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The French group, co-leader of the global wine and spirits, has lost his latest appeal yesterday in the battle between the past twenty years at rival Bacardi. Pernod Ricard can not use the Havana Club trademark in the United States, world's largest market rum (40% of sales). Held by the Cuban state, the famous rum is sold in 120 countries around the world by Pernod Ricard.

The U.S. Supreme Court refused yesterday to consider the decision to an appeals court in Washington in 2011 that had impeded renew the Havana Club trademark in the United States. And, under a 1998 law, also called "Bacardi Bill". The French had seized earlier this year the U.S. Supreme Court in hopes of finally succeed. "We are victims of something unjust, said yesterday at Figaro Pringuet, CEO of the group. This is equivalent to changing the rules in the middle of the match. "An allusion to the retroactivity of the law, in theory contrary to the U guaranteed pay day loans.S. Constitution.

A bitter defeat for Pernod Ricard. He sees close the doors of the United States while global sales of Havana Club have increased tenfold over the last eighteen years. But the French did not admit defeat. He is preparing for the next battle. Impose the Havana Club trademark in the United States when lifting the embargo will be imposed. Bacardi sells rum discreetly in Florida also called Havana Club, manufactured in Puerto Rico, is in ambush. Pernod Ricard does not intend to let its competitor the right to enjoy the international reputation of the brand, built over several decades. He therefore announced yesterday that he would file the trademark Havanista replica of Havana Club. Insurance for the French to cut the grass under the feet of Bacardi in due course.

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A potential policy holder should always study their life insurance quotes carefully and all terms contained within them should be properly understood before any final decision is made.

 

Like every Monday evening, the Ministry of Sustainable Development publishes weekly reports fuel prices in France. For the first time since late January, a liter of unleaded 95, unleaded 98 and diesel show a decline. But it is minimal for the SP 95, a liter costs on average in the hexagon 1.6507 euro (against 1.6664 last week, a record) for the SP 98, it is worth 1.7001 euro (or an less than 1.7095 posted last Monday) and a liter of diesel fuel most consumed by the French, amounts to 1.4295 euro, 1.4362 against seven days ago.

This small decline is explained both by a slight decline in oil prices in recent days, combined with a slight rise of the euro against the dollar. Indeed, in one week, a barrel of black gold has risen from 104.77 dollars to 102.86 dollars on Monday (-1.8%) in New York, while the euro / dollar rose to a , 3077 to 1.3220 (1.1%). Besides these two variants, the price of gas depends on the gross refining margins, those of distribution, the rate of VAT (19 payday loans guaranteed no fax.6%) and the TIPP (domestic tax on petroleum products), attached to around 60 euro cents per liter.

According to a recent study by two economists, gas stations reflected both increases than cuts refined oil prices on their price. Supermarkets are the best students.

If Nicolas Sarkozy was elected president on May 6, so that social VAT would take effect in October. That is to say that the VAT rate will go from 19.6% to 21.2%. If, however, Francois Hollande took power, the Socialist said he would be immediately increased by 1.6 point VAT. He also warned that it would impose a freeze on gasoline prices and would set up a floating TIPP.  

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"If we do not respect the line to reduce our deficits and our debt to the minute interest rates will rise." Wednesday, Nicolas Sarkozy has gone a step further in the dramatization. After Francois Fillon, who suggested Tuesday that a hint of victory would boost Francois Hollande attacks against the euro area, the president candidate has warned against any slippage in the path of fiscal consolidation.

To raise the specter of an uncontrollable ascent rates, the current majority is based on digging for a few days the gap between interest rates ten years French (2.93% on Wednesday) and German ( 1.79%). At 114 basis points, after reaching 135 points Tuesday, this spread has actually widened over 30 points in a month.

Should we see a sign of growing distrust of markets in anticipation of a victory for the left, and expect a speculative attack against France after the second round? If the debate on this subject undoubtedly grows, nothing concrete has yet support this thesis. "The widening gap in interest rates between France and Germany is primarily due to lower rates to ten years German, while at the same time the French rate increase very little," said Patrick Jacq, BNP Paribas. In fact, France borrowed Wednesday cheaper than January 1 – the rate at ten years then stood at 3.20%. At the height of the crisis in the euro area, last fall, the OAT to ten years had reached a yield of 3.70% and the gap with Germany was around 190 points. The position occupied by Francois Hollande favorite in the presidential polls did not even affect the bond markets.

The fact remains that, beyond political considerations alone, the French debt will find itself under strong pressure in the coming days. Several factors will combine. The first is technical. As of Monday, April 16, the derivatives market Eurex will boost the marketing of futures contracts on the OAT need a personal loan with bad credit. Some see an opportunity for traders to speculate on France. "The danger is actually involved as a hedging tool transformed into an instrument of credit risk management," says Patrick Jacq. In other words, that some operators are betting on a French credit event.

Community constraint

Precisely, the second is the threat to a likely downgrade of France by Moody's, which can occur anytime during the next four weeks. On this theme, moreover, that the Socialist candidate responded to the attacks of the UMP: "If there was loss of triple A, is due to the left or right because of?" , asked Francois Hollande in response to declining rating by Standard & Poor's mid-January.

But the main constraint to be exercised on the French debt will be at the community. By coincidence, in the days following the second round, the European Commission must publish its report on the growth prospects of French public finances. However, this report will not consider the program of President-elect. "There is a risk that this be interpreted by markets as a distrust of the new president," worries do we camp in the Netherlands. In fact, it is on structural reforms of the future government that markets deem the French debt. "The benchmark in Europe now, it's Mario Monti and his reform of the labor market," says a senior European official. From this point of view, Francois Hollande is a real risk, arguing such measures as hiring officials or the questioning, even partial, of the pension reform.

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As soon as the telecom regulator (ARCEP) she reiterated that Free Mobile fulfilling its obligations in terms of coverage, the network of the new telephone is again controversial. He knows since Friday morning strong disturbances that affect customer communications. The magnitude of the incident remains unknown, Iliad, the parent of Free, refused to give details. But for France Telecom, under contract to Free Mobile, it would be a "major incident".

Disturbances may be caused by the failure of one of the two "signaling equipment" Free Mobile needed to find the phones.

Orange wants to keep his distance. The incumbent is linked to Free Mobile "a roaming agreement" which allows customers to use the Free Orange network in areas where Free has not yet developed its own coverage. "Free us informed in the late morning of an incident on its network equipment. This incident is in no way related to the contract of homelessness in Orange network, "said a spokesman for France Telecom.

No "quality testing service"

The incident revived the controversy over the quality of service of the fourth mobile operator. Tuesday, Arcep confirmed before an Assembly committee that Free Mobile covered at least 27% of the French population, a regulatory requirement for anyone holding a mobile telephone license. The regulatory authority, however, that it had made "coverage tests" and not "test quality of service."

For other telephone companies, possess Free Mobile Network "cheap" or "empty". They accuse him and his relay off voluntarily and not to develop its infrastructure to rest on those of Orange, better and more extensive. It is estimated that over 90% of calls made by customers Free pass through its network.

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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."

After several days of intense negotiations, Greece finally has a new Prime Minister: Lucas Papademos. It took a meeting will still be several hours Thursday morning to get out of psychodrama and political reach a formal appointment.

The banker of 64 years, member of the Academy of Athens since 2006, will thus lead a transitional government, bringing together ministers and conservative socialists. After more than a week of political crisis, punctuated by daily twists, under pressure European and international Papademos was the only man accepted by the entire political class and the best position, given the circumstances, to become the eighth technocrat to take the reins of the executive Greece since the beginning of the twentieth century instant payday loans.Lucas Papademos has worked alongside Jean-Claude Trichet as the deputy governor of the European Central Bank, it enjoys an international reputation and credibility with creditors would be Greece.

If he is charged a lack of charisma, his discretion is unanimously recognized. It is "primarily a support person for the two major parties and Greek will reassure the markets. He is one of those who have allowed Greece to enter the euro area. So he knows the issues and mechanisms of the system. It is critical right now. Then, it is the only one able to ratify the European Agreement of 27 October, "Takis decrypts Bratsos, economic analyst.

EDF appears from Monday morning before the correctional court of Nanterre for spying in 2006, a computer anti-nuclear organization Greenpeace. The electrician, as a corporation, and the head of his security service at the time, Pascal Durieux, 64, and his assistant Pierre-François Paul, 63, are charged with complicity of "undermining a system of automated data processing. " In other words for hacking.

EDF did not directly hacked the hard drive of Yannick Jadot, director of Greenpeace campaign. The company had used a business intelligence company, Kargus Consultants, headed by Thierry Lohro. Which had sought a self-taught hacker of his knowledge, Alain Quiros. The attacker was not enough stealth since he left traces on the computer of another victim allowed the court to go back to the folder Greenpeace.

Thierry Lohro is a former agent of the DGSE. Alain Quiros occasionally worked for the Atlantic Intelligence Company, founded by the former head of the GIGN Philippe Legorjus. EDF side, Pascal Durieux against a former admiral and his assistant Pierre-Paul Francis was a police officer.

Appropriate forum for Greenpeace

Facing the judge Thomas Cassuto, the two leaders EDF – removed from office in April 2009 – have denied knowledge of the illegal means used to gather information on Greenpeace. As for the CD-ROM found in the safe of Pierre-Paul Francois at EDF 1420 containing pirated files on the computer of Yannick Jadot, MM. François Durieux, and would not have bothered to watch the content according to their testimony. Pierre-François Paul does not deny having been presented to the hacker by Thierry Lohro Quiros in a cafe near the Military Club a few months before piracy.In addition, EDF has established two contracts with Kargus Consultants, a first in 2004 in the amount of 10,000 euros per month, the second in November 2006 providing for a fee of EUR 4,664 cash advances pay day loan.40 per month for one year. Police, Thierry Lohro said the contract was payment for subsequent operation of piracy.

Yannick Jadot, target of piracy, became MEP and spokesperson Eva Joly, the Green candidate for president: the trial offers a timely media platform to Greenpeace. And the opportunity to prove nothing less than "nuclear power is incompatible with the rules of French democracy." The organization claims 8.3 million euros in damages to EDF. For his part, counsel for the energy giant, Alex Gublin, raise, according to AFP, a priority issue of constitutionality (QPC) for a retroactive application of the law.The discretion of the President of the 15th Criminal Chamber, Isabelle Prevost-Desprez, the trial could be returned, or take place over ten days of the hearing.

Of doping in cycling hacking

The investigation that led to the indictment of EDF to a computer hacking Greenpeace's original appearance in a case removed: doping the American cyclist Floyd Landis, winner – decommissioned – the Tour de France 2006. On 14 September 2006, the department's National Laboratory for Doping Detection (LNDD) of Chatenay-Malabry discovers an intrusion on one of its computers. The police investigation following the complaint of the laboratory establishes a chain of links – which passes by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency U.S. – between Arnie Baker, coach of the cyclist, and a certain Alain Quiros, hacker to its hours.Surrounding the yellow jersey doped sought to discredit the LNDD to strengthen his defense. Computer equipment seized from Alain Quiros, exiled in Morocco since the fall of 2006, will the investigators on the trail of other victims of the hacker. Among them, the association of small shareholders of Vivendi and Yannick Jadot, campaign director of Greenpeace.

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Fight against poverty, access to clean water, education, health … Target the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa while engaging more in North Africa. These are the priorities declined by the French development, according to the 2011 AFD Ifop barometer, conducted in July, against a background of "Arab spring". They are 63% to support the continuation of official development assistance (ODA), despite the crisis and the context of budget restrictions. 77% of them even consider that France should have its own policy in Europe.

Tax on financial transactions

Given that France is the third largest contributor to global. "ODA accounts for 10 billion euros, or nearly 10% of global ODA, while France weighs 5% of global GDP.And the 2012 budget will not be affected by lower public spending, "said Minister of Cooperation Henri de Raincourt. Welcoming the outcome of the investigation that "incites to put development at the heart of the international agenda," the minister said that the G20 Development to be held next Friday in Paris will be a first in this proceeding with three priorities: food security, infrastructure and innovative financing.

Paris has the support of Brazil and several European partners to push the proposed tax on financial transactions, despite the opposition displayed the Anglo-Saxon countries, the United States in mind. "It will take these countries explain to their publics at the same time they lower their ODA they refuse to find new financing.This is an ethical issue, "criticizes the French minister.

If aid is important to the French, they are only 55% find it effective. They are even more severe in the result on the reduction of poverty, the fight against global warming and support for economic growth. Overall 60% believe the French budget enough, young people, however, require a greater commitment.

Respondents also believe that aid should rely more on local actors: communities, civil society organizations, entrepreneurs and NGOs …. The transfer of skills and know-how is considered very important to avoid over-reliance of the States for assistance. Finally, like other years, they want more information on funded projects, their progress and results.

Markets take a breather. After four sessions chained up in a row, the CAC 40 lost 0.25% to 3153.52 points. The volumes remain thin. About 2.7 billion changed hands on the great values ​​of the Paris stock exchange. Operators have benefited from the strong performance of the last day to reap a share of profits.

Lack of energy also in other major European markets, which ended in a disorganized. In London, the FTSE fell symbolically 0.06%, while in Frankfurt the Dax was up 0.30%. Of the European indices, the Euro Stoxx 50 slipped 0.50%.

Wall Street was also on the reserve. In session, the Dow fell by 0.26% and 0.35% Nasdaq clawing. Investor caution was reinforced by the expectation of several major events.In Europe and the United States.

For specialists in Barclays stock, the markets were essentially "focused on the voting Slovakia for the ratification of the European Financial Stability Fund." Slovakia is the last of 17 countries in the euro area to decide. In order for this tool, designed to help fragile countries in the euro area to work, the votes of 17 countries in the euro area is needed.

Opening of the ball results on Wall Street

Febrile, investors have minimal response to green light by the Troika, comprising the creditors of Greece, the release "early November", a new tranche of the loan in Athens, vital for the country low interest rate personal loans.

The outgoing president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, also dampened investor optimism.He said that "for three weeks, things have deteriorated, the crisis has become systemic."

The launch of the quarterly earnings season in the U.S., added to the uncertainty, while the U.S. economy is idling.

As usual the aluminum giant Alcoa will open the show of these announcements after the close of Wall Street. These publications will tell more about the economic outlook of the world's largest economy, which continue to worry the markets.

Bank stocks up

In Paris, as in the rest of Europe, however, the banking sector continued its forward march.José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday that he would "proposals" concrete to the European Commission on the recapitalization of European banks.

Credit Agricole SA has gained 1.12%, BNP Paribas was up 2.96% and 5.28% Societe Generale. Operators, disoriented and obviously out of inspiration, wore special attention to the beliefs of analysts. Vallourec (-1.42%) and Aéroports de Paris (-0.85%) have seen their recommendation downgraded by JPMorgan and Essilor (-3.83%) by Morgan Stanley.

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"Television will become the media on which the user will find all the services he needs, including health," said Philippe Delahaye, president of Toshiba Systems France. For nearly a year and for another six months, the Japanese tests, with the support of the General Council of Bas-Rhin, a service called Demeter and home support for elderly dependents.

The system set up involves monitoring remote computer. But not to frighten the people involved, the main unit is television, connected to the Internet. "The equipment costs about 6,000 euros full, two months' rent in a nursing home," said Philip Bell, general manager of Toshiba-Cebea, a subsidiary of Toshiba dedicated services.This includes television and home automation equipment, including a smoke detector, a wristband alarm in case of fall and appliances suitable for pathology (blood pressure, diabetes control …). Then, the service costs 200 euros per month, including Internet access.

"This allows medical personnel to perform remote controls, but also the patient to easily get in touch with family members through a videoconferencing system on the TV," said Philip Bell. Medical staff and the senior may also contact by mail, through an electronic pen. Just write on a single sheet, the text is automatically entered and the e-mail sent when the pen is rested on its base free business cards. Forms to the attention of nurses and doctors have also been developed: just check the right boxes with the electronic pen and they are added to the medical record.It also allows for monitoring of medication, food … "We found that health staff was not comfortable with a keyboard, where the idea of ​​electronic pen, said Philip Bell . We are also working to develop a speech recognition system. "

Recurring revenues

For Toshiba, the objective is to develop this service at the national level but also in other countries. Japan pays attention to the experience of Alsace. Beyond the societal issues related to aging, a new economic model that is emerging. This type of service should allow the manufacturer to generate recurring revenue through subscriptions.

"The rise of the TV connected through the development of local services," added Philippe Delahaye.Most TVs sold today by Toshiba can be connected to the Internet, or consumers do not always use this function. By bringing seniors to the technology, Toshiba is not only the population but also those around them: Health care workers, children and grandchildren.

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