Gain an advantage over competitors like Netflix preparing their arrival in France. Thursday, VideoFutur announced a new offering called "hybrid" meant to build consumer loyalty and especially fond of videos of recent films. Netflix based on the model, offers a package VideoFutur Pass Duo 6.99 euros to access both video on physical media (DVD, Blu-ray) and video on demand over the Internet. For that price, subscribers will have access to all films released theatrically for over nine months on DVD and Blu-ray on Wheels. They have more opportunity to access video on demand for new films four months after their release at a price of 2.99 euros per film.Finally, the subscription will provide access from the start to an unlimited number of old films on the Internet (thirty-six months after their theatrical release).
"We found that video on demand suffered from very competitive prices since, until now, users had to pay 5 euros to access a work. However, the price of a physical video is now 2.90 euros, says Marc Tessier, president of VideoFutur. It was important to align the rates of physical and dematerialized video. We also wanted to compensate for the disadvantage of video subscription which provides access to a limited number of works thirty-six months after their theatrical release. "
This marketing offensive is primarily intended to prepare announced the arrival of more competition in the market for image and video over the Internet.
Rapidly changing
Netflix, the video service to 25 million U.S. subscribers as well as Amazon and Google – the search engine which now recognizes the images – prepare for their arrival in Europe. With their agreements with major U.S. studios purveyors of blockbusters, these new players may be required. For VideoFutur, it is especially important to speed up the transfer that the company is experiencing a difficult situation. In 2010, the results showed a loss of nearly 6 million euros for a turnover amounting to 8.2 million euros, down 42%. If the company does not envisage a return to balance by 2013, however, it focuses on new developments such as increasing the number of physical stores, which should be of the order of fifty 'By the end of the year.
Lunch with Warren Buffett this year will cost 2.63 million dollars to the winner of the traditional auction held once per year to a charity. Only two bidders this time participated in the sale held on the eBay website, but the low number of candidates did not prevent the sums involved to reach a record level. The winner has indeed paid 111 euros extra to beat the 2010. The latter, who wishes to remain anonymous, then share the meal with one of the richest men in the world between June 27 and July 11 next, in the famous New York restaurant Smith & Wollensky. It may be accompanied by seven friends of his choice.
Fortune ranked third worldwide after the Mexican magnate Carlos Slim Helu and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, aged 80, is head of investment company Berkshire Hathaway Inc.The idea to donate the money raised at auction for a lunch came to the investor in 2000 when his wife, Susan, now deceased, presented him with the Glide Foundation and its founder, the Rev. Cecil Williams. As in previous years, funds raised for this twelfth luncheon will be donated to benefit the charity, which helps disadvantaged residents of San Francisco. Through these annual lunches, Buffett has managed to raise over $ 9 million.
50% of fortune to charity
Spurred by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, several American millionaires have pledged to donate over 50% of their fortune to charity easy payday loans.This initiative, called "Giving Pledge" ("Pledge") was launched in June 2010 and already has 69 signatories, including director George Lucas, CNN founder Ted Turner, or the co-founder and CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg. "We see tremendous progress in just one year", says Warren Buffett in a statement. "I am delighted that so many people who have done well in America publicly commit and participate in philanthropy."
But despite the enthusiasm of the creators of the association "Giving pledge," they are struggling to find recruits abroad. Hoping to make a successful campaign in the Middle Kingdom, which houses a quarter of large fortunes in Asia, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett went to Beijing in September 2010 for a charity dinner party, after which a very small number of guests would have answered the call.The list of philanthropists also contains no French name, despite the presence of four large fortunes (Bernard Arnault (LVMH), Liliane Bettencourt (L'Oréal), Francois Pinault (PPR) and Serge Dassault (Dassault Aviation) in the Top 100 Forbes.
The government is very worried by the drought that has spread to 61 French departments and is willing to provide aid to farmers. Nicolas Sarkozy, who is in the Charente on Thursday presented a plan to help farmers affected by drought which includes a "shift one year" repayment of loans granted to farmers in 2009, and waived the Tax on undeveloped land.
"It is essentially a cash flow problem is (…), you repay your debts, or you pay for your food animals," said Nicolas Sarkozy after visiting the operation of a cattle farmer Montemboeuf . "We will find you some leeway and we will shift all the payments of a year," he added. "Essentially this is a map of deferments," stressed the head of state.He stressed that the "encryption" of this measure, the state will take over the payment of interest owed by farmers, could not be established "now" does not exclude other measures if necessary .
A budget of 500 million
At a roundtable in La Rochefoucauld, the Head of State later clarified that this related only to the reimbursement of aid paid under the plan launched in 2009 Poligny (Jura). "I just do not tell the difference repayment of all loans in French agriculture, it must be serious," he said. During the roundtable, the president also said that "farmers in the affected areas would benefit from an exemption from tax on undeveloped land (…) which represents 300 million euros."
In the process, he said that the state would pay the national guarantee fund against agricultural disasters, mobilized by the Minister of Agriculture, Bruno Le Maire, a budget of around EUR 200 million to enable the payment Advance compensation "from the month of September business cards." "On 12 July there will be a first test session files (…) the first payments will be held in September," he said.
Facilities of National Defence made provisions
Finally, Nicolas Sarkozy has announced, next week, a meeting of professional agricultural organizations with the Ministers of Agriculture, Ecology and Defense, as well as the CEO of SNCF to adjust logistical problems posed by the movement of fodder from farmers in difficulty."The problem is less a production problem at those you book (fodder) that a massive logistical problem," he said, adding that "national defense facilities" will be made available to allow storage straw and fodder.
In his speech, the head of state has ruled out any direct assistance to farmers in difficulty. "Do not fall back into bad habits to give you benefits that would be declared illegal (by Brussels, ed) in a few months," he said.
In addition to these economic measures, Nicolas Sarkozy also announced the establishment of a five-year plan to create water reservoirs and reduced volumes of water used by agriculture. "We must learn how to use the water," he concluded.
(With AFP)
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The World Health Organization has classified the mobile phones in the category of products whose use is "possibly carcinogenic". If their harmfulness is not formally demonstrated, scholars have already shown that heavy users appeared to have a greater risk of developing cancers in the head (brain, parotid gland, inner ear). It is therefore necessary to minimize, at least as a precaution, exposure. Lefigaro.fr present you some tracks.
Use the speakerphone or handsfree
The amount of air absorbed by the body decreases rapidly when leaving the phone (decrease proportional to the square of the distance separating the receiver from the transmitter). The use of loudspeaker used to limit its exposure. Similarly, hands free kits are very effective even if a very small waves propagate along the wire.
Bluetooth kits work them on the same frequency range as laptops (or Wi-Fi). But they emit more than 200 times less safe. From the moment the end user's team for that call, they are commendable. Otherwise, they can instead make things worse.
Limit conversations moving
The phones do not emit systematically with the same power. When you start a conversation when the phone connects with the relay antenna, it is more important example.
When you are moving (subway, car, train), your phone also emits more strongly to search for nearby antennas. And when you pick wrong, your phone tries to compensate by sending more powerful waves.In both cases, it is better to avoid spending long shots son.
Call from a fixed maximum
The best way to avoid exposure to wave the phone is still … not to use it. Behind this lies a profound truism commercial development: since December 2010, the major ISPs offer for very reasonable money, unlimited plans to laptops. We can call his friends without breaking the bank since its fixed.
Note that cordless phones and son (also known as DECT) operate on the same wavelength range but emit about ten times times less power.
Prioritize mails and SMS
Speak no more: write. In this way, you keep your laptop away from your ear and you limit the amount of waves it emits. The introduction of SMS packages and mails Unlimited makes this alternative economically viable.As for phones, they are more likely to have full keyboards that facilitate the writing of messages. Some users have already integrated this new way of communicating.
Do not keep your laptop close to you
Your phone emits at very short intervals to keep in touch with the network (or 3G telephony). Better to leave your laptop on your desktop in your pocket, in your living room on your bedside table. Most phones now have a function "airplane" that lets you disconnect your terminal from the network and benefit from other applications (alarm clock, games, etc.).
Buy a phone with a small SAR?
Cell phones all have a SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) which gives the amount of absorbed wave by human tissues for a maximum emission.Limited to 2 W / kg in Europe (1.6 W / kg in the U.S.), it is measured by the manufacturer itself has a legal obligation to mention it in the manual. Some websites will enumerate the values to allow comparisons. Critics point out that a DAS phone can be clamped to get a hint when he issues an average of more waves than cameras with a high SAR.
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Traditionally, the post of IMF Managing Director is awarded every five years to a European. Except that this time, the so-called "emerging", such as China or Brazil, hoping to appear in the landscape of global governance.
If emerging markets do not seem to agree on the way to propose a single candidate set, Europe, she intends to show its unity to maintain this position against the Americans, who they feel are the president of the World Bank. Especially since the situation of public finances in European countries, including South shudder markets for over a year. The Greeks, but also the Irish and Portuguese need a Fund that helps them, as was the case with Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Overview of possible candidates for the general direction of the International Monetary Fund, replacing Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
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Once is not custom, the International Monetary Fund is very optimistic about the growth of the Old Continent in 2011 and 2012, despite the debt crisis in the peripheral countries of the euro area.
Ignoring the slowdown in industrial production and inflation soaring, the Fund still expects 2.4% growth for the EU this year and 1.6% for the euro area in 2011, before 1.8% in 2012 . The IMF stressed the "strong private demand in France, Germany, Benelux, in the North, and" excellent performance "of the Germanic and Nordic exports.
The IMF is also very complimentary towards recovery "very robust" in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, fearing even a risk of "overheating" in the East."Overall, Europe – both western and eastern – is doing well and our projections for the coming months are very very positive," said Antonio Borges, Director IMF Europe, which presented its report yesterday Frankfurt, the headquarters of the European Central Bank.
In unison with European leaders, the IMF rules out the option of a debt restructuring Greek. "Greece can support the weight of its debt," says Antonio Borges, contradicting the decision of a majority of bank economists surveyed by Reuters yesterday.
First creditor of Greece alongside the EU, the IMF is not neutral on the financial situation of the country. His view is nevertheless instructive, especially if the Fund participates in a second rescue, as he implies. "Their debts are substantial (350 billion euros in 2011, Ed) but also their assets," says Antonio Borges.
Housing wealth and earthly
The Fund estimates that 280 billion euros assets, including property held by the Greek State. These assets, which could serve as collateral for new international loans, including sites built for the Olympics – Olympic stadiums, marinas, racetracks – land, islands and beaches.
The Greek state remains the largest landowner in the country. Untouchables, the property of the Orthodox Church – not separate from the state – are alone worth over 700 billion euros. "The Greek government has an extraordinary portfolio of assets, far more important than many other European countries," he continues, suggesting the government to privatize Papandreou beyond the 50 billion raised."This is a difficult process, there is resistance and political union," says the IMF representative, but Greece must persevere on this path to increase its "credibility".
The IMF figure recession in Greece – 3% in 2011. "One year after the austerity plan, it is always the hardest moment: the country suffers all the costs of adjustment even without seeing the benefits," says Antonio Borges, who remains optimistic for the relief of Greece long term.
Only downside: the European banks to recapitalize called emergency response to a possible financial impact on State debts.
The Cac 40 will test its ability to safeguard the 4000 points on Tuesday. Having dropped 1.25% Monday because of the deteriorating financial situation of Greece, the Paris stock market should open up slightly. But this context of uncertainties could cause investors to be very cautious on Tuesday.
These follow closely the issue in six months in Greece amounting to 1.25 billion euros.
On the macroeconomic front, some indicators are on the program: industrial production in March in France (8.45) and import prices in April in the U.S. (1430).
Greece in big trouble, gasoline at record levels
Bank stocks could again battered on Tuesday after losing more than 2% Monday. The rating agency Standard and Poor's downgraded two notches sovereign rating of Greece.
Oil companies will still follow while gasoline prices breaking new records almost 1.55 euros on average.
BNP Paribas is expected to formalize Wednesday Pébereau departure from the presidency of the French bank at the end of the year or early 2012, and appoint in his place the current chief executive Baudoin Prot, the Financial Times.The latter should be replaced by Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, deputy CEO of the group.
JCDecaux has significantly exceeded its target on the first three months of 2011 by signing a growth of 7.8% of its turnover but it is more cautious for the current quarter assuming an increase of about 4%.
Safran and Thales should arrive this summer with a tentative agreement on an exchange of assets in the defense wanted by the government, as the chief representative of arming Laurent Collet-Billon, in an interview Tuesday at Les Echos.
Sales and general meetings in the program
The IT services company Atos Origin said Tuesday sales down 1.3% in the first quarter 2011 to 1.22 billion euros.For the first half, the group seeks an operating margin up 50 basis points, compared to 6% for the first half of 2010.
The investment company Eurazeo in the first quarter revenues stable at 866.8 million euros, but up 5.9% in not taking into account the base effect associated with adverse chain of budget hotels B & B Hotels, sold in 2010.
The turnover in the first quarter of Medica and Noble Age will be known before the opening of trading. And those of Maurel et Prom, Nexity, Ruby, Alten, Assystem, Devoteam and Eutelsat (third quarter), after market close.
Note that the general meetings of ArcelorMittal, Lagardere and Havas will be held Tuesday.
LE FIGARO – What are the economic consequences for Japan?
Jean-Pierre Petit – Contrary to what we believed in the early hours of the earthquake, the impact is probably greater than that of Kobe in 1995, which cost 10,000 billion yen, or 2.5% of GDP. The affected area this time, north-east, weighs 8% of GDP against 4% for Japanese Kobe, and it includes many production units and automotive electronics. But the most serious is the risk that nuclear has a direct impact on energy resources, since the nuclear provides 25% of national electricity consumption.This is the novel aspect of this tragedy is still not able consequences even if they tend to be exaggerated by the markets.
Could there be a rapid rebound in the economy?
It's terrible to say but disasters still have a stimulating effect in the short / medium term impact on the economy when the state starts rebuilding. Japan's GDP rose by 5% annualized rate during the three quarters that followed the disaster in Kobe. Provided that the nuclear situation eventually stabilized, it will be the same this time all the opposition has indicated it would follow the government's economic stimulus projects.In absolute terms, Japan has a debt problem, which represents 200% of its GDP, but this does not prevent him from borrowing in good condition because 95% of this debt is held by the Japanese.
What are the consequences for the global economy?
A Japanese recession would not have much impact on the global economy. At its peak in the early 1990s, Japan accounted for 18% of global GDP in current dollars. Today, it represents only 9%. Japan – with U.S. – the least open of the major developed countries, it acts early in the production chain and there is a net exporter. A slowdown in its economy weighs little on final demand and global activity.Viewed differently, global growth amounted to 3.6% since 2000 and Japan is almost no contribution!
The succession of disasters threat does not resume?
The paradox is that the number of natural disasters is rising trend since the early 1950s, as they have been multiplied by 20 in fifty years, before breaking a bit since the early 2000s. At the same time, the average unit cost of natural disasters has remained stable, amounting to $ 240 million on average between 1950 and 2010. For the total cost of natural disasters (including the growing number), it has increased, but at a pace close to that of U.S. GDP (6% per year).In other words, the cost of disasters relative to GDP is stable world since 1900: the events are more frequent but the risks better managed and the impact remains low overall.
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Since 2007, the state is restructuring in all directions, under the spur of the general revision of public policies (RGPP). This is the recasting of the judicial system, which increased the number of jurisdictions between 1206 and 819, the establishment of bases Defense or the merger of Taxation and the Treasury, which will develop 750 wickets tax unique to individuals in late 2011. Wednesday, Baroin, the budget minister, will present a new Cabinet status report of this RGPP. The balance is positive. According to documents Bercy Le Figaro that was procured, 86% of the measures argue correctly. Only 4% are significantly behind.Among them, simplifying applications for rights for disabled or rationalization of the location property of the Department of Justice, which the wolves have triggered the ire of MPs.
Real savings on payroll
Above all, the Budget Ministry estimated 7 billion savings through RGPP from 2009 to 2011. To him, only the non-replacement of staff on two retiring has generated gross savings of 2.7 billion thanks to 100,000 job cuts from 2009 to 2011. Of these 2.7 billion, 1.4 billion were returned to staff as categorical measures. The return rate of 50% has been met by the Budget Ministry. The Court of Auditors is not of that opinion: for it, the annual savings do not exceed 100 million, due to the slippage of compensation granted to employees.Response Bercy: Court wrongly took into account the categorical measures taken before 2007 unsecured personal loans. The controversy will bounce!
Baroin also announce on Wednesday a series of new measures. Their philosophy: audit and management improvement. A review of resources allocated to the external action of the State is done, the policies of outsourcing and transfer those duties to the GSEs will be assessed. Audits of these bodies will continue, including that of the Paris Opera. Furthermore, internal audit will be strengthened in the ministries. Investments in real estate and IT will be a systematic expertise-cons.Finally, some expenditures will be scrutinized: the Ministry of Ecology will ensure that the cost of the tax credit for sustainable development (heat pump, insulation for the home) from slipping further.
The RGPP also aims to improve service to the French, by developing online services, reducing processing times (from 12.6 days in 2009 to 5 days for passports now). Baroin will present the second edition of barometer of the quality of public services. With an innovation: the degree of user satisfaction. Thus, while 77% of patients are cared for in less than four hours emergencies – rates stable against the barometer of June – only 49% of users are satisfied with their lap times to emergencies. It will take time for the French to realize improvements.
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