The UK is preparing to be the center of the world during the Olympic Games in London this summer. But within three months of maturity, the British border crossing is now turning to chaos. Heathrow Airport is at the heart of controversy because of long queues to pass checkpoints immigration. A study by the British Airport Authority said Thursday record three hours of waiting found last Monday in terminal 4. Control agents were sent into a disaster of Manchester in an attempt to streamline the situation.

Tails more than two hours were common in April, while the objectives of the immigration agency, United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), were exceeded for a quarter of passengers 23 days on the 30th of last month. The agency has set an average time of 25 minutes for European citizens and 45 minutes for non-Europeans.

The UKBA had previously sought to minimize the problem. The Immigration Minister, Damian Green, was summoned to explain to the House of Commons, went to Heathrow Monday during a quiet time and was considered "exaggerated" reports on delays. He attributed the delays to bad weather. The boss of British Airways, Willie Walsh has accused the government of "deceiving public opinion" and be "unable to cope with a major problem."

David Cameron himself has described the aftermath as "unacceptable" these delays and asked the competent authorities to act. The outgoing mayor of London, Boris Johnson, wrote to the Interior Minister, Theresa May, in indignant at "the disastrous impression in the UK" and asked him to "rectify the situation for both the Olympics and to manage the normal flow of passengers. "

Downsizing

Largest airport in Europe (and the third world), Heathrow, with 69 million passengers a year, bordering on saturation. London expects 3-5000000 more visitors during the Olympics. The engorgement of its border resulting from the conjunction of several factors.

Last fall, the agency Immigration and Theresa May had been questioned after the revelation of controls "relaxed" on arrival, neglecting the systematic verification of passports of visitors to accelerate the pace. A careful examination papers has been reinstated immediately, lengthening the time. Meanwhile, the UK Border Agency is facing a rise in traffic with fewer staff. The severe budget cuts decided by the government resulted in a decrease of 10% of its workforce since 2010, and an additional 15% could be eliminated by 2015. To make matters worse, the agency staff must go on strike next Thursday, as the entire public service, for retirement. The UKBA has announced the hiring of 80 people from this month and announced it planned reinforcements of 480 officers during the Olympics.

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Presidential in major cities Paris | Leeds | Lyons | Toulouse | Leeds | Sheffield | Liverpool | Bordeaux | Lille

Paca, Ile-de-France and Rhône-Alpes. It is in these three regions experienced more than one third of poor children in France, according to a study by the regional social observation device (Dros). The rate of children living in families with low income was 29.1% in PACA, 21.5% among Parisians and 20% in the Lyon region. Paca, the rate rises to 44 and even 45% in Marseille and Avignon.

This study, conducted primarily using data from the family allowance funds (CAF), shows that parents have very low incomes, about 671 euros per month or 300 euros less than the low income threshold. All depend very heavily on aid from CAF (71% of cases Paca, 66% in the Ile-de-France and 65% in the Rhone-Alpes). Another trend revealed by this survey: the majority of poor children live in single parent families. Paca, 52% live with one parent against 45% in the Rhone-Alpes and 21% in the Ile-de-France.

Difficult living conditions

The study shows that for these children and their families, housing conditions are often extremely difficult, marked by overcrowding, poor heating and insulation, unsafe fast payday loan no faxing. Interviews with these children cite the example Paul, 10, who says his older brother sleeps in the closet "because it is high, he wants to have his privacy." Remarkably, less than half of poor children live in social housing. Paca, they are only 39% to live there because of the weakness of the regional park, with only 56 social housing units per 1000 inhabitants.

Researchers believe these children from poor families "like all other children, before being marked by poverty." They seem unaware of their situation they see as "normal" and not unfair. With age, however, things are changing. These children, who regard their parents with "respect and admiration," are very fatalistic, the researchers said. "The more they get older, more reality imposed upon them," says the study.

(With agencies)

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Fostering dialogue

The first rule in litigation is always trying to find an amicable solution by promoting dialogue. Also, after a finding, it is important to make contact quickly with the adviser or broker in charge of your case. This is an opportunity to obtain justifications and make your point of view.

This is unfortunately not the most common. However it is often popular with insurance companies and after clarification of the parties it is common to reach an amicable agreement.

Associate with other insured

If dialogue is not possible to reach an amicable resolution of the dispute, it may be worthwhile to use associations insured or consumers. This helps to make contact with others who are insured in the same situation vis-à-vis an insurance company. Often, litigation, unity is strength and it can exert more pressure on companies.

Think about the contradictory expert

Often, litigation auto insurance regarding the amount of compensation offered by the insurer. To the extent this amount is mostly determined by an expert, do not hesitate to ask an expert opinion. To do this, simply to mandate an automotive expert at your expense. If the contradictory expert reveals large differences with the report which the insurance company, a third independent expert will arbitrate the dispute.

Namely: the cost of third-party expertise are shared between your insurance company and you.

Hiring a mediator

Completely independent, the mediator of insurance and free intervenes as a last resort. Also, other remedies must be exhausted amicable and should not be any legal proceeding.

To take advantage of his speech, just submit the matter to the mediator of insurance by registered letter with acknowledgment. This folder should contain all parts necessary for the proper understanding of the dispute as well as information regarding the insurance company.

Note: the decision of insurance ombudsman does not require the insurance company but is a strong case if a prosecution should be initiated.

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SERVICE:

"Buddy up CPLUSSUR.COM by our experts to help you choose your best auto insurance policy.

For the second consecutive month, the fuel consumption in France is declining. According to statistics released Monday by the French Union of Petroleum Industries (UFIP), according to data of the Professional Committee of oil (PDCC), fuel shipments in March were down 3.5% from the month of March of last year, reaching 4.2 million cubic meters.

The unleaded fall of 9.1% and diesel, which now accounts for 81.2% market share in France, 2.1%. In February, fuel deliveries had fallen by 1.6% YoY: -7.3% for super, -0.3% for diesel.

This decline in consumption is observed when the pump prices hitting their highs. 1.6619 euro at the average price of a liter of unleaded 95 (SP95) April 6 calculated by the government sprays the peaks of summer 2008 (1.4971 euro June 20, 2008), while the SP98 s' flies to 1.7121 euro per liter.

The euro weakened against the greenback

Gas stations in Paris, who occasionally exceeded the symbolic price of 2 euros per liter, have recently attracted national publicity which they would be well spent business card templates. The preferred fuel of the French, the diesel was selling for an average of 1.4347 euro per liter on April 6, just below the record 2008 which corresponded to a barrel to $ 147, against about $ 120 currently.

The pump price multiplied records while crude oil is trading for less than four years ago, because meanwhile the euro weakened against the greenback, currency exchange gold black. Expressed in European currency, the barrel is the highest.

Consumption of petroleum fuels in France fell by 1.6% from 2007 to 2010. Within this time, the evolution of cars, which account for new models increasingly sober, has had an impact on demand.

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If Air Mediterranean, the French company in difficulty which had relocated to Greece part of his job by creating a local structure, is the perfect illustration of what is wrong with the management of aircrew in France, according to members of the Federation National aviation market (FNAM). Thursday, members of the employers' organization presented a dozen proposals to candidates in the presidential election.

The first of these is to reduce labor costs in the airline industry for companies based in the Hexagon. "Once a company is engaged in a third country with fiscal conditions of the country of origin, the competition promotes the competition governed by social charges and taxes lower," regrets Pascal de Izaguirre, president of the Economic Committee of FNAM. The French sailors cost 20% more on average than elsewhere in Europe, according to Lionel Guerin, President of FNAM.

To restore the French flag in the skies over Europe, members of FNAM require "a shift in the social security contribution base of other taxes and a reduction of employers' costs especially for the sailors, pilots, hostesses and stewards. " Clearly, the French companies require a social framework "harmonized" to address critical gaps between European countries. "In return, we could expand our business and create jobs," says Pascal de Izaguirre.

Maintaining night flying

Air France made its accounts if the company was based in Amsterdam, it would save 750 million euros due to the difference between the tax and benefit systems between France and the Netherlands. "The goal is to avoid seeing happen in the air what happened in the shipping industry where employment is now completely relocated," says Lionel Guerin, also CEO of Transavia, a subsidiary low -cost airline Air France. The answer candidates for this proposal is surprisingly consensual. Nicolas Sarkozy's advisers have estimated that this track orally should be studied. For his part, Francois Hollande replied in writing that "state aid and tax breaks" should go "to companies that invest in our country, who will locate their operations. However, it is clear that future developments should respect the need to balance our accounts. "

Among other proposals, the decrease in security tax, currently borne by passengers; the establishment of a European regulatory framework facing international competition to avoid the payment of state aid in favor of certain carriers, maintaining night flights, easier access to hub airports, but also investing in research to prepare energy developments.

Members of FNAM, who had already launched similar proposals five years ago, hoping this time to be heard. "At the time, Air France and other companies were going well, the price of fuel was half the price … Today, we take the alarm. In five years, we can not say that we had nothing planned, "says the chairman of TUI France.

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Full marks for ver.di. The first major wage negotiations this year in Germany was crowned the success of service trade union leader and his mustache, Frank Bsirske. Negotiators side employees were claiming 6.5% increase to two million civil servants and local authorities. The increase will be 6.3%. This historic increase will be gradual (+ 3.5% of salary plus retroactive to March 1) and spread until August 2013. Four negotiation sessions and forty hours of discussion for the last round resulted in spectacular agreement. The only intransigence Bsirske, who has earned his stripes as a figure of unionism on the occasion, does not explain everything.

The strong protests by the workers during the strikes of March preventive in hospitals, public transport and airports as well as the fear of employers to see the movement repetition employees placed in a strong position. Up to press the government to "pain threshold", in the words of Interior Minister, Hans-Peter Friedrich (CSU), government negotiator.

Election and purchasing power

The union knew they could rely on the benevolence of power: Ursula von der Leyen, Minister of Labour, close to Angela Merkel, had incurred the wrath of employers claiming earlier this year substantial increases in salary . At stake, the advantage for the government to support domestic demand. Chancellor, his eyes fixed on his re-election next year, wants to position itself as the candidate of purchasing power, in a campaign that will address the general issue of minimum wage business cards. This agreement sets the tone in a Germany whose optimism is reflected now on pay slips. Even the liberal FDP, punctilious in the use of public funds, welcomed the outcome of negotiations (amounted to 5 billion euros) for civil servants, it is "fair" they also benefit from growth.

In general euphoria, a blast of cold air came down in Copenhagen. The Danish capital where he was attending the meeting of the Eurogroup, Jens Weidmann, the Bundesbank president, fears that "this increase, combined with the expected rise in energy prices, fueling inflation." He hopes that "this result is not used as a benchmark for other industries." Since 2012 is described here for years "Megatarif". The pay slip 4 million German employees will be the challenge of negotiations in the sectors of metallurgy, power industry, chemical and telecoms. The 33,000 ground employees of the airline Lufthansa have already obtained an increase of 3.5% and 130,000 Deutsche Post up 4%.

And like a vicious cycle, inflation eats the magnitude of the claims. Officially increased by an average of 2.3% last year, German workers have received only an increase of 1.1%, after deducting price increases. One more argument in the quiver of the unions.

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Groupama, Peugeot, Veolia … Many major brands have recently announced a willingness to reduce or completely cut their investments in sports marketing. Yet this phenomenon remain marginal. This is certainly what seems to believe Sporsora, the association of those involved in sports economics, which will publish March 29 at the second conference of the economy of Sport *, the results of its study on the sponsorship of companies.  

Dubbed "Sport in corporate strategy: vision and perception" and carried on the Internet in February 5000 with a major French advertisers file, it brings together the experiences of sponsoring 150 largest advertisers in the Hexagon.

The confidence shown by the marks in the virtues of sports marketing is clear: a large majority of them (68%), in the sponsoring of a component as "full" of their business strategy, and 80% a specific budget dedicated to the promotion of their fame. Better: in times of crisis, and at the hour of streamlining budgets, 61% of advertisers are predicting an increase or stability of these budgets, and 66% of those who already use these modes of communication they retain their confidence, despite the crisis pay day advance.

Distinction sponsorship and patronage

Two thirds of respondents say also that in times of difficulties, it is important to maintain or strengthen sponsorship and patronage. Indeed, 76% say that these channels are different from other types of expressions. Last important lesson of the study, at a time when the concept of return on investment becomes more important as advertisers well distinguished sponsorship sponsorship. For 60% of respondents, the first concept is clearly seen as a mode of communication, and for 62% of them, patronage is identified as an expression of citizenship.

* Dedicated to "The economics of sport in times of crisis, to new growth models." March 29 from 8:30 to 16:30 at the MEDEF headquarters in Paris.

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This is a bad sign for the fledgling market for electric cars. The General Motors has decided to suspend production of its Volt plug-in hybrid for five weeks, the time to "align production with demand." This is an embarrassing decision for the manufacturer, which launched in late 2010 this car with a small engine used to recharge the battery of about 200 kg.

While rising fuel prices at the pump becomes a concern for motorists, the Volt should instead be of great interest. The high price of the vehicle with respect to its performance remains a problem. The sedan costs $ 41,000, not including a tax credit of $ 7500 awarded by the federal government, which wants to promote this technology in the name of reducing pollution. But GM has sold only 7,671 Volt last year in the United States, against 10,000 planned. Since the beginning of the year, just over 1,600 were purchased. The first deliveries of the European version, the Opel Ampera, should start soon.

Purchase long to return

The first American automaker plans to launch a national advertising campaign to boost sales of a vehicle denounced by some as an illustration of a public subsidy "politically correct", without consideration of market reality. GM, which the federal government is still the largest shareholder, was saved from bankruptcy in 2009 by an injection of public funds of $ 50 billion. Despite regular promotions elected by the Democratic Party, sales of electric and hybrid vehicles in the U.S. represent less than 3% of the market.

The main rival of the Volt is paradoxically the Cruze, another vehicle of the Chevrolet brand and look identical. With a conventional gasoline engine but more economical than previous generations of vehicles in this category, the Cruze costs almost twice as cheap. Consumer Reports, an independent private authority, believes it takes six years to the owner of the Volt to recover the sacrifice he had to agree in preferring the new technology rather than the Cruze. This period is far too long to allow the Volt to generate significant interest in the U.S. market.

The Volt was also hurt by a controversy. Protection of its large battery had to be reinforced after the discovery of spontaneous fires in cars immobilized for several days after a violent collision. Besides the surge in gasoline prices and the upcoming advertising campaign, two other factors are expected to boost sales of Volt in 2012: first orders of General Electric, which manufactures loading terminals for its fleet of company vehicles, and secondly the new California regulation: on motorways, expressways reserved for cars carrying more than one person at peak times will also be open to electric cars, even if they are occupied by only one person …

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In the Pink City, the label high-tech is not confined to aviation. The textile industry may also be asserted. The Department of Defense – the Pentagon – just choose an SME Toulouse, Paul Boye Technologies, to provide the required protection in nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC).

The contract of 96 million euros over four years concluded after months of effort sounds like a win for that reference SME of 201 people.

"Winning the bid to the Pentagon will help us win other international contracts," Boye hope Jacques, president of the family business, which carries 62% of its sales (63 million euros in total year past) in the area of ​​defense and security.

To succeed overseas, it created a subsidiary in the United States and has partnered with local partners, Tennessee Apparel Corp. and Creative Apparel Associates. "It was mandatory to win the decision in a market sensitive," says Jacques Boye. The contractor does not want to indicate whether a part of the production of combat clothing with high added value or not will be produced in one of his four French factories.

This firm, which already dressed firefighters and some French soldiers, won the famous contract masks to protect from flu "H1N1". This investment of 3 million had allowed a turnover of 70 million. "We managed to be better than the Chinese," recalls Jacques Boye who participated in the conquest of America and coveted markets on other continents.