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Ministerial salaries reduced: UMP denounced a sham

"If I am elected, I do not gèlerai, but I stoop down the salary of the president and ministers of 30%." By November 2011, Francois Hollande had made the campaign promise very symbolic, while Nicolas Sarkozy marked the spirits in increase of 172% net salary (of 7,084 to 19,331 euros) on arrival at the Elysee. Presented at the first cabinet meeting on Thursday by the new prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, the measure was formally adopted, confirmed by several cabinet members. Accordingly, the president and ministers will have their wages fall by 30%. "This is exemplary," explained Jean-Marc Ayrault Wednesday on France 2. This measure will be a decree. But this law, which will not be adopted before June and the election of the National Assembly, "will be retroactive," said the spokesman of the government, Najat Belkacem-Vallaud. It is therefore effective "as of May 15" date of the nomination of Francis Holland as president.

The gross monthly salary of Ministers will therefore decrease of 14,200 euros per month, to 9,940 euros. That of the Prime Minister will also be trimmed from 21,300 euros to 14,910 euros gross. Like, finally, the compensation of the President of the Republic which is equivalent to the Prime Minister. With a plane that has a surprising consequence. Ex-Ministers continue to earn more than their successors for another six months. Indeed, each team member Francois Fillon retain his salary during this period. A privilege granted to all former ministers, who lose their theory, however, other benefits.

In the camp of the UMP, the reactions to this first measure of government have not kept waiting. Jean-Francois Cope, the party's general secretary, described the pay cut of "deception" on Twitter.

I denounce the imposture, the clannishness and demagoguery are the appointment of the first steps of @ fhollande ump.org / news / esp

. – Jean-Francois Cope (@ jf_cope) May 17, 2012

It explains, in a statement, the government has Ayrault "14 members of more" than the first Fillon government. "We go from 15 ministers, four secretaries of state and a High Commissioner to 34 ministers and deputy ministers, an increase of 65%. Wage cuts of 30% can not hide this fact: the government of Francois Hollande will be far more costly to the taxpayer. "

Largest decline in Europe

If they come later than in other European countries, this decline in compensation of government is by far the strongest. One of the first to take this measure, as he tried to impose on his country a vast austerity plan, was the Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen. From 2009, he had reduced his salary and that of his ministers by 15%. In the process, in May 2010, Spain followed the movement by announcing a 15% reduction of salaries of its ministers. In the UK, the British prime minister, David Cameron, newly installed in power, his ministers imposed a 5% decrease in their pay. A dry diet made subsequently by Italy and Portugal, among others.

In Europe a constraint to fiscal Germany still appears a prosperous island. While the German economy grew by 2% annual rate in the first quarter, Angela Merkel and her ministers were granted for the first time in twelve years an increase of wages. The Cabinet decided on Wednesday to a 5.7% increase in three stages by August 2013, bringing the salary of Angela Merkel to about 17,016 euros gross per month and those of his ministers to about 13,795 euros.

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Controversy in Japan on nuclear revival

Critics have not kept waiting to condemn the Japanese government project to restart two nuclear reactors. Since the disaster of Fukushima and security measures that followed, almost all of the park which provided 28% of the electricity of the Archipelago has been shutdown. Today, one unit is still running and should be stopped for maintenance in the coming weeks. So far, Japan has managed this failure by attempting to reduce energy consumption and increasing imports of oil and gas.

However, with the approach of summer and peak demand associated with the use of air conditioners, electric companies, industry and the government becomes more pressing to restart some nuclear sites. Kansai Electric Power Company, now deprived of all its reactors, and says she may suffer from inadequate power of 20% during peak summer.

Obtain an understanding of citizens

Friday, the government Yoshihiko Noda had approved the reactivation plan of units 3 and 4 of the Central Oi (a hundred miles from Kyoto). Ensuring that the reactors in question comply with new security standards, the industry minister, Yukio Edano, nevertheless said: "The revival will be once we have obtained an understanding of citizens, starting with the local population. "

Nothing is less certain for now. Environmental groups are quickly mounted slot, as the Japanese press. "It is difficult to understand why the government so anxious to restart the reactors," wrote an editorial Sunday in the general Japanese daily Mainichi Shimbun, saying that more thorough inspections should be made before any restart. For its part, the daily Asahi Shimbunregrette "inconstancy" Noda government in its nuclear policy. Before taking office, the Prime Minister had indeed promised to continue the denuclearization of the country. "Independent studies show that there will be no shortage of energy," says his side Wakao Hanaoka, an activist of Greenpeace Japan.

While the population does not seem ready to return to nuclear, renewable energy has found a new attraction. Last week was thus launched a solar power plant of 70 megawatts, the largest in the country.

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Taxes: what lies ahead!

"Ask the fiscal program of Sarkozy!

"Ask the fiscal program of Holland!

It speaks only of "it": family, friends, in shops, on leaving school … Less candidates in the presidential election evoke, he obsesses over the French. "It" is the higher taxes will fall on taxpayers in the coming months. For if not all are promised the same tax hell, few people are certain to escape. ISF for VAT through the income tax, local taxes or the CSG, all candidates for president – without exception! – Promise to raise taxes. More than seven in ten French expect, according to our survey Opinion Way – Fiducial.

Recognizing the need to redress the public accounts, the French are frankly skeptical about how go about policies. According to our survey, 83% believe it would be better to start by addressing the reduction of public expenditure. Las … Both favorites of 6 May, Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande, have detailed these days their tax proposals, which leave little doubt about their intentions.

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphic.

Side of the president candidate, it is argued that the rebalancing of accounts goes to three quarters by controlling public spending. Higher taxes will do that for one quarter. Moreover, it adds in the entourage of the head of state, the bulk of tax increases has already been voted. In recent months, 32 billion in new revenues were indeed acts by Parliament and began to take effect. It is largely due to the increase in the tax burden that France was able to record a deficit lower than expected in 2011: 5.2% of GDP instead of 5.7% originally expected.

The reduced VAT rate increased from 5.5 to 7% in late December (except for staples). Social charges on savings have been identified, tax loopholes, planed, and an outstanding contribution is requested with the highest incomes. A total of 11 billion euros of additional levies on households' most-favored "have been decided," because the solidarity required "at this time of crisis, Nicolas Sarkozy justified in his Letter to the French. How to respond to the argument of "tax giveaways to the rich made" repeated by his opponents to long speeches.

Conspicuously absent from the count of the president candidate, rising by 1.6 percentage points of VAT, already passed, is expected to come into force on 1 October. "It is not a levy increase, as it will be fully offset by reductions in social charges on low wages," says one of his entourage. Not sure this is enough to convince the French, skeptical of this "social VAT" (52% opposed, according to our survey).

Nevertheless, it remains to be Nicolas Sarkozy another 8 billion euros to find to meet its goal of a return to 3% deficit next year. But the UMP candidate has promised if re-elected, "no tax increase will weigh on households', except the famous" tax on tax exiles, "which he expects 500 to 700,000,000 euros year.

tax reform is the No. 1 priority of Holland

With Francois Hollande, however, taxpayers will not have completed the tax increases. If elected, the Socialist candidate wants to make tax reform the "mother of all reforms" of his five years. He warned that the tax burden would contribute half the recovery of accounts of the country and announced a forty billion of new taxes, of which 16 billion would weigh on individuals, especially the "most affluent". The team of the socialist candidate is careful to note that these increases would be added to those of M. Sarkozy … because, apart from the increase in VAT on books (from 5.5% to 7% since April 1) and the "social VAT", the PS candidate does not come back on measures already enacted.

By the summer, according to its "road map" published on April 4, Parliament would be asked to vote shock measures announced during the campaign, such as capping of tax loopholes to 10,000 euros per year, great tranche of 75% for revenues of over EUR 1 million, but the end of the tax exemption of overtime.

Despite this clarification in the calendar, remains a big blur of headlights more ads. For example: measures of higher taxes on income, such as super-slice or ceiling niches, would come into effect this year or January 1, 2013? The tax on millionaires would it apply to income tax or the home, such as tax practitioners presentiment, by hand? What about the ISF – payable in June – that Francois Hollande plans to burden? Would it be postponed until September? Is there a tax shield to 85% of income as suggested by the candidate? His entourage of these questions is swept out of hand: "These are questions for a budget minister, not a candidate as president." Tuesday, Michel Sapin, in charge of the socialist project, said the super slice to 75% would last "as long" as the recovery of the finances of France require.

Beware of leaving headquarters

Meanwhile, it was panic. Tax consulting firms claim to be inundated with requests for expatriation. "There is a before and after 75%," says a Parisian tax. Unprecedented fact, artists stamped on the left as Jamel Debbouze have spread in the media against proposed tax of Holland. Francoise Hardy has even been suggested (Paris Match 5 April) that it would move to London if they win socialist. Not sure that her friend is still a rose … Especially as the Socialist candidate, in reply, accused the stars of "whining" about their taxes! But the Dutch team, in private, multiplies the reassuring statements. The super slice? This is to "send a signal to the bosses of the CAC 40 and their extravagant salaries," they say. Everything will be done to protect athletes and artists (how? Mystery, equal taxation is a constitutional principle sacrosanct).

And for everyone else? For the Socialist tax plan, if passed as is, would increase the rating of millions of taxpayers, far beyond a few hundred privileged, as shown by simulations that we have asked the Cabinet Delsol Lawyers. Certainly, large estates and high income are at the forefront. But they are not alone.

Take the alignment of taxation of capital income on those work. This provision "could have important implications for public shareholding," warns Mathieu Le Tacon, Delsol of Lawyers, which states that dividends are already taxed once at the corporate income tax (33.3%) in the company before being taxed at the shareholder. The taxation of overtime? It will affect many employees, and 235,000 teachers who have won, thanks to them, additional one billion euros last year.

Shanghai will free property sales

Faced with a collapse of its real estate market, Shanghai intends to relax its measures restricting purchases. According to the Shanghai Security News, the city will soon authorize the purchase of a second residence for people who had lived there at least three years. An acquisition until formally excluded for "non-local" to curb speculation and soaring prices. "This should push up sales of real estate 20% to 30% in Shanghai, said Jack Gong, an analyst at Jefferies Group Inc.. Hong Kong, but that does not mean that the central government also intends to implement such measures to relax. "

Striving to deflate the housing bubble, a source of social unrest and destabilization of the economy, Beijing has implemented since 2010 on measures to limit credit and the number of apartments that individuals can buy.

Pillar of growth

But today, the Chinese real estate sector was found particularly affected by a drop in demand as prices began to decline, causing a wait of many potential buyers.

A statement from the National Statistics Office, the property prices in January continued their downward trend in most Chinese cities. Of 70 cities covered by a monthly survey, 48 have seen the price of flats down by the previous month, while it remained stable in 22 others, no increase was noted.

The Chinese government does not seem to want as many concessions. "In the name of fairness and stability, restrictive measures can not be released," said Premier Wen Jiabao in mid-February, ending, after three days, the measures of the city Wuhu in eastern countries, which were to subsidize the purchase of apartments to stimulate activity in the sector.

Always fight against speculation, the Chinese government announced in late January to create a file owners covering 40 cities. This is to prevent wealthy Chinese to circumvent the prohibitions imposed by municipalities to purchase several apartments, increasing acquisitions in different cities.

But the Chinese government also needs to avoid a contraction in the construction sector, a mainstay of the Chinese economy, while it is slowing its growth.

China's central bank announced it would reduce the reserve requirement ratio for banks to release more of their maneuvers to lend, especially first-time buyers who struggle to find housing.

Germany: senior citizens, a key factor for growth

Faced with an aging population, Germany is mobilizing its seniors. The shortage of labor grows more and more companies to recruit employees in the age group of 50-65 years. According to recent statistics, 7.7 million of them are in jobs covered by social benefits. Seniors are 452,000 more to work than a year ago, while the number of retired decreases proportionally, according to the Federal Employment Agency.

Germany, most countries aging of Europe, has over 20 million pensioners. Newspapers and specialized sites have a section dedicated to seniors. It offers more courses "convert after 50 years" or "mini-jobs": babysitting, babysitting, secretarial services, pet sitting

.

Applications for employment offered to retirees target various sectors. Thus, the industrial bakery K + U offers training in two years, to turn in senior commercial. This original idea has emerged out of necessity. "This is our response to the shortage of labor, says Corinna-Krefft Ebner, head of vocational training in K + U. We have more and more difficult to hire over. We would have 150 apprentices per year. We find 100 painfully. "

OECD calls on countries to respond

The problem is particularly acute in small family businesses that do not have, in addition, the attractiveness of German industrial groups to attract the most motivated graduates. In its report on Germany, published Tuesday, the OECD calls the country to respond "to strengthen growth potential, particularly given the rapidly aging population." The OECD estimates that this has already cost 0.2 percentage point growth in Germany in 2011 and that the figure will rise to 0.9 points in 2025.

Large family SMEs have taken the lead. Two-thirds of them, the 55-65 years represent more than 5% of payroll. For 15% of these companies, this age represents 20% of the workforce. "But it would have to work longer worth the time. Pension contributions should be totally eliminated for those over the age limit for retirement, "says Lutz Goebel, president of the federation of family businesses. Under a law passed in 2007, the retirement age will rise gradually to 67 years by 2031. Currently, the vast majority of assets not working up to 65 years required: this is 63 ½ years on average than the Germans drop out. It is possible to retire from age 63, after having contributed for 35 years at a discount price.

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Growth: more efforts

The government calls it a "false flat". And is careful to avoid complacency. But simply slowing growth announced Wednesday morning by INSEE (0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2011, after +0.3% in the third quarter) is a pleasant surprise. At least, France does she not in recession! In its latest memo on the economy, in December, the statistics institute saw no improvement emerge this winter and announced a negative fourth quarter.

If the first comments from Bercy Wednesday morning play sobriety, it is because the executive is well aware that neither the economic equation in 2012, nor the budget equation – let alone the political equation – only became simple in one day.  

In the wake of European difficulties, a GDP contraction is expected in the first quarter of this year (0.1%), before a small growth spurt (also 0.1%) in the second quarter, according to forecasts INSEE. Under these assumptions, the growth overhang at mid-year would be almost nil. Suffice to say that although the government has revised down its growth forecast for 2012 (0.5% against 1%), nothing is won yet. To accommodate this new lens, a 0 no fax payday loans.6% increase in GDP per quarter during the second half of the year is necessary. But we must go back well before the crisis, in late 2006 and early 2007 to see similar growth rate. Today, the French economy is far from out of his convalescence.

The government has repeatedly said he had put enough money in reserve to hold its trajectory to reduce public deficits without resorting to additional austerity measures. He welcomed the results better than expected on the forehead of public finances in 2011 gives him a little oxygen for 2012. "We are in the right direction, but we can not relax," said the Minister of Economy, Baroin, a few days ago. Almost sluggish growth this year would considerably complicate a fragile situation. Half a point less growth, it is about 5 billion more to find. It will take somewhere, have clearly in mind the French.

Anyway, Paris is committed to its partners in Brussels to bring back the deficit to 4.5% of GDP at end 2012. This objective is "intangible", regularly repeats the Prime Minister Francois Fillon. Election year or not.

Airports: the strike disrupts air traffic Monday

The strike of Air Staff, which began on Monday through Thursday, did not affect this morning mass disruption of traffic, despite some delays and cancellations. But Air France still had to cancel nearly 20% of additional flights, mainly medium-haul and four long-haul.

A source aéroporturaire quoted by AFP, "126 cancellations were scheduled on Sunday evening on the 1190 movements (takeoffs and landings) provided on Monday." Air France, which represents 50% of flights from Roissy and Orly, then planned to provide 80% of its short and medium haul flights and 85% of long haul. While stating that "delays and last minute cancellations are possible."

Several cancellations "hot" have actually been announced Monday, including to Geneva, Naples, Istanbul and Rio. EasyJet has also canceled five flights this morning from Roissy. In the provinces, cancellations were also reported, without massive disruption of traffic. 13 flights were canceled Monday flights from Lyon, four due to the weather, 15 from Toulouse, Nantes to ten …

Right to strike

Sunday, the trade unions movement promised a "closely watched". Almost all of the pilots' unions – the very majority SNPL and the SPAF, and the UNPL Alter – have indeed called off work Monday through Thursday evening. The movement regards seagoing personnel (pilots and flight attendants), but also employees working on the ground, including service companies, such as baggage handlers, ramp attendants, mechanics, etc.. According to an airport source, "the movement is little ground follow-up at Air France, but the mobilization stronger among the sailors same day payday loans."

The unions are protesting against the reform of their right to strike by the National Assembly voted on the initiative of UMP Eric Diard, modeled on the guaranteed service set up to SNCF and RATP. A text that unions consider intrusive the right to strike. Transport Minister, Thierry Mariani, but on Monday reaffirmed its willingness "to go through."

Union opposition to this text adds to the social unrest generated internally by the drastic measures that savings is about to take the management of Air France to regain profitability. "Air France does not treat its employees badly but our model is out of breath", justified in the Journal du Dimanche, the new company president, Alexander Juniac.

Learn

As a precaution, Aéroports de Paris has set up a service to accommodate travelers. Teams of Aéroports de Paris (ADP) are mobilized to facilitate the reception and orientation of passengers. She advises, however, passengers will be traveling during this period to consult their airline or inquire by phone or online. Passengers can call 39 50 or from abroad +33 1 70 36 39 50. They can also go surson website. Information is also available on the website of Air France''. Smartphone users can also download the application "Myairport".

(With AFP)

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Cloud computing brings new giants

Everyone uses without necessarily knowing it, cloud computing, cloud computing, provided mostly by U.S. companies. Facebook, Hotmail (Microsoft) and Gmail (Google), the new Apple icloud are cloud services for the general public. The user accesses the service from anywhere in the world from a mobile or a PC, provided you have an Internet connection. The information is provided on request.

The same goes for companies. With the crisis, they turn to cloud computing. Instead of investing in their own equipment, they buy at the request of their storage needs, software and calculations.The cloud is "a fresh approach to IT services," says Nathaniel Martinez, analyst research firm IDC.

To make these services available all the time and safely, most of the groups IT and telecoms involved in this transformation. Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Rackspace, IBM and HP are some of those actors who provide services or equipment.

"We're always interested in personal computers, smartphones and tablets. But we want to provide end to end solutions for businesses. The global market for information technology is 3000 billion per year and no company in the world carries 10% of this total, "said Michael Dell, CEO of the eponymous company.

With more PC, Dell follows a strategy similar to that of IBM.The group is building data centers and specialized solutions, including one opened in France for the distribution sector.

No company shall, alone, all the elements of the chain terminals, telecommunications network, operating systems, applications, servers, storage equipment and security software. They come together and buy the skills they lack.

Monday, Oracle acquired RightNow, $ 1.43 billion to complete its offering in the cloud applications. In storage, a battle was between market Dell to HP to purchase 3Par, won by HP. Dell fell back on Compellent. In this area, IBM, HP and Dell that are facing specialists EMC, NetApp and Hitachi Data Systems no fax payday loans.

VMware ally of Orange

For its part, the U.S. has become a giant VMware. Its market capitalization reached $ 40 billion.Size gained through solutions that optimize business costs. Its software is used to reduce the number of servers to a client company and deploy multiple applications running on the same computer. "Partner Orange to sell its solutions to French companies, the alliance is a competitor of that formed by SFR and HP," said the expert, IDC. His opponents are Citrix, IBM, Microsoft and Oracle.

In specific applications for cloud computing, Salesforce thrives on its software paperless which is a kind of Facebook for business teams. Its potential is considerable. Its market capitalization reached 17 billion dollars, almost ten times its revenues.It confronts, in this niche, Sugar CRM, Oracle, Microsoft and SAP.

Faced with the immense amount of data created and stored, ordering specialized publishers and analyze the flow of information. IBM, MicroStrategy and SAS Institute, for example, allow a better understanding of user profiles and to predict their behavior. Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft can then better target their marketing campaigns.

"The problem with cloud computing is not as data security, but the protection of privacy," said Vivek Kundra, the former CIO of the federal government of the United States Obama Administration.

However, the software security to the cloud adjust such Symantec, McAfee or Kaspersky. Finally, the major telecom equipment manufacturers such as Cisco and Huawei, want their share.In short, the entire landscape of information technology is transformed.

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