays de la Loire. It has also been associated with the electric car developed by the Bolloré Group and funded to the tune of 100 million euros of joint research projects with Pierre Fabre Laboratories.
Outside of the European Union, the EIB lent 7 billion in accession countries and has been linked directly to the Partnership in Deauville, which followed the Arab Spring. Nearly 1 billion euros in loans have been granted to the private sector in 2011, especially for infrastructure development in Arab countries that experienced democratic revolution.
"Kleftes! Thieves! "The insults burst forth in the processions of anti-austerity protesters in the streets of Athens these days. The Greeks win against a political class accused of making no sacrifice while officials have seen their wages blend of 20% and expects the same treatment as private sector employees. MPs in particular are accused of refusing to lower their pay by 10% at the height of the crisis in 2011.
"Until now, politicians have not been transparent about their incomes and citizens suspect that considerable sums are spent for miscellaneous expenses, or that MPs employ family members as assistants," says Nick Malkoutzis a, journalist with the daily Kathimerini.
The Easter bonus deleted
MEPs, however, made a few sacrifices. The 13th and 14th month salaries were eliminated, as in the rest of the civil service in 2010. Last July, the attendance fee paid for participation in a meeting of the 34 parliamentary committees was reduced to 150 euros, against 245 euros before. Premiums Easter, Christmas and holidays have been removed, additional taxes created. These measures have melted the monthly salary of 3375 euros per head on average, according to elected officials.
Parliament said today that the gross monthly salary now stands at 8,221 euros, 4,231 euros after taxes. Are aligned with the highest salaries of public service. In comparison, a French MEP wins 5189.17 euros net. Still, the Greek Parliament plans to spend 34.2 million euros in 2012 for salaries, including bonuses and other compensation. What assure members a sum of 9500 euros per month, plus office and secretarial included.
The difference, ultimately, does not seem huge with the situation before rigor sets. Last December, Parliament has in fact published on its website, for a few days, the tax returns for 2009 of 300 MPs. It was to answer charges of opacity.
Income gaps
Salaries, allowances, current accounts, real estate, and other financial transactions in this document. It shows that in 2009, elected a ten won more than 9,000 euros per month through its sole parliamentary activity. What must be added, for some, a second salary (in Greece, one elected is entitled to retain his original job posting) as well as income potential spouse. Then the gaps widen between the richer members of the assembly (six of them earned more than 33,000 euros per month) and more modest, saying some 2,025 euros monthly income for their household.
"While the debate on the wages of 300 Deputies Greek is symbolic. They represent only three thousandths of the state budget. But the political class has missed the opportunity to cut its own salaries along with those officials, two years ago, analyzing the Greek-Swiss historian Nikolas Bloudanis. It would have been a symbolic gesture extremely important. "Times are changing: this week, for the first time, an elected, Dora Bakoyannis, head of the small liberal party New Democracy (four members), has proposed halving the salaries of parliamentarians .
How much do Greek political leaders
George Papandreou. Photo credits: JOHN KOLESIDIS / REUTERS
Not easy to swap clothes for those of David over Goliath without being criticized. For nearly twenty-five years, Apple has enjoyed the affection – not to speak of passion – to some extent by this small company, the maverick world of personal computers and a thorn in Microsoft Almighty .
In less than a year, Apple acquired the status of the business world's most expensive, top selling smartphones in the fourth quarter 2011, a number of computers at HP (by adding the sales of iPad and Mac) . The Apple brand has always had detractors. Its success has added to criticism, particularly those concerning working conditions in its Chinese subcontractors. These are nothing new, but the good financial results of Apple have redoubled the ardor of his detractors. In late January, the New York Times has published a lengthy investigation dependent, widely broadcast on the Net.
Working conditions of employees of Chinese subcontractors Apple are regularly placed on the hot seat. The U.S. media decry the use of children and failure to follow safety rules (poisonings and explosions occurred in Chinese factories).
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