International & World Report

What is the real plan of assistance to Portugal? Since Friday, the question is on everyone's lips in the country. Doubts have been launched by the third television station in the country, Sic, who spoke of the existence of two different versions of the plan signed by the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the Socialist government resigning.

Thus, a first version of the document, signed May 3 by the Socialist government after talks with the troika (EU, IMF, ECB), has been submitted for approval to the two main opposition parties, the PSD (center right) and CDS (right). But it is another version of the text, including changes in schedule, which was eventually signed officially by the government on May 17 in Brussels at a meeting of EU finance ministers.

A surprise for the opposition

This revelation has caused controversy in the country, forcing the Ministry of Finance to explain. In a memo to reporters, he confirmed the existence of "ad hoc adjustments" between "the draft memorandum of agreement" developed in Lisbon and "the final version signed by the Ministry of Finance, the Governor of the Bank Portugal and the European Commission on May 17 low fee payday advance.

Similarly, the outgoing Prime Minister Jose Socrates said the parties had signed "two documents, one with the European Commission, the other with the IMF, and the final text did the" make compatible . But for its part, the president of PSD, Pedro Passos Coelho says "not having been informed of these differences," which he said "are not just small adjustments."

For the socialist Jose Socrates, this mess falls at the worst time. The Prime Minister, who resigned in March following the rejection by parliament of its austerity program, is indeed a candidate to succeed himself for early parliamentary elections on 5 June. This Saturday, surveys conducted for the newspaper Publico and Expresso weekly show that PSD collects between 33.9 and 35.8% of the vote, beating the Socialist Party, credited with 32.3 to 34.1% of voice. CDS (right) remains in third place with 11.3 to 13.4% of the vote.

(With Agencies)

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Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been formally charged by prosecutors in New York "sexual assault" and "attempted rape" and "sequestration" a few hours after being arrested at the airport in New York, said Sunday police. The Director of the IMF, which should be presented in the day a judge, plead "not guilty", said one of his lawyers told Reuters. He was still detained at the police station at night in Harlem and should remain there until his transfer to the floor.

DSK was arrested Saturday at 16:45 (local time) at the airport John F. Kennedy, just before his departure for Paris, assault sexuelle.Il was then placed in custody at a police station in Harlem.

According to preliminary information gathered by the New York Times, the incident allegedly took place at 13 pm in a room at the Sofitel Hotel in Manhattan.A cleaning woman, aged 32, had entered the following former minister she thought incoccupée clean. Dominique Strauss-Kahn would be out of the bathroom naked and tried to sexually assault her.

A departure "in haste"

The woman managed to free themselves would be instantly and prevent some members of hotel staff, who contacted 911. When police arrived on site, DSK had already left the scene, leaving his mobile phone and personal effects. According to Paul J. Browne, spokesman for the New York Police quoted by the Associated Press, the head of the IMF seems to have left the hotel "in haste".

Investigators civilian Ports Authority of New York and New Jersey are then left to meet him at JFK airport, where he had boarded an Air France flight that was about to take off."We put him in custody and delivered to the New York Police Department (NYPD) said on condition of anonymity an official of the Ports Authority of New York and New Jersey. The investigation should be conducted by the special unit "Special Victims Unit."

A scandal in 2008

Dominique Strauss-Kahn had to participate Monday at a meeting of finance ministers of the euro area in Brussels, then make a speech Wednesday at the 12th Economic Forum. The IMF has not yet officially reacted to the arrest of its chairman. The Consul General of France in New York was able to meet DSK, BFM TV reported.

In recent weeks, Dominique Strauss-Kahn is the target of criticism in France on his lifestyle, his wealth being scrutinized in the press. He had cons-attack Friday in announcing a lawsuit against the daily France Soir.Following the former minister in the Sofitel was given to 3000 dollars a night, said that under the New York Times.

The IMF director's career was seriously threatened in October 2008 after the revelation of an extramarital liaison with a Hungarian economist of the institution. But Dominique Strauss-Kahn had been cleared of all charges of abuse of power by the Board of the IMF, which had alleged a "serious misjudgment". His star on the French political scene has not faded in this case, DSK continuing to prance in the polls As we approach the presidential election of 2012.

Three raps with a hammer-shaped wooden bottle of Coke. Thus, Muhtar Kent, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, launched Friday night in Atlanta the weekend of festivities to mark 125 years. The first glass of Coca-Cola has been officially served in a pharmacy in the capital of Georgia, May 8, 1886. "My predecessors had used the hammer to the 50th, 75th and 100th birthdays," said the big boss at the company headquarters. No way to shake up tradition, although modern technologies give some freshness to the event.

A sound and light show ignited the building up to 122 meters. "This is the biggest thank-you cards that we send you," Muhtar Kent has launched its guests, the leaders of North American bottlers and oils from the city of Atlanta, the State and the University of Georgia, or even the local clergy.The famous bottle was projected in 3D on all four sides, in a show of twenty minutes presented as the greatest illumination of a building in the world.

Piracy Alert

The day before, the organizers had a cold sweat. "We realized that students from the University of Georgia Tech, located in front of the seat, trying to hack into the programming of the sound and light," says one officer. We were afraid they are trying to project a naked woman or a bottle of Pepsi. "Neither of these nightmares, the second being the scariest for Coca Cola, has occurred.

In Atlanta, apart in the sky, blue is not red shade at the weekend. Saturday afternoon, nearly 15,000 people attended in the heat to a four-hour concert, the group broadcasts live on the internet to "thank the entire planet." Nothing less.An outdoor show started by K'Naan and his "Wavin 'Flag", a hymn to the success of the last World Cup football, with the refrain "oh oh oh oh oh" has the merit of being included in the 206 countries where Coke is sold.

The host Ryan Seacrest, the American Nikos Aliagas, then invited on stage "the next American Idol" Muhtar Kent, before the governor of Georgia and the mayor of Atlanta did join in wishing happy birthday to the Coca-Cola … behalf of their constituents. Aediles quickly replaced by the former glory of American Idol Kelly Clarkson, the band One Night Only, the R & B singer Ne-Yo, Natasha Bedingfield or, standing ovation for his cover of "Purple Rain". A colorful tribute, no doubt, to the Prince of cola.

In the morning, a good-fair was reserved for employees of Coca-Cola and their families facing the World of Coke museum.Mostly dressed in red T-shirt, they chained face painting and tattooing, before engaging in an artistic activity: design their own bottle of Coke! But the United States, any successful self-celebration can not have a good feeling. Delegates have they bundled packages for families Georgian victims of tornadoes that ravaged the south last month. An operation conducted in partnership with the Red Cross. Red like Coca-Cola, of course …

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RenRen chose the upper range for its share price – $ 14 cons 9-11 dollars raised mid-April. The deal allows him to raise 743.4 million dollars, a value estimated at over $ 4 billion.

Created in 2005, RenRen claims 160 million users, including 31 million active monthly (cons over 600 million for Facebook). Its turnover amounted to 20.5 million in first quarter 2011, up 46% in one year, $ 2.6 million net loss.

Saffron meeting on Thursday its shareholders in general meeting (AG). On his menu, a change in governance that aims to replace the board of supervisory and management by a board of directors, tighter and more deeply renewed. He spends 18 to 15 members. He is feminized with the arrival of Odile Desforges, Renault's Executive Vice President in charge of engineering and quality as well as Elizabeth Lulin, CEO of consulting firm Paradigms. Caroline Gregoire Sainte Marie, CEO, Frans Bonhomme (BTP), should be appointed as censor.The council also welcomes the Franco-American Jean-Lou Chameau, president of the California Institute of Technology Caltech, and the Italian Giovanni Bisignani, president of the International Association of Airlines (IATA).

Unless dramatic turn of events, the new council should appoint, in the wake of AG, Jean-Paul Herterman, current CEO and candidate for a second term, the group's CEO. And Francis Mer, current chairman of the supervisory board, the vice-chair of the board of directors. The state, which owns 30% of Safran and four posts, decided to renew its confidence in Jean-Paul Herteman who in four years, managed the merger of the engine manufacturer Snecma and Sagem Electronics.Announced in 2004, this operation was met with skepticism and triggered a trench warfare between the leaders of both companies.

Accelerating China

Considered a "transitional pope" by many, this discreet Polytechnique, Safran joined in 1984, has pacified the new group while carrying out the divestiture of non-strategic. In particular, he managed the sale of mobile phones and the conversion of the plant Ferns Breton, that supply the Army (Feline equipment).

Meanwhile, he developed a third business involving the defense and security, alongside the aircraft engines and rockets (Ariane) and aeronautical equipment. In security, a priority activity, the group has grown through acquisitions, the latest is that of the U.S. L1.Jean-Paul Herteman has also accelerated the development of the group internationally, including China, India or Mexico, while maintaining a high level of investment in France. Another success was the extension of its partnership with General Electric engines for aircraft type Airbus 320 or Boeing B 737 until 2040.

The president has reactivated a hedging policy to protect against the effects of Yo-Yo the dollar against the euro, which had been interrupted by his predecessor in 2006. While Safran is protected until 2014, "the evolution of the dollar remains a concern," says Jean-Paul Herteman.

Financially healthy, Safran is well positioned to face a period of heavy investment in research and development, a position that was already 1 billion euros in 2010. "Saffron is being renewed heart of its engines for medium-range routes.We need to introduce new technologies in five to ten years. The big challenge is how to halve the fuel consumption of aircraft engines. This, by 2020-2025, "he says. Saffron placed on the aircraft electrical, because little by little electricity is required to operate major equipment – brakes, landing gear …

Having failed to seize the French Zodiac, which could bring her expertise in these new technologies, Safran must go into overdrive. Hence the launch of the plan Amp several hundred million euros.

Another project for the future, the Chinese market. Saffron is awarded the contract to supply the engine that will power the C-919, the future rival of A 320 and B 737 built by the Chinese Comac.The group wants to accelerate China's boom and the helicopter market in the discretion of the gradual opening of the Chinese sky, still controlled by the military. "It identifies 600 helicopters in China against 10,000 in the United States. Saffron is destined to become a structural partner of the Chinese industry in helicopters, "says he.

Chinese Lenovo did not hesitate. To compete with Apple on the market shelves, Lenovo has dubbed his "LePad. Almost the same pronunciation in English and virtually the same as the now famous letterpress iPad.

The market for slate or internet tablets, cleared by the firm at the apple, should represent between 55 and 60 million units worldwide in 2011 and encroach a little on the notebook market, say the research firms iSuppli and Gartner. Lenovo, China's first brand and PC World number four since he bought the PC division of IBM, had to enter the market shelves.

The LePad, who chose the Android operating system from Google, looks like the shelves of its competitors Archos, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba and Motorola.Other manufacturers are on the starting line, such as HP and the California Research In Motion (RIM).

Available this year in France

Lenovo has two advantages: a strong brand recognition in the Chinese market, where the group has a distribution network which irrigates the very end of campaigns, and the price of the product, less expensive than the iPad. The proposed LePad is 3499 yuan, or 377 euros, against 489 euros for an iPad functions comparable in terms of memory (16 GB) and internet access (Wi-Fi).

In addition, Yang Yuanqing, CEO of the Chinese group, has already warned it would launch a second version of its LePad, "in September or October." The next shelf has been designed in parallel with the first product by another team. The upcoming slate will be fine, "said the CEO of Lenovo.But most observers believe that the Chinese group will continue to opt for software from Google, which should allow it to tighten its prices.

"About a dozen bars in the developing world use our operating system, recently told the Figaro Andrew Rubin, the head of Android at Google, which states that" the experts we attribute about 20% of the market shelves the last quarter of 2010. " That share could rise, like Google's breakthrough in smartphones, to the detriment of the iPhone.

The tablet should be given LePad outside China, including France, "in the course of 2011," says the group's subsidiary.

However, its availability, including in the Middle Kingdom, is in question.The earthquake in Japan, March 11, could affect the supply of components of the tablet, said an official to Lenovo was quoted Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal.

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Boeing monitor closely the developments in Japan. All programs include the U.S. aircraft manufacturer, in fact elements of "Made in Japan". The Japanese aerospace industry with Boeing which has forged a historic partnership in the aftermath of the Second World War, have specialized in items (Aerostructures) aircraft fuselage. Mitsubishi Heavy, Kawasaki Heavy and Fuji Heavy provide 15% of the elements of the B 767 and 20% of the B 777.

The program is the most exposed B 787 Dreamliner with which the Japanese partner of Boeing took the turn of the composites. It has 35% fuselage components produced in Japan. "We work with our partners in Japan. I think that their facilities are intact, "said Randy Tinseth, director in charge of sales for Boeing Commercial Aviation (BCA).Production sites are located in south-central and southern Japan (Nagoya, Kobe particular) to hundreds of kilometers of the northern regions hit by the earthquake and nuclear-Fukushima Daichi where there was a second explosion.

While the automotive industry is at a standstill, the Japanese aviation continues to work, according to the Staff of Boeing but remains cautious. "It's probably too early to say now. We talked to our suppliers. Their plants are in good condition, "said Jim Albaugh, president of Boeing Commercial Aviation (BCA) in an interview with CNBC low interest rate personal loans. "We have a few stocks, but not that much. I think if it lasts longer than several weeks, we will have problems, "he admitted.

For now, Boeing believes "have all the elements we need for the first delivery of the B 787," according to Randy Tinseth.The first aircraft to be delivered in Q3 2011 to … a Japanese company, All Nippon Airlines (ANA) is launching the company's new long-haul Boeing which has ordered 55 copies. For its part, Japan Airlines has ordered more than 30.

The links between the giant Chicago and Japan are not only commercial but industrial. This market is highly dominated by Boeing who owns nearly 98% of the total.

But beyond issues of industrial and commercial Boeing is very attentive to come to its 200 employees based in Japan in Tokyo, local headquarters and near the sites of production partners south of the country. The manufacturer has been in contact with each of them and their families. More broadly, Jim Mc Nerney, CEO of Boeing, has assured the Japanese people the solidarity of Boeing employees."We have longstanding relations with colleagues, customers and partners in Japan and we stand ready to assist our friends," he said in a statement released on the website of the manufacturer.

The sensational espionage case that shook Renault continued on Sunday to "deflate". One of the three security officials of the automotive group into custody-to-view this weekend, Dominique Gevrey, was indicted for "organized fraud" and imprisoned following the dismissal last January three group executives for espionage.

Two other officials cautioned to view this weekend, including the director of security and close to Carlos Ghosn, Remi Pagni, however, were released Sunday morning, without any charges being brought against them.

The two frameworks safety first taken into custody-to-view, and Marc Dominique Gevrey Tixador, both authors of the report which led to the dismissal of three employees, have so far refused to reveal the name of the informant the source of accusations of espionage.By the reckoning of Renault's lawyer Wednesday to Europe microphone 1, the automotive group has paid an amount "of around 250,000 euros" in this anonymous informant, through an intermediary agent of a private company intelligence, to collect data that led to three dismissals.

Renault claims a "manipulation"

Renault's lawyer, Jean Reinhart, said the group will speak on Monday, probably in the afternoon, "by taking a long and detailed speech" that must be followed statements of expected attorney Republic.

The group claims not to know either the name of that source, and have asked the two security officials, "who are only to know, to deliver his name and address to the investigators," said Renault's lawyer .This same source who gave Renault numbers of three bank accounts which was based on the automotive group to accuse the three executives have coined strategic information on the program of Renault's electric vehicles.

However, investigators of the Central Directorate of Internal Intelligence (DCRI) claimed last week they had found "no evidence of bank accounts" on behalf of these employees, nor "any evidence of espionage." As a defense, Renault now evokes the idea of ​​a "manipulation". In an interview with Le Figaro, the number two carmaker, Patrick Pelata, said that if this hypothesis was confirmed, "Renault will be attentive to repair any injustice."He also designated himself as a scapegoat, saying the group will draw all the consequences of this case until the highest level of business is to say to me ".

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Despite the best figures released by the employment center early this year, in the eyes of employees, the specter of unemployment is not moving away, says the latest "barometer of employee morale" and Logica conducted by Ipsos for "Les Echos . These are indeed four out of ten surveyed employees who think they know a period of unemployment in the coming years, six points higher than in 2005. Concern also pronounced among managers than among supervisors or employees (35%), and much stronger than the majority of respondents considered that they would be "difficult" to find work.

In fact, employees are a minority view that the economic crisis is behind them. For 70% of them, the activity of their business remains stagnant or in decline, despite economic recovery.The industry employees, who have particularly suffered from the crisis and whose numbers shrink since 2001, are the most pessimistic: 71% believe that the worst is yet to come.

Wage claims

Ironically, these fears do not deter employees to appear vindictive. Result of sacrifices made at the height of the crisis, they now expect wage counterparts. For even if the barometer shows an interest in their work remained intact (the respondents reported at 80%), lack of motivation is watching. One in two feels less motivated in the past six months creditreport. And as noted by the barometer ViaVoice done for Figaro earlier this week, the same proportion in response would see his pay rise. This is almost twice that at the end of 2009.

Positive: the employees surveyed are willing to invest more and take more risk to improve their wages. They are 75% said they could work more or take more responsibility to earn more. The proportion of employees potentially mobile progresses also very strongly, by 14 points compared to 2009.

Training and mobility in the front line

Based wage, companies remain, however timid to engage in frank increases. After a sluggish year 2010, employees should get just over 2011. Hewitt France plans and budgets overall increase of around 2.7% in 2011 from 2.6% in 2010 and 2.9% in 2009, far from 3.3% to 3.5% in applied average over the last thirty years.And further increases granted in Germany, where Volkswagen, for example, awarded 3.2% increase in salaries to its 100,000 employees.

In this context, training and outlook is a lever on which business can play. For fearful for their future careers, employees also are fond of measures to boost their employability. Yet on this point, "companies do not respond quickly enough," the authors consider the barometer.

François Fillon in his office at the Hotel Matignon, Thursday.