Dubai wants to extend the maturity of its debt - March 8, 2010

For the first time since the announcement of the moratorium on its debt, which had rocked markets last November, Dubai World this week should initiate discussions with its creditors. Discreetly. According to the Financial Times quoted sources close to the negotiations, the conglomerate dubaïote must submit to its main banks with a proposal to reschedule $ 22 billion of debt.

A spokesman for the Emirate of Dubai, questioned by AFP would not confirm the information daily from the City. This is a "confidential process," he has merely said, adding that "a formal proposal will be presented by Dubai World to creditors in March" payday advances .

Dubai World could offer, understands the Financial Times, two alternatives to its creditors.Either the banks want to be repaid over several years, but cover the full amount owed. Either they agree to reschedule the debt over the longer term, with the state guarantee, not losing a penny. Still, "according to sources familiar with the matter, nothing is certain" shade the Financial Times.

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Salon de l'Agriculture under the sign of the Vendee for Sarkozy - March 7, 2010

"It should stand on a cow so we can better see!" At the Salon of Agriculture, a crowd of onlookers quickly formed over the course of Nicolas Sarkozy, despite an early arrival more than expected Saturday morning. Instead of starting the tour at 9:30 am as originally indicated, Nicolas Sarkozy has surprised almost all journalists arriving one hour ahead.

Young contestants of agricultural schools, farmers horses, cattle, sheep and also butchers and florists … the president has sacrificed tradition and spent two hours in the aisles at the meeting of agricultural sector in deep trouble .After the walkabout, he announced new measures to help during a roundtable discussion with farmers.

"It must protect us against disasters"

Among the notable events of the morning, Nicolas Sarkozy held talks with Jean-Paul Rault, sheep farmer in the Vendee who lost almost all of his flock during the storm Xynthia. "I told him he should protect us against future catastrophes, because once again, I will, but not both," says the farmer of Walnut St. Radegund. Only were rescued sheep that was brought to Paris for the Salon.

"The president said he would not let us down, it would help us rebuild. And he would see us in Vendee, "says Jean-Paul Rault. The farmer said he was heartened by the presidential speech? "I have no a priori," he replies."We have seen figures for the help, we'll see what it will serve."

Video – flying over the farm of John Paul Rault after the passage of Xynthia:

More politics, the meat industry has questioned the head of state … about Greece. "He seemed surprised and not really know, but I asked him to be very vigilant on the Greek question: is our first export customer with 70,000 tonnes," explains Denis Sibille, president of Interbev, the inter-beef, mutton and horse. "The number of failures is very high and we refrain now to export, where a shortfall."

"Less talkative than President Chirac"

The exchange was more lively with the representative of the Federation Nationale Bovine (section FNSEA).Jean-Paul Fleury asked Nicolas Sarkozy less listen to his Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, and arbitrate more often for his "excellent minister of Agriculture, Bruno Lemaire. "The arbitrage is my job, I do those I do," replied the president.

As tradition dictates, the President has offered a basket of food to stand craftsmen butchers. A prime rib and leg of lamb. "Just as with Chirac, I am sure that the meat was consumed, as with Nicolas Sarkozy, I'm not really sure," said Jean Claude Obriot however, the vocational school of the Butcher."And then he is less talkative than President Chirac," remembers the butcher who hosts the Salon chairs for ten years.

Just curious still, Nicolas Sarkozy was stubborn to know what wood sticks were made of young agricultural college Laurent Sainte Marie in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques. In Hazelwood, they replied. A medium hard wood, semi-flexible, especially light. Ideal for tapping the side of the animals and move them forward.

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Club Med The lowers its price for returning families - March 6, 2010

To force to go upmarket, Club Med has cut a portion of his heart to target families for whom it became too expensive. The group has certainly earned 13 000 clients last year in the villages most high-end (4 and 5 tridents), which he put on for years. But at the same time, its other sites (2 and 3 tridents), which still represent 46% of its capacity, have lost 142 000 customers, down 20% in one year. A number of families no longer afford a stay at the Club with children. The group management has decided to lower its prices for next summer.

Starting Monday, Club Med will lower its prices 5 to 19% compared to 2009 in 36 of its 80 villages, including 26 "three tridents" and 10 "four tridents.

In these clubs, families, French, Belgian and Swiss, who represent 30% of the sales group, will receive additional benefits, such as 20% reduction for teens off transport. For a family with two teenagers, count and 8 460 euros per week in 4 tridents Caravelle in Guadeloupe in early April instead of 10 620 euros last year. For a week Smir (Morocco) in mid-July, it will be 4 140 EUR 5 560 against the euro last year.

"This is not a promotion, but a structural decline in prices of 8% on average, benefits all alike, for families throughout the summer and combined with other promotions," says Anne Yannic, general manager at Club Med for France , Belgium and Switzerland (60% of sales).In this complicated economic time, our offer could be perceived as too expensive, despite the advantages of all-inclusive . In 2009, the erosion of our largest customers has affected families, who are our reason for being. We tend to talk a lot of our villages 4 and 5 tridents. In times of crisis, we recall that our range is broader, with villages 2 and 3 tridents, cheaper. "

Last summer, 34% of French families have gone to the club in receiving a promotion. Not sure that this is enough this year. Therefore, the club will launch its new offer family, dubbed "Free Family."

These efforts will have to pay? According to research firm Protourisme, the French holiday budget represents 60% to 75% of the monthly wage of a home.For 2010, households earning more than EUR 10 000 per month spend 7 300 euros on average vacation, those with incomes between 5 000 and 10 000 have a budget of EUR 4 700.

Customers in emerging countries

"Club Med can not touch a tiny fringe of the French population," said Didier Arino, director Protourisme. The problem is not about envy many families would like to afford the club, but can not afford. "Today, if the Club Med wanted to attract a larger clientele of middle managers, declining prices by 20% to 30% minimum is required, advance Didier Arino, convinced that the future of the Club can only come from emerging countries where there is a rich and new customers who "will be delighted to discover an offer upscale, different, with a French touch."

When Lotto millionaires engage - March 4, 2010

Richard and Sandrine (the names have been changed at their request) won 7 million euros in the Lotto in 2006. Four years later, their children are still unaware. When they won their gold mine, Sandrine was a salesgirl in a shoe shop and Richard worked in a creperie. They told their children they had bought a large house with swimming pool after having sold the shoe shop and creperie. Too young to understand, children do not ask. For them, life goes on almost as before. Mother stopped working to care for them and dad bought a brewery. They have discovered the joys of Club Med. But last summer, the whole family left in a bed 4 stars for the holidays. However, Richard and Sandrine have totally changed their lifestyle. When they go in love, they no longer hesitate to go down to George V, a Parisian palace.They are both offered a Rolex to 10,000 euros. And the clothes they no longer count. "The first month, we renewed our wardrobe, for 40,000 euros each," says Sandrine. But we do not buy brands of haute couture. "

Desire reasonable

Both sociologists Michel and Monique Pinçon Pinçon-Charlot, who for decades decipher the habits and customs of old and newly rich, have addressed these Lotto winners have become millionaires overnight. For two years they have interviewed about thirty. The couple in the town and the university gives his analysis this week in an opus entitled "The lucky millionaires" (Editions Payot). Osculter the rich is their hobby. "We have worked twenty years on the inherited money and the wealthy dynasties, Michel told the figaro.fr Pinçon.Contrary to what the rumor is willing to believe, Lotto millionaires have reasonable desires. Overall, they are not fambleurs.

The first chapter of their book, "A catastrophe happy," the tone. For Pinçon, life really changes when the gain is at least 5 million euros. "The reflex, at least initially, is to keep the hidden gain," they write. Sandrine and Richard did not say otherwise …. Paradoxically, they agree to meet with journalists, but under a pseudonym. "There is a difficulty to keep the secret: silence, he is patron, is also frustrating, stress Pinçon Michel and Monique Pinçon-Charlot. Another problem: "Wealth can be learned, says Michel Pinçon. An heir, it is formed. Lotto millionaires have reflexes due to their origin. The Pinçon not met winners who "freaked out".There, but cases are rare as the French Games for which 99.9% are the big winners grow their bonanza.

Give a chance for everyone

How do they spend their money? According to the French, they begin to purchase their primary residence, they also invest in safe investments (life insurance) and put money aside for the education of children. "There's a sense of how generations of millionaires," welcomes does one service relationship of the French winners of the Games, to assist the winners when they discover a little (lot) their new wealth. "It's a bit early to tell, but there are people whose fortunes won the lottery will cross the bar of the 2nd generation", said Michel also Pinçon. Last year, 122 players have won the lotto more than one million euros.The record any class dates back to 2005: 75 million pocketed by a single person. "Lotto Magic is giving a chance for everyone because it is pure chance. It provides a gain that does not reward merit or effort, but not harm anyone, "said Michel Pinçon. He said for the humble people, is always happy, because money gives them satisfaction to which they aspired but which were inaccessible. "However, money does not provide absolute fullness, but it's much harder to be happy being poor!". Sandrine and Richard, at least, seem well in their new sneakers. "We were happy before winning the lottery is that the more" they insist both. This week, Sandrine has bought a new bag, Lancel model 1. 000. She knows she will soon have another.

Common satellite for France and Italy - February 10, 2010

It is signed. Center National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) signed on behalf of French and Italian Ministers of Defense and the Italian space agency agreement with ThalesAleniaSpace and Telespazio, the two subsidiaries space common to Thales and Finmeccanica, the after which it entrusts the manufacture of a military communications satellite and security to both countries.

The contract worth 200 million euros mark the first successful cooperation in this field in Europe . This after the failed attempts with Germany and Great Britain. The satellite, named Athena-Fidus be produced partly in France and Italy in the facilities of both companies in Cannes and Toulouse and Rome. It must be placed in orbit in 2013 and enter service with the aftermath.It will be used by the military and civil security services French and Italian.

The sun rises in power in France - February 8, 2010

Of course, the sector still weighs very little: less than 0.01% of electricity production. However, the new capacity installed in France more than doubled last year from 105 megawatts (MW) in 2008 to 250 in 2009. That told the firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers, which was published on Sunday his second barometer of the photovoltaic industry, it is poised to emerge as a strategic sector in the French energy mix to include about 15 000 direct jobs at horizon of 2012. The process is definitely underway, failing infrastructure impressive.

Other figures highlighted by this report reflect this rise.In terms of market size in particular, increasing the installed capacity along with the development of connections that are central France now occupies the seventh largest in the world, a jump of five places behind Italy and ahead of China . The Hexagon, however, displays a solar power panel of 425 MW, well below the world's leading solar power that are Germany (9 000 MW) and Spain (3 600 MW in April 2009).

New entrants

This growth will she undermined by the new feed-in tariffs for solar electricity, less advantageous, which were the subject of a decree earlier this year? Less advantageous actually from 2012, with a gradual decrease accelerated."While growth looks more moderate, but it will also be healthier," says Benjamin Cros, senior manager in charge of energy within the cluster strategy consulting PWC flexcheck cash advance . Way of saying that these subsidized rates have generated a strong speculative movement and the importance of putting good order in the service of a true industrial policy and not "bounty hunters".

As for installers and distributors, the development of the sector would lead to short-term phenomenon of consolidation. "Great players are on the lookout and you should see a surge of new entrants, either direct access or through acquisitions and partnerships," says Benjamin Cros.In this regard, the tenders under the Grenelle Environment to build a solar power plant in each region should provide valuable lessons on the ambitions of each other. Result in the coming weeks.

In the upstream, however, the situation is less bright. "The French manufacturers of modules are still few, non-integrated and fragile. Even as technology continues to evolve and that disruptions are expected, against a background of predominantly silicon, "says the report. A delay industrial penalizing as lower production costs is necessary to maintain the dynamism of the sector.

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Rampage: No jail for six "Conti" - February 7, 2010

The Court of Appeal of Amiens was canceled Friday morning the sentences handed down suspended prison last September against six workers of the factory Continental Clairoix, transmuting these sentences into fines. 2000 to 4000 euros will be in effect caused by the six "Conti", including their charismatic leader Alain Mathieu, who hoped the release.

At the appeal hearing of 13 January the workers had indeed justified the ransacking of the sub-prefecture of Compiegne by a gesture of "anger" not premeditated, following the denial of justice to grant their request Cancellation of the redundancy. Arguing difficulties faced by the automotive sector, the Continental Group had indeed decided to close their plant, which had 1120 employees.

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Toyota: "customer safety is paramount" - February 5, 2010

A press conference, the first since the crisis began at Toyota, was held today at company headquarters in Nagoya. Akio Toyoda, the CEO of the Japanese manufacturer, apologized to the public concerning the technical flaws that have led to millions of recalls of vehicles.

He said at this meeting: "I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience and concern caused to customers due to recalls in many areas," adding "I now turn to the public as customers are concerned about whether their car or not in good condition, and I do not want to leave them in this situation throughout the weekend, "" Believe me, Toyota cars are safe. "

It indicates that the brand will establish a global to improve quality with a work team specially dedicated saving account payday loan .He himself will chair this team. About the Prius, Toyota is studying ways to solve the brake problem. Akio Toyoda said he "gave instructions for a solution is found as soon as possible."

He also admits that his group was going through "a crisis" because of the eight million vehicles recalled, but "customer safety is paramount."

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Europe puts Greece Trust Budget - February 4, 2010

Greece will pay a high price to escape the sinking. The European Commission gave the green light Wednesday to savings plan presented by Athens, while imposing strict monitoring of its implementation. A right of scrutiny of unprecedented severity, but necessary to restore market confidence and avert the specter of a bankruptcy of the country.

"We place our trust the Greek authorities, but we know that the implementation will be difficult," and said the European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Joaquin Almunia. It is indeed a drastic plan that Athens has agreed to submit and obtain approval from Brussels, Prime Minister George Papandreou had announced new austerity measures.

The goal is to reduce the budget deficit below 3% by end 2012 (against nearly 13% last year).A plan "ambitious" but "achievable", according to Brussels, which does not yet make use of his right eye. "If we consider that the objectives are not met, we will ask the Greek authorities to take additional measures as soon as possible," Mr Almunia warned. And to show its determination, the Commission alongside the initiation of infringement proceedings against Athens for its statistics wrong.

Weak

With this quasi-trusteeship, the EU hopes to avoid bankruptcy of Greece Same Day Payday Loans . But any rumors panicked investors, who demand a risk premium of increasingly high debt to buy Greek.Wednesday, when Greek bonds regained ground, the traders continued to worry about the budgetary situation.

Brussels knows that the window to make adjustments is narrow. Athens will have to submit a report in mid-March, then another in mid-May "If by mid-2010 we have a positive evaluation of the program, then the market share that assessment," assured Mr Almunia.

The event – officially taboo in Brussels – European rescue of a move away then. Not sure however that the final page is turned, because the other weak links in the euro area as Spain and Portugal could be found tomorrow at the forefront. Referring to this risk, the Greek finance minister called Wednesday for the issuance of Eurobonds in the name of European solidarity.So indeed ultimately the future of the euro area could play in the coming weeks.

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Stress at work: the business to respond - February 2, 2010

Companies with more than 1,000 employees had until Monday to begin, as desired by Xavier Darcos, negotiations on stress at work. If the goal is not yet fully achieved, more than half the 1,500 companies were expected Friday night reported their ongoing efforts, the ministry said.

This AD Labor Minister Xavier Darcos addressed to large companies last October, was then presented as a response to the many suicides among deplored the operator France Telecom. No financial penalties for non compliance with the injunction government (as is the case for the conclusion of older planes), but a threat may be equally effective for companies concerned with their image: that of being embossed on the website of the Ministry, which will publish the names of offending companies.To date, says the ministry is "only a few companies have already announced they would do nothing."

Green Light

By two weeks, a ranking of large companies based on their action against stress is presented by the Department of Labor free credit report and score . Management effectively leaves two more weeks to these companies to complete their records, so they do not close in a hurry. Those who have signed an agreement will be rewarded with a green light, those who have only begun to negotiate, an amber light, finally, those who have not started, a red light.

If the threat of a deterioration of their image is a powerful tool, it remains to ensure that measures taken do not just limited to a communication operation.One risk is that the National Association of Human Resources: "The companies will mainly effect of ad to respond to the department. Second, some have difficulty putting into practice their actions, because it takes time, "said John Angelo Allican.

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