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This is a decision that will bring happiness to French casino operator. This Saturday, the publication in the Official Journal (OJ) of a decree of the Ministry of the Interior authorizing the battle game in the gambling establishments in 1étaient awaited for months by the profession effect. On Sunday, the 196 casinos French2 may indeed offer their customers one of the most popular games of cards of the Hexagon: the battle. So it will be added to the score of gambling already authorized in the arcades, such as French Roulette, "blackjack", the "craps", the "Hold'em poker3 casino" or even the "punto-banco".

It was a recurring request from casinotiers traffic from the Ministry of the Interior, one of their two regulators with the Budget. The casino operator faced with a decrease of 1.8% of gross gaming revenue (GGR equivalent benefits) last year to € 2.3 billion, after a slight improvement in 2011. The famous battle had already rubbed shoulders with the leading casino games for a few months, but only as an experiment with three players casinos to measure its success and the risks associated with its practice. The statutory trial period of six months being exceeded, casino bosses so waiting since last summer the publication of this decree, promised Valls4 Manuel, Minister of the Interior, and Jerome Cahuzac5 while still budget minister.

Other new games tested

This decision should give some air to the industry players strictly regulated, and still banned in France on the internet. After a new start of the year 2013 in the red (lower PBJ 4% between November 2012 and March 2013), the profession had uttered a cry of alarm in the direction of the new government denouncing an "administrative delays" on the publication of decrees, and requesting that the French casinos can finally exploit new games fast cash now. This is now done. But lobbying casino operator should not stop there, because other games were also tested, such as poker games or electronic roulette, but are not officially allowed. Earlier this year, in a letter to Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault6, the casino had accused the government of trying to promote French Games and PMU7. More generally, the owners of these establishments complain overly restrictive regulation, even if they have recently received planning schedules, to exploit their slots after the close of table games. What was even banned in early February.

"Casino War" battle version of casino.

The new authorized by the government will play a different kind of practiced by the highest version number. In casinos, the battle is better known under the name "Casino War" and is played with six traditional card games (52 cards). In case of equality of cards, the player may decide to give up and lose half of its implementation in favor of the casino. Otherwise, it must raise a bet equal to the ante, and receives a new card by the dealer, who has previously burned three cards. In case of victory, the player wins when his bet. According to the decree published Saturday in the OJ, the battle will be played with a maximum of 7 participants.

The paycheck advance market has exploded recently and anyone over the age of 18, with a job, a nominal income, and a bank account can take advantage of one of these quick cash personal loans.

 

After the flag, the bad blood between the CGT and the CFDT. Three weeks after CGT militants set fire to a CFDT flag during a demonstration against Lille agreement securing employment, the penalty is decreased by the voice of Lawrence Berger, the secretary general of the CFDT . Sanction to the strong symbolism as the reformist union now excludes scrolling on May 1st alongside his counterpart headed by Thierry Lepaon.

Tuesday RTL, Laurent Berger did not mince his words, explaining this choice almost unheard of by the "period of tension" caroissante crossed by two confederations. "Our members do not want to insult a week and go with the CGT show another week," said Laurent Berger, referring to conventions in Thierry Lepaon in Toulouse last week in which the union was " vilified. "

Berger wants a frank explanation

Both unions, who marched side by side in recent years during the traditional parade May 1, disagree on the agreement of 11 January on the labor market, signed by the CFDT and the CGT rejected, the transctription the law must be considered by the National Assembly next week. Since then, tension has grown up between the first two French trade union confederations, statements médiatiquesent provocations between militants. If FO is returned long been one of her hand, CGT-CFDT divorce definitely mark the end of the holy alliance between unions, sealed at Woerth reform pensions.

After the incident of the flag, Laurent Berger called his future alter ego Thierry Lepaon to "condemn these acts and take appropriate action." That the new leader of the CGT did not, at least not publicly. What raise again the voltage a notch to Toulouse congress of the CGT, the CFDT militants during which have been subjected to insults from "comrades" CGT "traitor and renegade collaboration "in the words of Lawrence shepherd.

As if to mark the fracture present, the number one CFDT, which calls yet Thierry Lepaon a frank explanation, noted a "disagreement between two types of unionism, a unionism which takes its responsibilities in an extremely complicated and unionism which considers that it is the state to its place. " A pike over to Thierry Lepaon pleads for his side to a "trade unionism together."

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They are the big winners of the crisis. Herta to benenuts through Bonne Maman or Nutella, a series of national brands have managed to take their game, even though the French tightened their belts.

If shopping in hypermarkets and supermarkets are just held last year (+0.4% in volume), the balance of power has indeed been to the advantage of big brands (1%), the detriment of retailers' private labels (-0.5%). For the first time in nearly ten years, the assortment of national brands even increased the shelves. "Some retailers are probably aware of the saturation of the supply of labels, which could affect the attractiveness of certain rays," Analysis Jacques Dupré, Director at Insight SymphonyIRI.

Crisis integrated in everyday

Domestic brands have also benefited, at least in volume, the price war that were delivered last year distributors. "They took advantage even if it could degrade their image and profitability," nuance Jacques Dupré. Promotions have contributed to almost 40% growth in sales of national brands. On the overall market, the share of sales under specials from 11.8% to 12.3% between 2011 and 2012. "We have seen a comeback of the promotion, which eventually became a traffic generator, notes Jacques Dupré. This could also make innovations more accessible. "

It is far from shopping behavior that marked the 2008-2009 crisis. At the time, the loss of consumer confidence had led to a rationalization of expenditure, distrust specials inadequate and simplicity in food choices. Exit innovations and upscale. Place the first price and retailer brands (MDD). Between 2007 and 2009, the market share of private label has increased from 27.2% to 30%.

In contrast, "since 2011, the crisis is integrated into the daily French who carefully prepare their shopping list and consult more often prospectus says Jacques Dupré. If budgetary concerns are always present, more qualitative priorities have emerged. "

Consumers are sensitive to the nutritional benefits of the products they buy (omega 3, gluten-free, palm oil …). The rays are honored local producers, short circuits or "Made in France" have the wind in their sails. A fortiori when a scandal such as horse meat is question of food security.

"Prudence and control are the watchwords, with the aim of maintaining a balance between budget and fun," says Jacques Dupré. In a stable market, the categories of products called "pleasure" and earn 1.1%. Resistance cheese (+2.2%) illustrates this trend, as well as sweets and chocolate (2% and 3% respectively).

The French are more at home

"The French are not ready to give up their small pleasures, cheese in part, explains Charlotte Lelong, Director of Business Development Bel France. They are more at home at dinner as an aperitif. We are regularly out on the back to homemade. "Frozen food and ice cream (2%) are the costs of this return to the kitchen. As for drinks, tumbling (-2.7%), they undergo a price increase related food taxes.

If brands surfed so far on a positive trend, they may suffer from hardening of the crisis expected in 2013. "We can not exclude with declining purchasing power of households offs will be between volume and price level and / or quality plans Jacques Dupré, who expects a decline of between 0.5% and 0.8%. Consumers may choose to go down range and turn to private label. "What they had not done so far, unlike their neighbors, including Spanish.

• Nutella

 

The news did not go unnoticed and gives rise to many comments already. Speaking Wednesday at the Grand Paris, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, said the government would "consider increasing parking spot fines for the benefit of public transport authorities." Clearly, for Jean-Baptiste Le Dall law specialist automotive, "we would move towards decriminalization of parking for a fee at the map according to the cities." It evokes a penalty would increase from 17 euros to 30 today or 35 euros. And if this reflection is launched on a project on the Ile-de-France, it could affect oil stain and across the country.

This project involves the local communities that necessarily benefit from part of the proceeds of fines faxless pay day loans. By increasing the rate of punishment, they will be thus assured resources juicier. A perspective which angers me to Le Dall. "We still takes motorists," protested he describes as "the infernal machine which will get under way."

"Cities have an obvious interest to verbalize. Fines will rain and that price, offenders will no longer risk of not paying, "he said, reflecting on the consequences of such a measure. "If you leave the judicial sphere, how will we challenge for his fines?"

 

Backlash. After criticizing both and pension reform Nicolas Sarkozy and included in its program the return of the statutory retirement age to 60 for employees who began work early, so here is François Hollande faces turn to puzzle head in the balance of the general scheme. Headache not insoluble, but depends on three parameters: the amount of pensions, the level of contributions, the statutory retirement age.

As Sarkozy in his time, Netherlands has little option but to opt for the lesser evil. Lower the level of pensions is hardly conceivable, increasing contribution rates are inconsistent with the government's goal of boosting the competitiveness of firms, there are only postponing the statutory retirement age. Holland "is now overtaken by reality. (…) The diagnosis is known. The cornerstone of the reform is the lengthening of the contribution period and probably fusion schemes, "summed up Jean-Francois Cope Sunday in Le Parisien like to put the head of state to challenge to start. In fact, for the moment, the government temporized.

A recent social conquests of the left

While all elements are already on the table, waiting for Marisol Touraine "proposals evolution scenarios" to engage "in-depth discussions" with the social partners, while giving "time of discussion" in order to achieve "a law presentable before the end of the year." "We place the schedule and milestones as they had planned, says the Minister of Social Affairs and Health. The objective is to downplay as much as possible. "The stakes are high, as in the PS, the issue of pensions is an inexhaustible source of conflict.

Despite repeated reports on the subject, the idea of ​​raising the retirement age is still taboo figure. After all, it is still back on one of the last social conquests of the left, which is more established by François Mitterrand in 1981. So, of course, now that the subject returns to the table, the spirits begin to warm up. "If after six months after approving the plan" Merkozy "pact for competitiveness and employment agreement, we move to increase the age of retirement, it's over," s 'annoys Emmanuel Maurel, leader of the left wing of the PS.

Surprisingly, however, the spirits seem ready to change the PS. Evidenced by the iconoclastic about Henri Emmanuelli. Emblematic figure of the left party, the member of Landes acknowledged last week in the corridors of the Assembly that "biology" incited "the question of the contribution period." "I see people who have spent more time in retirement life. This is a situation that can not continue, "he added by saying," personally "for a dues increase.

Budget Minister, Jerome Cahuzac, hit hard the next day, speak of a "consensus": "The extension of life expectancy must be shared between time worked and time retired." PS A member affect estimates the pension reform, even if it is "brutal", may still be approved fairly smoothly. "Until the city, nothing will drive in the majority, because the PS will not tear before."

The same member says especially convinced that attitudes have changed considerably in the party. The proof is, according to him, in the way that was received on February 27 the owner of MEDEF, Laurence Parisot, the PS group in the Assembly to discuss the transposition into law of the social partners' agreement on employment. "Parisot front of the group? But this is a first, never seen! It's just so, in the end, it was not applauded … Anyway, it has not been heard in polite silence. But silence very interested. "And that elected socialist concluded:" We must see the incredible moves that are happening here. "

Remains to explain these movements voters traditional PS, which is not necessarily the easiest. One more chore to Holland, which must be solved well in a moment to explain why, after much fighting Sarkozy, he decided to practice the same policy. Because the pension reform will take place. As recognized Marisol Touraine: "It is a requirement, since the system is not balanced."

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After the offshore wind turbines to? Delphine Batho, the Minister of Energy is now in Cherbourg (Manche) to support the development of marine energy. The Raz Blanchard, the area west of the Cotentin, is considered the most promising in France to host the first term commercial farms: the turbines – turbines submerged in some way – the need for strong currents generate electricity. They are characterized in particular by their blades shorter indispensable to resist the density of water.

"The potential energy of the sea is significant and attractive," explains Xavier Ursat, Managing Director of the production of EDF hydraulic engineering, it is also predictable for all technologies using tidal energy. "For Parvex Pierre, Director of pole renewable energy at GDF France, "the stability of the current, depending on the period, provides a fine approach to the provision of electricity." A considerable advantage under intermittent Demonstrated other renewables (wind, solar …).

EDF one hand, GDF Suez on the other: the two French giants find themselves once again in competition. Each selected technology (OpenHydro for the first Voith for the second) and fully intends to play its role of developer. For now, the machines are largely confined to a prototype stage, given that the companies expect to know the details of the mechanism to support pilot farms. Similarly, a feed-in tariff for tidal energy has been fixed – around 150 euros – but it is far from expert estimates, which predict a floor price of 300 euros to initiate effectively the start of the chain cash advance no faxing.

Commercial farm

The companies expect that the Government determines the conditions of the first tender. "In the current situation, we expect the first commercial farm in 2020, with a fleet of a hundred machines in the key, says Peter Parvex. Since 2009, we gradually mounted power test with several demonstrators, redemption of study and exploration of several areas. "

"This project Paimpol Bréhat, our goal is to gain experience and achieve industrial phase, then the economic maturity of the tidal stream in the next ten to fifteen years," says Xavier Ursat. Submerged for the first time between October 2011 and January 2012, the prototype EDF will resume its test campaign in the spring, after a problem was fixed winch to Brest. Planned to house four machines with a capacity of 0.5 megawatts each, Paimpol fleet will power the equivalent of 3,000 homes at cruising speed. The overall budget approaching 40 million. A drop of water in respect of investments of EDF, but a further step in the development of renewable France.  

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Eric Schmidt, chairman of Google, made a special trip to the Élysée Palace to sign the agreement on Friday night between newspaper publishers and search engine. After tense negotiations conducted by Nathalie Collin, president of the Press Association of political and general information (IPG), by Marc Schwartz, negotiator appointed by the French government, and Carlo d'Asaro Biondo, President Southern Europe and Eastern Google, the two sides found common ground.

The agreement is based on two feet. Firstly a trade agreement optional five years will allow publishers to use all digital platforms of Google at attractive conditions. The other point is the creation of a fund for innovation in the digital press with 60 million euros by Google. This fund projects designed to facilitate the transition to the digital press political and general information.

The fund selects projects to fund digital media according to criteria of innovation and economic viability. The Board of Directors of the Fund shall consist of representatives of Google and publishers, as well as independent personalities. The use of funds will be monitored by an independent external auditor. The financing fund will be open to all points of politics and general news as well as subsidiary of large media groups and pure players like Médiapart or Rue 89.

Historic agreement

The signing of this agreement therefore justifies the creation of a statutory right neighbor. The legislation would have required a long and difficult debate for a solution that would take the risk of being exceeded only adopted because the digital world is moving. The government, moreover, reflects the way of imposing Net giants like Google, Apple or Amazon to tax on French territory, knows that this process is complicated.

"All the publishers of general press and political welcomed the agreement with Google. This is a world first and an agreement that will allow publishers through investment and innovation to make their digital transformation that is vital for the entire industry. The editors thank the President of the Republic, which introduced the principle of dialogue between the general press and Google payday loans. They also thank Aurélie Filippetti, Minister of Culture and Communication, and Flower Pellerin, Minister of Technological Innovation, "said Nathalie Collin.

"The negotiations were strained and were conducted every night this past week and the agreement was signed on Friday. The decisions were taken directly to the board and approved by Google Larry Page, and CEO Eric Schmidt, the chairman, "said Marc Schwartz, the negotiator appointed by the government.

Epilogue showdown

This is the epilogue of the ongoing wrangle between the French newspaper publishers and Internet giant Google in September. At that time, Nathalie Collin, supported by all the leaders of the national dailies, regional magazine, found that after three years of fruitless discussions with Google about a better distribution of the value created by the indexing of content press, it was time to go on the offensive.

Newspaper publishers have proposed the creation of a neighboring right pensionable pay publishers each time a search engine indexes an article. The government has thrown its weight threatening Google to legislate on the issue if an agreement was not reached between the two parties by the end of January. President François Hollande has even reiterated his threat, when his wishes to the press on January 16.

Negotiations between Google and news publishers conducted by Marc Schwartz were stormy. But Google executives intended to reach an agreement to try to extinguish the fire that ignited the press in Europe.

Across Europe, the revolt of the press groups grows. German publishers had paved the way in summer 2012 by submitting to parliament a law (Lex Google) enabling revenue sharing on items picked up by Google News. Then publishers Swiss, Italian and Belgian rallied movement.

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• Governance: Too many players "scattered"

DIAGNOSIS

Actors in the policy of employment and vocational training are "particularly numerous." Although conventions are sometimes past actions by the state, regions and social partners, as well as their operators (Pôle emploi, joint bodies approved collectors, etc.). "Superimposed without being subject to effective coordination. " As a result, efforts today too dispersed, "prevent the implementation of policies sufficiently coordinated and coherent."

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Coordinate and streamline actions.

Current thinking on decentralization must be accompanied by a "drastic simplification" of this complex that makes room for both a "tighter governance" and the necessary involvement of diverse actors. Should be avoided "as far as possible the situations where the skills of each other are limited by co-financing or co-decision." Without such changes in governance, prevents the Court of Auditors, "the constitution of blocks skills risk segment instead of articulate actions in employment, vocational training and economic development." And thus make a little inefficient

.

• The subsidized employment: poor French exception

DIAGNOSIS

"France is now one of the only countries to use as assisted contracts", in addition to the public sector, noted by the Court. And for good reason: they are very bad springboards to find a job. Thus, persons receiving employment in the public helped almost twice as likely to find a job than those who took advantage of the same device in the private sector (40% against 70%).

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Assisted contracts in more business, better targeted to the needy, for a period of at least one year and accompanied by training.

The Court criticizes, half-word, the 150,000 "jobs of the future" determined by François Hollande. While these contracts are targeted to those most affected by unemployment, namely young people with little or no qualifications. But companies are almost entirely excluded from the system, which is centered on the public and nonprofit sectors.  

• Vocational training: amplifying inequalities

DIAGNOSIS

In France, the regions manage learning and training for job seekers while the social partners have on hand most of the funding. Manna, everything included, estimated at more than 31 billion euros (1.6% of GDP). This effort has unevenly to different categories of the population. Worse, it tends to "reproduce and even amplify the inequalities generated by the operation of the labor market." Available data "shows that the CVT has more highly trained employees, even though less skilled face the risk of unemployment higher." As for the unemployed, they continue to be large left-to-account system, although improvements have been made since 2009.

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Towards those who need it most.

The Court of Auditors also advocates less scatter in training. Training activities on employees and job seekers appear more fragile "as one of the key levers of policies to contain the increase in unemployment no fax payday loans." Direction more necessary "in a context where resources are constrained budget and unemployment remain stubbornly high," says the Court.  

• The intermittent: a ruinous ultraminorité

DIAGNOSIS

Although deficit, "the system of unemployment insurance provides certain employee groups such as the entertainment compensation conditions much more favorable than those of the general scheme which there is no equivalent to the abroad. " In the sights of the Court for some time, the intermittent regime for 3% of the unemployed, or about 100,000 people, but the deficit rises to € 1 billion per year. Is between a quarter and half of the total annual deficit, year after year, the unemployment insurance. Over the past ten years, the deficit intermittent equals total debt unemployment insurance.

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Cut compensation technicians performing priority, because they are still treated better than the artists.  

In its annual report 2012, the Court also alerted the government about "a fully declarative system," making it "particularly vulnerable to fraud."

• Partial unemployment: an underutilized

DIAGNOSIS

Partial unemployment? "Very poorly" used during the crisis because it is too complex, cumbersome administratively and not attractive enough for companies. Damage: it is precisely this feature that allowed Germany or Belgium, to cushion the fall in activity in recent years.

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Review the balance of existing devices, too favorable to employees, especially merge for greater efficiency.

"Four years after the outbreak of the crisis, the French unemployment part has not found his balance, remain obstacles to its use," Justice and the Court of Auditors. In their employment agreement, the social partners have rightly expected to launch in the coming days a new negotiation "to implement a new system" simplified and unified, and encouraging more to place employees in training during nonworking.

• Aid to employment: the most fragile are deprived

DIAGNOSIS

Aid for the employment benefit most those who need it most. Because of rising unemployment, competition for access devices return to employment has indeed exacerbated. Result, unemployed graduates, not necessarily the most fragile ousted devices using non-graduates and those in greatest difficulty. "Subsidised contracts and training contracts, which are contracts providing work-linked training, were insufficiently oriented towards the less educated," cites the Court. As for RSA, it has not reached its target.

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Conditional access systems to real problems of the unemployed, and not its legal situation.

For example, means "very important" were allocated to retrenched by giving them the benefit of ad hoc contracts and monitoring ultrarenforcé. But, said the Court, they "are not necessarily the most vulnerable in terms of the labor market."

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Commotion of battle Monday night at Matignon, where Jean-Marc Ayrault, accompanied by several of his ministers, met the Interministerial Committee for the fight against exclusion. First time since 2006 … The political objective of the meeting – which comes after several sequences dedicated to business competitiveness and employment – was to demonstrate that the government is also interested in the plight of the poor. And mobilizes to help them.

To this end, a program of € 2 billion per year term was unveiled on December 11. Key measures include raising 10% of RSA base (ex-RMI) by 2017, with an initial revaluation of 2% in September, rising ceiling supplementary CMU to allow 750,000 more to benefit, the introduction of a "youth guarantee" for dropouts aged 18-25 "who are neither in employment nor in education"; elongation at 12 months the mean duration of assisted contracts …

Jean-Marc Ayrault confirmed that a working group would consider a reform of RSA activity (additional income which aims to encourage the unemployed to accept a job resume) to reduce the rate of non-use (68% of potential beneficiaries do not ask). The experts will also floor of a rapprochement between the RSA activity and employment premium (EPP), a device developed under Lionel Jospin and, touching 9 million people, has more or less the same purposes.

The Prime Minister has asked François Chérèque, the former secretary general of the CFDT and any new Inspector General of Social Affairs (IGAS), to conduct "a rigorous evaluation of the implementation and impact of the proposed measures" in the plan personal business card. The mission entrusted to the former union leader – who has passed the baton to Laurent Berger late November after being one of the key players in the development of the plan against poverty – will also develop "a methodology of territorial variation plan so that it becomes a subject of debate throughout. "

Union independence

This update does not like contribution, in any case, Jean-Claude Mailly. Not because of a lack of skills of the new "Mr. Poverty "of government, but it refers to the symbol. "It does not give a picture of union independence, slammed on France Inter FO leader. When you stop, it must stop. "And as much as the former number one CFDT has also agreed a few days ago, the President of Terra Nova, the think-tank close to the Socialist Party.

François Chérèque did however repeatedly in a loop, before hanging up the gloves for good in late November after ten years at the helm of the CFDT, it would not accept any political office that could harm his successor. "Whatever I do, I'll always be the former secretary general of the CFDT," he explained then. He obviously changed his mind

.

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