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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-?-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 Fran?ois 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.

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Good news: 3,600 farmers have chosen to convert their farms to organic in 2009, is 20% more than last year. "This is a historic increase in the last ten said Elisabeth Mercier, director of the Bio Agency, the body responsible for promoting bio in France. The increase in 2009, is the total of seven years earlier. "

Better yet is no room for complacency: the organic still represents only 2.4 to 2.5% of the agricultural area in France. To meet the objectives of the Grenelle of the environment, it should reach 6% in 2012 and 20% in 2020 …

A French two consumes Bio

The barometer 2009 Agency bio makes it clear that organic products are completely integrated into the everyday consumer. "A French consumes two organic at least once a month, says Elisabeth Mercier.It is a structural trend, we can not really speak of fashion. "Despite the crisis, all indicators are green: 84% of French believe that organic agriculture should continue to grow and 25% of consumers of organic intend to grow in the next six months their consumption (against 22% in 2008) while they are 71% want to keep it low fee payday loans . New organic buyers also progressing with 20% of consumers who are being less than two years. They are also often to feed a newborn in the family.

Price of success, imports of organic products should rise further in 2010. The Agency considers the bio to 30% on average with significant differences depending on the product.If the local supply of meat, eggs or wine can meet the demand, much less the case for milk, cereals and products of high culture. As for fruits and vegetables and groceries dry areas on which the demand is strong, imports represent up to 50% or 60%. Since it takes three years for a farmer to convert to organic, the offer is not about to join the request.

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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, Mot?rhead 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 Z?nith, 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 B?nabar 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 B?nabar (variety)

4.04 euros for Trust (French hard rock)

6.97 euros for Alpha Blondy (reggae)

7.06 euros for Prodigy (electro)

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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.

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The time of easy financing of the debt it is soon gone to the United States and the United Kingdom? Large investment funds such as Pimco and BlackRock, fear that record levels of debt can cause a rise in interest rate markets. For states, this means a debt more expensive to finance. For investment funds, this translates into a loss of value of their bond portfolio. These have accordingly reduced their exposure to U.S. debt and the UK, according to them particularly vulnerable.

The California Pimco, the largest bond investor in the world which manages 199.5 billion dollars on this market, has reduced its shares of American and British debts to a level not seen since the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, reports agency Bloomberg.The European BlackRock has in turn reduced its exposure to these securities at its lowest level in two years, the Financial Times.

Investment funds fear two things: that the interest rate, the lower back quickly and that the market can absorb the debt securities issued as required by the states … fueling the rise in yields . A concern that is primarily about the United States and the United Kingdom.

Decline in value of portfolio

"The question posed to the fund now is: when and how fast interest rates will they go?" Analysis Bruno Cavalier, chief economist at Oddo. A rise in interest rates next, helped by economic recovery, would mechanically increase the yields of bonds issued in the coming months.As a result, the securities purchased in the past by the fund with a lower yield, would see their market prices fall. This would melt the value of fund portfolios.

In this perspective, bond yields have rebounded. "Today, the yield on the U.S. ten years is around 3.8% against 3.2% last month and a half … and cons 2% a year ago," notes Bruno Cavalier. Same trend for UK Treasury bills. A consensus of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, the ten-year yields should rise by 4.01% today to 4.31% by end 2010.

Still, the natural demand for sovereign debt should continue, slowing the rise in rates. The new regulations are put in place will indeed require banks to offset the risk by increasing their liquidity cushion.They then turn to bonds. Therefore, "even if emissions of sovereign debt increased sharply, demand should rise dramatically," said Laurence Boone, chief economist at Barclays, before agreeing, referring to ads Pimco: "We are never at 'immune from turmoil in a market if investors decide to all move together … "

Exxon Mobil launched a massive operation. The Texan oil giant announced Monday in a statement putting his hand on XTO Energy, a specialist in exploration and production gas field unconventional. The stock transaction is valued at 41 billion dollars (28 billion euros). An amount that includes 10 billion debt to XTO. The news that investors react. On Wall Street, the action XTO recorded a jump of 16.65% to 48.38 dollars, while Exxon Mobil abandoned as 2.99% to 70.65 dollars.

Through this transaction, expected Exxon 0.7098 new share issue by XTO title. This is equivalent to a 25% premium for shareholders of XTO, compared to the closing price on Friday, December 11, which served as basis for agreement. The deal should be finalized in the second quarter 2010 after the green light by shareholders of XTO and regulators.After the merger, Exxon plans to establish in Texas a new organization to manage development and resources that will bring him XTO Energy.

The exploration and production of unconventional gas represents a potential size of the United States. For Rex W. Tillerson, executive director of Exxon Mobil, this acquisition will be an opportunity to increase investment and create new jobs in the U.S. economy.

19 h 30, the feast in full swing at the Opera Gallery in the trendy chic Cheongdam, Seoul. Artists, businessmen, bankers are scrambling in the art gallery. "The Korean miracle? But there is no miracle. Since 1997, the country is simply vaccinated against the economic and financial crises, slips between two small kilns the boss of a large hotel chain. With growth of 2.9% in the third quarter compared with the previous quarter, South Korea appears as the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) who is recovering quickly. But for Lee Dong-keun, Deputy Director, Department of Trade performance is nothing magical. "The efforts to restructure our business and our financial institutions during the 1997 financial crisis provided a solid foundation to our economy.And this crisis has taught us that with a solid foundation can overcome the difficulties very quickly, "says he.

Weak Won

Twelve years ago, the "minor IMF (International Monetary Fund), that is to say cheap, flourished in windows of restaurants in Seoul. They symbolize a country to tighten their belts under the yoke of the international institution. Today, Bentley and Equus, the top model of Hyundai, the sparkle of luxury car. In truth, what makes the difference with the 1997 financial crisis is that the government has reacted very quickly.Between 2008 and late 2009, he has injected 88 400 billion won (50.8 billion euros) in the economy, including 26.8 billion in the form of tax reductions and lowered its interest rate of 5.25% to 2%.

"We come out faster because the initial conditions were not the same as those of Europe or the United States," said Hur Kyung-wook, Vice Minister of Finance. "The financial sector was not in the same situation as twelve years ago. The banks had money and had very little exposure to subprime loans. "

If the government failed to arrest the fall in exports, down from 20.7% in the first nine months of the year, it has saved its trade balance with the weakness of the won and the reduction imports."Our discussions have been penalized less than other Asian countries due to the diversification of our markets and our products," welcomes Yoon Jong-won, director general of the Office of Economic Policy at the Department of Strategy and Finance. Behind China (21.7% of exports), Europe (13.9%), North America (11%) and countries of ASEAN (Association of the South-Eastern Asia ) are in fact almost on a par. It remains to convert the try.

"Green Growth"

Unlike Japan, South Korea has no plans to ease its measures to support the economy. "The recovery is driven by the public and until the private sector recovers, emergency measures are necessary as well as fiscal stimulus.Exit plan would be entirely premature, "says Hur Kyung-wook.

The government relies on the vast field of "green growth", driven directly by President Lee Myung-bak to restart the machine. This project, which should raise some 60 billion euros of public and private spending in the next five years and create 1.8 million jobs, will own the car in the management of large rivers of the country, through the eco-towns. From the largest to smallest, all companies are required to participate. "They give us very positive signs," says Yoo Beom-sik, director of the Presidential Program Green Growth. Korea, which is 97% dependent on foreign countries for its oil and gas, is facing an energy bill of more than 93 billion dollars per year.As she turns to renewable energy, it is hoped that these will enable rapid development of new technologies.

It is also necessary now that the provinces play the game and also invest. The controversy has erupted in recent days, even within the ruling party, on the project to move 9 departments and 4 government agencies to Seoul Sejong City, 150 kilometers south of the capital, shows that the N is not won. It might even, in the eyes of some Koreans, delay or jeopardize the reform agenda of President Lee Myung-bak.

"South Korea: strongest growth in seven years