Cyrus Vance Jr., a prosecutor very discreet

Bill Clinton was Kenneth Starr, Dominique Strauss Kahn, Cyrus Vance Jr. This will be 56 years attorney is charged with two deputies, John A. McConnell and Lisa Friel, to prove the guilt of DSK in sexual assault case that pitted him against a maid of the Sofitel New York. A trio of shock that will not favor or concession. "Everyone wants and deserves the same thing, a system that makes justice and is based on fairness": that is the credo of Cyrus Vance Jr. At the hearing Thursday in the court of the Supreme Court of New York, John A. McConnell, in any case, polished their arms to convince Judge Michael J.DSK shells that had sufficient wealth to flee if released on parole, citing his alleged escape attempt on the Air France after the alleged assault of Saturday, May 14 If the intervention of the prosecutor has as much weight is that the American system is based on the adversarial process. Unlike the French system where the judge is investigating the charge and discharge, the U.S. Attorney collects evidence that may prove the guilt of the accused. To do this, all means are good.The prosecutor's office joins the police in particular - in this case the Special Victims Bureau, which oversees the Sex Crimes Unit. "In such case, the prosecutor and his team work closely with the police, laboratories, scientists, photographers. In court, the prosecutor will have to prove the guilt of the accused, thanks to evidence and witnesses. He can ask all the incriminating evidence from the hotel, hospital ...", explains Eric Lisann, former United States Attorney.Cyrus Vance Jr., a regular spheres of power under the spotlight since the collapse of the DSK affair, which should capture for weeks or even months, Cyrus Vance Jr. is a regular, since very young, spheres of power. His father, Cyrus Vance, was in fact Secretary of State for the armies of the Kennedy administration and later Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jimmy Carter. But "Junior" has avoided the footsteps of his father, preferring the right policy. A graduate of Yale and Georgetown, he moved to Seattle in 1988, despite a promising start in New York office of the famous attorney at the time, Robert Morgenthau."Cyrus Vance Jr. spent part of his career in Seattle, where he built his reputation as a criminal lawyer. They say he did it to escape the shadow of his father, extremely experienced in New York" France 24 says Frederick T. Davis, counsel to the bars of Paris and New York and former federal prosecutor in New York. A prosecutor "fair and worker" In 2004, he returned to New York. Five years later, the station's popular "district attorney" (counsel for the State of New York) is free. At 90 years, Robert Morgenthau, district attorney of the city between 1975 and 2009, resolved to step down. Indeed, the United States, prosecutors are elected by universal suffrage for a term of four years.The requirement for candidates to campaign to win public opinion is seen as a guarantee of their independence. For Cyrus Vance Jr., is a dream of studying at your fingertips. He made a brilliant campaign in which he received the unanimous support of the press - the tabloids to The New York Times - and Robert Morgenthau, who said on television in April 2009: "I think Vance is by far the most qualified. C ' is a good lawyer, he is right. " In the middle of New York law, this impression is shared: they say discreet, hardworking and fair. "It is very well seen from the bar. It is a fair man, not arrogant and very open. It is more austere and hard as its predecessor, which was highly publicized.There is also a leading expert in criminal law, "Frederick T. Davis continues." The prosecutor is a political figure, but not an ideologue. It is supposed to act on behalf of the people, but is sworn to uphold the law and impartiality. Cyrus Vance Jr. is in this spirit ", adds Eric Lisann. Proponent of local justice, Cyrus Vance Jr. has launched the" community-based justice "based on cooperation between judges, police and social workers. It he cares to defend the poor and tackle crime "particularly in the field of domestic violence and intimate," he says on his website.Emerging "star system"? In November 2009, Cyrus Vance Jr. wins the election "district attorney" as a Democrat, and that with 91% of the vote. "A prosecutor built his career on big shots, he can benefit later. We judge a prosecutor at the rate of charge, in the same way that a lawyer becomes a tenor of the bar in terms of its number acquittals. We can talk about the phenomenon of star system, "said a corporate lawyer's office in New York who wishes to remain anonymous.Prosecutors become highly publicized trials of celebrities, even if they lose, as was the case with Marcia Clark in the case of OJ Simpson, acquitted, for Kenneth Starr, the special prosecutor's "Monicagate" Bill Clinton or Tom Sneddon, Michael Jackson accuser unfortunate. With a deal like that for DSK, Cyrus Vance Jr. could claim the same fame.

Queen Elizabeth II to visit historic and highly monitored in Dublin

Queen Elizabeth II Tuesday began a historic visit to Ireland under surveillance, the first movement of a British monarch since independence in 1922 was troubled by the threat from dissident republicans.

The police are on the warpath in both London and Dublin and Belfast, fearing that Republican dissidents opposed to the peace process in Northern Ireland will build upon the movement to attempt a resounding action.

No fewer than 10,000 police and troops deployed in Ireland for a visit and several people were arrested in recent days, suspected of belonging to the dissident republican movement.

On Monday, a bomb threat from dissident Irish republicans caused a commotion of battle police in London. The "Mall" that leads to Buckingham Palace was closed for several hours after an alert, which proved unfounded.

The fear of an assassination of a dissident group was reinforced by threats brandished late April by a masked man at a rally in Londonderry, Northern Ireland."The queen is not welcome," he had started, saying speak on behalf of the Real IRA who is credited with the recent increase of attacks in Ulster, including the murder of a police officer in April.

The tumultuous relationship between Irish and British have largely subsided since the peace accords of 1998 and the first visit by a British monarch since 1911 figure is a gesture of reconciliation.But resentment still against the former colonial power.

At the time of the independence of Ireland, London has retained in her lap the province of Northern Ireland, mostly Protestant.

Sinn Féin, often accused of links with the IRA (Catholic separatists), found the visit "premature," before acknowledging that it represented a "unique opportunity" to establish "a new relationship based on equality and mutual respect ", joining the majority sentiment.81% of Irish people are friendly to visitors, according to a survey.

Tuesday, Elizabeth II is to lay a wreath at the "Garden of Remembrance (Memorial Garden), erected in honor of victims of the war of independence," a powerful symbol of reconciliation, "the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.

She must decide Wednesday night a highly anticipated speech, joined for the occasion by Prime Minister David Cameron and the head of British diplomacy, William Hague. The movement will end Friday.

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.

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.

INTERNET: A Chinese man opens the waltz of IPOs social media

It moves to the front of social media in China. While Facebook negotiate its presence in the former Middle Kingdom, a local actor made a great leap forward stock. RenRen, the main social network made in China with 140 million users, arrived on Wall Street Wednesday. This "Chinese Facebook" even became the first player in the social web in the world to put both feet on the financial markets.

And the operation looks juicy. The IPO, which will be sealed off Thursday, RenRen must value to nearly $ 5 billion, or 67 times the real income of the company (77 million in 2010). A large gap which must be the envy of the little world of social media. Even Facebook can not generate such enthusiasm.The market value of the king of this universe 2.0 is estimated at nearly $ 70 billion or "only" 25 times its revenues. What then explains the success of RenRen? It is in three words: Facebook, Social Media and China.

The comparison with the American big brother does not stop only at the social network dimension. Like Facebook, the Chinese site was created in December 2005 as a portal for students. Subsequently, he conquered a wider audience, led by its CEO Joe Chen who copied each feature of Facebook (Connect, Places, Groups etc..).

Still, differences exist. First, the site must comply with the state censorship and will probably never be a vehicle for revolution as Facebook could be in Arab countries.RenRen but is also much less dependent on advertising, which represents only 40% of its revenues against 70% for Facebook. The rest comes home games that are a hit among users of the site.

The first in a long series

And RenRen is Chinese. "The company may be overvalued, but people will buy shares whatever happens [because it is Chinese]," said Darren Fabric, the director of an investment fund in Chicago on Tuesday Bloomberg . The dozen Chinese companies new technologies that have an IPO in recent months have all passed their time.The course of some companies - such as the Chinese equivalent of Dangdang Amazon - even won 50% in a few days after their initial quotes.

Investors are also attracted by the growth potential of RenRen. The social network has won 19% of new entrants in a year. And with a population of 400 million Chinese Internet users, has yet RenRen margin.

Finally, everything related to social media seems to hold gold in the eyes of investors. So much so that a true bubble seems to have formed the Silicon Valley (American mecca of new technologies).RenRen as a leading player in this sector to do its IPO, carries the hopes of all those who bet on social media.

After RenRen, other groups known to Western audiences more, must soon pass not turn the stock market. The professional social network LinkedIn, the giant video game on Facebook's site Zynga and bulk purchase Groupon are expected on Wall Street this year. The head honcho of the sector, Facebook, has hinted that he contemplated an IPO until next year

FOOTBALL: The Elephants for peace in Cote d'Ivoire

He has done everything that the Ivorian presidential election last November takes place in a climate of serenity, creating a media campaign around the Elephant and the democratic process, but these are the weapons that will ultimately have the last word. Regis Lemon, president of the association Foot'Attitude, did not let down either.Laurent Gbagbo to stop, Regis Lemon gave football to the heart of its action for the process of reconciliation between the supporters of former president and his successor, Alassane Ouattara, is set in the best possible conditions.

"For now, players do not have much voice in the media because the situation is still very unstable here and we want to avoid the danger that their words will be misinterpreted. But they are very involved," says Regis Lemon who lived through the dark hours of the battle of Abidjan since his residence in the district of Cocody in Abidjan.

"All the players are aware of the role they can play peacemaker in the process of reconciliation that is in place.The next action Foot'Attitude be held in early June for the return match against the Beninese, "promises Regis Lemon who hopes that his message, this time it will of course.

These photos were taken during the match Ivory Coast-Benin accounting for the qualifications of the CAN-2012. This meeting should be played March 27 in Abidjan, but it was finally relocated to Accra in Ghana. Foot'Attitude hopes this experience will be renewed in the second leg on June 3 at Porto Novo.

FOOTBALL: Real Madrid narrowly missed a sixth consecutive defeat in the "clásico"

Real Madrid, reduced to 10 and led the scoring for Barca, has managed to avoid a sixth successive defeat in the "clasicos" Saturday (1-1) but still eight points behind La Liga, six days of end.

Morally, Real, crushed at Camp Nou (5-0), has avoided the depression, preventing its biggest rival to win a third consecutive time in the Santiago-Bernabeu stadium.

Messi Barca will do as well as the Real of Di Stefano in the 60s, with six "clasicos" consecutive victory in La Liga.

But he remains undefeated this season against Real and comes under the best conditions before the three other "clasicos" program: Wednesday in the final of the Copa del Rey, April 27 and May 3 in the semi-finals (round-trip League) champions.

Barca's record against Real since the arrival of coach Josep Guardiola in 2008 is impressive: six games, five wins, one draw, 17 goals scored, three conceded.

Jose Mourinho, who had tamed Barça de Guardiola last season with Inter Milan, has three more opportunities to defeat the team "Blaugrana" with Real.

The stars of each team, Cristiano Ronaldo at Real and Barca in Messi, defeated their Indian sign on Saturday night.

Ronaldo, who had never scored against Barcelona, ​​equalized on a penalty kick in the 82nd.As for Messi, who had never scored against a team of Mourinho, he opened the scoring, also from the penalty spot (53 ').

Messi remains top scorer in La Liga, with 30 goals, against 29 for Ronaldo.

Adriano saves on his line

Dampened by the heavy defeat at the Nou Camp to go phase, the toughest of his career, Mourinho opted for a highly defensive, with Pepe, center-aligned as a false front hinge midfielder Albiol-Carvalho.

A tactical move to master the elusive Messi. And it worked, until the turn of the game: the penalty and exclusion of Raul Albiol (51). But Pepe's tenure came at the expense of midfielder Mesut Özil.And for many years, Real has been unable to produce the game

In the first half, the show was not announced dazzling the rendezvous: a lot of mistakes, nervousness, balloons lost. And very few opportunities.

Messi has still been two: the 19th with a lob small intercepted by Iker Casillas and the 44th with a breakthrough followed by a shot from the left. But again, Casillas played a full role in pushing both hands.

And Cristiano Ronaldo has created the most dangerous time: after an initial header from a corner of Ramos, he forcefully took over the head. We were very close to the 1-0 but Adriano saved on his line (45th).

The match was completely packed second half.After two penalties, Real had several opportunities, including a match by Khedira (90th). Barca was the same in stoppage time, by Villa.

Prior to the summit of the Spanish League, Valencia had consolidated his third place by winning consistently at the last, Almeria (3-0).

Valencia, who finished digesting its elimination by eighth-finals of the Champions League (for Schalke 04), finished the season strong and will receive the Real Madrid the next day.

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.

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.