USA: Barack Obama wants to support revolutions in the Arab world

Barack Obama is extending his hand again the Muslim world. After the speech in Cairo in 2009, and that of Jakarta, in 2010, the President of the United States wanted to mark again the disconnect between the policies of his predecessor, George W. Bush, behind the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and his own.

But since his last message to the Muslim world, six months ago, the Arab spring reworked maps in North Africa and the Middle East.However, "although these countries are very far from our borders, we know that our fate depends on them," said the president of the United States in the introduction to his speech on U.S. policy towards the Arab world , delivered at the State Department (the equivalent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in France), in Washington.

It was also the first speech of this kind since the death of Osama bin Laden, May 1.This has allowed Barack Obama to condemn the violence and stressed that the Arab world now sees the extremism of Al-Qaeda "an impasse".

"Punishment does not work"

That's why "the United States must necessarily change our approach" vis-à-vis the Arab world, said the Nobel peace 2009. For Washington, this shift is primarily to consider the hours of leaders who repress the demonstrators are now counted."The strategies of repression will not work anymore," said Barack Obama as a warning to the Libyan regime, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

"We can not intervene everywhere ... Our experience in Iraq shows how difficult it is to impose a regime in a country. But if we had not acted in Libya, thousands of people have died.Today, Qaddafi has more control of the country, "the president said about the intervention of the international coalition which is involved in Washington since March 19 last.

Similarly, in Syria, "Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is now facing a choice: He can lead the transition, or move away," warned Barack Obama in particular demanding an end to violence against demonstrators.Otherwise, Bashar Al-Assad - that Washington has unilaterally sanctioned Wednesday - and his regime "will be challenged from within, and will continue to be isolated outside," he said.

With regard to Yemen, Barack Obama called President Ali Abdullah Saleh to "respect its commitments regarding the transition." Coincidence or not, the ruling party said during the speech that the agreement between Saleh, in power for 32 years, and the opposition, would be signed Sunday.Initiatives in the Middle East "more urgent than ever" The tenant of the White House has even rebuked his traditional ally of the Arabian Peninsula, Bahrain, calling the government "to establish the necessary conditions for dialogue" and the opposition "to accept and participate in dialogue." When the army had suppressed the demonstrations against the government in early February, Washington had not responded. "In the coming months, the U.S. will exert maximum efforts to support reforms in North Africa and the Middle East, "insisted Barack Obama, who announced plans to help Egypt and Tunisia, where the head of state was chased by protesters.But "initiatives more urgent than ever" concern the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for which the diplomatic efforts for a resumption of peace negotiations are currently on the rise. In his speech, Barack Obama went further than before, setting the parameters of an agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, without going so far as to unveil a U.S. peace plan.
Washington now has goals for the borders of Israel and a future Palestinian state are based on those of 1967 and the latter to be demilitarized. "We'll agree on the duration of this period of transition, and the effectiveness of security arrangements should be demonstrated," he added.But if diplomatic efforts are progressing, the security issue it is far from settled. Barack Obama conceded that the presence of Hamas in the unity government of Palestinian territories "complicated negotiations." As for the Israelis, they would have approved construction of 620 homes in east Jerusalem on Thursday, says an NGO. Not sure it makes things easier ...

EUROPEAN UNION: EU finance ministers commit the rescue of Portugal

The EU finance ministers gave the green light Monday to a rescue plan for Portugal, which provides 78 billion euros in joint loans with the IMF in exchange for austerity.

"The ministers agreed unanimously to grant financial assistance in response to the request of the Portuguese authorities," they announced in a joint statement issued at a meeting in Brussels.

The conditions of the assistance plan had been established at the beginning of the month: the country must receive the Europeans and the International Monetary Fund, amounting to two thirds / one third, 78 billion euros in loans over three years.

In exchange, he must take further austerity measures, restructure and strengthen the capital of its banks, to privatize and reform the health system in particular and the administration, with the goal of clean and replenish public finances.

According to the forecasts so far by the Portuguese government, the public deficit should thus be reduced by 5.9% this year to 3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2013.

The program is "ambitious" but "preserves the most vulnerable groups of society," stressed the EU finance ministers on Monday.

He "will tackle the challenges with determination budgetary, financial and structural facing the Portuguese economy" and "will also help restore confidence and protect the financial stability of the euro area," they insist, calling on "all Political Parties (Portuguese) to ensure a rigorous application and fast program.

After resisting for several months of pressure from financial markets, Portugal in April became the third country in the euro area to seek external financial assistance.

Before him, he had to put up last year of rescue for Greece (110 billion) and Ireland (85 billion).

Green light finance ministers seemed acquired after the announcement last week from the support of Finland, hitherto uncertain.

The True Finns, a right wing nationalist who won 19% of the votes in the elections of April 17, had in fact repeatedly stated their opposition to assistance to Portugal.But they finally decided to join the government.

Finland is one of six countries in the euro area receiving the highest possible credit rating on its ability to repay its debts (AAA), making it a crucial partner for the bailouts in Europe.

The Joint Ministerial Statement also includes a condition imposed by the Helsinki agreement, namely that "the Portuguese authorities will seek to encourage private investors to maintain their exposure" in the country, "based on voluntary ".

Even before the implementation of internationally austerity measures taken so far by Lisbon to try to calm the markets, lower wages and increase in VAT in particular, have made the plunge into recession Portugal where he was released in late 2009 .

The Portuguese GDP shrank by 0.7% in the first quarter, having already fallen 0.6% the previous quarter, according to statistics released last week.

The Portuguese Minister of Finance had said in early May that the new measures related to international aid plan could lead to economic contraction of 2% in 2011 and 2012, an upturn is expected only in 2013.

Bin Laden, a hunt that lasted nearly ten years

AFP - The information collected and analyzed for years have finally formed a puzzle: the hunt for Bin Laden has sharply accelerated last summer when the U.S. services have come back to the residence he occupied the north of Islamabad, as the story of a U.S. official.

Since Sept. 11, the most wanted man in the world remained elusive.Until the night of Sunday to Monday, when U.S. commandos killed him in the building of a wealthy district of Abbottabad, about fifty kilometers from the Pakistani capital.

"From the moment we have identified bin Laden as a threat, the CIA has gathered evidence on people's inner circle, including his personal messengers," said a senior official of the Obama administration on condition of anonymity in a conference call.

One of these messengers of particular interest to U.S. intelligence.Members of Al Qaeda captured had given his "nom de guerre" and had described as a protege of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the attacks of Sept. 11, and a trusted assistant of Abu Faraj Al- Libbi, the number three al Qaeda captured in 2005.

"They also presented the man as one of the only messengers that bin Laden had confidence and showed that he could live with him and protects him. But for years, we could not the be identified by his real name or know his whereabouts, "said the senior official.

It was not until 2007 that his identity is discovered.But no question the senior official revealed. A few months ago, the Americans finally discover the area where the messenger was, with his brother in Pakistan.

"But we could not always know exactly where they lived." They took great care.

"The fact that they are so cautious has reinforced the feeling that we were on the right path," he says.

August 2010, turning the hunt for the leader of Al Qaeda

August 2010: the breakthrough. Their house is finally located, it is a "complex in Abbottabad" in a neighborhood populated by retired military.Barack Obama is informed.

"When we saw the complex where the brothers lived, we had a shock," said the senior official.

The complex occupies a large area. It is "eight times larger than other houses in the neighborhood." When it was built in 2005, he was at the end of a small dirt road.From other houses have been built around.

Satellites, drones, human intelligence? The senior does not detail how the observations were made, but every detail of this residence is duly appraised.

Security measures? "Extraordinary," he said.The walls rise up to 5.5 meters and is topped with barbed wire, access is possible only by "two secure portals.

Another incongruity, the occupants are burning their garbage when the neighbors have a collection service.

The apartment building also clashes in the environment with "little windows on the exterior" and its three floors topped walls of two meters to mount on the roof while protecting themselves from prying eyes.

No internet, phone.And how the two brothers could they have offered this Properties valued at one million dollars where they live with their families and a third family that is very similar to that of Bin Laden?

After studying the issue "all angles", the conclusion is obvious: there is a "strong likelihood" that it is the leader of Al Qaeda.

Friday at 8:20 (12:20 GMT) Barack Obama authorizes the transaction.It is still Sunday afternoon in Washington early Monday morning in Pakistan, when "a small American team" boarded helicopters for this "particularly dangerous operation," says another senior U.S. official.

The raid itself as "surgical" not to cause casualties among women and children who occupy the residence or the neighbors. Bin Laden, a son and two brothers, his messengers, are killed and a woman used as "human shield by a fighter." Another woman was wounded.The senior official said he could not go into details and does not specify whether the prisoners were made.

One of the helicopters to mechanical problems, he can not take off. The commandos and destroy the pile aboard another aircraft with the body of bin Laden.

The commandos will be 40 minutes remained on the ground, the hunt is over.

TECH 24: A royal marriage celebrated also in digital

It is far from the marriage between Prince Charles and Diana in 1981: the British monarchy has this time coverage of the event ... very 2.0 way, the Twitter feed of Clarence House, the official residence of Prince Charles and Camilla distills information such as seating arrangements, or the floral composition of the ceremony ...

The wedding will be seeing, and again, on YouTube.

The Queen has become a geek

It must be said that Queen Elizabeth II is itself passionate new technologies. Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, all that has no secrets for her. It was already the case in 1953, when she brought the television cameras to Westminster for his coronation.She had also filmed his Christmas message in 1957.

Queen Elizabeth wrote her first email in 1976 from a military base ... For the renovation of the British monarchy in 2009, Tim Berners-Lee, the father of the Web, was part ... The Queen of England also has his Facebook page since November 2010 ... You can "liker" Her Majesty, but out of the question to be his friend or his comment on current events, protocol requires ... And to join the happiness of bride and groom, it is now possible to leave them a video message of congratulations!

Are you traced?

Apple on the spot and within the scope of collective action in the U.S. for invasion of privacy ...According to researchers, a fixture on iOS 4 records the location data, and maintain them without encryption. Steve Jobs' terse response: "We do not follow anyone. But Google, yes."

Nokia 1616: a reliable phone for emerging markets.

No miracles or tablets overpriced gadget this week, but a phone that has managed to create a market in emerging countries: the Nokia 1616. Finally a phone that is used to call!

And that is precisely what attracted you.We asked our African members on Facebook to tell us why Nokia 1616 had a preference.
Watch this reaction Awada ehem Chad: "Two reasons: the battery lasts longer than other mobile phones, and especially his torch is very useful at night in places where electricity is unreliable. It even a luxury. " Affordable luxury, since it costs 35 euros.

A high-tech advertising targeted

We close this issue by the Royal buzz of the moment. A video where the operator T-Mobile does not care about traditions and away the monarchy for a march to the altar House more than ever. advertising exceeds 12 million views on YouTube.Look!

This recalls another viral video, "J & K wedding entrance, which was all the rage on the Web a few months ago (with 65 million unique visitors).

Apple FRANCE 24 Internet Wedding Prince William TECH 24 YouTube

RUSSIA: NATO beyond the mandate of the UN in Libya, says Moscow

AFP - NATO oversteps in Libya on UN mandate, said Friday the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for a political settlement of the Libyan crisis.

"Today we are witnessing the actions in a number of cases go beyond the mandate of the Security Council of the United Nations" as set out in resolution 1973, saidLavrov after meeting with his counterparts from the Atlantic Alliance in Berlin.

"We believe it is important to move urgently to the political phase and move towards a political and diplomatic settlement" of the Libyan crisis, "he added.

"In this context, Russia supports the initiative of the African Union" said the Russian minister, condemning "excessive use of military force that would lead to further losses among civilians."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had already high Thursday against the NATO operations in Libya in these terms: "What we as a result. We have essentially a military operation.The resolution says nothing about that. "

Shortly before, the secretary general of the Alliance Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in reporting the meeting of NATO-Russia Council that "Russia (was) clear that the NATO operation was legitimate."

He even described as "very, very positive" exchange of views "between Lavrov and his 28 counterparts in the Atlantic Alliance.

Operation Protector unified NATO "takes place in accordance with resolution 1973 of the Security Council," he said, adding: "Let me emphasize that in the conduct of the operation we will not beyond the text and the spirit of EVs resolution.

"Quite the opposite," Mr. launchedRasmussen, "we are implementing in strict conformity with the letter and spirit" of the resolution.

The text voted on March 17 authorizes "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.

NATO took over the reins March 31 military operations launched March 19 by an international coalition led by the United States, France and the United Kingdom, which had relied on the resolution to bomb Gaddafi's troops since they represented a danger to the civilian population.

LIBYA: Obama fixed the issues and the limits of U.S. involvement

Reuters - Barack Obama in a speech on the situation in Libya, said Monday that the U.S. would, in concert with their allies, seek to hasten the day when Moammar Gadhafi should step down, but he stressed they would not use direct force to overthrow him.

In a televised address to the nation, Bush, accused by many members of Congress not to have explained the role of the international coalition in Washington, defended its decision to intervene militarily in the conflict in Libya.

At the same time, he clarified the limits of the action of the United States and sought to counter the impression that he had no clear goals nor credible strategy out of the conflict.

"For generations, the United States plays a unique role as an anchor of international security and defending the fundamental freedoms." Bearing in mind the risks and costs of military intervention, we're obviously reluctant to use force to solve the many problems facing the planet. But when our interests and values ​​are at stake, we have a responsibility to act. That's what happened in Libya over the past six weeks, " the president said.

"Libya is directly between Tunisia and Egypt, two countries that have inspired the world when their peoples have stood up to take control of their destiny. For over 40 years, the Libyan people is led by a tyrant, Muammar Gaddafi.It deprives its people of freedom, uses his wealth, murdering its opponents at home and abroad, and terrorizing innocent people in the world - including Americans who were killed by Libyan agents.

GADDAFI DOES NOT "OVERNIGHT"

"Tonight, I am able to say that we stopped the progression of lethal Gaddafi," he said before a gathering of officers at the National Defense University in Washington, 10 days after ordering that the United States participating in Operation "Dawn of the Odyssey."

"We hit the air defenses (Gaddafi), which allowed the establishment of a no-fly zone.We targeted the tanks and other forces that were strangling the cities, and we cut to a large extent the supply lines, "he said.

The U.S. president also said that the award of U.S. Command in NATO would intervene on Wednesday.

"We will deprive the system of any weapon, interrupt his source of income, help the opposition, and we will work with other countries to hasten the day when Gaddafi will leave power," continued the president.

This, he said, "will not happen overnight," and he admitted that Qaddafi might be able to cling to power."Expanding our military mission to a regime change would be a mistake," he pointed out, however.

Obama spoke on the eve of the scheduled conference in London on Tuesday attended by 35 countries on the situation in Libya.

The issue of Obama's speech was to identify and clearly define the purpose and scope of the mission of the United States to Libya, to be understood by Americans, preoccupied with domestic economic problems, which are already of a dim view of the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

BELGIUM: Belgium beats the world record for the longest political crisis

AFP - With a wink or instead on a serious tone, the Belgian press has widely celebrated Thursday, with large front pages, the world record for the longest matched by political crisis the country increasingly torn between between Flemings and French.

The country has indeed spent Thursday mark 249 days without being able to form a real government since the parliamentary elections of 13 June 2010. Is the time it took to Iraqis, holders of record so far, to reach last year to a power-sharing agreement between Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites.

"Finally the world champions!" Headline of the daily reference in Flanders, De Standaard, which he resolutely chose the party of humor.Its front page is covered by a photo showing Belgian soccer fans cheering after a victory.

For once, everyday Dutch and French are attuned to their front pages.

"Record broken!" Say in chorus the French newspapers Le Soir and L'Echo. He adds that "it is not finished" and published a tally of 249 days reminiscent of a prison cell wall, with series of sticks marked with chalk on black background.

"Fortunately, we have our cheekbones to laugh. Yellow.But amidst this endless political gridlock, you'd better choose the derision that depression, "said one of the chroniclers of the Evening.

More serious, the newspaper La Capitale refers to the "world record that shames us", while De Morgen title "the sorrow of Belgium", in reference to the novel "The Sorrow of Belgium" Flemish disappeared from the famous novelist Hugo Claus .

For La Libre Belgique, "the situation can not continue forever because the markets, we know, not only the current void and want a real government prepares structural reforms."

Flemish and French fail to agree on a common vision for the future.The first, spurred by their main party, independence training, require very extensive regional autonomy. The second fear a loss for their community and eventually splitting the country.