EGYPT – REPORT: In pictures: Bibles burned and charred walls of a Coptic church in Giza

 

Lost at the end of a dusty alley of Giza, the Coptic church Kordossa neighborhood seems strangely quiet Sunday, August 18, a few hours of Sunday mass. Simply push the heavy iron gate in a painting depicting the Archangel Michael to enter any anxiety that plagues the Christian minority in Egypt since the crushing of protests conducive to Islamist ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

The church is more than an empty shell, with arches and blackened ceiling show a violent fire. Some benches half charred were pushed into a corner of the building, the remains of religious robes and Arabic-language Bibles are visible among the ashes. The caretaker of the church, Reda Abdallah, shows team FRANCE 24 the extent of damage and returns to the course of the attack, which occurred on Aug. 14 , t last, at the same time gave the Egyptian forces storm the main camp to the pro-Morsi Rabaa mosque in Cairo.

"Islamiya, Islamiya" "We first heard the cries out … The cries of an angry crowd chanting" Islamiya, Islamiya! ' and chanting slogans against our pope [the Coptic Patriarch Tawadros II] and General Al-Sissi. There were about a thousand people, mostly young people from 20 to 25 years, but also some older people. Many of them were armed with sticks and knives, they came here directly after ransacked the local police, "recalls Reda Abdallah.

Faced with this hysterical crowd, the keeper had no choice but to escape through the back door. The locks of the outer portal did not take long face the attackers. Between 16:30 and 18 pm, they have methodically vandalized the entire site, setting fire to the church and the adjoining room parties, while scoring Islamist slogans on the walls outside. Three people were injured in the attack. Not a police officer came to investigate on the spot

The young Coptic Korollos Khalil attended the scene from the roof of his house, which adjoins one of the buildings burned. He also reviews the way his father was busy frantically to water the inside wall of the housing to prevent it from catching fire in turn. "I could not even touch the wall with my hand it was so hot!" Exclaims the child of eight years, still shocked by the violence of the attack.

His parents tried to alert the authorities. In vain.

"My husband and I called the police a hundred times. Sometimes the police said they were coming … but they never came, "says the mother of Korollos Khalil. The caretaker of the church confirmed that no police officer has visited the site to investigate between the date of the attack on 14 August, and the arrival of the team of FRANCE 24 , Aug. 18.

Abandoned to their fate, the Coptic Kordossa could not count on the solidarity of the immediate vicinity – predominantly Muslim. Elsam Ahmed, who lives 20 meters from the church, said he received two wounded Copts home. The man of fifty years described the attackers as "addicts, lowlifes, thieves took away fridges and everything they could find."

Despite the vocal support of the Patriarch Tawadros II General Al-Sissi, the Coptic Kerdassa fear being released by the police in the event of another attack pro-Morsi. "We are afraid for our children, our fate is in God's hands," says Reda Abdallah with a resigned air.

FOOTBALL: Olympique Lyonnais made his European return against Zurich

 

Olympique Lyonnais, forced to spend the summer with the preliminary rounds of the Champions League, is the first French club to launch its season on Tuesday night against Grasshopper Zurich.

For its 17th European participation on the OL opens the new formula imposed on third Ligue 1: it must go through a qualifying round, then by dams before entering – the best – in wider Europe.

The seven-time champion France is doubly dangerous in the UEFA rankings of France, now the sixth European nation behind Portugal as calculated by the governing body of continental football career. 

Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champion, and Olympique de Marseille, the dolphin, are in turn provided these challenging games that require them to draw on the resources at the heart of e ty.

Before the first day of Ligue 1, scheduled for August 10 against Nice, Lyon has already played two games and, if successful, the club will be two more in the During the month of August.

The OL has no interest in making these appointments lightly, especially as the resources generated by the qualification would provide a breath fresh air to the club. But, according to coach Remi Garde, this motivation is not enough.

"If the money had run faster it's not," he said Monday at a press conference. "I think this is the desire to excel, is the desire to succeed together and qualify for the Champions League."

"We are ready"

Opposite Zurich does not figure scarecrow. The Swiss are 195th in the UEFA rankings of clubs, their last appearance at this level was in 2003 after the 27th and last national title to date, and their last appearance in phase hens date the 1996-1997 season.

But Zurich has the advantage of having already started his championship for three weeks. And so far, the club won its first season, with two wins for a draw.

Last season, the Grasshopper finished Dolphin FC Basel with the second best defense in the country and the fourth best offense in a league with ten teams.

For its part, Lyon has the psychological benefit of good 2-2 friendly made last week against Real Madrid.

"I think we're ready as I said after the game against Real Madrid," according to Remi Garde. "On the one hand because it had worked well so far and on the other hand, this game has allowed us to raise our game pace"

Shared by defender Mouhamadou Dabo opinion: "It has brought us confidence," he said at the same press conference.

"It was a good start to the match with the availability and movement. We will continue to work well in practice. Real Madrid was a friendly match, but tomorrow it will be something else. "

For this opening match, Remi Garde has available its entire group, with the exception of midfielder Rachid Ghezzal back injury.

The striker Bafetimbi Gomis, pending transfer and spread of the group since the beginning of Lyon preparation is not part of the workforce called Remi Garde.

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RAILWAY ACCIDENT: Derailment in Spain: the train driver refuses to answer police

 

Francisco José Garzón Amo, the driver of the train that derailed Wednesday, July 25 at the entrance to the station of Saint-Jacques de Compostela, has not spoken. Placed in custody at the hospital where he was treated for 20 hours on Thursday night, he refused to answer police questions.

Investigators suspect him of having driven too fast: he had himself acknowledged when he radioed the station from his cabin where he got stuck after derailment, having driven 190 km / h instead of 80 km / h at the entrance to the corner before the station, twice the speed limit.

The final toll of this disaster always seems a little fuzzy. During the press conference the head of the police, the number of 78 retrouvésa body was raised, while the official death toll rose to 80 so far dead. Of the 72 bodies identified, there are several foreigners: one French, one Algerian, a Mexican and an American.

52 years old, the prime suspect for 30 years working on the Renfe, the public company of the Spanish railways, and since 2000 as a driver. Friday, many Spanish media showed screen captures his Facebook page, which has since been deleted, where the man boasted of up to 200 km / h.

But human error can not be the only cause. The investigation focuses also on possible gaps in the braking system. As evidenced by a video of webcast Thursday monitoring the train going at breakneck speed in a very dangerous curve. train "braked too late," headlined the Friday newspaper "El Pais".

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FOOTBALL: The Argentine "Tata" Martino, new coach of FC Barcelona

 

Less than a week after the announcement of the departure of Tito Vilanova, who must undergo a new operation of his cancer, FC Barcelona has already hired a new coach.

The Catalan club officially announced Tuesday, July 23, have offered the services of Argentine Gerardo Martino.

"FC Barcelona reached an agreement with Gerardo Martino to become the first coach of the football team for the next two seasons. The drafting and signing of the contract are pending, "reads the official website of the Spanish Champion team.

Since the beginning of the week, the Spanish press was already echoing the arrival of Argentine coach, who should bring in his luggage his current deputy Jorge Pautasso and its pre physical separator, Elvio Paolorroso.

"A game-oriented offensive"

Known as the "Tata" (grandfather in Spanish), the new coach of the Blaugrana, aged 50, has directed several clubs in South America. This was made known in 2007 as coach of the Paraguay he had conducted in 2010 in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Since 2011 he was the head of the Argentine team of Rosario, Newell's Old Boys, where he played as a midfielder in the 80s. Last month, he led his players to victory in the final tournament of the Argentine championship.

Hailing from Rosario as Lionel Messi, Gerardo Martino has already favored by the star of FC Barcelona. "I love Gerardo Martino. It is a great coach," said last year was the star striker to the newspaper Ole.

His brother, Matias Messi, has also welcomed his arrival on his Twitter account saying: "Welcome to Tata! Everything goes well, and continues on track. "

According to the Catalan daily Sport, the new coach of Barça supporter "of a game vocation clearly offensive." He became the fourth coach of Argentine club history after Helenio Herrera (1958-1960), Roque Olsen (1965-1967) and César Luis Menotti (1983-1984).

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CINEMA: "Hijacking" Somali piracy seen by the Danish Film

 

To make a force of international news, attacks of Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean would one day be brought to the big screen. This fall, the United States, is expected "Captain Phillips", a film by Paul Greengrass with Tom Hanks and Catherine Keener in the title roles, which returns to the recent hijacking of a cargo U.S..

Outside Hollywood, Danish cinema has also discussed the issue with "Hijacking", panting and effective thriller Tobias Lindholm who, after receiving a warm welcome at the last Festival Venice, out Wednesday, July 10 in French theaters. 

Far from Hollywood guns

"Hijacking" back on two recently held hostage by Somali pirates on Danish oil and the film could have been lost in the water, sometimes disorders of the film "inspired by facts re , LIVE "in which more than a filmmaker could not avoid the wreck. But control and dexterity with which Tobias Lindholm directs his story – and plans held camera – allow him to avoid the many pitfalls of such .

The main highlight of this deeply human drama is in two characters: on one side, the ragged and bon vivant Mikkel (Pilou Asbaek), chef of the crew forced to play intermediate between pirates and employers, on the other, the austere Peter (Soren Malling), CEO of the Danish owner of the cargo company, which insists on not wanting to negotiate that & rsquo , with the attackers present on the ship. More than a meticulous reconstruction of a news story, "Hijacking" portrays two men brought, despite themselves, to manage an extreme emergency.

In fact, Tobias Lindholm is far from Hollywood guns. Here, no martial music, finely chopped editing, slow motion sequences heroic or breast tears with families of the hostages desperately waiting for news. The storming of the ship, which could ensure a great time sensational, is not even shown on the screen

.

Claustrophobia and intimate violence

The action scenes vitamin content, the Danish filmmaker rather claustrophobic anxiety of the hostages, cloistered in tiny cabins for months and Calvary subdued violence cold negotiations sanitized offices of Danish oil company.

Along the way, the film leaves its protagonists gradually shed their stereotypical traits to be in the public eye. Peter, for example, is not an uncompromising and ruthless boss with fine glasses. It is measured as a man whose sense of responsibility willingly push to pay any ransom to ensure the safe life for its employees.

Similarly, Omar (Abdihakin Asgar), the English spokesman for pirates, is more affable than actually threatening. In fact, Tobias Lindholm is careful to portray the attackers as bloodthirsty villains, and no hesitation to show in one of the few scenes of the film hope , trying to sing "Happy Birthday" with their hostages.

What good, after all?

But taking and well-crafted as it is, "Hijacking" ultimately not escape the question "why bother?" Neither pure entertainment or documentary – despite his relentless accuracy when it comes to restoring the facts – the film was not even the ambition to scrutinize, as brilliantly done Kathryn Bigelow "Zero Dark Thirty" the mecha , mechanisms leading to violence and moral sacrifice. 

In the press release of the film, Tobias Lindholm says "Somalis certainly will not agree with that, but the giant fridges sail off their country and I can understand why starving kids want to take it. Why the international community does it do anything? This is a terribly complicated problem. "

Essentially told the Danish point of view, the movie bears no little interest to the geopolitical issues that can lead to acts of piracy in this region. Film captivating and cleverly staged, "Hijacking" remains in the background, too to the surface to create an entire membership.

"Bloody Sunday" and "United 93", made, them, by Paul Greengrass, also followed this path of realistic reproduction of facts which, in spite of many qualities, let viewers a taste of too little. "Bloody Sunday" came back on the events of 30 January 1972 in Northern Ireland, when 14 protesters were killed by gunfire in the British army while "United 93" told the dice , tournement, September 11, the plane that crashed near Pittsburgh.

Hopefully his "Captain Phillips" fits into the no Kathryn Bigelow, which can not cease to admire the ability to overcome the constraints of strict reconstruction to better probe the complexity of the world.

TENNIS: Wimbledon: Bartoli at the gates of the feat

 

All the lights are green for Marion Bartoli. The French argument that the semi-final of Wimbledon Thursday in a 2013 edition where all the favorites have already fallen. In the last four of the London tournament, all exploits are possible, the last four players who have never won a Grand Slam tournament.

The French 28 years old, seeded 15, is opposed to the amazing Belgian Kirsten Flipkens (No. 15). Face it, Marion Bartoli hopes to repeat the feat in 2007 when she was eliminated in the semifinals on the grass of Wimbledon, another much more famous Belgian Justine Henin. The Auvergne was then granted his first and only one Grand Slam final, before losing against Venus Williams.

Despite this beautiful memory, Marion Bartoli prefer not to show confidence. "It's totally different from 2007. Then I end up with the status of favorite. There are only four players. We all have a chance to win, "she said at a press conference.

The French leader is wary of this Belgian who had imposed Wimbledon junior ten years ago: "If Kirsten is, is that it plays excellent tennis. In 2007, I played Justin Henin and I had no luck on the paper. It is she who will be the most enterprising. "

Bartoli, although surrounded

In support of this challenge, Marion Bartoli can count on a new environment. Since the beginning of the year, the player asked his father and mentor Walter, with whom she maintained a close relationship, take a step back. It is now driven by Thomas Drouet, the former sparring partner of Bernard Tomic.

"Marion Bartoli, this is really a great person, a great human. I did not expect that at all for the first Grand Slam where I found the coach, "said the young coach, the French recruited after the it had been violently assaulted by the father of Tomic last May.

The Wimbledon semi-finalist also benefits from advice Amelie Mauresmo, captain of France's Fed Cup. Bartoli can not do without the presence of his senior, who had not planned to stay so long in London: "I'll tie on a chair and she will no longer be able to from. This is not a mascot but we will organize to keep it. "

"He'll have to get organized," said Mauresmo who considers Bartoli's opponent will not be easy to maneuver, "Flipkens not change badly, she is able to serve and volley occasionally. The slice backhand. It's a different game than we usually see on the circuit. "

The other semi-final will oppose the Polish Agnieszka Radwanska (No. 4) to Germany's Sabine Lisicki (25 °).

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SENEGAL: Obama pays tribute to Nelson Mandela, a "hero to the world"

 

The head of the U.S. state, Barack Obama, Wednesday, June 26 began its first tour in Dakar in sub-Saharan Africa since his re-election to the presidency. Accompanied by his wife Michelle and their two daughters, Malia and Sasha, he was welcomed by his Senegalese counterpart, Macky Sall and his wife Marème.

Barack Obama has made such a family to Goree Island, off Dakar, landmark memory of the slave trade and its infamous " , house slaves "which preceded two other U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

A joint press conference with the President of Senegal was an opportunity for the U.S. president to pay tribute to former South African President African Nelson Mandela, a "hero to the world" when he is fighting for its survival. Mandela was hospitalized for three weeks in Pretoria, "is one of my heroes. I think he is a hero to the world, and the day he left this earth, his legacy will live on through the ages ", told Barack Obama .

Support for African gay

Asked by American journalists, President Obama also hailed as "a victory for American democracy" the decision of the Supreme Court's decision in favor of marriage before gay in the United States. He took the opportunity to provide support to homosexuals persecuted in the overwhelming majority of African countries except South Africa, where gay marriage is allowed Africa. "My opinion is that, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation against the law, everyone should have the same rights," he said.

But, at her side, Senegalese President Macky Sall replied that although "very tolerant", his country was "not yet ready to decriminalize homosexuality." He recently excluded the adoption of a law allowing homosexuality in Senegal, required by organizations defending human rights.

Apart from this difference, MM. Obama and Sall said they share the same values ​​about "democracy" and "good governance".

South Africa

On Friday, the U.S. President has to go to Johannesburg for a weekend of talks and a joint press conference with President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria. A program that depend on the health of Nelson Mandela, former South African President hero of the anti-apartheid that soon 95 years was hospitalized for nearly three weeks Pretoria.

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INTERNET: Piracy: Justice delivered a first cut Internet

 

It took four years after the introduction of Hadopi (High Authority for the dissemination of works and protection of rights on the Internet). The district court of the Seine-Saint-Denis has just made the first cut internet for 15 days for a person convicted of illegally downloaded copyrighted works copyright. The judgment was made in late May, according to the PC Inpact who first revealed Wednesday, June 12 site is subject to a fine of 600 euros.

This ruling comes after three customary warnings required by law. The user affected by this procedure is believed to have hacked "two works." He would always post Inpact PC, especially not responded to warnings in the form of messages and emails. He would not even attend the hearing of the court to decide his fate. Still, it was another 10 days to appeal.

So far, the device fight against illegal downloading under Hadopi had given rise to a money judgment in September 2012. The user was then fined 150 euros for Rihanna songs illegally downloaded by his wife.

Technical difficulties

Internet disconnection is the sanction of last resort under the law. The conviction in late May by the district court arrived at this title at a pivotal moment in the troubled life of the Hadopi law, which was set up under the chairmanship , Presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy. The reason for this high authority, indeed, about to be gutted. The government intends to soon repeal the right to suspend, by court order, the Internet connection. "The decree is in the loop, it must obtain the opinion of the State Council," confirmed to PC Inpact, the French Minister of Culture Aurélie Filippetti.

The recent court decision could also bring grist to the mill of those who argue that the possibility of imposing an Internet disconnection is not effective. The suspension of the connection is, in fact, far from being effective. The implementation of sanctions not obvious. This is, indeed, not full access to the network can be cut, but only the "public" web.

In other words, the ISP (Internet Service Provider) must implement a selective cut. The user is condemned to continue to have access to his mailbox, instant messaging and all that belongs to the private email correspondence. In addition, digital TV and telephone – often involving the same networks as the Internet in three bunches in one – must be maintained. "All the operators do not have the technical capacity to carry out such a selective suspension," admitted Alex Türk, President of the CNIL (National Commission for Informatics and Liberties ) about this judiciaro engineering puzzle.

The Brazil-England match will take place Sunday at the Maracana stadium

 

A "bureaucratic error" has failed to prevent the holding Sunday friendly football match Brazil-England at the Maracana, the legendary stadium in Rio de Janeiro, for safety reasons, officials of the State of Rio.

Two weeks before the start of the Confederations Cup, which should serve as a test for the World Cup-2014 in Brazil, a court in Rio took Thursday night the decision to ban the meeting. But this decision was canceled a few hours later, when the authorities of Rio showed that all the facilities were in good standing, said Friday the government of State in a statement. "The duty judge of the court of Rio de Janeiro has revoked the decision suspending the game," it is said.

The government has appealed the ban and presented documents "inspection miliary police proved that all safety conditions are in good standing at the Maracana," the statement which refers to "a bureaucratic error" to explain the confusion. At first, the judge had no evidence that the stage had taken the necessary steps to allow the holding of games or events in the stadium, explains the government. Selections from Brazil and England are already in Rio, where they train for the meeting to be held before 74,000 spectators.  

Missing technical reports

In announcing the ban on friendly, Gary Neville, assistant England coach Roy Hodgson, reacted with surprise and a very British sense of humor: "This match there? This Sunday? We will play on the beach, "is he laughed at a press conference.

The judge, who has decided to ban the stadium gave the right to the public prosecutor who said that "he could not be checked for the moment the stadium meets the minimum safety conditions necessary for holding matches and events. " The judgment required the submission of technical reports demonstrating that the stadium has the necessary security conditions to accommodate spectators. "Despite numerous requests from prosecutors, expert reports were not presented in their entirety and it is not for checking the time that the pre stage , presents the security requirements, "wrote the judge.

The ban on stage "does not make sense," believed to share the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). "The legal department said that all the expertise necessary have been made and they will be forwarded to the judge," the statement said CBF. "The stadium is 100% ready to host the Brazilian and ready fans for the Confederations Cup," said his part said the Secretary of S , State for Sport of the State of Rio Andre Lazaroni the Tupi radio. The first match of the Confederations Cup under Maracana would normally oppose Mexico to Italy on June 16

A legendary stage

The friendly match Brazil-England should mark the official opening of the Maracana stadium completely renovated Rio, which has already been placed under the supervision of the International Federation Football Association (FIFA) for the Confederations Cup.

Built for the World Cup in 1950, lost in the final by Brazil against Uruguay, it could hold 200,000 people, most standing in very precarious conditions. Its capacity was reduced to 78,639 seats, all seats, for reasons of comfort and safety.

The Maracana has been a first test at a third of capacity on April 28, after a total renovation which lasted two and a half years and cost almost $ 600 million , double the original estimate. It was expected to be completed in December, but the work has been much delayed. The vicinity of the stadium still offered Thursday in some places the spectacle of a site: dozens of workers wearing helmets, Concrete, metal fence … Inside the temple of Brazilian soccer, everything has been completely redone: lawn, stands, dressing rooms, sound system and giant screens.

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NIGER: According to the president of Niger, Chad is a target of Islamist

 

After Niger, Chad. According to the Nigerian President Mahamadou Issoufou, the Islamists that struck Niger twice on May 23 at Arlit and Agadez, fomented a parallel attack against Chad.

The attack "against Niger was prepared in conjunction with another attack, which was Chad. For now this attack does not happen but it was being prepared at the same time as that which took place against the Niger ", told Monday, May 27 Chief of the Nigerian state, speaking in Agadez after the ceremony commemorating the victims of the attacks.

Mahmadou Issoufou also reiterated that he believes "the home that is now destabilizing the Sahel is in Libya." He had said, Saturday, May 25, the attackers were "southern Libya." He said then fear "Somalisation of Libya."

Libyan Prime Minister denies

Contradicted by a Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zaidan version visiting Brussels. For the latter, all allegations that the attackers came from Libya are "baseless and do not correspond to reality," arguing that it was more the former leader Muammar Gaddafi "which exported terrorism"

.

"The new Libya will not tolerate it" and "is not a hotbed of terrorism," said the head of the Libyan government. He also revealed that the son of the former Libyan leader, Saadi Gaddafi, and former regime officials enjoyed the right of asylum in Niger. "I ask our Nigerian friends to take these facts into consideration and extradite these elements to be tried in Libya," said the Prime Minister.

Both attacks from May 23 to Niger were committed at dawn against a military base in Agadez, where twenty people died, mostly Nigerian military, and mine Arlit uranium where a Nigerian employee of Areva site was killed. The French special forces intervened in the morning and shot the last two Islamist fighters who resisted. In total, ten jihadists were killed, eight in Agadez and Arlit two.

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