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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BASKETBALL: The "Braqueuses" flying Euro basketball

 

The "Braqueuses" have so far fallen short of expectations raised by their great adventure of the Olympics in London, where they were amazed French viewers before to win the silver medal. A Trélazé host the first round of the Euro for their group, they signed a flawless flawless, with three wins in as many games, while communing with their subjugated by going public.

The friendlies were given an overview of both the popular fervor and the value of Blue. They had won their nine games prepared by a mean difference of 21.7 points. They did even better in the three official matches, won by an average 33-point gap. Latvia (62-39) and Serbia (76-32), archi-dominated athletically, have been crushed. Britain has fared better, but could not escape a similar fate (79-47). Although this group was perhaps the least observed of all, France has hit his fist on the table. The only threat hovering over the head of Blue would be to get caught up in the euphoria and lose concentration. But demanding Pierre Vincent is keeping watch. For the rest, everything goes.

The tricolor defense, the DNA of the team is in place, with only 39.3 points per game conceded. More surprisingly, it has the second best offense (72.3 points), behind Spain.

All lights green

France is also the second most skillful team in the competition (48.9% address) through a domestic sector ravaging everything in its path. Only the address winning shots (33.3%) is not quite so radiant, without being either disastrous. But the Blues have such a variety of options that fall within the detail.

For another positive aspect of the first round is that the coach could rotate his squad at leisure, without user organizations. Celine Dumerc and Sandrine Gruda, the two most used French, have played only 21 minutes on average. This was used to assess the science of game Gaëlle thomas, which begins in the blue shirt at age 30, or the raw talent of Diandra Tchatchouang (22) and Valerian Ayayi (19 years ).

All lights are green before entering the second round. Three opponents to come in order of appearance Croatia, the Czech Republic and Belarus, only the latter seems to disturb a little France.

With four points on the board to start the second phase, "Braqueuses" need only two wins in three games to be certain to go in the quarter. But they obviously target a new tripled history to maintain the momentum of 12 consecutive wins since their defeat by the United States Olympic final, and to provide a quarterfinal not too difficult.

AFP

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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IVORY COAST – REPORT: The bodies of victims of the Ivorian crisis symbolically handed over to families

 

During the post-election crisis in Ivory Coast 2010-2011, which killed more than 3,000 deaths, according to the UN, many families have had no choice but to bury their dead in their yard or neighborhood, insecurity making travel impossible in a morgue or cemetery. On April 4, the government has launched a major campaign in Abidjan exhumations. Twenty graves have been opened, 40 bodies exhumed and identified 22.

Wednesday, May 22, almost two months after the beginning of the exhumation, the families of 22 victims identified were invited to a symbolic ceremony in the presence of body the Minister of Justice, Gnenema Mamadou Coulibaly. From across the country, and they want to start with their grief, like Gisele Detalbi. His son had been executed by militia; insecurity of the time had prevented from properly bury her child. "I spent two years with the body of my son buried behind my house. Today I had a relief but I am pained, really pained. My son died for nothing! "

Caused by the refusal of President Laurent Gbagbo to concede defeat in the presidential election of November 2010, the post-election crisis had ended with the arrest of former president in April 2011. On August 8, 2012, an Ivorian investigation demanded by his successor, Alassane Ouattara, had concluded that the armed forces that brought him to power have killed more than 700 people and those loyal to Laurent Gbagbo about twice.

Funeral too expensive

More than two years after the end of violence, slow justice is strongly criticized by human rights. But the exhumation campaign and the ceremony are a first concrete step for the relatives of victims. During a speech, Minister Mamadou Coulibaly Gnenema invited relatives of the victims to "dry [their] tears" and "assured them that everything will be to ensure that the truth appears and justice for those who have been so brutally torn from [their] condition. "

Most families are divided from the ceremony with flags, but without coffins, not having the means to pay for the funeral of their loved ones. This is a situation that is denounced Tatenda Diaby, president of the Collective of Victims of Côte d'Ivoire: "We absolutely must support measures to enable them to organize the funeral of their dignity missing relatives. "And to call a" major action of the government in their favor. "

SYRIA: New resignation Moaz al-Khatib, head of the Syrian opposition

 

The head of the opposition Syrian Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib was again presented his resignation Saturday, citing the "inaction" of the international community in the conflict, when the armed e Bashar al-Assad progressed in Homs border of Lebanon.

New macabre discoveries reflected once again the horror of war that knows no respite for two years, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (OSDH) identifying at least 80 people killed in five days in a town near Damascus. 

While his army scores against the rebels in the south of the country, the official SANA news agency reported that Assad felt that "the situation was better in Syria through resistance of the Syrian people and their support for his brave army. "

Reiterating recent remarks, he re-emphasized his intransigence, saying he would "not compromise with extremist and terrorist groups," which he likens the rebels.

Addressing a Lebanese delegation, he also said that Syria and Lebanon will "abort all foreign conspiracies to implement a new Sykes-Picot" re doing , preferably in a Franco-British agreement in 1916 for the partition of the Ottoman Empire. 

Given the stalemate in the conflict that has claimed more than 70,000 deaths, according to the UN, Mr. Khatib submitted for the second time in his resignation, "to protest the lack of action international community to help the Syrian "people, according to a member of the Coalition opposition.

The resignation comes after the meeting Saturday of the "Friends of Syria" in Istanbul during which Washington announced the doubling of its direct assistance and delivery of defensive military equipment but still no heavy weapons that the opposition claims emphatically.

Known for his outspokenness, Mr. Khatib has always criticized the inaction of the international community to the bloodshed in Syria.

A member of the Coalition told AFP that the opposition would meet on May 10 and 11 to elect a new leader, the Charter of the Coalition requiring that the mandate of its pre President is voted on every six months.

The army scores

On the ground, the army marked points on two strategic fronts, near Damascus and in Homs, bordering Lebanon, which connects the capital to the coast.

So she took Sunday "full control" of the village of al-Fadl Jdeidit where OSDH has identified at least 80 dead, many rebels killed in bombings, battles and execu summary executions. 

The organization released videos of the body or face brutally tortured horribly mutilated.

Troops seeking to prevent the entry of rebels in Damascus bombing intensely insurgent pockets on the outskirts.

In the region of Homs (center), the army was moving towards the rebel stronghold of Qousseir after taking several surrounding villages, according to the OSDH and Damascus.

According to the Observatory, the troops are supported by Hezbollah fighters.

Hezbollah fighters "inch on the ground, while the army gives them air cover," he told AFP Hadi al-Abdallah, an activist in antirégime Qousseir. 

This situation is reflected in Lebanon, where three new shells fired from Syria are slaughtered in the Hermel region, a stronghold of Hezbollah, causing no casualties, according to the Lebanese news agency.

For a week, the rebels draw towards this region, claiming respond to the participation of Hezbollah fighting.

The Syrian opposition has also ordered Hezbollah "immediately withdraw its forces from Syrian territory," arguing that the involvement of the Shiite party "could result in Lebanon and the region in conflict open to destructive consequences. "

AFP

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.

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

UNITED STATES: An anti-jihad campaign authorized in the New York subway

 

An advertising campaign comparing radical Islamists to wild will be spread over the walls of the subway in New York on Monday, a conservative blogger who received the endorsement of the American justice system.

"In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel, fight jihad, "reads the provocative posters. The conservative writer Pamela Geller, already known to have militated against an Islamic center to be built near the site of the attacks of 11 September 2001, has been successful U.S. courts to conduct this new campaign.

"Hands tied"

Posters should be put up on the walls of a dozen stations from Monday. Describing the message "insulting" the direction of the New York subway had first refused to exhibit signs of Pamela Geller. But justice has authorized the U.S. saying it was protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and expression.

"We have their hands tied," said the spokesman Metro New York The Associated Press, adding that the board was now " obliged to publish this campaign. "

It should last a month, at a cost of 6000 dollars per show (about 4600 euros). In San Francisco, the same posters were displayed during a similar campaign in bus, sparking a public backlash. Several posters were vandalized, users replacing the phrase slogan "defeat jihad" by "overcoming racism."

"Islamoréalisme"

Pamela Geller is not his first attempt. Organization, "American Freedom Defense Initiative" (Initiative for American freedom), had already launched an advertising campaign in New York with the slogan: "It is not Islamophobia but the islamoréalisme. "

Pamela Geller has also announced that it would file a complaint against the Washington Metro. The administrative authority for transportation in the U.S. capital has refused to publish the posters when violent protests against anti-Islam video shake the Muslim world.

Considered "the figurehead of the most visible and the most flamboyant of the anti-Muslim" U.S., according to the agency specialized in monitoring extremist groups, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Pamela Geller says she is not worried about re-violence that have claimed the lives of over 30 people, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens.

"I do not intend to sacrifice my freedom just to not offend the savages," she says.

BANKS: Suspected tax fraud: French raid on the headquarters of UBS

AFP

The French headquarters of Swiss bank UBS in Paris was raided Wednesday in the investigation for "laundering tax fraud", the bank was suspected , have introduced a double accounting and facilitated the opening of undeclared accounts in Switzerland.

A dozen investigators from the national judicial customs (SNDJ) entered Wednesday morning in the premises of the bank with the judge Daïeff Guillaume Paris, in charge of the investigation, AFP a source close to the matter.

Two people were indicted in this case, a former leader of the UBS office in Lille and a framework UBS employee in Strasbourg. Several searches have been conducted in the premises of the bank in Strasbourg, Lyon and Bordeaux since late June.

A spokesman for the bank in Paris confirmed Wednesday that the "judge has actually visited the headquarters of UBS in Paris France as part of its investigation."

"We are cooperating fully with the authorities. The search is part of searches in other subsidiaries of UBS in France since April 2012, "said his side a spokesman for UBS in Switzerland AFP.

"As a group, we have an internal regulation which requires that the laws of the country are met. If employees have violated these laws, then they will be punished, "he added.

The first Swiss bank is suspected of having set up a dual accounting, designed to hide certain capital movements between France and Switzerland, and have enabled its Swiss business to solicit clients on French territory, in violation of the law. Denunciations of former employees

These facts have been particularly criticized by former employees. 

An anonymous note sent to the Prudential Supervisory Authority (ACP), seen by AFP, outlines the existence of "books of milk" between 2002 and 2007, a system designed to register new accounts undeclared Swiss made by salespeople.

She described the alleged role of responsible business in Switzerland and France and executives of UBS in France this double counting.

This system allowed not to leave a trace in the official tools while allowing the bank to calculate business operations for their year-end bonuses, according to this note. 

The judicial practices of the Swiss bank in France was opened in April for "banking or financial by unauthorized persons and tax evasion and laundering of funds obtained through an illegal solicitation, committed by an organized gang. "

Initially, a preliminary investigation was opened by the Paris prosecutor's office in March 2011 after transmission by the ACP in charge of banking supervision, a note on the practices commercial bank.

Meanwhile, another judicial inquiry opened in Paris in April for "obstructing the functioning of the committee on health, safety and working conditions (HSC)" and "harass Lement moral "at UBS, told AFP judicial source. Several officers had denounced the conditions of their departure from UBS.

In 2009, an agreement was reached with the United States to UBS reveals the names of 4,450 American clients whom he had offered to conceal funds to the IRS. The first Swiss bank had also paid a sum of $ 780 million, including a fine and back taxes.

(AFP)