My Opinions

Twitter teams, the United States, could not believe it. On Tuesday, the name of their president, Jack Dorsey, was one of the hottest topics on the microblogging platform in France.

Nothing too surprising, however: the co-founder of the website was visiting Paris to meet several presidential candidates. In the morning, Jack Dorsey visited Francois Bayrou and Francois Hollande, before holding talks with Nicolas Sarkozy.

For the microblogging platform, which begins to deploy its commercial offer, these appointments were an opportunity to push the use of social networks as part of election campaigns. Overseas, Twitter has become an essential tool to launch polemics or defuse bombs during the Republican primaries.

"Learning lessons"

Its use in the French presidential campaign is also a good way of raising its profile and its use by the general public, a prerequisite for any advertising monetization.

French candidates themselves have sought to "learn from [the experience of Jack Dorsey, Ed] to promote the development of innovative French" (with Francois Hollande), and especially mentioned the opening of an office Twitter in France. The U.S. start-up is already established in London and announced in late January, will soon open an office in Germany.

A promising innovation system and tax revenues, while Nicolas Sarkozy presented his project on the table to tax U.S. Internet players for their activities in France, through a tax on online advertising or subjection to the corporate tax. Jack Dorsey also visited some French media, including broadcasting group TF1 and media group Le Monde.

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.

ALSO READ:

"The network Free Mobile disrupted

"134,000 Bouygues Telecom customers left at Free

Are we delivering. Sunday, the countries of the euro area seemed to want to push a key decision: that of increasing, or not, the size of the firewall in place to deal with the debt crisis. The issue was the focus of discussions at the G20 summit in Mexico, attended this weekend finance ministers and central bankers of the twenty most powerful economies in the world.

The United States, the emerging and most European countries believe that the firewall would not be enough if we had to help Spain and Italy. Currently consists of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), which will be replaced by the European Stability Mechanism (MES), the device said firewall may lend 500 billion euros. Many argue for an increase in its lending capacity to $ 1000 billion (750 billion euros).

But Germany was opposed. This increase in lending capacity "would create a disincentive for countries to continue the consolidation and reform," said Mexico City on Saturday to German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble. The latter then suggested Sunday that the decision on the size of the firewall would not necessarily be taken at the EU summit on March 1 and 2 next, as was previously planned. "Mars goes from 1 to 31," stressed Wolfgang Schäuble. "Between 1 and March 31, we will examine whether the volume of the stabilization mechanism is sufficient in light of recent events."

Requirements of emerging

For Germany, this calendar is compatible with the international deadlines. In April in fact, that the question of more resources for the IMF (International Monetary Fund) to be determined, as was to clarify the G20 communiqué. But the two issues are linked. The Bric (Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa) do not want to contribute more to the IMF on two conditions: they have more power within the international body that Europeans and reinforce their own barrier fire. They reiterated Saturday on the sidelines of the G20. Just as they emphasized their opposition to the rule that the presidency of the World Bank, renewable in June, back in the United States.

Ultimately, the final communiqué of the G20 would be a difficult balancing act, recalling that the strengthening of the countries of the euro zone's firewall, point to consider in March, is "essential" before the IMF's resources can be identified . The text should also state that the rise in oil prices threatens the global economy. The United States examine the possibility of dipping into their strategic reserves. But they do not call the other G20 countries to do likewise.

ALSO READ:

"A bill of more than 50 billion for France

"Greece: the account blocked seals his tutelage

"Greece: Europe is finalizing a rescue at cost

"Greece: Europe rising tone, the default scenario resurfaced

"The euro area demand more Greece

"The G20 press Europe to increase its firewall

Skills transfer will take place earlier than expected at the head of Canal +. By the beginning of 2013, Rodolphe Belmer, now deputy director general in charge of the publishing division, will replace Mr. Meheut operational as president of Canal +. According latribune.fr, the television group would prepare the encrypted handover, while the current president's mandate runs until 31 December 2014. This plan would have been endorsed by Jean-Rene Fourtou, almighty man of Vivendi, parent company of Canal +.

Bertrand Meheut, who took the head of Canal + in complete disarray in 2003, has restated the financial statements and the group's image in recent years. If it passes control to Rodolphe Belmer, who seconds since 2003, Bertrand Meheut keep one foot in the house as President nonoperational. An unusual transaction in the media world where the big bosses tend to devour their children to organize their succession.

In fact, Rodolphe Belmer is already one that drives the progress of Canal + to define whether the strategy or make appointments. He is the architect of the historic change that the group is trying to achieve by establishing a presence in the market for free TV. Against the initial notice of Mr. Meheut, Canal + has led to develop the draft Canal20 free channel. Then in the summer of 2011, he contributed to the redemption of DTT channels free of Bolloré, Direct 8 Direct Star, proving its ability to convince its president.

Ramp-up

This strategy is more widely in the conviction of Rodolphe Belmer that the future of television will belong to those capable of building strong and clean content. They must guarantee the autonomy and the attractiveness of the audiovisual group.

Rodolphe Belmer also imposed the idea that in matters of pay, it could not be any offers low cost. A position which today is reflected in the decision to close the Canal + TPS Star channel on the DTT present and whose financial losses amounting to millions of euros.

But the rise of those who arrived as number two of the group in 2003, at the height of the storm, was also illustrated by the process of appointments within the group during the summer. Wishing to renew and rejuvenate frames, Rodolphe Belmer organized the transition i-TV, the news channel group with the appointment to head one of his relatives, Cécilia Ragueneau. It also decided the appointment of Peter Fraidenraich, former head of i-TV, at the head of sports rights acquisitions.

Finally, there is barely a fortnight, Rodolphe Belmer has redesigned the organization of the group by naming the head of a center of free TV Aprikian Ara, and poaching of BETC Euro RSCG Raphaël de Andreis, now supports of pay-TV operations.

ALSO READ:

"The channel TPS Star soon dropped from the small screen

"Canal + creates a pool of free TV

"Canal + TV enters the plain by buying Direct 8

The example of Greece who was indebted beyond measure in 2004 to host the Olympics in Athens he served as a warning. The doubling of costs that will have to consent to become London Olympic capital from July 27 to August 12 this year has reinforced his belief.

Mario Monti decided Tuesday not to proceed to Rome's candidacy to host the Olympics in 2020. He had until today to file it with the IOC in Lausanne. The President of the Council considered "irresponsible" to engage in an adventure that no one could control costs. The State should guarantee 4.7 billion euros of public funds.

Mario Monti said he made the decision and only "reluctantly". Regardless of the strong pressure of industrial lobbies, political parties and the Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno. To the President of Confindustria Emma Marcegaglia, these Games were a "unique opportunity", a "wheel of growth to boost investments" in decline.

According to the research department of business, foreign investments in Italy decreased from last year … 53% compared to 2010. Mario Monti told him so incisively: "the government had to ask for sacrifices very important to Italians. Now that the immediate danger seems to recede, we do not feel ready to assume a financial commitment that could encumber the public accounts in unpredictable ways in the coming years. "

This decision comes after Moody's downgraded in turn has the Italian note citing the lack of creditworthiness of its debt. Yet Rome was given as a favorite by bookmakers in London.

Nadine Morano does not hide his satisfaction. The strategy implemented by the Minister of Learning to stick to the commitment of Nicolas Sarkozy – bring 600,000 to 800,000 the number of young alternately by 2015 – appears on track. In October, the number of new contracts signed alternately jumped 7.3% over the same period in 2010 to over 325,000. "This is despite the crisis," said Nadine Morano.

We must recognize that the government has the means to succeed the start: youth outreach campaign before the summer, incentives and administrative simplification passed in late July, doors open at 71 training centers organized in August promotion to employers the new rules into effect in September … with success."It was the battle of youth employment to win and we will continue to put pressure on prefects well they keep on file for the learning needs of businesses," she says.

Nadine Morano is finalizing a regional mapping of places still available in training centers. "It is not normal that there are still 25% of places unfilled in some employment areas," she notes.

Nadine Morano will also continue its work of conviction with regional presidents. The market is simple: for every euro invested in learning the local executive, the government will double the bet.

A winning strategy, because the Minister will sign Tuesday the 19th convention of goals and means with a region. And not just that: the Ile-de-France, which is committed to creating 41,000 training places over five alternating years, through a joint effort of 650 million euros.

Increase in VAT, income tax, any revaluation of benefits: the austerity plan announced Tuesday include unpopular measures. Consideration by the Parliament, which begins Nov. 28 in the Assembly, will not be a walkover. In the majority, the New Centre Group is thus opposed to indexation on growth, less generous, family benefits and housing subsidies. "We must protect families and tenants. We propose instead to plane more strongly niches and seek extra mile to large enterprises, "says centrist MP Charles de Courson.

During questions to the Assembly, Valérie Pécresse, Minister for the Budget, on Tuesday refused any negotiations on this subject, arguing that "we can not spend more than we create wealth payday loans."

The government remains firm, but the battle could be fierce and Gilles Carrez, Rapporteur UMP budget to the Assembly, will have work to do to stay the course. "The increase in VAT will not affect consumption. The move to 7% will not be fully reflected in prices, "he says now, to counter the arguments of sectors such as housing, food, culture and hospitality. Accor claims and the elimination of the tax on hotel stays, while the union of publishing an application meeting with Francois Fillon.

Tuesday, members of the Finance Committee in examining the second part of the draft budget law for 2012, which accepts the austerity plan in August. This has resulted in collisions.

In the first five days of strike by cabin crew of Air France, the company is organized to provide as announced 80% of its flights. The company has temporarily restricted on Saturday morning to 100 passengers the ability of its medium-haul flights Orly. Consequence: passengers can wait a little and minor delays can be saved.

This management method was chosen to avoid having to put down passengers for lack of a sufficient number of hostesses and stewards. "It blocks the flights a minimum. Is completed according to the presentation of the crews as and when. But we have managed so far to complete the flight and make them go as planned, "says the director of Air France at Orly, George Daher. A strategy that annoys some customers. "We were placed on a waiting list by explaining that there was not enough staff.A rip-off in communication because all flights are available at this time, "said one man who was to fly to Toulouse.

About the airport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, the traffic was in line with forecasts of Air France, which does not exclude any last minute cancellations. It struck ten long-haul flights planned Saturday morning, including flights to New York, Montreal, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, Douala. But passengers were warned on Friday. But according to Europe 1, delays begin to accumulate.

In Nice, the third busiest airport in France, three Air France flights were canceled to Paris. Five flights were canceled in Marseille in the direction of Roissy and Orly. In Toulouse three flights were canceled out of fifteen.

The bus and its small price could soon impose on domestic journeys. The Department of Transportation would indeed currently working on a bill authorizing domestic routes by mode of transport. "The text is discussed in inter-and we hope to present it in late February, before the end of the parliamentary session," said a spokesman for the ministry.

This would be a small revolution in the world of the French transmission. Indeed, for the moment, only the cabotage is allowed, that is to say the possibility of a bus carrying an international connection to a regular passenger in a French town and the land in another municipality of the Hexagon . This activity is only allowed from the publication of a decree in January.Eurolines is immediately seized it and announced, in February, opening the French territory over 500 trips from region to region, with lower rates on average 50% lower than the train.

SNCF not necessarily opposed

Direct competition with the train is also at stake in this future proposal. Regions that manage the funding lines TER directly involved, could indeed put all their weight to oppose the project. At the congress of the National Federation of passenger transport (FNTV), last week, Thierry Mariani, the transport minister, had ensured that these national lines "should not upset the economic balance of TER lines." The ministry promises today, "the opening line will be made after consultation with the communities and provided they do not jeopardize a public service contract."

For its part, the SNCF does not necessarily see this opening with a jaundiced eye. The railway company, which is already on the bus segment via its branch TER, could also take the opportunity to expand its offer. The boss of this activity, Jean-Pierre Farandou, explained during the same Congress that "the whole rail is not the solution. It should be a complementary service to irrigate the area where the train can not go. "

ALSO READ:

"The station will show more clearly its rates

"The station should be allowed to increase rates

The contenders are scrambling acquisition of Yahoo!. The U.S. internet group Google would consider helping a third company or a consortium to finance a takeover of its rival Yahoo!, a source close to the talks, quoted by Bloomberg. Google may not take part himself in a transaction and did not initiate serious negotiations with potential partners, the source said.

Yahoo! is looking for strategic direction since the forced departure of his former boss, Carol Bartz, who was landed in part because the group failed to catch up with Google on the advertising market in line. Google, meanwhile, is sitting on cash of $ 42.6 billion, hence its interest in helping a potential buyer of Yahoo!. And thus strengthen its dominant position.

Neither Yahoo! nor Google have commented on this information.The Wall Street Journal had reported earlier Saturday that Google would consider a takeover offer for Yahoo! and have begun discussions with two private equity investment to help finance the acquisition. However, any operation involving Yahoo! and Google would not fail to attract the attention of the U.S. competition. In 2008, they had already stopped advertising partnership between the two groups.

Chinese Alibaba on the offensive

For weeks, speculation about Yahoo!, which is valued at 20 payday loan online.35 billion dollars (14.5 billion) abound. Microsoft would be combined with the investment fund Silver Lake and a Canadian pension fund to file a joint bid.Several other potential buyers would have emerged, including KKR & Co. and Blackstone Group LP, or Providence Equity Partners, together with a former head of News Corp., Peter Chernin, according to recent rumors that boosted the stock market as Yahoo! .

The attraction of the group in Sunnyvale, California, is to China. Jack Ma, head of the Chinese Internet giant Alibaba, has reaffirmed its "strong interest" to Yahoo! Thursday. He announced that he would leave to meet American partners, in particular investment funds, with whom he could buy the Californian group. Jack Ma intends to soothe U.S. opposition to a possible acquisition of Yahoo! by a Chinese group. The first time he had expressed interest in the American group in early October, the owner of Alibaba aroused strong emotions in the United States.Associations for the protection of personal data concerned have to see the information of U.S. citizens go under foreign flags.

ALSO READ:

"And if Yahoo! went under the Chinese flag …

"Yahoo! has not resolved his identity crisis