International Headlines and Stories

Co-leader of drones, unmanned aircraft, with the United States, Israel has come into force at the Paris Air Show. Under the leadership of "Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute" and the commercial department of the Israeli Embassy in Paris, fifteen companies representing the flagship of the aerospace industry, display their latest creations. By visiting the house of Israel, visitors can "touch" the latest innovations.

Among them, a strange machine to look worthy of Star Wars called AirMule. Urban Aeronautics presents a model of the UAV helicopter whose rotor is not visible because housed in the body of the device. AirMule has already made several test flights. It is intended to convey the property or to perform medical evacuations in theaters of operation in urban environments or in complex natural sites difficult to access.Its specifications in fact enable it to obtain dual certification (civil and military). It concerns the Israeli Ministry of Defense and NATO.

Another original concept developed by Aeronautics Defense Systems, the transformation of a civilian aircraft into existing UAV MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance). "UAVs often have reliability problems because of their platform that can also be certified to fit into the civil air traffic," said a company representative. Aeronautics Defense Systems has decided to work from an Australian aircraft, the Diamond DA 42, the cell tested. And he turned into MALE UAV called Dominator.The company that specializes in unmanned air, land and sea, began production in February Dominator.

Partnership with EADS and Thales

Israel is a major player in the defense market with a global market share estimated at 7 payday loans.5%. In 2010, according to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the export sales of armaments have reached $ 10 billion, twice more than in 2008. The industry occupies 150 companies whose leaders are the group Rafael, Elbit and IAI, which employ some 44,000 employees. Israel has often been a pioneer in the field of defense. His army was the first to use drones, manned aircraft from the ground station, on a massive scale in 1982 in the Bekaa Valley during the war in Lebanon.

These leading companies have, for years the card partnerships with U.S. and European manufacturers.The group thus provides the platform IAI Heron which is the basis for the Snowy, the MALE UAV militarized by EADS, which is used by the French Air Force in Afghanistan. In Britain, Thales has set up a joint venture with Elbit group to make the platform's tactical UAV Wachtkeeper which has a technology transfer platform Hermes 450. Wachtkeeper was developed for the British Army who ordered 60 copies. It will enter service in late 2011.

In all, Israel has developed a range of UAVs double duty (civilian and military) that goes from the micro-craft to the general observation drone high altitude long endurance (HALE).The fleet in service on five continents has accumulated 700,000 hours of flight, a world record.

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The Greek government will appeal to the people. Prime Minister George Papandreou said in Parliament on Sunday "in the fall, we will go to a referendum on the main reforms in this country." The Socialist attempts to obtain the agreement of members on the composition of his new government and its austerity plan over five years of 28 billion euros needed for a new international aid.

These reforms are challenged in the street and into the ranks of the narrow government majority (155 seats out of 300). This is to appease the critics that Papandreou had to reshuffle his team Friday, so it presents to Parliament on Sunday. "I applied for a renewal of confidence in the government because the country is at a crucial point," he said.We need to find "a national agreement to deal with deficits and debt are a Greek national problem," he added. The vote of confidence will take place Tuesday night.

The Prime Minister is attempting to rally right-wing opposition to his austerity plan. The latter, who had hidden some of the deficits of the country before the crisis in 2009, refuses to give carte blanche. Its leader, Antonis Samaras, reiterated that his party "did not give a vote of confidence in the government as socialist Papandreou insists on a policy that does not solve problems but makes them worse."

Division concerned

European leaders are concerned about this division. Merkel supported George Papandreou Friday: "He is fighting for Greece meets its commitments, we support it.(…) It is hoped that the opposition supports the Greek government. "

Finance ministers of the euro zone meet in Eurogroup on Sunday night and Monday special meeting. They must agree on the payment of the new tranche of aid provided under the 110 billion euros of loans in spring 2010 in Greece. A budget that would allow the country to spend the summer. In addition, Europeans must also agree on a new aid plan, the sum is not yet defined. The negotiations come up against particularly on the modalities of participation of banks in the effort.

Do not expect an agreement by Monday morning, however, said the rpésident of the Eurogroup, the Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker. The European Commission had yet spoken this week of an agreement expected by Sunday evening.French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had said Friday on their side need to "act quickly" on the Greek case. "We'll talk tonight about the involvement of private creditors, the question is how far it can and must go," said Jean-Claude Juncker.

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Christian Noyer confirmed and signed. Any restructuring of the debt would be treated as a failure on the part of Greece is absolutely unacceptable. Because it would then "get ready to fully finance the Greek economy", stressed on Tuesday the governor of the Bank of France, who presented to the press his 2010 annual report.

It is the "horror scenario" that he had already detailed there are just three weeks. On the one hand, Greek banks are primarily affected by a rescheduling of the debt that they are the largest holders, and they could then refinance with more of the ECB.And secondly, the Athens government would certainly lean its financial charges, but since it currently has a primary deficit (excluding payment of the debt burden) of about 5% of GDP, could no longer borrow and wheat would be unable to finance its current spending, including salaries.

"If a solution can be found that avoids the risk of default, it seems appropriate," said the governor added, however, without specifying what he himself described as "acceptable business solution paperless payday loans." For his part, Jean-Claude Trichet, ECB president, said Monday that "the debt restructuring should be voluntary (from creditors). In this case is avoided because a "credit event" and "default." This solution was implemented in 2009 in favor of Hungary, under the IMF.But, as recalled an institutional manager, "was technically easy because it was bank loans held by half a dozen operators, while for Greece hundreds of investors are concerned."

"Our only concern is the financing of the Greek economy. You can add a second concern is the risk of contagion, "says Christian Noyer, referring implicitly to the earthquake in September 2008 had triggered the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. "But this has nothing to do with our own balance sheet (the ECB has purchased a fifty billion of debt securities Greek, Ed) nor with that of European banks who are perfectly capable of handling all the scenarios that could present, "insisted the gouverneur.f

And if you asked more questions in the right place? "Suggests now a television commercial for Old National Insurance (CNAV) to the humorous. A few days before the commencement of the pension reform (July 1, read PreviousPage), the government explained to the French that they have several partners that would respond to questions they are sure to arise on their future retirement. Consultants by telephone (39 60), websites (pedagogical and practical), retirement calculator (m @ rel), statement of career situation, sources of information about retirement have increased in recent years.They are also more and more personalized.

Thus, the public interest group (GIP) Info Retreat, which coordinates 35 mandatory pension systems, address every five years from the age of 35, a statement of "personal circumstances" (those born in 1951 , 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971 and 1976 will receive their statement this year). This lists all schemes where the insured has acquired rights, with the corresponding periods, the compensation taken into account in calculating the pension, life insurance or the number of points acquired, periods or events that may influence the retirement age or the amount of pension (military service …). A document is purely informative.

From 55 years, is changing

Policyholders receive more than the statement a "rough estimate global" (in the basic and supplementary schemes), and the age of entitlement.Very useful, this document lets you know exactly the number of quarters acquired and especially to get a clear idea of ​​the amount of support we receive, if it pushes his retirement. "Generally, these reviews are thorough and well done. They have quite a few mistakes, "said Pascal Mignery, president of France Retreat. Mistakes are sometimes the result of the corporate employer, which did not submit all information collected at the time the computer did not exist short term personal loans. "But beware, these records do not mention the increase in pension for family of three children and periods of expatriation," he says.

In addition to these two devices, the law on pension reform introduced a progress retirement at age 45 (it enters into force in January 2012)."Each insured may request a personal interview on the rights he has made in mandatory pension systems," says CNAV. This will enable some awareness of the need to save for retirement yet distant. "It will also be very useful for expatriates who do not always know they can contribute to the French funds while overseas, in advance Pascale Gauthier Novelvy.

Also from next year, the younger will also be sensitized to the problems of retirement. After two quarters of work (validated), they will receive a newsletter on pension division.

If you want to know the exact amount of your retirement, you can use the calculator m @ rel (www.marel.fr).This will also allow you to know at what age you can claim a full pension and to know the financial consequences of an early departure. Small flat, you must enter yourself all your information. Moreover, this simulator does not yet take into account the terms of the pension reform.

Those who had a career more complex, punctuated with many changes (employer or status, for example) will knock on the door of a boutique firm that will help them see more clearly (at what age from, what are the benefits of combining employment and retirement …). "We help employees not err in departing three months too early for example. We are also much sought in their forties who are considering changing their professional status and wish to understand the implications this will have on their future retirement, "says Pascal Mignery.The price of such a service? Between 1000 and 5000 euros on average, according to the firms.

It's a heavyweight who joined the circuit on Tuesday from the Banque Populaire Group in sailing. Loick Peyron (5 league titles on the circuit Orma, winner of the 2nd edition of the Barcelona World Race with Jean-Pierre Dyck, twice winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre) became the new skipper Maxi Banque Populaire V. In Focus a single objective: toppling the Jules Verne Trophy record held since March 2010 by Franck Cammas on Groupama (48 days 7 hours and 344 minutes). A world tour tried – and failed – by the Banque Populaire Group in early 2011, with its iconic skipper Pascal Bidégorry.

"Loïck Peyron is someone who has an aura in sport," said Olivier Klein, CEO of commercial banking and insurance BPCE. The arrival condition of the sailor of 52 years are clear."He joins us for the period 2011-2012 in particular for the record attempt the Jules Verne Trophy," he says. Our goal was to find someone whose legitimacy was denied on the circuit and whose track record enabled him to succeed this season. We have an appetite for victories and high standards, "he adds. The Jules Verne Trophy is also a family affair for the Peyron. Bruno Peyron in a three-time holder with two ships, Commodore Explorer, and especially Orange 2.

Tight schedule

The timing of Loïck Peyron and his crew are more than busy, with a break-in period that may be very minimal entry into the heart of the matter will soon June 17, SNSM with the trophy (won by Loïck Peyron in 2008), followed by 13 to 15 August it will be time for the Fastnet, before positioning itself for a new record attempt the Jules Verne Trophy this winter.

Present in sailing for 22 years, Banque Populaire bet on the "giants of the seas." The group was one of the pillars of the circuit Orma, and has developed no less than 5 multihull ocean. In 2006, the bank of the sail is the choice of major records. "We found an alternative to these big races, but with the demise of this circuit, we had to get into the big record," says Chantal Petrachi, communications director of Banque Populaire. That's when we started the construction of the maxi-trimaran 40 meters. Cost of operation: 11 million euros.

With the arrival of Loïck Peyron, the Banque Populaire loop device sail for its 2012 edition, year of the next Vendée Globe. The Team has established race team, led by Ronan Lucas and no fewer than three major projects.Besides the Jules Verne Trophy, the bank is engaged in the Imoca circuit. In April, former skipper of Brit'Air, Armel Le Cléac'h, joined the team to retrieve the bar of the old monohull Foncia, bought late 2010 and refurbished by the bank in anticipation of the next Jacques Vabre and the Vendée Globe. Jeanne Gregory, the group is also engaged in the Figaro circuit.

"Three in four French people know Banque Populaire bank as sailing. We therefore had to have a comprehensive approach on the sector, for example, from clubs and sailing schools. The veil is a very high surface exposure for a brand because we give our name to a boat or a team, "says Olivier Klein.The Banque Populaire Group is also a partner of the French Sailing Federation for 11 years, it maintains the history of the Pen Duick alongside Eric Tabarly association and supports teams of France's Olympic sailing next pure OJ London.

Result surprise among the barometer Actineo / TNS Sofres on quality of life in the office made in April 2011 *. Certainly the interests of labor (53% of employees of which 63% of executives) is always ahead but the quality of life was cited by 38% of respondents followed by the level of pay (37%). The layout of offices and premises of their business has an impact "important" on their effectiveness (for 80% of them) and motivation (72%). A majority, 59% feel "somewhat satisfied" with their quality of life during their occupation. But behind these overall figures, there are considerable differences in the type of office attended, gender or family of the situtation.

Employees who attach more importance to the quality of work life are those who live alone: ​​49% against 38% on average.The women also admit to further pay attention: they are 45% to make this point against 38% on average across all respondents.

Alain d'Iribarne, CNRS Research Director and Chairman of Scientific Actineo, explains that this difference in response reflects the growing porosity between work life and personal life. "The problem is that this happens outside the workplace, the employer there is not too familiar" he says.

Define a function for each space

The barometer also highlights disparities depending on the office in which employees work. For 90% of employees have an individual office, the quality of work life is good. This figure drops to 63% for those who work in an office landscape (open space).The concentration is more easily known example in private office in the office landscape (the gap between the views of each other then 32 points). Alain d'Iribarne stresses the need for specialized areas of work: some supporting "the intimate relationship" and the other the "pooling".

In all cases, the quality of relationships with colleagues is seen as contributing most (84% of respondents) the quality of work life. The working space available to place second with 48% rating.

* The survey was conducted among a sample of 547 employees working in an office, from a nationally representative sample of 4000 people. Interviews face to face interviews were conducted between 1 and April 19.

The restructuring announced by giant ThyssenKrupp has obviously taken over the political authorities in Germany. Christian Wulff, German Federal President, showed his annoyance by canceling his visit was to perform Sunday at the site of the new steel giant group in Brazil.

This production unit, located next to Rio de Janeiro is very important for ThyssenKrupp. It cost more than EUR 5 billion, making it the largest investment in its history. In addition, the visit must be conducted by Heinrich Hiesinger, the chairman of ThyssenKrupp. The refusal of Christian Wulff is a setback for the German group.

It is true that the political authorities, which are historically very close to the leaders of the steelmaker, may be concerned by the magnitude of the restructuring announced on Friday morning.ThyssenKrupp will sell or restructure almost a quarter of its turnover, more than 10 billion euros of business. 35,000 jobs are concerned, a little over 177,000 for the whole group.

Diversified industrial group

It's not about job cuts outright, but transfers or outsourcing. Nevertheless, all these activities are not profitable and negative consequences on employment in the future are possible. In addition, ThyssenKrupp executives have said for months that they wanted to improve their credit ratings by agencies. A will rarely compatible with social concerns guaranteed online payday loans.

The announced restructuring will not profoundly change the profile of ThyssenKrupp, which appears more like a diversified industrial group than as a pure steelmaker. In this activity, it occupies today as the twentieth largest in the world.But it is also present in the elevators, with a position of world number three, shipbuilding, automotive and construction of turnkey plants.

The new group's strategy is not to focus solely on the business of steelmaker. The announced measures do in fact only two activities: steel industry and automotive equipment. In this division, three companies, which together 2.2 billion euros in billings, will be transferred while two others, also posting 2.2 billion euros of turnover, will be met, before being eventually sold or find a partner.

The most important movement, however, concerns the branch "stainless steel", that ThyssenKrupp will transform into an independent company. This activity is the leading European, with a turnover of 5.9 billion euros.During the year ended last Sept. 30, it lost 57 million euros. Of the 35,000 people affected by restructuring the steel industry alone employs 11,000 employees. This activity is likely to be observed carefully by German politicians, because the area is known to concentrate in the coming months.

Back to normal view for luxury in Japan after the earthquake of 11 March. This is the forecast that are several French captains of this industry in Japan. While LVMH has announced a decline in sales of 9% in the first quarter, and even 25% on the month of March but the improvement is already noticeable. "Activity in our 58 stores is almost back to normal. Sales to daily are the same or even higher than those recorded last year. We lost the moment the customer of Chinese tourists, but it will come back, "said Yves Carcelle. The CEO of Louis Vuitton came last week to comfort his team from Sendai store, near the epicenter of the quake, which just reopened its doors. Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, would go to turn in a few weeks.

Same story with Chanel."I gave my team early in the crisis time to turn around, put their family's safety. Today, they are very dynamic. Sales are surprisingly quite good in perfumes and beauty, excellent in fine jewelry and watches, and gradually resume mode, but it takes a little longer. The best way to respond to the earthquake is to resume activities as normally as possible, what we do, "said Richard Collasse, President of Chanel Japan.

Boom in marriages

They said the stores – whose sales have dropped 15% in March – irritated against the big brands who decided by mutual agreement to close a few days their "corners" at home in the middle of the crisis. Today, the page appears rotated. "Department stores have more need than the other French brands.It is we who generate the traffic, "the representative slides of a mark in the archipelago.

Beyond the earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese market trends toward a settlement will parallel the aging population. A study by Deutsche Bank, the Japanese consume a quarter of global luxury goods market. Japan still remains the largest market for Louis Vuitton (18% of its turnover, according to our sources), while the Chinese are the first customer in the world. "Luxury in Japan has long enjoyed a very favorable position, thanks to the strong yen. Today, the Japanese market is normalizing, affects older people, with sophisticated tastes.Consumers are more individualistic, as shown by the success of our offer personalized, "says Yves Carcelle.

More surprising factor and optimism: the explosion of the market for jewelry related to engagement and marriage for a month in Japan, observed by all brands in the industry. It comes in a parallel boom in marriages. "People want to live," says a French boss of the industry.

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France and Ivory Coast are the two favored destinations of Africans who emigrate. The former colonial power in its home soil 2.754 million while the world's largest producer of cocoa welcomes 2.448 million. World Bank figures cited in the introduction of a groundbreaking study aimed to "increase the impact (economic) migration to Africa." This is a reminder that all Africans will live outside their country of origin does not necessarily leave the continent."Two thirds of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, especially the poorest, will relocate to other parts of the continent, while in the case of North Africa 90% have gone overseas," notes the report .

As Côte d'Ivoire has positioned itself as the main attraction is obviously surprising: the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has noted that over 150,000 Ivorians have fled to Liberia in recent weeks . But the fact is that since the time of French colonization, the country has continued to attract labor nearby. At that point in the 1970s, President Houphouet-Boigny had to launch the concept of ivoirité to reassure citizens worried about the influx of foreigners.

The ebb and flow demographic facing Côte d'Ivoire illustrate the ambivalence of inter-African migration.Although they mainly follow economic motivations for richer countries like Nigeria and South Africa. But sometimes they are "forced migration". UNHCR now counts 2.2 million refugees who have fled as a result of wars or natural disasters, not counting the 6.5 million people displaced within their own country.

Brain drain reaches alarming levels

It can not therefore underestimate the negative impact of migration on neglected regions. The chief economist of the World Bank for Africa, Shantayanan Devarajan, admits that "human capital flight" penalize "the small countries and low income" and "fragile countries emerging from conflict . More general phenomenon, the brain drain, brain drain, is reaching alarming proportions.The Bank notes that a graduate in eight African higher education living in OECD countries. It is a scourge in Ghana: 37.1% of physicians trained in its schools and 55.9% of practitioners were born on the land are working abroad. In total, 11% of nurses and 18% of doctors educated in the south of the Sahara are working in other lands, resulting in a shortage of medical personnel even more pronounced than the country's poor.

Despite these caveats, experts from the World Bank believe that "Africans living abroad are a vital resource." The main channel, it is the remittances, the remittances, as the English word, that expatriates send regularly to their families back in the motherland. This vector is now more important than official development assistance.He pumped $ 39.7 billion in 2010, with 21.5 billion for North Africa and 18.2 for sub-Saharan regions. These funds are also less volatile than foreign direct investment, which fell in 2009 with the crisis.

Introduce dual citizenship for their emigrants

It is possible to increase the impact of these funds that are within families across national borders, said Dilip Ratha, senior economist with the Bank on matters of migration. "Some countries, like Mexico and Turkey, have tried to direct their capital for collective investment, but it did not work. We must preserve their privacy, as is a personal decision to emigrate, "the former judge of Crédit Agricole Indosuez economist of Indian origin.He suggested, however, to tackle the endemic problem of transaction costs, totally excessive (you must pay $ 20 for sending $ 200). The solution would be to play the network of posts and mobile phone companies.

Beyond remittances, Dilip Ratha advocates to mobilize the entire savings of diasporas, which he estimated at $ 30.4 billion annually to sub-Saharan countries. The idea would be to issue savings bonds, similar to what Israel and India have long been, and that Greece seeks to establish with its own diaspora.These securities, issued off-market rates, for ratings from 100 to 10,000 dollars would be used to "finance infrastructure projects and health education."

Last but not least, Dilip Ratha urges African States to introduce dual citizenship for their emigrants (only accept 20 of 54) to strengthen their links with foreign communities. He had no doubt that these diasporas have a great future in view of demographic developments. By 2050, the population of working age will decline by 88 million in Western Europe, where sub-Saharan Africa will have increased his $ 699 million!

She gave a good month to sell everything. A few hours will suffice. Monnaie de Paris has attracted crowds during the weekend of April 9 to 10, when the sale of two new plays: 10,000 pieces of gold in 1000 euros the effigy of the Greek hero Hercules. A veritable gold rush, which has undoubtedly been very beneficial to the venerable institution. And for good reason: Each piece consisted of 20 grams of gold. What gives them the weight value of 650 euros at current prices, or 32.5 euros per gram.

But knowing that the Monnaie de Paris bought the gold that was used in the manufacture of these parts long before the launch of the operation, and given the fact that this metal has continued to surge in recent months, we can imagine that the profit was considerably higher than EUR 350 per room, well over 3.5 million euros in total! Even thinking about the parts of 100 euro money thrown at the same time: a weight of 50 grams and 50,000 copies drawn, they are only worth 47 euros at the current weight (0.94 euros per gram).

Side of the Paris Mint, its director, Dominique Fine, do not want to say anything about the benefits of the transaction. He recalls that it is "substantially lower" it looks, since we must deduct the cost of manufacture, knowing that "these pieces are quite worked." Still, this type of event takes place at regular intervals.Monnaie de Paris, which posted a net profit of 18 million euros in 2010 (against 16 million last year), in particular launch gold coins to 200 euros by the end of 2011.

The annoyance of numismatists

In contrast, numismatists s'agacent this success saving account pay day loan. Worse, they scoff. "This is undoubtedly a very good deal for the state," quips Michael Prior, director of the Compagnie Generale de la Bourse in Paris, lamenting "a very bad investment." Among the causes of that nervousness: a few days after the sale, the professional has seen a Hercules gold for sale on e-bay at a price of 1200 euros. "After that, if the seller found a buyer, more power to him!" Coward he. According to him, the operation of the Paris Mint would be a scam. And buyers of laymen.

A bit bad player, our numismatist? A little. Because as pointed out by Dominique Fine, a demonetization is not valid.And thus, "the piece is protected by face value of 1,000 euros." So if gold were to fall, the buyer may in any case recover its initial investment. Driving the nail, the senior official added that "one must take people for fools." "They learn a minimum, he says. Thousand euros for a room, it is not nothing! "

Furthermore, it indicates that the 100 euro gold coins launched in 2008 by the Paris Mint, and equipped with 3.11 grams of gold, now worth almost as much weight as their face value. However, we must remember that an ounce of gold was used for flambé in times of crisis, and that if the economy improves, "catching up" of Hercules will not be as easy.

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