FRANCE: Paris wants to strengthen the provision of temporary suspension of the Schengen

France is in favor of strengthening the provision of temporary suspension of the free movement of Schengen in case of influx of illegal immigrants at an external border of the European Union, said Friday the French presidency.

This includes learning from the current influx of immigrants Tunisian and Libyan via Italy, which caused serious tensions between Paris and Rome in recent weeks, but the porosity of the Greek-Turkish border .

"We must draw the consequences of the shaky situation in which we are currently strengthening the integration in the management of external borders," says one at the Elysee.

It will be a menu of topics to Franco-Italian summit in Rome next Tuesday.

President Nicolas Sarkozy hopes to France and Italy are all, as they have done in 2009, a joint initiative in Brussels, told the Elysee.

The objective of this initiative will be particular to obtain effective cooperation in the South against illegal immigration but also a strengthening of Europe's Schengen now deemed "deficient" by Paris.

This building includes making modernization of the European asylum, a strengthening of Frontex, which organizes joint patrols with the EU's external borders and the establishment of a sort of safeguard clause, said President French.

"Schengen is subject to difficulties," says one at the Elysee."We believe that we must go up, as a last resort, a suspension clause in case of necessity."

"What we think, is that we consider a mechanism where there is a systemic failure at an external border of the EU to intervene by providing an interim suspension, the time the failure is resolved, "says the same source.

There already exists a clause of suspension, but it is of very limited application in time and geographically and is intended only for events of extraordinary nature.

France has made the call in 2004 for ceremonies of the 60th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy in 2007 after the London bombings.

The turmoil in North Africa, mainly in Tunisia and Libya, have led to the arrival in Italy of many illegal immigrants from these countries, once in the Schengen area, can travel in 24 European countries who are members.

It stresses, however, at the Elysee Palace that the discussions on strengthening the effectiveness of Schengen, which will be conducted at 27, will take time.

Egypt: The Egyptian army reintroduced the crime of opinion in respect of a blogger

Egypt seems to have trouble settle his accounts with the Mubarak era. A blogger has just made the bitter experience. Maikel Nabil was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for criticizing the military line. This is the first time since the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak, January 18, an Egyptian is sent to prison for expressing his opinions.

"This is a trial worthy of the time of Hosni Mubarak," complains FRANCE 24 Ezzat Ahmed, Egyptian jurist and member of the Association for freedom of expression and thought.Arrested March 28, Maikel Nabil was brought before a military tribunal, which is "totally illegal since it is the trial of a civilian," said FRANCE 24 Morayef Heba, a specialist in Egypt and Libya for the association of human rights Human Rights Watch. Egyptian military authorities accused him of calling on his blog at the end of conscription, which would call a "negative effect on Egyptian youth."

The military court has also allowed some liberties with the rights of defense. The blogger has thus been condemned in the absence of his lawyers Monday."The head of the court we were told that the decision would be made Tuesday, April 12," says FRANCE 24 Ali Atef, one of the lawyers Maikel Nabil, still under the purview of the surprised.

The new taboo

The verdict for comments made online has even more importance as the Internet has largely contributed to the Egyptian revolution. However, this is not the first time that the military authorities succumb to past practices by organizations defending human rights."Several people who attended events of March 9, Tahrir Square [to judge who called President Hosni Mubarak and criticizing some military officials, Ed] were arrested, tried by a military court and sentenced to prison," recalled Ahmed Ezzat.

He says that as long as certain laws, such as those on political parties and freedom of the press, were not repealed, "beautiful minds of the Egyptians will have changed, the system may still succumb to the same excesses."

"The army has become the new dirty word in Egypt," laments Atef Ali for his part, counsel for Maikel Nabil.A person who is, according to him, even more pronounced at the time of Hosni Mubarak. "Traditional media avoid talking about the military and the only ones who dare to mention the army are now bloggers," says he.

"We should not kid ourselves, the democratic transition does not happen in a few months it will take years to get there," said Ahmed Ezzat. Meanwhile, Maikel Nabil was transferred from his brother at the Tora prison. His lawyers intend to appeal against his conviction ... always before a military tribunal.

JAPAN: In Tokyo, markets jump amid hopes in Fukushima

AFP - The Nikkei index of Tokyo Stock Exchange surged Tuesday close of 4.36%, investors buy shares at bargain prices after the plunge last week, amid hopes for nuclear power plant in Fukushima.

The Nikkei 225 index of blue chips gained 401.57 points to 9608.32 points.

The Topix index of all securities in the first table, which relates to a larger number of sectors, has greatly increased its share of 4.54%, taking 37.74 points to 868.13 points.

The activity was still very intense, with 3.66 billion shares traded, nearly double an average day.

The situation remained uncertain but appeared to have stopped deteriorating in the central Fukushima Daiichi (No. 1), hit by a series of accidents and radioactive leaks from the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March.

Number of operators rushed accordingly securities offered at bargain prices from diving 10.22% recorded last week by the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Tokyo instead dropped last week because of concern among investors for the Japanese economy, affected by the consequences of the earthquake and tsunami, and the uncertainty surrounding the plant in Fukushima.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange remained closed since Friday night, Monday was a holiday in Japan.

ALPINE SKIING: Season ends with a bang for Adrien Theaux, who won the downhill in Lenzerheide

AFP - After experiencing his first podium this winter, Adrien Theaux has tasted its first victory Wednesday in the final downhill of the season in Lenzerheide, where the Swiss Didier Cuche was removed for the fourth time the World Cup of race queen.

At 26, the Pyrenean lived the emotions of a first podium, first super-G with a second place finish in Beaver Creek in early December, then downhill, with a third place in Kitzbuehel in January. On Wednesday, he felt the thrill of its premiere.

"I could not imagine a finer end of the season," said the skier dismissed in Val Thorens. "These are things we dream since childhood.This is not the world championships, it's a shame, but but it is a very good win. "

Its gently sloping winter allows the speed to find the French mountains. Since the heyday of its Olympic champion Antoine Deneriaz, skiing blue had recorded only one World Cup downhill, that won by Pierre-Emmanuel Dalcin in January 2007 in Val d'Isere.

Adrien Theaux had to have a bit of luck in his daily horoscope.

First with the timer, because it is one hundredth that has relegated to second place in the Austrian Joachim Puchner, while Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal, vice-Olympic downhill champion, took third place at 16/100e.Then with the sky, which was veiled in passing of the old lions like Didier Cuche and Michael Walchhofer, who disputed the crystal globe.

Especially with the track, steep, curvy and cannot, perfect to express his talents as a technician. "I told him that the track was cut out for him", said Patrice Morisod, the Swiss who has taken over the group velocity two years ago."Now he will kindly understand it can be very good at skiing," said this farmer champions, who led for years Didier Cuche.

The most moving

The Swiss 36-year veteran finished off the podium, but fourth place enabled him to blow the little globe Walchhofer, its Austrian rival, only 11th, and write his name in crystal among the largest ever Downers .

One in the history of downhill skiing is more globes that he, the great Franz Klammer, who won five times in World Cup downhill."It's the world that gives me the greatest emotions, even if the first was special," said Didier Cuche.

His female counterpart, the American Lindsey Vonn had her fourth downhill crystal globe in hand before arriving in Switzerland. As Cuche, the vice-champion of the world remained at the foot of the podium in Lenzerheide, seeing her compatriot Julia Mancuso win again four years after his last success.

But the triple defending the World Cup could be smiling as it took control in the overall standings with that almost got them all winter, Maria Riesch, disappointed not to score any points again Wednesday.

The German, who accuses now 27 points behind, has a super-G, slalom and a giant to reverse the trend."Since the beginning of the season, I was talking about the general at every race. Psychologically, it is experiencing," said the Bavarian, whose two bronze medals at the World Championships could well be his only trophy of the winter.

CARS: A security officer of Renault indicted for fraud

AFP - The alleged spy case that shook Renault last two months has led Sunday to the indictment for "organized fraud" a security official from the automaker and its detention.

Heard last 48 hours by the police of the Central Intelligence Inside (DCRI), Dominique Gevrey, a security officer at the origin of espionage charges that led to the dismissal of three executives in early January, was indicted Sunday evening by a judge.

Mr.Gevrey, who was arrested Friday as he prepared to fly to Guinea, in the wake was remanded in custody in accordance with the requisition of the prosecution.

Two other security officials of the automaker, also arrested on Friday and Saturday, for their part have been released without charge brought against them at this point.

"As part of Renault's complaint on suspicion of espionage, investigators have collected a number of elements that suggest that we are dealing with acts of fraud", it was commented judicial source, without provide details.

"We must refrain from making any comments not to disturb the course of justice," he told AFP Jean Reinhart, the lawyer for Renault. "We will provide a comprehensive and complete after the floor, probably Monday afternoon," he added.

M. Gevrey, former member of the Directorate for Protection and Security of Defense (DPSD) would have been in contact with a "source", paid up to several hundred thousand euros, the source of Charges against the three executives. He always refused to reveal the name.

To bring his accusations, the group relied on the numbers of three bank accounts which have been provided.One would have been particularly open in March 2009 in Switzerland fed with money from an audit firm in Cyprus, and another in Liechtenstein in February 2010 that would feed a third account.

But a source close to the deal was revealed last week told AFP that investigators had found the DCRI "no trace" of bank accounts on behalf of the officers nor "any evidence of espionage."

About 250,000 euros were paid to the anonymous informant Renault, according to the manufacturer's lawyer. The amount was channeled through a private investigator who was acting as an intermediary between the security department of Renault and the informant believed to have given substance to the suspicions of espionage.The DCRI did not rule on Friday to hear also "soon" means.

After shouting to espionage, the management of Renault now evokes the idea of ​​a "manipulation" in this case that led to the dismissal of three of its executives specializing in electric cars. The manufacturer's number 2, Patrick Pelata, recently warned that after the end of the investigation "all the consequences" would be taken at the highest level of the company.

PAKISTAN: At least 37 dead in suicide bombing at a funeral

At least 37 people were killed Wednesday by a suicide bomber who detonated his bomb at a funeral in Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan, a country gripped by a deadly wave of bombings Taliban allied with al-Qaeda, police said.

The man slipped in the middle of some 200 people who were preparing to pray at the funeral of the wife of a man fighting in an anti-Taliban militia, in the hamlet of Adeza, a suburb of Peshawar The metropolis of north-west, located at the gates of the tribal areas Islamist insurgent stronghold.

"The bomber came on foot, his target was the anti-Taliban militia members" who attended the outdoor funeral, told AFP by telephone Ijaz Mohammad Khan, a police officer in Peshawar.

"We took 37 dead and 45 wounded in hospital," said on-site AFP Kalam Khan, a police officer in Peshawar.

Adeza, a hamlet known for its anti-Taliban militia, was the target of fundamentalist attacks on several occasions in recent months.

Shortly after the powerful explosion, the floor of the place of prayer was stained with blood and shreds of flesh were lying among many caps that men cover their heads for prayer.

This new attack comes a day after a devastating attack at a service station near the offices of the powerful intelligence services in Faisalabad in central Pakistan, which killed 25 people and injured over 150.

A bomb hidden in a car set off a series of devastating explosions in the gas station was completely destroyed.Several surrounding buildings collapsed, but not the intelligence services building, apparently the target of the attack, police said.

Pakistan is experiencing an unprecedented wave of attacks (about 450 since summer 2007), mostly perpetrated by suicide bombers Taliban allied with al-Qaeda, which killed more than 4,100 dead in three and a half years.

The main insurgent group, the Movement of Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has declared in the summer of 2007 and in unison with Osama bin Laden himself, jihad Pakistani government for supporting Washington in its "war against terrorism" since late 2001.

The attacks are mostly security forces - army, police, intelligence services - but also increasingly civilians.

Friday in full great prayer, eleven people were killed in an attack against a mosque in Nowshera, near Peshawar, near the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

On several occasions recently, TTP claimed responsibility for attacks against security forces in retaliation, he said, the Pakistani army offensives and firing missiles almost daily by U.S. drones on executives' Al-Qaeda and Taliban Pakistani and Afghan tribal areas.

Tuesday, at least five insurgents were killed by two missiles from a U.S. drone in South Waziristan, the main stronghold of the TTP, as security forces.

TECHNOLOGY: Apple is about to unveil a new iPad

The U.S. manufacturer Apple expected to unveil on Wednesday a new version of its tablet computer iPad, which should be given additional features to better counter the competition from devices left by other manufacturers lately.

On the eve of the conference format in San Francisco (California, western United States) from 1800 GMT, the blogosphere was buzzing with rumors about the new waiting.

Apple, for its part has merely invite journalists by sending them a picture showing the corner of a calendar sheet is covered on an iPad.

A year ago, the Apple boss Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad, calling it "revolutionary and magical product really." This year Mr.Jobs, 56, is on sick leave since mid-January, but according to the news site specializing All Things Digital, however it would consider making an appearance to attend the presentation of the iPad 2.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs, "the device should provide a first line of defense against competing tablets expected in the coming months."An enhanced memory, a more powerful microprocessor, cameras front and back, perhaps a thinner design and more angular, could characterize the new device.

"In today's market, we can not wait long to deliver an update," he told AFP by Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney, who said that "other tablets have caught at least ( capacity) of the model last year. "

Monday, Motorola's Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha said he was pleased with initial sales of its tablet Xoom, running the Google Android Honeycomb: very noticed the large electronics show in Las Vegas in January, the unit is stores since Thursday and it has "started well", despite its hefty price tag.

Samsung sells for several months his Galaxy Tab, and BlackBerry prepares its playbook for its part, while Hewlett-Packard has announced its TouchPad for next summer.

In February, the consulting firm Deloitte predicts that it would sell a total of fifty million tablets this year. Apple has sold some 15 million iPad 2010.

INTERNET: Facebook, friend of Egyptian and Tunisian authorities

Use rather than censor. This, it seems, the new approach that the military authorities in charge of the transition in Egypt have decided to adopt towards social networks. On Thursday, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (AFSC) has opened its own page on Facebook where all Egyptians are invited to speak. Will stand out from the previous regime or simple phone communication?

"We ask the children of Egypt to ask their questions here and we will reply within 48 hours," reads the new page. Customers Egyptian, Arabic and more generally, have jumped at the chance. In one night, nearly 4,000 comments have been posted.

Besides messages of congratulation to the new strongman of Cairo, the main applications concern the release of prisoners and the preservation of the achievements of the revolution. Others may even make suggestions for the less original, as the surfer who moved its candidate for the post of Minister of Economy because, he says, is "a true nationalist and a good expert in economics" .

This gesture of opening 2.0 of the army intervenes while Amnesty International has made public Thursday, a new report accusing the authorities in Cairo to always use force against prisoners.The International Organization for Defense of Human Rights ensures even have proof that the past weekend, two inmates were killed as a result of abuse.

Light year Digital

Whether in Egypt or Tunisia, communicating via social networks have become indispensable for the new custodians of power.

In Tunis, the new ministers have mounted one after the other their Facebook page. First to have taken the plunge, February 8, the Ministry of Industry and Technology currently has more than 15,000 "fans" on his page.

But the member of the government's most popular social network is, ironically, the new interior minister, who managed to mobilize more than 115 000 "fans" in less than a week. Like his colleagues, however, that man does not publish official announcements. This Friday, the Prime Minister inaugurated, in turn, their Twitter account.

The examples of Egypt and Tunisia are certainly light years digital situation faced by other Arab states plagued by protests. Libya, Yemen and Algeria have none - or almost - official presence on Facebook or Twitter.Only Bahrain appears to be doing the game

The Ministry of Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalid Al Khalifa, have an account on the microblogging network. If, on the wire, the Bahraini chief diplomat recalls the events that stir his country, to better distinguish them from the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions.

More pragmatically, the Interior Ministry made a regular item on the traffic situation in the capital Manama, where protests disrupt traffic on certain routes.

BURMA: Prime Minister Thein Sein appointed president of the country

AFP - Prime Minister of Burma and retired Gen. Thein Sein, was Friday appointed president of the country, officials said official sources at the end of a process that allows the junta to lock the power.

According to a timeline announced for several days, Thein Sein, including 47 to 65 years in the army, was promoted to the highest political position by a committee of MPs elected in the November elections, and appointed by the military junta .

"Thein Sein was elected by a majority of votes," said a senior Burmese official.

Tin Aung Myint Oo, also a former general, and Sai Kham Mouk, a member of the Shan ethnic group and part of the Solidarity Party and the Union Development (USDP, pro-junta) were in turn appointed Vice-Presidents.

Thein Sein will come in the weeks to form a government.

The only unknown of the new Burmese regime, but perhaps most important, concerned Than Shwe, 77, who ruled with an iron fist since 1992 and has, so far, given no information about his future.

If the army is unquestionably at the head of the country, will play the role as chief, also feared that powerful, is the subject of numerous rumors and speculation.

Burmese sources have assured that he would retire.

But analysts say that after a reign of terror in the country for nearly two decades, it will retain a function, even the background, to avoid retaliation and to ensure his safety and that of his clan.

EGYPT: Poor revenue shopkeepers Cairo

Shops, cafes, cloth merchants, boutiques of ready-to-wear, shoe ... On the seventh day of the protest movement that stirred Egypt, Cairo shopkeepers lifted the curtain and watch the customers. But after a week of protests, the activity is idling in the street Boulaq, in the heart of the capital.

Typically, this means that by building a business account, is very lively. "At noon, in general, this street is crowded. Today, it lacks 80% of customers," said Ali, a young clothing salesman. Today, he has managed to sell a shirt.Her shop, nestled in a stairwell, however, is full of articles of all kinds.

Ali had not opened his shop since the first demonstration against Hosni Mubarak, January 25. "The events of last week have greatly complicated my business. My shop remained closed until today." A significant loss for the small trader. This Monday at midday, Ali accounts: only 20 cookbooks. "I usually earns 200 pounds a day [25 euros]," he laments.

The shops under surveillance

The curfew, imposed by the authorities from 16 hours does not help his situation. "I will close my shop earlier than usual, I do not want to take risk.My merchandise is expensive, I must protect them if the situation goes out, "said the shopkeeper, who said he nevertheless supported the demands of protesters.

Boulaq Street has not yet been subject to looting: its merchants take turns throughout the night to monitor, along with citizen militias armed, aisles and came suspicious. "We're tired of working day and monitor the area at night. But thank you God, he did nothing serious happened here," said Hussein, a toy salesman. Inside his dusty shop, it hides two iron bars. "If ..."

Priority to food

Further, a Coptic textile merchant waits in a chair dilapidated barge. Not a soul in sight."I'm not complaining, there is still activity even if it is lower than usual," Boutros philosopher. His toothless driver, Mohamed, desperately waiting for a race this morning. "This situation is not good for trade in general. The people prefer to remain cautious and pay only for food," he notes.

Mothers who are walking this long shopping street are almost exclusively bags of food. Magdi, the septuagenarian neighborhood butcher, has a broad smile. His two son working to dismember the carcasses of cattle on the pavement. And clients are waiting for you."My butcher has remained open since the protests began, I have no problem to give me," he says while patting his casket.

Favorably to Mubarak, he is convinced that this "small rebellion" comes to an end. "Egypt is not Tunisia, the President will not leave. Moreover, whatever the character who will succeed him, there is no guarantee that it will be better," he says before getting up to receive a cage containing a dozen chickens.