The lawsuit against Samsung in the iPhone 4S, very fast, is not a surprise. During September, several of its leaders had suggested to the English-language daily Korea Times that a major action was preparing for "Apple hanging in the courts' right out of the new iPhone."It will be impossible for Apple to sell its iProduits with telecommunications functions, without using our patents," explained an officer of Samsung on condition of anonymity.

In detail, the Samsung grievances against Apple are the same as when filing a complaint with the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris, July 8, against the iPhone 3G and 3G, the iPhone 4 , and 1 and 2 iPad 3G version. According to Samsung, these devices infringe three of its patents on W-CDMA technology, used for third generation mobile telephony. The application for interim measures against the iPhone 4S is it on two of its patents.

"We seem to move towards a total war"

The application for non-iPhone 4S in France and Italy in addition to a litany of lawsuits between Apple and Samsung launched in over ten countries unsecured personal loans.The American group, which attacked the first, seeks to prohibit particular tablet Galaxy Tab 10.1 smartphone Galaxy and S2, which he considered too much like the iPad. He earned a win in Germany and Australia, achieving a ban on the shelf. A proposed agreement, Australia has been refused by Apple.

Samsung, which had initially decided to adopt a defensive position, finally decided to strike back against the courts. "We seem to move towards a total war," said a spokesman for the group told AFP. However, it concluded last week an agreement with Microsoft, by agreeing to pay a fee for each Android phone sold under its brand and committing to support the development and marketing of Windows Phone.

Adversaries in court, Apple and Samsung are still partners.In 2010, Apple was also the second largest customer of Samsung, after Sony, representing 4% of its annual turnover. Memory and the processor of the iPhone A4 and 4 are supplied by the South Korean conglomerate. Samsung also manufactures the processor of the iPad 2 A5, which is found in the iPhone 4S. Its share in the design of other parts of the new Apple phone is not yet known.

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This small town of 598 inhabitants located in the province of Frosinone in the center of the country declared independence in protest against the government's austerity plan which provides for the pooling of budgets of small towns under 1000 inhabitants. The new "Principality" issued 20,000 tickets to the effigy of the Mayor and has already set an exchange rate against the euro if it would carry out its threat of secession. The "Fiorito" would then 0.50 euro.

The idea of ​​an alternative currency to the euro or the dollar is not new. By 2003, Prien am Chiemsee, a common German Bavaria, has released the "Chiemgauer." Notes 1,2,5, 10, 20 and 50 Chiemgauers have the same value as the euro and can be used in a network of retailers and businesses that have joined the project. Today there are 617 members. The phenomenon has become so widespread in Germany there are about sixty local currencies.

Development "solidarity"

These alternative currencies have also landed in France. At the initiative of the Association for the living act, the Bee has appeared in the wallets of the people of Villeneuve-sur-Lot in the Lot-et-Garonne, in January 2010. In Toulouse, the Sol-Violette is intended as a "currency ethics", which aims to promote "economic solidarity".Finally, the South Ardeche has established its currency, the Firefly, in spring 2011 in order to "pave the way for a greener economy of the human being and its environment."

Hints "solidarity" that is found throughout Europe, the hour or the debt crisis is spreading cheap business cards. In Belgium, in the region of Hainaut, in Mons has launched the Ropi to "relocate the economy, preparing for post-growth, and put the citizen at the heart of the debates and decisions, including finance and monetary issues. " These concerns go far beyond European borders. In the United States in the region of the Berkshire (Massachusetts), associations were created in 2006 a parallel currency system, based on BerkShares. Today, more than 400 companies accept this money, and more than 2.7 million BerkShares are outstanding, redeemable at $ 1 against 0.95 BerkShares.

Closed circuit

Faced with the popularity of these alternative currencies, the euro and the dollar they have to be worried? In a report published in 2007, the Deutsche Bundesbank, the German Central Bank, was already wondering if they could compete with the euro. According to the institution, the local currency in circulation in Germany then weighed the equivalent of 200,000 euros and their impact on the economy was "negligible." Today, they account for 900,000 euros.

The Bank of France, meanwhile, said that the legal tender, as defined in the Monetary and Financial Code, is the fundamental principle of any form of payment. "Traders are obliged to accept notes and coins are legal tender with this." Conversely, the release of a parallel currency is not prohibited, but it must be under an agreement between the different users."This currency is not exchangeable and circulates in a closed circuit," says the institution. Despite the snowball effect, the euro has probably nothing to fear from local currencies doomed to remain confidential.

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Thus, the European Central Bank (ECB), the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of England, Swiss National Bank and the Bank of Japan have opened their facilities for dollar loans to European institutions in three months, at their request. The decision was hailed by leading international institutions including the IMF, through its President Christine Lagarde: "This is a clear indication on their part, from the two largest members of the euro area from a point of Economically, the future of Greece is truly in the euro area.This appears to be strongly rooted in them both, "she said Thursday night by referring to the Franco-German tandem. The same applies to the ECB: "We are all very closely 'united in one purpose,'" said last night Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the ECB.

A meeting of finance ministers in Poland

However, brokers are concerned that this improvement was not part of the time. "The coordinated central bank takes the market today," noted Toshiyuki Kanayama, broker at Monex, quoted by Dow Jones Newswires. But this does not solve the problem of the euro area should have a temporary effect. "Suddenly, all eyes have turned to Wroclaw in Poland, where there is a meeting of EU finance ministers on Greece.It should last two days and overcome the remaining obstacles to the implementation of the second plane to Athens to help avoid bankruptcy the country, totaling nearly 160 billion euros, decided July 21. Note that Timothy Geithneir, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, will attend the round table.

On the other side of the Atlantic, U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday night that his plan for the use of 447 billion dollars could generate "up to 2 points of growth" and lower "a point unemployment ", by creating 1.9 million jobs, in a speech in Washington. And while the United States are experiencing an unemployment rate of 9.1%.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro kept most of the gains made the previous day.The European currency was worth 1.3848 dollars and 106.31 yen Friday morning, down slightly compared to 1.3882 dollars from the previous evening. Similarly, the oil price displayed in a small increase in morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" earned 5 cents to 89.45 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea 14 cents to 112.44 dollars. "This liquidity will likely prevent the recession to hit the euro area, supporting crude oil prices," said Victoire Shum, an analyst at Purvin and Gertz in Singapore.

On the macroeconomic front, foreign trade and balance of payments in the euro area for the month of July will be published on Friday.

In France, business start-ups in France rebounded in August after two months of decline.A total of 41,697 companies were created last month, according to Insee, a figure up 7.5% from July, which was the worst month for a year and a half.

United States, the net capital flows and the index of consumer confidence from the University of Michigan will be published early in the afternoon.

Values ​​to follow

Banking

Again, banks, led by Societe Generale (4.96% to 19.19 euros), Credit Agricole (3.30% to 5.70 euros) and BNP Paribas (3.92% at 31, 69 euros), will be scrutinized by investors, following the decision by central banks to help European institutions.

Air France-KLM (0.84% ​​to 6.11 euros) and EADS (+0.02% at 22.22 euros)

The manufacturer will control 50 devices equally between European manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, for a total of $ 11.3 billion (8.1 billion euros) to ensure the renewal of its fleet, say Les Echos to be published Friday.

Hermes (-6.08% to 252 euros)

Resumption of trading on Friday for the title of the luxury group, which was suspended the day pending the decision of the Court of Appeal in Paris on speculation about the fate of its capital due to a possible takeover bid by LVMH.

Areva (3.17% to 21.66 euros)

The group has suspended two months for the production of two French factories processing of uranium due to the decline in demand for nuclear power plants in Japan after the disaster in Fukushima, officials said Thursday from the French nuclear group.

EDF (2.25% to 21.09 euros)

Group and Electrical Delmi A2A and its majority shareholder, who jointly control Edison, announced the extension of their shareholder agreement until October 31 at number two in the Italian electricity.

On Thursday, during an extraordinary works council, which lasted all day, Pascal de Izaguirre had planned to give details of the plan. He did not last. "The topic of the day was the proposed merger and any socially impossible before, says Le Figaro Jorge Partida, secretary of the EC and member of the FOR trade union, a majority. Pascal de Izaguirre wanted to give a figure for job cuts. At our request, he did not mention it.It was not on the agenda, we told him to observe the melting process. "

The plan is part of a drastic turnaround strategy Nouvelles Frontieres, which should acknowledge this year the heaviest operating loss in its history. To restore the finances of the company, Pascal de Izaguirre upsets ever habits by bringing together under one roof all brands (New Frontiers, Marmara, Tourinter and adventurer), without removing either. By doing this, this former Air France, arrived first at the head of Corsairfly before returning in May orders for the whole group, wants to end the spirit of competition that may exist between Marmara and New Frontiers, and save money.

'Strategic mistakes

The new entity will be called TUI Travel France and centered around a renewed organization, lighter and cross."The project" Convergence "is never an objective of uniform or standardized offerings," insists Pascal de Izaguirre.

By grouping the teams, Pascal de Izaguirre wants to impose more rigorous management, and revive the "spirit of conquest", which had the reputation of New Frontiers. "This plan is the fourth since the early 2000s and the takeover by the German group Preussag, held at the time by Jacques Maillot, said Jean Serrat, a former captain in Corsairfly and former secretary of the EC until 2006. The previous plans were not enough to boost sales momentum because there were strategic errors (in the diversification of products, distribution …). For the first time, brings together teams of Marmara and New Frontiers.This is finally going in the direction of a cost rationalization was inevitable. "

Pascal de Izaguirre wants to go fast. The implementation of the new operational structure of the company is scheduled for early 2012. He has no choice. In recent years, New Frontiers has lost market share that will be difficult to regain. Increasingly, too, is necessary in Internet travel sales, with the arrival of new competitors, starting with Google, which promises to shake up the industry with a brand new search engine for airline tickets.

Also new, the consumer, always on the lookout for bargains, it also has a growing tendency to move from one tour operator.

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For security, the three New York airports – JFK, La Guardia and Newark – will be closed Saturday for aircraft arriving at noon (18 hours Paris time). The flights from these airports, however, may take off until further notice. This is an extraordinary disruption to an area that typically concentrates the air flow one of the densest in the world: each year, as many as 100 million passengers pass through this metropolis.This weekend, nearly 8,000 flights should be canceled.

Like most of his counterparts, Air France announced Friday the cancellation of all flights to New York JFK on Saturday and Sunday, while disturbances are waiting on those provided to and from other cities the coast, like Washington, Philadelphia or Boston. The resumption of service, from Monday, could also be laborious and cause further disruption, have also warned the airlines.

Transport suspended

Measure more tangible for the people, public transport will be suspended in the Big Apple this Saturday from noon until probably Monday rush hour instant credit report. The subway, buses and railways do not circulate. Motorists have also been asked to leave their cars at home until the alert is lifted.If winds exceed this weekend 96 km / hour, the authorities of the State of New York have also warned they would close the main roads towards the city, and some bridges.

Given the restriction of transportation and possible damage caused by the passing of Irene, the inhabitants were ordered to stockpile water and food in preparation for the weekend. "Water is our product that sells best," noted the retailer Wal-Mart on Friday. Many are those who are armed with power generators in case of power failure.

To address these potential damages, the cost could rise to nearly $ 12 billion according to consulting firm Kinetic Analysis, U.S. authorities are preparing to deploy in new ways.900 National Guardsmen and 2,500 workers in the electricity sector include ready to intervene in case of power failure. All these measures aim to avoid at all costs repeating a scenario to Katrina, the hurricane that was painfully struck New Orleans in 2005.

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Sosh will mark "all digital", only sold on the Internet. If have to wait until September for details and more particularly the rates, Stéphane Richard said it would be a "soft offer, without commitment," which will decline "two kinds of attractive packages in price ", available with and without mobile terminal.Sosh, whose name is "a nod to the term" social network ", wants to build on social networks and user communities, said Stéphane Richard. It offers a low-cost but not low value. "

With this brand, France Telecom follows the lead of its competitors. SFR was the first to lead the way in June 2010 with its "economic advantage". The operator proposed a package on average 10 to 20% cheaper if the customer subscribing or purchasing retaining also his mobile. A year later, at the launch packages "Square", SFR explained that 15% of subscriptions were dry, that is to say without a telephone.

In early July, Bouygues Telecom has taken a step forward in the world of low-cost brand by launching the first low cost of a large operator.The two packages of "B & You" (our editions of July 5) are attractive, for example, 24 payday loans.9 euros per month for calls, SMS, MMS and unlimited Wi-Fi 24/24, but that a terminal it is associated.

Reduce subsidies

The recent popularity of telecommunications operators for low-cost offers several origins and first of all the expected arrival of Free, renowned for its ability to break the established codes. Whereas in 2012, its competitors are afraid to see him land in October 2011, with rates very low, just like what he has done over the Internet, with the first offers to 29.99 euros. There is also growing competition from virtual operators (MVNO).Finally, the increase in the price of the terminals has also forced the operators to review their business model.

Until now, to lure new customers or retain old, operators put forward the phones heavily subsidized. But the development of smartphones has changed the situation, with the arrival on the market for phones with more than 600 euros 149 euros … sold by subscription.

If operators and manufacturers refuse to disclose the sale price of "professional" and therefore the exact amount of the grant, it is the secret that the cost of acquiring new customers is a clear tendency to increase.The development offers low-cost in telephony, which are essentially free subscription offers mobile, could however not be sufficient to reverse the trend.

Consumers, especially the French are, by the admission of Stéphane Richard, very attached to offers of renewal.

With a paid circulation of 323,692 copies, France on average each day, Le Figaro is the first national daily, representing an increase of 3.86% of sales compared to the same month last year. Le Monde (297,893 copies) shows, in turn, an increase of 5.84%. But it's liberation has benefited most from the proliferation of news, with a jump of 11 online pay day loans.84% to 123,479 copies. Over the same period, Le Parisien has gleaned 0.76% (293 558 ex.) And now in France 1.66% (163 918 ex.).Always among the GPs, only France Soir and La Croix declined 4% and 11.8%.

These good performances can be found in the overall figures for traffic information sites. In May, Lefigaro.fr beat her audience, crossing the threshold of 8 million unique visitors in front of Orange News (6.4 million), Lemonde.fr (6.3 million) and 20minutes.fr (5, 8 million).

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Saturday, Ali will start at 19:10 Baddou the start of his show The Big Mag, scheduled on Saturday in the clear on Canal +, until August 27. Four years after arriving on the pay channel, the journalist is thus for the first time give his own TV show. "The Great Mag is 52 minutes, mainly of reports around the world, and who give themselves the ambition to tell the world in which we live. There are also meetings with personalities that have marked the year just ended, "said Ali Baddou. For the first issue, The Great Mag return among other Ali Agca, the man who tried to kill Pope John Paul II in 1981, and the phenomenon of the gilded youth of Shanghai imitating the codes of the heroes of the film Fast and Furious. Before proposing a meeting with Nicolas Anelka."For the first time he speaks for this great moment in South Africa in the locker room with Raymond Domenech," said the journalist to seeing you on June 25 to determine the version of football.

Beyond this project, the journalist will use the summer to prepare for his return at the helm of the special edition, on which it will replace Bruce Toussaint, recruited to lead the morning of Europe 1. Renamed New Edition, "the issue deeply enough to change, details columnist Grand Journal de Michel Denisot. We will keep the anchor in the news, but telling it through those who live it. The show will host a lot of guests and witnesses who will say, on various subjects and varied, how they perceive the news. " Is for this revised version, a format more focused on the testimony and culture. The cast of writers, however, should not change."Ariel Wizman, Daphne Burki, Anne-Elisabeth Lemoine, Nicolas Domenach be faithful to the position."

Hearing no targets

So we said leaving for France 2, the host denies "rumors" and talks about his choice to accept the slice of mid-day on Canal + in 2008 after refusing the morning of the chain, already replacing Bruce Toussaint. "I already went out three years of morning radio, so I did not even discuss the project. There, it's very different, it's a great challenge, especially a presidential year where there is all to do. " Last year, the issue of Bruce Toussaint realized an average 4.4% audience share, or about 590,000 faithful daily. A difficult challenge? "Right now, we talk primarily of the content," says Ali Baddou, denies having received, at the moment, the objectives of hearing from Canal +.

In addition to these two programs by signing the rise of the chain, the journalist will continue to be the joker of Michel Denisot the presentation of the Grand Journal, although it will cease its daily columns on the flagship show of Canal +. He imagines in designated successor? "It really is not there. I replace it, it looks as I do … It's normal, it has nothing to do with the future. " Meanwhile, the man who started his career as a journalist at France Culture (he hosted the morning of the station from 2006 to 2009 and the weekly Le Rendezvous policies) gives clear priority to its television operations. "I pause my radio activities next year," said Ali Baddou at First Attempts to raise the weekly meeting that he still animated at France Culture.

Spared by the riots, neighboring countries are the same conclusion, but with less marked declines. Before the attack in Marrakesh, Morocco registered a decline in attendance by 5% over last year. The downturn in tourism has also expanded to countries in the Middle East.For example, Jordan, hit by protests in February, also posted a drop in attendance, including -12.3% for French tourists during the first three months of 2011.

Advertising campaigns to reassure

Faced with the decline in tourism, communication is the best way to revive the Arab-sector activity. A new advertising campaign, launched in May by the Tunisian National Tourism Office (ONTT) ironic about the political events of the preceding months. "The idea is to propose an aggressive advertising campaign in three phases: beach tourism, cultural tourism and golf tourism," says Adel Ben Khelil of ONTT."People always choose from at the last minute, and they may change their mind for Tunisia."

Egypt, which relies on the return of tourists in September, is also preparing a campaign to appear in newspapers and on Facebook. "We've already managed to bring back tourists from countries of Eastern Europe to Egypt. Our goal now is to reassure Europeans that all is well in the country so that they return in winter, "said Nahed Rizk, Director of the Office of Tourism of Egypt in Paris. With relative calm on the political front, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism Mounir Abdel Nour says see "the end of the tunnel," indicating that there has not been a single incident with tourists since January 25, the beginning of disorders. To further reassure tour operators in France, the minister will be June 7 in Paris unveiled its plan to revive tourism in the country.Meanwhile, Egypt is organizing a campaign to press for travel and tour operators.

Jordan, provided with a promotional budget smaller than the main tourist destinations in the Maghreb, put on the Internet, hoping to attract a different audience as regulars in the country. "This campaign launched to relatively accessible prices, especially for families with children," says Xavier Gougeon, director of the Jordan Tourism Board in France.

Tour operators more cautious

Despite the announcement of many recovery programs by governments, the French tour operators are yet reserved about the prospects of recovery in tourism to these destinations.Following numerous postponements and cancellations, the group Thomas Cook says the impact of non-reservation has been estimated for the entire group at 22 million pounds (17.8 million euros) in the first half of this year, with nearly 160,000 cancellations for the MENA (Middle East and North Africa). The group is aiming for 60% of sales for this summer, but hopes for a recovery soon with a promotion on the circuits.

In FRAM, all destinations except Syria are reopened. "If problems arise, we adapt immediately routes to avoid areas affected by the unrest. Through a network of correspondents on the spot, we are constantly informed of the situation in these countries, "says Adeline Canners, a spokesman for FRAM, adding that the goals this year are revised downwards.Because of problems in the Arab world, FRAM agencies have lost nearly a third of travelers, but hope for a recovery soon. "Do not underestimate word-of-mouth. We do show those who have been there, "she says, before concluding:" But for Egypt, in their place, I jumped at the chance. There's nobody, it's very pleasant. " Tour operators expect an early return to normal in September, without giving more specific information.

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For the remainder of the year, Gap's performance will mainly be sealed by far outweigh the cost estimates on which was based management. "The group now expects that production costs per unit are 20% more expensive than anticipated in the second half of this year," said Glenn Murphy, the owner of Gap, in a statement.And even the price increases passed on its products will not help. Thus the net profit per share forecast for 2011 is now between 1.40 and 1.50 dollars, 1.88 to 1.93 against dollar before.

The cost increase is attributable to that in cotton. Pound of cotton surpassed the dollar in September (+65% in total over the year 2010) and continues its surge in currently trading at $ 1.60, amid global demand is not falling face a production which has been beset by bad weather.

The profit warning, issued by one of the largest textile groups in the world should thrill the sector as a whole. Especially as other major brands like H & M, struggling not to pass on these higher charges on their prices.The impact could be even heavier.

Change of course at the Gap

In early May, the art, warmth director Patrick Robinson, 42, joined Gap. Whoever was working since May 2007 to provide the Californian label image sharper mode has been replaced by Jennifer Giangualano, senior vice president of design and infant child, who resumed the post in the interim. Or comparable to the "fast fashion" or the lucrative "second line", the world of jeans and, overall, the casualwear is in perpetual motion.

The arrival of Abercrombie & Fitch on the Champs Elysees yesterday in the form Theyskens Theory as the media and commercial success of the Japanese behemoth Uniqlo but also more trendy labels like J Brand or Acne … forced to revise its Gap Design course but especially its strategy and positioning.

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