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In the small world of luxury hotels, it's an earthquake! Following a final meeting Thursday morning, the "jury palace" has unveiled the list of top luxury hotels, a distinction created to emphasize "excellence in French." He did that eight chosen: the Bristol, the Meurice, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome and the Plaza Athenee in Paris, the Cranberries and Cheval Blanc in Courchevel, Hotel du Palais in Biarritz and the Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Three legendary hotels in Paris does not form part of this selection: the Crillon, but the approach of heavy work, he had not applied, the Ritz, however, candidate, although it also requires a major renovation; Finally and most importantly, the George V, regularly voted the best hotel in the world!

This unexpected finding has created shock and controversy. "I have a bitter taste of victory in the mouth.Especially as the Ritz and the George V are not in the list removes all credibility distinction, "said François Delahaye same, boss of Dorchester including two hotels, Le Meurice and Plaza-Athénée, yet have received the distinction. "For those who know the hotel is unthinkable to consider that the George V is not a palace. The jury must be explained except to discredit the distinction of office, "responded Gabriel Matar, director of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels France.

New session in November

"The jury has set the bar very high and the first eight palaces are undeniable, for his part said Christian Mantei, director general of Maison de la France.There will be future sessions in which the hotel just opened may apply, as well as those now under construction. "

The jury judged the candidates on subjective criteria, having verified that they had already met all the objective criteria established by Trump France, the promotion agency of France (room sizes, number of suites, a spa presence , number of employees by customers …).

"All decisions were taken by a majority of the ten members of the jury, said the academician Dominique Fernandez, president of the jury cheap credit report. The Hotel du Palais in Biarritz was unanimous. We visited eleven hotels. The Negresco in Nice with no hot tub, it could not be a candidate. The hotels are excluded, the Ritz and the George V in Paris, Lana in Courchevel, does not fully meet our requirements. But there was about them heated debates.They may represent themselves. Another session is already scheduled for next November. "

"All those who have been recognized fully deserve it," said Hubert Joly, board member and CEO of Carlson. Thursday, the winners also welcomed. "You can be young and palace, welcomed Jauslin Michel, president and CEO of Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, which opened in 2002, rue de la Paix. "We had the know-how. This distinction allows us now know, on both the Paris and abroad. " "This award gives us more visibility internationally and it will not change our pricing policy, says Séverine Pétilaire, president of the Cranberries in Courchevel, which opened only four months a year. Our average prices are higher than 3500 euros a night.These are the highest in France and among the highest in Europe. "

The number one flunked

If the Ritz declined to comment, the George V, was astonished. "We do not understand. We have no explanation, laments Christopher Norton, General Manager of the hotel. The jury to tell us that we are not up to me puzzling. Our reputation is so solid. For years, we are regularly ranked first hotel in the world. Continuously, we reinvest 6 million euros per year to maintain our palace! "

The George V, owned by Saudi Prince Alwaleed and is managed by Canada's Four Seasons, was completely rebuilt between 1997 and 1999. He is currently undertaking the work of "beautification" (carpet, wallpaper and decorating).In January, The Gallivanter's Guide to the George V was ranked number one in Europe and worldwide.

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Respect the rules of good governance at Renault while responding to questions about the French role in the company, without destabilizing it. It is the balancing act, politically dangerous and embarrassing that the state has since the collapse of the case. It may well be the largest shareholder of Renault, he is not alone in charge. If he holds 15% of the manufacturer, the state has two representatives on nineteen to the Board of Directors: Luc Rousseau, Director of the Directorate General of competitiveness and Industry at Bercy, and Alexis Kohler , Agency of State Holdings. It can not, in principle, to impose its views.

What it can do however is put the pressure. In both media and politics.When deemed necessary, it does not deprive it: Who does not remember the vitriolic statements of head of state, ignoring all rules of governance, demanding the resignation of Daniel Bouton after the affair Kerviel ?

"Everything has to be rebuilt"

Not so with the Renault affair, in which the Executive has been careful not to fan the embers. Although his handling of the crisis raises many critics, Carlos Ghosn is an internationally recognized industrial, away from the myth of "bad bank" that returned the boss of Societe Generale in full heart of the financial crisis. The CEO of Renault also plays "an important role in the Franco-Japanese alliance," said a government source, not to say that it is really unavoidable No teletrak payday loan.Finally, the company is a French industrial flagship, major employer.

The government had every reason not wanting to weaken and was careful from the beginning of the case not to attack frontally with his boss. "Our role is not to say this or that person is responsible," said Minister of Industry, Eric Besson … before adding yesterday that the audit conducted by Renault ended "to the conclusion that four people should be punished." As for the Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde said she had "instructed state officials who sit on the board, support the recommendations of the report of the audit committee."

Hiding behind the investigation that he himself requested, the state got what he wanted without seeming too intrusive. The departure would have added a number one crisis to crisis.The sacrifice the number two avoids return the image of a state shareholder leaving everything. At Bercy, where Christine Lagarde knows well the operating companies to have been in his previous life as head of law firm Baker & McKenzie in Chicago, it is noted that "the solution to the problem has been properly found, in accordance with rules of governance "and that" everything is now to rebuild. "

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Flat screens, sleek … TVs are becoming more beautiful, too bad the picture is marred by the son. Chinese manufacturer Haier has designed a wire-free, not even electricity. The promise's dream.

On paper, the principle is very simple. "Within a radius of two meters, no need son. We create a magnetic field in which the electric current pass, and the image data, "said Rene Aubertin, president of Haier Europe. So just to have a box placed near the TV. The housing is connected by wire to the sector and possibly a cable or antenna reception ADSL and sends waves energy and information without loss of quality or power.

The advantage of such a solution would be to achieve dispense with all cables and son, including those connecting the TV to DVD players, Blu-ray … "We're obviously going to test the impact of technology on health" adds Rene Aubertin, who put on a launch of the first products in 2011 in China and Europe in early 2012. Haier, which is convinced that wireless "is a real argument for consumers' experiences another solution in the field. It is like this time the principle of induction. Just this time to ask its receptor (provided it is designed for) on a shelf, connected to electricity payday loans for bad credit. The current then flows between the post and the plate. The gain is a priori small, since it is necessary to connect the shelf and not the receiver.But Haier has wanted to go further in this direction and consider making this plate a kind of universal charger for all electrical appliances in the home. "Imagine, you go home, you put your phone on the plate and presto, it recharges itself," enthuses Rene Aubertin. Ultimately, the principle can be extended to objects as diverse as a PC, a kettle, a shelf …

Positioning in the midrange

Haier, which makes $ 20 billion in sales worldwide, including 600 million in Europe, wants a fivefold increase its presence in mature countries shortly. Television weighed barely a third of European sales in 2010 (the balance coming from appliances), it should represent more than half of next year."We develop products to make them more responsive to the expectations of European consumers," said Rene Aubertin, who wants to position products in Haier midrange. At year end, the brand will launch its first television sets connected and 3D with passive glasses (or polarized) at a price "significantly lower than competitors'.

The General Assembly of shareholders of Parmalat, 12 April looks tense. While the rise in the dairy group Lactalis trans caused a stir in Italy, the company headed by Emmanuel Besnier announcement having captured 29% stake in Parmalat.

Holding 11.42% last week and 13.67% on Monday, Lactalis has indeed reached an agreement with three foreign investment funds Zenit Asset Management AB, Skagen AS and Mackenzie Financial Corporation to redeem their participation by 15.3% . According to the Italian press, the three shareholders would be fiercely opposed to the current chairman, Enrico Bondi, he intends to land.

Anyway, Lactalis is more than ever the majority shareholder of Parmalat.And although the group Laval did not intend to hold more than 30% of Parmalat, which would have to launch a takeover bid in the Italian securities laws, this absolutely does not like the Italian government and in particular Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti. The latter intends to take measures to defend domestic firms when they are considered "strategic."

Italy wants to counter Lactalis

To block the road to Lactalis and funds, the Italian government said "very favorable" to an alliance of investors across the country.Intesa-San Paolo could be the pivot while the dairy group Granarolo and giant chocolate Ferrero (Nutella, Kinder) have expressed their interest.

After that LVMH has offered the jeweler Bulgari and EDF talks with Italian Edison shareholders to reach agreement on the control of Edison electrician, Italy could see another national treasure in the hands of French companies . Not to mention that Groupama would take a share of the holding Premafin and that the airline Alitalia is 25% owned by Air France KLM since 2009.

In this context, France's ambassador to Italy, Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, was received on Thursday by Minister of Economy Giulio Tremonti and Deputy Secretary of the Presidency Gianni Letta, the right-hand Silvio Berlusconi, to be informed of the position of Rome who wants the "rules of reciprocity."

Airbus is closely monitoring the developments in Japan. The European aircraft manufacturer employs 25 people locally, including 5 expatriates employed in support functions to customer airlines. Airbus has decided to move its expatriates in the south, while 20 Japanese installed at the headquarters in Tokyo were invited to stay home this week. "We have a team that is studying the situation in real time and the decisions of the Japanese government. Our priority is our employees, "said a spokeswoman for Airbus. C hez same speech that Boeing has allocated 2 million dollars to help the Japanese. The U.S. giant has – for now – not decided to withdraw its 200 employees. "We work with our partners and customers to see what assistance we could provide," said a spokesman. He added: "We remain in constant contact with all our employees."

Airbus currently refuses to talk about any economic impact because of the seriousness of the situation. Commercial presence is modest. F the monkfish Airbus A320 in service with 5 StartFlyer, 18 A300 and 29 at Japan Airlines All Nippon Airlines A320 at. Recently, Boeing has signed two contracts with Skymark for 4 A380s and with A & M Aviation, a subsidiary of ANA, for 10 A320s. Nothing comparable to the ultra dominance of Boeing, which controls 98% of the Japanese market and has forged a partnership with the country strategically in the aftermath of World War II.

On the industrial side, again the two groups are not in the same position. Airbus has gradually built Japanese subcontractors in its worldwide network of suppliers. Today, 12 of them work for the A320, 15 for A ranges 330-340 and 20 for the A380.For its part, Boeing has made the Japanese aviation industry a leading partner that shares the financial risks and technological programs. Mitsubishi Heavy, Kawasaki Heavy and Fuji Heavy provide 15% of the 767 fuselage components, 20% and 35% B777 B787 Dreamliner.

For now, Boeing has not suspended any of its business in Japan and, according to preliminary reports sent to industry partners Boeing, their factories south and south central (Nagoya, Kobe particular) have not suffered so significant earthquake.

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In the wake of massive demonstrations against employees of the pension reform in the month of September, the president promised to take better account of the drudgery. The daily Les Echos, the new rules allow for early retirement – at age 60 instead of 62 years – are ready to come into force. The draft orders were submitted Monday to the Commission of accidents and illnesses that must review them before publication in the Official Gazette.

These decrees provide that to continue to retire at age 60, the insured must prove that a disability rating of over 20% caused by illness or accident.The retirement age is then lowered from two years.

17 years of exposure

For insured persons with disability rate ranges between 10% and 20%, the process is rather more complex. This amounts to a lot of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Employees must then prove they were exposed for at least seventeen years of difficulty factors. These are precisely defined by the decrees. These include carrying heavy loads, uncomfortable postures, work at night …

The case of employees who apply for early retirement will be reviewed by a commission whose members are representatives of state and social security. The Commission will have four months to decide.

If proof of 17 years of exposure is not required for employees suffering from occupational disease, the trade unions believe it is inappropriate to TMS.The CGT said that this term does correcpond to any reality. according to the CFDT, over a quarter of TMS appears to exhibits ranging from one to ten years. Syncicats also denounced the lack of recourse against the decision of the Commission if it refuses the early departure. Only possibility to look to the court of social security which could be blocked quickly by the CFDT.

The new rules should come into force at the same time that the law on pension reform on 1 July.

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After the fall of the regimes in Egypt and Tunisia, tensions rise in Bahrain, Algeria and other OPEC member countries, especially Libya, the brink of "civil war" as a son of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in power for 42 years, which would have left the country to seek refuge in Brazil or Venezuela, according to Al Arabiya.

On oil markets, the reaction is, as always, immediately on Monday morning. In Asian trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for March delivery gained 1.13 dollars to 87.33 dollars. As for Brent North Sea crude for April delivery, it took $ 1.02 to 103.54 dollars, a threshold of novueau strong techinque. "The main factor (this flight) is the disturbed situation in the Middle East," said Victor Shum, an analyst in Singapore, saying.He said that "Libya is a member of OPEC and although its oil production is modest at the global level, the country is near the main suppliers of black gold of the planet easy to get unsecured personal loans."

Renewed uncertainty requires the price of gold, a safe haven par excellence, also increased and currently process close to $ 1400, exactly at 1395.10 euros (+1.8%), and its highest Historical. Even tedance on silver prices, which hit a record last thirty years.

FinallyThe food prices are approaching the "level of alert," warned the World Bank on the sidelines of the meeting of G20 finance ministers in Paris, which revealed that between June and December, rising food prices has dropped 44 million people worldwide below the extreme poverty.

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The King of results announcements of companies taking a break. So, what are the economic indicators that replicate the hand and should facilitate the meeting this Friday. After the slight rise on Wall Street Thursday night and the reluctance of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the CAC 40 is again expected to open cautiously. Futures on the index in Paris rose 0.08% to 4156 points.

On the macroeconomic front, INSEE presents its monthly business survey (manufacturing, construction and retail trade and car repairs) for the month of February at 8:45. The institute will also provide indicators of its business climate and a downturn in February (8.45) and value indices of orders received in industry in December (12:00).

Once is not custom, no economic statistics are expected in the United States.However, the president of the Central Bank, Ben Bernanke, will participate in the G20 ministerial held in Paris, which will be attended by Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the twenty richest countries in the world. Bernanke will talk about "global imbalances and financial stability" (14 hours).

On the currency markets, the euro is stable against the dollar at 1.3604 dollar.

Lafarge in line with expectations

Lafarge said Friday anticipate a rebound between 3% and 6% (cons -1% to +3% expected in 2010) of cement demand in 2011 after a 2010 financial year marked by overall results online. The world's leading cement has published results in line with expectations.

Bull announces this morning a net profit of 6.5 million euros in 2010, earnings increased fourfold over the previous year, when it reached 1.4 million euros.

A consortium led by Bouygues has been chosen by the state to build the future "at the Pentagon French" on the site Balard, in south-west of Paris, as Le Figaro said Thursday. Information confirmed by the MoD in a statement.

The consortium led by Bouygues includes Thales computers, Sodexo services, Dalkia Energy and FIDEPPP – bringing together the Savings and Natixis – and SEIEF as financial investors.

Eutelsat has released interim results that put it on track to exceed its targets for 2010-2011.

The Government of Côte d'Ivoire has declared Thursday the nationalization of local subsidiary of Societe Generale and BNP Paribas have suspended their activities, including the two French institutions.

Orange filed a complaint against Bouygues Telecom before the Commercial Court of Paris, following the January 1 bug that caused an increase in involuntary SMS. Orange seeking millions of euros in damages.

Workers and employees of Peugeot should be increased by 1.7% with a minimum of 34 euros, from 1 March.

According to the report of the court in Bobigny, including Le Figaro has obtained a copy, the Central Works Council of Air France needs of 20.5 million to continue its activity in 2011 and avoid defaulting .

So that opens Monday at the Mobile World Congress, high mass annual telecom, Barcelona, major European operators go on the offensive. "The alarm clock rang operators. We now have a clear vision of the challenges faced by our model. We are determined to go on the offensive, "says Stéphane Richard, CEO of France Telecom, Le Figaro.

The "G5", this informal club which meets the five major European operators (Orange, Vodafone, Telefonica, Telecom Italia and Deutsche Telekom), met this morning in Barcelona. First concern is the increasing traffic by 18 on the fixed and mobile networks within four years the network congestion threatens. To avoid saturation, operators have to invest heavily … and fully intend to share the bill with those who are the primary beneficiaries: YouTube, Google and others."For years, compensate operators naturally flows exchanged between them is the system of peering. What they sent about what they were getting compensated. But this system has experienced since the flows are completely unbalanced for two years due to the explosion of video. Some players who are behind the explosion of traffic must be willing to help finance the investments needed to route this traffic, "insists Stephen Richard.

Another concern is the lack of competition in the shops of applications. "Competition in telecom has always been seen by Brussels in terms of infrastructure and networks. Today, there is another reality: the arrival of new players like Google and Apple, "says Stéphane Richard.And example is the Read & Go application, developed by Orange and various publishers, behind Apple to allow on its online store. "This practice is acceptable?" Interrogates Stéphane Richard. It will meet in Brussels.

Netting on 4G

The five major operators should also announce a better coordination on mobile contactless or NFC, with a launch expected this year. "Contactless will bring out new services and our customers. They can use their mobile as a payment card, such as ticketing, such as badges for access to buildings or as a transportation tag. Orange aims NFC 500,000 customers by the end of the year in France and the integration causes many of these new services without contact from the SIM card. The market is ripe now, "says Stéphane Richard.Orange is also announcing today an agreement with Samsung for the upcoming European launch of a new NFC-enabled mobile.

The CEO of France Telecom is very proactive on the fourth generation of mobile, "it is inevitable that changes to the 4G. Orange is ready to participate in the tender in France. What bothers me is neither the timing nor the principle of a high reserve price (the government wants to recover 2 billion of licenses to be issued in France in the summer, Ed), but problem is to increase the stress on operators when they are asked to invest heavily. Operators will face a fourth operator in a mature market, "he says.

And the beautiful game operator to point the proliferation of taxes, the latest being the recovery of VAT."In crude, we had a lot of termination, but this represents a net lost few customers. Because the vast majority of customers who cancel a subscription at Orange resume here. In any case, those who still thought that there was insufficient competition in the market were able to verify the bitterness of the fight, "says Stéphane Richard.

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A device for widespread fraud. 4000 French pharmacies are equipped with computer software allowing them to conceal part of their income in taxes. The shortfall in public finances has been estimated by one source quoted by Midi Libre, which revealed the affair, to 400 million euros. Attorney Nimes, Robert Gelli, confirmed to AFP Friday that an investigation launched in 2008 on the practice of pharmacy in the Gard Rémoulins had found the pot to the roses. "In some pharmacies and also in other activities, using software called" permissive "serve to conceal taxable transactions, and thus evade taxes," says the General Directorate of Public Finance (DGIFP).

18% of pharmacies may be affected

Two companies in France, including one based in Niort, made in France this type of software.To distort an entire accounting, only the use of a computer code would be needed and would hide on average 5000 euros of revenue each month. "The system used Remoulins not limited to the pharmacy. It is something of a national scale. 4000 pharmacies have requested access to that particular computer formula, "said Robert Gelli. France had in 2009 22.389 pharmacies, so they are nearly 18% of them who are potentially fraudeuses!

"The tax administration has launched a determined and specific action to fight against these fraudulent practices and this will be all the tax and legal consequences," reported the AFP respective department in the Ministry of Finance.And for good reason: if the latter refused to disclose the amount of damage suffered by the IRS, the 400 million raised by Midi Libre would be the same order of magnitude as the 500 million euros in revenue expected each year by the movement of the plane 10% tax loopholes.