Cleveland: Ariel Castro himself as a "sexual predator" according to U.S. media

 

Handcuffed, staring at the ground, the bus driver unemployed 52 years, suspected of having kidnapped and raped three young Americans in his Cleveland home, n has not uttered a word during his court appearance of the city. The judge, who informed him of his charges, four to three for rape and kidnapping, has set a bond of two million dollars for each case, eight million in total, s' ensuring the maintenance of the suspect in custody.

According to Kathleen Demetz, appointed lawyer Ariel Castro, he should be placed under special supervision to prevent suicide attempt.

In addition, some media have revealed the existence of notes that would have been produced by the accused, but the police confirmed the allegations

"Sexual predator"

According to local media, the man called himself the "sexual predator" who need help in a note dated 2004. According to the tweet stream journalist Scott Taylor, local television WOIO, a note was discovered, among dozens of other evidence gathered by the police searching his home on that reads, "I am a sexual predator. I need help, "says the journalist.

In an apparent reference to the victims, the note says: "They are here against their will because they made the mistake of getting in the car with a total stranger." "I do not know why I am looking for another, I've got two."

According to Scott Taylor, the suspect wrote that he wanted to commit suicide and "give all [its] savings [its] victims." The Police Chief Ed Tomba Cleveland seemed to confirm the existence of this note at a press conference Wednesday. "I can not talk about the discovery of evidence, there more than 200 who were gathered in the house of Seymour Avenue, all will be investigated, "said the head of the local police.

The veil is lifted gradually on the conditions of detention

The conditions of detention of the victims continue to be disclosed to the dropper.  

According to the deputy chief of police in Cleveland, Ed Tomba, the three women would be out of the house where they were trapped only two brief occasions, only to go into the garage silver medal win , s have had to "disguise".

The police chief Michael McGrath confirmed that "they were tied" after finding "the chains and ropes in the hallway." "They were not in the same room, but they knew each other and knew that the others were there," said Ed Tomba, without confirming press reports why young women are repeatedly fell pregnant.  

A neighbor, Roberto Diaz, quoted by the Washington Post, says Ariel Castro participated in marches in honor of the missing girls or leafleting.

Uncle Ariel Castro, Julio, however, says that his nephew was isolated from the family after his father's death in 2004, the disappearance of Gina, a year after that Amanda and two years after that of Michelle.

In 2005, the former wife of Castro Grimilda Figueroa, who died last year, had filed a complaint against him, accusing him of having "often removed" two daughters and having "prevented from being with [their] mother." 

The court documents indicate, moreover, that Grimilda Figueroa had twice broken nose, broken ribs, dislocated shoulders, and she had asked the judge "to prevent , cher [Castro] to threaten to kill. "

"A happy and sad day"

The side of the victims, the day Wednesday was full of emotion for Amanda Berry, 27, and Gina DeJesus, 23, who reunited with their families while Michelle Knight, 32 years, remained hospitalized in Cleveland. "This is a happy and sad day for Amanda also because his mother is no longer there," he told a cousin Amanda. Louwana Miller died in March 2006 "sorrow" according to his family.

Concealing her face under a hoodie, Gina DeJesus, who was abducted in 2004, returned to the family home whose facade was decorated with a multitude of balloons. "I always clamp to believe," said his mother, Nancy Ruiz, "This is my greatest gift of Mother's Day" (Sunday in the U.S. ).

The impact of the case is such that the first lady told Wednesday morning that his heart was "full of relief." "Imagine losing a child first, and then do not know s' it is alive, dead or wounded, keep hope for ten years and finally have his prayers answered is surely the most beautiful Mother's Day gift, "he told Michelle Obama.

The brothers cleared the brothers Ariel Castro, who were arrested along with him but against whom no charge has been retained in this case were released. "Ariel took everyone away," said the deputy chief of police in Cleveland.

With news

FRANCE: deadly collapse of a building in Reims

 

The toll could still rise. The collapse of a portion of a residential building in Reims Sunday left at least two dead and 10 injured after an explosion likely caused by gas, according to several sources.

"There are two dead and 10 wounded," including one in serious condition told AFP firefighters. The prefect of the Marne Michel Bernard, meanwhile, said on BFM-TV antenna that there was "significant debris clearing" implying the number of victims could be revised upwards.

The cause of the accident remains uncertain for now. "The investigation will determine the (…) the assumption is gas, but this is only a hypothesis," insisted the sub-prefect.

The building, which dates from 1960, has a forty apartments, ten have suffered significant damage.

With news

Strong explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas

 

Some 60 to 70 people were killed and hundreds injured in a powerful explosion occurred Wednesday night in a fertilizer plant near Waco, Texas (southern United States), announced , a local chain, KWTX News, citing the head of emergency services.

The report could not be immediately verified by AFP. KWTX quotes the director of emergency services in West, north of Waco, George Smith.

The explosion occurred shortly before 8:00 p.m. (0100 GMT Thursday) in West Fertilizer plant, said by telephone told AFP the spokesman of the firemen, Don Yeager, stating that its origin has not yet been determined but could be due to ammonia.

"The explosion was so powerful it caused fires in adjacent buildings," he added.

Firefighters were injured in a second explosion when they intervened at the scene, according to CBS News.

The injured were taken to hospitals in the region. 

According to local media, the windows of nearby houses were shattered, because the breath of the blast.

"There was initially a small fire and water came into contact with ammonia," then there was a huge explosion, said a receptionist in a hotel close.

"I live 300 meters away and my windows were blown out," said the witness, Jason Shelton, the Dallas Morning chain.

This tragedy comes two days after the attack that was carried out at the finish line of the Boston Marathon (north-east), which killed three people and injured 180 Monday, according to a latest report.

AFP

VENEZUELA: Nicolas Maduro wins the presidential election narrowly

 

The last will of Hugo Chavez has been met. His heir apparent, Nicolas Maduro, was elected Sunday, April 14, to succeed him as President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Credited with 50.66% of the vote against the opposition leader Henrique Capriles (49.07%), Maduro won the presidential election by a narrow majority. The National Electoral Commission said results "irreversible" because 99% of the ballots were counted

.

"Today we can say that we have an electoral victory just legal, constitutional," he proclaimed Nicolas Maduro before a crowd of supporters gathered outside the presidential palace of Miraflores. "This is another victory, a tribute to our 'Comandante Hugo Chavez," continued the new president, 50, who achieves a score significantly lower than that of his mentor at the last election in October 2012 (55% of the vote). For its part, Henrique Capriles, refused to recognize the victory of Maduro and requested a recount.

Value in this election a referendum on Chavismo, Venezuelans have opted for the continuation of the socialist revolution. There is no doubt that the new president to the middle and the impressive mustache will have to respect the will left by his mentor, Jean Ortiz says, lecturer at the University of Pau refers to "plan for the country 2013-2019" presented by Hugo Chavez in June 2012. "This is the journey long planned to run the country," he says. This text is based on five main objectives: to guarantee the independence of the country, respect for national sovereignty, maintaining the country as a regional power, contribute to the establishment of a multipolar world and continue to build socialism the twenty-first century.

"Building a real economy"

Since the death of Hugo Chavez, on March 5, Interim President and former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2006-2012) was committed to " , respect the will "of his mentor against" bourgeois "and" fascists. " Today elected Maduro, who defines himself as a worthy successor to Chavez, will be able to act and make a series of reforms, says Pascal Drouhaud, special cialist in Latin America. "A major challenge requires him build a real economy in the country," he says. As the new president inherits a Venezuela economically breathless with a barrel of crude blocked $ 100, a deficit of more than 15% of GDP and inflation record more 20% in 2012, according to official data.

Over the past 14 years in office Hugo Chavez (1999-2013), the Venezuelan oil revenues, holder of the largest oil reserves in the world, was mainly invested social programs. Since 1999, $ 550 billion have been committed on the 698 billion reported by oil exports, according to economists.

"The oil revenues structurally distorted the country," says Jean Ortiz. Today, Venezuela imports most of the products consumed by the population. "Agrarian reform now seems necessary because agriculture plays a very weak economy in the country," he adds. Since September 2012, shortages continue to complicate the lives of Venezuelans. According to statistics from the Central Bank, "the shortage index", which measures the missing products to cart base is 20%.

"After Chávez, it is the people"

However, the one who promised to be the "president of the poor" should not abandon all social programs, a symbol of the legacy of Chavez. Inspired by the Cuban model, these social tasks implemented in the education, health or housing, have helped reduce poverty significantly. It rose from 49.9% in 1999 to 27.8% in 2010 and extreme poverty was reduced from 21.7% to 10.7%, according to the Economic Commission UN for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

At the same time, the new president will have to "liberate" the Venezuela of "violence, crime and delinquency." The fight against insecurity remains one of the great failures of 14 years of chavismo in a country displays a record homicide rate in South America (55 per 100 000 in 2012 according to the government), nearly eight times higher than the world average. Maduro intends to propose a work plan for 79 municipalities focusing strongest evidence of crime. It intends to conduct another fight: "fight corruption wherever it is found." "I give my life […] if it is necessary," he said April 7.

To do this, it will build a new state, warns Jean Ortiz. "This is a huge project, but it is the only possible future for Venezuela," said the academic. Specifically, Maduro will build on local councils, "these local governments run by people who have often been overshadowed by the leadership of Chavez. "All Venezuelans keep saying that Chavez is irreplaceable, says Jean Ortiz. To make its mark, trade unionist and autodidact who gained confidence and depth throughout his campaign, has decided to rely on the doctrine of "popular power". "After Chávez, it is the people," likes to say the former bus driver who is distinguished by his direct style. "If not to be Chavez, Maduro has the advantage of playing the card of the group," concludes Jean Ortiz.

The U.S. Senate vote to open debate on firearms

 

It is a small victory against Lobbie pro-gun. On Thursday, the U.S. Democrats have received the support of several Republican senators to win the vote for the opening of a historic debate on strengthening the legislation firearms. At a polling procedure with 60 votes out of 100 were required, 68 senators voted for the opening of discussions, 31 against

.

First win, therefore, both the Republican senators, fiercely opposed to any reform concerning firearms have increased this week procedural devices to prevent even holding a debate

.

Check psychiatric history buyers

The White House welcomed the vote, while stressing that it was only a "first step". Vote because it only gives the opportunity for senators to debate the issue. Now remains to convince them to vote on the bottom. More specifically, to vote in favor of one of the measures of the bill, led by Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican Pat Toomey, a history of verifying the , teeth judicial and psychiatric buyers of firearms in specialized fairs or online. For now, only stores are subject to mandatory control.

"We have an agreement […] to prevent criminals, the mentally ill and unbalanced to obtain weapons," said Joe Manchin. "If you visit frequently, you will be treated the same way as in a store, subject to audit," he added.

This measure, supported by nine out of ten Americans, however, denounced by lobbies such as the National Rifle Association (NRA), who see a risk of undermining the Second Amendment and the opportunity for the government to establish a national database of gun owners. The path to legislation could still be marked obstacles and fears Barack Obama to see most of his proposals rendered meaningless by a series of amendments.

"Their death must have meaning"

U.S. President relies on the trauma of the school massacre Sandy Hook, Newtown, in December 2012, the senators to convince of the merits of a stricter legislation on the control of firearms.

Thursday's election was also held under the gaze of several relatives of victims of the shooting. Earlier, during a press conference in an atmosphere heavy with emotion, they had testified before the cameras to call the Senate to take measures against arms violence.

"Their death deserves to have a meaning," he told Jillian Soto, the sister of a teacher killed in Newtown. "We are here to protect their heritage, to honor them and demand that something be done."

With despatches

EGYPT: Violence deadly sectarian near Cairo

 

Five people were killed and eight wounded another near Cairo in clashes between Muslims and Coptic Christians, officials said Saturday a source close to the security.

The clashes, which erupted late Friday in the town of Al Khoussous and continued Saturday morning claimed the lives of four Copts and a Muslim. Several shops belonging to Christians have been looted and burned a dispensary.

The official news agency Mena reported that the first clashes, reported a total of four deaths.

Residents said violence erupted when Coptic children drew graffiti on the wall of a Muslim religious institute.

A Reuters reporter found a badge resembling a swastika was drawn on the wall, people stating that they had been angered because they believed that c 'was a cross.

"I saw children after prayer and I caught telling them what they had drawn clear," he told Mahmoud al-Alfi, a Muslim villagers. 

According to his testimony, another man would have intervened and started beating the young, attracting a larger crowd.

The situation escalated when a man opened fire and shot "in the air", killing a child.

"All of a sudden, the area was full of weapons," Mahmoud al-Alfi finished.

Condolences to the presidency

President Mohamed Morsi, from the Muslim Brotherhood has sent his condolences to the families of the victims and promised to take action against sectarian violence.

"The Chair (…) Unequivocally rejects any action against the unity and cohesion of Egyptian society and oppose all attempts to instill religious division within the Egyptian people, Muslims and Christians, "reads the statement.

Mohamed Morsi is committed to protecting the rights of Copts in Egypt, who make up about 10% of the approximately 83 million inhabitants.

But tensions remain high between the two communities, the Copts felt marginalized by the Muslim majority at all levels of society, especially in the machinery of the state. 

Copts also complain to see their churches be the target of attacks by radical Islamists and say that it is much more difficult to obtain official permission to build a church a mosque e.

Saturday, calm prevailed in Khoussous, where security forces have increased their presence, according to a source close to the security. A dozen police vehicles organize patrol city, where 15 people were arrested by the police.

"Religious riots that erupted Khoussous serious and unacceptable," said Saad al-Katatni, the party's leader from the Muslim Brotherhood on his Facebook page. "They are the result of people who want to put Egypt on fire and cause seizures."

Reuters

TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Facebook called home on Smartphone

 

Mark Zuckerberg is about to end more than three years of rumors, expectations and extrapolations about a possible Facebook phone. The young CEO of the king of social networks must disclose, Thursday, April 4 to 19 hours (French time), the "new home on Android [operating system for mobile Google, Ed ] "from his website with over one billion fans.

It probably should not be a 100% pure smartphone Facebook. Since the first articles in 2010 on the U.S. site TechCrunch very informed about this, officials of the social network and always very officially denied work on the construction of a TV , mobile phone home. The announcement Thursday would indeed still following TechCrunch, a launching pad to a telephone Taiwanese manufacturer HTC – HTC called First – with an entirely new interface , to the glory of LY social network.

Facebook would have worked in recent months, even years, to transform Android smartphones with best friends addicted to updating their status. For this new interface, after unveiled the HTC, could also be installed on Samsung smartphones and other devices of the Galaxy Android (60% of market share of smartphone sales in the world), explains AndroidPolice, a blog specializing in the mobile world.

And advertising in all this?

The interface replaces the traditional presentation of applications on an Android smartphone and would add functions to quickly access various services of Facebook (Facebook like camera, instant messaging, social networking or yet the application to make phone calls to his son on Facebook contacts Skype model). 

For the social network, the success of the offensive in the mobile world is crucial. Since 2012, Mark Zuckerberg encourages all its employees to "think mobile first," recalls Bits, the technology blog of the American newspaper "The New York Times." More than 600 million users spend priority by their smartphone to access Facebook, recognize site managers.

Problem: Facebook saw almost as through advertising and "mobile users" are much less likely to consult on a mobile phone than from a traditional computer. Redecorating smartphones in the colors of the social network, Mark Zuckerberg & co increase the chances that users see advertising.

Remains whether the world really need a smartphone that would ostensibly before Facebook. This innovation may, in fact, resemble "the solution to a problem that does not exist," says the "New York Times" s January Dawson, an analyst specializing U.S. and in telecommunications. For this expert, "Facebook fans" are already widely used by different applications published on the social network for smartphones miss nothing of what their many virtual friends.

UNITED STATES: Mark Zuckerberg would like to get involved in politics

 

Mark Zuckerberg decided to throw in the U.S. political arena. According to several Anglo-Saxon media, the young billionaire Facebook founder and director participates in the creation of a Super Pac (committee to influence political decisions on certain topics) multi-business leaders in Silicon Valley.

To go from king of social networks master lobbyist, Mark Zuckerberg seek to equip the Super Pac an envelope of $ 50 million, according to the "Wall Street Journal" Tuesday 26 March. An amount that would be on track to meet with the support of leaders for the small world of new technologies such as Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn professional social network.

Contacted by several American media, Facebook declined to comment on the information. The "Wall Street Journal" as the U.S. site Politico information, believe that Mark Zuckerberg has formalized this initiative in the coming weeks.

A Super Pac exists, the United States, for one or more officially promote very specific themes, unlike lobbies trying to defend corporate interests. The initiative promoted by Mark Zuckerberg within this framework: the first mission of the new political committee is to advocate, support checks in favor of a reform of the procedure naturalization of foreigners.

A traditional workhorse in Silicon Valley. Sector companies seeking new technologies, in fact, constantly attracting foreign talent to stay on top of innovation, said the U.S. site Silicon Valley Business Journal. Brain quest available that may be hindered by the difficulty encountered by some foreigners to get a work visa.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and billionaire right?

According to the British newspaper "Daily Telegraph", which first reported the interest of Mark Zuckerberg for the field of possible policy reform immigration laws would be a first step. The idol of Silicon Valley and his fellow Super Pac would also reform the education system and strengthen support for research.

But, as shown by the presidential campaign of 2012, a Super Pac is often politically colored. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has received substantial financial support from several of them. Does this mean that if Mark Zuckerberg will unveil its political heart beats to the left or right?

Not necessarily because such a committee does not have to show affiliation to one of the two major American parties. Still advisors who have, according to the political website The Hill, was approached to help these entrepreneurs to make their way in Washington are rather arcane connotations right. Two of them, Jon Lerner and Rob Jesmer, are powerbrokers from the right wing of the Republican Party. The third, Joe Lockhart, looks rather to the left as it was one of those responsible for media relations for former President Bill Clinton.

The presence of a majority of advisors would come right, in fact, confirm that the affinities conservative we ready Mark Zuckerberg. In February 2013, the founder of Facebook was organized at his home in California for an evening fundraiser for Chris Christie, the Republican governor of the state of moderate New Jersey.

VATICAN: Pope Meeting between François unique and Benedict XVI in an atmosphere of "family"

 

Ten days after his election, Pope François met Saturday at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, Benedict XVI's predecessor, became "Pope emetic rite "in the wake of the waiver to the papal throne in late February.

The pontiff Argentina, aged 76, arrived shortly before 11:30 (10:30 GMT) by helicopter to the papal summer residence, near the lake of Albano, where he was greeted at the descent of the aircraft by Benedict XVI.  

The two men in white were hugged and then went to pray together in the chapel of the papal palace of the seventeenth century, before a private meeting of three quarters of an hour followed by lunch in pre presence of the two secretaries.

The atmosphere was "family," said the Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi.

When the pope and his predecessor went to the chapel to pray, Benedict XVI presented to Pope Francis kneelers at the altar, the place of honor reserved e to the pontiff, but he declined the offer, said Father Lombardi.

"We are brothers, we pray together," said Francis, faithful to its image of simplicity and humility. 

During their private meeting, the two men have probably talked about the challenges facing the Catholic Church, especially in the wake of the scandal "VatiLeaks" and whose acuity has led Benoy , t XVI, 85, to resign, saying that the state of his forces was no longer compatible with the exercise of its functions.

The last day of his pontificate, February 28, Benedict XVI is committed to evidence of "unconditional submission" to his successor.

He lived in Castel Gandolfo until April, the time to complete the repairs to the Mater Ecclesiae convent, located in the enclave Vatican, where he settled with books and orange. 

The waiver of a previous pontiff, a rare thing, was in December 1294, when Celestine V had decided to abandon the head of the Catholic Church, their silver medal win five months , s he took office, to find his life as a hermit. He died a year and a half later.

But nothing indicates that Celestin had then met his successor, Boniface VIII, which made this meeting in Castel Gandolfo a "first" in the history of the Church.

In 1415, Gregory XII had also resigned under pressure from the Council of Pisa, in order to end the Great Schism, but forced forced departure was more akin to a evidence that a voluntary surrender.

Reuters

CYPRUS: London airlifting one million euros for its staff in Cyprus

 

This is the story of the British aircraft that was worth a million. "An aircraft of the Royal Air Force took off for Cyprus this afternoon (…) in the context of exceptional measures to provide emergency loans to military personnel and their families" , said Tuesday, March 19, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

This decision was taken by surprise fear Cypriot banks running out of money. Nicosia, on the edge of bankruptcy, forceps negotiates the terms of its financial bailout with the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Cyprus does not digest the tax on bank deposits required in the famous rescue plan. Pending a final agreement and prevent stampedes at the counters, island banks are closed and will not reopen until Thursday, March 21.

The UK Department also contacted members of his staff to ask if they wanted their salary for the month of March and the following months will be paid into bank accounts in the UK, rather on bank accounts in Cyprus.

"We are determined to do everything possible to minimize the impact of the banking crisis in Cyprus on our citizens," added the spokesman.

Approximately 3,000 British troops are based in Cyprus, former colony and strategic point in the Mediterranean.