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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Always on the lookout, Bright Food is poised to finally put one foot in Europe. The Chinese group was confirmed Thursday it had made an offer for 60% stake in British Weetabix, now owned by Lion Capital. The London private equity funds would retain control of 40% of the group, famous for its breakfast cereals. Bright offers itself as a brand and a story. Founded eighty years ago, "Weetabix has an excellent product portfolio, starting with the famous brand Weetabix, but also more upscale brands like (muesli) Alpen," said Wang Zongnan, president of Bright Food . The group promises to its target development in Asia and China.

The group's offer would value the Chinese company in Europe to 1.5 billion euros, according to Bright. Still subject to approval by Chinese authorities, the transaction should be finalized before the end of the year. Wang Zongnan has not hidden, in recent years, its ambition to increase its sales to nearly 18 billion euros in 2015, against 9.6 billion last year, 30% would be realized abroad. So he put on one of its upscale brands and international development.

Created in 2006 by the authorities of Shanghai in full effort of industry consolidation, Bright Food is present in milk, snacks, wine or sweets. The conglomerate, which is a shareholder of Shanghai Municipality, is virtually unknown outside its borders except for his white candy White Rabbit, the texture of fudge.

And his Chinese passport seems sometimes penalize its attempts to internationalize. In 2010, he has successively acquired the Australian sugar and CSR of United Biscuit Manufacturer – UK too – of Choco BN. He lost to a competitor Singapore for the first and threw in the towel for the second American to win the GNC, a manufacturer of nutritional supplements and other vitamins. In vain again.

Market access to China

In early 2011, Bright was a close interest in Yoplait, while seeking a buyer. His first offer was even more generous. But it is the American General Mills prevailed. Last summer, Bright is however managed to buy 75% of the Australian Manassen.

Today the rich Chinese group is continuing its efforts and hopes to interest foreigners with an attractive and access to the huge Chinese market. China has already overtaken the U.S. as the first grocery market in the world, with 737 billion euros in turnover. The steady rise in living standards and further changes in eating habits still promise a bright future for industry players in the Middle Kingdom.

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Fears of mad cow resurface. But everything seemed to return gradually to normal. In the wake of reassuring messages issued by the United States, one of two South Korean brands, which had suspended sales of American meat, finally decided Thursday morning to end the embargo.

Moreover, no country had so far taken any restrictive measure: neither Europe nor the U.S. beef importing countries like Japan, Taiwan or Mexico. This is no longer the case. Indonesia on Thursday became the first country to suspend part of purchases of U.S. beef, after a new case of mad cow disease was discovered Tuesday in the U.S.. "We decided to stop importing the meat on the bones and offal from the United States, but imports of meat devoid of bones are kept," said AFP the Deputy Minister Indonesian Agriculture, Rusman Heriawan. He added: "The suspension starts today and we do not know how long it will last," he said, adding that deliveries were not being affected high quality business cards.

Less than a third of Indonesian imports

The U.S. Department of Agriculture had yet assured yesterday that there was no risk to consumers. The U.S. Trade Representative has called Jakarta to lift its partial ban.

U.S. meat represents only a small share of imports of meat in Indonesia, unlike those from New Zealand or Australia. In 2011, the U.S. exported 18,000 tonnes of beef and various pieces to Indonesia, amounting to some $ 28.2 million, according to the American Federation of export of meat, less than a thirds of Indonesian imports.

But the announcement could bring back some tensions especially if one importer of beef, such as Mexico, decreed an embargo. On the livestock market in Chicago, futures are up slightly from 0.13% to 112.425 dollars.

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The ras-le-bol rises among users of TGV Nantes / Angers / Le Mans / Paris. And also the response … The members of the collective defense of Subscribers Line Atlantic (Ladala) took a new step in their protest movement against the repeated delays of the station, on the line leading to the capital. The trick to reach the railway portfolio. To do this, they have not hesitated to launch a "ghost TGV" massively by booking every seat of a TGV line in question. Of seats they will not play of course. Each member buying between 5 and 10 seats, 800 seats have already been blocked, all classes, as pointed out this morning on RTL Pascal Mignot, the representative of the collective.

Reaction except the SNCF, the train should travel empty, which would result in a serious shortfall. Because the protesters are concerned subscribers, a status that gives them access to places for a mere $ 1.50. And the date chosen is not trivial since the 250 members of Ladala have set Wednesday, May 16, the eve of Ascension Day and the weekend so great starts.

Greece of tickets

This is not the first time Ladala tries to voice his displeasure. Mid-March, the group had launched a strike of tickets and passes, along with daily rallies in trains and on platforms. Faced with the continuing delays and lack of financial consequences for the SNCF, the association thus increases the pressure, also taking on its website a statement of the duration of the movement, and delays on this line quick guaranteed personal loans.

Faced with the accumulation of failures since the schedule changes in December 2011, their demands are clear: rate freeze on packages (over 500 euros per month), on-time to avoid disputes with employers, indemnity 2.5 euros per 10 minutes late, and got 150 euro for subscribers to compensate for failures of January, February and March. In total, officials estimate that the collective duration of 14 hours cumulative delays over this period.

Side of the Authority of the quality of service in transport (AQST, dependent on the Ministry of Ecology), although the figures show a surge in failures since November, with up to 30% of trains delayed . But since February, the trend seems to be improving. Apparently not enough to calm those subscribers, still wearing a badge "subscribers on strike," which also launched an online petition and sent a letter to presidential candidates. Denouncing a 18% increase in travel time on an ordinary trip to Le Mans / Paris, they have finally created a Twitter account inviting followers to list all the failures of the Atlantic line. An initiative that has been emulated the Creusot subscribers and Amiens have since joined the movement.

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Our Berlin correspondent Continuing uncertainties related to the euro crisis will not prevent the German economy to continue its momentum insolent. The five major economic research institutes across the Rhine released Thursday of predictions on the rise: they are forecasting growth of gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.9% this year, against 0.8% previously, and anticipate a accelerated growth of around 2% in 2013.

In their spring report, institutes, very famous in Germany and analyze which twice a year the country's economic health, expect a 3.1% rise in exports for 2012 and a further increase of 5.1% exports next year.

According to experts, the debt crisis, however, continue in the coming year to weigh heavily on several partners from Germany within the European Union. The measured optimism is thus based on export growth in Asia, the U.S. and in emerging countries.

Divisions on the role of the ECB

As in 2011, domestic consumption should also support strong growth. Institutes predict an increase in domestic consumption of 0.9% for the current year and 1.3% in 2013. It should rely heavily on investments in housing construction, up 2.3% in 2012 and 5% next year, according to these forecasts.

The Germans, who fear that their savings melt due to the risks of inflation in the euro area, are turning increasingly to the housing market, which has risen significantly in recent months.

Result: unemployment should continue to decline, but at a more measured pace. The number of unemployed is forecast at 2.6 million annual average for 2012. End of 2010, the number of unemployed had risen in the symbolic three million, for the first time since German reunification.

The five major German economic institutes have confessed their divisions on the role of the European Central Bank (ECB), in a report that contrasts with the usual image of a Germany grimly determined by monetary policy. They note in particular that the ECB faces a "dilemma" because governments have so far "rested on the assumption that the ECB will always take over in case of need." Some will see a rally in the implicit position of France, which advocates a more active role of the ECB.

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It should be added Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger to the list of millionaires under 30 years in Silicon Valley. Instagram, a company they founded in 2010, employs a dozen people. It does not make a profit. Its turnover is unknown. It is "worth" $ 1 billion, however. In any case the price paid by Facebook Monday to acquire the entity behind one of the most popular applications for smartphone users: Instagram can take pictures with his cell phone, color them and modify them to change the "look", and share them instantly with friends. A week ago, Sequoia Capital, a prestigious venture capital firm in Menlo Park (California), had invested $ 50 million in Instagram and valued the company at 500 million.

"Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger never doubted that they ran a company that would be billions," said Chris Sacca, an early investor in Instagram, also known for throwing Twitter. Kevin Systrom was released in 2006 from Stanford University, nursery designer of high-tech companies. With his double degree in engineering and management, he went at first to do an internship in a startup called Odeo. This company specializes in podcasting was moderated by the team which was subsequently launch Twitter. The native of Boston has always been passionate about photography. He always wanted to make sending pictures via email. He eventually joining Google, where for two years, he worked on the development of new products like Gmail and Google Reader. At night and during the weekends, Kevin Systrom develops its own project guaranteed personal loan approval. Burbn baptized (because he likes bourbon), it is a social network for the exchange of photos and comments.

IPhone and Android

It is through this network that meets Kevin Systrom Mike Krieger, graduated from Stanford in 2008, he had never before attended. In early 2010, they team up and launch Instagram, a simplified version of Burbn. Of Brazilian origin and even younger than Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger is described as a brilliant mind. "It is more technical than Kevin Systrom," said Rob Abbott, a former adviser to both partners.

Corporate venture capital Andreessen Horowitz and Baseline Ventures initially gave them $ 500,000 to develop their product. Seven months later, the "app" was available. 200,000 people have installed on their iPhone the first week. Last December, 15 million iPhone users played with Instagram.

Today there are over 30 million. And the number will continue to explode because the application is also available for several days on phones using the Android platform. By noon, a million people have already installed the program. This hearing is considered promising according to the model of social networks which first want to seduce millions of subscribers before then to develop a revenue stream based on the advertisements they may present to their users. Facebook wanted to buy this application to better integrate its supply and enhance exchanges between subscribers.

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Nostalgic for 7 on 7, the emission of TF1 mythical 1980s and 1990s, will closely follow the two election night of 22 April and 6 May 2012 BFMTV. They gather Anne Sinclair, current director of the Huffington Post website France, and Ruth Elkrief, the editor of the news channel. Anne Sinclair was presented 7 on 7 September 1987 to June 1997. After retiring from the small screen, the show, renamed Public, was presented by Ruth Elkrief from 1998 to 2000.

This is Anne Sinclair herself who suggested to Alain Weill, CEO of NextRadioTV, the parent of BFMTV, to attend both evenings, confirms the latter. "Many of these talents will come together on two evenings BFMTV," he adds.

18 am to midnight, special editions of April 22 (first round of the presidential election) and May 6 (second round) will be led by Alain Marshall, host of "20 hours" on the news channel. It is surrounded by two great figures of the chain Olivier Mazerolle and Ruth Elkrief, faithful since the launch of BFMTV on TNT in 2005.

Anne Sinclair will discuss some of the columnists on the board including Alain Madelin, Luc Ferry, Dély Renaud, Eric Brunet, Jacques Seguela, Jean-Francois Kahn, Caroline and Christopher Fourest Jakubyszyn, the managing editor of the RMC radio, other NextRadioTV subsidiary.

Organizing publicity stunts

The partnership between the Huffington Post and BFMTV France is practically limited to the presence of Anne Sinclair. The site will broadcast the images of BFMTV well, but not participate in the device's web news channel.

Despite a plateau prestigious BFMTV no exception to the calling with "a priority to live in the campaign headquarters of various political parties and a priority to images," said Alain Weill.

The arrival of Anne Sinclair on the set of BMFTV is one of the "success stories" in which the chain is familiar. For his first presidential campaign in 2007 BFMTV, whose hearings were still confidential, was observed by organizing the debate between Ségolène Royal and François Bayrou between the two towers.

In seven years, the small chain of information has emerged in the French media landscape. Created from scratch in 2005, today it is the first in France with an audience share of 1.6% in February, according Médiamétrie. An audience twice that of its rival on DTT, i-TV, a subsidiary of Canal +, however, created in 1999.

The third news channel, LCI, TF1 subsidiary, has no occasion to interfere in the match as it is broadcast on DTT, cable and satellite.

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The most comprehensive, but also the later: it is the strength and weakness of the annual real estate market drawn up by notaries. Unveiled Thursday morning, it strengthens the contours of the market in 2011, as has been described by most professional.

First confirmation: the record number of transactions (837,000 in 2006) was beaten with 858,200 transactions in France (710,000 and 148,200 in the provinces in the Ile-de-France). Extraordinary figures boosted by the PTZ +, low rates and the effect of capital gains those wanting to sell before the tax change.

Regarding prices, the existing apartments has increased on average by 6.5% year on year across the country with peaks at 9% in cities such as Lyon or Bordeaux. Notaries are, however, that the rates showed a slight decline since the fourth quarter.

As for old houses, the increase was 2.1% in France with a more pronounced jump in the Ile-de-France (+5.7%) than in the provinces (1.3%). Again prices are trending down since October 2011 (-1.3% over the quarter).

Notaries cautious for 2012

This assessment also helps wring the neck of a preconceived idea: purchases by foreigners does nothing to explain the rate increase. The proportion of transactions by foreigners is only 5.3% in 2011 and this figure "is stable for several years," reveals the notaries.

However, statistics notary confirms that younger people are increasingly excluded from homeownership. Thus, for existing homes, the share of buyers under 30 years increased from 18.3% in 2010 to 16.6% in 2011. This figure continues to decline since 2008. Only the north and east of France still seem accessible to these age groups. By cons, the transactions made by more than 60 years continue, they move forward. More than ever attracted by the safe haven of real estate, buyers seniors increased from 12.5% ​​in 2010 to 14.5% last year.

About the game predictions for 2012, notaries are more cautious than ever. If they announced without much risk of error that the volume of sales expected to decline in 2012 in the former as in the new, they make no reference to range in price developments. They just remember that the expected trend "would be the best stability of the favorite places in Paris and most dynamic cities." Moreover, the drop should be at an appointment and to continue in 2013 "but in a less clear than that found in the hole estate of 2008/2009."

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For the first time since 1995, the protection of personal data of European citizens is being reformed. This is normal. In seventeen years, the Internet and social networks have radically changed behaviors and risks: identity theft, fraud, misuse of information posted, collecting information without the consent of the internet, etc … January 25, Viviane Reding, Vice President of the European Commission presented its draft European regulation, in a document of 134 pages. The text should come into force in two years in each member country of the Union.

While the CNIL (Commission Nationale Informatique and freedoms) recognizes "substantial progress", particularly by establishing a "right to oblivion" for digital users and creating "a power of sanctions," up until to 2% of worldwide turnover and € 1 million fines on companies, several points are criticized. Reportedly, the CNIL's remarks will be taken over by all supervisory authorities in Europe, gathered in the "Group of 29" European CNIL. Or Friday, no later than Monday, April 2, this group will be concerned about the "bureaucratic risk" introduced by the draft EU regulation. Indeed, a private company may, according to the draft regulations, elect one principal in Europe, and conform to all its European subsidiaries to the rules of this country's data protection. In case of dispute, the issue will be examined by the CNIL's chosen country payday advance. The risk is high that the French CNIL, for example, becomes a single mailbox. And it's "particularly concerned about the risk of estrangement between citizens and their national authorities."

"The notion of principal is criticized, including by U.S. companies. General Electric, for example, does not have the same commitment to a European country as Facebook or Google, "says one expert. In fact, the same day as the release of the draft EU regulation, Google announced it had chosen "as the principal place of Ireland" and announced a new rule for "confidentiality", in force since March 1. But these provisions were strongly criticized by the CNIL, on behalf of all European CNIL, and March 19, a detailed questionnaire was sent to Google.

Meanwhile, cooperation between the supervisory authorities of all member countries of the European Union is considered, failing to create a single European CNIL. CNIL tricolor is already strong in his criticism by the French government and parliament.

In June the European Council of Ministers should review the draft EU regulation, which would be amended in the direction of greater cooperation between the supervisory authorities of each European country.

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Who will be the big loser of the arrival of Free Mobile? While Orange, Bouygues and Vivendi have just published their annual results and must submit his Free Thursday, the operators have their accounts.

In only six weeks, Free Mobile would have earned 1.5 million customers, according to estimates by Stéphane Richard, CEO of France Telecom. Free for now refuses to confirm.

But everyone sees what he lost. Orange said 400,000 of its customers had left for Free Mobile. Bouygues Telecom, a quarter of customers since January parties have joined Free Mobile or 134000. SFR did not elaborate, but analysts said it could provide around 300,000 customers Free Mobile.

500,000 net new subscription

It remains to evaluate clients lost by MVNOs, network operators without these, like Virgin Mobile, La Poste Mobile, Auchan Telecom, etc.. "Some of these operators have lost heavily at the start of Free Mobile. While some have reacted very quickly, it was to stop the bleeding. They have de facto acted as shock absorbers for Orange, SFR and Bouygues, "said one analyst.

MVNOs with models based on commitment and with a strong distribution network suffered the least. And NRJ Mobile, which has 90% of customer engagement in and benefits from the network of bank branches CM-CIC, has limited the damage. The operator that displays 1.1 million customers continued to win in January, before losing around 5,000 in February. "Ultimately, MVNOs may have lost between 200,000 and 300,000 customers," said one analyst.

Summing up all these figures, Free Mobile would have earned about a million customers in the market in its various competitors. The remaining 500,000 would net creation, that is to say, new subscriptions. Given its attractive price, consumers who already have a subscription and can be subscribed to the offer 2 euros (EUR 0 Free for subscribers) as a second subscription or subscription relief.

One thing is certain: the fierce competitive battle was triggered not leave room for all operators and everyone is fighting for its survival.

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