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.

UNITED STATES: SNCF in the U.S. elected viewfinder for his role in the Holocaust

 

Several elected Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress introduced a new bill to allow prosecutions against SNCF for its role in transporting Jews to the camps of death during the Second World War. If approved, the law would counter the argument that the French company can not be prosecuted in the United States because of a U.S. law that guarantees the immunity as a controlled foreign corporation.

"For a long time the survivors and relatives of those who died trying to establish the liability of the railway for the active role it played in the Holocaust, but until Now the company has managed to wrap themselves in immunity and thus avoid proceedings before U.S. courts, "said Sen. Chuck Schumer said in a statement. 

SNCF, "a cog in the Nazi extermination machine"

This law "would allow survivors and relatives [of the victims] to be accountable to the French railway company to court for sending thousands of people to death during World War II," says there. If adopted, the text must be sent to President Barack Obama for promulgation.

In 2011, SNCF president Guillaume Pepy had recognized corporate responsibility in the deportation of Jews. The railway was "a cog in the Nazi extermination machine," he declared then, pointing out that more than 2,000 railway had been executed by the Nazi occupiers. Far from any ethical consideration, many felt that the train had to present his "apology" to preserve its chances of obtaining overseas contracts.

Requisitioned by the French Vichy government at the request of the German occupation authorities, SNCF transported 76,000 Jews from France in freight cars across the country and to extermination camps between 1942 and 1944.

With news

Egypt: The army launched a 48-hour ultimatum to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi

 

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the chief of staff of the Egyptian army, gave Monday a "last chance" for political leaders to "take their responsibilities to historical circumstances in which the country faces. " In a message read on television message, the military command said that within 48 hours, the people's demands to be satisfied, saying the country could not afford to lose time.

The army could announce his own road

If this deadline is not met, the armed forces announce their own roadmap and measures to overcome the crisis, said Al-Sissi. He also said that the army, which has managed the transition from the fall of Hosni Mubarak in February 2011 and the election of Mohamed Morsi summer , last, no longer wished to be involved in politics or government.

This statement was greeted by an explosion of joy on the part of anti-Morsi gathered in Tahrir Square, the nerve center of the dispute. "Morsi is not our President, Sissi with us," chanted the demonstrators.

General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, however, did not explicitly ask for the resignation of President Mohamed Morsi, main claim millions of opponents who showed Sunday, June 30

With news

FRANCE: The hidden face of Chinese weddings Tours

 

For over four years, from 2007 to 2011, more than 200 Chinese couples marched in the city of Tours. They came especially from China to symbolically celebrate what they call their "romantic honeymoon". "All Chinese people like the French marriage," showed at the time a bride.

The mayor of Tours Jean Germain, had personally the idea of ​​this operation to develop the economic activities of traders in the town and castles. "The Chinese, they sell us a lot. But we have to sell tourism. And the Loire and the city of Tours, this is very difficult to be relocated, "he explained in 2007.

From marriage to divorce

But the wedding of your dreams quickly turned to divorce. Lise Han, former special assistant to the mayor of Tours, is now suspected of fraud. This young Taiwanese woman was in charge of the entire organization of marriages find couples, to come and settle every detail of the ceremony. The contracts were then transferred to a small business, which it had formerly management, but that it had officially severed all ties to avoid conflict of interest.

Yet in 2011, the newspaper "The Chained Duck" revealed that in reality Lise Han was still a shareholder in this company. She even placed successively her husband and her ex-husband at the head of the structure. For three years, this woman and attributed juicy public contracts with bills sometimes amounting to more than EUR 50 000, were used to fund gala dinners and trips China for city officials.

Time in prison

The former project manager of the Town Hall is now under investigation for fraud, as well as her husband and ex-husband. In recent days, she even sleeps in prison for not paying his bail.

But through his lawyer, Lisa Han pleads good faith and blames the mayor. "I wish the justice go a little faster. Because it's 14 months of preliminary investigation. It is six months of information with judges. And Mayor Jean Germain has never been confronted with my client while it's been six months since I ask, "said Christophe Moysan me.

For his part, the mayor remains silent. He does not give interviews, preferring to reserve his speech to justice. He himself filed a complaint for fraud after the discovery of unjustified double bills. Despite this unflattering interlude, he hopes soon to celebrate the Chinese new marriages.

Focus Christophe DANSETTE Claire DEBUYSER China France City Wedding Tourism

FRANCE – REPORT: Death of Clement Meric: "The AKI for all threw oil on the fire!"

 

In the aftermath of the attack Clement Meric, a large crowd gathered Place Saint-Michel, in the center of Paris to pay tribute to the young man of 18 fatally attacked Wednesday by a group of right-wing activists.

In the collection, many anonymous came simply to show their sorrow at the sudden death of the anti-fascist activist. "It shocked me that a young man of 18 years died for nothing. It is a mourning. I have kids, "reflects fondly Marie-Louise, a Parisian. In a group, many students are also present in solidarity with Clement Meric, who was in first year at Sciences Po Some denounce "political capture" of this drama. "It bothers me, says Joachim, a student at the Sorbonne. It does not make the pub on the death of a young person. "

"The hypocrisy of political parties"

"For me, it reveals the hypocrisy of which are kept condemn violence in recent weeks and call for calm political parties. They surf it, "the young man, referring to protests against gay marriage. At his side, Sabry, one of his classmates share his point of view. For him, the politicians have maintained a poisonous atmosphere that led to such a tragedy: "There have been false debates. It was left to the movement for AKI. Both political sides, nobody really doomed. "

A little further, and his friend Alexane Luala, two students at Paris-VIII, are sharper. According to them, it is the latest right-wing excesses that are responsible for the death of Clement Meric. "What happened with AKI and for the movement of frigid Looney has a report. They poured oil on the fire. They revived the hatred that there could be between radical movements. This disgusts me, "condemns the first girls. Sensitivity to the left, the two friends admit that they now fear to participate in some events because of the violence of the extreme right: "Just now, when we arrived , es, it has reassured us to see the CRS. "

"They come to vote, because it is on TV"

In serried ranks, face hidden by scarves for some, a badge with the slogan "Clement RIP" on their t-shirt or hat, members of anti-fascist collective Paris suburbs on their way Place Saint-Michel. In the eyes of many of his comrades bed sadness and especially anger. "Clement anti-fa. Fascism is gangrene ", they yell, fist raised.

Arrived at the fountain, tempers flare. The comrades of Clement Meric do not hide their disapproval of the presence of many left-wing parties. "If Clement had been there, he would have wanted the flags to be lowered. Against fascism, there is no split, "joked one of the spokesmen of the movement at the microphone. "Go fuck yourself, no political recovery," joked another activist. "They come to vote, because it is on TV", gets carried away when he saw another Pierre Laurent, the general secretary of the Communist Party (PC). Booed, Anne Hidalgo, the Socialist candidate for mayor of Paris, even had to turn back.

After waving a banner in tribute to their deceased friend "forever one of us" and a few words, the anti-fascist group finally left the gathering, determined , not to make common cause with the political parties. Tears in their eyes, some close to Clement Meric want to fight, but they leave supported by their peers. "It disperses", ordered one of the leaders of the movement.

After they left, it is the Left Front activists who speak, red scarves around their necks. Stephen, a member of the Order of the coalition service does not include the release of members of the anti-fascist group. For him, the parties have their place in this gathering because Clement Meric "had political ideas and that is why he died."

"The only thing we can do is to dissolve"

Away from the political parties, associations were also keen to show their revolt. For weeks, the League of Human Rights has been a deepening of racist, homophobic or anti-democratic attacks. "Activists were attacked on May 1 as they went for the traditional gathering for Brahim Bouallam" said Eric Bakerdjian, branch president of the association.

The activist is concerned about the rise of the extreme right in the political field. "We're talking about Youth nationalist revolutionaries, but there is also the movement of black Lys did events in the Assembly against marriage for all." He called for political action, but according to him, these factions are difficult to neutralize, "The only thing we can do is to dissolve them, but they come together in new movements."

Pending a response from the authorities, other events will be held this week in several cities in France in honor of Clement Meric. A new rally is planned Saturday at 2:00 p.m., Place de la Bastille in Paris.

INTERNET: Yahoo! ready to get their hands on Tumblr for $ 1.1 billion

 

The board of Yahoo has approved the friendly takeover of the platform microblogging Tumblr for $ 1.1 billion (€ 857 million), announces the Wall Street Journal Sunday, citing sources close to the folder.

It would be the largest acquisition in the Internet portal since the arrival at its head Marissa Meyer, a former Google in July 2012.

Citing sources close to the situation, AllThingsD said that Yahoo, one of the oldest Internet names, is interested in the excitement by Tumblr youth.

Yahoo overshadowed for many years by new internet giants Google or Facebook, and wants his image and dust halting its activities. 

This comes after the failure of his plan to acquire 75% of the French online video site, Dailymotion, France Telecom.

Tumblr is one of the two social networks with the rage in recent months. The company hosts 108 million blogs and boasts 50.7 billion messages exchanged between them.

The network is just beginning to garner revenue through advertising.

Yahoo, which has declined to comment, has issued an invitation to the press conference for Monday in Manhattan "something special", without saying more.

REUTERS

EGYPT: Cairo foiled attacks against France and the United States

 

A source close to Al-Qaeda cell dismantled last weekend in Egypt, preparing for suicide car bomb against the embassies of France and United States in Cairo for "protest against the military intervention of France in Mali", reported Wednesday's national news agency MENA, quoting sources close to the investigation.

Saturday, Egyptian authorities announced the arrest of three Egyptian militants close to al-Qaeda. The defendants were in possession of 10 kg of aluminum nitrate, used to make bombs, had said the interior minister, Mohamed Ibrahim, during a press conference at Cairo without specifying the nationality of suspects. The official MENA news agency had in turn assured that the suspects were Egyptians.

According to the survey of the security services, the three members of the arrested cells are part of the prisoners who escaped detention in the early days of the revolt, in January 2011 , Egypt.

Two of them had been extradited to Algeria and Iran in 2009 and imprisoned in Egypt. The three members of the cell would be recognized in contact with Al-Qaeda but denied planning attacks, according to the findings of the survey cited by Mena.

With news

Take root in San Diego

 

Ten years after the invasion led by the United States in Iraq, it remains difficult to assess the real consequences of this war. Beyond the number of civilian and military deaths, the lives of tens of thousands of people have been permanently affected by the conflict. This is particularly the case of 80,000 Iraqis who have fled their country to settle in the United States.

The web documentary "My Beloved Enemy" gives voice to the Iraqis and the Americans scarred by war.

This sixth and final episode follows the footsteps of Enaam Husein, her husband and their family, a month after their arrival in San Diego (California) from Iraq.

To rebuild their lives, Husein have a dream: to have a little brother or sister to their unique American Girl With a social worker, Enaam, who suffers from. fertility problems after two abortions performed in Iraq, got an appointment in a specialized clinic.

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.