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.

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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Terrestrial digital radio (DAB) will she set up in 2012? The Higher Audiovisual Council (CSA) and wants just updated the call for tenders launched in March 2008 to Paris, Nice and Marseille. A call to cover twenty new cities to follow. The regulator does and apply the law of 5 March 2007 on the modernization of audiovisual broadcasting, said Rachid Arhab, advisor to the CSA in charge of the RNT.

But his initiative has provoked outrage from the Bureau of Radio, bringing together networks RTL, NRJ Group, Lagardère Active and NextRadioTV. "The CSA seeks the forced passage and launches an unfunded project between the two rounds of the presidential election!" Railed this association. Candidates in 2008 and for certain selected by the CSA at the time, these four private groups say they are now "reserved" on the launch of the RNT. "We are not against digital radio. But we want to know how many radios there will be local, how many there will be national and what is the vision of CSA in the long run? "Explains Michel Cacouault, President of the Office of the radio. Information that would be necessary to establish private radios for a business plan over the long term. In practice, they are afraid of having to finance, long, double analogue and digital, of many issuers, while the French are not yet equipped with suitable receivers.

"We try to corner us on the question of the economic model. But it is to find the radios, not the CSA, "retorts Rashid Arhab. Economic needs will also depend on the speed at which digital radio is launched. For this, the new call for applications imposes minimum thresholds of coverage to be achieved in five years. According to Rachid Arhab, they are "significant, without strangling operators." Another variable that escapes the CSA: consumer expectations. "Let the listener and the market decide how TNR works," says the counselor, who works at the revival of the issue since the fall.

Support independent

His efforts have joined efforts for six months by the Union Interprofessional Independent Radio and Television (Sirti). The latter went so far as to claim before the State Council the allocation of broadcasting licenses to selected candidates in 2008. For its members, as for-profit radio stations, the TNR is a promise of development. The Sirti and SNRL, associations representing the stations, therefore support the decision of the CSA.

The latter was given until May 31 for candidates to file for new records or update their records to a digital radio frequency. "Otherwise, the candidate is now considered a candidate as part of its original case," defined in Article 2 of the new call for applications. At least to withdraw their cases filed in 2008, the Bureau of Radio and remain candidates for RNT.

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Passengers departing from or arriving at Orly on Monday and Tuesday next, should inform themselves of their flight before leaving for the airport. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has announced on Friday it asked airlines to remove 20% of flights for two days, due to a strike call by three unions of air traffic controllers .

"Some disruption may on the whole territory", including at regional airports from Sunday night, also warned a spokesman. Officers will be strikers in provincial airports affected by a reform of work organization. It will also be the case agents Orly or regional centers of control in flight navigation. DGCA says, however, that the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle will not be affected.

DGCA prefers to take precautions while the CGT, CFDT and UNSA Civil Aviation All three filed a notice of strike to oppose a plan to restructure air traffic control services in the provinces. The unions condemn a plan to close "half of approach control service in France with their support services and maintenance, all regional services flight information and part of the aerodrome control."

"Threats to the working conditions"

The departments responsible for security and air traffic control in cities such as Mulhouse, Biarritz, Metz-Nancy are or Beauvais "directly threatened with closure or relocation," suggests the USAC-CGT, which is also concerned that the policy the DGAC make "a serious threat on the working conditions of workers in organizing the under-staffed." The SPAC-CFDT (CFDT union personnel of Civil Aviation) asked management to stop applying "indiscriminately" non-replacement of staff on two retiring (RGPP), made "to back conditions of employment of staff and services. "

For its part, the DGAC justifies its willingness to restructure its services to changing needs, increased European coordination, the RGPP and technology upgrading. Maurice Georges, Director of Air Navigation, told AFP Friday at the will of the DGAC "reorganize air traffic control to improve service and optimize its resources." "It was this type of reorganization for 20 years, just over the water, but now we would have a broader vision to 2020," he said.

After the strike call, "we have implemented the provisions of the minimum service required by the 1984 Act and therefore requisitions," said the Director of Air Navigation. "There will be disturbances, because the minimum service that is not to compel all controllers but only a number based on a good balance between the right to strike and the minimum service required by the law," Maurice George added.

(With agencies)

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The National Society Corse Méditerranée (SNCM) lost Friday the benefit of much of the subsidies it enjoyed. The Corsican Assembly voted Friday because the new methods of shipping services to the island. As expected, the recommendations of the Executive were followed. The new public service delegation (PSD) – the former was denounced by the Administrative Court of Appeal of Marseilles in November – no longer subsidize the transport 410,000 passengers a year against more than one million currently, and in 1600 linear meters of cargo, with rotations of 23 weekly frequencies between Marseille and the five Corsican ports. A reduction of 60% compared to the old contract. An endowment called "complementary service" financing maritime connections during peak periods, especially with the summer influx of tourists, will also be more funded Territorial Community of Corsica (CTC).

To justify its decision, the CTC relies on the argument used by the judges that the DSP can step in to fill gaps in the competitive sector, and therefore should not subsidize the boats during peak periods, especially in summer when no shortage of passengers. A so-called "welfare", denounced as a form of disguised subsidy to reduce the ticket prices, has finally been removed. The CTC also rejected the principle of territorial continuity Toulon harbor, stronghold of the private company Corsica Ferries, whose vessels fly the Italian flag and holds the key market share in passenger traffic, but where SNCM, has since recovered several months of rotations to develop its business in the transport of goods.

A study commission

These decisions may seal the fate of the shipping company. The company will have to separate at least two car ferries (which carried 540,000 passengers last year) and 800 employees in 2000, warned Marc Dufour, chief executive. Above all, he feared not being able to compete with its competitor. He says the Journal du Dimanche, as Corsica Ferries employs half as many employees it pays three to four times cheaper because it hires mostly foreign sailors in CSD.

Given the risk of new social plan, 400 jobs have already been abolished in 2008, unions are mobilizing. The CGT has filed a strike notice from Tuesday, March 27. Its manager, Frederic Alpozzo, called competitors to comply with the rules of labor rights and the French owners of SNCM, the Transdev group Veolia (66%) and state (25%) was bailing the company. If the state remains silent, Veolia, which began its withdrawal from the transport sector, has already proposed to the community of Corsica to regain its majority stake in the company privatized in 2005 for a symbolic euro. A proposal described as grotesque by the Transportation Agency of Corsica. Veolia representatives must meet the elected this week. CTC in turn did not close all doors. Creating a study commission to create a regional shipping company has also been adopted by the Assembly on Friday.

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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

On 13 February the share price of the Apple brand has surpassed for the first time the symbolic $ 500. Fifteen days later, its market capitalization crossed the threshold of $ 500 billion. Apple is now the most expensive company in the world. In ten years, the firm value has been multiplied by 55. One who placed $ 10,000 on Apple in 2002 could now buy a Manhattan apartment overlooking Central Park! Rising Will it continue? Y does a bubble on the title Apple? After such a stock market boom, the question is quite clear. Innovation capacity of the group is not infinite and the other smartphone manufacturers and electronics do not remain idle. The concentration of income of the company around two flagship products, the iPhone and the iPad, is also a point of fragility. Apple is not immune to a hiccup, but for now, investors are on a cloud and continue to flock to the title. Here are seven reasons that make them love Apple.

The best growth

Since 2007, the release of the iPhone, the firm at the apple has increased its turnover by more than four. During the last quarter of 2011, which includes Christmas sales, it jumped 64.8%. A recent study by the U.S. bank JPMorgan activity including projections through 2013 show that sales of Apple might, in seven years, advancing an average of 37% per year. Conclusion of the analyst, one must have in its portfolio: Apple is growing five times faster than the finest examples of American technology, such as Google, Amazon, Dell, Cisco and Microsoft.

Profitability is a dream

The firm at the apple generated in the previous year ended September 24, 2011 net income of $ 25.9 billion, which corresponds to a net margin of 23.9%, worthy of a luxury group LVMH like. During the last quarter of 2011, the group went higher with a profit of 13 billion, with net margin to a record 28.2%. Analysts at Societe Generale are waiting for the current year a net profit of nearly $ 43 billion, one of the highest ever achieved by a private company. Unusually, sales growth is not done at the expense of profitability. According to a study by the U.S. bank JPMorgan, the manufacturer of the iPhone could end the year with a gross margin of 43.1%, one of the best ratios of Wall Street.

A value "still" very wise

Unlike technology companies of the 2000s, which dealt in stock several dozen times the amount of their turnover without a penny of profit, Apple remains poorly valued. At current, the stock pays less than 10.5 times expected profits for the current year, while on Nasdaq, the market for technology stocks in New York, shares are traded on the basis of more 15 times earnings estimates for the current year. Better, up 40% of its shares would place it in the average American coast. UBS analysts are betting on a net income of $ 48 billion in 2014. In other words, the title is paid 8.5 times estimated profits in three years. It is therefore one of the values ​​cheap Nasdaq.

A global business

Apple has the advantage of not depend on any particular geographical area for sales. The group is present on all continents, which puts him immune to geopolitical risks. During the last quarter, the group realized $ 17 billion of sales in the U.S., which remains its largest market. Europe is second with 11.2 billion. Asia and the rest of emerging countries represent $ 13.8 billion. A tremendous reservoir of growth for years to come. Do not spoil, the allocation of profits by geographical areas shows that it is in emerging countries margins are the strongest.

Considerable reserves

The $ 100 billion of cash available to the firm are fantasizing analysts. With that kind of money, anything is possible. Unless the madness: the management of the group remains true to its creed: "The cash we do not burn your pockets." This does not prevent investors dreaming of a share repurchase program that would magnify their gains.

A fabless model

Apple does not have a factory. The assembly of its products is fully contracted. This organizational model is praised by analysts. The efficiency of its supply chain is cited as a model, including by some competitors. Fabless, no fixed costs. But it could also be the Achilles heel of the firm, thank you for the goodwill of its suppliers (some of which are also competitors) or a scandal over working conditions at these sites.

The art of customer loyalty

Apple has created around its products a world that feeds on itself. A development model formidable since purchase almost automatically generates another. Apple has never sold as many Macs that since he launched the iPad. Customers are real fans of the brand. The business model also relies on the sale of associated services such as music and video (iTunes has generated 1.7 billion revenue over the previous quarter). The group has just opened a new market with its system of data storage remote icloud, already endorsed by 85 million people.

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No wonder that the backup industry has become an issue in the presidential Since 2001, the manufacturing sector has lost over 800,000 jobs in France. Each week brings a lot of sites in need. After the textile factory Lejaby and module manufacturer Photowatt, it is the turn of the steel plant of ArcelorMittal Florange in Lorraine, put to sleep by the judgment of its two blast furnaces, to generate the anxiety … and the attention of politicians.

Francois Hollande visited Florange Friday. There promised legislation that would prevent a company wanting to emerge from a French site to block a takeover by a buyer. Filed Monday in Parliament, this bill has no chance of being passed before the elections. But its content must be dated. In detail, the text is not so coercive as that. "If there is no buyer, we will force the company not wanting to close the plant to find one," said Alain Rousset, President of PS Aquitaine and responsible for industrial matters within the Holland team.

Defensive tool

"By cons, if buyers are presented, the company can no longer refuse to cede the factory, as sometimes happens now. This is the commercial court which will then choose the buyer, "added the official, who sees the device as a defensive tool against abusive practices by companies not wanting to deliver profitable customers or technology to a potential buyer competing .

On the other side of the political spectrum, we do not share this vision. "The logic of this bill is a logical administered economy that always leads to impoverishment," Francois Fillon on Monday denounced the Salon de l'Agriculture. RTL, Nicolas Sarkozy said he preferred to act through the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF), the armed wing of the State acquires a stake in companies. "It makes sense, is to invest," said the president-nominee. Nevertheless, in the case of ArcelorMittal, the use ISP has nothing obvious, the group being held to 40.8% by the Mittal family. Similarly, the government can push, as reaffirmed by Nicolas Sarkozy, the direction to invest in the blast furnace restarts in the second half. But this is ArcelorMittal, as a private company, which will decide whether to invest, based on economic criteria.

The state could in fact intervene through Ulcos European project, focused on CO2 reductions. Through this project, a new blast furnace could be built to high performance Florange. Last autumn, the French government is committed to provide 150 million euros to this program. Commitment that Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed on RTL. Still, it must also get the green light from Brussels. The European Commission must give its opinion in October 2012. Francois Hollande had gone to discuss the subject in Brussels last November. Nicolas Sarkozy has promised to speak at the European summit later this week. But again, the project will not succeed if it is not economically viable

.

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This estimate was released Wednesday by the Institute for Research and Documentation in Health Economics (Irdes).Of course it raises a question of quality of care (from 5.3 to 7.1 adverse events "serious" occur for 1000 hospital days, showed a previous survey). But it also points a real financial issue: according to Irdes, "the total cost of ownership of these adverse events is estimated at 700 million" a year. Compared to 460 million deficit in public hospitals in 2010.

The average additional cost is 500 euros for birth trauma, often resulting in lighter and less than one additional day of hospitalization, and 20,000 euros for sepsis (18.5 days).

The head of the Italian Government is committed to the adoption by Parliament before Nov. 15 its plan to revive growth, the first stage at least. The measures were approved Wednesday by the Cabinet. Among the main liberalization of regulated professions and local public services, commitment to gradually raise the retirement age to 67, administrative simplification, auction of 15 billion euros in property assets of the state in three years.

This plan is in addition to 54 billion budget savings passed in September to restore public finances to balance by 2013, when the deficit reached 3.9% this year.

The first event will be played next week in the Senate.Silvio Berlusconi to seek the confidence for his government. He should get it easily, with a large enough majority in the House. In the process, he will present the text for final approval in the House of Deputies. It will be a different story. On October 15, on another vote, there was obtained the confidence by 316 votes against 301. But since his majority has disintegrated. Six deputies Wednesday, two more have defected Friday. "They will return to their positions," said Silvio Berlusconi in Cannes Friday.

Days numbered for the government

A release is actually unlikely. For four days, the Head of State Giorgio Napolitano multiplies the consultations, calling on all political forces, including opposition to "assume their responsibilities in Europe."