UNITED STATES: The flood of the Mississippi force load shedding to prevent the flooding of New Orleans

U.S. authorities have opened a valve unloader on the Mississippi River in Louisiana (south), which recorded a historic flood in order to prevent further flooding of New Orleans, six years after Katrina.

The body of Engineers U.S. Army had previously announced it would open gradually from 3:00 p.m. (2000 GMT) the overflow channel of Morganza, Louisiana, to avoid a "wall of water "in the words of the governor of this state, Bobby Jindal, does descend on thousands of homes located along the Atchafalaya River.

"It may be more a marathon than a sprint," said Gen. Michael Walsh at a news conference in Morganza, stating that "enormous pressure weighing on the entire system."

The valve was opened when the river flow reached 42,500 cubic meters per second.This is only the second time since its construction in 1954 that emergency channel is open.

If all the floodway gates were open, the flow would reach a rate of 17,000 cubic meters per second, three times the volume of water that falls daily from Niagara Falls.

To avoid such a destructive flow, a single valve was opened Saturday to pass 280 cubic meters per second, one or two others could be Sunday.

Load shedding, which will supply water into the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to cause flooding of 1.2 million hectares but will save Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the martyred city of Hurricane just who is recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina in late August 2005, Governor Jindall.

New Orleans is protected by dikes upstream from six yards but the water has already reached 5.2 meters, and the worst floods in 70 years-that struck the central United States follow the course of the Mississippi south .

They have so far destroyed thousands of homes, farms and roads in Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi.

In view of downloading, the authorities have carried out evacuations in rural areas will be affected, a sacrifice which the mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, said he was conscious.

"It's a tragic situation for everyone in America and of course for people who live in the Atchafalaya Basin and Morgan City.We wholeheartedly with them, "he said, noting that it would save his city.

Cindy Prejean, a resident of Gibson, a town a hundred miles from New Orleans, expects to see its home swim in 1.5 meters of water.

"What gives them the right to inundate us? Here there are so many neighborhoods, businesses and farms," ​​she told AFP.

According to forecasts, the opening of the channel load shedding could lead to peak at 4.5 meters in some neighborhoods.

The army said it would focus more on individuals than on the property.In anticipation, the American Red Cross has prepared thousands of places for evacuees.

Economically, the activity of the Port of New Orleans are continuing normally but 2,200 oil wells were threatened by floodwaters.

FRANCE: "The RSA is not a salary but a safety net

With his proposed reform of Revenue solidarité active (RSA), the French Minister for European Affairs, Laurent Wauquiez, caused an uproar on the left and right, and even within the government.

Sunday, the minister, speaking as leader of the club "The social right", proposed to cap the accumulated social benefits to 75% of the minimum wage (SMIC) or requesting five hours Weekly social service recipients of the RSA in exchange for payment of their allowance. Objective: to fight against the "cancer of the assistantship" in the words of the minister.

Immediately, several government figures have stood the initiative of Laurent Wauquiez.On Tuesday, Prime Minister Francois Fillon flew to the aid of this speech establishment in May 2007 under the leadership of Martin Hirsch, then High Commissioner for Active Solidarity against Poverty. "Thanks to the RIAA, return to work is more attractive than the dependence of solidarity, said the head of government in the National Assembly.The RSA is an advance over the RMI [minimum integration income, ed]. "

For Helen Perivier, an economist at the French Observatory of Economic Conditions (OFCE), the tracks of reform Laurent Wauquiez upset the very nature of social assistance and, therefore, the French social model.

FRANCE 24 - How would the Minister Laurent Wauquiez they trigger such an outcry?

Helen Perivier - Currently, people who touch the RSA must actively seek employment. They are supposed to be covered either by social workers or through outplacement services as the employment center, or both, so that it can work again as soon as possible.Jobs in assisted contracts in the nonprofit sector is the major route of reintegration into employment of recipients of welfare benefits.

However, these jobs are more or less general interest in the work recommended by Laurent Wauquiez [monitoring outside schools, cleaning, reception in public services, Ed]. This statement is therefore to stigmatize people who touch the RSA but does nothing in terms of stimulating the job market or re-employment in this population. The danger would be to move from a logic of solidarity, which is based on social assistance in France, a logic of "workfare" pure, ie reimbursement of aid paid by a few hours.The RSA is not a salary as a salary provides access to social rights (pensions, unemployment insurance, etc..), But a guaranteed minimum income, which represents a last safety net.

F24 - It is therefore to change the nature of the French social model ...

HP - Everything is a question of balance between the idea of ​​merit and solidarity. In France, it is clear that the solidarity prevails, but this assay is moving in time. With the implementation of RSA, it has already moved the cursor to the merits, since moved to supplement the wages first by a grant once the unemployed back into employment.

F24 - Are there other countries in cases of "social service" as proposed by Laurent Wauquiez?

HP- United States, for example, welfare is clearly based more on the concept of merit than on solidarity. This logic has hardened in the 1980s with President Ronald Reagan, and "workfare", which means "work for your welfare" ["work for your own wealth"] was true act in the mid- 1990 with the reform of social assistance. Some states, like Indiana, have a very strict and follow a logical allocation of reimbursement by a community service.

SYRIA: The army occupies Banias, at least six protesters killed

At least six people were killed Saturday in the coastal city of Banias (northwest), a hotbed of protest in Syria, invested at dawn by the army and where gunfire rang out at the end of the day .

Four women demanding the release of detainees were killed in the afternoon by the security forces, according to a militant and two people were in the late afternoon, according to a report given by the Syrian Observatory of Human Man who was unable to specify the origin of fire.

Heavy gunfire were heard in four districts of the city, as an activist for human rights and a witness.The clashes took place near the Corniche, at the southern entrance, the entrance to the souk and the bridges Marqb and Ras el-Nabe, the sources said.

Security forces fired on a procession of women

"There were two killed and several wounded by gunfire, but we do not know who are the perpetrators," he told AFP an official of the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights.

According to the activist and the witness, the army "safe" neighborhoods, one after the other, and the security services then entered it, making dozens of arrests. The witness said snipers were deployed on buildings.Earlier, four women who demonstrated at the entrance to the city demanding the release of detainees were killed by members of security forces, told AFP an activist.

He said the security forces asked 150 women gathered on the highway between Banias Latakia to leave. "When they refused to comply, they opened fire," he added.

According to activists, the tanks came at dawn to Banias, a town of 40,000 inhabitants on the shores of the Mediterranean, where communications and electricity were cut.Vessels patrolling off the army, facing the southern districts, and tanks surrounded the nearby village of Baida.

Calls for jihad were launched from the minarets of mosques and people took to the streets, witnesses said.

"Units of the army and security forces continued today with members of terrorist groups to Banias (northwest) and around Deraa (south) to restore security and stability," announced Meanwhile a military source.

Soldiers and police have "arrested wanted persons and laid hands on a quantity of weapons that these groups have used to attack the army and citizens," the army said.The regime accuses groups "criminals" or "terrorists" being responsible for violence in the country since mid-March.

LIBYA: The "contact group" will provide funds for the rebels Libyan

AFP - An international conference on Libya in Qatar announced Wednesday the creation of a fund to help Libyan rebellion and reiterated the need for a departure of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to resolve the crisis.

The first meeting of the Contact Group on Libya, in Doha, stressed the need to provide the rebels who hold the Eastern countries the means to defend himself, while refusing to explicitly include in the aid of military equipment.

The meeting, under the joint chairmanship of Great Britain and Qatar, was attended by twenty countries and organizations for nearly four weeks after March 19 of a multinational force under UN mandate to protect civilians.

The final statement, the Contact Group has decided "the establishment of a temporary financial mechanism" to provide the Transitional National Council, the political arm of the rebellion, "ways to manage aid and meet the needs urgent "areas controlled by rebels.

The Group also stressed "the need for (Colonel) Gaddafi to relinquish power" to encourage settlement of the crisis, the statement said.

The Gaddafi regime "must relinquish power," withdraw its forces from the cities and "put an immediate end to violence against civilians," said today's statement.

The text stresses the need to provide "material support" to people under rebel control. "The Libyan people need medicine and other means to resist," Sheikh Hamad assured, not to indicate clearly if weapons fell into this category.

The Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told the press that Rome, which will host the second meeting of the Contact Group, considered as non-offensive military equipment could be delivered to the rebellion.

European ministers showed differences on this issue.The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vanackere, who represented his country and the Netherlands in Doha, countered that "the resolutions of the UN plan to protect civilians, but not the arm."

The head of French diplomacy Alain Juppe has excluded its share to help the Libyan rebels to arm themselves.It is planned to "help them obtain financing, to strengthen, but there was no question of arms supplies," he said.

In opening the meeting, UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged the international community to remain united, to prevent a humanitarian tragedy in that country in North Africa than six million people, nearly 3.6 million could need aid.

The military standoff between the rebels holding the Benghazi region (east) and forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli that entrenched in (West) created within NATO, which leads NATO operations, the spectrum of a stalemate.

Two major partners of the coalition, France and Great Britain have called for stronger action by NATO, which took command on March 31.

CNT, who attended the meeting in Doha, has claimed an increase in NATO strikes.

"We want more air strikes against tanks and missile launch sites" from the army loyal to Colonel Qaddafi, told AFP in charge of External Relations of the National Transition Council, Ali al-Issawi.

A meeting of the Alliance is scheduled for Thursday in Berlin to discuss operations in Libya, which must involve the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defended the role of the transatlantic organization.

The United States who had taken command of the coalition as a first step, before announcing the withdrawal of their ground attack aircraft, revealed Wednesday that U.S. fighter jets bombed air defense always Jamahiriya.

On the ground, the rebel forces have retaken the town of Ajdabiya (east) to 160 km south of Benghazi, a stronghold of the insurgents-knot strategic road theater deadly fighting in recent days, but the units pro-Qadhafi maintained there their pressure by sporadic gunfire.

Two big explosions were heard Wednesday in Tripoli, whose origin was not immediately known, were seen AFP journalists.

Earlier, the official Libyan Jana stated that NATO forces have conducted raids on Wednesday and Al-Aziziyah Misrata (west) and at Sirte, the hometown of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, 600 km east of Tripoli.

The new Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelati Laabidi, named after the recent defection of his predecessor, came to his side to Cyprus where he will meet Thursday his Cypriot counterpart Marcos Kyprianou.

OIL: Germany pinned to its economic ties with Iran

India can no longer buy Iranian oil via Germany. Berlin decided Tuesday to put an end to a troubled business relationship that provoked the ire of Israel and the United States.

Until now, the Bundesbank and the Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank (EIHB), based in Hamburg, served as intermediaries between New Delhi and Tehran, was revealed late last week the economic daily Handelsblatt. India, which purchases $ 9 billion per year of petroleum to Iran, contributed money to the German central bank, which instructed EIHB then buy the black gold to Iran.India thus avoiding offending his American ally, with the complicity of Berlin.

Washington was quick to react to these revelations. Earlier this week, the U.S. government complained about the transaction with the German government. Target of his displeasure: EIHB, a company owned 52% by an Iranian national bank. The hotel has since 2010 on the U.S. blacklist of companies suspected of helping Iran to circumvent international sanctions.Israel has applied the prohibition to the Germans.

Berlin was in a PREM time dithered, saying EIHB acted legally in Germany and was subject to strict control of financial authorities. Finally, the government caved in and ordered Tuesday to its central bank to close the valve.

It seems, moreover, that this business has three bands are the result of bargaining between the German government and Iran. Germany has in fact given the green light for this operation in early February, just days after the release of two German journalists detained in Iran.

"The quality rather than quantity"

The case could hardly have come at a worse time for Angela Merkel.She had already been criticized for its reluctance to participate in military operations against Libya. But this deal also calls into the importance of economic relations between Germany and Iran.

Germany is the leading European trade partner of Iran and second in the world behind the United Arab Emirates. Its exports reached $ 3.8 billion in 2010, an increase of almost 5% compared to 2009.Between January and October of 2010, imports from Iran rose by 28%.

"But more than the quantity of exports is the quality of products delivered that matters," said FRANCE 24 Alfaraj Sami, president of the Center for Strategic Studies in Kuwait, specialized in the Gulf region. Most German companies involved in Iran are specialized in high technology products.

The German giant Siemens had thus contributed to the computer system of Iranian nuclear facilities. The group announced in 2009 that he was withdrawing from Iran. In total, 200 German companies were active in Iran in July 2009, according to a list compiled by the Board of Trade between Germany and Iran.Business relationships can be very bad as the German political scientist Matthias Küntzel which analyzed last year. He wondered what kind of service a company like Babcock Borsig Service GmbH, which specializes "in nuclear technology," may well provide Tehran.

In 2008, the spokesman of the National Iranian Petrochimicals company had welcomed the ease that he had "to find from other countries than the U.S. products which [he] needed." He cited four names of companies, three are German.

Yemen: President Saleh clings to power

AFP - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Saturday reaffirmed his intention not to cede power, nearly two months after the beginning of the controversy insists his departure.

"We're always there, solid as a rock, and we will not be shaken by events," said Mr. Saleh in front of notables, showing no sign of letting go of the reins of power he has held for 32 years .

"Our nation has overcome in the past a lot of obstacles and emerge stronger from the ordeal now," assured the Head of State challenged in the street who has lost the support of part of the military, religious and tribal.

Mr.Saleh has accused the Islamists and the opposition have caused shortages of gas and fuel in the country "by cutting the roads" and a shortage of electricity "sawing the high voltage pylons.

The presidential party's General People's Congress (GPC) has already considered "unacceptable" a departure from Mr.Saleh said Friday that his supporters want to "resist" the pressures of the street and its opponents.

The spokesman of the GPC, Tariq al-Shami told AFP Saturday that "power will be delivered only one that will choose the people through elections, the only way for a peaceful transition of power."

The politburo of the GIC said about him, according to state news agency Saba, having met on Friday under the chairmanship of Mr.Saleh, from "review the obstinate position of the party al-Islah (Islamic) and its allies (...) who closed the door for dialogue and tried climbing.

Among these allies, the political bureau cited the parliamentary opposition parties, the Shiite rebellion in northern Yemen and Al-Qaeda.

The manifestation of support to President Saleh in Sana'a organized on Friday alongside the protesters, expresses "the attachment (the people) to constitutional legality," said the Politburo.

Increasingly isolated after the denial of religious and tribal leaders, Mr.Saleh said Friday he was unwilling to cede power to opponents he described as "adventurers and conspirators."

An attempt at reconciliation between MrSaleh and the strong man of the army, General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, who joined the protest, has "failed to defuse the crisis or to bring their points of view", had said Friday a source close to the AFPs discussions.

In the south, the daily "October 14", which was the mouthpiece of the Yemeni regime in Aden but was discontinued Tuesday, reappeared on newsstands Saturday, taking the defense of the protest movement.

"The opposition demonstrations shouting slogans demanding the fall of the regime," as the newspaper had stopped publishing its editorial on Tuesday when refused the instructions of the Ministry of Information.

Aden was the capital of former South Yemen before the country's unification in 1990, is more liberal than Sanaa, the capital, and the city is at the forefront of protest against the regime.

Also in the south, six alleged members of al-Qaeda were killed Saturday in a clash with the army in the Abyan province, a stronghold of the extremist network.

"Militants of Al-Qaeda launched Saturday at dawn an armed attack against a military unit on guard near a power plant Loder.The soldiers returned fire, killing six attackers, "said a source within the security services, a report confirmed by medical sources.

Some parts of Yemen, particularly in the south, beyond increasing the control of central government, particularly after the defection of army leaders who joined the movement demanding the resignation of President Saleh.

CINEMA PODCAST: Audio: The boxing movie in all its

Blood and sweat in the program of 24 frames per second, the podcast cinema writing France24.com. At the exit, this Wednesday, March 9, in rooms of two French films in part devoted to boxing, the team of 24 frames per second enters the ring wearing a referee.

To my right, the American feature film "Fighter" by David O. Russell, discusses the rise of boxer Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), who conquered the title of welterweight champion with the help of his brother Dicky (Christian Bale), a former boxer and addicted to crack.

To my left, the French outsider "Jimmy River" Teddy Lussi-Modeste, the story of a young gypsy forced by his entourage to draw a line under the two passions of his life: Thai boxing and love Sonia. ..

Who's "Fighter" or "Jimmy River" won the favor of 24 frames per second? Answer in the podcast ...

Ireland wants to renegotiate its rescue plan with the EU

The Irish opposition leader Enda Kenny, began Sunday the negotiations for a coalition government after winning legislative elections without an absolute majority, while demanding a renegotiation of the Brussels immediate rescue plan for the island.

Without waiting for the announcement of final results, which should not occur before Sunday night or Monday, Enda Kenny on Saturday evening claimed victory.

According to partial results for mid-morning on Sunday about 80% of seats, Fine Gael's education (center) won over 36% of the votes, humiliating the ruling party, Fianna Fail.

The centrist organization, which dominated Irish politics for 80 years, rolled out: with only 17.4% of the vote, she should see the number of seats divided by three.The vote also marks the end of the political career of outgoing Prime Minister, Brian Cowen, who did not represent.

But the tsunami, tidal Fine Gael has not been sufficient to confer an absolute majority, forcing Enda Kenny to seek an alliance with Labour, a formation which left with the Fine Gael has already ruled several times.

The Labour party has raised nearly 20% of the vote.

"Talks immediate Fine Gael and Labour in a coalition," a title in the Sunday Business Post, saying "inevitable" a coalition rather than a form of ad hoc agreements with independent members.

"I will explore all options," said Enda Kenny on Saturday, stressing however that voters had given him a "massive support" for a "strong and stable government."

"I do not want things hanging. I will decide very quickly," he said.The leading theory has until 9 March, the opening of Parliament and his inauguration as Prime Minister to form his government.

The Labour leader, Eamon Gilmore, confirmed Saturday night that "the most likely outcome" would be a "coalition", without dwelling on the many obstacles to overcome.

Of "intense discussion" on the subject will be necessary, and the Business Post said, to "bridge the chasm" between the Labour and Fine Gael, in particular on the austerity program implemented by the outgoing government.

While Fine Gael broadly supports the budget cuts imposed by the outgoing government, Labour intends to reduce the pushing of two years, to 2016 against 2014, the deadline that had set Brian Cowen to bring the deficit to 3% of Gross domestic product, against 32% in 2010.

The bailout Island International, signed with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, awarded Dublin until 2015 for curbing public deficits.

Enda Kenny recalled on Saturday night that the renegotiation of the plan was a priority. "We will act on it next week.I already had contacts that very day (Saturday), he said, stressing the urgency of the calendar.

March will indeed decisive for the euro area, with marathon negotiations to develop a defense against the debt crises.

During the campaign, the future prime minister has promised to demand a reduction in the rate of interest at which EU ready to Dublin, under the assistance plan, and he deems "punitive." It also intends to ask the bondholders that they bear some of the losses.

Negotiations in Brussels on the plan and in Dublin on a coalition: Enda Kenny will know "no honeymoon," warned the Sunday Business Post.

BAHRAIN: The Shiite opposition suspends participation in parliament

AFP - Two protesters were killed Shiites in Bahrain in quelling anti-government protests, which continued Tuesday in this small Gulf kingdom ruled by a Sunni dynasty.

The protests erupted Monday in the Shiite villages on the initiative of surfers who have called on Facebook to protest to demand political and social reforms in the wake of riots in Tunisia and Egypt.

Bahrain, Shiite-majority country, made short shrift next to the other oil monarchies of the region, its oil reserves had virtually dried up.

Customers have called on Facebook to continue the demonstrations on Tuesday, including a high turnout at the funeral of the victims.

The Shiite bloc in parliament, al-Wefaq which has 18 seats elected on 40, said it had suspended its participation in the meeting because of the repression "wild" demonstrators calling including that the government solve the unemployment problem and increases wages.

A young protester, Ali Mcheimeh, succumbed to his injuries on Monday night received during the dispersal of a demonstration in the Shiite village of Diya, east of Manama, said the interior ministry by announcing an inquiry whether the police had "had an unwarranted use of weapons."

The police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters in several Shiite villages, which Darraz, west of Manama, Sitra (east), Balad Al-Qadim and Jed Hafs (center), witnesses said.

A second Shiite protester was killed by a "bullet fragmentation" when dispersing a rally Tuesday at a hospital in Manama prior to the funeral of Mcheimeh, according to an Opposition MP Shiite Ibrahim al-Khalil Marzooq, which was also reported injured.

"Fadel Salman Matrouk was killed by bullets in front of the hospital Suleimania fragmentation in Manama where people had gathered for the funeral of the first martyr," he told AFP.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement on the Twitter site a "clash pitted some people attending a funeral at a patrol of security forces", which caused the death of Matrouk. An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of his death.

Mr.Marzooq further explained that the movement al-Wefaq had suspended its participation in parliament "because of the reaction to the wild events that left two dead."

Besides the House, which has limited powers, Parliament has a consultative council whose 40 members are appointed by the king and can block any initiative from the elected assembly.

Between 1994 and 1999, Bahrain was the scene of violence led by Shiites who had been forty deaths. The Shiites feel discriminated against in employment, social services like housing and public services provided to their villages.

ITALY: Justice will request the immediate return of Berlusconi in court

AFP - The three judges, investigators of the case Wednesday Rubygate send their request for immediate judgments against the Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Tuesday the chief prosecutor in Milan.

"This afternoon we will make a final meeting" to determine if the demand for immediate trial will focus on the two charges against Mr. Berlusconi or single, told the press Edmondo Bruti Liberati.

The Milan prosecutor's office has almost completed the investigation in which Mr.Berlusconi is suspected of engaging in prostitution of a minor and abuse of office, paid for the services of a young Moroccan called Ruby, and be acted as Chairman of the Board for her release last May.

According to judicial sources, prosecutors would head to a request for immediate judgments only for the crime of abuse of office.

Once the request is sent, the investigating judge who will have five days to decide whether or not the holding of a trial.

The trial is now an expedited Italian Penal Code which is based on a "clear" evidence and could lead to a trial before the summer cons M.Berlusconi.

The prosecution has claimed to have "evidence" on the organization of unbridled celebrations in the homes of Cavaliere, where young women are prostitutes in exchange for money and free housing.

For the part of the investigation into the prostitution of minors, judges may follow the normal procedure which provides a preliminary hearing and a trial.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of people gathered in Milan, Umberto Eco, whose writers and Roberto Saviano, demanding the resignation of Berlusconi and his protest against "outrages upon personal dignity of women."

MIDDLE EAST: Hillary Clinton suggests a risk of "chaos" and "storm" in the region

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Saturday that the movement towards democracy in the Middle East, she continued, had nevertheless "risks of chaos," holding that the situation there was "perfect" for a hurricane ".

"Without progress towards open and accountable systems, the gap between peoples and their governments will increase instability and worse," she said at the 47th Security Conference in Munich (Southern Germany).

"Throughout the region," Middle East "there must be a clear and substantial progress towards systems transparent, honest and responsible," she pleaded.

"Currently, in some countries the transition is advancing rapidly, in others it will take more time," she said in a clear reference to different contexts of contestation in Tunisia, which ousted President Ben Ali and Egypt, where President Hosni Mubarak refused to leave immediately.

"Of course there are risks, risks caused by the transition to democracy," noted the U.S. Secretary of State.

"This may cause chaos and instability in the short term, or worse, and we observed that in the past, the transition can cause a regression to a different regime as authoritarian," as citizens of a country tried to kill, stressed Ms. Clinton.

In the Middle East, the situation is "perfect" for a hurricane, she said, marking the high stakes.