Cold: very high power consumption - February 7, 2012

 

The intense cold wave now raging in France put the electricity infrastructure under strain: Monday evening, 19 hours, consumption has risen to 96,300 megawatts (MW). Near the high of 96,710 MW-which consumption of 15 December 2010.

The transport network has responded effectively to the accelerating demand for energy. Monday afternoon, RTE, a subsidiary of EDF responsible for lines and very high voltage, did not display a particular concern. But vigilance was maximum in the image of the orange alert decreed in Britain and red Paca.

In both regions traditionally sensitive in winter, it is encouraging incentive to conserve water, otherwise proceed to "load shedding", that is to say, targeted cuts. Both alerts are very likely to be renewed on Tuesday. Monday, several communities in the Alpes-Maritimes announced the establishment-or-building measures to reduce consumption, particularly regarding public lighting.

Nuclear at full

In exceptional circumstances at the highest consumption, Great Britain took the first position in terms of French imports of electricity. Of the 6500 MW purchased yesterday 2000 from the United Kingdom, against 1800 MW in Germany payday loan lenders. A first.

Although the EDF nuclear power plants running near capacity of 58 -55 reactors currently operating-, France regularly imports of electricity in winter. Sudden changes in consumption do indeed require the means of production "spike" (hydro, coal, gas, renewable …) while the nuclear provides the "base".

Along with electricity, gas consumption is also found under pressure, due to lower deliveries of Russian gas. Last week, the stocking of gas in France had risen very sensitive. Asked Monday night, GDF Suez noted a slight improvement, however: about 80% of Gazprom's supplies were provided in earlier this week. For its part, the European Commission referred to a normal situation with the Russian giant.

In Italy, however, concern remains high. The oil company ENI could cut gas supplies to some of its corporate customers starting Thursday. On the government side transalpine situation is called "serious".

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Android dethrones Apple application downloads - October 26, 2011

It's the end of a reign without sharing. Android has become the leading provider of applications, thus dethroning Apple. In the second quarter 2011, the interface for mobile and Google has granted 44% market share against 31% for iOS, passing the 500,000 mark downloaded applications.

Android benefits from the significant increase in the number of users, which has increased significantly over the observation period, while the followers of the Apple brand awaiting the launch of the iPhone 4GS in early October. A study by ABI Research, there are now 2.4 Android users for a user to iOS in the world no fax pay day loan. It will be three to one in 2016. However, the number of applications downloaded per capita is higher among Apple fans, who download almost twice as those of Google.

Booming, the market for applications whets the appetite.Analysts forecast 29 billion downloads this year, against only 9 billion last year. Growth related to the use of smartphones, which grow exponentially. Holders of such smartphones are expected to grow 46% in 2011.

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Air France strike threat to Halloween - October 16, 2011

The human resources department of Air France is under pressure. Three cabin crew unions (PNC) filed a strike notice for the weekend of All Saints, Saturday 29 October to Wednesday, November 2.

The unions believe that their company "wants to charge PNC" his "poor economic performance." They denounce downsizing that "degrade their working conditions." The strike affects all flights from Orly, Roissy and Marseille.

This was already burning the cloth between the management of Air France and its flight attendants. Seven unions had filed a notice of four days in late July, one of the busiest of the year. Finally, the threat was not carried out.

The hostesses and stewards who work on short flights and medium-haul are directly affected by the restructuring plans announced by Air France to regain ground in a market dominated by low-cost airlines payday advance lender. Air France seeks to improve its productivity by organizing more such flights by plane and rotation by offering volunteers a more intense pace of work. This time, a new rating system hostesses and stewards with their heads cabins, instead of "inspectors controllers" would have set fire to the powder.

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In Marseille, Air France made its "revolution" - October 1, 2011

This Saturday is the big day of the first Air France flight operated since its "base" of Marseille. A double "revolution" for the French company. This, after the creation of Transavia, made a new incursion into the territory of low-cost, with an offer less expensive than its usual rates. Low prices made possible by an innovative organization that plans to base in Marseille to Paris and not personnel and aircraft. The flight time of the first will be more concentrated, and rotating equipment more efficient, allowing the company to realize operational cost savings estimated at 15%. 130 pilots and 250 flight attendants volunteered.

LE FIGARO. – Air France opens its first base on Saturday from province to Marseille will be followed by Nice, Toulouse and Bordeaux.What are your rules for the selection of the fifty new roads you open on the four bases?

Bruno Matheu. – On each base, some of the routes we operate already own and through our regional subsidiaries will see capacity increase as in Marseille and Lille. Due to lower our costs, we can offer a very innovative pricing. In addition, there will be many new destinations: 13 from Marseille. We chose these routes according to their traffic potential, but also their competitive position.We have deliberately avoided the roads on which two low-cost competition or are already in those to the hubs of our main European competitors.

In the current state of reservations, are there any lines that work better than others, especially when they compete with an offer of low-cost companies like Ryanair?

Among the destinations that start strong include new routes to the Middle East (Beirut, Istanbul). We offer "all inclusive", which is not the same as that of a low-cost, has found its place.The many services that are and will remain free: registration, a snack on board, the daily press … make the trip easier and more enjoyable credit score.

What do these bases to Air France?

In addition to new roads, with the creation of databases province is a small revolution that is underway within the company towards more decentralization, towards more accountability. Each base will function like a small company with the Regional Director will be the "boss". Commercial agent of call, hostess, steward or pilot, everyone has a responsibility to Marseille. The objective is to improve responsiveness while being firmly rooted in local life.The strong motivation of our teams will enable us to do.

Lyon Why does it not in your list of bases?

In Lyon, our current operation in place for many years, follows a different logic: the planes converge to Lyon early in the morning to feed a first range of correspondence, while on the bases they make their first step at the start of the base. In addition, our policy is much more focused on business passengers. However, discussions are ongoing and we do not exclude changes in our model Lyon.

Are there mass transport from province to province?

The cross-linking major regional cities without passing through Paris undoubtedly represent a real potential for Air France and its regional subsidiaries. Today the car is our main competitor in this type of lines.To us to convince potential customers of the benefits of air transport. The basics of province should be involved.

Why the market capitalization of major airlines is so low?

Air transport is a cyclical business and sensitive to the economic development because the traffic is directly related to growth. Uncertain times we penalize strongly, especially where oil, which accounts for 30% of our costs, is at levels as high. But our current market capitalization does not reflect the value of our business portfolio or that of our assets.

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ISF: how to fulfill its reporting - September 17, 2011

Reform of the ISF, Act I. Passed last spring, the overhaul of the tax on capital is available in two years, 2011 and 2012. Because of these changes, the deadline for the declaration and payment of ISF is also exceptionally attached to September 30 this year.

From 2011, households with between 800,000 and 1,310,000 euros of assets are exempt from wealth tax. These homes are thus 300 000 received no tax declaration form. However, some tax advice to households close to the threshold of 1.3 million to make a statement (see interview below). In addition, taxpayers with between 1.3 and 3 million of assets this year have a simplification of formalities in their statement.

In 2011, the old scale of the ISF continues to apply. This is a scale that works in phases, with six tax rates.The first tranche that between 800,000 and 1.3 million euros of assets, is still active for those households that remain subject to the ISF is to say that over 1.3 million property. Thus, a taxpayer with a wealth of 3 million will pay a wealth tax of 16,555 euros (0.55% share of its assets from 0.8 to 1.31 million, 0.75% between 1.31 and 2 , 57% between 1 million and 3 million and 2.57).

The reform of the TFR is consistent with the removal of the tax shield. However, because the mechanism of the shield, which is shifted in time, taxpayers will still be entitled to a shield in 2011 and 2012 respectively on their overpaid tax in 2011 and 2010. The shield does not really disappear in 2013.

But some practical rules are changing.Until September 30, recipients of the shield can either request a refund check to the treasury, or less money on ISF, local taxes or payroll taxes on the amount of shield.

New scale in 2012

As of September 30, one lane remains: the allocation of the shield on the bill of ISF. One way to avoid the controversy of previous years on the checks sent to taxpayers' net worth …

Finally, indebted to the ISF will be eligible for the last time this year the cap of the ISF (wealth tax, social security contributions and income tax can not exceed 85% of revenues). In 2012, the cap will no longer exist.

It is also that next year will apply the new scale of ISF. The assets of between 1.3 and 3 million will be taxed at 0.25% and beyond 3 million at 0.5%. But the tax will no longer increments.

2 million households with wealth pay 5000 euros to ISF (2,000,000 multiplied by 0.25%) and with 4 million euros of assets 20 000 EWB (4,000,000 multiplied by 0.5%). Next year, households with between 1.3 and 3 million of assets no longer meet reporting ISF: they will show their heritage in a special box on their tax return. Only taxpayers with more than 3 million of goods will continue to make their declaration of wealth tax, to make the June 15, 2012.

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The Vendée Globe skippers looking for sponsors - September 8, 2011

This is unprecedented in the history of the Vendée Globe, which will start the 7th November 10, 2012 from Les Sables d'Olonne. At 14 months of departure, half of the expected plateau of the skippers in this race around the world solo, nonstop and without assistance, has not found sponsors to support them.

In detail, the organizers of the event have so far received confirmation of the participation of twelve sailors, including Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec), Vincent Riou (PRB), Kito de Pavant (Bel) or Armel Le Cléach yet '(Banque Populaire).However skippers also titled (thirteen in all) that Jeremiah Beyou (last winner of the Solitaire du Figaro), Yann Elies, Jean Le Cam, Raphael Dinelli (four Vendée Globe on the clock) or the revelation of the last Vendée, the British Sam Davies, is currently docked for lack of partners.

"You can imagine without the Vendée Globe sailors who all have unique or promising career," says Denid Horeau, Race Director. Given the urgency of the situation the organizers (SAEM Vendée) and its partners (the food company Sodebo, the General Council of Vendée and the town of Les Sables d'Olonne) organized a demonstration on Thursday that aimed to évémentielles agency relationship, prospects and sports."We hope that this current waiting list quickly becomes a list of registered voters," insists Jean-Pierre Champion, President of the FFV (French Sailing Federation).

No need to budget staggering

Although it is difficult now to convince the business community to mobilize in the sports sponsorship budgets in times of economic crisis and financial uncertainty, the race around the world (known as the Everest of the Seas) intends to assert its assets.

They are obviously many: 1.7 million viewers for the start in Les Sables, or the arrival in the village, some 466 hours of television (which highlight the boats and the names of their sponsors), near 59 million Internet users after the race …."Since our commitment to sailing in 1998, media coverage amounted to more than 82 million euros," says Pascal Cadorel, communications director of the family group Sodebo, which also sponsors Thomas Coville. As for his reputation, it was multiplied by 18 over the same period. Return on investment, media coverage, mobilizing tool in-house employees: Vendée Globe partners have increased their arguments persuasive and have wanted to attract new investors.

"No need to get on the Vendée Globe with staggering budgets. Even small projects can impact winning, "repeated Christopher Chabot, CEO of Akena Verandas, which posted 25 million euros in sales when it is committed to sailing in 2004.Today Arnaud Boissières sponsor, the group is No. 1 manufacturer of conservatories from individuals and has 700 employees. "This is the works council who insisted that we continue the adventure in sailing," said he. That's why he campaigned for SMEs to join the adventure and trying experience of sailing sponsorship.

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WTO: "Made in the World" launched - August 7, 2011

The globalization of the industry makes it still relevant national trade statistics? The World Trade Organization (WTO) has been working since October on this issue. "If the needs of the changing social and economic policy, statistics must adapt," said Pascal Lamy, Director General of the WTO.

This thinking has led, in June, the launch of Made in the World Initiative, said MiWi. This project – Made in the world – aims to complement the traditional statistics by providing a new angle of approach to globalization.

The WTO is an example of the manufacture of a Boeing 787 Dragline.Admittedly, this is an American plane produced by Boeing, but the list of international suppliers of parts and components is long: the wings and forward fuselage from Japan, the center fuselage from Italy, the engines of the United Kingdom, brakes, electrical equipment and tools in France.

Boeing included in the export statistics of the United States can also be included in part those of other supplier countries Same day payday loans. Also making a hard drive in Thailand, an input to the composition of the computers, involves components and parts from more than a dozen Asian and American.

Additional data

"It is necessary to better understand the global value chains to better understand the nature of trade and production process.As such it would be useful to have more detailed data on trade in services, "said Jean Arthuis, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

The initiative of the WTO is "for the moment, more an aid to understanding a negotiation support," says Christophe flung, one of the project within the organization. The aim is to popularize the measurement of international trade to produce, over time, additional data on foreign trade. If it is completed, MiWi promote a measure of international trade more adapted to reality and offer a new angle of approach flow valuation.

The royal wedding impact growth - July 27, 2011

In London

It would be unfair to put all their back, but the marriage of Kate Middleton and Prince William has indeed drag on growth in the second quarter. The holiday offered to the British for the occasion has led to closures of factories, office buildings, helping to slow growth in the second quarter in Britain: 0.2% GDP growth, whichever comes first estimates published yesterday.

Other factors that have sealed-off growth: the heat of April, which reduced electricity consumption, and the drama of Fukushima, resulting in supply problems in the industry. Without these special events, growth reached 0.7%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The general view of economists, these figures are not brilliant but the disaster that some had predicted did not occur.The Economy Minister George Osborne is relieved: "The good news is that the UK economy continues to create growth and jobs." But the goal of annual growth of 1.7% is particularly difficult. Also believes the opposition does the government needs to soften its austerity policy: "These figures show that the return to growth has been strangled by the increase in VAT set up by George Osborne and lower costs budget, "said Ed Ball, a spokesman for Labour cash advance today.

"There is no plan B"

But it seems unlikely that the government changes its mind. "Our economy is stable right now because the government has taken tough decisions to take over the debt, Osborne continued. If we abandon this policy as some want, we will jeopardize the jobs and growth. "The Chancellor of the Exchequer is supported by the Liberal Democrat Minister of Commerce, that "there is no plan B. We must keep our commitment. " Vince Cable, that the Bank of England to support growth by easing monetary policy again.

Small encouraging sign: the sale of tickets for the Olympics began during the second quarter, but according to international conventions, will be counted in GDP at the time of the Games themselves, in a year. Alone it is 0.1 percentage point of growth, the ONS calculates.

Strike threat dismissed by Air France - July 23, 2011

Much bagaille should be avoided. While seven union stewards and hostesses of Air France had filed a strike notice for the next weekend (July 29 to August 1), the airline has come this Saturday morning to sign the minutes of end of conflict with union representatives. What not to many flight cancellations in the great cross-driven summer from July to August, and escape the nightmare scenario met in mid-July by the customers of Air Algeria. The Algerian company was also affected by a strike of its crews, resulting in the virtual paralysis of European flights to the country.

Whereas yesterday, the agreement has been finally found Saturday afternoon between the airline and the Inter (CGT, CFDT, CFTC, Unac, NPNC and UNSA), resulting in the lifting of the strike notice filed Monday.Only Southern Air has so far not given its approval. The seven organizations representing the commercial crews (PNC) called for the opening of negotiations on the organization of work, especially in the bases in the provinces, but also the medium-haul and long haul. This is now done, the group of Pierre-Henri Gourgeon has agreed to reopen discussions on the new rules of work (rest, compensation) provided to counter competition from low cost carriers.

Reopen negotiations next week

On this point, the flight attendants are opposed to such requirements in the new provincial bases (Marseille and Nice, Toulouse and Bordeaux) and denounce the proposed removal of a sailing aboard the Airbus A319 payday advance.They are supported in their claims by two minority unions of pilots (SPAF and Alter) who in turn refused to lift their notice for the next weekend. "The company has agreed to supply four A319 in the PNC until September 15," said Philippe Sport at UNSA. If it is impossible to have this number, the flight attendants should receive compensation (rest or premium). For its part, Air France said that the continuation of strike notice SPAF and Alter would have no significant impact on traffic. The reopening of negotiations with the flight crew should take place in the course of next week.

Still, the difficulties are not entirely discarded the French company, far from it. Management must also deal with Algeria-leAir SNPL resumption of talks, the union super majority in pilots.While the SNPL signed to 54% the proposed new work organization. But this time, the battle moves to the front of pensions. The powerful union remains opposed to the proposed reform of the pension fund additional pilots. Where a notice of strike filed this time from August 5 to 8, another busy weekend on the front of air traffic and going on holiday.

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Imax to conquer China - July 16, 2011

The theaters continue to amaze. In particular, the movie using the system Imax. "Many developers are using our cameras and our professional projection equipment, including Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson for Tintin and the next James Cameron for Avatar. In addition, the public is sure to witness a spectacle more "immersive" in our rooms. The films are projected with spotlights and a sound system Imax that guarantee a quality experience, especially for image brightness and width of the screen, "said Richard Gelfond, CEO of the Canadian technical company. But only 1% of cinemas use this system in the world.

In recent years, demand is growing: 430 rooms currently against 150 in 2009. The reasons? "The digital switchover has plunged the price of a copy of an Imax film averaged $ 30,000 in 1500 dollars.In addition, we launched a new funding model for supporting the main rooms of the financial risk for farmers who we are paid on average 20% of gross admissions, "said Richard Gelfond. To enhance its growth, China is Imax. "Within two years, the country will become more important for Europe in our sales. Yet we have 94 movie theaters equipped with the system in Europe against Imax fifty only in China. But we will build 50 this year. Eventually, we will have 177 in China, "says Richard Gelfond. Recently, Imax has concluded a funding agreement with the Chinese company Wanda Cinema Line for 75 rooms. The Canadian company hopes to rely "a total of 300 in 2016." The demand for film takes off in China, where the "price of tickets to Imax theaters is comparable to prices in Europe or the United States."And the increase in the price of a $ 2 for a movie at Imax system encourages the Chinese to go: speaking of this experience to those around them, the audience indicate their social status of those "easy".

Projects in Russia

In addition to China, involves the construction of Imax theaters in Russia but does not count too much on "India, where ticket prices are $ 2." The company has become a gem. Market capitalization ($ 1.8 billion) reached more than eight times its turnover in 2010. The Hexagon is a small country. In France last year, Gaumont Pathé has signed a contract for four Imax theaters. The result is the appointment. "Proceeds from Kung-Fu Panda was five times in theaters in Imax theaters as traditional.The average income is three to five times higher for a room equipped with Imax ensures a minimum quality for the viewer at the screening and squares have additional costs, "added the CEO. But there are only five Imax theaters in France that offer all the latest Harry Potter. To develop another career, that of the remastering of local films in Imax format, the company "needs a dozen Imax theaters," says the boss.

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