World News – International Headlines, Stories

Laurent Wauquiez expressed confidence Monday in throwing a "healthy debate". The group's European Affairs Minister in the Assembly, the "social rights" must file "within 10 days" a bill to force RSA recipients to "take" five hours a week of "social service". Also planned, capping the "accumulation of all tested benefits at 75% of SMIC," and the requirement for foreigners to have worked at least 5 years in France in order to qualify. To justify its offensive, Laurent Wauquiez denounced "abuses of welfare" as "the cancer of French society." But his proposals divide his own camp.

On Monday, the national leadership of the UMP had welcomed a "significant contribution" to the next party convention on "Social Justice", June 8According to the MP-Valérie Rosso Debord, Deputy Delegate General of the UMP, these proposals are "common sense" and "should help to maintain a link between the person seeking work and the workplace."

But Tuesday morning, Laurent Wauquiez has been reframed by François Fillon himself. During breakfast the majority, at the Elysee Palace, the prime minister criticized the release of his minister. Criticism he repeated before the UMP deputies, meeting in the Assembly: "I'm not sure we need to subject all the reforms that fate has subjected the tax shield" in the process of be removed during the tax reform."Do not destroy it strives to balance" the quinquennium of Nicolas Sarkozy and "we should not discredit the reform of RSA," Francois Fillon has called yet.

Minister Roselyne Bachelot Solidarity, François Fillon close, which recalls in a statement it is "in charge of this matter," says his side's proposal Laurent Wauquiez present "difficulties of principle and implementation . She said it had already formulated his objections to the person "at a depth interview." In response to the arguments of the Minister of European Affairs, she recalled that the device provides "an important difference exists between the RSA and the minimum wage." The minister writes that she finally submit "ideas for improving the system to the President of the Republic", while an assessment mission on the SSA must issue its findings in July.And Labour Minister, Xavier Bertrand, embarrassed, did not express.

Hirsch: "This idea does not hold water"

More severe, Marc-Philippe Daubresse centrist member of the leadership of the UMP party, said on lepoint.fr "very surprised that this proposal is a total ignorance of the reality on the ground and irresponsibility." "I am responsible (Secretary General) and the UMP in charge of a mission entrusted by the president on this issue," says the member of the North was responsible for leading, June 8, UMP convention on "social justice".

The father of RSA Martin Hirsch, former Secretary of State in the government of François Fillon, became outraged Monday night on France 2, the idea of ​​"cons RSA hours."All the moves are not allowed to face the vulnerability of people," he said after being denied the "false things" who "sow doubt among the French." "This idea does not stand a single second when one takes into account seriously," he added. "If these things were implemented, it would begin to work without pay recipients of the RSA. But then we would look for all employees, canteen staff, cleaning any part of the French and they would say, 'now working for free', or worse, your work will be taken because someone will do it free in exchange for a social allowance '. "

CFDT: Laurent Wauquiez "frieze with the extreme right" The words of Laurent Wauquiez provoked an outcry among many associations.The National Federation of reception and reintegration (Fnars) oppose a debate "corny and demagogic." "The cancer society is not the assistantship, but unemployment," replies the minister Uniopss, which includes the major associations of health and social sector. "The five hours of social work is proposed aimed at people who can work, but who first need a job, or to people who can not work and who need social support" , Bruno Grouès analysis, special advisor to the leadership of Uniopss. The national movement of the unemployed and precarious (FFDM) has accused the minister of "stigmatize an entire segment of the population." "This speech is dangerous," said Lawrence Berger, the national secretary to the CFDT.For the union, adding counterparts to take advantage of RSA is "suggest that the unemployed would be profiteers," while "these are people who are victims of the crisis and mass unemployment recurring."

Even indignation on the part of opposition parties. The Socialist Party first secretary Martine Aubry has denounced a draft "shameful." "To say that people who live on the RSA are people who have their arms dangling waiting and are very happy to be of assistance, it really does not know the reality of things," said she. PS The member of Essonne, Manuel Valls, criticizes proposals to "designate the unemployed, those who benefit from RSA as responsible as the perpetrators, as the scapegoats of the crisis."Jean-Luc Melenchon, co-chair of the Left Party, said he was "appalled" by these "measures absurd, cruel and unjust" that "aim to show people the finger" and "hunt down and say 'you want to do anything, lazy' . Communist MP for Marie-George Buffet, the government tries to "round up the electorate of the extreme right in pointing to the French who live on handouts". Judgments shared by François Hollande: "After stigmatized abroad and opened a debate on national identity, the government is now the weakest in the debate to get the votes of the Front National." Laurent Wauquiez moves to the right Marine Le Pen, "adds Cecile Duflot, national secretary of Ecology-The Greens Europe.

The FN reacted Monday, but not in the sense of Laurent Wauquiez."The French are not assisted! Crisis (child policy of Nicolas Sarkozy) and the current policy makes it essential to protect the state can make to the poorest, "writes in a statement Wallerand de Saint-Just, a member of the executive bureau of the party. While also indicating that the FN, he, would grant "more means-tested benefits to foreigners."

ALSO READ:

"RSA: Wauquiez wants a return

"INTERVIEW – Wauquiez:" UMP must be the party of the middle classes "

The event that would trigger a financial calamity improbable was postponed a month. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, has de facto given up until August 2, 30 days longer in Congress to negotiate with the White House a compromise budget cutting public spending in exchange for a higher ceiling of public debt.

Without a vote of Congress to raise the maximum amount authorized in outstanding debt today of 1429 billion, the Treasury is indeed found quickly running out of ways to prevent America falling into default.Now this event would trigger a serious crisis of confidence as the global financial system based on the principle that Uncle Sam by definition always pays his debts.

In a letter to leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Tim Geithner said that in his view, there is an urgent need to raise the debt ceiling by May 16. Otherwise it is forced to take extraordinary measures to limit government bonds and earn a little time. The reason for the additional period of one month is estimated by the Treasury relatively good news: the fiscal revenues are higher than expected.

Republican obstruction

However, it is unlikely that Democrats and Republicans agree fall before May 16 on a package of budget savings.Tim Geithner is preparing to suspend certain loans made on behalf of local communities and states. The Treasury had already arrived at this end in 2006 and 2007. Even then, Congress was reluctant to raise the debt ceiling.

But at the time the Democrats were the resistance against President Bush. They called for higher taxes on the rich. Barack Obama, the Illinois senator, had even voted in 2006 against raising the ceiling. Today, it is the Republicans who are filibustering. Majority in the House of Representatives since January, they require substantial reductions of public expenditure.

Their leaders are conscious of playing with fire by letting approach the fateful date of a possible default.But they are equally sincere in saying that raising the ceiling systematic debt without cuts in spending has finally put the U.S. in an untenable financial situation. They are joined in their efforts, especially in the Senate, by many centrist Democrats. All were alarmed about the risk of loss by the U.S. of its AAA rating. That, however, three years that the U.S. budget deficit between 9 and 11% of gross domestic product (GDP). Worse, medium and long term, even with a return to sustainable growth, this deficit will not recede fast enough. At the direction of Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden will begin negotiations with Congress on Thursday. The White House wants them carried out independently of raising the debt ceiling. The Republicans did not intend it that way.

Back to square one for the mutual insurer Groupama. His plan of conquest of Italy was thwarted Friday by Consob, the Milan stock market watchdog. This is a new blow to the French who dreams of European expansion for years. To this end, Groupama in 2003 had offered an observation post of first choice in Italy. With the help of Vincent Bollore, the insurer had entered the capital and the board of directors of the powerful Milanese merchant bank, Mediobanca.

After years of observation, this investment was to finally pay. A beautiful operation, acquisition-Sai Fon, the first Italian car insurer, crippled by disastrous financial results, was in sight. To achieve this goal, a long-term plan had been mounted.The direction of Groupama had close family Ligresti, the majority shareholder of a financial holding, Premafin, which owns 41% of Sai Fon.

In financial difficulty, the Ligresti had agreed to sell 17% of their company Groupama for 145 million euros. Once in place, the French hoped of course gradually take control of Fon-Sai creditreport. Despite plans IPO of Groupama, the financing of such acquisition, estimated at between 2 and 3 billion euros, however, seemed complex.

Political reading

To achieve his ends, Groupama wanted to remain a minority in the capital of Premafin. The mutual had therefore conditioned its investment to the lack of obligation to Consob to launch a takeover bid for the entire holding. The authority has no doubt considered that Groupama Ligresti and acted in concert. Permission has been refused.Groupama said it would "examine the situation created when it is properly informed" by Consob of "motives of his decision."

The decision of the Milanese can also lead to a political reading. The prospect of a French acquire a large insurance company had caused an outcry in Milan. "We will keep the Italian spirit of our company" and had promised Ligresti at the last general meeting of their society.

ALSO READ:

Groupama will always go public

After oil, gas. On Tuesday, the Italian ENI oil and gas cut announced that the only pipeline connecting Libya to Italy and Europe because of the violence. A decision in the wake of the cessation of petroleum activities in Libya.

The pipeline is long Greenstream of 520 kilometers and a capacity of eight billion cubic meters per year. From Mellitah in Libya, he arrived at Gela in Sicily (southern Italy). The gas passing through Greenstream from two deposits (Wafa and Bahr Essalam) operated by the national company ENI and Libya's NOC. ENI is the largest foreign producer in the country, with a production of 244,000 barrels per day and 640,000 barrels of around if one includes the appropriate share of the national carrier Libyan NOC under sharing agreements.The Italian group also sells some of the gas passing through Libyan Greenstream to others such as Italian and French Edison GDF Suez, but it is unclear how much share to the rest of Europe.

Do not panic

After the announcement of the interruption, ENI has sought to reassure that he was "able to meet the gas demand of its customers." According to Gianni Di Giovanni, a spokesman for the group, the gas from Russia and Algeria will cope with demand "for many months."

The government of Silvio Berlusconi, who met Tuesday night to discuss all aspects of the Libyan crisis with energy problems, has also assured that the situation was under control.The interruption of the operation of the pipeline does not cause "any problems with the security of supply," said Department of Economic Development who says he is ready "if necessary" to draw on reserves of gas.

For Italy, the former colonial power, the stakes are high. Libya is the third largest gas supplier in the country, behind Algeria and Russia.

ALSO READ:

"Libya disrupts the oil market

"Oil: OPEC refuses to intervene for the moment

"SPECIAL – Revolts in the Arab world

SNCF has not been fully understood by the government. The expected increase in late January the price of train tickets will be "probably between 2 and 3%, a level higher than inflation but below that wanted the station, according to Minister of Ecology and Transportation, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet. "The station asked us 5%. It said it was not possible and it will probably be between 2 and 3%, "the minister said on Tuesday on radio station RMC. It justified the increase to come, considered reasonable by the government, through increased tolls that SNCF must pay Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) to operate its trains and the necessary investments in equipment renewal.

In 2010, RFF will receive 1.5 billion euros in tolls of the SNCF, for the use of its high-speed network.In early December, the company owns the rail infrastructure networks had sounded the alarm, believing that the future network of high-speed lines in France was not insured due to lack of investment for renovation . RFF said that in order to sustainably manage the network at high speed, he would receive two billion euros per year. And tolls should instead reach 40% of the price of train ticket, instead of 30% currently.

Angry users

Still, the prospect of higher rates of SNCF, even of 2 to 3% instead of 5% claimed by the railway company, could further increase the anger of the users. For several days, several lines of subscribers SNCF decided to observe a "strike" have their tickets in protest against the degradation of service provided by the carrier.Thus, after users online Angers-Le Mans-Paris are those of the TGV Paris-Tours which currently express their ras-le-bol. Some 300 lines connecting subscribers Arras, Douai, Dunkerque and Lille in the Ile-de-France will also join the strike.

"This mobilization is at the level of dissatisfaction of users, so that the TGV EST, according to Willy Colin, a spokesman for the Association of passenger rail users in the Western region (Avuc) has initiated a National Petition at Le Mans in early January fast cash online. The petition had "more than 7500 signatories" last Friday. The users are complaining about the repeated delays on the rail network and social movements.

Their anger, rampant for months, has also been fueled by heavy traffic disruptions that have resulted from episodes snow last December.The South Rail union and the association of users and FUT-SP had mocked the SNCF, estimating that the carrier was "afraid of the snow" and would put some lines TER "minimum service" for this reason. TGV, meanwhile, was slowed to 220 km / h in areas affected by the weather, which caused delays.

An "emergency plan" for the lines "sick"

In this tense environment, Guillaume Pepy, SNCF chairman of the group, announced an "emergency plan" for 12 rail lines "sick" as the Paris-Amiens and Paris-Tours or the RER A line. "On each line, we will set up a barometer of public satisfaction, which will be measured each month," he said at the "Grand Jury RTL-Le Figaro-LCI.Asked about the cost of such a plan, Guillaume Pepy said the bill would amount to "several tens of million euros", drawn from the "benefits" of the group are wholly reinvested. But according to Pascal Mignot, a spokesman for users of the Le Mans-Paris line, "these statements do not convince us, is to amuse the gallery …."

Mid-December, the boss of SNCF had promised in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche that the fares TGV lines remain "accessible to all." Today, users want more angry than promises. The set of associations seeking compensation per subscriber of 250 to 300 euros and a rate freeze for 2011.

ALSO READ:

"Lack of investment threatens the future of the TGV

"The great anger subscribers TGV

"SNCF: the" wake strikes "law but" shocking "

France asked Saturday free elections "as soon as possible" in Tunisia and announced it had taken measures to block "suspicious financial movements" of Tunisian assets on its territory.

In a statement, the Elysee said he had "taken steps to ensure that suspicious financial transactions involving assets in France are blocked Tunisian administratively under the law."

Paris "is available to the constitutional authorities to respond promptly to any request on Tunisian assets in France," the statement said the French presidency.

Calling for "healing and an end to violence," France has also requested "the organization of free elections as soon as possible" in Tunisia, claiming to be ready to "respond to any request for assistance so that the process democratic place as the most compelling ".

Recalling the principle of "non-interference in internal affairs of a sovereign state," Paris said at last bring a "strong support" to the Tunisian people in its "commitment to democracy."

More information to come.

(With AP)

The year 2011 started well for Apple! Having dethroned his eternal rival, Microsoft, Exchange, last May the Apple brand has reached in early trading on Monday evening, the $ 330 share, or a market capitalization of 302 billion dollars. The group has a busy time of the second biggest companies in the world.

And even if ultimately, the stock closed Monday night in the 330 dollars to 329.57 dollars exactly (7.01%), Apple confirmed its growing power market. So much so that in less than a year, the gap in funding between Apple and Microsoft has widened by more than 60 billion dollars.

Other innovations and acquisitions to come

But this morning, PetroChina has taken second place with over $ 307 billion capitalization. Apple finds itself third in the world payday loan.Exxon Mobil is still in first place with its 369 billion.

And this is probably not over. The Apple boss Steve Jobs promises because new innovations and new acquisitions in the coming months.

Piper Jaffray, a specialist in the value of Apple, said the group could even integrate the TV market at a time when television connected proliferates. "Apple may soon look to web services, thus strengthening its mechanism (cloud service, MobileMe …). The little apple has not finished building.

ALSO READ:

"New in the top 10 companies in the world

SERVICE

"The Exchange with Cortal Consors is satisfied or your money back!

"Online Brokerage: Compare offers from our partners

The Christmas period is traditionally very busy for the Post. "We handle about 900,000 packages a month in normal times, and 1.5 million at Christmas. We are preparing well in advance. This peak, we are used to, "says one to the direction of the SOE. But this year the weather was responsible for further complicate the task of Postal Workers. By blocking access to certain roads to trucks, heavy snowfall of last week have delayed many deliveries. "From Wednesday night, 500,000 parcels have accumulated overdue. They are now back in the circuit, and will arrive before Christmas. Yesterday, 80,000 packages have still lagged, but now the situation is almost back to normal, "assures us it to the station. Some regions such as rural areas of Lorraine and the Ardennes, isolated and particularly affected by the snow, however, remain difficult to deliver before Christmas."In the impossible, no one is required," said Tuesday AFP Jean-Claude Sonet, commercial director Coliposte. As for delivery, usually about 48 hours, "he can not now be absolutely guaranteed due to the backlog." Clearly, if you want a package delivered before Christmas, unless you have opted for Chronoposte, it is better to have already posted payday advance lender.

Asked about the issue Tuesday, Pierre Kosciusko-Morizet, CEO and president of the PriceMinister Acsel, an association for the digital economy, also put on hold Internet users: "For those who order on Tuesday or Wednesday, the period begins to be fair. " Most online trading sites are encouraging their customers to use express delivery services, such Chronoposte. Some, such as Pixmania, will offer up a delivery service.Because in case of late or non delivery of parcels, the responsibility is not to the Post, but for online merchants. "The online commerce sites are responsible for full execution of contracts with their customers, including delivery of products," says Patricia Fulcher, a lawyer at the National Institute of Consumption (INC). Although the law does not provide for compensation for late delivery, but the only option to cancel the order after seven days of delay elapsed. "If your package does not arrive in time for Christmas, the best option is to settle the dispute amicably with your online merchant. He may, at best, make a gesture of goodwill ".

Chance of communication: so has been unveiled on Tuesday morning's annual survey Proxinvest on executive compensation of large French companies, unions have now confirmed that the SMIC should grow to a limited extent from 1 January to around 9 euros gross time, under increasing legal minimum, without a "push" additional government and for the fifth consecutive year.

The legal minimum wage for some 2.3 million French people, or about one in ten employees. Since the last increase on 1 January 2010 the minimum wage is 8.86 euros an hour, or 1,343.77 euros gross per month (about 1,056 Euros net) for 35 hours.The revaluation expected (+1.6%) bringing the net minimum wage to about 1073 euros.

The minimum wage earners – who mainly work in small firms and in sectors of trade and services like hotels and restaurants – thus affect some 17 euros more per month in net.

Since the election of Nicolas Sarkozy as president in 2007, no "push" was given to minimum wage during the various revaluations.Xavier Bertrand has defended last week such a choice because the minimum wage increase would affect only "10% of employees" and that he would rather "talk to 100% of employees."

The government will instead play the "game of wage bargaining in all industries," he said arguing that the number of branches with wages above the minimum wage had risen to nine, seven against five years ago.

Avoid boost

The five experts, whose opinion is usually followed by the government last week advised against any boost, particularly considering that higher minimum wage could "improve the remuneration of persons in employment" but away from the labor market "the more fragile. "

Reasoning that "weakens the mechanism of SMIC," denounces Mary-Alice Medeuf-Andrieu (F0) for whom a significant revaluation of the minimum wage is' good for the economy "because it permits" to increase the purchasing power and to stimulate consumption. "

For Michele Chay (CGT) lack of appreciation beyond the legal minimum is "unacceptable", while "housing costs or energy continue to rise, the crisis is not over and that firms CAC 40 are making profits. "For his part, Laurence Laigo of the CFDT pleads for "a boost of 0.5%" would be "a good signal for consumption."

No money for employees

The minimum wage is "the only tool available to the state in favor of purchasing power," she recalls, as companies "do not play the game more rewarding shareholders than employees."

"Ask a boost was not used to the CFDT before the crisis, but 2010 was marked by continued wage moderation and higher fixed expenses, including fuel and insurance," notes the CFDT responsible.

Gabrielle Simon (CFTC) said he regretted that "there is money for everyone, except for employees.""The government keeps giving relief of employer contributions but this has no effect on wage levels," she notes.

The minimum wage is particularly sensitive for part-time employees, over-represented among minimum wage earners, "they would work more to earn more, to quote the slogan of Nicolas Sarkozy, but this is not possible," says this union.

(With AFP)

One month after the surprise announcement of LVMH's entry to the capital of Hermes, the tussle involved a third player: the Swiss group Richemont, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Lancel. To justify its investment of 17.1% in Hermes, Bernard Arnault and his entourage had reported "rumors" of colonial ambitions for the brand, evoking a share of Chinese funds and, secondly, Richemont, the number two in the world of luxury.

The Swiss group's boss, Johann Rupert, leaves his reservation to deny these allegations.On Friday he wrote a letter to Bernard Arnault, in which he states: "The suggestion that Hermes or excuse may have been needed to be protected against alleged involvement in the affairs of Richemont was obviously shocking and entirely false payday cash loans." In this letter, he asks the boss of LVMH to stop any mention of this type from his family, mentioning the name of Pierre Gode, an adviser to Bernard Arnault.

On the merits, the chairman of Richemont said that the group has "never made a hostile bid of any kind," "it's just not our style."And states that "any circumstances", he or his group would "Hermes investment that would not be known or perceived as hostile by the company and the families that control it."

The Swiss group has owned up to 2% for Hermes

However, the giant clock and jewelry was not always interested in the fate of Hermes.In a statement to Le Monde on Saturday, Johann Rupert said his group has held "there fifteen years," shares some Hermes, never more than 2 million (2% of capital), which we sold in 2006 " before the start of the recent speculation triggered by the departure of former boss and heir of the founder, Jean-Louis Dumas.

The revelation of this investment raises a question: Hermes had he been informed? Its own statutes require that an investor expresses the 0.5% stake, under penalty of deprivation of voting rights. The company recently said not to have traces of a presence today in its capital of Richmond.

In the entourage of Bernard Arnault, we stated yesterday that the group has never said that Richemont had bought shares in Hermes but it was rumored markets, nor Richemont said that was in a hostile approach instant small loans. "Introducing himself as friend of Hermes and guarantor of respect for "culture and identity" of its French houses, like Cartier or Van Cleef, Richemont is a milestone.

ALSO READ:

"Hermes may increase the share capital of its employees

"LVMH Hermès: a war of attrition in perspective

"INTERVIEW -" The entry of LVMH Hermès has nothing friendly "