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Friday, teams of Deutsche Bahn and SNCF, already associated with the Paris-Frankfurt, will celebrate the opening of a common line between Frankfurt and Marseille – bypassing Paris – via the new Rhine-Rhone. An opportunity to show the harmony that exists today between the two companies.

Because the prospect of greater competition in Europe has clearly brought the views of the two incumbents, long time rivals. Rüdiger Grube, CEO of the German group, pointed out Tuesday in Paris to a gathering of journalists. "There are still a year I would not have thought that we would Guillaume Pepy (SNCF's CEO, Ed) and I agree on all issues!" "We support all the necessary standardization of equipment, the market opening, the creation of a European regulator's rail …, "he says.  

An ally against Brussels

What has happened, then that could heal the scratches between the two competitors? One and one can actually help in their fight on the organization of competition in their respective markets. In France, Guillaume Pepy wants to emulate the French system of railways on that of the Rhine. And what better lawyer than Rüdiger Grube, CEO of Deutsche Bahn up as a model, could he find to plead this cause? SNCF had the starring role: it umbrella in a joint holding company, the infrastructure manager – in this case Réseau Ferré de France which is among other guarantor of opening the network to new entrants – and the commercial exploitation . The French government, following the Focus on the railway have explored ways to put right a French model of breath last November, expects copies of various stakeholders at the end of this month payday loan lenders.

And on the other side of the Rhine, Rüdiger Grube has also found an ally in France to defend his case in Brussels. For the German model does not satisfy the European Commission. It believes that a pooling group manager of infrastructure and operational activities does not guarantee a fair treatment in respect of competing rail companies of the DB. Last year, the Commission has even raided the headquarters of the DB to investigate possible abuse of dominant position in the supply of electricity to private operators.

Views on Thalys

The discussion between SNCF and DB go beyond the single issue of governance of the rail. For Rüdiger Grube, they could also be extended on the ground and running. Deutsche Bahn admitted and have designs on Thalys, TGV serving Belgium, Holland and Germany, which he holds 10% interest alongside the SNCF (62%) and Belgian railways (28%). "Staying at 10% does not suit us. We're in discussions internally about whether we should go out or go for a 50/50, "said Grube. And beyond in coming decades, the CEO of DB, well imagine a merger of the two groups. "Right now, it's too early but when liberalization has advanced. In twenty or thirty years … "

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A few weeks before the start of the tourist season in Greece, industry professionals are concerned about given the country's image abroad. The clashes that broke out between police and demonstrators, repeated strikes in public transport and the crisis affecting the economy, trade and health, greatly tarnish the reputation of "Mediterranean paradise" Greece had so far.

For Francoise Deschamps, Director of Travel Agency Profile in Athens, it is a bad trial because the country. "Violence is not the nature of the Hellenes. There are fewer demonstrations and strikes if they only last a few hours when it comes to archaeological sites. The Acropolis is always accessible to all, "protested she.  

Lower prices

While acknowledging that bookings were down this summer, Francoise Deschamps makes a point of honor to overcome stereotypes, "apart from the American Express (which is rarely accepted because traders are unwilling to pay 7% commission) you can pay everywhere with a credit card or a Visa. No need to bring cash into oneself. Distributors are always stocked, "she says.

The large luxury resort with beach, private pool and gourmet restaurant at the guesthouse, hoteliers were for the most part, forced to lower room rates and offer additional services to each reservation. "Our prices have dropped by at least 20%," says Adrian Vassilikos, director of Airotel, owns six hotels in the country. If the crisis is especially hoteliers, because of increased taxes and reduced bookings, Adrien Vassilikos remains confident: "Tourists know that Athens, like the rest of the country, is one of the most safest in the world. No risk of terrorism or crime. The crisis has not increased the number of pickpockets. To this we must add that in case of accident or illness, we have very capable hospitals, providing care free and urgency, "he said quick cash.

Of solidarity

Tourism is the second largest economic sector in the country, representing 17% of GDP, after shipping. In 2011, Greece has benefited more or less the effect of revolutions and Arab tourism, compared to the previous year, increased by 10%. This year, some professionals rely on the solidarity towards Greece, shot by the crisis. This movement is gaining ground worldwide and in all sectors. Twenty major Greek groups, as the airline Aegean or Coca-Cola Hellenic, even financed full-page newspaper ads French, German, Dutch, Belgian and British. Under the slogan "give a chance to Greece", these advertisers show a country in flux, despite its economic vicissitudes.

A bank of tourism in the study

To improve the competitiveness of the tourism sector, the Greek government uses the aid of the "task force". This working group of the European Commission, whose representatives are installed in the Greek capital, shook the tourism industry. "Being competitive yes, but then to build infrastructure for mass tourism, there is a margin," worries Francoise Deschamps, Director of Travel Agency Profile. "Greece is a country that fits the needs of every tourist. You can still find himself alone on a beach, eating in a tavern or family homestay accommodation is unique and should not destroy it for the sake of competitiveness, "she adds. Several projects are in preparation at the Ministry of Finance including the creation of a bank or tourist development projects of ancient sites, remote islands from Piraeus or agricultural areas.

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2011 a year full of contrasts in terms of employment. After a positive first half, payroll employment has declined significantly over the second half of the year. In the fourth quarter of 2011, the French economy has destroyed 22,600 jobs in the principally market sectors (-0.1% over the previous quarter), according to revised figures released Thursday by INSEE.

This is slightly less than the third quarter, when for the first time in two years, the statistician public records a decline in employment of 31,500 jobs (-0.2%). Gave its provisional figures until the third quarter slightly creates jobs. With a dynamic first half, 67,300 jobs have been created, however, over one year is a positive trend of 0.4%.  

The ACOSS, which accounts for job creation on a slightly different scope, in turn finds a changing "stable in the last quarter as in the previous quarter, after five consecutive quarters of increases," with 9,300 jobs created.

Temporary employment down

Over 90% of job losses announced by INSEE result of the decline in temporary employment. The trend is accelerating in the fourth quarter, with 21,100 destroyed in acting positions, against 12,900 the previous quarter. A first after nine quarters of the rise, INSEE said. This leading indicator of labor market, more sensitive to cyclical fluctuations, does not bode well from the beginning of 2012.

In detail on this last quarter, the industry, which had suffered severely from the crisis of 2008-2009 before stabilizing its workforce in mid 2011, again losing 1700 jobs, slightly less than the third quarter (5100) . Over one year, the sector recorded a negative trend of 0.1%, or 2,100 jobs destroyed. This is less than the construction, which lost 0.8% of its workforce over one year (11,900 jobs) and 0.3% in the fourth quarter (4600 positions). After a decline in service employment excluding temporary in the third quarter, the fourth, however, found a small increase (4,900 jobs).

The government of Naoto Kan had indeed lost control of the situation in Fukushima, in full crisis following the tsunami of March 11, 2011. According to the independent commission of inquiry Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation (RJIF), a copy of a 400-page report was leaked to the press on Tuesday in a few days before its publication, Japanese authorities have considered a time a "worst case scenario "that would have led to an outright removal of Tokyo. Or 35 million people including the town, which lies 220 kilometers southwest of the damaged power plant. This report is based mainly on the testimony of Yukio Edano, spokesman for the government of the day, who says he worked on the assumption of a "chain reaction diabolical" if the nuclear reactor site would have exploded one after the other. "If this had happened, it was quite logical to conclude that we also lost Tokyo," he told investigators, according to The New York Times.

In lack of information on the extent of the disaster Fukushime, but anxious to avoid a general panic, the government has attempted to distill reassuring messages to the population. "We really just brushed against the worst case scenario, but the public did not know at this point," says Yoichi Funabashi, former editor of Asahi Shimbun and founder of the inquiry. This secret project evacuation of the Japanese capital, which Reuters obtained a copy, was presented to Prime Minister Naoto Kan – who resigned last August – by Shunsuke Kondo, Chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, two weeks after the tsunami. He did not finally been unsheathed. "It was a crucial time during which I was not even sure that Japan could still function as a state," Naoto Kan admitted in an interview with the Japanese agency Kyodo News, last September.

Tepco wants to "abandon the central"

Far from overwhelming the only Japanese government, the pin also RJIF Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the plant in Fukushima, whose lack of transparency during the crisis has already been highlighted in numerous reports. Its leaders have also refused to cooperate with investigators RJIF. According to their study, TEPCO sought, the worst of the crisis, to evacuate the atomic site where employees were trying to control the disaster. This is Naoto Kan himself that would have forced the utility to continue its work maintaining on-site employees. For experts, without the insistence of Prime Minister, the accident would still Fukushima degenerate, causing even more catastrophic consequences. Thus concludes Yoichi Funabashi, "Naoto Kan has had its flaws and moments of absence, but his decision to go into force at Tepco and insist that the company does not abandon the plant has saved Japan." .. ……

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The riposte was swift. Hours after the publication Saturday in Le Figaro in an interview with Philippe Houze, the boss of the Galeries Lafayette, a 50% shareholder of Monoprix, Casino has been keen to dot the "i". "We have never been and we are not our vendor 50% stake in Monoprix," says a spokesman for the group Saint Etienne.

Monday afternoon, the Board should reject the casino proposal Galeries Lafayette to sell half of Monoprix to 1.35 billion euros. And refuse to buy back that share the same amount.

"If the Galeries Lafayette wish to sell their interest, as seems to be the case, the Casino is ready to buy, says the spokesperson, but at a fair price based on realistic financial assumptions taking into account economic conditions and recovery current distribution undertakings. "

Last week, the co-shareholders have made public their disagreement over the valuation of the interest in Monoprix and Galeries Lafayette: 1.95 billion euros according to the group of department stores, 700 million according to Casino. This gap abyssal puzzles many observers. "Most analysts believe that the participation of Galeries Lafayette is 1.1 to 1.2 billion euros", says one expert dossier.

The two shareholders have adopted diametrically opposed calculation bases. The Galeries Lafayette is part of the business plan for three years conducted in the fall through the management Monoprix, which provides a 40% increase in EBITDA (EBITDA) of society. Casino side, it is estimated that this plan can be the basis for an assessment and it is emphasized that the Ebitda Monoprix stagnant since 2008, a sharp increase in the coming years is not credible. With McKinsey, Casino has worked on more conservative assumptions.

"Violation of agreements"

These persistent differences complicate the work of JPMorgan, the bank chosen for the tie. According to the Galeries Lafayette, Casino would like the bank is working solely on the basis of the McKinsey report. That refutes the group St Etienne, where it is said that the Galeries Lafayette want to limit access to the leaders of JPMorgan Monoprix. Conservative, the bank does not seem ready to make its own forecasts on the evolution of the activity of Monoprix no fax payday loans.

Pointing to Pessimism, McKinsey, Philippe Houze, also president of Monoprix, Casino accused of "not believing in the future" of the sign. Reaction was seen as insulting. "It's as if we accuse of having raised prices to inflate the results of Monoprix," protested there be at Casino. The group "rejects these false accusations, confirms its commitment to Monoprix and reiterates its confidence in the management and employees of the company."

A spokesman for Casino also ensures that the decision of the Galeries Lafayette to extend by one year the mandate of Philippe Houze as head of Monoprix is ​​"a frontal violation of agreements." In the entourage of the group St Etienne, it ensures that the owners of the Galeries Lafayette, Monoprix very attached to, have long sought to Casino to abandon its purchase option, before changing his opinion in December, faced with its commitment to take control of the sign. "Then they considered they had an incentive to sell quickly, Monoprix likely to be challenged by the arrival of other signs in the city center and the site-private sale of its textile department," says a close case.

Casino, which publishes its results Tuesday 2011, should recall at this juncture that the partial withdrawal of its subsidiary Mercialys should bring him 800 to 900 million euros in the coming months. Funding for a possible takeover of 50% of Monoprix would be no impact on its debt. Such an operation could easily be done in parallel with the takeover of Pao de Acucar, the Brazilian subsidiary of Casino, on 22 June. The group will then only pay $ 10 million. Finally, if the status quo were to continue on the control of Monoprix, unable to consolidate this subsidiary in Casino's accounts in 2013 "would have only a limited impact on operating profit of the group and would not change the net minority interests, "argues an expert in Casino.

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There is one who has been lucky. Mining giant Rio Tinto said it had discovered a pink diamond of 12.76 carats in a mine in Western Australia. This is, to date, the largest diamond discovered in the country. "A diamond of this size is unprecedented, says Josephine Johnson, Manager of Argyle Pink Diamonds division. It took 26 years of operation to retrieve the stone and it is possible that we find in no other like this. "

The valuable discovery was named Argyle Pink Jubilee in reference to the name of the mine (Argyle) and the sixty-year reign, says, "Diamond Jubilee", which is celebrating Queen Elizabeth II.

Next step: cut and polish the stone, a delicate task that should take ten days. How Richard Kim Kam, in charge of the operation, already trembling, "I'll take care of it. I know that the world will look. "The diamond is then evaluated by a team of international experts and exposed before being sold.

Pink, more valued than white

Rio Tinto is kept for the moment any estimate on the price of wonder, but said in a statement that the high quality pink diamonds could exceed $ 1 million per carat. More than $ 10 million (7.6 million) for it.

It must be said that the diamond market is resisting rather well and that it is a pink diamond, which can be up to ten times more valued than white. In November 2010, a 24.78 carat diamond Pink has been awarded to more than $ 46 million. An unprecedented amount for a diamond and jewelry and is far ahead the previous record of $ 10 million for another pink diamond.  

Nearly 90% of pink diamonds discovered in the world come from the Argyle mine in the Kimberley region, says Rio Tinto. Stones the size of Argyle Pink Jubilee usually go to museums, the royal family or are auctioned in houses like Christie's. The latter has in fact sold only 18 pink diamonds over 10 carats in its 244 year history, said Rio Tinto.

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Six applications studied, including two in the presence of the insured. As now regularly in each region, a commission composed of doctors and administration members met Thursday at Rennes, to review applications for "retirement hardship" from persons with a disability rating of 10 professional and 20% following an accident. The examination of each case lasted five to ten minutes.

First case: a nurse, since a car accident in 1993, has a disability rating of 12%. "The changes in schedules and staggered hours are hard to live, pleaded Mrs. C. before the six members of the commission. With the broken pelvis and legs that I had, car travel and care that I practice with dependents are painful. "The question is whether the sequelae to the accident could have been caused by an occupational disease caused through exposure for seventeen years to occupational hazards (heavy lifting, alternating schedules, handling chemicals, extreme temperatures …). "The answer is yes," has in this case ruled that the commission has approved the retirement at 60 years of Mrs. C.

Sleeping pills to sleep

"This is the absurdity of the law, recognizes a member. Two employees who had the same exposure to the same risks will not have the same rights as that one had an accident and the other not. "Besides, to be validated, the effects must be included a "list" of occupational diseases published by decree. A list that does not include … including amputation of fingers and led to "reject administratively" number of requests. "If the finger got caught, it's happening is in the list," quips a medical officer. "It would sew the finger," says Gerard Riviere, President FO Board of CNAV.

Another issue: a maintenance worker in a factory producing poultry meat that has had two accidents left him with "sequels in the left shoulder with residual pain" and a disability rating of 18%. "The hardest work is the 3 × 8, explained MD I started this morning at 4:00 am and afternoon next week. I take sleeping pills to sleep and am embarrassed when I have to intervene in height. "In his case, he also indicated to be exposed to chemical agents. "He has been confronted with all its risks, has recognized a member of the Committee in view of his career profile. He complains primarily of night work but it's exposure to all other risk factors that calls for him. "This opinion.

Beyoncé is committed to the Telethon. The American singer, very involved in helping victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Ike in the United States, joined this year for 25 years BrandAlley appointment. 2 and 3 December next, dates of the Telethon, the site of private sales balances up to 70% because the clothing brand of the star, House of Deréon. The full benefit of these sales will be donated to the Telethon, said the private sales site.

House of Deréon, brand launched in 2005 by the singer in partnership with her mother Tina Knowles, markets especially its models – sold around the equivalent of 100 euros – the United States and Canada. But France is a market that does not neglect Beyoncé.His latest album, "4", it was number one record sales this summer, thanks to intensive promotion conducted by the singer in the French media no teletrack payday loans.

The operation could also be a carrier for private sales website BrandAlley. With a turnover of 70 million euros in 2010, the site just yet to reach the level of its competitor, vente-privee.com, which dominates the area. Last year, BrandAlley has diversified its business by offering its customers not only of unsold at bargain prices, but also collections in progress. The site, rumored consider a stock market listing, this year is between 40% and 45% growth.

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The biggest shop shows the world may soon see the day in Paris. The luxury group Richemont actively preparing to open a palace watches of 2250 square meters on two floors, which would be represented as 60 brands ranging from entry level to luxury. This store may be substituted for the brand Old England, old shop of the 19th century, strategically located between the Opera and the Boulevard Haussmann in the heart of the capital. According to the website dedicated businessmontres.com, Richemont should benefit from the commercial end of the lease granted to the current property owner to get their hands on the site. Neither the luxury group, nor the SFL, owner of the walls has to comment that "rumor".

Sources close to the discussions say, however, that the real estate transaction is scheduled for over a year.Richemont has even approached the great names in luxury and watch as LVMH, Swatch and Rolex to tell them about the operation. If the participation of the latter to the final draft to be confirmed, Richemont has already convinced major retailers such as Audemars Piguet Breitling or to be part of.

The Swiss group is currently in discussions with Bucherer, another big name in the jewelry and luxury watches, in order to leave the management of this huge store. Few in France, it has been favored by Richemont because of its extensive experience in managing multi-brand stores. In addition to his label, Bucherer has a network of 15 stores which are marketed brands Rolex, Piaget, TAG Heuer, or Longines. It also has other stores in Austria and Germany.

Nicolas Sarkozy counting on the G20 in Cannes to shape its international image to six months of the presidential elections. It has been used beyond its expectations. This is not one but two summits taking place in parallel, for 48 hours on the Croisette.

The first official meets leaders of the twenty richest countries in the world. The second, far more dramatic, is between two doors off the record: it brings together the countries of the euro area G20, joined by the bosses of the EU executive, Jose Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy fast cash.

This crisis summit took place in two stages. A first in the morning, followed by a second, which began Thursday night in the presence of U.S. President Barack Obama.