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.

GIBRALTAR – SPAIN: Fishing, new bone of contention between Gibraltar and Spain

 

Gibraltar, a British territory south of Spain, the major stumbling block in relations between London and Madrid, is again at the center of tensions. At the origin of the dispute, the decision of the British government to jettison 70 concrete blocks bristling with spikes designed to prevent the passage of trawlers and attract fish. Spanish fishermen have seen in the construction of this artificial barrier, which exists in various places on the Spanish coast, a sign of hostility from the "Rock" for them.

Before the British insult, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs therefore sounded "the end of recess." A series of restrictive measures, which we are assured Spanish side are unrelated to the concreting of the British enclave ensued.

Spanish replica

Controls at customs border by which moved every day thousands of British, were first reinforced, creating waiting queues several hours. The technique, quite legally, is well known to residents of Gibraltar during a diplomatic crisis. On Monday, the head of the government of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, has accused Spain of deliberately inflicting unnecessary for children queues, "the elderly and disabled persons, citizens of the European Union, in high temperatures "for revenge.

The zeal of the customs officers of the conflict is "a completely independent thing," insisted the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel García Margallo, in an interview granted e Sunday newspaper "ABC". The Minister of People's Party, also added to his defense that Spain had a duty to firmly control "smuggling, money laundering and smuggling." It is well known, quipped "El País" Gibraltar "a den of pirates, a nest of smugglers and a haven for fraudsters."  

Threats on the Rock

The Spanish authorities have also banned the passage of Concrete customs and now are threatening a fee of 50 euros for entry and exit of each vehicle, to reduce congestion at the border … caused by the Spanish police.

Madrid also launched the idea of ​​strengthening tax audits, review the grant of 60,000 telephone lines and regulate the thriving trade in paris online, or to limit the air traffic.

Of "reminiscences" of francisme

Measures "disproportionate" indignant London who said "seriously concerned" about these tensions. "We want an explanation from [the Spanish government] about reports that it could take further action against Gibraltar", announced Monday a spokesman for David Cameron.

The tone is up a notch with the local government of Gibraltar compared the Spanish threat to "clear reminiscences policies and tactics developed against Gibraltar by the fascist Franco regime in the 1950s and 1960s. "

The Spanish opposition sees, for its part, in this case a perfect opportunity found by the government to distract and stifle political and financial scandal, the Bárcenas case in which the Rajoy government mired for weeks.

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.

REUTERS

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".

With news

DR CONGO: Fighting murderers around Goma, the UN ready to use "military force"

 

These are the heaviest fighting for nine months. At least 130 people died in 24 hours in clashes between the Congolese army and rebels of the Movement of 23 March (M23) around Goma. According to the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), the M23 has strengthened its positions around the city using the "heavy artillery" and shielded. Given the intensity of the violence, the UN said they were ready to use Monday, July 15th "armed force" to halt a rebel advance.

Monday noon, shots were heard from the northern districts of Goma, the regional capital of North Kivu. Several Congolese army tanks fired at the positions of the M23, found a photographer from AFP. This reporter has also crossed a thousand refugees crowded into Goma.  

By late morning in Kinshasa, the government spokesman, Lambert Mende, had assured the press that the army had "inflicted heavy losses" to the rebels. According to him, 120 rebels M23 and 10 soldiers were killed. But no record could be obtained from the M23 or from independent sources.

Rebels and government reject the initiative of fighting

The M23 is made up of former Congolese soldiers mutinied and found, according to the DRC and the UN support – in men and ammunition – from Ugandan and Rwandan governments. But these two neighboring countries deny any assistance M23.

The new fighting began early Sunday afternoon at a dozen kilometers from Goma, in the villages and Mutaho Kibati. But since rebels and Congolese government rejected the initiative of new fighting.

Lambert Mende assured that the Congolese rebels, "backed by Rwandan regular troops" had "attacked" the positions of the armed forces. For its part, the M23 said he condemned "in the strongest terms the resumption of war initiated by the Congolese government," in a statement released at night .

Finally, Rwanda accused Monday night the DRC army and MONUSCO have "deliberately" bombed two villages Rwandan border. According to General Joseph Nzabamwita, spokesperson of the Rwandan army, two shells landed in villages and Kageshi Gasiza, no injuries, and it was of "a deliberate act of provocation. " UN troops in a state of "alert" In November 2012, the M23 Goma had occupied for ten days after the army quickly defeated yet supported by UN peacekeepers . The rebels withdrew from the town under pressure from countries in the region in exchange for the opening of negotiations with the government of Laurent-Désiré Kabila.

But these discussions started in December in Kampala have not advanced much since they are denying the government expanded the political and social level.

The UN, which maintains 17,000 peacekeepers in the DRC, had been taken to the end of 2012 for its failure to protect the people of North Kivu. The United Nations has since imposed a framework agreement signed in Addis Ababa on 24 February: all countries of the region committed themselves not to support rebel movements operating in the eastern DRC.

Monday, spokesman Martin Nesirky UN issued a warning from New York: MONUSCO has "placed its troops on alert. (She) is ready to take all necessary measures and this includes the use of military force to protect civilians, "he said. "Any attempt by the M23 heading towards Goma will be considered a direct threat against civilians," he added.

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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

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.

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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Pope Francis wants "to ensure the legal protection of the embryo"

 

Francis asked Pope solemnly Sunday "a legal guarantee of the embryo", "to protect every human being from the first moment of his existence."

At the prayer of the Regina Coeli, the Pope, who had never spoken explicitly of these sensitive subjects, defined as "the defense of the sanctity of human life" as a central theme of "Year of Faith", which will be the center of a ceremony at the Vatican on 15 and 16 June

The Pope greeted the participants in Rome a great popular works from different parishes and "pro-life" members of organizations from several places in Europe.  

Francis, whose conservative positions on these issues we knew when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires, was prompted to keep "living everyone's attention on the very important topic of respect life from conception. "

Some 30,000 people (according to the organizers) marched in the morning, starting from the Colosseum to Castel Sant'Angelo, a few meters from the Vatican.

The Pope referred to a collection of signatures currently underway in the Italian parishes to support the initiative "Uno di noi" proposed to the European Union through the motions for life.

He paid tribute to the struggle "to ensure legal protection for the embryo, thus protecting every human being from the first moment of its existence." 

The pope said the Vatican will take place on 15 and 16 June Day "Evangelium Vitae" ("Gospel of Life"), a "special moment for all those who to defending the sacredness of life. " On this occasion, he will celebrate a Mass in St. Peter's Square.

The subject of the defense of life – abortion, euthanasia, bioethics – is highly confrontational between the Catholic Church and the societies of the West.

John Paul II and Benedict XVI had adopted intransigent positions on these "non-negotiable values" that takes positions unambiguously Argentine Pope, who had never expressed directly on these themes since he was elected to the throne of Peter.

For the Church, life is a gift from God, abortion and euthanasia can not be accepted in any way. Differences between theologians then express the position to adopt towards people who use it, many theologians today insisting on an attitude of "mercy."

AFP

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