The Conservative Harper wins a majority parliamentary

AFP - Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister, Conservative Stephen Harper, was reappointed Monday to head the government, his party won most seats in the House in early parliamentary elections.

According to preliminary official results, the Harper Conservatives get 166 of the 308 seats in the House of Commons.

"Canadians have chosen hope, a strong and united Canada, and we will govern for all Canadians, even those who did not vote for us," assured Mr. Harper, beaming in front of his supporters who applauded vigorously in Calgary, Alberta (west).

"Our government will defend the interests of all regions and all Canadians, including the great nation of Quebec," he said.

Alluding to the defeat of the separatist Bloc Quebecois, whose seats were often taken over by New Democratic Party (NDP, left), Mr.Harper has stated its intention to "make Canada a freer and more united."

"Quebecers have decided to send the Federalists in the House of Commons and we will work together for the betterment of our country."

Beyond the victory of the Conservatives get a majority after leading a minority government from the elections of 2006 and 2008, these elections will be completely transformed the political landscape.

The NDP confirmed its historic breakthrough announced by the polls, winning 106 electoral districts, nearly triple the 36 seats held in the outgoing House.This is by far the best score in the history of this party.

His meteoric rise was mainly at the expense of the Liberals and the Bloc Québécois, literally rolled by the wave "orange" training left.

Carried by the "wind of change" announced by its charismatic leader Jack Layton, the NDP is poised to become the official opposition in the government of Mr. Harper.

But change is not on the agenda of the Conservative leader who had, instead, focused his campaign on the stability and continuity, promising Canadians continued economic recovery and pledging not to raise taxes, Unlike the NDP and Liberals.

The fate of the Liberal Party leader, former academic Michael Ignatieff seems sealed by the disastrous result which gives him 35 seats. Mr. Ignatieff has campaigned honorably but has not created a decisive impact in the electorate and lost his own seat.His party, who does not like losers, could soon grow to the exit.

Finally, the sharp fall of the Bloc Quebecois, with just four seats against 47 held in the outgoing parliament, announced a steep turn in the attitude of the inhabitants of French-speaking province and greater openness to the English-speaking Canada. Its leader Gilles Duceppe, defeated in his riding of Montreal, announced his resignation.

Other highlights of the poll, there had been elected the leader of the Greens, Elizabeth May, a historic first, and the defeat of the Conservative Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the outgoing government.

Participation remained low at 60.3%, according to provisional figures, barely higher than the historic low of 58.8% registered in 2008.

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.

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.

COTE D'IVOIRE: African Union proposes a power-sharing or new elections

AFP - Four African presidents panel on the Ivorian crisis were preparing to meet Tuesday in Abidjan, Alassane Ouattara, leader of the state recognized by the international community, following a meeting with his rival, incumbent Laurent Gbagbo, background violence.

On the second day of their visit, Idriss Deby (Chad), Jikaya Kikwete (Tanzania), Jacob Zuma (South Africa) and Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz (Mauritania) should meet by mid-day with Mr. Ouattara at the Golf Hotel where he was entrenched with his team, his entourage said.

As to Mr. Gbagbo on Monday, the panel must submit to Mr.Ouattara's proposals to end by 28 February solutions "binding" on both sides.

According to a South African minister, the four Heads of State delegated by the African Union (AU) to resolve the crisis post-election power-sharing offer or an interim government until new elections.

The panel of mediators, which includes the South African President Jacob Zuma, "attempts to find a compromise solution, whether sharing the presidency between the two presidents or government (...) of interim until new elections, "he said Tuesday at the AFP Deputy South African Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Ibrahim.

"I do not think the panel looks for one or the other, both Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara, because it would lead to a destabilization of the country," said Ibrahim, interviewed on the sidelines of the session Parliament in Cape Town.

The panel met with Mr. Ouattara, originally scheduled for Monday evening, could eventually take place. In the entourage of Mr.Ouattara, we explained that he wanted to express his dissatisfaction and a lack of representation of West Africa in the delegation.

The Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore, a panel member, agreed to drop to travel to Abidjan for "security reasons": more than a thousand pro-Gbagbo youths were waiting at the airport the former mediator in the peace process Côte d'Ivoire (2007-2010) whom they accuse of being an ally of Mr. Ouattara and the former French colonial power.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which adopted a harder line that the African Union with the threat of force to dislodge Mr.Gbagbo has also strongly criticized the continuation of the visit of the panel cut one of its members

"The ECOWAS Commission was concerned to see that the panel has nevertheless decided to conduct the tour immediately without the participation of a senior member whose contributions to the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire are priceless and deserve better assessments and more respect, "she said.

For her, the situation on the ground was not "conducive to the holding of a mission of such importance."

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, James Victor Gbeho, who recently ruled sternly attempts to compromise with Mr.Gbagbo has also canceled his trip to Abidjan.

The new mediation occurs when the Ivorian capital is experiencing a resurgence of tension since the weekend.

After nearly three months of crisis, the camp Ouattara, inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, called on his people to take action to expel the president.

According to local newspapers, at least six people were killed Monday in clashes between supporters of very violent M.Ouattara and Forces for Defence and Security (FDS) loyal to his rival in the popular districts of Abobo (north), Kumasi and Treichville (south).

These clashes have resulted for several hours at the scenes of urban guerrillas, witnesses said.

The post-election violence killed at least 300 deaths since mid-December, the UN says.

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.