Daily International Headlines

A hasty return to Australia of Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank in Europe, leaks to the press revealing a plan to aid in Athens … The financial markets were very well received this information. The risk premium on debt Greek, very high, has dropped. The price of insurance on the risk of default by the Greek state (CDS) has dropped 80 points to 340 points, according to Markit. Other countries covered by the contracts, Portugal, Spain and Ireland have followed the same trend.

With the prospect of EU aid plan for Greece, investors seem to have got what they asked for a few weeks. As Financial Times columnist Wolfgang Münchau summed up the mood of investors in early February, calling for "an exit strategy of crisis.""The Summit of Heads of State (which takes place on Thursday, editor's note) must tell the world that the EU resolves its own problems teletrak no payday loan ".

Note however the risk of inaction. Given these expectations, "the disappointment is guaranteed Friday morning at the issue of top European strategist anticipates that London is not growing at the sudden appearance of an" economic government "of Europe.

There is still a good reason to see lower the risk premium on debt Greek says the analyst. Athens has in fact presented Tuesday a new set of measures to reduce deficits. Namely: the introduction of new taxes on income, more details on the freeze and declining civil service salaries and the pension reform, a tax on property owners."Even the Orthodox Church will be subject to this tax," says the strategist. This shows the willingness of the Greek state.

Orange and Alcatel-Lucent has introduced Tuesday Britain Atlantic Arc, a program dedicated to technology companies of Brittany and Pays de la Loire. "There is support SMEs and start-up technology sector and communication to develop their products by providing our equipment but also our know-how and expertise," says Pierre Barnabe, President and CEO Alcatel-Lucent France. The major advantage of this initiative is that it covers both the upstream phases of financial and economic model, intermediaries, with the development of the application or those of marketing.

Thus, Alcatel-Lucent launches in incubation by offering to host start-ups or being created in Lannion (Côtes-d'Armor)."We are also here to help entrepreneurs build their business model, their business plan so they can convince investors. On this subject, it is a real coaching that can last up to three months, "says Thierry Bonhomme, Executive Director of R & D at Orange.

The component openlab provides access to some platforms of the two test groups. "We also offer businesses some bricks technological hardware and software of the two groups," says Thierry Bonhomme free credit score online . Finally, the two leaders will assist companies in finding business opportunities."In some cases, it is certainly possible to integrate new to some of our products," said Gerard Le Bihan, who coordinates the program for Alcatel.

For now, both groups have booked 1 million for the first year and expect to be asked. "We recently launched a UK competition for the attention of innovators, and the results are remarkable," welcomes Thierry Bonhomme.

"Investing on brainpower"

If the price of services are not defined, we already know that nothing is free. In contrast, Alcatel-Lucent and Orange provide a balance between costs and prices charged.

In the West, business leaders welcome these new opportunities: "We preferred to invest in the gray matter. Result: we can not buy a compressor or image encoder.This program should allow us to access these tools. But, in my opinion, the most important aspect is that inflows of trade, appreciates Gabriel Laval, who created last May a company that specializes in image processing.

Finance ministers and central bankers of the G7 (U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom) are found on Friday and Saturday in northern Canada (see below). As Barack Obama lashed out Wednesday at the undervaluation of the yuan, "matters relating to the Chinese currency (are) in all minds," said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, suggesting that the subject would be treated by the G7.

Officially there is indeed no agenda, and contrary to tradition will be no statement issued after the meeting. "We want to rediscover the" spirit of Rambouillet "historic first G7 in 1975, and have a" chat by the fireside "freer," says one does in Paris.

There is also evidence that the G7 keeps all its usefulness, although the creation of the G20 seems to have finally stole the palm as an instance of global economic governance. The G7 countries are convinced that they have specific interests in common, as explained by a European central banker. "Our currencies are the only ones to be truly flexible, and also we can not forget that our economies have pushed capitalism to the brink!" Quipped the great European treasury.

Debt relief in Haiti

The G7 countries recognize the need to reorganize their respective banking systems, which – and alone! – Were behind the financial crisis of 2008.Mario Draghi, participate in debates with his two hats as governor of the Bank of Italy and Director of the Financial Stability Board, the international body created by the G20 to coordinate international regulation of all financial institutions, and not Only banks.

As for currencies, it is true that the G7 currencies are virtually alone, with few exceptions including the Swiss franc, which float freely, for better or for worse. The remarks made Wednesday by Barack Obama against the yuan, strangely overlapping language of Nicolas Sarkozy vis-à-vis the dollar. "The price of currencies and their accuracy is one of the challenges we face on the international level to ensure that the prices of our products are not artificially inflated and those of their equally artificially lowered," said U.S. President.

Even if the G7 should lead to no decision, according to a spokesman for the German Finance Ministry, announcements could be made regarding Haiti. The U.S. Treasury first raised the issue of debt relief for Haiti. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the IMF managing director and Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank participate in the Canadian meeting.

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The British bride is more beautiful. British Airways, which should finalize during 2010 his marriage with Iberia, said Friday it had halved its operating loss in the third quarter.

"We still expect to lose money records this year," warned Willie Walsh, its director general. Due to a disastrous start to the year, the company has doubled its losses in the first nine months of its fiscal year. But saving measures taken upon entry into the crisis begins to pay. They have reduced operating costs by 10.5%.

To achieve this, the company has taken most of its competitors' revenues low costs. Starting with one of the keys to their model: a homogeneous fleet of aircraft, which reduces maintenance costs.On its base from London Gatwick, British Airways is gradually increased to a single type of aircraft (Boeing 777) for its long-haul flights and two models (Airbus A 320 and A 319) for its medium-haul flights.

All departments of the company have also made efforts. British Airways has cut staffing in its ground staff. A voluntary separation scheme and the non-renewal of retirements have to spend the staff of the London Heathrow Airport from 7 000 to 6 000 employees.

The operation of the hub has been completely redesigned. The development of online registration and training for staff to become versatile allowed both increase productivity and improve the punctuality of aircraft easy payday loans .

Last summer, finally, employees of support functions had to take leave without pay."Everyone had made efforts, but the sailors, summarizes a part of British Airways. We decided to make some changes so authoritarian. "

"Ability to react quickly"

Since the fall, steps have been taken to reduce the rest stops and to enhance the productivity of crews. The rest in Los Angeles after a flight from London for example is increased from two to one night.

A voluntary retirement plan was established to 1 000 cabin crew. 3 000 sailors have agreed to move to part time. This change has saved the equivalent of 700 employees at the company. British Airways has also offered its pilots a pay cut 6 to 7% against shares. This will allow the company to achieve 300 million pounds of savings this year."These reforms demonstrate our ability to react quickly, welcomes a part of the company. Our competitors have thought that we overreact. "

These drastic measures have however led social movements. The crew of the company and to vote February 22 on organizing a strike to oppose these measures, calling the union Unite.

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"Air France and Lufthansa, two opposing strategies against crisis

Finance ministers and central bankers of the G7 (U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom) are found on Friday and Saturday in northern Canada (see below). As Barack Obama lashed out Wednesday at the undervaluation of the yuan, "matters relating to the Chinese currency (are) in all minds," said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, suggesting that the subject would be treated by the G7.

Officially there is indeed no agenda, and contrary to tradition will be no statement issued after the meeting. "We want to rediscover the" spirit of Rambouillet "historic first G7 in 1975, and have a" chat by the fireside "freer," says one does in Paris.

There is also evidence that the G7 keeps all its usefulness, although the creation of the G20 seems to have finally stole the palm as an instance of global economic governance. The G7 countries are convinced that they have specific interests in common, as explained by a European central banker. "Our currencies are the only ones to be truly flexible, and also we can not forget that our economies have pushed capitalism to the brink!" Quipped the great European treasury.

Debt relief in Haiti

The G7 countries recognize the need to reorganize their respective banking systems, which – and alone! – Were behind the financial crisis of 2008.Mario Draghi, participate in debates with his two hats as governor of the Bank of Italy and Director of the Financial Stability Board, the international body created by the G20 to coordinate international regulation of all financial institutions, and not Only banks fast payday loans .

As for currencies, it is true that the G7 currencies are virtually alone, with few exceptions including the Swiss franc, which float freely, for better or for worse. The remarks made Wednesday by Barack Obama against the yuan, strangely overlapping language of Nicolas Sarkozy vis-à-vis the dollar."The price of currencies and their accuracy is one of the challenges we face on the international level to ensure that the prices of our products are not artificially inflated and those of their equally artificially lowered," said U.S. President.

Even if the G7 should lead to no decision, according to a spokesman for the German Finance Ministry, announcements could be made regarding Haiti. The U.S. Treasury first raised the issue of debt relief for Haiti. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the IMF managing director and Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank participate in the Canadian meeting.

ALSO READ

"China is" ready "to monetary policy adaptersa

"China limits its credit, finance reacts

"The Fed has left interest rates low for much longer

"Down by the euro:" China is central "

During the worst crisis in the global economy since 1929, electronic commerce has continued to grow. The turnover posted by online merchants reached 25 billion euros, up 26% in one year. Growth continues at a speed so rampant: the activity has increased tenfold since 2002. Electronic commerce now weighs just over 4% of retail sales (excluding food and pharmaceuticals) business cards . And projections are optimistic, according to the Federation of e-commerce and distance selling (Fevad), who presented the results Tuesday, the amount could reach 46 billion by 2012. The increase in 2009 was fueled in particular the creation of 17,000 new commercial sites, two every hour!

This is a first. Boeing has unveiled Tuesday on the economic impact of its partnership with the French manufacturers. And it is quite significant. In 2008, Boeing had charged for 4 billion worth of contracts to subcontractors lights, representing 9.6% of turnover in the sector. Of this total, 2.8 billion from direct contracts with manufacturers and the balance through the airlines at the head of Boeing fleet. The activity generated by the aircraft manufacturer in France had led to the creation of 23,000 jobs, 11,500 of which direct the total end of 2008.

"2009 has been loaded, 2010 will be equally dense" warned Friday Nicolas Sarkozy during the presentation of his wishes to the social partners. After congratulating unions and employer representatives for their "spirit of responsibility in the crisis, the head of state has listed the main projects of 2010 on social issues.

Unemployment in particular, "will be at the heart of our action in 2010," he announced, as well as the management of addiction, "fifth social risk. The job priority for the coming year, so even if the head of state welcomed the positive results already achieved in this area. "Unemployment, with the exception of Germany, grew everywhere more than France.I do not satisfy, but if it was the opposite, which would be responsible? I have an idea … "

"The major problem of our social protection

As previously announced, 2010 will also be an opportunity to address pension reform. "It's been 50 years that we gain a quarter of life expectancy per year. This progress requires us to make decisions, "he said. Moreover, "the French are not mistaken, three quarters are concerned about their retirement. In this area, the head of state warned it will take account of the arduous work. "It's a defect French confusing equality and uniformity," he explained, suggesting that retirement may not be recognized for all the same.

The Head of State had previously commended the social partners for their spirit of responsibility during the crisis.A speech already supported by Francois Fillon during his vows to the press, and a way to encourage social partners to continue this work in 2010 for the implementation of further reforms, and in particular, thorny pension . "I do not believe in our social history, we've already had a social dialogue as dense," he noted as well. "Rather than fan the flames, everyone had to heart to find solutions to the ills that affected the French," thereby achieving "a form of maturity of our democracy." "Our duty is to tell us" he meant well.

AOL announced the color in late November. On 6 900 employees, 2 500 people were invited to take voluntary departure, otherwise there would be layoffs. Having only received 1 100 applications for voluntary departure, the Internet group has begun to deploy, yesterday, a comprehensive plan layoffs. In France, management presented a plan to close the staff representatives. One hundred employees are concerned. Germany is also poised to close shop. The AOL offices in Sweden and Spain will close early. The first redundancies notified on Monday, will take effect on Wednesday. AOL, which has left the fold of Time Warner in early December, having provisioned for 200 million dollars in charges.

The meeting had yet begun in a friendly atmosphere, around a few cakes of kings. Tuesday morning, the eighth floor of the MEDEF, after an hour of quiet trade on the carbon tax and social negotiations, the clash occurred without anyone waiting on the highly technical issue tenders Association fund management integration of persons with disabilities. Clash between the two numbers 2 "tie" of the organization, Jean-Charles Simon and Helen Molinari, whose disagreement was notorious. For some, Jean-Charles Simon had treated Helen Molinari of "idiot" and "incompetent" before slamming the door. The person himself, swears that he kept his composure. "I said what she said was false then I left the meeting," he promises, that confirms a witness.

What does not yet know the participants is that they will never again see Jean-Charles Simon.For him, this incident is the straw that broke a vase too full for several weeks. The evidence was that Laurence Parisot, despite assurances that he swears that he obtained in December, no desire to change the allocation of tasks with Helen Molinari. Back down in his office, he sends his resignation by email to the president of MEDEF, asking not to his notice three months, and leaves the building. Definitely. This email, Laurence Parisot discovered in the early afternoon and will act without a call to his ex-delegate-general to understand the decision or seek to hold him.

Things might have stayed there and the MEDEF, after the resignation proved by Le Figaro, could minimize the event. But Wednesday morning, the machine goes.In a statement to AFP, Jean-Charles Simon recalls failures "in decision-making and organizational roles, ranging up to criticize" the professionalism of the leadership "of MEDEF. The employers' organization responds by accusing him, in a statement at your unusually steep "having conducted his own end after a spectacular incident," and provides "support to internal teams Medef that have been proven these unusual methods. " The break was complete.

Denis Kessler Photo credits: Le Figaro