International & World Report

Former boss of Microsoft, changed to humanitarian, takes his pilgrim's staff for the cause of the poor among European leaders, a few months before the G8 and G20 chaired by France. Pitches yesterday in Paris, where he met President Sarkozy, Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alain Juppe, Bill Gates connects today by the European Parliament in Strasbourg, before reach Berlin. "There is a real risk in the context of crisis in the euro area, and shrinking budgets as the United States to relegate development assistance in the background," says the philanthropist, who placed more than a third of his fortune in his foundation, with 34 billion dollars.

In his meeting with Nicolas Sarkozy, Bill Gates has mainly supported the commitments made by States in favor of poor countries.The stated objective of the European Union is to spend, by 2015, 0.7% of GDP to official development assistance (ODA). The French will still have to prove, "said Bill Gates in substance. Although second in volume behind the United States, ODA accounted in 2009 only 0.46% of GDP and the president announced a freeze on 2011, 2012 and 2013. "If you remove this amount of debt relief and some other things that do not really help, it is even lower," he said.

British example

In particular, France makes no distinction between soft loans and grants. The American billionaire has, however, hailed the example of Britain, became a "reference", which despite its drastic cuts more money for development and by 2013 should reach 0.7%.

Bill Gates has agreed, at the request of Nicolas Sarkozy, the floor on innovative financing, particularly to study the proposal, championed by France, the tax on financial transactions. While recognizing that without the support of the United States would be difficult. It must report its findings in the context of the G20 summit next November in Cannes.

If he was in Paris yesterday, was also to present a communication campaign designed to combat misconceptions about development aid, designed in partnership with the NGO One, Bono, lead singer of U2. The campaign is called "Living Proof" (living proof). Transforming Lives. Together ". The message is clear: to prove, figures and examples to support the effectiveness of aid. Resolutely optimistic, Bill Gates sweeping criticisms of the hand. "Just look at the results," he insists.It's phenomenal. "The examples in the health and agriculture, the two priorities of its foundation, do not miss. "Just as I was talking about the magic of software, I now speak of the magic of vaccines." Magic which has, since 1988, reduce by 99% cases of polio. Malaria cases have dropped by 50% in 38 countries between 2000 and 2008. Deaths from measles in Africa have fallen by 92% between 2000 and 2008. Between 1990 and 2005 the number of people living in extreme poverty fell by 400 million …

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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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"The extraordinary rise of Brazil drew the attention of the world." U.S. President Barack Obama has sought to flatter the largest economy in South America on Saturday in Brasilia. At a time when the United States are struggling with recovery still low growth rates Brazilian allure. According to the International Monetary Fund, the economy grew by 7.5% in 2010 and is expected to grow at a rate of 4.1% in 2011.

Enough to create opportunities for U.S. companies. "We are increasing trade and investment to create jobs in both countries. Brazil is already one of our largest trading partners, but we can do much more, "Obama said before an audience of businessmen in Brasilia.The United States is already Brazil's largest trading partner and accounts for 14% of its exports and nearly 15% of its imports, according to figures Ubifrance.

Offshore oil

New opportunities open to American contractors, said Barack Obama. And to quote the infrastructure that Brazil will achieve by the 2014 World Cup and Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, which U.S. companies are hoping for a share of contracts. Not mentioned by the president, the United States also seeking to sell fighter jets F-18 in Brasilia and compete with the French aircraft for a tender for 36 fighter aircraft.

Washington finally look forward to the Brazilian oil reserves."According to some estimates, the oil that you recently discovered off the coast of Brazil could be double the reserves we have in the United States," said Barack Obama. "We want to help you in the technological development of these reserves and safely, and when you're ready to start selling, we want to be among your best customers." These resources all the more interested they are from the U.S. a stable country, "said Obama, at a time when the faltering Middle East because of popular revolts.

Brasilia critical

The increased trade between the two giants of America depends heavily on the goodwill of Washington, however, wished to recall the president of Brazil. Dilma Rousseff has been outspoken against the trade and monetary policy of the United States, reports the Wall Street Journal.She regretted the restrictions imposed by the United States on imports of certain products such as beef, ethanol, or airplanes. Above all, the president reiterated his criticism of the strategy of strong emission of dollars ("quantitative easing") conducted by the U.S. central bank. Brazil has complained for months that its exports were hindered by a real pushed up by a dollar too low.

To achieve their ends, the United States must be treated on an equal footing on economic issues, with China, Brazil and India, recognized Barack Obama. On the diplomatic front, he has not supported the request of his counterpart Dilma Rousseff for his country to obtain a permanent seat on the council. Without closing the door completely.

World number one call center, the French group Teleperformance, wants to continue its growth, having achieved a turnover of 2.058 billion euros last year. According to Daniel Julien, CEO of Teleperformance Group in 2010 has strengthened its leadership over its global competitors such as American Convergys and Sitel. Our profitability is among the best. "

After a good second half, the Group generated organic growth of 1.1% in 2010. "The company will continue to grow. Our internal growth, excluding acquisitions, is expected to be between 2.5% and 5% this year, driven particularly by the U.S. and Brazil.So we will continue to grow our global workforce who went last year to 100,000 to 120,000 people for the group operates in around fifty countries, "added the confident president.

"Our big problem is France"

However, to increase its profitability in 2011, Teleperformance has to improve its results in Europe, especially France. "At 119 million euros in 2010 against 130 million the previous year, the decline in operating profit of the group was mainly due to the provision of 45 million taken for the conservation plan for employment in France, which takes into There are two main charges: the job cuts and real estate costs for the closure of eight contact centers, "said Olivier Rigaudy, CFO of Teleperformance.

Having benefited from the boom of customer relationships in telecommunications services, particularly the fixed Internet and mobile, Teleperformance has badly hit the market downturn personal loans for bad credit. In addition, medium-sized customers were lost. "Our big problem is France where the result is a deficit of 30 million euros for 2010," said the president. Because of the band's history in France, formed by merger of several companies, Teleperformance has had up to 22 contact centers. "This number was too high. It will have 14 centers by the end of the first half, "he adds.

Four unions representing a majority of employees have approved a plan to safeguard employment which will result in the reduction of 602 positions in the first half. "Our people in France will be at 5,000 employees this summer.Because of these redundancies, in addition to the 589 departures made in a voluntary plan initiated in 2009, we should reconnect with the balance operating in France in the last quarter of 2011, "said Daniel Julien.

In addition, the group seems unaffected by political unrest in the southern Mediterranean. "In North Africa, our operations have returned to normal. In Tunisia, where we have 4,700 employees, our centers have closed three days at the peak of the revolution Tunisia. In Egypt, the commitment of 1,400 employees and management has been exemplary, so we have not closed our site, unlike our competitors. Moreover, in Morocco, where we have 300 employees, we plan to significantly increase our numbers there this year, "said Daniel Julien.

The serial number of recalls Toyota has not been completed. The Japanese giant, on Thursday demanded the return of the factory more than two million cars in the United States and Canada. This episode, however, should close a long black series for the builder who was forced to recall nearly 10 million cars since 2009.

And floor mats are once again causing the problem. They are indeed capable of blocking the gas pedal. Return factory aims to prevent the floor mat may be misplaced, "which can interfere with the operation of the accelerator pedal," said the builder. "If this happens, the accelerator pedal can be temporarily trapped in a partially depressed position, instead of returning to normal."The official inquiry by the U.S. National Highway Safety has recently confirmed that the problems of unintended acceleration of the Japanese manufacturer of cars, causing massive recalls from the end of 2009 were due to mechanical problems, not systems electronics.

Toyota and Lexus models concerned 4×4

Several models are now affected by this problem. 4×4 vehicles, model 2004 to 2007, Toyota lists 789,000 U.S. and 30,400 in Canada.The owners of the vehicles Toyota and Lexus are also expected to return to their dealership, they are nearly 1 installment payday loans.38 million U.S. and 116,000 in Canada.

The administrator of the traffic safety agency (NHTSA) U.S. Department of Transportation, David Strickland, said in a statement Thursday that the new reminder to the investigation led by its services. "NHTSA has reviewed over 400,000 pages of documents to determine if the Toyota scope of its recall was sufficient pedal stuck.As a result of this examination by the Administration, NHTSA has asked Toyota to recall these additional vehicles, and now that (the manufacturer) has done, our investigation is closed, "said David Strickland.

But the return to normal could take some time for the builder who already pay a fine of $ 50 million to U.S. authorities. Besides these many recalls have tarnished the image of the world's leading automotive and affected its sales. In the U.S. market, Toyota has lost its number two position in favor of Ford, behind the number one General Motors.

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Nicolas Sarkozy announced Thursday that the government would generate an additional EUR 500 million in the budget for the job to fight against the long-term unemployment and promote early learning. "We will mobilize all our forces" for the job, said the head of state. "Growth has returned, the signs are encouraging, it'll work." Guest on the program "French Song" on TF1, the president said the new investment would be offset by savings in other departmental budgets.

Nicolas Sarkozy, who announced a year ago, during the same fiscal response to the French on TF1, "unemployment would fall in the months to come," was in a difficult position this Thursday evening when the situation is far from s be improved on the unemployment front in France.Although 2010 has been less dramatic than the 2009 balance sheet remains very negative.

Employment "at the heart of the priorities" of government

The hexagon returns to levels not seen since more than ten years: 31 December, there were between 2.72 and 4.05 million unemployed by their category. Be between 80,100 and 202,500 job seekers from a year earlier, however, increases 2-5 times lower than in registred in 2009.

The U.S. stock market should open slightly lower on Friday. Shortly after 13:00 Paris time, the Dow Jones was expected around breakeven, down from 0.06% to tiny 11,424 points. Shortly before the opening, the index futures Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 fell back from 0.09% to 1237.4 points and 0.15% to 2216 points.

Reduced macroeconomic agenda

Wall Street took a breather after closing Thursday at its highest level in two years through a series of statistics smiling bode well in this season. After mixed accounts for FedEx, the encouraging figures of employment, but more importantly, an index of manufacturing activity from the Philadelphia Fed up sharply, the Dow Jones closed up 0.36% at 11,499 points .Investors, however moderate their passions, while concerns over the European countries of their debts patients remained alive. Leaders of euro zone met indeed. After Greece and Ireland, whose rating has been downgraded from 5 notches by Moody's on Thursday, Spain and Portugal remain threatened.Moody's also warned it might lower the rating again in Greece.

On the front of the macroeconomic news, the agenda will be eased on Friday the United States, only the index of leading indicators for November is on the menu at 16.00 (expected increase of +1.1% cons 0.5% previously).

Blackstone, Oracle, RIM and Toreador to a

On the corporate side, the U.S. investment fund Blackstone Group (-2.826% Thursday closing) has reached an agreement to restructure around seven billion dollars of debt related to the purchase in 2007 of real estate group Equity Office Properties Trust said Friday Wall Street Journal.This agreement provides for a rescheduling of the debt until 2014, instead of 2012 previously, the newspaper said, citing sources close to the negotiations.

The software publisher professionnelsOracle (-0.722% Thursday) unveiled the results above expectations. In the second quarter, which ended in late November, the group net profit up 28% to $ 1.87 billion, or 37 cents per share. Excluding items, earnings per share were 51 cents, or 5 cents better than consensus Thomson Reuters. Turnover rose 47% to $ 8.6 billion through consolidation of Sun Microsystems. Wall Street was 8.34 billion dollars.

The Canadian Research In Motion (0.101% Thursday) Thursday reported a quarterly profit above expectations thanks to Torch model Blackberry, competitor to Apple's iPhone.RIM reported net earnings up 45% for its third quarter to 911.1 million dollars. The turnover amounted to 5.49 billion. RIM said to have delivered 14.2 million BlackBerry for the quarter and have garnered 5.1 million net new subscribers. In after-hours trading in the U.S., the value gained 3.4% to 61.25 dollars after finishing up 0.1% to 59.24 dollars on the Nasdaq.

The Japanese group Fujitsu computer equipment has also announced it would develop with Boeing (+0.24%) an electronic labeling system to reduce aircraft maintenance costs of fleets.The two companies plan to start their process in the first quarter of 2012, for aircraft manufactured by Boeing but also by other aircraft manufacturers, said Friday the Japanese firm in a statement.

A note on Friday, finally arriving in Paris deToreador Resources, (+0.39% Friday on Wall Street), a group of American exploration and production of oil and gas traded on the Nasdaq. It was up slightly this morning for his first day of listing on the Paris Bourse. At 11:04 Paris time, won the title and 1.04% to 11.69 euros.

Hunting tax loopholes while declaring his intention to encourage innovation is a difficult exercise. Measures Bill 2011 Finance defended by MPs and the government caused the anger of several professional associations.

France Biotech, CroissancePlus the Richelieu Committee, Entrepreneurship, MEDEF, the union's national game, the French association of software publishers, Leem, the association of pharmaceutical companies and the cluster Cap Digital denounce threats against the 2200 start-ups and SMEs with the status of "young innovative company."

This status allows an SME under the age of eight years of being exempt payroll for eight years on the salaries of its employees who participate in research projects.

"I am surprised and shocked by the planned reform.The government renders meaningless the status of the young innovative company when it was created only six years ago and is effective. There have been no changes as a start-up innovation in a market such as biotechnology and new energy needs 8 to 12 years to launch its products on the market, "said Philippe Pouletty, honorary president of France Biotech. The reform of regulations and measures passed by MPs that reduce the research tax credit "will increase to January 1 of 30-40% the cost of payroll researchers from innovative start-ups. If such measures were applied to restaurants or cafes at France Telecom, it would be a revolution, "says Philippe Pouletty.

In Bordeaux, the founders of the start-up specializing in Internet Libcast employs 8 people, looking for a parade. "This decision requires us to serious adjustments.We need to revise our business plan and strategy but not thoroughly, "says Sandrine Mayoux, one of three partners. The young company that seeks 300,000 euros in turnover this year, could go live in London. "The British Embassy in Paris contacted us. The English want to attract small innovative companies like ours, "says Sandrine Mayoux.

In the Paris area, the company Theraclion hosted at Cochin Hospital is working on the scalpel of the future. "Our company is the world's first in its field. We are addressing a public health problem. Our product will help to treat include osteoporosis, a disease that costs 12 to 15 billion euros per year in Europe, which affects 75 million people worldwide, "says Dr. Nujurally Ishmael, Director General Theraclion.The start-up company that employs 10 people including 9 engineers and doctors more graduates tray 5 will be delayed in its projects. "It is incomprehensible to change the rules of the game I am about to commence public offering. Convince private investors will take more time because the payroll will increase, "says Dr. Ishmael Nujurally. I regret that the development of innovative companies is hampered. It is an incentive to go elsewhere if the search becomes too expensive in France. "

Aldebaran Robotics that designs personal robots and employs 100 employees, half of researchers, engineers and university graduate, is studying how to adapt too. "The measures that affect young innovative companies and research tax credit, will have an impact on our cash 500,000 euros from January 1.As the company did not have those 500,000 euros in cash, we must either lower our research efforts is our research relocate to Taiwan where it is cheaper, "says Fabien Bardinet, Deputy Director General of Aldebaran Robotics.

This shift triggers reactions which are stronger than large firms escape the cuts. "Christine Lagarde has taken this week in the Senate defending the research tax credit for large groups. I also hope to hear him say that the economy 54 million provided by the reform of the status of the young innovative company is not justified to 2 billion euros invested annually in research by SMEs, "concludes Philippe Pouletty.

With growth of 6.9% on a comparable basis, Danone has done slightly better than hoped for consensus for the third quarter. In a statement, Franck Riboud, CEO of the group explains: "Our third quarter results confirm our strong performance in the beginning of the year and the strength of our business model.

Other areas of the group's activities "in line with targets." The majority of organic growth than expected. Only medical nutrition is a little below the consensus at 8.4% against 10% expected.

The Water Division explodes.

The group's activity is driven by the performance of the Water Division, with sales up 8.7% in value and 7.6% by volume, even as analysts were hoping for an increase in value between 2 and 4 % max.During the conference presentation this morning, Pierre-Andre Terisse, CFO, said that "particularly strong growth, which benefited from favorable weather, particularly in Japan and to a lesser extent, Europe.

For the full year, the manufacturer expects sales growth of at least 6%, a stable margin and free cash flow from operations of at least 10%.

Emerging markets, growth drivers

In its statement, the giant agribusiness "anticipates that the financial crisis, economic and social will continue to weigh on consumer trends in Europe, while emerging countries should continue to thrive in large," cash advance america the group said.

Franck Riboud, CEO of Danone, said the quarter's performance bolsters the company's decision to "continue to invest in (its) priority emerging markets, driving growth today and tomorrow."

The company has benefited from the presentation of its quarterly revenue to confirm the creation of a joint venture between its fresh dairy products division and the Russian group Unimilk. "The new company Danone-Unimilk will become the leading dairy in the former Soviet countries, especially Russia." The statement said the group. If the merger will allow many synergies, it will in the short term, increase the group's debt of 1.3 billion euros.

Finally, Danone announced it will conduct a share buyback program for approximately $ 500 million, cash that come primarily from the sale of its holdings in Chinese and Russian Huiyuan Wimm Bill Dann.

The movement of the road is expected to go up a notch next week. Sector unions call for employees to vote as of Monday morning on further actions, including possible strikes.

This weekend, the CFDT and CGT trucking organize specific actions, such as temporary blockades of oil depots, operations "snail" and roadblocks and platforms for the retail supply.

"We expected the government to take the pulse of discontent in the country, he did not follow the path of reason. We have the ability to transport the extra mile to help employees.We will return to the movement to curb the government, "exliqué the secretary general of the CFDT Road, Maxime Dumont.

"We will increase inter-union from Monday to decide on actions," he said, adding that "next week will be decisive." "We must expand the actions and participate in demonstrations Tuesday", also called Saturday the CGT federation Transport.

Transportation funds targeted

In the transport sector funds, strikes have already been decided locally low fee cash advance."Agencies like Chambery (Brinks, Loomis, Banque de France) will be on strike starting Monday, the agencies will follow behind as Valencia and we are waiting for big agencies such as Paris, Toulouse, Marseille," says Stéphane Debosque of CGT Loomis.

The Transport Union Solidarity aims to be as radical, "we carry the fuel, we supply superstores, we feed the company's raw material. Coupons touch, lock in business inventories, "she said Friday.

No use of trucks

The UR, employers' organization representing the SOHO and small road transport, insisted it would not accept the road, who are called to action Saturday and Sunday as part of the mobilization against pensions, why use HGVs.

"The actions should be undertaken on foot or by car," said Maxime Dumont well, CFDT Transportation majority in the industry.

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