World and National News

From our special correspondent in Stockton (California)

Real estate staggers back to the United States. The improvement of the activity recorded since the spring of 2009 fade. If this trend continues, it is a worrying news for the economic recovery. Recession brutal voyage around the world last year is part of this key sector of activity which the U.S. bubble burst in spring 2006.

Since May 2006, average prices of properties in the U.S. plunged 30%. In some areas the fall was twice as strong. Over the last seven months, however, a rebound was observed: the average value of U.S. homes rose 3%, according to Case-Shiller index.

But signs of relapse increase. In January, for the third consecutive month, sales of new homes fell.During the winter, the United States have returned to the lowest levels ever recorded transaction. In turn, sales of old houses have, against all expectations, plunged in January to the lowest in seven months. "In terms of price … the pace of decline has stabilized yet. However, the recovery observed during the summer of 2009 did not last, "says David M. Blitzer, who calculates the index for Standard & Poor's.

The improvement in 2009 is largely explained by the massive intervention of federal authorities. In capitalist countries, 90% of U.S. mortgages find themselves de facto guaranteed by the Treasury. This is indeed the de facto owner of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two financial institutions specialized in buying and guaranteeing bank loans to housing.These agencies, nationalized in September 2008, received a new mission explicit Obama Administration: "Do everything to ensure that households can not pay their mortgage maturities could stay in their homes."

Uncle Sam has already spent 111 billion dollars to bail out the two institutions. This is just the beginning. Fannie Mae request 15.3 billion dollars more, having announced its tenth consecutive quarterly loss last week.And the bill could be much heavier in the end: quietly, just before Christmas, the Treasury said that the ceiling of direct aid from the federal government $ 200 billion initially set for Fannie and Freddie was up.

The upper classes affected

Another factor supporting the business about to disappear is the tax credit of between $ 6 500 to 8 000 dollars currently available to homebuyers. The purpose of this aid was initially scheduled to last fall. For fear of turning too sharp, these tax incentives were extended until the end of April. Nothing says that the Administration will continue beyond cash advance to savings account .

On the ground, the reality remains difficult for households. The number of properties seized by banks from borrowers who fell into default continues to climb.2.8 million homes have been taken last year. This year, the record will be beaten. The firm RealtyTrac expects 4.5 million seized in 2010. Optimists point to the stabilization of 9.5% "rate of late payment" mortgage loans in the fourth quarter. Still, the continued rise in defaults ending with seizures. The default rate is now higher than 5%. Equally alarming: the sharp deterioration of late payments by households belonging to a class yet considered less risky. The worst wave of default on subprime niche (highly indebted households) is certainly past.But the failure of the wealthier classes at record levels and is now approaching 10%.

This situation is equally problematic for banks whose balance sheets do not fully reflect the rising defaults on U.S. households trapped in unemployment and the collapse of their heritage. "Overall, we believe that U.S. banks have realized that a third of their losses on residential mortgages," said Robert McNatt agency Standard & Poor's.Financial institutions have beautiful long as possible seizures of homes, high unemployment and the proliferation of "strategic flaws" (see glossary below cons) continue to plumb their balance sheets.

GLOSSARY

• Hamp (or Affordable Home Modification Program)

Federal program encouraging banks to reduce rates and lengthen the duration of mortgage loans to households have at least 60 days late payment of their monthly payments.

The Treasury has set aside 75 billion dollars by 2012 to modify loans 3 to 4 million homes and avoid the seizure of their property and their expulsion. For a year, 830 000 borrowers have tried this program on an experimental basis.But 25% are again in arrears.

• Strategic Default

This is a practice that leads borrowers to stop paying their monthly mortgage lenders by personal choice or calculation, and not for reasons of loss of resources. The "strategic failure" is made safer in states like California or Arizona, where the bank can seize the house of the borrower and not its other assets.

• Under Water

For a home, it will return "under water" when the market value of their property has fallen below the amount of his debt to the bank. This applies to almost 10% of households in the United States who have subscribed to a mortgage.

Good news for European women: since the month of May 2009, their unemployment rate, usually systematically higher than men, for the first time fell below theirs. A sudden catch that unfortunately we can not impute to the crisis. The sectors of industry and construction, traditionally male, have been particularly affected by the decline in economic activity, while those within the tertiary sector, more investment by women were generally spared. But this statistic, although seemingly positive for women, also stresses that many sectors are overwhelmingly invested in either one or the other sex.

The report Grésy devoted to professional equality between men and women, has certainly highlighted the "tremendous progress" already observed in the field: women now represent France in 47% of the workforce in 2007, and this 83% are women 25 to 49 years who work. Above all, the mix has risen sharply among the most skilled trades. The social portrait of INSEE reports that young women who leave the education system with a level of training on average than that of boys, have become a large majority among the legal profession (there are now so many lawyers than lawyers), communication, or doctors.Even among the skilled trades to more technical nature, where they remain in low numbers, a trend is emerging: there are now nearly 40% of female engineers or technical managers fresh out of school, as against 9% among older !

A marked polarization in low-skilled occupations

But the picture is not all rosy. And it seems that both ends of the scale of qualifications is the rub. At the top level, the proportion of women remains marginal: 8% of women just sit on boards of directors of the 500 largest French companies, so that a bill is to introduce a quota for women in these bodies. And it's almost the same sound of a bell among the least skilled jobs."The mix has even declined," says Florence Chappert, special assistant to the department skills, work and employment Anact (National Agency for the Improvement of Working Conditions). "Among low-skilled occupations, trades polarization between men and women is sometimes even more pronounced among beginners in the former, confirming Insee.

Overall, if the girls were always reduced appetite for professional studies, they are still more likely to opt for health and social sectors or specialties Secretariat, when it run. For boys, it is instead the power-electronic outweighs their votes.Result: the construction workers are at 98% of men, those in process industries are at 76%, while, unsurprisingly, 98% of secretaries are women, and that 98% of home helps, 75% administrative workers of category C, 99% of childminders … If the cultural environment is of course a factor in explaining this distribution, Florence Chappert said he is not alone: "If we wanted a stronger proportion of men among the home support, this would require review and atypical partial schedules that are so frequent, often at the expense of women, and raise wages, "said she. Just as the introduction of female workers would necessarily lead to a mitigation of the harshness of the trade."However, there is no question of the mix at any price: the men and women can sometimes lose to find exactly the same positions.

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Greek debt has never been more dangerous, according to the market. The risk attached to bonds reached a record high, according to Markit index based on the CDS (Credit default swaps, instruments for speculating against the risk of default of a State). He reached the 430 points against 387 on Friday. Contagion effect requires, the index also pierced caps for Portugal (242 against 227), Ireland (175 against 165) and Spain (173 against 166).

Originally escalating tension, information published on Monday in the Greek daily Avriani. Greek banks would face a massive capital flight to Switzerland and Cyprus amounting to 10 billion euros, the newspaper said. Wealthy individuals fear the new tax measures the Government to address the deficits via tax increases freecreditscore .In response, the Greek banks fell sharply by 8% on Monday in the Athens Stock Exchange.

The Greek banking system did not need this new. "Against the advice of the European Central Bank, the government is taking measures to protect households against seizure," said Ciaran O'Hagan, strategist at Societe Generale. "Suddenly, they stop lending. And as they have fewer filing with the flight of capital, a capital injection from the state is not impossible to run. "

While the Greek state is fighting to eliminate their deficits, the prospect darkens further the situation.

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While the Internet has become as indispensable as water or electricity, Pierre Danon, CEO of Numericable, announced that the cable operator will introduce a social tariff, responding to the request of the Prime Minister.

LE FIGARO. – For 9.99 euros per month, which will service the right customers?

Pierre Danon. – The Prime Minister had asked the operators a triple play package of around 20 euros for the poor. Numericable goes beyond and offers 9.99 euros a month for 60 channels of television (DTT channels and a selection of foreign channels), Internet access at 2 Mbps and unlimited calls in metropolitan France.There are two requirements to be eligible for this offer: being beneficiary of the RSA or disabled adult allowance and live in housing benefit service unique digital Numericable.

Will you receive compensation from the state?

The universal service fund, managed by the Caisse des depots, should pay a subsidy of 4.21 euros per month per subscriber to Numericable. This package will therefore revert to 5.99 euros a month to subscribers, 4 euro is already included in the charges. I sent a letter yesterday with the offer to Prime Minister, Arcep and services Bercy. If they approve our offer within two months we could launch it this summer.

What advantage Numericable?

It is primarily a historical constant of the cable as being involved in social housing and community.On the other hand, Numericable, who will work with municipalities and departments on this job should be able to equip a large number of new homes. Some customers take the social tariff, but others choose our offerings more upscale. I think that with this offer we can win new customers. We are now at 25% market share on the recruitment of new Internet subscribers. This should enable us to progress further. Not to mention that in dealing with public housing offices, Numericable reduces acquisition costs and delinquency risks.

You had already launched in November offer "low cost" to 19.90 euros. What is the result?

This offer works very well. It represents approximately one third of our new subscribers. Auchan is also to engage the clutch on this niche, because there is a real logic to segment the market.They are not social but tender offers "low-cost targeted. For example, many people do not use the TV service yet they pay their standard Internet package at 30 euros a month. We must stop the dictatorship of the package at 30 euros, which was a stroke of genius Free, but has not moved for four years.

After Darty and Auchan Bouygues Telecom, will you welcome new operators on your fiber network?

We are in discussions with various partners, but he must first deal with the influx of new customers for our partners. Auchan has trained 1 200 hypermarkets in 72 vendors!

The picture improves Numericable does to customers?

Yes. Having been a champion of consumer complaints, admittedly, we're totally out of radar DGCCRF.The service was bad a year ago, we made a lot of work, it is now correct. And we will still improve.

Having renounced the 4th license, what are your plans in the mobile?

Our priority remains the fiber. On the mobile, we are virtual network operator Bouygues Telecom. We will soon launch a 3G and a key card offer prepaid. But we do not support the pedal fully, because we can not afford to spend millions of euros to acquire a subscriber base.In 2010-2011, Numericable focuses on profitable growth.

Are you still handicapped by the weight of your debt?

Having renegotiated our debt with the bankers in November, we loosened the noose and we are perfectly comfortable with our deadlines for repayment of 1.5 billion euros by 2014.

The connected TV is it a concern for you, whose job is to aggregate a bunch of strings?

It is a subject that we anticipated early 2009 with our range of interactive TV "2.0", and we continue to invest. We have discussions with several manufacturers of televisions. In April, Numericable present its first applications in the form of widgets available on the TV screen.We will launch thematic portals (youth, sports, entertainment …) which will become real media capable of guiding the client and recommend programs.

Coup de theater in the German software company SAP. After learning, during a supervisory board that his contract was not renewed, the CEO, Leo Apotheker, has resigned with immediate effect Sunday night. He will be replaced as head of the group by the duo Co-CEOs Bill McDermott, who heads the field organization, and Jim Hagemann Snabe, responsible for product development.

"The new organization's executive committee will allow SAP to better align product innovation and customer needs.The new team will continue to lead SAP's strategy and focus on profitable growth, while offering innovations delivered in the course of 2010 to enhance the leading position of SAP in the market for enterprise software " says Hasso Plattner, co-founder and chairman of the supervisory board of SAP, in a statement no credit check payday loans .

Leo Apotheker was at SAP since 1998 and only the head of the company since April 2008. He is the founder of SAP France and was appointed Director General before the departure of his predecessor, Henning Kagermann, to ensure a smooth transition

He reproached his communication internally and externally and does not reflect the views of customers in its strategic choices.Especially, the directors have endorsed the delay by the group in the development of cloud computing, which is to enable small and medium-sized businesses access to software not installed on their networks, but via the Internet.

SAP reached in 2009 net profit down 4% to 1.8 billion euros.

A conference call will be broadcast on Monday at 14.30.

With Twitter, the communication is passed in real time. With Shazam, the iPhone has become a machine to recognize the music. German Aka-Aki opened the madness of mobile location based social networks. These services are transforming our lives for several months have been identified, there are one or two years, the Forum Netexplorateur. Founded in 2008 by Martine and Thierry Bidegain Happe, it seeks to identify innovations that can have a significant impact on the uses digital economy or society. The third edition, including Le Figaro is a partner, meets Thursday and Friday to the Senate in Paris. It is an opportunity to set new standards in the "socio-digital revolution" underway.

The winners of the 2010 edition were selected from more than 440 projects emerging. They are part of a new digital world where the Internet becomes ubiquitous.The URL can not be visited more but found himself. Many objects become key input into an ecosystem where real and not real live. Databases and servers are scattered, software and outsourced services, terminal dematerialized. The interface for mobile augmented reality Sixth Sense allows to browse the Internet with a virtual screen projected by a minicam, dial a phone number in the palm of his hand or view a video on a newspaper article. Accessible from anywhere, this new Internet makes the user knowing. With mobile browser layar augmented reality, any building or environment is an opportunity to unwind "layers of virtual information.Augmented with TAT ID, the user can display a variety of virtual cards and virtual social networking profiles around her face, free to the caller to download this information.

Freeing the user of the computer

This ecosystem is emerging as new human-machine interfaces capable of freeing, ultimately, the user of the computer or its smartphone free business cards . The aircraft of the future will respond to a voice command, gesture or brain. The French HiLabs has already begun to deploy an intelligent window on the windows of merchants Grenoble: responding to displacement of people, she then called by a movie, the way to interact with one giant touch screen (Eyelights).

On the Internet also should be contacted individually to the consumer.Social networks like Facebook and Twitter is why a "hunting ground" ideal marker there conversations on Internet brand and integrate it with an ad campaign that takes account of these opinions (People Powered Ads).

In this new digital world order, and environmental organizations are impacted first. The technology can learn to change and therefore it is the creed of Source Map, which shows the carbon footprint of a product or a food or Mobile Lucas, who turns the mobile phone Minilab analysis medical use and particularly to distinguish true and false cases of malaria.

Similarly, the Better Place project relies heavily on intelligence network, able to indicate to drivers of electric cars recharging station nearest, then manage the transaction load and billing.At work, it calls for transparency on the powers of his future employer to decide to change. What improve individual productivity or collective, as the founder of the website Get a Great Boss. In parallel, microtâches can be relocated and create microjobs for solidarity: the draft Work Give an iPhone application developed by Samasource, which proposes to perform computing tasks mechanical ( "tag" a video detailing card, test application) by refugees from Dadaab camp in Kenya. Initiatives that, once industrialized are likely to reverse the tide.

Henri Proglio and Anne Lauvergeon, who lead respectively EDF and Areva, are called in on Wednesday afternoon at Matignon. The Prime Minister has every intention of putting an end to bitter arguments currently taking place between the two main leaders of the French nuclear industry.

Since late December, the two groups, which have the state as shareholder ultramajoritaire, to blame for the failure of the bidding in Abu Dhabi. And in January, has expanded their quarrel: Areva has just suspended the transportation of spent fuel – from EDF's power – to its reprocessing plant at La Hague. In the entourage of Francois Fillon, it stresses that both companies are forced to work together.The prime minister wants to put an end to these incessant disputes and public.

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The Appeal of Ban Ki-Moon has been heard. "There is no doubt that we are facing a major humanitarian emergency and an equivalent effort in disaster relief is needed. I urge all members of the international community to assist Haiti in this hour of great need, "stated the secretary general of the United Nations (UN), after the violent earthquake that devastated the capital Port -au-Prince Tuesday. Since then, pledges poured in from around the world.

The United Nations said on Friday he had received 268.5 million dollars in aid pledges from many governments and businesses. To this sum, plus the $ 100 million that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has put on the table.At a press conference in Washington yesterday evening, its managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said this aid, which will be released "very soon" by the board of the IMF, would come from an extension of a existing loan to Haiti. The day before, the World Bank had pledged aid for the same amount.

Governments at the rendezvous

Among the twenty donors reported by the UN include Belgium (0.65 million), Sweden (0.85 million), China (1 million), Italy (1.46 million), Finland (1.8 million), Denmark (1.9 million), Switzerland (1.9 million), Germany (2.17 million), Netherlands (2.91 million), Spain ( 4.37 million), EU (4.37 million), Canada (4.8 million), Brazil (5 million), Australia (9.3 million), the United Kingdom (10 million ) and the United States (100 million).

In France, the Economy Minister Christine Lagarde has benefited from the presentation of his vows to the press this morning to ask the creditor countries of the Paris Club to cancel the entire debt of Haiti. The country still has 54 million euros to France, for example. Paris had already canceled unilaterally and unconditionally 4 million euros of debt, December 11 last. Christine Lagarde also appealed to Venezuela and Taiwan, two major creditors of Haiti who do not belong to this group.

Solidarity initiatives of companies

But generosity is not the sole preserve of large institutions and governments. NGOs and associations are at the forefront, both on the field and at the collection of donations. Calls for assistance have increased over the past three days.In addition to individuals, many companies have personally responded to these appeals, as after the tsunami that hit Asia in late 2004. Numerous initiatives have been announced, including France.

The Post, for example, will publish in the coming days, a tone of solidarity with the victims of the earthquake. The price of 1 euro includes a donation of 44 cents to the Red Cross. EADS and its subsidiary Airbus has decided to lend the association Action against hunger a jumbo A 340 to help the Haitians. The aircraft must take off from Lyon on Friday afternoon, with on board 150 cubic meters of material health and telecommunications, as well as pockets of water. Following the call of Industry Minister Christian Estrosi Wednesday, the French pharmaceutical industry donated 56,000 emergency treatment for relief teams visiting Haiti.Finally, the French airline Air Caribbean said this morning that it would introduce flights at special rates for Port-au-Prince, from the airport in the Haitian capital will be reopened to commercial flights.

The challenge of rebuilding

Such generosity is not without challenges. This effort requires international coordination, said Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Start quack, the EU acknowledged on Friday having been informed "by the press" of the international conference for reconstruction and development of Haiti, announced yesterday by France. "I am not aware" of the conference, said the spokesman of the High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, during a press briefing in Brussels.

Yet, as Bernard Kouchner, the appointment is already taken.The conference, which would join the United States, Brazil, Canada and other countries, could be held in March, said the Foreign Minister this morning.

Haiti, a country to its knees

• Population: 9.8 million (UN estimates 2008)

• Gross national income (GNI) per capita: $ 560

• Poverty: 78% of the population lives on less than $ 2 per day and over 50% with less than $ 1 a day

• United Nations Development Program (UNDP): 146th rank among 177 countries worldwide

• Life expectancy: 59 years for men, 63 for women

• Infant mortality rate: 60 per 1,000 births

• Aid for Development: The World Bank has granted 273 million dollars in financial assistance to Haiti since 2005, through the International Development Association (IDA).

(Source: World Bank)

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The commercial success of Ariane would be impossible without an industrial organization has become, over the years, more effective. Until 2002, the CNES was responsible for developing the rocket, Arianespace managing manufacturing and Aerospatiale, the ancestor of Astrium, took charge of industrial architecture. This division of labor worked somehow. Each pitcher was a prototype. This organization generates a lot of losses.

After the drama of the maiden flight of Ariane 5, June 4, 1996, the failure of the model is used. The new rocket exploded in flight; European space wavers. "It is the founding event. He had organizational change. Finally, the European Space Agency has decided, under German leadership, entrusted with the responsibility of Astrium development and production, "said Francois Auque, President of Astrium.The reorganization was launched under his leadership.

Specialization sites, reduction (- 25% production – 40% in the support functions), quality improvement … It is to stabilize the development model of Ariadne to improve reliability and meet delivery. "The success of a pitcher is related to its reliability and its competitiveness, stressed the President of Astrium. We are able to deliver the launcher three to four days before the contractual date. "

Subject sophisticated technology, the Ariane 5 is the first to be produced in series. In early 2009, Astrium took command of 35 Ariane 5 to 4 billion euros. The manufacturer will provide 7 launchers per year from the second half of 2010. The availability of Ariane is guaranteed until 2015. Reassuring for customers!

The organization is well established.10 countries and 86 suppliers are engaged in the manufacture of the launcher. However 80% Franco-German and 60% French. Astrium is prime contractor for the launcher and floors that are assembled in Les Mureaux in France and Bremen in Germany. The French engine manufacturer Safran provides the Vulcain engine, SNPE two boosters powder, Astrium Germany cryogenic engine of the second floor.

The rocket comes in kit form in Guyana. Several times a year along the Seine, the lower part of the rocket 35 meters long and 5 meters in diameter with its engine supports Le Havre aboard a barge. From there it crosses the Atlantic on a container ship. A trip looks identical to the second floor from the port of Bremen. The junction is realized in Kourou space base Guiana, which, with its 1 350 employees, is the largest private employer in the department. Ariane is assembled on site by teams of Astrium and Arianespace.This phase lasts on average six weeks before the launch.

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A good student in terms of parity

British Airways won a first victory against his crew. The British airline, which deemed it illegal to vote on a strike by its employees last Monday, just win the case on Thursday. A British judge of the High Court in London took the view that the strike, scheduled from December 22 to January 2, was not legal.

According to the interim ruling issued Thursday, irregularities were committed during the vote in which employees were asked to vote on the principle of the strike. The judge ruled that the company disputed the fact that such employees being dismissed have taken part in the poll.

The management of British Airways welcomes the victory. "We are delighted for our customers that the threat of a strike at Christmas has been lifted.It is a decision that will be welcomed by hundreds of thousands of families in the United Kingdom and around the world. "

The conflict is not over

This decision does not preclude the union Unite, causing the motion to proceed to another vote. For employees in anger, the movement will only end if the negotiations succeed. But for now, discussions are taking the wrong direction.

The direction of the British airline and representatives of Unite had met on Wednesday but failed to agree on a compromise. British Airways refuses to reverse the changes already implemented such as reducing the number of crew members on long distance flights and short haul.

If such a work stoppage occurs, it would be the first strike at British Airways since 1997, and the longest in the history of British aviation.The company would lose big on this account since the holiday season to carry one million passengers on Flight 7000.

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