McDonald's could have done this new scandal. Committed for 10 years in a campaign to improve its image and to defend the quality of its products, the giant U.S. fast food undergoes further attacks of his detractors. At issue this time, the treatment of chickens by a subcontractor of the group providing the eggs used in the preparation of McDonald's products. The title of the video is unequivocal: "McDonald's, the truth rotten egg McMuffin"
Made with a hidden camera and broadcast for the first time Friday on ABC, the video was shot by Mercy for Animals Association (Pity for animals) in a poultry farm in Minnesota "Sparbo Egg Farms" .
However there will be a single new domestic or international flight anywhere in the world. "Qantas said its employees will be denied access to the company as of Monday morning.
Faced with a large section of its employees challenging the group's policy, management of the company has chosen the hard way to break the impasse. Calling itself the decision "incredible", Alan Joyce, Qantas's boss, said that "the aircraft will be grounded as long as necessary for the situation to an end," at a conference Press convened a hurry on Saturday. No way for him to accede to the request of trade unions, which he said, "Qantas would destroy the long term."
Retrenchment and redeployment in Asia
What technicians, ground staff and pilots claim, it is mainly wage increases.
The CAC 40 is gives a little bit of air. Having lost 0.92% Wednesday, the stock market has gleaned a few things yesterday, rising 1.07% to 3027.65 points. Investors have been somewhat reassured by the adoption unambiguously by the German parliament building of the European financial stability, designed to assist countries in the euro area in need. During the election, 523 deputies in the assembly which has 620 members voted "yes." And German Chancellor Angela Merkel was finally able to count on the support of his majority, 15 out of 350 MPs who defected.To discuss the plan to end the crisis, President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee will tomorrow afternoon Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.
Elsewhere in Europe, financial markets have ended in no particular order: the Dax in Frankfurt Stock Exchange gained 1.10% to 5639.58 points while the London FTSE lost 0.40% to 5196.84 points.
U.S. GDP revised upward
At this good news were added two macroeconomic indicators on encouraging U.S. economic health in America payday loans guaranteed no fax. The weekly jobless claims fell in the week to September 24, at 391,000 against 428,000 the previous week. In addition, the gross domestic product (GDP) was U.S. revised upward for the second quarter, up 1.3% of gross domestic product.
In this context, the industry finally has clearly supported the Paris stock exchange.The three main French banks and post three of the four largest increases in the CAC 40. Societe Generale rose 5.82% to 21.08 euros, BNP Paribas has acquired 5.01% to 31.14 euros and Credit Agricole rose 4.37% to 5.40 euros. The insurer Axa also benefits from this renewed optimism, the title winner 2.85% to 10.28 euros.
EADS, which has won more than 4% over the last two sessions, continued to grow after that Airbus has won its bid on the Danish Satair, gaining 96.7% of the company. The stock rose 1.50% to 21.59 euros. For its part, EDF announced an order for 44 steam generators for nuclear power plants of 1300 megawatts and French gains 1.40% to 22.13 euros.
The more than 2000 centers of computer servers around the world already consume as much energy as air transport, said Jean-Philippe Buisson, director Ile de France Dalkia. Nearly half of the electricity consumed by these sheds containing hundreds of cupboards full of electronics that process the billions of Google data, banks and any large corporation, is devoted to cooling. In a new area of Val d'Europe being built in Disneyland in the new town of Marne-la-Vallée, the heat produced by one of these "data centers", instead of being wasted and sent to the atmosphere, will be recovered.Exchangers collect water at 55 ° C, to fuel, from the end of the year, 600,000 square meters (m2) of office space and apartments on 150 acres.
A complicated solution found in a recent study conducted by Microsoft, but which was made possible in Marne-la-Vallee as decided at the design center and the business district.
5400 tons of CO2 emissions and less
According to Dalkia (a subsidiary of EDF and Veolia), prime contractor for the network, the central heat in the atmosphere will save 5400 tons of annual CO2 emissions compared to a gas boiler. The computer center, a "bunker" of 8000 square meters dedicated to extend over 25000m2, is owned by a bank that prefers to conceal his name, as these "data centers" are critical buildings.The bank, according to Jean-Philippe Buisson, finance the heat exchanger, about 10% of the total investment of "several million". The remaining 90% are devoted to the distribution of hot water and sub-pumping stations.
The bank will sell its heat to Dalkia under a contract of twenty-five years, which will allow a return on investment. This district heating and hot water will return to green about 8 cents per kilowatt hour for customers. It's "a little cheaper than electric heating, notes Jean-Philippe Buisson, a little more expensive than gas heating, but with one advantage: price stability," while gas is still pegged to the oil .In addition, for the consumer, this clean is eligible for the 5.5% VAT.
Dalkia is exploring the possibility of recovering heat from data centers in other neighborhoods or new neighborhoods eco France.
Solidarity and ecological travel. The idea is gaining ground in the minds of many tourists in the summer. This practice has a name very trend: the "sustainable tourism". According to the definition given by the World Tourism Organization (WTO), it is a holiday that "meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. "
Whether it's a humanitarian mission in Africa, a trek in the Sahara or the ascent of Kilimanjaro, this type of travel always organized around four themes, according to Yann Legendre, coordinator at Libertalia specialist stays abroad lasting. The first two are the exchange and outreach to the local economy. "Sustainable Travel, accommodation is homestay or in hotels, buy food at the local producer, operate a local bus," said he.Next is the protection of the environment. Specific example: instead of buying bottled water which may pollute the tour operator is investing in a filter pump. "We saved the purchase of 9,500 bottles last year," notes Libertalia. There remains one of the most important aspects: the local development projects. This is not a logic of love ", explained Yann Legendre. "We have identified local actors engaged in a dynamic project that we donate 30 to 60 euros per passenger," he adds.
For those who opt for sustainable tourism in the Hexagon, the basics are the same. In the villages of the network Cap France, vacationers are being such offer "kits picnic" without any packaging pollutant. They sort the waste, swim in heated pools with solar panels and eat fresh produce from local agriculture."This is a tourist friendly environment with a local proximity and social," says Jean-Michel Coeff, president of the network.
Contrary to popular belief, sustainable travel is not more expensive. "Investments are included gradually over time," says Jean-Michel Coeff. For trips abroad, the price stays is generally equivalent to those of traditional tour operators and even cheaper because the organizers did not pay any commission to providers or agencies over.
Boom offers
Since the early 2000s, the offers are multiplying on the web. Tour operators who are responsible are mostly from small associative structures are already active in the sector sustainable. But the traditional tour operators are also well represented on the niche, the image of Voyageurs du Monde instant payday loan lenders.The travel specialist tailor even claims to have adopted this approach for many years. "It's not just a fad, it is a binding approach we impose," said Frederic Lavaud, project sustainability. According to the latter, responsible tourism has become a corporate philosophy: "We have adopted a responsible for all travels. We check for instance that our partners pay their employees well. We have a corporate foundation which helps local people. In Asia, some of our destinations travelers take away the excluded villages now live a little better through these visits, "he adds. According to International Travelers, the client would become very attentive to these questions: "People are sensitive to the choice of partners and very critical if we are not in line with what we propose.This is progress. "
Libertalia confirms the trend: "Our customer base is doubling every year since 2007. There is a real awareness, a desire to return to the essence of the journey is the encounter and discovery. "
Credibility problem
Despite this enthusiasm, the trip is still a sustainable niche. According to the WTO, the 935 million tourists who took the road last year, it represents only a small portion still unencrypted. For if consciousness is actually at work, the acting out takes longer than expected. "There is still a gap between this important awareness and its translation in terms of holidays. For tourists, vacation means living without constraints. People do not want to be imposed on things, "admits Jean-Michel Coeff."And for some it is a concept bobo, an ecological cult," he adds.
This credibility problem, mentioned by several tour operators, requires the industry to organize. In 2004, a group of tour operators create the Association of Tour Operators Themes (ATT). The last issue to each operator audited by the certification body AFNOR label "Acting for Responsible Tourism (ATR)." But this system is far from unanimous. "The criteria are too light and too expensive certification" portion Libertalia who prefers to make his own evaluation grid. For its part, France Cape Town in 2004 launched his own label Owl Nature. In short, it is still difficult at the moment to see clearly.
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The speech will be delivered to a very limited audience, but it will be heard by the entire financial world. The head of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, will speak on Friday afternoon (French time) to his counterparts at the traditional central bankers in Jackson Hole Symposium, Wyoming.
While the U.S. economy slows dangerously, investors expect a tough response from the Fed. But they may be disappointed because, faced with two problems, the central bank runs out of ammunition.
Misdiagnosis
First, Ben Bernanke erred in economic diagnosis. He underestimated his own admission, the low growth in the first half and was counting on a rebound in demand in the second, which for now does not materialize.Problem with its main policy rate at zero since December 2008, the Fed has little room to revive again the supply of credit. Some members of the Monetary Committee refuses to go further. Among the reluctant, Richard Fisher, president of the Dallas Fed. It is estimated that on August 9 promises to continue until mid-2013 interest rates unusually low, the Fed made a mistake: the promise deters businesses and individuals to borrow quickly as they know that the rates are not nearly up cash advance america.
So what can Ben Bernanke promised? The resumption of purchases of long-term bonds the Treasury is the preferred option by the markets. But given the high level of inflation, the method is risky.In addition, low interest rates leaves little hope that this new "quantitative easing" has a significant effect on credit supply.
Ben Bernanke should focus on technical measures. The Fed could cut the compensation of bank reserves. It would be a way to push banks to lend rather than storing their cash with her. The second measure seeks to change more or less gradually the composition of its balance sheet, which reached 2.7 trillion dollars. To maintain long-term rates as low as possible, the Fed may decide to increase the proportion of its balance sheet invested in long-term securities, while reducing the one placed in short-term securities. The decline in long rates will encourage companies and individuals to refinance their debts and support the real estate.
Wall Street opens again in the red Friday. The NYSE is not spared by the new storm that struck the European exchanges, which has already passed on the stock exchanges in Asia this morning. A few minutes after the start of trading, the Dow Jones fell by 0.81% to 10,901.20 points, the Standard & Poor's 500 by 0.75% to 1132.08 points and the Nasdaq Composite 0.76% 2362.48 points.
Yesterday, as elsewhere, the New York Stock Exchange closed down a massive, affected by disappointing indicators released during the meeting confirming the poor performance of the U.S. economy. Moreover, operators, already worried by the economy of the euro area, were cooled by the large loan dollars awarded by the European Central Bank (ECB) to a bank in Europe, whose identity has not been revealed.This action has reinforced doubts about the ability of banks to refinance the region. The euro also declined against the dollar and is trading around 1.4290 dollars against 1.4319 on Thursday.
Finally, Morgan Stanley confirmed the fears of a global economic slowdown by scaling back its growth forecasts for 2011 and 2012. The bank also said the United States and Europe were "dangerously close to recession."
Evidence that the operators' confidence is at its lowest, gold, a safe haven par excellence, is powered from yesterday to new heights. On Friday, an ounce reached a new record in 1864 dollars after jumping up to 1867.30 dollars in the morning.For its part, a barrel of U.S. light crude oil, which fell 6% yesterday, lost another 65 cents to 81.73 dollars at the opening while Brent gives 62 cents to 106.37 dollars.
Values of the day
On the corporate side, Hewlett-Packard tumbles to 18.74% to 23.98 dollars. The group published its results on Thursday lowered its annual forecast for the third consecutive time. It now expects an annual turnover of between 127.2 and 127.6 billion dollars, against a previous estimate of between 129 and 130 billion. The group, which has made a takeover offer for the British publisher of software Autonomy, has also announced plans to dispose of its business in personal computers.Another major surprise: HP goes out of business in the mobile, arresting the development of tablets and smartphones.
Autodesk (1.09% to 26.80 dollars) has reported a 6% increase in revenues in the second quarter and a net profit better than expected at 71.2 million euros, or 30 cents per share.
Gap (5.03% to 16.30 dollars) on Thursday posted a quarterly profit above analysts' expectations despite lower sales to a number of store. Net income for the group totaled $ 189 million (131.8 million), or 35 cents a share, against $ 234 million, or 36 cents per share a year earlier.
Bank of America (-1.07% to 6.94 dollars) will remove 3500 positions during the quarter, according to an internal document cited by Reuters.
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Backlash. Banks, which had caused the market collapse in the fall of 2008, are caught by the crisis of states. Investors expressed their concerns about sovereign debt and the prospects of sluggish global economic growth, by sanctioning the financial sector on the stock market. The European banking index, the Stoxx 600 Banks, Tuesday and hit its lowest level in two years at 147.51 points. In one month, the U.S. Citigroup, the UK Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) or the French Societe Generale lost nearly 30% of their market value. On both sides of the Atlantic, however, banks face the storm in better shape than two years ago.
At once massive recapitalizations – 100 billion euros for the only European banks – the institutions have strengthened their balance sheets. But the suspicion now exceeds basic banking.European side is of course the exposure to sovereign debt that is hunted. To reduce their deficits and repay their loans, the States' policies of fiscal austerity and hope to revive economic growth. The prices of banks are very sensitive to the beam of bad news on the front of growth.
Thus, the spiral of concern about the third largest economy in the euro zone, Italy, has greatly affected the French institutions. End of 2010, according to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), their commitment to the Italian economy amounted to 393 billion dollars, almost half of the commitments of European banks.
In this context, investors expect, without much hope, strong signs of governments and the ECB."Many banks, especially Italian or Spanish, can not refinance at the current level of spreads, said Yves Le Cocheca, manager at CQS. The risk is therefore forced to see the ECB to increase its rate of liquidity at a time when the European banking system is facing more than 1000 billion of maturities in the next eighteen months. "Deposits banks with the ECB had "increased massively. It's a bad sign, "acknowledged Tuesday a member of the Board of Governors, Ewald Nowotny. Last Friday, they reached 134.8 billion euros, close to the highest level of the year in February. A rapid implementation of bailout Greek send a first message of confidence. Especially as the growing doubts about the level of discount that will pass the institutions participating in the plan payday loans no teletrack.With the exception of the insurer Axa, all French financial provisions have spent up to 21% of their outstanding debt to Greece, when RBS, for example, opted for a discount of 50%.
Subprime bill
U.S. side, it is not so much the loss of "AAA" rating of the sovereign or political differences on the treatment of debt madden investors, but the economic slowdown and its impact on the housing market. The control of the nationalized insurer, AIG, to sue Bank of America to recover more than 10 billion of losses on securities backed by mortgages, has not eased the climate. Banks may find themselves forced to pay a subsequent part of the bill of subprime. The medium-term prospects are hardly more reassuring.The IMF in the next two years, global banks will have to refinance to the tune of 3.6 trillion dollars, markets, stormed by sovereign states …
Shareholders' equity under pressure
The ratings downgrade of the sovereign debt of the United States will cause a shock to the global economy if it leads to alienation of investors for U.S. securities and in its wake a rise in interest rates. A scenario that has not materialized yet.The impact of the decision by Standard & Poor's short-term should be limited to a slight increase in the cost of borrowing for the Authority and U.S. government agencies.
The Federal Reserve has indeed ensured that the degradation would be no need for additional capital for banks, insurance companies and other institutions exposed to U.S. debt.
A spokesman for the central bank said the loss of "AAA" will not affect his view of the quality of U.S. Treasury: banks can still make these securities as collateral in its refinancing operations without paying fees additional.
The Basel Committee, responsible for European banking regulation, did not, however, expressed on the issue.The new supervisory body, Basel 3, which will take effect in 2019, encourages schools to hold sovereign debt, both in its solvency requirements only on the foreheads of the liquidity ratios. "Basel 3 has prompted banks to downgrade their balance sheets by holding much larger quantities than necessary sovereign debt, now decommissioned," so sorry Bonnevay Frederick, a partner at Anthera Partners.
Raising the U.S. debt ceiling on Tuesday night after a Senate vote, did not end concerns. The harshest criticism emanating from the largest creditor of the United States, China. Washington failed to "defuse the debt bomb," has dealt the official news agency Xinhua on Wednesday morning.
To support this message, the governor of the central bank, Zhou Xiaochuan, announced that "foreign exchange reserves of China will continue to follow the principles of investment diversification and risk management." Clearly, the portion of funds invested in dollar continue to fall. "Large fluctuations and uncertainty in the market for Treasuries have an impact on the stability of the international monetary and financial system, and could affect the global economic recovery," said the Chinese official.Beijing has to worry: he has financial reserves of the largest in the world, or about 3.197 trillion dollars at the end of June, of which 1.16 trillion invested in U.S. Treasury.
The rating agency Dagong China has also downgraded the U.S. of A + to A, away from the AAA provided by Western agencies. She said raising the debt ceiling will "worsen" the situation. The show divisions between Republicans and Democrats in recent months "reflects the government's inability to solve the problem" of American finance, said she.
"A first step"
More lenient, Moody's affirmed the AAA rating of the United States, while combining it with a negative outlook. "The agreement voted Tuesday night is the first step to recovery of public accounts," she observed in a statement.But the financial health of the world's largest economy, and therefore its rating could be threatened if new austerity measures are not adopted in 2013, even if growth slows, or in case of sudden rise in interest rates.
The rating agency Fitch for its part, said Wednesday morning in a statement that it believes "the risk of default of the United States is extremely low." However, "the United States, like most countries in Europe, must confront difficult choices about taxes and spending in a sluggish economic recovery," and sufficient to redress public finances. Fitch confirmed Tuesday night the American note.
Standard & Poor's, the most influential of the three Western rating agencies, has not yet officially expressed.The director of sovereign ratings Takahira Ogawa, however, tried on Wednesday morning to alleviate the issues of possible degradation, "the market has to some extent already recognized the potential risk of a downgrade American." S & P had warned during the negotiations on the ceiling of the debt: the United States should save 4 trillion dollars over the next ten years to maintain their AAA. The plan adopted only on table 2.4 trillion.
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A work of art? A scupture? A monument? Attraction? Orbit wants it all at once. Red steel tower rising slowly in the sky Olympic Park East London thanks to the play of the cranes that circumvent the laws of gravity and set pieces that weigh less than 2.5 tonnes each. The London Olympics, which begin July 27, 2012, wanted their icon. It is made of red steel. That's at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889 as the Eiffel Tower was built …
Nestled between the Olympic Stadium and the swimming pool, the work designed by Anish Kapoor, a British artist of Indian origin, will be the symbol of the London Games. The artist, whose recent work Monumenta at the Grand Palais in Paris, has conquered the public, could build this new project with Lakshmi Mittal, the chairman of ArcelorMittal.The steel giant from an original way and in the circle of second-tier sponsors of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Cost of the adventure: 16 million pounds (about 18 million euros) for Arcelor Mittal, London, adding 3 million pounds.
A unique perspective
On site, a dozen people work to build, despite the often strong wind blowing from the Thames estuary, the giant Meccano imposes no engineer would have imagined. The sculpture, made of red tubular steel elements, already stands at over 80 meters high and it must reach 115 meters. It will weigh 1,400 tons. When everything is finished, an elevator will climb onto a platform boldly eccentric.The energetic can go down via a silver staircase winding around the tower.
The tower would house a restaurant and she will, when the Games are over, a unique perspective on the new district of east London that is emerging today. As the streets that Jack the Ripper haunted past are still among the poorest in London. The Olympics will enable a large-scale urban renewal. New life for London's East End which is the symbol of steel.
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