The "Real Madridland", the latest craze

24th March

 

Real Madrid exhibition of frustration. Tense, silent Wednesday night after the draw conceded to Villareal (1-1) bringing the FC Barcelona 6 points behind the leader of La Liga, Real Madrid players (Karim Benzema, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Jose Mourinho and surrounded Zinedine Zidane) had, early Thursday afternoon, smiling again to unveil a draft of magnitude: "Real Madrid Resort Island." A tourist complex and theme park located in the UAE, in Ras al-Khaimah. Game without borders

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On an artificial island (50 hectares), a marina, hotels and luxury villas, museums, sports facilities including a 10,000-seat stadium will rise up and hope to host in January 2015 from one million visitors a year. A "Real Madridland" (45 minutes from Dubai Airport) estimated at $ 1 billion, which is reminiscent of the Ferrari World theme park located in Abu Dhabi since 2010 letting go of roller coasters, driving simulators

. Between excitement and nervousness

"When Real Madrid Island Resort will open its doors, the visitor will be part of the legend of the best club football history, which seeks to be eternal, universal guaranteed online payday loans. This is a strategic institution in the Middle East and Asia, "summarized Florentino Perez, the president of Spanish club. The Real (480 million budget, 460 for FC Barcelona), sacred richest club in the world for the sixth straight year in 2011 (438.6 million revenue in 2010), club all records on transfers (Cristiano Ronaldo, 94 million euros, Zidane, 77 milllion …), wants to continue to combine with all the time.  

The past is revered through daily visits in the corridors of Santiago Bernabeu, the home club. Besides the exploits of Alfredo Di Stefano, the volley of Zinedine Zidane with the Champions League final in 2002 against the Merengue Leverkusen appears XXL poster. This, to him, found himself between excitement and nervousness (C1 hopes of a tenth and a thirty-second Liga, most recently in 2008), when the future is taking shape. Voted the best club of the twentieth century, Real wants, the year of its centennial, see below, great

.

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Three manufacturers convicted croquettes

21st March

 

After the Millers last week, it was the turn of the manufacturers of dry dog ​​and cat to be sanctioned by the Competition Authority. In a country of 8 million dogs and 10 million cats, groups Nestle (Purina), March (Royal Canin) and Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Pet Nutrition) were sentenced to pay 35.3 million euros for cartel with their wholesalers.

According to the sages of the Rue de l'Echelle, Nestle and Mars agreed for five years (2004-2008) with their wholesalers, who then sold their stores croquettes (BHV Jardiland, Leroy Merlin, Truffaut …).

The two market leaders have imposed their resale prices, exclusive territorial or customer, thus limiting competition between them. Royal Canin had already been convicted in 2005 by Constable competition.

As for the subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, she has arranged with its veterinary wholesalers to ban the export of its products outside the Hexagon.

If Nestlé and Mars are the most heavily penalized (19 and 11.6 million fine), they nevertheless benefited from reductions of approximately 20% penalty for not contesting the facts. They also set up compliance programs to competition rules. Finally, they reorganized their distribution system and p

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Common: the state of skeptical group borrowing

13th March

 

Since last summer, bank credit has become scarce for local elected officials. New regulations have made loans to local banks for less advantageous, when Dexia, their traditional bank, plunged. So it is impossible for municipalities, counties and regions to find in private schools 16 to 18 billion in loans they need each year to finance their investments. Aware of the danger, the government called the Deposit to the rescue. Twice, in late 2011 and early 2012, the Fund has allocated credit of 5 billion euros.

But if the fire was extinguished in the short term, elected officials are worried about post-2012. They look for alternative sources of funding. The use of bond markets is limited to major cities and regions. Quite expensive and reserved for communities heavily populated, borrowing from the people is not ideal. Hence the idea, supported by associations of elected officials since September, to create an agency of local government financing, which could provide 25% of their funding. She would borrow on financial markets and then offer loans to member communities. With this system, small communities would have access to the bond market.

But in a report requested by the Parliament, the government is wary shows the feasibility of such an agency. The report doubts that the structure can be rated AAA or even AA +, as expected by local officials. The state itself has lost its triple A!

Risk of debt

Furthermore, "the device does not yet appear likely to develop a truly autonomous structure and without government guarantee," the report said. But the state itself in debt, does not consider such a bond. Moreover, the structure will have significant equity. The equity will be provided by local, that may … have to go into debt to provide money destined to be blocked.

Anyway, the Minister for local government, Philippe Richert, believes that the Agency is not required. Local councilors, who were attached to the agency, probably will challenge this analysis.

Questions … Philippe Richert, minister for local government.

Funding for communities been secured for 2012?

Yes. Private banks are committed to providing just under 11 billion in loans. The new public bank, Dexia replacing, should provide 2 billion from the summer. To the join, the government asked the Caisse des Depots (CDC) to release $ 5 billion. An initial budget of 2 billion will be available until late March. In total, the account will be there.

But the CDC can not put out the fires forever

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From 2013, we no longer need to resort to the CDC. Indeed, the public bank will rise in power. I think she may grant 4 billion of loans in 2013.

The funding agency will she need?

Local elected officials want to create an agency that would borrow on their behalf in the bond markets. In principle, this is a good idea. But the establishment of this agency, as it is now conceived, is problematic. This type of structure exists in Northern Europe. But in these countries, communities have more resources and are much less numerous, there is not 36,000 municipalities. The situation is not comparable. In the immediate future, it is better to focus on the new public bank.

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Employees of SocGen are aggrieved by the Kerviel affair

11th March

 

The Kerviel affair did not end annoying Societe Generale. While the appeal of Jerome Kerviel should be held next June, a new legal developments oppose the bank Tuesday to four of its employees. These employed a center of Marseille succession management demanding 15,000 euros in damages to their employer, Societe Generale, for the moral prejudice they suffered as a result of the Kerviel affair.

Since the discovery record losses in 2008 – 4.9 billion euros – earned by the former trader, these employees claim to be the subject of "jokes" from their customers, some having been until the deal with "thieves," said their lawyer, Richard Daniel. "These taunts lasted for months, at least until the first trial of Jerome Kerviel in 2010," he says. The employees would like to see these inconveniences recognized by the justice and compensation. A hearing is scheduled next Tuesday in the morning before the 6th Civil Chamber of the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Nanterre.

SocGen cleared

In the first trial of Jerome Kerviel in October 2010, two employees were already in civil proceedings. Also represented by Daniel Richard, they had managed to gain recognition by the judge moral prejudice "against the deleterious working conditions" resulting from the incident, and "threats" that it "poses to their career prospects. " At the time, the former trader was sentenced to compensate up to 2,500 euros each, plus 4.9 billion euros due to Societe Generale.

Mr. Daniel Richard had immediately called the bank to take the money for its support. "The bank must answer for his own faults: he was convicted July 4, 2008 by the Banking Commission for the serious flaws in its internal control system. Societe Generale would do well by doing this spontaneously compensation ", potentially involving every employee in contact with customers, he argued in October 2010. For the bank, completely cleared at trial of the scandal Kerviel, such a decision would create a precedent difficult to manage.

At the trial of Jerome Kerviel, the lawyer had failed to take the responsibility of the bank financial loss suffered by the employee shareholders of the group, linked to the loss of their holdings on the merits corporate savings. In 2008, SocGen's share price has lost more than 60%. "That damage can not be interpreted as a direct consequence of the facts," the judge had ruled.  

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Record in football: more than nine out of ten players are unionized

9th March

 

Sometimes there are coincidences that plunge. A few days after Francois Hollande has triggered an outcry in the microcosm football with his proposal to tax 75% on incomes above one million euros per year, the union of professional players (UNFP) has announced a new record membership. Not at 20, 30 or even 50%. Not to … 96.45%, which means that few players playing in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 not to be enclosed in a union.

This score membership record is even more comical that exceeds the standards of the Nordic countries where, at best, three-quarters of employees are unionized (against 8% in France, it must be remembered) payday loans in 1 hour. But also because such a rate – worthy of glory of the USSR – in a profession considered golden demonstrates that unionism and categorical niche, including employees on the most spoiled society, has a future in France.

"At a time when the image of football is too often tarnished – wrongly, need I elaborate? – This unionization rate (…) shows that the professional football player looks at his job, his future, as much as the other, it is his teammate or opponent on the ground ", for his part prefers to deduce the UNFP. When will a syndicate of traders?

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Mayor: "The farmers taught me a lot"

25th February

 

LE FIGARO. – Your mission in the Ministry of Agriculture will soon end, what measures are you most satisfied?

Bruno Le Maire. – I am proud to have initiated the Battle of regulation in Europe and having secured the CAP budget. I do not regret the hundreds of hours of negotiations that allowed us to achieve: for without the CAP, farmers know that French agriculture is not as strong today. There are also contracts between producers and manufacturers that provide visibility and stability to farm incomes, modernizing sectors of slaughter cattle and finally the reform of the wine that allowed him to resume in 2011 its first place worldwide.

With what results?

We handed agriculture at the heart of the national pact. We have him set the objective: competitiveness, with the aim of sustainable agriculture. No one will return our choice because they produce results. The price of beef back, and demanding meat markets French saving account pay day loan. This is the first time in 14 years! The average income of farmers increased from € 14,500 in 2009 to € 30,200 in 2011. The surplus of the agricultural trade balance has doubled in two years. There are still too many gaps, and I remain vigilant on prices. But it gets better. And more personally, farmers have learned a lot myself. They can always count on me.

What are the issues that remain unresolved?

We must first deal with the chain of fruit and vegetables which is more fragile today. Will largely continue to reduce labor costs, as decided by the president. When I hear Francois Hollande said that there is no problem of labor costs, I see he does not know the reality of the agricultural world.

Finally, it will come to correct misunderstandings and clashes between environmentalists and agricultural world.

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Sunday working back in the presidential debate

18th February

 

The opening of Sunday shopping has become a topic of this Friday's presidential campaign. Nicolas Sarkozy, the president now officially a candidate for reelection, took hold of the States General of Trade to revive a debate that has never really stopped since the adoption of the "law Maille". The Act of August 10, 2009 allows the Sunday opening of shops in some towns and tourist areas and hot springs and in some big cities. More generally, the Labour Code provides for the possibility for all stores to open five Sundays a year authorized by the mayor or the prefect.  

"If the French put their trust in me at the next presidential election, the first step that I will implement will be to continue the flexibilities already made with regard to Sunday opening of shops for you to adapt to changing lifestyles, "it said in the statement that was read by the Secretary of State for Trade, Frédéric Lefebvre. "Broadening the conditions for opening of shops on Sundays, giving you more freedom, it's growth for your business is employment for the French, it's purchasing power for your employees , is the strengthening of the tourist attraction that France is strong, "argued the head of state, resuming his campaign slogan. Already in 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy had placed Sunday working at the heart of his campaign, when he presented himself as the candidate of purchasing power and it boasted its famous slogan: "Work more to earn more" .

And since, traders remained dissatisfied. In his "Pact for the development of commerce", presented in November 2011 with the intention of being sent to the candidates in the presidential election, the Board of Trade of France (FPS) requested the opportunity for each merchant to open " freely from 10 to 12 Sundays a year ", even if his store is located" out of area tourism. " The association already put forward "changing lifestyles" and "ambition tourism in France" to justify its request. During sales in January, Frédéric Lefebvre assured that some foreign tour operators were programming does not weekend in Paris because their customers can not be done shopping.

"A little air"

The issue of Sunday opening is sized. With 730,000 businesses, trade accounts for 20% of private jobs in France and 10% of GDP. Its annual sales reached 1.4 trillion euros, said the FPS. However, the federation does not argue for an opening of "all the shops, every Sunday throughout France." "What we want is a relaxation, a little air," said its chairman Gerard Atlan, quoted by AFP. "The dealer should be there when there is revenue to do, when there is none, it closes."

Like Nicolas Sarkozy, the Socialist candidate Francois Hollande has taken hold of the subject. In a video broadcast on the same Estates General of Trade this morning, he says he will engage in "negotiations" on the issue "controversial" work on Sundays. Last date flowage in a parliamentary report prepared last November that voluntary employee to work on Sunday in the authorized areas was "not sufficiently guaranteed" by some companies. For Francois Hollande, it is to find "a balance between the rights of employees" and concern for traders to "respond to new forms of competition." First union to respond, the CFTC has regretted the "social choice" favored by Nicolas Sarkozy, according to the union, further open the way for the "hyper-consumerism."

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French growth in 2011 stood

16th February

 

The government calls it "a false flat economy." But simply slowing growth announced Wednesday morning by INSEE (+ 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2011, after +0.3% in the third quarter) is a pleasant surprise. In the midst of turbulence in the euro area, it not only to French growth from to 1.7% in 2011 – a figure that has line width closely corresponds to the expectation of the Government. But it also prevents the entry of countries into recession. In its latest memo on the economy, established in December, the statistics institute saw no improvement emerge this winter and announced a negative fourth quarter.

Contrary to this scenario, the last three months of 2011 were marked by a more or less good performance of all the main drivers of activity. While employment has greatly suffered in late 2011, spending on household consumption slowed without collapsing (+ 0.2% in the fourth quarter, after +0.3% in the third). Business investment has accelerated significantly (+ 1.4% at – 0.4%). As for the deficit, it is a bit small – under the blow of higher exports and lower imports – allowing foreign trade to contribute significantly to both a growth (+0.7 points).

The Minister of Economy Baroin noted in a statement that these results were achieved in "a difficult international environment." But the comments from Bercy sobriety played Wednesday and took care of complacency, the executive knows that the equation of economic and fiscal 2012 has not become simpler in one day.

Appropriations in reserve

In the wake of European difficulties, a GDP contraction is expected in the first quarter of this year (0.1%), before a small growth spurt (also 0.1%) in the second quarter, according to forecasts INSEE. Under these assumptions, the growth overhang at mid-year would be almost nil. Suffice to say that although the government has revised down its growth forecast for 2012 (0.5% against 1%), nothing is won yet. To accommodate this new lens, a 0.6% increase in GDP per quarter during the second half of the year is necessary. But we must go back well before the crisis, in late 2006 and early 2007, to see similar growth rate.

The government has repeatedly said he had put enough money in reserve to hold its trajectory to reduce public deficits without resorting to additional austerity measures. He welcomed the results better than expected on the forehead of public finances in 2011 give him a little oxygen for 2012.

But almost sluggish growth this year would considerably complicate a fragile situation. Half a point less growth, it is about 5 billion more to find. It will take somewhere, have clearly in mind the French: Paris is committed to its partners in Brussels to bring back the deficit to 4.5% of GDP at end 2012. This objective is "intangible", regularly repeats the Prime Minister Francois Fillon. Election year or not.

Spain reduced the cost of dismissal

11th February

 

"Extremely aggressive." Thus, the Spanish Minister of Economy, Luis de Guindos, described the day before the announcement, the reform of the labor market. A long-awaited reform to lift the country from the spiral of unemployment, also pushed for weeks by the Union européenneet the IMF.

Spain, which displays the highest rate in Europe at 22.85%, passed the 5 million unemployed. If the explosion of the housing bubble has destroyed thousands of jobs since 2008, the failure of the labor market is also challenged. "The system is too much with a dual side highly protected permanent contracts, which are not conducive to improving productivity, and the other fixed-term contracts, very precarious," explicit Gayle Allard, IE Business School in Madrid.

The first part of the reform, presented Friday in the Council of Ministers, aims to reduce the cost of dismissal. The general allowance will be reduced from 45 to 33 days per year of service in the company. It may be reduced to 20 days for a troubled company, which links three semesters without profit. The compensation will also be capped at 24 months regardless of the employee's seniority. The reasons for entitlement to redundancy will also be expanded. The Conservative government wants to tackle the bleeding of youth unemployment that exceeds 48%.

Tax breaks for hiring

Decree-Law provides for the creation of a new permanent contract for an initial hiring of a young unemployed under 30 years. Businesses will benefit in this case a tax deduction of € 3,000 while the job seeker can accumulate 25% of his unemployment benefits with the salary for one year. Tax breaks, EUR 4500, are also provided for the hiring of long-term unemployed.  

The other priority for Madrid is to stop the use of fixed term contracts (CDD) repeatedly, very common in Spain, especially among youth and women. The CSD will be limited to two years. The aim is also to encourage training, another weakness of the country. Each employee should receive a quota of 20 hours.

If the Minister of Employment, Fatima Banez, welcomed "a historic reform" social unrest may still move up a notch. As protests intensified in regions against austerity widespread. "This reform will cost me a general strike", recently told the prime minister, Mariano Rajoy.

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27th November

After a series of accidents due to a falling elevator, with one death occurred Thursday in Paris, industry professionals warn of the lack of safety devices. "The safety of elevators is not effective," denounces Herve Lasseigne, president of the Federation of Independent Experts and Control Offices lifts (Fiebca).

Voted in 2003, the modernization plan, however, elevator provides that after three deadlines (2010, 2013 and 2018), all units of residential housing and office buildings should be standard.But, faced with the often high cost of work (between 5000 and 10,000 euros per lift for the first phase and up to 30,000 euros on average for work completed before July 2013), some owners are slow to meetings of the vote easy payday loans.

The delays are such that "15% to 20% of lifts (especially condominiums)," which should have been subject to new safety standards by the end of 2010, have not yet been upgraded, according to Fiebca. "The situation is very worrying, warns Herve Lasseigne, accident, this may have consequences in terms of civil liability or criminal, for condominium corporations," he says.

The upgrades are not a guarantee of safety. The many renovated elevators are dangerous because "treatments are often incomplete."