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The smallest city in the United States seeks inhabitant (s) and buyer (s). Don Sammons, the only resident of the town of Buford, in the State of Wyoming, decided to put his entire town for auction on April 5 for the price of $ 100,000 or about 76,000 euros. The sale includes a house with three bedrooms, a gas station, a shop that also serves as a post office, a garage, a school dating from 1905 and the postal code of the city (82 052).

Don Sammons who came to settle there in the 1980s, the city acquired in 1992 with his wife and son. Its only inhabitant who is also the mayor confides in his welcoming gas station nearly 1,000 customers a day in summer and 100 winter. But at the time of retirement, after the death of his wife and his son had deserted the scene, he believes it is now time to move on.  

An abandoned village of Limousin for sale

The future buyer will not complain about the neighborhood. Located at 2400 meters altitude and windswept, the small town of 4 hectares, bordered by the Rocky Mountains, was deserted after the railroad that served the was deflected. Buford claims the title of the smallest city in the United States. There is also no surprise that it is in Wyoming. With a population of 563,626 inhabitants in 2010, the State of West is the least populous country and has the lowest density with just over two per square kilometer. But according to the website of Buford, the city has not been abandoned. Founded in 1866, a time she counted 2,000 inhabitants and has also seen a few past personalities including U.S. President Ulysses S.Grant who visited in 1869. Butch Cassidy, the famous outlaw immortalized on screen by Paul Newman's even been arrested after pointing a trade.

The city is a bargain when compared to other cities recently implemented vente.Un little further north, in the neighboring state of Montana, the town of Pray is for sale for a whopping $ 1.4 million or just over one million euros. Another opportunity to be seized, this time closer to home, the hamlet of Courbefy, in Haute-Vienne, will be auctioned in May for $ 330,000 Euros.

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France could seek to accelerate its transition energy. In fact, the country's fuel bill has reached a new record in 2011, up from 32% to 61.4 billion euros, according to figures from the Commissioner General for Sustainable Development announced by Les Echos. The energy bill of France and represented 3.1% of GDP, last year against 2.5% in 2010.

This increase was driven by soaring oil prices. The average price per barrel of oil a year has indeed established last year to $ 111, not seen since the nineteenth century. The price of unleaded gasoline and have reached new heights last week, to 1.6211 euro on average for a liter of unleaded 95 and 1.6610 for that of 98 unleaded, according to data released yesterday by Ministry of Sustainable Development. This price is still below the record high of 1 fast cash without a hassle.4541 euro per liter recorded in May 2008.

Since late 2011, gasoline prices beat record after record in France, propelled by the combination of geopolitical factors that keep crude oil prices at very high levels, and weakening of the euro against the dollar , which amplifies the cost of black gold once its converted value in the single currency.

Nuclear energy has however enabled France to reduce its energy dependence as the country has a net electricity exports by 2.6 billion euros. The development of renewable energy has also enabled France to reduce the weight of its energy dependence.

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The efforts made by Belgium are unprecedented in history. The Socialist government led by Elio di Rupo announced this Sunday the adoption of additional measures of rigor. To 11.3 billion euros in savings adopted at the end of 2011 have now been added 1.82 billion euros of provisions negotiated into the night from Saturday to Sunday, and 650 million reserve if growth is below expectations. It took six days at Belgian coalition, which brings together six parties, the center-left to center-right, to agree on this new package, which aims to limit the budget deficit to 2, 8% of GDP in 2012. In 2011, it reached 3.8% of GDP.

"With this budget, our country is one of the best students in Europe. We considered the possibility of an economic situation even worse, "justified the Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo. The government is based on a forecast of almost zero growth for 2012 at 0.1% against 0.8% previously, as recommended by the European Commission.

No VAT increase

After the austerity measures announced in November – limiting the use of early retirement, decrease the duration of unemployment benefits, taxation of stock and stock options … – Prime Minister also wanted to convince voters of the fairness of the new train measures. "It is an effort fair and balanced. The government is making an effort in structural terms, both in expenditures and receipts. [...] But the new measures do not touch many citizens. "

Most of the additional revenue will come from an announced increased repression of the black, and a tax increase on tobacco and stock transactions. However, the minimum wage, the amount of family allowance or the retirement pensions will not be modified downward. "We do not touch to VAT, it does not touch the savings accounts. [...] Despite a very challenging environment, the purchasing power of citizens is preserved and the competitiveness of companies saved, "said the Prime Minister.

Last November, the rating is downgraded sovereign debt by the Belgian credit rating agency Standard & Poor's had precipitated the adoption of an austerity plan of great magnitude. The rating agency, which matched its rating a negative outlook, particularly doubted the ability of Belgium to break the political deadlock and to present a credible budget.

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It is a return that is breathtaking professionals malls. Two years ago, Simon Properties, the U.S. leader "malls", was sold to Unibail-Rodamco seven assets in Poland and France for 715 million euros. Mid-January, the American land, listed since 1993, sold to Immochan the 49% stake in a joint venture operator of shopping centers in Italy. After these operations, it had more activity on the Old Continent. Withdrawal then analyzed as a movement of distrust of Europe, a territory considered unattractive, with the sovereign debt crisis and a shaky consumer.

Surprise return to Europe

Thursday, Simon has taken everyone by announcing in reverse repurchase, to 1.5 billion euros, 28.7% of Klépierre to BNP Paribas, which will retain 22.2% for at least a year. A real strategic move, given the size of Klépierre: present in thirteen European countries with 271 units, the French property cashed 945 million in rent in 2011. "We are the largest European donor of H & M, McDonald's or Sephora," illustrates Laurent Morel, the chief executive of Klépierre.

Simon does not mention the real reasons for his return to Europe. "The euro-dollar exchange with a strong U.S. currency had to play because it made the operation less expensive for Simon," says one industry expert. Laurent Morel another analysis: "If Simon did all these movements is that he certainly believes that investment in our society is much more than its previous operations in Europe." In any case, the king of American shopping centers, became the first shareholder of Klépierre, do not plan to make up the numbers. Now it is his boss, David Simon, who will chair the supervisory board of the French property. The management team of Klépierre, it remains in place. But in a year when BNP Paribas may sell its 22%, the financial analysis firm Aurel BGC believes that Simon will launch a takeover bid.

The French property will therefore have to deal with this actor unknown to the public but is very heavy. Last year, for example, Simon achieved a turnover of 4.3 billion dollars (3.2 billion) against 1.26 billion euros just for Unibail, the first European property of commercial real estate. Same imbalance in market capitalization: Simon weighs $ 41 billion, against 13.5 billion for the French leader. Is that the small American company created in the early 1960s by two brothers, Melvin and Herbert Simon, to operate a commercial center in Indianapolis, has come a long way. By dint of takeovers and mergers, it became an operator who owns nearly 330 shopping centers, located in the vast majority in the U.S.. With a few locations in Asia, including Japan.

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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).

On February 20, during the auction of the hamlet of Courbefy, located 40 km southwest of Limoges, no buyer had appeared, despite a retail price of only 300,000 euros. With the effect of media coverage, between 150 and 200 buyers from around the world are scrambling to try to acquire this highly original property, offered for sale price of a two-room Paris.

Without buyers, the entire village, 19 rustic buildings in various states, the boxes for horses, pool, tennis court, culminating in nearly 557 meters high with a beautiful view of the mountains of Chalus in the Périgord Limousin regional park, should return to Credit Agricole, creditor's last owner who could not repay the loan. Its proposed resort, launched in 2003, has never worked and went bankrupt, causing the abandonment of the site in 2008.

The news of the sale of Courbefy was first taken up by the media in France, before being scattered by the whole world, fascinated by the idea that a whole village could be sold for a price as ridiculous . "Admittedly, this is an offer very original, very unique, because the entire village is sold at once," says Mr. Paul Le Figaro Gérardin, counsel for the Credit Agricole. "It's because someone has bought one by one all the houses after the abandonment of the hamlet."

After being abandoned by its last inhabitants in the 1970s due to rural exodus, the small village of Courbefy might find occupants with a last minute deal last Thursday filed with the court registry by Limoges an American company, AHAE Press, registered in the State of New York. This entity belongs to the Korean-born American photographer Ahae, artist specializing in landscape photography and wildlife, whose exhibition "Through my window" must be presented at the Louvre in Paris from June 26 to July 23.

With its 10% deposit of the purchase price, the sale process is restarted, and new auction will take place at court of Limoges on May 21. "I'm sure will be many bidders," suggests Paul Gérardin me. "We have already responded to 150 to 200 inquiries from around the world. Initial requests are first come from the Paris region, London, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and other European countries before coming the United Arab Emirates, China, U.S. and Russian. "

One potential buyers, a Dutchman, wants to use the hamlet for a reality TV show in which participants would call premises in shape.

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Kick-off auditions today by the Higher Audiovisual Council (CSA) of candidates for six new free DTT channels. The wise will consider 33 draft lines, from both large media groups as mere associations. Team HD, sports newspaper chain, is the first to be presented on Monday morning. Honey HD channel project for women of NRJ Group, will close the hearings on March 14. The selection of the top six will be known in mid-March for an effective start chains expected to fall.

The candidates will each have 45 minutes to convince the nine members of the CSA. Most cases are planning to develop channels, some of which already exist. Among the suggested topics: the nature and animals (TV Friends of the 30 Million Friends Association), the art of living (or Via Stylia), religion (Catholic channel KTO), theater and entertainment (L NWE rm-TV), music (Ofive TV) and even French excellence (Cocagne).

TF1, M6 and NRJ each have three projects

Large groups of television and radio will be very present during these hearings. TF1, M6, NextRadioTV (RMC BFMTV …) and NRJ Group will each present three projects. The group will present its TF1 channel dedicated to the art of living Stylia and a home shopping channel (Trends 24) and another devoted to fiction TV (HD1). M6 also offer a shopping channel (Shop & Co) and two projects at this stage undisclosed (Hexa and 6TER). The group of Alain Weill, NextRadioTV, will defend his side of his proposed RMC Sport HD sports channel than face Team HD, which officially supported by the National Olympic Committee and French sports (CNOSF), but also a RMC Discovery documentary channel, in addition to its economic news channel BFM Business. As for NRJ Group, he will detail his chain for women Girl HD, a channel dedicated to youth (My NRJ) and another on the heritage (Nosta the TV).

In the press sector, another project supported by the Nouvel Observateur group, associated with Fleurus Presse and Media Participations, bet on creating a chain of knowledge (360 TV). For its part, Lagardère Active TV it will defend the case. Finally, Pascal Houzelot, the founder of Pink TV will present tYou, defending a string of "diversity" and its capital account in Francois-Henri Pinault (PPR), Xavier Niel (Free, BBC), Matthew Pigasse (Les Inrockuptibles BBC) and Jean-Charles Naouri (Casino).

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Gerard Larcher could have done without the public release, two weeks ago, Francois Fillon, who suggested to redirect some 31 billion spent annually on training unemployed only.

"I lie to you if I told you that I have not complicated the task," says the former chairman of the Senate to which the Prime Minister has given two months in late January to lay the groundwork for a "radical reform "vocational training system. Job seekers do not enjoy today that $ 3.8 billion on training 31 billion spent each year. A drop of water

.

The four "priority objectives" set out in its letter of engagement are clear. This is to "orient vocational training to those who need it most, including job seekers," and "encourage companies to better train their employees by allocating adequate funds." The former Minister of Labour intends to not vary from its roadmap. It continues its hearings until mid-March and will report – "an aid to reflection for the future majority" – early April. "We must adapt our discourse and practices in modern times, he says the Figaro, mid-term. Vocational training was forty years ago a tool of social advancement and has become over time a non-aid decommissioning and an insertion tool. "

For now, Gerard Larcher wishes to move three points. First, to increase from 10 to 40% the share of unemployed trained and adapt their training to real business needs. "We must territorialize reflection and ensure that the curriculum really coincide with skills needed in employment areas," he insists payday loan lenders. Second, transform-Opca that collect money from training to companies in-prescribers. Third, rationalize expenditures. "We have a problem of cost effectiveness of certain formations, Judge Gerard Larcher. It is possible to redeploy, constant envelope, misused funds to training resulted in strong. "

Reform of the representative employers

Although this is not part of its roadmap, Gerard Larcher also intends to make proposals on the financing of trade unions and professional. Publication on the sly "real fake" Perruchot report on money management and trade unions-which confirmed "without suggesting any solution" that some organizations were shooting some of their resources-training convinced him to go in this sense. "There's too much unsaid and too known on these subjects, he despairs. I can not propose lines of education reform without addressing the issue of funding of social dialogue and propose ways of evolution. "The former second officer of the State should also suggest a reform of the employer's representative, in the vein of that which was implemented in 2008 for the unions, based on the election.

As for the referendum issue, raised by the President to remove "blockages" that are sure to respond to the outcome of discussions on vocational training, Gerard Larcher's not. "I believe in intermediate bodies, they are useful," says he, laconically.

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In a mobile market completely disrupted by the arrival of Free Mobile, Bouygues Telecom said it had lost 159,000 customers, of which 134,000 went to Free Mobile. This represents 1.4% of its fleet of 11.3 million mobile customers. Last week, Orange announced that it had lost, for its part, 201,000 mobile customers in total, or 0.7% of its fleet.

Result, Bouygues Telecom expects a decline of 10% of its turnover in 2012 to 5.14 billion euros. The arrival of Free Mobile is not the only cause. Martin Bouygues, CEO of the group, also cited pell-mell "regulation, the end of the differential termination, terminal costs, Chatel law which is one of the most protective for the consumer."

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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