International News

Read Online

 

"Industrializing access to start-up." This is one of the goals sought by Electronova Capital, the investment fund which EDF has announced Tuesday. This new tool will prioritize the "cleantech", these companies specializing in innovative technologies environmentally friendly.

"Our approach is flexible: it can be anything to support a project to take an equity stake," said Bernard Salha, director of research and development of EDF. The electrician tricolor, via an annual budget of 500 million euros, is one of those that invest most heavily in R & D.

Turn to France and Europe

Electronova Capital Fund will have a capacity of 60 million minimum investment, and the envelope will increase to 90 million euros, said Thomas Thornton, chief financial officer of EDF faxless pay day loans. The French group has teamed up for the occasion to Indivest Partners, a recognized specialist in SME financing.

"The launch of this fund is a further step in our policy for innovation. We have already taken similar initiatives in China and Canada, while qu'Electronova Capital will initially intended to turn to France and Europe, "said Thomas Aldridge.

Meanwhile the first operation, areas of intervention should not be missed: "The energy landscape is changing; between issues related to CO2, the development of renewable energy and the desire for improved energy efficiency, we are a turning point, "says Bernard Salha.

ALSO READ:

"Energy: the sector still on a roll

"A new fund for start-up digital

 

M6 surfs his good hearing and displays good financial health. The group chaired by Nicolas de Tavernost said Thursday, a consolidated turnover up 3.6% in the first quarter of 2012, to 355.1 million euros. It is true that this growth owes much to self-advertising group, which rose by 3.2%. Starting with the audiovisual rights activity that benefited from the success of Twilight 4 video. But despite the sluggish market, the advertising revenue of the group grew by nearly 4%.

Even the M6, the flagship, can boast of an increase in advertising revenues in the first quarter from 1.5% to 164.5 million euros. Growth that relies on good audience ratings of structured grid around a solid prime-time thanks to JT "19 h 45 'and household scenes, but also a few key programs that Whether it is "Top Chef", magazines such as "Capital" and, finally, American series that still make the gravy chain. With an average audience share of 11.6%, M6 is thus gradually became the third chain of the audiovisual landscape.

What it can an aggressive advertising policy based on maintaining or even increase, its rates, where most incumbents rely on the flexibility in trading conditions. Proof: according to Kantar Media Institute, the volume of the M6 ​​channel advertising declined 14.2% over the period, while its gross revenues (excluding negotiations and regressive) increased.

Rate increase

This means that the group has increased the value of its screens. By comparison, TF1, whose gross receipts would not progress to the first quarter shows an increase of its volume of 3.4% pub. The first private channel is also best bidder in number of spots.

More generally, the history of television market has seen in France in the first quarter a decline in overall volume of 7.5%, according to Kantar Media. If the market does not collapse, it is primarily due to the dynamism of the new DTT channels. In its latest monthly report, the Institute notes that "this segment remains solid in value in March (16.7%) but stabilizes its activity by volume (0.3%). Cumulatively, the DTT channels grew three times faster than all channels (23.2%). "

A trend that is well reflected in the number of commercial digital channels M6 group – mainly W9 – which increased by 16% in the first quarter, to 38.1 million euros.

As for the coming months, the media buying specialists adopt a conservative position. Havas Media, a subsidiary of Havas, setting a trend of 0.9% of the TV market in the second quarter. In other words, the line thickness. The media agency fears the arrival of "a two-tier market that is expected to exacerbate the end of the year and in 2013 with the arrival of six new HD channels TNT in the fall. The fragmentation of audiences is going to intensify, increasing the risk to players on the market, "she argues.

ALSO READ:

"France 3 is considering strengthening its regional

"A recovery plan for French fiction

"Al-Jazeera is challenging the football on TV

 

"This is the fourth year of the MBA HEC offers this seminar in leadership" off-campus ", which stands on sites the military school of Saint Cyr Coetquidan and Fort Penthievre. The idea is to make teaching by practice on the ground ". While explaining this, Commander Xavier Bout, a professor at HEC and organizer of the seminar, participants observed a group whose goal is to cross a gap in a simulated earthquake. Here, no internship or hardening of team-building, but a pedagogy in situ. "In two days, participants will have completed twenty years, putting each in turn in the position of leader, which allows the instructor who accompanies each group to study the postures, behaviors, and then to make a debriefing. The seminar, which comes amid an MBA, is fully in the curriculum, "he says.

Many schools offer similar courses. Consecutive years, participants of Executive MBA MIP (now part of EDHEC group) took a trip-four-day seminar on management turned on the cruiser helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc. As for executives enrolled in the Executive MBA Paris Executive Campus, they will spend several days in June on a military base in Britain.

These seminars, summaries of which could do more to echo reality shows that cozy setting of MBA classes, are not displeasing to many candidates. But their proponents, they should not be reduced to a mere marketing ploy. "The course is to enable learning about decision making in a situation of discomfort," The advance Olivier Fournier, CEO of Paris Executive Campus payday loan companies. All leadership seminars in the field however, are not related to the military.

"Seminar uncertain"

What is sought is primarily the offset, the exercise of leadership in an uncontrolled environment. In the Executive MBA from the NCI, participants depart for example in Poland perform a consulting mission which they become aware that once on site. Since 2003, the International MBA Rouen Business School offers its students a "seminary of uncertainty." The principle? Participants are taken to an unknown destination and group must complete several missions.

"Getting to a point with a compass and unclear instructions, return to its starting pair in opposite directions or build a tetrahedron intended to launch a missile in a limited time," remembers for its part Annina Alanen . Graduated last year from the International MBA Rouen Business School, said she learned a lot from this experience. "It was interesting to hear my own reactions, to see that the conflicts within the group can block any decision or that he who has the solution can not necessarily convince others."

ALSO READ:

"The MBA gradually become more feminine

"The MBA remain attractive despite the crisis

SERVICE:

"Find your MBA with Kelformation

 

A textile company, for lack of sewers it needs for its plant in Quimper, creates a pathway of learning to train its future recruits? The SME Armor Lux, well known for its white wine, made the headlines this week, at a time when all candidates for president are the re-industrialization of the country one of their campaign themes.

This situation is not isolated and number of industrial jobs – welders, boilermakers, milling … – are pulling their hair to find candidates and encourage vocations. "There is a real paradox between a high level of unemployment in France and companies who are not candidates for positions in recruitment, whether welders, millers, coppersmiths, payroll technicians, seamstresses …. In total we estimate that roughly fifty so-called shortage occupations. In our business we miss about 30% of requests from our customers because we do not have the resources and this situation has been deteriorating for a decade, notes François Beharel, group president of Randstad and staffing agencies. Concretely, this means that our group could generate 30% of turnover and more. "

For him, the problem is essentially related to the collective image What these professions in public opinion. "We imagine that in the textile industry and is like 50 years ago, while the environment has changed, that wages were revised upwards and that career paths are possible." "We have to get into people's heads, and young people in particular, that the industry is clean and not necessarily noisy. In this regard, the construction was successful for several years to reverse its bad image, "says Anne-Marie Bjornson, Director of Transitions AFPA.

Develop learning

A UIMM, Joel Mendez, Director Employment and Training, said that one communicates primarily on job losses. Yet in all sectors of metallurgy, the recruitment needs estimated over the period 2007-2015 are always evaluated. Between 60,000 and 80,000 jobs per year, including 30 to 40% reserved for graduates, according to a study by the study-which will be updated in early 2012 over a 2013 to 2020 -. "There is a big educational effort and support to achieve with the companies to become more involved in processes of looking management of jobs and skills (GPEC) and assessing their future needs" says he.

According to Anne-Marie Bjornson Afpa transitions, there are ways to mount training particularly in the context of operational readiness to employment (job center) or as part of training contracts. "We are also working on the issue of transferable skills, which allow for example to a textile worker to work in the weld or a working precision to go in the car." But anticipating needs is a prerequisite and essential step, she insists.

For Joel Mendez, it is also essential to adapt the training devices to the needs, both in initial training in continuing education. And take the example of learning where the numbers in the branch of metallurgy grew 6% in 2011 (with a total of 26 000 apprentices). "At the last school year, nearly a thousand offers of learning could not be met and at the same time, the same volume of young people did not find any company. This shows that learning can be further developed and the various mechanisms put in place recently should help solve these problems. "

A situation that in any case, Francis led Beharel hammering: "stop sending generations of young people in jobs without opportunities. Spend money to know that jobs are to be filled with real careers, especially if the areas are not attractive. "

ALSO READ:

"Call centers still need to recruit

"Training for the unemployed" is far from efficient "

"Strong growth in hiring in March

"These unusual crafts that make you dream … or not

 

Not a word has filtered out of the conversation between Nicolas Sarkozy and PSA boss Philippe Varin. For nearly an hour, the two men met at the Elysee about the factory in Aulnay-sous-Bois in Seine Saint-Denis. The future of this plant, which employs over 3,300 people, would be threatened, unions fear. The presidency as the automotive group has declined to comment on leaving the meeting.

Nicolas Sarkozy wanted to convince Philippe Varin to organize a roundtable discussion with unions and industry minister, Eric Besson, "next week" to discuss the future of the site. A request of the unions, the president-candidate met Thursday at his campaign headquarters.

"All done" to save the plant

Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday, on the antenna of i-TV: he will "do anything to save this plant." For him, it must "ease the burden on the wages of employees and the contributions of the company." He recalled that the business tax that has weighed deleted "250 euro per car manufactured in France." "It's fine to say that the cars must be manufactured in France, but if you put on in France making more taxes than elsewhere, there is a relocation," he concluded.

The unions said they were somewhat reassured after their head to head with Nicolas Sarkozy business cards design. "The words we hear a lot, but the words fly away, we want it written guarantees, said Jean-Pierre Mercier, the CGT. We play our skin. "And not just employees of PSA 9000 with direct and indirect jobs, PSA Aulnay is one of the largest employers in Seine-Saint-Denis, according to the General Council.

The record of the Aulnay plant is back on center stage last weekend. The unions had then expressed their disappointment after a meeting between employee representatives and management organized by the prefect of Seine Saint-Denis. But the concern of unions as of June 2011 and the disclosure of internal working documents of the automaker speculating a closure of Aulnay. Unions fear that the decline in production will continue and lead eventually to a cessation of activity on this site.

"We want to continue working"

In recent months the government has stepped up operations in the industrial thorny issues. Latest success, the recovery of the carrier Sernam by Geodis. In the case of Peugeot, the unions are skeptical, as expressed by Jean-Pierre Mercier Thursday: "We all know that the management of Peugeot expects the presidential and legislative elections to officially announce the closure of this factory, we are unwilling not die, we want to continue working. "

 

Times are changing. Apple also. Tim Cook, CEO of the group, visited China this week. This is the chief executive of the Apple brand to do so. Territory that Steve Jobs has ignored many years before the first open an Apple Store in 2008, but he never went. Thursday, the world's factory and especially Apple, China today is a tremendous reservoir of consumers. The Chinese world – mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan – is already the second largest brand, behind the United States.

No question of the destination then sulk. "China is very important to us and we look forward to further invest and grow here," and said Carolyn Wu, spokesman for the brand in one of the few interventions official Apple communication very stingy on the Overall the visit Tim Cook. Received with honors by the Vice-Premier Li Keqiang, tipped to succeed next year in the current prime minister, Wen Jiabao, also met with California leading operators China Unicom and China Telecom. First local operator, China Mobile still in talks with Apple to launch iPhone on its network. Moreover, an intellectual property litigation on the brand "IPAD" claimed by a Hong Kong company, slows sales of iPad in China, where the latest version has not yet been launched.

Wave of suicides at Foxconn

But the trip leader California also sought to address criticisms been rising, from around the world, on the manufacturing conditions of its high-tech products payday loans lenders. In 2010, a wave of suicides had given to Foxconn, Apple's main supplier that produces iPhone and iPad in China, a fatal reputation, yet tarnished by an explosion in a factory and workers of poisoning by chemicals.

An image so disastrous that earlier this year, the American actor Mike Daisey had no trouble getting across the Atlantic believe that Foxconn, children 12 years working in factories guarded by armed guards, before admitting that this information had been made.

No wonder Tim Cook will be split from a visit to the new Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, south-west of Beijing, including the official photos showed smiling employees. The Apple brand is committed to improving working conditions in its factory in China, signing an agreement with Foxconn on the hiring of tens of thousands of employees, improving safety and solving the problem for hours additional illegal.

Earlier, China had the opportunity to lecture foreign companies invited by Li Keqiang to "take more care of their workers," according to comments reported by the official daily English-language China Daily.

ALSO READ:

"Which countries are involved in the manufacture of iPod and iPad?

 

"Telerama" is offered on Wednesday, a fundamental review of its editorial formula. This evolution of the weekly television, accompanied by a new model, is "a response by Telerama change consumption and cultural practices to win new readers and continue to attract current," says its director writing, Fabienne Pascaud.

With its position closer to a "cultural news", Telerama has suffered less last year than the heavyweights of television news. France paid its circulation reached 622,161 copies in 2011, down 1.59%, while all of this family of magazines dropped 3.3%, according to OJD.

The ambition of the new formula of the title, including the selling price increased from 2.30 to 2.50 euros in late February, is to "reclaim the newsstand sales of around 75,000 copies today. The kiosk is synonymous with vitality, "says Fabienne Pascaud. In this perspective, the title also wants to seduce new readers, "young adults, 30 to 40 years." The average age of readers "is currently at 49 years." At constant paging (137 pages of writing), the new formula Telerama advocates "openness" totally free credit score.

"To better understand the society we live heckled, through its creators, its intellectuals, its researchers, it is essential to increase the angles of approach, open to also radiate to other types writing, "says its director in the editorial to be published Wednesday. With a model which "gives more room for elegance," redesigned internally by the Artistic Director Loran Stosskopf the nouveauTélérama offers shorter film critics, a "photo editorial", new sections on concerts, video games or catch up on TV. However, the little figure Ulysses, smiling or grimacing as film review, remains under a new face.

The offensive of the weekly, owned by "Le Monde", is accompanied by a revival of its website, with "greater visibility of services and content" and creating a premium area, TéléramaPlus, for to subscribers. Last year, Telerama has achieved a turnover of 77 million euros. 25% of revenues come from advertising.

ALSO READ:

"The French press has spread its falling

"Le Figaro, the best-selling national daily

 

Nicolas Sarkozy gradually draws its economic project and incorporated last night during his speech in "Capital", a measure to end a specificity very French, that EU rules are still emphasize: the proliferation of standards, which hold back activity and increase the cost of everyday life. "The standards, they are 4-5 points higher expenditure in GDP," he insisted.

"If the French trust me, in the next five years, whenever a minister will propose a new standard, it will remove two old standards," he said. And the Economic, Social and Environmental will be "the guarantor of that commitment." At European level, would have "the same rule applies [...] It will convince" our partners, said the president candidate.

"Five temperatures according to the dishes"

And to demonstrate the absurdity of some of these standards, the latter did not hesitate to embark on a series of examples: a herd of cows "can not drink in the river" that goes on in their field for ecological reasons, there are "five temperatures according to the dishes" in the restoration, a local breastfeeding in a company must have "3 meter high ceiling" … Examples like these could increase, amounting to Nicolas Sarkozy 200,000 the number of French standards and the number of 20 000 European standards. 

Inflation regulations is a recurring complaint of local elected officials: the proliferation of standards on the environment, urban planning, accessibility of the disabled, or food in school canteens, leaden local finances. The bill would give them about 600 million euros a year, according to the Advisory Commission evaluation standards (NECC).

In fact, a moratorium on the standards had been established by the Government in July 2010 but it had proved ineffective. A bill by Senator Eric UMP Doligé then acts as recently new weapon to fight against the proliferation of standards – the text provides that they can vary depending on community size. But given the parliamentary calendar, it could not be examined in the Assembly before the legislative elections of June 2012. Yesterday was a measure that goes further brought forward by Nicolas Sarkozy.

 

Can we judge the Heads of State or Government for their responsibility in the economic crisis that has shaken the world since 2008? To this question, the parties have used to respond that the verdict will urns – some have already experienced at their expense. Iceland is in court that the former head of government is accountable. Geir Haarde appearing before a special court – the exclusive right to try ministers – for his role in the collapse of the financial system. Adjourned in September, the trial resumed on Monday and will last until March 15. The accused faces up to two years in prison.

That's an understatement to say that Iceland has suffered from the crisis: the economy of the island with 320,000 inhabitants was literally blown away by the explosion of the global financial system in 2008. The three largest banks in the country, which held assets equivalent to 923% of national GDP, went bankrupt. Plunged into deep recession, the country owed its salvation to EUR 1.6 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund. Popular anger caused by this disaster had forced the then Conservative government of Geir Haarde to resign.

"We saved the country from bankruptcy"

But Iceland is not stopping there 0cherche guilty. In spring 2009, a parliamentary commission of inquiry concluded that the main leaders of countries have made serious mistakes in managing the crisis. The expert report specifically criticized Geir Haarde to have stifled the information leaving early in the year 2008 point to a major financial crisis guaranteed payday loans. The former head must also meet its inaction to reduce the size of banks hypertrophied.  

According to the accused, let the banks go broke "was the right thing to do" and "saved the country from bankruptcy." "The banking sector has collapsed but the real economy, the entire production capacity of the country, remained intact and continues to run," he pleaded last summer. In fact, Iceland has since returned to growth. If the state had guaranteed foreign debts of the banking system, Geir Haarde believes that Iceland would have "the same mistakes" as Greece, for example.

Beyond the merits, the defense challenges the very principle of this trial. She recalled that none of the other ministers implicated by the inquiry commission has not been charged. But among them were two Socialists, and it's socialist majority in Parliament to what income the decision to refer Geir Haarde court. The latter has a field day denouncing a "settling of accounts" policy. More broadly, the former leader sees himself as a scapegoat for the crisis: "There was a collapse of banks around the world (…) Why is there no other political leader in a court like? ".

ALSO READ:

"Three years after its fall, Iceland remains fragile

Posted by admin under business, finance, life, top news, world

• "Fear is back"

President Nicolas Sarkozy said Thursday in Toulon that "fear has returned," that "for France to lose control of his destiny" in the crisis of the euro area. The Head of State spoke of "this fear that destroys trust" and "that paralyzes consumers, which prevents the investor to invest, the contractor undertaking the boss to hire the banker to lend" , ensuring that "the only way of averting this fear is to tell the truth."

• A cycle of debt

Nicolas Sarkozy announced a "new cycle", that of "deleveraging, which will bring the balance of the economy to work and production that developed countries have tended to sacrifice too."