This is a realization of a long-term project that must be born earlier this week. The association Optics solidarity launches on Monday the "pass glasses." A device that should allow seniors whose financial resources are too thin to allow them to purchase a mutual good, to provide appropriate spectacles from their view. 8,000 to 10,000 people, aid recipients in the complementary health throughout France, and should soon receive a voucher to enjoy a fitness trail at cost, including consultation with the ophthalmologist, and the purchase glasses with progressive lenses from an optician.

No low cost

"We are working on this project for three years," says Xavier Subirana, ophthalmologist and president of the Optical solidarity. He says the idea inspired by the HEC Chair "Social Businee / Enterprise and Poverty" as co-chairs Martin Hirsch has mobilized the entire industry. "Danone is one of the pioneers of social business, but in this case we thought it was much more efficient to use the entire industry as a business." To date, 13 additional health (including AG2R La Mondiale, April, Groupama …), 500 opticians, Essilor as industrial and ophthalmologists have concentrated their power to facilitate the implementation of the concept. "It's not a charity that requires a donation. Here people pay for their glasses, "says Nicolas Lambert, owner of Essilor France. Ultimately, the patient should spend at most a few dollars instead of 300 euros today. "This is an innovative business model where one neither gains nor loses money. And this is not the low cost, says Xavier Subirana, people buy the raw material and technology. Everything else is covered by the efforts of the margins at various levels by the industry. The doctor's visit is to be discounted fully refundable. " For now, Nicolas Lambert admits even Essilor making losses. To produce the lenses, and assemble the eleven models of glasses offered by the pass, the company is including operated its plant in Toulouse outside normal production hours.

140,000 persons concerned

But to make the project a success, we must know the device. Tested later this year in Marseille, the "eye pass" has proven its usefulness but also revealed the difficulty of reaching the target. "We know that some seniors throw good because they think it is an advertisement," lamented Xavier Subirana. As such, the role of complementary health is important because it is they who must identify people who can benefit. "The more mutual partners in the project will increase the more we can touch people," says association president. Discussions are also underway with new complementary. The first patients in the Paris region should get their equipment in early June. It will be a little longer for the province because of the smaller number of ophthalmologists. Then a second phase will be launched by the end of the year. Eventually 140,000 people should benefit from "pass glasses." In addition, the partners hope that their initiative will give ideas to other sectors.

Wal-Mart is no stranger to litigation. The last internal investigation by the world's largest distributor could well become a new folder in the long term. In a document submitted to the U.S. stock market authority and revealed Friday, the group admitted that the corruption scandal that it faces is not only its Mexican subsidiary. The case was initiated by an article in The New York Times on April 22, which stated that Wal-Mart had concealed having used the large-scale corruption to grow in Mexico.

Fines, injunctions, orders of suspension …

The board of directors of Wal-Mart seeks in particular to determine if the group has broken the law on foreign bribery (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act). "Although the company does not currently believe that these problems can have a significant negative impact on its operations, given the uncertainties inherent in such situations, the company can provide no assurance that these problems will not have to substantial impact on its activities in the future, "admits Walmart. The retailer believes it can be of "one or more lawsuits on this issue", which could result in "judgments, settlement agreements, fines, injunctions, orders termination, sentencing and other criminal penalties."

"The complaints of shareholders could result in judgments against its directors and current and former officials named in these proceedings," he says. One of the key executives of Wal-Mart, Eduardo Castro-Wright, is particularly targeted because he led the rapid expansion of the teaching in Mexico and would have paid $ 24 million in bribes, kickbacks to local officials. Thursday, Wal-Mart announced a net profit of $ 3.7 billion in the first quarter, up 10% thanks to higher sales in Brazil, the UK and also in Mexico.

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Right in his boots but educational. Thierry Thuillier, head of information of France Televisions, did not intend to change its course despite the confidence motion addressed to him by writing nationale de France 3 on Tuesday night. The latter accused the group of "systematically favor France 2 on the pool coverage of political events and international." Similarly, she worries about the consequences of "pooling of resources between the two shooting strings."

If he does not deny the importance of the message, the strongman of the information of France Televisions prefers to explain without giving up the strategy adopted two years ago. "There is unease should be dispelled," he concedes. "Every two years, part of the national drafting of France 3 raises the question of its identity and its future and concludes with a confidence motion. However, our strategy can not evolve because it is consistent and the results are there. "It reaffirms that" there is no question of reducing the national writing because we are already at minimum staffing possible nor to remove these editions essential if only for a matter of status for France 3 ". Moreover, he recalls, "hearings are" 19-20 "are above the 17% audience share. More than double the average chain. In two years on this installment, we gained 400,000 viewers while everyone loses. "

An editorial in France own

3 When the "12-13", accused of "making of Jean-Pierre Pernaut" Thierry Thuillier advance even numbers: "He is accused of making too many news items? But this represents only 5% of these newspapers, "he says cash advance now. Thierry Thuillier continues to claim the editorial line-up to France 3: "It may not be the same as that of France 2. Because it is the color of the chain, we decided to focus the second parts of JT on proximity and daily life of the French. I do not think about transportation, education and all issues that cross the life of the French in the sub-word! "He said that" France 3 teams also cover major international events. "

There remains the puzzling question of bad election nights of hearings on France 3. For the leader, "the real political event in the chain regions is less presidential than legislative. With 24 regional editorial, it would be wrong not to enjoy it! ". Finally, inherited Thierry Thuillier, on his arrival two years ago, a unique company already under way and a pooling of resources "theory, but to achieve": "The latter, he says, has helped create more than 200 reports over three minutes, and reduce by half the subjects redistributed.

Moreover, the shootings have in common the last month shown that 10-15% of the subjects of France 3. In all cases, the budget gives the group does not return to the system yesterday when France Televisions reached five cameras on the same press conference, "he concludes.

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The happiness of others is felt as an insult when you yourself are in trouble. The relatively strong expansion of the German economy (2% annual rate in the first quarter) in contrast to the recessions of most other major countries (by population), plus Portugal and Greece. As for the zero growth of the Hexagon, it confirms his usual center position, if not congenital ambiguity.

It is no longer "Deutschland über alles", but "alles ohne Deutschland" (Germany without the other), thinks it by reading the 2012 first quarter results released Tuesday by Eurostat. And this singularity is disturbing: it appears that healthy Germanic fail to get out of the rut Euroland.

This justifies the environmental diagnosis of Francois Hollande, advocating a form of stimulus. And already, as the Bundesbank that Wolfgang Schäuble, the finance minister, admitted that Germany should agree to have more inflation than southern Europe, and higher wage increases.

Will this be enough to call it the euro area growth on orbit? The consumer of Munich can give work back to the outskirts of Lisbon? The question is what he could buy them. And this is where things get complicated.

Historical-cultural syndrome

When we look more closely at the 2012 first quarter GDP in Europe, it is clear that Slovakia (0.8%), Finland (1.3%) and Belgium (0.2%) fared rather well. Only the Netherlands in recession, are missing. We know they are victims of the bursting of their bubble and household debt Batavian. Otherwise, all the satellites of Germany, what some call its subcontractors, this meet. And the map taking shape before our eyes is practically that of the Holy Roman Empire, which brought together the Mitteleuropa of northern Italy to the Baltic, from 962 to 1806. Napoleon until the final unraveling, which earned us the title since then, ironically, the "Grande Nation" across the Rhine.

This geography is often invoked today by eurosceptics in France. They believe that the euro should be limited to the former Holy Roman Empire, which certainly included northern Italy, but which will never France or the Iberian Peninsula. This historical-cultural syndrome keeps his weight when we see, for example, how Mario Monti, a native of Lombardy, is working to convert all Italy to Germanic culture.

Clearly, to benefit the motor industry across the Rhine and its market, the first in Europe, it should share its values ​​management and be competitive. Again, the performance of German foreign trade – the largest surplus in the world, all nations combined – are instructive.

That China has become the main supplier (to the Netherlands, then France) demonstrates the wonderful integration of Germany into globalization and its thirst for the open sea. However, we remain French their first customer, and the Franco-German balance, € 35 billion, accounted for half of our overall deficit in 2011. It is a sacred chasm in the Franco-German couple, so-called engine of Europe. The bad boy can he blame the top of the class for being too good?

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"Merkel-offensive against the working face Holland

It is a blow to Angela Merkel. German Chancellor has lost Sunday night for its closest ally to win against its European partners in managing the crisis of the euro. The defeat of Nicolas Sarkozy, she has supported all the way, is also a bit his. However, his political career attests: Merkel is good at adapting to new realities. It's been several weeks since his team is preparing for a possible victory of Francois Hollande. The Socialist no longer afraid to Berlin. His first phone call on Sunday night was to be for the Chancellor.

Francois Hollande was pretty irritated the Germans during his campaign by promising not to ratify the treaty in the state of budgetary discipline. The Socialist candidate would include a component of measures to support growth, including on the funding at European level of environmental or industrial projects. Merkel replied curtly that there would be no renegotiation of the text, regarded in Berlin as the culmination of his vision of a Europe steeped in the "stability culture" Germanic. Before making a small step towards Holland stating that the EU was preparing a "growth agenda" for the top end of June

Holland, who said he wanted to be part of the Franco-German tradition by making his first trip across the Rhine, is expected in Berlin this weekend or early next week, following his inauguration. It is expected to meet informally with the Chancellor of how to amend the treaty. Merkel wants to prevent the initiatives to support growth would delay its ratification. To circumvent the risk of isolation, she has already joined the Italian Mario Monti. And it seeks to gather around their tandem a significant number of twenty-five countries signed the treaty to ratify the text without waiting for France.

Berlin wants to believe qu'Hollande will find a "pragmatic solution", according to a memorandum of discussions between the team of the socialist candidate and German diplomats, quoted by the media across the Rhine. "Holland and his team want to be part of the continuity of the Franco-German working for Europe," said the note. For several weeks, Michel Sapin, author of the economic project of Holland, and Jean-Louis Bianco try to reassure the Chancellor through contacts with his closest advisers. On both sides of the Rhine, we want defuse "hiccups" that perfect storm of the euro, would be immediately punished by the markets.

Of "painful truths"

Merkel's entourage insisted on the red lines of the Chancellor. The introduction of Eurobonds is still a taboo in Berlin. As a stimulus to growth by an extensive program of public spending. Germany believes that its model of structural reforms is the role model for Europe. And she hopes qu'Hollande be satisfied with a symbolic boost to growth. For Berlin, the Socialist candidate's campaign promises are not set in stone. And he would realize that he will announce "painful truths" to the French early in his term. Germany feared above all that the arrival in power of Holland bury any desire for reform in France. And having to wear one at arm's Europe and the single currency. Holland "judge superfluous needed economic reforms, pension and labor market, laments the Bild newspaper in an editorial. The French economy unscrews. If Holland looks away, she will continue to fall. While Germany is alone without strong partner with a big question mark next to the euro. "

Somewhat reassured by his contacts with the Dutch team, led by Berlin is one hope: that economic realities and uncompromising market pressure will convince the French Socialist turning into a Social Democratic German inspired.

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It was to be expected. The Antwerp designer Raf Simons, arrived in February of his mission as artistic director at Jil Sander (where he handled collections for men and women since July 2005) has been appointed to head the creation of women's fashion at Dior. He was the last of the favorites in the long list of names mentioned as a possible buyer of the vacancy created by John Galliano since March 2011. Among the successors whose names have circulated even figured that of Marc Jacobs, current artistic director of Louis Vuitton or that of Riccardo Tisci in the same position at Givenchy, besides that of Nicolas Ghesquière at the helm of Balenciaga.  

But all hopes seemed to collapse when Raf Simons thanked Jil Sander left Italy without any announcement effect from Dior while Yves Saint Laurent terminated the contract of Stefano Pilati before confirming the Hedi Slimane's appointment as artistic director. By a rebound effect, the world of fashion has waited in vain for an immediate appointment at Dior at the same time. It has not happened. By a curious reverberation, Raf Simons Avenue Montaigne now occupy a position comparable to that of Hedi Slimane at YSL. The irony is that Slimane, asking the jurisprudence of the style of Dior Homme from 2000 to 2006, has often been compared – compared to nuance, to rightly or wrongly – in the style posed by Raf Simons in his own eponymous label. Then the divergent paths of both the affirmation of the growing aesthetic Slimane at Dior Homme and mission of Raf Simons Jil Sander have diluted this antagonism.

Jil Sander's latest collection (Fall-Winter 2012) signed Raf Simons presented in Milan last February was a real tribute to a new New Look of Dior. What whet fans' expectations of Dior and YSL, the ambitions of the two groups (LVMH Dior, YSL PPR), what – if any were needed – to stimulate the two creators. In short, good news in short, not to mention the talent of the men themselves, critical talent, talent by which everything begins and ends.

The clothing giant Hennes & Mauritz (H & M) has, once again, makes investors wince and smile fashionistas. The chain has indeed saw its stock fall by 4% in session Thursday after yet displayed, for the first quarter, sales growth (+13%), to 3.14 billion euros and net income up ( 4.6%), 310 million, but below analysts' expectations. Its gross margin was down 2% year on year, to 55.8%.

H & M defends itself by arguing that its margins were impacted by higher production costs, including cotton and the wages in Asia, the group chose the least possible impact on prices offered to customers. Profitability has also been undermined by "long-term investments to expand our total supply," said the boss, Karl-Johan Persson, including "a completely new chain of stores" for 2013.

H & M intends to repeat the international success and very "profitable" for its first upscale brand, called COS (Collection of Style as) and launched 5 years ago. His second string, which will be launched to conquer major cities worldwide, will be even more upscale, but will remain open: "This brand will be positioned on a separate segment higher price than COS while offering the best price for each item" , said a spokesman.

A team dedicated to new concepts

If Spanish Zara (Inditex Group) dominates H & M and Gap others in terms of responsiveness to trends, however, Swedish wants to keep one step ahead in the "masstige", this complex cocktail of "mass- market "and" prestige ". Number of creators and signed lines for H & M, including Versace Marni recently.

Last stunt of the Swedish chain: at the London BAFTA ceremony, the "Caesars" British, Michelle Williams seemed dressed in haute couture. The actress, who plays Marilyn Monroe in the film, was actually a golden corset and organic cotton skirt and satin back crepe designer H & M. A similar holding will be sold soon to clients of the Swedish chain. Similarly, parades American stars on the red carpet in the middle of Oscar season, H & M has convinced celebrities to wear dresses of his online "Exclusive Conscious", which models will, in April, sold in a selection of 100 stores, in its new and larger collection "H & M Conscious."

In the world of fashion, the new concept of future H & M has not totally surprised: not long ago, a famous fashion designer Scandinavian Behnaz Aram, was hired by H & M to strengthen its teams dedicated to " new concepts. " A discreet but strategic cell that has already developed three brands: Cos, and Monki Day Weekend, and H & M Home.

Like SOC, which will open its first store outside Europe, Hong Kong, the new chain H & M will be a strong argument to fight against Zara and its upscale brand Massimo Dutti, especially on emerging market savvy luxury.

2 trillion dollars, 1.5 trillion euros. This is the amount of the invoice World crude this year, according to estimates by the International Energy Agency, if oil prices remain at their summits in the coming months. Warming relative to GDP, oil purchases could represent 3.4% against 3.1% in 2011.

In the EU alone, the cost would be $ 500 billion, $ 426 billion for the United States and 250 billion for China. The weakness of the euro against the dollar increases because the oil bill, dollar denominated, for Europe. From $ 1.49 last May, the European currency is now worth $ 1.33.

Last year, with a barrel to $ 125 on average $ 107 in London and New York, purchases of oil in the world have cost 1.8 trillion. In 2008, when the barrel reached a historical peak of 147 dollars, the bill had risen to 1.7 trillion.

The invoice record concerned the president of the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke. He said yesterday in a television interview to ABC News, that the surge in gasoline prices, largely due to soaring oil prices, was a "major problem" in the United States, while affirming she did not put "at risk the economic recovery" of the country. According to the American Association of motorists AAA, the average price of regular gasoline at the pump in the U.S. yesterday showed an increase of 5.7% on month and 8.8% year on year. In France, the price of fuel will record after record and a liter of unleaded 95 has exceeded the 2 euros in Paris.

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No turnaround but no collapse either. Dissemination of the mainstream press has eroded again in 2011, an average of 2.26%, a decrease of similar magnitude in 2010, according to figures presented Thursday by the OJD, the body diffusion control of the press. According to the Observatory, the French have bought a total of just over 4 billion copies last year.

All families press record a slowdown in sales. If the decline is marked for magazines (-3.11%), it remains contained to the regional daily press (-2.28%) and the national daily press (-1.36%). Among the dailies, Francedemeure West title with the highest circulation (748,213 copies in France paid broadcast). Le Figaro (321,101 copies) and The World (292,062 copies) dominate nationally. Erosion is strongest for Sunday newspapers (-4%) and regional weeklies (-4.4%).

Among the major categories of magazines, newspapers television (TV Magazine, TV Z, Tele 7 Jours …), which represents 40.6% of volumes of magazines, fell by 3.3% between 2010 and 2011. This withdrawal explains to a large extent the magnitude of the decline of all magazines. The women, who had risen in 2010, this time displayed a drop of 2%. Hardest hit the tabloids, which had peaked between 2006 and 2008, accelerating its reflux of 4.6%. Only general news headlines (Paris Match, Le Figaro Magazine …) and news (Le Nouvel Observateur, L'Express …) take their game well, limiting their respective decreases of 0.55% and 0.76%.

Accessibility problem

In smaller classes, lower often exceeds 3%. The sporting press (Team Mag, France Football …) fell by 7.6%, the business press (Capital Challenges …) and the press room (Maxi Cuisine, Regal …) of 4.6% and children's press ( Scrooge Super Giant, Le Journal de Mickey …) 5%. Down sharply, the press photo-film-video-music (First, … Studio Ciné Live) fell by almost 8%. Among the most affected families, the computer press (14%) male and the press (27%) due to the shutdown of securities. However, the press auto-moto and one dedicated to science exhibit good resistance.

For Bartement Patrick, CEO of OJD, it is relative sector crisis. "The spread has declined 20% in five years, 500 million copies in less, he says. But this decline is entirely due to lower sales copy, that is to say, in kiosks and newsagents electronic check payday advance. For subscription sales remained stable, thanks to the portage. "The evidence, he said that the problem facing the press is the first of its distribution network. "When the press is available, the press is selling," says Patrick Bartement. The ongoing restructuring of NMPP, the first distributor of the press in France, is in this sense crucial if the sector is the trend.

More than 35 million readers a day

The French are big consumers of news. This is the main teaching of the first One study, presented Thursday at the 22nd Observatory of the press of OJD. One meets for the first time all the families of press in a single audience measurement, using the same methodology. Every day in France, more than 35 million people read at least one press title, 69% aged 15 and older. Better: they are 97% to pick up a newspaper in hand each month.

On average, 7.1 French read different titles: 1.4 and 5.7 daily magazines. Very fond of magazines, they skim regularly as TV news, but especially securities interests in the world of women, health, cooking, celebrities and family, not to mention the news, the titles "pictures" and economic or home-decor and garden.

Daily newspapers, logically, shorter life spans. At 8 am, 20% of readers of this press have already covered their favorite track. They are 70% at midday. In the family of magazines, weekly newspapers are read for 2.6 days, three days monthly and bimonthly (every two months) 3.4 days. The handling of securities, that is to say the number of times the reader reads the newspaper, reaching 6 to 7 times for magazines, against just over 2.5 for both national and regional newspapers, and 1.6 times for free daily.

All these reading habits are enriched by the rise of digital. The new study incorporates these new forms of reading, which increase the power of writing. One particular reveals that Internet users are also strong supporters of the press, with an average of 7.3 titles read.

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Literary phenomenon – 26 million books sold worldwide-, future successful film, Hunger Games has already rewritten the way the studios are promoting their films. The film should make the best start to the year in the U.S. and pocket this week between 82 million and $ 140 million. What hair briskly to post another fad adolescents film of the moment, Twilight. With a budget of $ 45 million, a team of 21 persons (where an envelope of 100 million and 100 people are the norm), the Canadian studio has fueled a fierce curiosity about the saga of Suzanne Collins, delicate yet for sale : Hunger Games follows 24 teenagers killing each other in an arena at game shows, in a post-apocalyptic America. Even before the triumph of Hunger Games, Hollywood hails a clever marketing plan.

First, the studio has provided a solid foundation. For a faithful adaptation, it instructed the novelist Suzanne Collins to write itself a preliminary scenario. The project budget was generous: $ 80 million, almost three times more than the first Twilight. Distribution also. Upon completion, Gary Ross (Big, Pleasantville), four time Oscar nominee, winning the bet, the end of 2010 bad credit payday advance. For the role of the heroine, Katniss, Lionsgate hesitates between rising stars, including Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) and Jennifer Lawrence (X-Men The beginning, Winter's Bone), cited at the Oscars 2011. Lawrence is finally chosen. These primary choice made, Lionsgate takes out his slow campaign plank on which he since 2009 and must make the fever Hunger Games for a year.

Fake websites, fake ads

First axis: social networks. A chronology established by matrketing services, which states hour by hour, platform by platform exclusives to reveal. In March 2011, the film's Facebook page distills the names of players who embody the tributes of the 12 districts of Panem. As in the book, they are advertised in pairs. Very popular, this page has more than 3 million subscribers. French equivalent totals, him 50,000 followers. In August, Lionsgate on Twitter encourages users to explore the site thecapitol.pn (the Capitol is the venue of the Hunger Games, ed) and to produce an identity card. 800 000 "citizens" meet present and elect their mayors in November.

The stylist Cinna (played by Lenny Kravitz) touts an eyeliner