Iran: Trial resumes for hikers in Tehran

The trial of two Americans detained in Iran in 2009 and accused of spying for Tehran would resume Wednesday, said Tuesday the U.S. State Department, which has demanded their release.

"Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer is almost two years in prison and it is time for them to find their families," said the spokesman of the State Department Mark Toner.

"We learned from our Swiss partner that Iranian authorities have confirmed the date of May 11 for the trial resumed," he said.

Switzerland looks after U.S. interests because the United States and Iran had diplomatic relations n'entretiennent.

Shane Bauer, Josh and Sarah Fattal Shourd were arrested July 31, 2009 near the border with Iraq. They say they were hiking in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan and they have crossed the border inadvertently.

Sarah Shourd was released in September against a deposit of $ 500,000. On Monday, the lawyer for the three Americans said that Tehran would likely Shourd did not resume his trial.

Under Iran's Islamic law, espionage can be punishable by death.

TERRORISM: AQIM releases video of four French nationals held hostage in the Sahel

Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has released a video Tuesday of four messages containing French hostages in Niger, begging Nicolas Sarkozy to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan, as the U.S. central monitoring Islamist websites (SITE).

Video 3 minutes and 36 seconds shows successive pictures of Peter Legrand, Daniel Larribe, Thierry and Marc Furrer Dol with armed men behind them.

They come in succession the same text and pronounce a few words by: "We implore the President of the French Republic Nicolas Sarkozy to respond positively to the request of Al-Qaeda to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan. Because the French No have really no interest in the war in Afghanistan. "

The records date from 11, 12 or 13 April according to the claims of the hostages by appearing.

By last weekend, a source close to the current mediation had already repeated qu'Aqmi demanded the departure of French troops from Afghanistan in more than a ransom of 90 million euros made in March and rejected by the France.

In late September, two weeks after their abduction in the Sahel, Arlit (Niger), AQIM had posted a picture and an audio recording of the seven hostages - Areva employees and a subcontractor - including five French.

Since February 24, three of the hostages (one French, a Togolese and a Malagasy) have been released, which was interpreted by experts as an attempt to negotiate AQIM, which has pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden.

On several occasions, al-Qaeda has demanded the withdrawal of French troops from Afghanistan in exchange for the hostages' release.France has some 3,800 soldiers in the Afghan theater.

In November, in a recording broadcast on Qatar TV station Al-Jazeera, the head of AQIM, the Algerian Abdelmalek Droukdel, said: "(If you) want your citizens who are prisoners here are healthy and sound, then you should hurry up and withdraw your soldiers from Afghanistan according to a timetable that you make public. "

In an audio message, Osama bin Laden himself had warned in late October that France would not know security until it withdraws its troops from Afghanistan and would not put an end to its "injustice" to the against Muslims, citing in particular the law banning the full veil in public.On 21 January, in an audio message, the network leader had once linked the fate of French hostages to the withdrawal of French forces.

AQIM, which has stepped up kidnappings of Westerners in recent years, announced in July 2010 the implementation of humanitarian Germaneau Michel, whose body was never found.

Two young French, Antoine and Vincent Léocour Delory, abducted Jan. 7 in Niamey by kidnappers working for AQIM were killed the next day in Mali during a Franco-Nigerien military to free them.

FRANCE: Nicolas Sarkozy defended the proposed bonus to employees

Reuters - A year after the presidential election, Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed its willingness to share with employees the resumption of dividends in defending its proposed special bonus for staff of all businesses across France.

When the government recently renewed the freezing point index of officials, he reiterated the need at the same time for the state to save money by reducing its workforce, including Education.

A symbolic shift in the Ardennes

To revive the topic of purchasing power, the head of state was symbolically chose the Ardennes, a region of old industry hard hit by the crisis when he mentioned the "France-suffering" and who "gets up early" in a speech marking the campaign that would bring him to the Elysee Palace in 2007."I asked the government to provide a device that will ensure that in the crisis, employees and the French workers have the feeling that reflects their efforts and there is more justice," Has he said to justify its proposed premium.

The terms of this bonus, criticized in advance by the social partners, will be known "in the days to come."

As previously announced, the companies that distribute dividends up will have to negotiate with unions to determine the amount.Budget Minister Francois Baroin, spoke of a magnitude of 1,000 euros.

"For small businesses, the government is prepared to tell all those who would pay an exceptional bonus of being exempt from social contributions," said Nicolas Sarkozy, adding: "Naturally, we do not require but encourage them .

He was speaking to employees of a smelter Vrigne aux Bois, near Charleville, which has weathered the crisis without reducing its workforce even if she has to manage a decline of 35% of its turnover in 2009.She now uses tax-free overtime to meet a workload whose level exceeds that of the pre-crisis.

"France that gets up early is good, but it would still have to have a decent wage"

"As we emerge from the crisis, I would not understand, I will not accept that we do not consider to give additional purchasing power to employees and workers," said Chief has yet to state.

He justified his initiative by the fact that the negotiations opened two years ago at his request by the social partners on the distribution of value "have not moved an inch."

"I assure you, I am not a socialist, I am not the left (but) my duty is to think consistently, sensibly and fairly. "

The CEO of the Ardennes Cast, Nicolas Grosdidier, told the press waiting to learn more about this premium to comment while suggesting that a group like his, which employs 800 people and identifies "best year net profit of 1.5% to 2% of sales (170 million euros), would struggle to pay it."France that gets up early is good but it would it be a living wage," said Nadine Baudion for its part, CFDT delegate, stressing that company employees were receiving the RSA ( social income of autonomy) in addition to their compensation.

Speaking later to the Department of Mayors meeting in Renwez, Nicolas Sarkozy stressed the need for France to reduce its deficits "to avoid it is in the situation in Portugal, Greece or the Ireland, and even today the United States, which are under the threat of lowering their ratings.

"I understand your objections, class closures, closures of post office.I ask you to think in French citizens. We need to make savings to avoid the tragedy of a country too much debt, "he said.

The educational community who are concerned about the impact on the coming year of continued non-replacement of staff on two retiring, he replied that the National Education has seen its numbers grow in recent years and that should now reform the organization.

"If it were enough to hire more teachers to solve every problem, there should be no problem in education," he said.

SYRIA: Bashar al-Assad announced the imminent abolition of emergency law

AFP - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Saturday that the emergency law, in force since 1963, would be abolished in a week maximum, in a speech before the new government broadcast on public television.

The abolition of emergency law, in force since 1962 and which substantially reduces civil liberties, is one of the main demands of protesters who are calling for a liberalization of the regime.

"The Legal Committee on the Emergency Law has developed a series of proposals for new legislation.These proposals will be submitted to the government that will enact laws (...) in a week maximum, "said Assad.

Faced with this unprecedented protest movement of the regime that began in mid-March, the authorities have shown their willingness to adopt reforms.

In late March, Mr. Assad was given until April 25 to a legal committee to draft new legislation to replace the emergency law.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: The gods of football they save Inter Milan and Tottenham?

Surely there are fans who would like the games provided on Wednesday night in London and Gelsenkirchen are relocated to Lourdes.

Players from Tottenham Hotspur will receive a boost from the sky if they want to rule out Real Madrid, winning 4-0 in Spain to go to the Supreme European title race. And denying the passage, Europe for possible displays 100% between the Galactic and Spanish rivals FC Barcelona in the semifinals.

"We have nothing to lose and much to gain.We must be confident that we can create the exploit, though it will be very hard, "admitted the Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric, who appeared at a news conference wearing a T-shirt the likeness of Jesus. ... This means

To believe that would be a historic feat - no club has ever filled such a delay in the Champions League - Londoners will try to remember that they had the best attack of the competition before the quarter-finals. But without Peter Crouch sent off in the 15th minute in the first leg, it will be difficult to differentiate.

The people of Madrid are, themselves, on their guard. "Football can sometimes betray you. It is important not to allow him the opportunity to do so.We come to London to play seriously, "warned the coach of Real, Jose Mourinho.

"Eto'o motivated players ever"

In a state of grace, Inter Milan will try to be. The Italian club, the defending champion, travels on the lawn of Schalke 04 with a gap of three goals to close the Germans 2-5 in Lombardy having imposed last week.

But statistics suggest that there are so surprised tonight, it should instead take place in Gelsenkirchen at White Hart Lane Tottenham. In fact, 43 times in the history of the most prestigious European competition, teams were able to qualify, they had three goals down after the first leg.

And Schalke 04, it is still not the great Real. The German club recently joined for the first time this season the top 10 of his national championship and must deal with players young defense.

Opposite the club Lombard, even far from its level of last season which had seen pocketing three titles (Champions League, Championship and Italian Cup), can always count on the experience of players like Samuel Eto ' o. Already, the Cameroon striker has been a leader of men during the preparation of movement in the Ruhr. "It has motivated the players as ever," says his coach, Brazilian Leonardo. A guru, Eto'o? Surely ... especially if a miracle tonight!

BURMA: The new strong man of civilian authority remains under the control of the military junta

The Burmese junta is dead, long live the Burmese junta? Few people are indeed stupid. While the military has handed over the keys to power Wednesday in Thein Sein, outgoing Prime Minister and now President of Parliament. He heads the new civilian government, supposedly the result of "7 Steps to a disciplined democracy". A program decided by the military junta shortly after the adoption of the new constitution in 2008 and peaked with disputed elections in November 2010.

Parliament, which is derived largely composed of retired military.But according to that constitution, the Association for Development and Solidarity, headed by Than Shwe, the junta leader since 1992, which controls the main levers of the country.

"There is no cause for celebration, the military junta turns into a dictatorship just civil," says FRANCE 24 Anna Roberts, director of Burma Campaign UK charity. The ceremony is only a "communication operation," said Anne Roberts, for giving a facelift to a dictatorship that has lasted nearly 50 years.

In 1962 the military took power following a coup. General Ne Win becomes the strongman of the junta that installed at all levels of public life.Nationalization of the economy and mass media, persecution of minorities and widespread corruption mark his twenty years of reign. 300 000 Indians fled the country during this period.

An authoritarian regime, a corrupt country

It is also the one who invented the little facelift midterm. Indeed, in 1974, Ne Win decided to resign ... to head a new civilian government largely modeled on the single party in the former USSR.

Than Shwe, who succeeded Ne Win in 1992, so which to keep. "In fact, it's one of those examples where the new dictator is worse than its predecessor," said Anna Roberts.General Than Shwe, which reinstates a military regime, appears to be a kind of paranoid despot as some call crazy influenced by his advisors, astrologers and others, like Anna Roberts, take "a great manipulator."

One thing is for sure. Than Shwe years have exacerbated the regime's authoritarian tendencies. In the late 1990s, the International Monetary Fund has described the country bankrupt state. Burma, along with Somalia, most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International and the International Organization estimates that nearly 800,000 people are subjected to forced labor.

The power cuts also definitely the people.Than Shwe moved in 2005, the capital 300 kilometers from Rangoon, where he built a city called Naypyidaw ("seat of kings"). The master of the junta also refused to speak to the foreign press and not meet with officials from other countries only on rare occasions. This life in an ivory tower became public during the flooding caused by a deadly cyclone in 2008. Than Shwe not only makes no public appearances but he refuses even to international aid. Like North Korea, the country is now officially cut off from the world.

Boundless hatred

Politically, the military junta does not want to hear about democracy, except in its sauce.Than Shwe is known, according to a biography of journalist and human rights Benedict Rogers ("Than Shwe: Burma unmask the tyrant", Ed), devote a boundless hatred for Aung San Suu Kyi. The very name of the opponent and Nobel peace in 1991 would rage. Since 1990 and the cancellation of elections won by the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, the power harasses his most famous opponent. It is officially free in his movements since July 2010 after years under house arrest and prison.

In 2007, the junta has also faced another test of democracy. A series of events in September, led by monks, demand more freedom.The military then crush these uprisings.

It was after this move that the authority has begun the process that culminated on Wednesday, the transfer of power to civilian authorities. "They hope that this gesture will push the international community to lift some economic sanctions," said Anna Roberts.

Liveblogging: Follow live events in Libya and the Arab world

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In a statement released Tuesday, the Libyan leader said his country was "ready for battle, whether long or short," adding: "We will win this battle." The intervention of Western armies has grounded the Libyan planes and halted the advance of troops Gaddafi to Benghazi, a stronghold of insurgents. However, the rebels fail to gain ground. Paris, Washington and London have agreed that NATO could play a "key role" in the command of future operations in Libya. Relatives of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi came into contact with allies in Libya to find an exit to the conflict, said Tuesday the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on ABC.

If you want to follow the liveblogging from a smartphone, click here.

24 IMAGES SECOND: Audio: Caesar seen by the editor of France 24

With 11 nominations at the 36th ceremony of Caesar, the film by Xavier Beauvois' Of Men and Gods "collect in advance the honors of the profession that brand again its distance from the box office by ignoring" Little Tissues "from Guillaume Canet and "Camping 2" Fabien Onteniente.

After a great year for cinema hexagonal (over 206 million cinema admissions, 35% for French films), appointments spend yet most beautiful successes of 2010, "Potiche" to "Tour "from" The Heartbreaker "to" The Ghost Writer "by Roman Polanski.

The Academy of Caesar accompanies the unexpected triumph of the film by Xavier Beauvois (more than 3 million viewers), already crowned by the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes, "Of Men and Gods," which recounts the fate of the monks of Tibehirine , abducted and murdered in Algeria in 1996, is quoted in ten categories.

It is proposed to Cesar for best film, best director, best original screenplay, best sound, picture editing, best costumes, sets, best actor Lambert Wilson and twice for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Michael Lonsdale and Olivier Rabourdin.

Nominees in major categories:

Best Film
"The Heartbreaker" by Pascal Chaumeil, "The Name of the people" by Michel Leclerc, "The Ghost Writer" by Roman Polanski; "Tour" Mathieu Amalric, "Of Men and Gods" by Xavier Beauvois; "Gainsbourg, life heroic "by Joann Sfar;" Mammuth "Benoit Delepine and Gustave Kervern.Dr. Nolan, "The Social Network" by David Fincher, "Invictus" by Clint Eastwood, "Bright Star" by Jane Campion; "Heartbeats" by Xavier Dolan, "In his eyes" by Juan Jose Campanella; "Illegal" d Olivier Masset Depasse.

Best First Film
Simon Werner disappeared "Fabrice Gobert," The Heartbreaker "by Pascal Chaumeil," Gainsbourg, heroic life "by Joann Sfar;" All That Glitters "Géraldine Nakache
"Turk's Head" by Pascal Elbe

A Caesar of honor will be awarded by the Academy to the American director Quentin Tarantino during the Feb. 25 ceremony will be broadcast live at 21:00 Clear Channel Canal +.

EGYPT: The army wants a revised constitution within 10 days

AFP - The military, in power in Egypt since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak announced Tuesday that it gave ten days at a commission of jurists that it has appointed to revise the Constitution.

"The commission must finish work later than ten days," the military said in a statement.

The committee members, lawyers, met for the first time on Tuesday before the head of the Supreme Council of the armed forces.

The commission is to amend sections 76, 77, 88, 93 and 189 and to cancel Article 179, said the supreme council of the armed forces in a statement read by a presenter on state television.

The Committee may decide to amend other items if it deems it necessary "to ensure democratic and transparent presidential and legislative elections" continued army.

Section 76 deals with very restrictive conditions of candidacy for the presidential election, section 77 places no limit on the number of presidential terms and 88 sets the mode of election monitoring.

Section 93 limits the possibilities of appeal after the parliamentary elections and Article 179 allows the president to order that civilians accused of terrorism are brought before a military tribunal.

Article 189 stipulates that only the last President of the Republic and President of Parliament may propose constitutional amendments.

Debates about the extradition of Julian Assange drag

AFP - The British justice, which examines the request for extradition of Julian Assange made by Sweden, agreed Tuesday to postpone Friday's statement from the two parties, the debates that took longer than expected.

The hearing before the court at Belmarsh in London, was expected to end late Tuesday afternoon, but the witnesses called by the defense was longer than expected.

The court opened on Monday will hear Friday from 10:30 to the conclusions of the defense and prosecution.

Sweden calls for the extradition of the founder of Wikileaks site to ask about the complaint of two women who accuse him of having forced to have unprotected sex.

Following these hearings, the court Belmarsh must decide on the admissibility of extradition. But in all likelihood, his decision should be taken under advisement.

Hu Jintao conceded that there is "much to do" on human rights

AFP - Human Rights were invited Wednesday to the state visit of Hu Jintao to Washington, which saw the president and his Chinese counterpart, Barack Obama displayed the determination to overcome the "friction" commercial on the bottom of juicy contracts.

"China recognizes, but also respects the universality of human rights but at the same time we believe that we must take into account different national circumstances in terms of human rights," saidHu during a joint press conference with Bush.

"China is a developing country with a very large population and also a developing country which is undergoing crucial reforms," he added, while admitting, after being repeatedly asked by American journalists, that " much rest (has) to China "on it and promising to improve the situation.

For his part, Obama has ensured he was "very open" to signify to Mr. Hu's American views "on the universality of certain rights, freedom of expression, religion and association."He also wanted "dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama to resolve differences while preserving the religious identity of the Tibetan people," while hundreds of activists demonstrating in front of this because the White House.

However, the name of jailed Chinese dissident and Nobel Peace Liu Xiaobo was not pronounced during the press conference.

45 billion worth of contracts

Obama, who met Hu for the eighth time in two years and participated with him at a summit with leaders of major American companies, said he hoped the two countries could put behind them the "friction" of the past and "We remove the old stereotypes."

Mr.Hu, for his part promised that his country would boost its domestic demand and consumption, treating American companies duly registered in China on an equal footing, and praised the "bright future" of trade between the two countries.

Washington has also announced the signing of contracts in China valued at $ 45 billion with U.S. companies, including an order for 200 Boeing aircraft with a total value estimated at 19 billion responding to the desire to see Obama Americans enjoy more of the economic expansion of China, which could have been a double-digit growth in 2010, according to unofficial statistics.

The apple of discord currency, intellectual property, nuclear

At the press conference, Mr.Obama did not ignore the points of contention, as the undervaluation of the Chinese currency, again claiming an "adjustment". However, he praised the "flexibility of China's currency" and layout of Beijing in the fight against intellectual property theft.

But MM.Hu and Obama have also said their points of convergence, especially on nuclear issues of North Korea and Iran, saying the Chinese president also hoped for more cooperation between Chinese and American militaries.

Leaders must be found in the evening for a very formal state dinner, only the third in two years of President Obama.

Invited, on ABC, to say if the two giants of the early twenty-first century were friends or foes, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that "if we are rolling out the red carpet for President Hu, is that we feel that we can better answer this question, advancing. "

"My hope is that we have a normal relationship," she added, while the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate and an ally of Mr. Obama, Harry Reid, left reflected the distrust of many Americans toward China in calling Hu a "dictator", before retracting.

Former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide prepared to return home

Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide said on Wednesday ready to return home, three days after Jean-Claude Duvalier, aka "Baby Doc", has ended his exile, returning to Port-au-Prince to everyone's surprise.

Aristide, a former priest in exile in South Africa since 2004, has long claimed that he was ousted under pressure from the United States and France.

"Since my arrival forced on the African continent there are six and a half years, the Haitian people have stopped asking my return to Haiti," Aristide wrote in a statement sent to AFP.

"In my case, I'm ready.Again, I'm ready to go today, tomorrow, anytime, "he says.

This statement comes as the spokesman Jean-Claude Duvalier, Henri-Robert Sterlin said that the former dictator hoped to regain power.

Haiti is mired in a political crisis arising from the disputed first round of presidential elections on 28 November.

Aristide was the first Haitian president to be elected democratically.He was ousted in a revolt.

The purpose of his return, he assures, "is clear: to help serve my brothers and sisters in Haiti as a private citizen in the field of education."

"This return is also required for medical reasons: I have been strongly advised not to spend the next winter (Southern, ed), South Africa, for in six years I was operated eye six times," said yet Jean-Bertrand Aristide, 57.

On Tuesday, a lawyer based in the U.S. in contact with him indicated that the former president had asked to renew his Haitian passport, but that request was refused by the Haitian authorities.

"Aristide has the right to return to Haiti, but was forbidden," said Brian Concannon.