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Spain, Europe future of Las Vegas

In Spain, gambling is a tradition as evidenced by the annual success of El Gordo, the lottery with a jackpot of 2.3 billion euros last year, alleging December 22. On average, 80% of Spaniards are involved, for the delight of the public company Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, attached to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Last year, ticket sales it had reported 2.7 billion euros.

Smelling a good deal, American Sheldon Adelson has chosen Spain for its construction project to the largest European games of chance. His company, Las Vegas Sands, which operates the largest hotel and casino in Las Vegas, is currently in discussions with the cities of Madrid and Barcelona. "I want to do a mini-Las Vegas in Europe. I hope we can use the name of Europe Vegas', 'Euro-Vegas' or something like that, "he said.I want to build more than 20,000 rooms and millions of square feet of commercial space, exhibitions and congresses. "

Billions and jobs

Sure of the success of his project, Las Vegas Sands is ready to let go, budget level: this mega complex could receive a total investment of between 10 and 15 billion euros, according to Sheldon Adelson himself. "We are preparing that very actively. I'm assemble a team of professionals in architecture, design, property development etc.. In two weeks, I will meet three major groups of buildings, "he added.

To convince the Spanish authorities, the CEO of Las Vegas Sands has promised some huge economic benefits for this country through one of its most difficult economic crisis easy payday loans. Thus, nearly 180,000 jobs could be created."No private company has never invested much money in Spain," says Sheldon Adelson with pride.

Internationalizing gambling

If this project were to materialize, it clearly confirms the strategy of internationalization of Las Vegas Sands. The company has been trying for several years to leave the market saturated already Vegas where she reigns supreme with the Venetian and Palazzo complex became the largest hotel in the world with approximately 7050 rooms, casinos, restaurants and a shopping mall.

Las Vegas Sands already generates 70% of its turnover in Asia and opened last June at Singapore Marina Bay Sands, a hotel of 2,600 rooms with a casino and a museum. Again, the group has a hand in the portfolio: the construction cost him about $ 5.5 billion which should be recouped within 5 years.

At 77 years, the multibillion Sheldon Adelson, the richest man of Sin City, the means of its ambitions. While its competitors such as MGM, saw their incomes decline in the fourth quarter of 2010, his company Las Vegas Sands sees his jump of 57% to $ 2.02 billion. Over the full year 2010, the group posted a turnover of 6.85 billion, up from 50.2% to a net profit of 775 million. The performance of Las Vegas Sands are welcomed by the rating agencies including Moody's, which believes that "this positive trend will continue."

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Ports: the strikes have cost 800 million euros to companies

On the occasion of its big annual event, the Ufip, the French Union of Petroleum Industries on Friday announced the impact of strikes on the fall of 2010 alone oil industry: 230 million euros.

A figure that could grow. For the fourth straight weekend, the activity of French ports will be affected by social movements, the CGT still requiring validation of an agreement on the drudgery.

Besides this "handicap" represented by the unreliability of the port of Marseilles, and denounced by Jean-Louis Schilansky Ufip Chairman of the rising discontent especially from the bosses of companies weakened by the downturn port. Under the patronage of the Phoenician city, the losses at the end of November last, relating to strikes, would amount to 800 million euros.In the medium term, the continued movement threatens 41,000 jobs directly and indirectly specifies the organization, who attended Thursday at a meeting of major economic players in Marseille.

Now "A container for two to France through foreign ports," a late Jean-Luc Chauvin, president of the PSU 13, the Union for companies in the Bouches du Rhone. Companies are dying to Marseille where we are in a state of permanent strike. "

Threat to long-term activity Ports

"Companies are tired, we are undermining the economic fabric," adds the CEO of the Port of Marseille, Jean-Claude Terrier. Especially if short-term impact of strikes on the job can be cushioned by partial unemployment, it is not the same in the long term.

Plagued by recurring blockages, the poor image of the port of Marseilles is widening cash advance loans. What is not without consequences for the activity: traffic from all terminals of the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille (GPMM) grew twice as fast in 2009 as the Mediterranean ports, and three times less than those Northern Europe.

And the fall in traffic could continue. On the site of Fos sur Mer, terminals and cargo containers are still totally blocked this weekend. A new arrest brings to 29 the number of calls to cancel since the beginning of the month. Between 1980 and 2010, the port of Marseille has lost 12% market share, reaching 16% last year. He has yet to lose a place among the European countries (5th in 2010).

However, difficult before any return to normalcy, to quantify exactly how many jobs really threatened.Meanwhile, a cell of the Prefecture of the Bouches du Rhone will be created to select the companies affected by social movements, and conduct an evaluation in terms of jobs. About 2,500 companies will receive bank facilities, said the Prefect Hughes Parant.

Side Le Havre, or movement is also closely watched, the loss of port activity related to strikes brought to 40% in Les Echos said the president of the Maritime Union and port of Le Havre. About 80% of the 16,000 jobs that include the organization today are indirectly affected, "he said. In January more than 50 calls were canceled out of 170 were provided, again in favor of other ports, Belgian and Dutch.

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Renault investigators seeking evidence

Following the media intervention of Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault, the tension was far from settled. Monday in the offices of his lawyer, Christian Charriere-Bournazel, Bertrand Rochette, one of three executives fired for "industrial espionage", insisted he would not be the scapegoat in this affair. " The gaunt, emaciated but feisty, he told her "feeling of being trapped in a machine, a system in which there are very important interests."

In charge of the investigation, more than ever in the Central Directorate of Internal Intelligence (DCRI) is the responsibility of delivering the necessary clarification of this spy case. However, investigations begin with difficulty.According to our information, the cons-espionage, acting as part of a preliminary inquiry on January 14 by the Paris prosecutor, had still not on Monday obtained a copy of the private investigation involving three senior before Christmas and sent to the leaders of the group. The police are still only a mere reconstruction of verbal conclusions reached by this mysterious pharmacy.

Last Friday, Marc and Dominique Tixador Gevrey, two security officials the manufacturer, were heard as witnesses to verify certain aspects of the case. They had been entrusted to conduct discrete research after receiving an anonymous letter accusing the end of August, namely two frames.A source familiar with the matter said Monday Figaro they called a "foreign intermediary, based out of Europe" that was then "outsourced the job" for small hands to get a series of "information "in four months. Namely the discovery, for the modest sum of 50,000 euros, an alleged secret payments system of bribes bribes from big Chinese companies, through intermediaries in Shanghai, Hong Kong or the Isle of Malta, on accounts in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.

"About nuanced"

Under what conditions this "mechanical" rather sophisticated Was up? The hypothesis of a "Tricoche," that is to say, getting "tips" in dubious circumstances by public officials or employees unscrupulous rounding their monthly on behalf of pharmacies, do not appear rejected payday loans with no fax."The DCRI will take time and go to the end of this investigation," an official confided Monday, revealing that "everything that was done before the entrance ramp of cons-espionage has no legal value" . Clearly, only the police investigations will finally provide valid evidence and admissible in the proceedings.

For its part, the manufacturer maintains that, in this case, the information that led to the dismissal of three executives "were combined in a legal manner." Nuancing the words of Carlos Ghosn, who spoke on TF1 evidence of "multiple," a spokesman said the group had never claimed to "have evidence" but that "he had sent a number of elements to justice. " Relying on the findings thereof, the manufacturer does not implicitly have been a victim of manipulation.

For Pierre-Olivier Sur, the lawyer Michel Balthazar, statements by the CEO of Renault in the media on Sunday, show that his client "is de facto exonerated," as it was, by his position as director of " upstream projects and benefits "," keeper of secrets, or the complaint does not address these issues, "but the business model for electric cars.

According to sources familiar with the matter, defenders Michel Balthazard could seek the counsel for Renault he is with them in the complaint "for false report" filed by their client. This complaint was not, in fact, Renault, but the author of the anonymous letter that started it all.

SNCF: 80% of the French disappointed by the service

The result is final. According to a poll by Ifop for the Sunday newspaper Ouest France, eight in ten French (80%) believe that in recent months, the quality of services offered by the SNCF was "somewhat worse". Only 15% of respondents believe the contrary, that it was "somewhat improved". Three percent of respondents believe the situation has "not changed" in this area and 2% were undecided.

More telling, three out of four respondents (76%) say the times were "less respected" in recent months. They are only 18% say that they are "more respected". Three percent noted no change and 3% were undecided.

Malaise

The survey, conducted on 20 and January 21 with a sample of 968 people, seems to confirm the ras-le-bol general users of the station cash advance america.After the subscribers of the TGV, which just received a compensation package, it's time for users of regional express trains (TER) to show their displeasure by engaging in a strike submission of tickets from Monday.

Eager to appease the discontent of its customers, the station provides a plan for improving its twelve lines called "sick". Efforts should focus on the Paris lines, RER A and D in mind.

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"Ingenico is not a strategic company"

For the first time since the abortive attempt of redeeming Ingenico, in December, Philippe Lazare, the CEO of the French group, gives his analysis of this case unusual in French capitalism.

After the publication of a statement of Ingenico, Dec. 17, citing "a proposal for possible submission of a tender offer on its entire capital," the file is reassembled at the highest peak of the State. The government has highlighted the "strategic" nature of the business.Saffron, 30% controlled by the state holds a blocking minority in Ingenico, then decided not to contribute its shares in U.S. group Danaher, who seemed interested in acquiring Ingenico for 1.4 billion euros or 28 euros per share, roughly the current price of the company.

During the weekend of December 18, CEO of Safran had received a phone call from Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, asking not to participate in the operation. Then, on December 21, Ingenico said that "no discussion on the capital of the company n (was) in progress."

Competitors have changed hands

Recently, the industry minister recalled in an interview with Le Monde that he was "not opposed in principle to any equity investment by a foreign company pay day loans.I asked a number of questions on research and development, technology transfers and jobs. "In our interview (see below), Philippe Lazare pledged his side not to have had contact with government . The potential buyer has never commented on this aspect.

Ingenico's CEO wonders clearly on the strategic nature of the company he heads. Especially as other French competitors have changed hands in recent years without causing problems. Payment terminals from Thales were bought by American Hypercom, and more recently those of Gemalto VeriFone, a company also American. "I find that these assignments have not been a problem from a strategic standpoint," said Philippe Lazare.

True, but it is also conceivable that governments have sought to prevent the last major undertaking in this sector partners to turn the United States.

Philippe Lazare, "We are the world leader in our field." Photo credits: Richard VIALERON / LE FIGARO / RICHARD VIALERON / LE FIGARO

The state is still struggling to control their expenditure

This is one of the leitmotifs of government: to bring its public deficit to 3% of GDP in 2013 to contain its debt, France must first reduce spending. Because the other option – massive tax increase – would kill growth. And then the level itself of high public spending (it absorbs 56.6% of national wealth) suggests some leeway.

To achieve its objective, the government has set rules, particularly on government spending, a priori more "controllable". Each year, the total expenditure of the State should not grow faster than inflation, while expenses, excluding charges, debt and retirement of civil servants must remain constant in euros. One way to keep the budgets of ministries whatever surprises on the burden of debt.

On paper, the proposed 2011 budget meets the road map.The state spending rose only 1.3% to 1.5% inflation. Excluding fees and expenses of debt and pensions remained stable at 274.8 billion euros. But in detail, the picture is less rosy. Because the state has always so difficult to control certain budgets.

In May, Francois Fillon announced that the operating expenses (expenses associated with the policies carried out mostly in the office) and non-staff operating costs were reduced 10% by 2013 and 5% in 2011. Yet in its report on the Finance Bill, Philippe Marini, the UMP rapporteur of the Budget in the Senate, said that the operating expenses will decrease by 1% next year, to 58.9 billion. At Bercy, it contends that "the effort should not be calculated from the 2010 level but compared to the natural drift of expenditure.In 2011, they will be 5% lower than they would without the measures taken by the government. " In fact, the executive decided real savings: it reduces the number of contracts and helped cut out the exemptions from payroll taxes (including employment at home). But it also has a subterfuge, by reallocating some costs to other agencies. The State "share" and the financing of vocational training with social agencies for 330 million …

Social benefits and wages of civil servants

Especially, the government did nothing to stop the drift of social benefits. Bercy had planned to curb the rise in the allowance for disabled adults and to prevent the accumulation of individual housing allowance (PLA) with a half-share of family quotient.But, faced with protests, these projects were abandoned.

More surprisingly, the state firm grasp its operating costs. Including its payroll, as pointed Gilles Carrez, the UMP rapporteur of the Budget to the Assembly in its report on the Finance Bill. Despite the non-replacement of retiring in two, staff costs excluding pensions will increase from 700 million in 2011 to $ 82.7 billion. The reason: fewer retirements and skidding all bonuses paid to employees. "But by 2012 the payroll decline", says it does at Bercy.

Furthermore, savings are low on operating expenses in the strict sense, despite the streamlining of procurement, information technology and other charges as part of the general revision of public policies. Next year will be lower than 2% (barely 200 million).Admittedly, 2011 was marked by exceptional operating expenses of $ 400 million, principally for the French presidency of the G20. But the State did not offset by additional cuts. Even if there's progress in ministries and parastatals if (Météo France, museums, etc..) Are better controlled, the state is still far less strict than a business.

Wikileaks: hackers-cons attack

Operation "Retaliation" ("Payback," in English) is launched. Many financial sites in conflict with Wikileaks made these days the subject of computer attacks, which consist of sites targeted flood of requests to block their function. This is particularly the case of Mastercard, whose website is unavailable for several hours Wednesday.

Supports Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, claimed in a Twitter message responsibility technological problems Mastercard. "We are pleased to announce that http://www.mastercard.com/ is down and this is confirmed," wrote on the social network a group calling itself Anon0ps and arguing against censorship.

American society has recognized experience "heavy traffic" on its website, saying she tried to restore service Wednesday."The technical problems of the site did not affect consumers who use their credit cards for secure transactions," the company said, which was suspended Tuesday its relations with Wikileaks, blocking donations for the site .

"This is a gel, not a confiscation"

Other U.S. companies such as Visa, Amazon.com, Every DNS or PayPal have also cut ties with Wikileaks. PayPal, which has encountered problems on its website Monday, but said it had received no pressure from the United States urging him to block the account of Wikileaks. "This is a gel, not a forfeiture," says the spokesman for the company. The suspension could last "180 days maximum."

Swiss PostFinance banking department of the Swiss Post, has also closed a donation account in favor of Wikileaks and took protective measures to counter a wave of attacks.

Mark Stephens, chief advocate of Assange in London, denied that the founder of Wikileaks has issued instructions to launch attacks against other websites.

These attacks are part of a wave of support for Wikileaks after the arrest of its founder, Julian Assange, which was delivered Tuesday to the Metropolitan Police. Currently detained in Britain, he tried to resist extradition to Sweden. The justice of this country wants to hear after the charges of rape and sexual assault brought against him by two Swedes.The website and e-mails of counsel for these two women were targeted by a cyber attack and the site of parquet (aklagare.se) was rendered inaccessible by the same pirates grouped in u group called Anonymous. "

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The bar code, a new business tool

"Attention, gluten," "20% of your daily caloric intake" … In recent days, consumers can receive on their mobile phones with personalized information about the products they intend to buy. Using Proxi product, an application developed by GS1, the agency that administers the bar code at the global level. Available at Apple Store and intended to be extended to other platforms such as Android, Proxi product to capitalize on the barcode.

The principle is the same as at a checkout. Just scan the barcode with their mobile phones to receive on screen, not the price, but different information about the product. Subject to having supplied their personal profile, people with food intolerances and receive an alert indicating the possible presence of an allergen.Applications are already being tested for the visually impaired, with a voice reading the labels. Proxi product could also adapt to the drugs, with a booster doses, for example.

Branding controlled

"Proxi product allows brands to control information and image," says Marc J. Hughes, project manager at GS1 paydayloans Proxi product. The organization is supported by the secretariat in the Digital Economy. Proxi product relies on a database of 40,000 products. "GS1 is still working in collaboration with the brands. We want to encourage them to connect themselves, "says Marc J. Hughes.

For now, small businesses in the food were more reactive than large groups.GS1 bet on a quick start, however, driven by the need to respond to other offers, which are not controlled by brands.

So other services developed in the United States arrived in France. Barcoo, or Good Guide disseminate information on the calories in a food (possibly with a red light) or respect for the environment by the producer. Others offer discounts. Ultimately, everything is possible, including the posting of information by a competitor. The information is not always verifiable. For manufacturers, this can be disastrous for their image.

Transportation strongly perburbés

The boss Bernard Thibault of the CGT predicts a movement "more powerful" than before and that is "anything but a symbolic gesture." The Inter confirmed another day of action this Saturday, October 16. In several sectors, notably transport, energy, public service or refinery, the federations have called for strikes renewable.

Transportation

• SNCF

The seven federations of railway (CGT, UNSA, Southern Rail and Fgaac-CFDT, FOR, CFTC, CFE-CGC) have endorsed the principle of a renewed strike on Monday evening at 22:30.

All night trains in France and abroad, with the exception of the Paris-Rome, were canceled.

On average a TGV Paris-province runs of 3, 1-TGV Province Province of 5, almost 4 in 10 Transiliens rush hour, 4-B of 10, and 1 day on Reef 3.Téoz traffic is assured because of a train on average 3.

Outbound traffic was normal for the Eurostar to London, Thalys and 8 out of 10 will roll into Belgium and the Netherlands. Two out of three trains are scheduled to Germany, and 8 out of 10 trains to Switzerland.

Information:

http://www.sncf.com http://www.infolignes.com http://www.abcdtrains.com

Hotlines:

0.805.90.36.35 for Outline, TER, and Intercity Téoz 0.805.70.08.05 for Transiliensncf.mobi for real-time access to information on mobile

• RATP (Paris Metro)

The CGT, Sud, FOR and CFDT RATP filed a notice of indefinite strike from October 12.The union UNSA-transport, which includes drivers of subway, RER, buses and trams, himself has decided not to call workers to strike.

At RATP, "the service is also in line with expectations, even slightly better than expected," said a spokesman.

– Metro:

Lines 1, 11, 14: Traffic normalLigne 6: three trains on quatreLignes 3, 3a, 4, 8, 13, two trains on troisLignes 2, 5, 7, 7a, 9, 10, 12: a second train

– Buses and trams:

Three out of four bus ride and should be almost normal traffic on the network of trams. T1 only three trains will run on four.

– RER:

RER A: a second train, with an interconnection maintained at Nanterre Préfecture

RER B: a train every five rush hour. Station Denfert-Rochereau is the starting point and terminus for all trains.

Information:

http://www.ratp.fr

Freephone:

0.800.15.11.11

• Urban (by province)

The notice of strike filed by the CGT federation covers the period from October 12 to 30 in transport in provincial towns. Strike notices were filed by 85 companies of 111 urban transport networks.

– Of these 85 networks, 49 of them have filed strike notice 24 hours non-renewable, as at Aix-les-Bains, Arles, Clais, Cannes, Dunkerque, Lille, Limoges, Lyon, Nice, La Rochelle, Toulon, Tours and Vienna.

– For 29 of them, foresaw these have a renewable period of 24 hours, as in Angers, Avignon, Bourges, Grenoble, Marseille, Montepellier, Nantes, Rennes and Toulouse.

– Setp networks filed a notice of less than four hours in Agen, Beziers, Brest, Forbach, Saint-Malo, Saint-Nazaire and Tarbes.

• Air France

Side air, about 30% of flights were canceled at Paris Roissy airport and 50% at Orly airport.

Useful numbers: 36.54

• Ports and Docks

Ports and Docks The CGT has called for renewed strike in all ports of France from Tuesday in all sectors (cleanliness, rail and airport handling, fish trading, river transport, marinas and marine).

The National Federation of Maritime Unions (FNSM) CGT also called marine commerce and fisheries in renewable strike starting on 12 October.

• Public

The General Union of Federations of staff-CGT (CGT-UGFF) announced Thursday the filing of a notice of strike action covering the period from October 12 to 18 inclusive cons of pension reform.The CGT has also filed a notice covering all public services until the end of the month.

For its part, the Federation of Public Service CGT said in a statement it had filed a strike notice covering the period from October 12 to 30.

• Education

The SNUI-PP, first union at the first level (nursery and primary schools), and the SNES, the main union for secondary school teachers, called the strike for the day of 12 October. According to the Ministry of Education, the strike rate expected in the first degree is 27.17% against 33.53% during the strike of 23 September. No figures are available for the second degree.

Unions and students FIDL UNL invite students to demonstrate alongside employees. The main student union, UNEF, called for a day "facs dead." South Students also calls for the mobilization in all universities.

• Job center

Solidarity Federation South-job calls for a renewed strike after October 12 and filed a notice to that effect by day 24 from 13.

• Energy

Five unions (CGT, CFDT, FOR, CFTC, CFE / CGC) called the strike on Tuesday. The CGT has filed a notice of indefinite strike in the areas of gas and electricity from Tuesday, which could lead to walkouts at EDF and GDF Suez, announcing cuts costs and cuts targeted at certain enterprises or on public buildings.

CGT federation of chemistry, on which the employees of the oil sector, also calls for renewed strike.

Ten refineries in France over 12 voted in favor of the strike, including eight in favor of a renewed strike. The 13th French refinery in Dunkirk, voted to strike but does not produce more oil since 2009.

While officials at oil terminals at Fos-Lavera enter their fourteenth day of the strike, the refinery from Total-La Mede began Sunday procedures shutdown progressive and the Donges refinery (44), which supplies all the western France.

• La Poste and France Telecom

Sud PTT union, second largest union at La Poste and France Telecom, called for renewed strike in two public companies from Tuesday.

• Audiovisual

Unions CGT, FOR and CFTC France Televisions filed their notice of strike renewable.

• Judiciary

The Union of Magistrates (DM), at the left, calls a strike on October 12 while the other union body, the Union of Magistrates (USM majority) advocates a more moderate.

Noting that judges have no formal right to strike, it does not use the term, but called on its members to refer non-emergency hearings on October 12.

• Prison Service

CGT-prison has filed a strike notice to all employees of 12 to 18 October.

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The tax shield could evolve SME

The Budget Minister Francois Baroin visited Berlin two weeks ago, had mentioned that discussions were underway on the merits of the solidarity tax on wealth (ISF) and the tax shield. On the eve of the event promised by unions to challenge government policy, Claude Gueant, e Secretary-General of the Elysee, confirmed that management of the tax shield that limits taxes to 50% of its revenues – was "under review". Guests of the "Grand Rendez-Vous Parisien 1/The Europe, he said the wealthiest taxpayers could be asked to invest more in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).The President of the Republic Nicolas Sarkozy, believes that SMEs are the backbone of French growth, employment and restart thanks to them.

Exploring

Since 2007, the law and Tepa (work, employment of purchasing power), a first device already allows taxpayers to reduce the TFR from taxes in exchange for investment in small businesses. We must keep this goal that people who can afford to invest in France continue to do so in France and therefore continue to remain, "said Claude Gueant.

However, he did not want to give more details on a future device. "It was perhaps an avenue. I say this is a hypothesis that is under consideration, "said Claude Gueant unspecified.Sunday evening, Henry Gaino, special adviser to Nicolas Sarkozy, said on the Elysee iTélé wanted to upgrade the device at the margin. "We could consider the investment made by each recipient. Taxpayers could be forced to support SMEs to benefit from a shield.

Given the schedule, including this project in the finance law for 2011 seems difficult, however.

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