The giant merger between American Airlines and U.S. Airways said

A further step is taken in the long-awaited merger of American Airlines, under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy law, and U.S. Airways. This would create the world's largest airline by passenger numbers at United and Delta. This behemoth weigh $ 37 billion. Friday, AMR, the parent company of American Airlines and U.S. Airways have announced study the possibility of a merger. Both carriers said they exchange information confidential and would discuss with the creditors of American Airlines.

American unions favorable In a note to staff his group, the CEO of U.S. Airways, Doug Parker said that the agreement of confidentiality applies to the conclusion of an agreement of merger or a final rupture of the talks. "We are pleased to work directly with American to study a possible merger and we see this as very good news," he wrote. So far, he had not seen officially as American unions. In April three large American organizations, one in each category of staff (ground, flight attendants and pilots) have signed an agreement with U.S. Airways working conditions, on the grounds that such a merger would preserve 6200 jobs. In addition, they insisted on the importance of the strategic component. In fact, the networks of both airlines flights are complementary. British Airways spared This approximation is likely to get the green light by competition authorities, insofar as it would allow the U.S. Airways-American couples to compete with United (result of the merger between United Airlines and Continental in 2010) and Delta (fruit it, the merger in 2008 between Delta Air Lines and Northwest). The merger would have the advantage of not disrupting global alliances. Isolated in Star Alliance, U.S. Airways would likely indeed to join Oneworld alliance American. It would be a great deal for British Airways, American historical partner on transatlantic routes, which, since the bankruptcy reorganization of American last November, tremble to see his partner disappear and be dismantled in favor of a competing scenario that isolate the transatlantic axis.

Many ministers, few ads at the University of MEDEF

François Hollande ministers participated in number this week at the summer school Medef to testify to the willingness of the government to help businesses cope with the crisis, but without making any announcement to reassure the bosses worried about his tax plans. Head of Government Jean-Marc Ayrault Wednesday Arnaud Montebourg (Recovery productive) Friday, no less than 11 ministers have succeeded for three days on the HEC campus for a peaceful dialogue with business leaders. After the friction that followed the launch of the high social conference in July, it was clearly cut corners, the government can not afford to face the bad mood patterns when the growth is down and rising unemployment increases. Making them contribute to complete a draft 2013 budget of more difficult interventions members of the government restructuring plans like those of PSA Peugeot-Citroën are subjects of tensions between the two parties. On the first point, the various ministers who spoke silent, arguing that budgetary decisions had not yet been made. TAX CREDIT NOT FLEXIBLE SEARCH Among some grounds for satisfaction for the MEDEF, the Economy Minister Pierre Moscovici announced that professional property would not be included in the tax base of Wealth redesigned and Flower Pellerin (SMEs) indicated the idea of ​​a research tax credit adjusted according to the size of companies was abandoned. Devices but widely criticized by employers as well as the alignment of capital taxation on the labor or taxation at 75% of income above the million are still in the pipes.

Wall Street finite in rise, Bernanke n'a pas déçu

NEW YORK - Wall Street ended higher Friday after the statements of Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve chairman, who expressed his concern about the employment situation and stressed that the Fed remains prepared, if necessary to further support the economy. He has not given any clear signal of the commitment of the central bank will soon launch a new round of monetary easing, Ben Bernanke used a worried tone that investors have come to appreciate. The market is trending down briefly after the publication shortly after the opening, the outline of the speech in Jackson Hole (Wyoming), but he soon found his way back up. Without going to outline what could be a possible third plan of "quantitative easing" (QE), including Ben Bernanke expressed "serious concern" to the stagnation of the labor market in the United States and the threat it imposes on the economy as a whole. This part of his speech seems to have contributed to the recovery of the major indices, which have gained more than 1% up front to reduce progression. The Dow Jones 30 blue chip stocks of the score ended with a gain of 90.13 points, or 0.69%, to 13,090.84 points. The Standard & Poor's 500 main reference for fund managers, rose 7.10 points (0.51%) to 1406.58 points and the Nasdaq Composite, technology-intensive, took 18.25 points (+ 0.6%) to 3066.96 points. Markets had surged in recent weeks in the hope of new measures to support the activity of the Fed and the European Central Bank (ECB). But it had stalled in recent days, some investors fear to be disappointed by Ben Bernanke. ENERGY AND BASIC MATERIALS FOR "For all those on the market today, believe he would just come in saying, 'we do QE would have raised the naivety," commented John Canally, strategist and economist at LPL Financial.

The heat from south-west to the center of France

Temperatures can exceed 40 degrees between the Garonne and the Loire. The heat wave that hit Friday southwest of France lies in the center of the country Saturday with temperatures that can exceed 40 degrees between the Garonne and the Loire, Meteo France announced Saturday morning. In its national newsletter updated at 6:00 Meteo France calls the event "episode hot, much less severe than in 2003, but requiring special vigilance especially for sensitive or exposed." In 2003, the heat wave had crushed the country for the first half of August. The mortality was then assessed 15,000 people. According to the weather forecasters, the current episode of high temperatures which began Friday in the southwest of France "settled until first part of next week and will move toward the north and east the country. " It currently affects 21 departments. The six departments alerted Friday morning (Haute-Garonne, Gers, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne), were added those of Burgundy (Yonne, Côte-d'Or, and Saône Nièvre -et-Loire) and Limousin (Corrèze, Creuse and Haute-Vienne), and the Allier, Charente, Cher, Dordogne, Indre, Loire, Puy-de-Dôme and the Rhone. Midi-Pyrenees temperatures reached over 37 degrees to 39 degrees Friday culminating in the Tarn-et-Garonne Castelsarrasin. Saturday morning "minimum temperatures are higher than yesterday degrees from February to March, they are between 19 to 24 degrees on a large south-west quarter of France", says Meteo France. It provides that the maximum temperatures "are still a little higher" Saturday in the southwest between 37 and 40 degrees to 41-42 degrees climb up locally (on the Dordogne and the Lot particular). However, it is in the center, Burgundy, northern Auvergne and the Lyonnais, less affected Friday that the expected warming is described as "spectacular." Temperatures are of the same order of magnitude as those in the south-west with peaks up to 40 degrees possible in the afternoon and minimum temperatures in late night from Saturday to Sunday which will struggle to go down to 20/22 degrees. The maximum temperature will continue Sunday and Monday will lose a few degrees, while remaining at a high level. Meteo-France invites to stay in a cool place at least three hours per day not to go to the hottest providing to refresh regularly, drinking heavily and without thirst, especially children and the elderly. It highlights the particular risk of dehydration and heatstroke in athletes and people who work outdoors.

Death of Patrick Ricard, Chairman of the iconic Pernod Ricard

Le président du deuxième groupe mondial de spiritueux est décédé ce vendredi à l'âge de 67 ans. Patrick Ricard, Chairman of Pernod Ricard (placed in the CAC 40) died on Friday afternoon as the result of a heart attack on the family island of Bendor, near Bandol (Var). He was 67. He was the son of Paul Ricard, the mythical inventor of pastis de Marseille in 1932. "The family, the board of directors and senior management of Pernod Ricard are sad to announce the death of Mr Patrick Ricard suddenly occurred that day," said a statement from the group. Born in 1945, Patrick Ricard was married with three children. After studies in North America and Germany, he joined the Ricard company in 1967. There, he held positions in key business functions, and became its CEO in 1972. Upon creation of Pernod Ricard in 1975, he was appointed group managing director and in 1978, CEO. It will establish an acquisition policy importance and provide faster internationalization activities. Sales outside of France, causing the group represented 17% of sales, now account for 90%. Multiplication of acquisitions Patrick Ricard buying spree, as Campbell Distillers in Scotland, Austin Nichols in the U.S., Italy Ramazzotti, Irish Distillers, which includes all producers of Irish whiskey, Orlando Wyndham in Australia ... He also decided the creation of Havana Club International in Cuba. In 2000, the process is accelerated with the acquisition of part of the wine and spirits business of Seagram and again in 2005 with the acquisition of Allied Domecq. Pernod Ricard continues its external growth in 2008 through the acquisition of the Swedish V & S Group. The group completes its range of brands, strengthening its presence in the United States and achieves the rank of co-leader of groups of wines and spirits. Since its creation, Pernod Ricard has doubled in size every seven years. November 5, 2008, Patrick Ricard has resigned his executive duties at the head of Pernod Ricard and continues to assume the Presidency of the Board.

Towards a record revenue this year

More instruments of control over the roadside, a slightly heavier foot on the accelerator, agreements with foreign countries ... The money comes as ever in the state coffers. Figures. In 2011, the radar had already paid dividends: € 639 million. For 2012, between 675 and 700 million are expected. Already "324 million" were brought "between January 1 and June 30," says the National Automatic Processing of offenses (Antai), based in Rennes. The extension of the park continues radar: 3193 in 2010 5255 to 1 August 2012. Reasons. Pierre-Henri Brandet, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, the calculation is simple: "The more cameras, the more infringements and, inevitably, the more fines. "Michael Nowacki, Head of Road Safety Unit SGP-Police union, deplores this phenomenon:" We are in a policy of repression rather than fight against accidents. If speed cameras save lives, we would have 10% died within a year. "Last month, 367 people were killed on the roads of France, against 354 in July 2011. Points. For an excess of less than 10 km / h, the driver loses a point he now recovers after six months instead of one year. This facility would favor a relaxation of the attention of motorists. Foreigners. Our neighbors Switzerland and Luxembourg also participate in profits. And on July 1, Belgians have joined them. A bilateral agreement was signed. Already 47,000 tickets have been sent to Belgium. Now what? By late 2012, seventy additional fixed speed cameras will be installed. Will be added those who spot the red light running, crossings, and speed of construction sites. Not to mention the mobile cameras embedded in a car, driving in the coming months.

Roads: one Saturday while red and already a lot of caps

Be careful if you go on vacation this weekend. Traffic was relatively fluid at 9:00 on Saturday all roads, but initial difficulties have emerged, including the A10 and A7, red for the day ranked in the direction of departures as returns, Bison by Smart. In Ile-de-France, traffic was light at 9:00, except on the A10, towards the province, between Fresnes (Val de Marne) and Champlan (Essonne), according to the National Clearinghouse road. By province, the first difficulties were located particularly on the A10, with 10 km north of Orleans cap towards Bordeaux, and on the A7, with 10 km south of Vienna slowdown and 4 km north of this city, towards Valencia.

Plugs kms from February to June were also identified on the side of Mende (Lozère) and Agde (Hérault), towards Montpellier. "Saturday, August 11 will experience very significant traffic problems on most main roads in the country regardless of the direction of travel and red is displayed in all directions," said Bison smart. This already provides a steady flow that can occasionally be difficult early in the morning on the A6 between Beaune and Auxerre, between 9 and 12 o'clock on the section Beaune / Lyon and between 11 and 13 hours on the A31 between Langres and Beaune. On the A7, measures speed control, forcing motorists to switch from 130 km / h to 110 or 90 km / h, are put in place in some sections, between Vienna and Orange, before the traffic s 'clogs, says Bison smart. Whatever the direction of movement of long distance, "do not travel on main roads in the country mainly between 10.00 am and 6:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. up on the A7 motorway towards Lyon)," the source added. The movement of trucks is also prohibited in France on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday is ranked in green: traffic will be dense on most main roads in the country, but traffic problems should not cross the thresholds of orange, Bison says Smart. Finally, given the risks of forest fires, it is asked motorists to be especially careful and vigilant on all motorways, national and departmental roads, south of France. On track, SNCF expects about 804,000 passengers on board trains TGV 2200 for the weekend of August 10 to 12, said Friday a spokesman for the company told AFP. The following weekend should be more responsible, according to the company, which has not given specific numbers. Paris train stations Montparnasse and Lyon, traditionally the busiest for the holiday weekend, welcome 245,000 passengers and 260.0000 respectively.

Syrian: Aleppo at fire and blood

The fighting has again claimed victims in Syria. On the diplomatic front, Washington and London raise their voices. No respite in Aleppo. The city in northern Syria is subject to several weeks of intense bombing of the Syrian army. Like every Friday since the beginning of the revolt in March 2011, the opposition called for protests outside mosques after prayers. Main information of the day: The United States put their threat into execution. Washington announced sanctions against a Syrian oil company, Sytrol, to have a business relationship with Iran. The U.S. Treasury Department blames Hezbollah, already classified as a terrorist organization in the United States, for its "central role" in the crackdown by the regime of Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian army loyalist announces that it has repelled an attack against Aleppo International Airport conducted by the rebels and says he killed most of the attackers. Une boulangerie du quartier de Tariq al-Bab, dans l'est d'Alep - un quartier contrôlé par les rebelles -, est bombardée au moment où des centaines d'habitants faisaient leurs courses. Au moins trois enfants ont été tués et une vingtaine de personnes blessées par ces tirs d'artillerie. Un étudiant de 19 ans meurt après avoir été touché à la tête par un tir de l'armée qui tentait de disperser une manifestation, annonce l'Observatoire syrien des droits de l'homme (OSDH). Les insurgés syriens se retirent du quartier stratégique de Salaheddine à Alep, mais ils promettent de contre-attaquer. Par ailleurs, la population profite de la baisse d'intensité des combats pour fuir la ville. Selon les Nations unies, près de 150 000 Syriens ont cherché refuge à l'étranger depuis le début de l'insurrection à la mi-mars 2011. A veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi, could replace Kofi Annan as UN envoy and the Arab League. "The Security Council of the United Nations and States of the region must unite to allow a political transition as soon as possible," he says in a statement first. The United States warned that they will announce in the coming days for new sanctions against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad and his supporters.