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In early May, to everyone's surprise, he had not been declared worthy of a palace by the jury. A great controversy at the time … Four months later, the George V, consistently ranked among the best in the world is finally named Palace …! On the recommendation of the jury, the Parisian hotel becomes the ninth luxury hotel to win the award, given by Frédéric Lefebvre, Secretary of State for Tourism, for a period of five years."At its meeting on 8 September and under the regulations governing use of the mark" palace ", the jury made a further review of the application of the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris and decided to recommend to the hotel granting of the distinction palace, "said the jury in a statement issued by Trump France, responsible for the promotion of France.

"Since May, the board revisited the hotel and on the basis of new evidence, he said that George V was worthy of having the distinction," said Le Figaro academician Dominique Fernandez, his President. "We did not submit a new folder and nothing has changed in the hotel since last May," says the other hand a spokesman for George V.

The regulations governing use of the brand palace provides that a losing candidate to stand again (not three), without having to create a new folder.The jury, which decides on subjective criteria, is not required to explain his motives. Wednesday again, he was careful not to do so, despite the misunderstanding brought about by its decision to dismiss the first George V, before finally considering the palace, in a very short time. "This award palace, far from being an end, only reinforces the motivation of all employees to go deeper into the quest for perfection to continue to the Four Seasons Hotel George V reference in the Hotel World, "responded Christopher Norton yesterday, its chief executive.

A small score in the long term

A new session is scheduled for late November. Two hotels in Saint-Tropez, the Château de La Messardière and Byblos, are still candidates, and The Reserve at Ramatuelle. New applications are expected in January."The appointment of George V delights me, says Michel Jauslin, general manager of Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome. With us, the distinction has received a lot of the hotel, the echo went deep into China and Latin America. We have created interest because we are in an unexpected segment, the palace today. We saw this happen was a new customer, in addition to our loyal customers. Our occupancy rates are in the average Parisian palaces and the average price of our rooms – suites out – is 800 euros. "

Ultimately, how many hotels could become palaces? "We heard everything and anything. Given the excellence of this initial list of nine palaces, there should be a small twenty palaces in France in the short and medium term, providing Christian Mantei, director general of Trump France. Before the distinction is, too many luxury establishments said they were palaces.It ended happily. It is too early to measure the economic impact of the distinction on prices and attendance. "

While the specter of economic collapse now seems ruled out in Iceland, it is time to settle accounts. With the front line, the trial of former Prime Minister Geir Haarde, which opens Monday. Before the Landsdomur, unique court empowered to try ministers or former ministers, it must meet its responsibility for the collapse of the financial system in 2008. In a financial crisis, the three largest banks in the North Atlantic island have failed, as they held assets equivalent to 923% of its GDP. Prime Minister and head of the Independence Party (right), Geir Haarde was forced to hand over the resignation of his government in January 2009.

The firm, which will incur up to two years in prison, but hopes a dismissal during the trial, relying on a pure and simple abandonment of the prosecution.For him, it is only a "political farce" orchestrated by "old enemies" of opposition now in power. Evidenced, according to his lawyers, that it is the only politician to appear in court. They argue that the parliamentary committee responsible for determining the individual responsibilities of the former government had initially proposed the indictment of four people.

To many political scientists, this position of scapegoat undermines the credibility of the judicial process. "Unfortunately, the Althing (parliament, dominated by a leftist coalition, ie) was not smart in deciding to charge him," said political science professor Gunnar Helgi Kristinsson, University of Iceland cheap credit report.According to him, "shenanigans and personal stories have weighed heavily" in the current troubles of the former Prime Minister, who is the victim of a revenge from former opponents.

A European survey

In this "house cleaning", Reykjavik has added a European dimension. Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson asked Sunday in Brussels to launch an investigation to determine how it may have allowed Britain and the Netherlands to exert such pressure on the country in case of bankruptcy Icesave bank in 2008. London and The Hague had then advanced 3.9 billion euros to compensate their nationals injured 340,000. But Icelanders have rejected state reimbursement of that amount in two referendums.But last Thursday, the bank Landsbanki, parent company of Icesave, said he had recovered sufficient funds to pay all bank deposits.

Instead of rushing to accept applications and "absurd" of Great Britain and the Netherlands, "experience shows that it may be wise to wait," commented the president of Iceland. Remarks that sound like a lesson for EU officials entangled in the debt crisis. While on the other hand, Iceland seems out of the woods, growing from 2% in the first quarter compared to the same period last year. Similarly, observers believe that the country could do without the final installments of the loan of 1.45 billion euros granted by the IMF after the collapse of its banking system.

This is the first crash of a Russian cargo ship for thirty years. The ship Progress M-12M, which was to supply the International Space Station (ISS), catapulted the wrong orbit by the Soyuz rocket, crashed Aug. 24 in a desert region of Altai (South of Western Siberia) . A week earlier, the Russian space agency Roskosmos has lost contact with the Express AM4 communications satellite, launched by the Proton rocket. The Russian Space Agency (Roskosmos) has lost contact with six satellites over the last nine months, representing a total cost of 16 billion rubles (400 million), according to estimates.

A sector that has suffered from funding amnque

These few accidents have nothing to coincidence. A series of failures and a multitude of launch delays "for technical problems" are symptomatic of the troubles facing the aerospace sector in Russia.According to experts, they are the result of lack of funding in the 1990s. After the fall of the USSR, the government was not able to support programs in the aerospace industry in the long run, leaving this area for many years. Funding for this sector has taken the early 2000s, with an annual budget that has tripled between 2005 and 2011, increasing to $ 3 billion (2.1 billion euros), of which 700 million (490 million) in the form of commercial contracts. However, the salary of a junior engineer in a design office in Moscow Roskosmos always varies between 20,000 and 25,000 rubles (500 to 625 euros), while the average salary was over 40,000 rubles (1,000 euros) in the capital Russia in July this year.

A technology gap

Moreover, the funding problem, everything happened right after the fall of the Soviet Union, the sector has accumulated since its inception in the 1960s an important technological gap. According to the Scientific Director of the Space Policy Institute Ivan Moissev interviewed by the Russian daily Vedomosti, the current failures in the sector are linked with the Soviet legacy. At the time, the state spent a large budget for space exploration, and Russian rockets were cheaper than American rockets. As a result, all equipment were mass produced, not that special attention be paid to quality. "A satellite was lost soon be replaced by a new," recalls one specialist Roskosmos, noting that before 1991, the space agency was not used to account for missed assignments.Today, trying to fill Roskosmos somehow technological backwardness of its devices by integrating systems of foreign manufacture. But this poses problems of compatibility between them.

Soyuz is not affected in Guyana

European partners, however, remain optimistic about Russian involvement in the Galileo project. Russia announced in 2010 its intention to join the program launch navigation systems alternative to the American GPS. The project led by the European Space Agency (ESA), will start on October 20 with a deployment in orbit of the first two satellites from the Guiana Space Center (SMC), through the Soyuz. Asked by Les Echos Friday, Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of ESA into perspective. "We're doing a difficult job.The difference between success and failure is minimal, simply a failed component to move from one to another, "said he.

Having sacked the former head of the Russian Space Agency in April, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ordered Roskosmos to make changes "radical" in the production cycle of spacecraft. The management agency has also decided to suspend for now the launch of all flights of Soyuz spacecraft until the cause of the accident with the vessel Progress to be clarified.

Since the withdrawal of the U.S. shuttle Atlantis, France and Russia are the only replenishment of the International Space Station with its Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV), launched by Ariane and Soyuz.

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The CAC 40 is risky there twice this month. He was immediately returned. The threshold of 3000 points, as seen on the Paris market was down on Thursday 11 and Friday, August 19. On Monday morning, the Paris index recurred, opening down 0.85% to 2989.60 points. But again, it started to rise immediately after slipping below 3000, and closed on Monday evening at 3051.36 points (1.14%), having flown over 3100 points During the session this afternoon.

The level of 3000 points may well not be a technical threshold (it does not automatically trigger a sell order or purchase), it still plays a role of "support" on which the market arises before rebounding .Daniel Gravier, Head of Sales Trading at XTB France, believes that "this psychological level is transcribed in the courts and thus returns to a technical threshold."

The cross downward psychological sounded an alarm in markets which do not have a habit of getting carried away by their feelings. Professional traders define their purpose of orders passages through complex mathematical calculations, generated by high-powered software that constantly scan the share price indices, securities, commodities and all that is listed in order to predict the best time to invest or sell. And to build the software, the banks are recruiting the cream of engineers. But in this world of numbers, there is also a psychological dimension.So, see the CAC 40 fell below 3,000 points spurred the market to recover.

"This is a symbolic level, for its part says Harry Sebag, an analyst at Saxo Bank. In times of great nervousness, while visibility is poor, investors cling to benchmarks in the short term payday loans. It's an excuse to reposition itself for purchase. This morning, we felt that the markets began to rebound because the shares had suffered a significant discount. " And hope for regime change in Libya was a good news for oil companies operating in the country, making a breath of excitement to the Paris Bourse.

"Safeguards" but also to accelerate the panic

"These thresholds are safeguards on which the market rebounds," says Harry Sebag. But the psychological effects of contracts may jégalement ouer a role accelerator panic attacks.The violent stalls indices observed recently on global stock markets have shown. In Paris the CAC 40 fell by 32.4% since July 1, affected by short-term concerns (the debt crisis in the euro zone, bad macroeconomic indicators in the U.S. and deteriorating debt rating for American Standard & Poor's), but not only. "In late July, the market downturn downward was rational, said Jean-Louis Mourier, an analyst at Aurel BCG. However, the extent of movement and the high volatility experienced by markets in recent days show an overreaction. "

The index in Paris he could sink even lower? The scenario is possible if the disappointing macroeconomic indicators continue to grow and corporate earnings in the third quarter does not reassure investors, said Harry Sebag.Saxo Bank analyst would watch while the threshold indicated by the software, around 2850 points or even 2500 points. "But I hope we will not get to that," he adds.

The panic would still blow time on banking stocks on an exchange. In any case, what predicts Frederic Oudéa, CEO of Societe Generale, in an interview with Journal du Dimanche. The latter ensures that "nervousness can last at least until early November," that is to say at the time of publication of third quarter results.

This period will provide an opportunity for banks to prove to investors that they are doing well. Starting with Societe Generale, whose share price has further declined by almost 16% last week."We will have the opportunity to communicate to the market that the bank has no liquidity problems, its activity is healthy and that its investment capacities are intact," says Frédéric Oudéa, who had made similar remarks after that his institution has been a rumor about his health.

Wait and see

According to the head of the French bank, the sector is the first victim "of downward revisions of global growth prospects" and "doubts about the debt of the euro area". Markets therefore expect political decisions from the United States, France and Germany. But these "slow" because of the elections in these countries prepare themselves."You can see a waiting period," warns the leader then.

This will be even greater that there is a lag time between taking a political decision and its implementation, said the head of Societe Generale. For Europe in particular, "the area in need of economic convergence, integration of tax policies. That will not happen as fast as the markets want. "

According to Frédéric Oudéa, global stock markets in any case "slipped into excessive pessimism." The fear of a global recession, which shook investors, moreover, has no place: "What we see confirms our expectations. The second quarter marked a break. We said that growth in developed countries would be moderate. Things will balance but it will take time. "

No takeover bid for SocGen on

In this interview, Frederick Oudéa also ensures that the bank he heads will not be the subject of a takeover bid, despite the sharp drop in its share price. "I see no looming strategic move," said he. "It will happen in Europe if the bank nothing is happening in Europe at all. Industry consolidation will not intervene if the situation does not change. There should be no movement before attending two or three years. "

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The denunciation was on a roll. While in Britain the government call the citizens to denounce the rioters, Greece, reports of suspected fraud to the Treasury affluent than ever. The local fraud squad has received 18,500 disclosures in 2010, against 4500 last year and 4,000 in 2008. The trend continues since 7500 reports have been recorded in the first half. In most cases, these phone calls or emails denouncing anonymous traders who have "failed" to issue receipts or the liberal professions (doctors, lawyers …) not issuing receipts.

Unpunished for decades, tax evasion is now seriously disputed by the authorities, under pressure from the EU and the IMF.In turn, the Greeks, hard hit by the austerity plans, are becoming more willing to report those who do not respect the rules of the game, however, they take care: this is almost twenty-five centuries of Athenian democracy suffered a lot of sycophants. These informers professionals who enriched themselves through their charges, have contributed to the decline of Greece.

The timing could not be worse for Levi's. The king of denim, which had just launched its new global campaign "Levi's Legacy" earlier this week, was forced to turn back to the UK market. The spot, shot in Berlin before the events in London, reveals, in fact, scenes of young people in clashes with security forces. Demonstrations, riots, smoke: the images are too echoed the news, depending on the brand:

Called "Go Forth" (On the Move in French), signed by the advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy American, calls young people to take their destiny. The message is reinforced by the recitation of a poem by Charles Bukowski, The Laughing Heart, to the very explicit (your life is your life / do not be discouraged by a tender moist / Be on the lookout)."Because of what's happening in the UK, we have temporarily postponed the release in cinemas and on Facebook in the country," said a spokesperson for the brand with the Daily Mail. He added that "Go Forth to embody the energy and events of our time. She does not speak of a political movement or a specific theme, but rather evokes optimism, positivism and the entrepreneurial spirit. "

The spot has also been removed from the official Facebook page for the brand. "We have all witnessed the recent events that took place in London and other cities in England. It is difficult to see a glimmer of hope amid the violence. But looking good, you will see it paperless payday loans. Not one of the riots and chaos. But through its citizens who take the broom to clean up their cities. It is through their pioneering spirit that make change possible, "says Levi's on Facebook.

Stunt involuntary RIM

Although the jeans manufacturer is trying to detach events, riots in London have a real spotlight on its new advertising campaign. A promotion that seems to also affect involuntary RIM, the maker of BlackBerry. His courier BBM, which equips its phones, known for providing a guarantee of confidentiality of trade, is on everyone's lips. Indeed, it would play an important role in organizing the riots. The British press also devotes a large part in deciphering the events.

But this stunt could serve the image of RIM on the UK market.Already some voices calling for the closure of the service in England, prompting the direction of the Canadian manufacturer to announce, without further detail, cooperation "with local telecom operators, the police and government" of the country if so requested.

This collaboration could involve the closure of the service. The risk is important for the Canadian manufacturer that could alienate her young local clientele. According to a study released last week Ofcom, the BlackBerry is currently the favorite of the English smartphones of 16-24 years (37%) to the iPhone (25%).

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Washing machines, refrigerators, ovens … all the brand Thomson. This is not a museum of the appliance, but a comeback. After production ceased in 2005 Thomson devices, FagorBrandt, the owner, decided to restart it, only on the Net.

An original in more ways than one. This is the first time a group of electrical devices sold directly to the public. Other brands are marketed on the Internet, but always through distributors, specialists or not selling online. Manufacturers usually just sell parts on their website.Not Thomson.

"Given the strong growth in sales of appliances on the Internet, representing about 15% of 800 million euros of turnover generated by large appliances, we decided to use the mark Thomson to sell products through our own site, www.thomson-electromenager.fr, "said Pierre Bondoux, head of e-commerce FagorBrandt.

In one year, online sales of home appliances rose 36% in France. In addition, choosing to launch a brand 100% Internet, the group does not compete with traditional distribution directly, which markets the group's other brands (Fagor, Brandt, Sauter, entry …). Unlike Thomson, owned by the Spanish cooperative since the 1990s, when the activities of Thomson appliances were separated from the pole and arms-mail was not delivered for nearly six years.Finally, by boosting Thomson, FagorBrandt enjoys the sympathy of the brand equity with consumers guaranteed approval cash advance loans.

French manufacturing

Now, 80% of one hundred and twenty references now marketed under the brand Thomson is produced in one of four French factories of the group. "We have participated in the development of the label" Guaranteed Origin France "and will begin to communicate on this topic on our products," said Pierre Bondoux. An additional asset for Thomson, who decided not to price its main selling point. "Manufacturers are investing more and more to innovate. But on the Internet, only the price argument is put forward, "says Pierre Bondoux.

Over the months, Thomson should put online datasheets of increasingly sophisticated, real sales pitches. There is also a service technician "home", true brand specialists."And we deliver at home, made by two persons to the floor in the installation room, with resumption of old equipment and packaging," said Pierre Bondoux. By September, the facility will also be an option. A real difference to benefit from certain sites, which sometimes simply drop the parcels on the sidewalk.

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From 1 January 2012, the right to share from 1.1% to 2.5%. Thus decided on Wednesday the deputies and senators met in joint committee (CMP) to find a definitive agreement on tax reform heritage.

This measure is not trivial. For divorcing couples and share their property must pay this right to share, whatever their matrimonial regime. This tax is also due by the heirs, at the distribution of the estate, and at an inter vivos gift (for donations reinstated earlier this occasion).

With this increase, the state will recover about 300 million euros, mainly at the expense of 130,000 new annual divorced. So, a couple who owns property, net of debt, must pay 300,000 euros to 7500 euros right to share next year.If he had divorced this year, his bill would have been only 3300 euros. Problem: the reform of the ISF was supposed to be financed by the wealthy … "I can not find normal tax increase during a difficult time of life," said Benoit Renaud, president of the Superior Council of Notaries. This increase in risk-sharing law to push further the heirs to remain undivided and discourage donations sharing. At the risk of creating conflicts in the future. Finally, it is not impossible that many divorced choosing to sell their property and to divide "sneak" the money, without an act of sharing history to evade taxes.

In addition, the CMP identified in 20% to 25% inheritance of life, are transmitted to beyond 902,838 euros per unit, after deduction of 152,500 euros. And validated the smoothing mechanism for donations.The government increased from six to ten years the time between donations, or between a gift and an estate eligible for tax relief. To mitigate the shock of the transition from six to ten years, MPs and senators, have developed a system for smoothing. The Senate was selected CMP. Specifically, the deduction on the value of the donation will be 10% for a donation of six years old, 20% for a donation of seven years old, 30% for a donation from eight years and 40% for a donation dating back nine years.

The agreement on the tax measures found in the CMP must still be approved by the Assembly and the Senate in session July 5. However, this validation should not be a problem.

Owning a car costs more expensive. Not only do gasoline prices have soared, but the maintenance costs, insurance, tolls or taxes increase every year, as shown in a study by the Automobile Club de France on Thursday. For anyone put off by these costs, young companies believe they have found the solution on their website, they are related to vehicle owners and individuals wishing to rent one. Car sharing, which allows individuals to rent a self-service vehicles, as is the case with Autolib in Paris, and goes into high gear.

The principle is simple: a website, such as car Lib, Livop CityZenCar and the owner shows the windows of availability of the vehicle, which the state meets certain conditions.In turn, tenants, previously registered on the site, reserve the car for a few hours, days or weeks. Then, linking depends on the site: Car Lib, industry pioneer in France since June 2010, highlights the community side. Individuals come together to exchange therefore a deposit check and vehicle documents. In contrast, in Livop, no meeting is planned to create an "automatic respect", according to Kieran Connolly, founder of the company that rents cars since December 2010. No key exchange then, but one case, the "Livop-box" installed on the car and allowing the tenant to open it.

Finally, the newest, CityZenCar, which is open for rental from mid-April, seeks to create a "community members" between neighbors who can lend their cars regularly."We try as people build a relationship on our site, and it makes more sense if they live in the same neighborhood," said David Laval, founder of the site. CityZenCar offering specialized packages to subscribe to the service as a pass at 12 euros per month for the tenant. The owner may, in turn, equip his car with a box, optional but useful, to 49 euros per month.

"Replace the second vehicle"

With this innovative formula, the pioneers of the industry argue that everyone is a winner. For tenants of vehicles is the way to "replace the famous second vehicle is an additional constraint that evaluates to 5000 euros per year," said Kieran Connolly.The rented car acts as extra vehicle: do some shopping (especially Livop that rents by the hour) or go on holiday (especially in car Lib, where the average rent is 4 to 5 days) . Also, competition would come and no car sharing or rental agencies: "The real competitor is the personal car," says David Laval CityZenCar.

Livop, with 780 tenants and 280 owners of properties on its site, is, moreover, its forward fixed price regardless of the season, which range between 3 and 10 euros an hour, depending on the size and length the vehicle payday loans. Lib car claim its share of the prize "from 40 to 50% lower" than in traditional rental companies. On average, the car rental site, which includes 5,000 members and thousands of vehicles for rent, and back to 25 euros per day.As for members of CityZenCar 3200, where 250 vehicles are available, the owner sets himself the price and can provide discounts to its tenants.

Single insurance contract

"The problem is the first time," said David Laval, stressing the importance of building a trusting relationship with its exchange partner. For this, each start-up highlights the contract negotiated with a single insurer. Important consequence: the conduct of the tenant does not impact on bonuses and penalties of the vehicle owner. Tenants and owners, in addition, asked to assume a note after each experiment.

Vehicle owners also recover a few pennies with their vehicle, previously immobilized. "The owners are often people who already have credit. They come in the idea of ​​sharing, but also to make a small gain, "said Kieran Connolly."These are not people in need," said Paulin Dementhon, but a throw extra money is welcome. In Car Lib, owner busiest realized a gain of 1000 to 1500 euros since June 2010.

Five times less expensive for renters

Finally, for the renters themselves, the formula is a godsend: "The idea was to remove what is the most expensive: the financing of cars, details Kieran Connolly of Livop. Our investment is the development of technology [boxes] and management of leases. But the monthly cost to fund such technology comes on average five times less expensive than maintaining a fleet in a traditional landlord. "Livop ensures, however, negotiate with and garages Carossier preferential rates for its vehicle owners.

To finance start-ups retire from the trade commission, up to 30% among Lib car and 50% in Livop. There is not, however, in CityZenCar where tenants are already paying the monthly pass.

The renters are intended optimistic about the future of the industry: "A large rental company has a fleet of 30,000 vehicles, Kieran Connolly notes. We, if team 1% of the French fleet, there will be 300,000 cars. Ten times. " It remains to convince individuals that their cars can also bring them some money …

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