MIDDLE EAST: Islamic Jihad claims two new rockets at Israel

Al-Quds Brigades, armed wing of the radical Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility on Wednesday morning the firing of two rockets at Israel, in a statement released in Gaza.

Al-Quds Brigades have attributed the authorship of two rocket attacks against the town of Beersheba in the Negev (southern Israel) and that of Ashdod, near the border with the Gaza Strip.

"This is an initial response to the Zionist crimes committed against our people in Gaza," the statement said.

These new rockets are part of an escalation of violence since Saturday between armed Palestinian groups in Gaza and Israel.

Eight Palestinians, four civilians including two minors, and four Islamic Jihad fighters were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza on Tuesday, the deadliest day in the Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas for more than two years.

On the night of Wednesday, two Islamic Jihad militants were wounded, one seriously, during an Israeli air strike in the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City.

Liveblogging: France launches military action in Libya

What you should remember:

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that French fighter planes had penetrated into Libyan airspace to prevent the forces of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to attack the city of Benghazi, a stronghold of the opposition.


The statement by the French head of state concluded an international summit on the situation in Libya, which gathered in Paris this Saturday the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Prime Minister David Cameron and many Arab and European politicians.
A military plane was shot Saturday morning while flying over the city of Benghazi.The aircraft belongs to the opponents of Muammar Gaddafi.
According to the insurgents in Benghazi, forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi bombed roads leading into town. The regime denies the accusations and says its planes remained on the ground, according to the cease-fire it announced Friday.

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BAHRAIN: The king declared a state of emergency for three months

AFP - The King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa has declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for three months, following the arrival of troops from the Gulf came to help contain the Shiite challenge.

"Due to circumstances that crosses Bahrain (...) King declares a state of emergency for a period of three months," said a statement broadcast by state television.

The statement said the king instructed the commander of the armed forces to restore order by using the army, police forces, units of the National Guard and "any other force, if necessary" .

This last statement appears to refer to units sent to Bahrain by its partners of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

This decision comes as Shiite protesters block streets in Manama and are gathered in a square in the capital, following the arrival of troops from the joint force of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) called "Shield Peninsula ", in this small kingdom ruled by a Sunni dynasty.

SAUDI ARABIA: Violent repression of a Shiite demonstration in the eastern United

AFP - Three Shiite demonstrators were injured Thursday in eastern Saudi Arabia by gunfire from police attempting to disperse a rally, according to a witness on the eve of a call for protests in the kingdom.

The shootings have occurred, while between 600 and 800 people, including women, demonstrating in Al-Qatif to demand the release of nine prisoners Shiite, said the witness, who requested anonymity.

"While walking in the heart of the city was completed, the soldiers started shooting at demonstrators, and three of them were injured," he added.

The three injured men were hospitalized but their injuries were "moderate," the source said, that the shooting lasted about 10 minutes.

These incidents occurred on the eve of a call to protest launched on Facebook.

The call claims that "the leader and members of the Majlis al-Shura (consultative council appointed) be elected", "the release of political prisoners" and "freedom of speech and assembly" in the kingdom.

Saudi officials have stated several times in recent days that the demonstrations were banned in the kingdom and that the police were authorized to intervene to enforce the law.

In Riyadh, the situation was normal on Thursday but police patrols were more numerous than usual, residents said.

In Washington, Deputy Adviser for National Security President Barack Obama, Ben Rhodes, said the U.S. closely monitoring developments in Saudi Arabia, one of its main allies in the Middle East, and defended " universal values ​​"such as the right to protest.

The prospect of turmoil in the heart of the world's largest exporter of crude oil has contributed to nervousness in the oil market.Brent Thursday evolved around $ 114 a barrel.

"The attention is focused on the crisis in the Middle East, while demonstrations potential for + the + day of rage Friday in Saudi Arabia could push crude prices, with Brent who could brush against the new $ 120 barrel, "he told AFP analyst Sokou Myrto.

The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, had told reporters Wednesday the "rejection of any interference in internal affairs" of his country.

"Reform can not be done through demonstrations," he said, adding that "dialogue" was the best way for citizens to make their voices heard.

Following appeals on Facebook, a few hundred people had already expressed last week in eastern Arabia, where Shiites are concentrated, demanding the release of a cleric.

This dignitary, Sheikh Toufic al-Aamer, was released on March 6 and 26 Shiites arrested during demonstrations last week have been released in recent days.

Inmates whose demonstrators demanded the release Thursday are nine people arrested in 1996 after the assassination of anti-American Khobar in eastern kingdom.

The Shiites are concentrated especially in the eastern province, rich in oil, make up about 10% of the population of Saudi Arabia.The community complains of marginalization in a country ruled by Wahhabism, a puritanical Sunni doctrine.

LUXURY: Bulgari, the end of independence

And in the end, he won the bet. French luxury giant LVMH was not alone in taking a close look at Bulgari. But so far, the Italian jeweler had resisted all the sirens. A determination that Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH and the world's No. 1 luxury, finally came to end. His group has acquired, on Monday, 51% of Bulgari in a transaction valued at 1.84 billion euros. And to mourn its independence, the Bulgari family has received 16.5 million shares LVMH, or 3.5% of the group.

The French group hopes through this acquisition to double its revenue in an area where it is still not number 1.Bulgari should enable it to achieve a turnover of 1.8 billion euros in 2011 in the jewelry against 985 million euros in 2010.

Paolo and Nicola Bulgari for, respectively President and Vice-Chair of the Italian family, the benefits are less obvious. They put forward "guarantees for the future" made by LVMH to justify the operation. But it is mainly a reversal of unexpected situations.

A climb that quickly attracted the covetous

The house has always prided itself Bulgari to be one of the last major family-owned businesses in the world of luxury. In 2007, its CEO, Francesco Trapani told the daily La Tribune that his "business [was] not for sale.It has never been and we do not expect to sell. "

Founded in 1884 in Rome, Bulgari has managed to become the third largest jewelry brand in the world behind Cartier (part of the world's No. 2 luxury Richemont) and Tiffany. Climb to the podium that is actually relatively recent. In the 1980s, Bulgari had only five stores and 80 employees. Over 30 years later, Bulgari can boast of having 3300 employees and sells products in more than 250 shops. Floated in 1995, the title of the Roman house gained nearly 900% of its value.

In these circumstances it is natural that the jeweler has aroused the envy of all the industry heavyweights.Especially in 2006, Bulgari has for the first time exceeded the billion turnover. They all declared their love to the Italian group. PPR (Pinault Printemps Redoute), the French rival LVMH, Bulgari have sought to acquire in 2006. A year later, it was the turn of Swatch to declare interest. While Richemont who has never ruled on the case Bulgari, the Swiss group, which owns Cartier, could hardly stay out of negotiations on the fate of his Italian rival.

Expansion halted by 2009

But until then had always preferred Bulgari continue to grow alone.Spurred by Francesco Trapani, CEO since 1984, the Italian company has successfully launched, diversify in perfumes, leather goods and even luxury hotels (in partnership with the Marriott group).

Until the 2008 financial crisis, Bulgari seemed not to have known of missteps. But in 2009, the company posted a net loss - its first since 1995 - from 1.38 million. A bad year that Bulgari has placed on the account of a broad expansion of its distribution started before the crisis erupted.

It is perhaps this reversal of fortune that LVMH has decided to take action.Perhaps also the desire to prove to another family business coveted Hermes, the companies that seem attached to their independence may also eventually be seduced.

GERMANY: The thesis of an Islamist attack raised after the shooting Frankfurt

German federal prosecutors suspected that the shooting Thursday in which two U.S. soldiers were killed the day before in Frankfurt Airport (West) was an attack "motivated Islamist."

If the motive is confirmed, this is the first time since September 11, 2001 killed an Islamist attack in Germany - which were partially prepared the 2001 attacks in the United States and which have failed for several projects terrorists.

"Given the circumstances, we may suspect that this attack is an act motivated Islamist," said federal prosecutors in Karlsruhe (West), responsible for terrorism cases, which took up the investigation.

On Wednesday, a source close Kosovar identified as investigators Arid Uka, 21 years old and lives in Frankfurt, drew on military U.S. Air Force who came from England and had to travel by bus to Ramstein base, 140 miles away. Two soldiers died and two others were seriously injured. One remained in critical condition Thursday.

According to Boris Rhein, interior minister of the regional state of Hesse, where Frankfurt is located, the suspected killer would be a "radical Islamist" who acted alone and apparently unrelated to a "network" terrorist. He worked at the postal facility of the airport and allegedly confessed, saidRhein.

The new Federal Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich found it unnecessary to address the security measures in Germany.

A special committee comprising the police U.S. investigators was established to elucidate the motivations of young Kosovar stopped just after the fact.

According to information from the public channel ARD, his weapon was "apparently stopped.The man shouted "Allah Akhbar" (Allah is the greatest ") before opening fire and was arrested in possession of many ammunition, reported several media.

It was not known by the German authorities as a dangerous Islamist, security sources said, but after ARD was close to a radical Moroccan preacher arrested a few days ago during a "crackdown".

The young Kosovar to be presented Thursday to a judge of the Federal Court to adjudicate on his detention.

Kosovo Albanian origin in Mitrovica (north), he had no criminal record in his country, a senior police official in Kosovo.

He lived in Germany with some of her family and investigators are looking in particular on his Facebook page where he made no secret of his convictions radical media reported.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday U.S. President Barack Obama "outraged by this attack," no effort be spared in this folder. And the chief diplomat Westerwelle pledged Thursday to his counterpart Hillary Clinton "a rapid and complete clarification of this attack."

Ramstein hosts a major U.S. base, which serves as a platform for logistics and other operations in Afghanistan.The U.S. Army has several other bases in the region.

An Islamist group disbanded in the fall of 2007 before he proceeds to act, "Sauerland cell" Ramstein was in sight. Its members were convicted in March 2010 for having dreamed of "a new Sept. 11.

Germany had previously eluded other Islamist attacks. In July 2006 particular, bombs placed by Islamists in suitcases on two regional trains did not explode. In 2003, attacks against Jewish interests had been foiled.

AFRICAN CINEMA: Diary: Opening of the 22nd edition of Fespaco

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Arriving on a flying

Epic. When traveling to an African destination, we know that the journey will not be trivial. So when we boarded in Paris yesterday morning, towards Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to cover the largest film festival on the continent, Fespaco, we were prepared for a great adventure.

The flight was very nice with all the cream of African cinema on board such Dora Bouchoucha, director and producer of Tunisia, Missa Hébié, Burkinabe filmmaker ... My English colleague, Leela Jacinto, had never come in black Africa, and for her it was a real discovery.I am from Senegal, experienced in this type of travel, thought he had seen others.

Cassandras often castigate African airlines to their lack of organization and management of hazardous passengers. What was not my surprise to discover that traveling with Air France, the luggage could never happen. But that is what happened, my suitcase remained at the airport in Paris! First contact with the ground in Burkina total confusion. Fortunately, the legendary warmth and friendliness of Burkina Faso make you quickly forget what kind of inconvenience.Even the customs officers sympathize, some even offer to lend you a toilet, or even to stay at home (very friendly!).

The Independence hotel gave us a warm welcome. As the nerve center of Fespaco, we come across every festival. Some of them welcomed us for coverage FRANCE 24 events in the Maghreb and the Middle East.The jury of the festival, Dora Bouchoucha, says that thanks to the work of our chain that many of his countrymen have seen pictures of this historic uprising that led to the downfall of the regime of Ben Ali, January 14.

Today, festivities begin with, culminating in the opening ceremony of the festival in the stadium August 4

Sunday, February 27, 2011

In search of the precious badge ...

Upon awakening the morning of the opening of the festival, we were cheered up and determined to get our precious card: press accreditation gives access to all projections.Again, the African adventure has kept its promises.

Two young volunteers of the festival, many working for Fespaco, indicated on signs at the entrance of the hotel, change the place of withdrawal impromptu press kits and accreditation.

The direction Liptako an administrative building guarded by security guards. A hotel taxi fares tourism practitioner with a large margin during the festival period, is not knowing the place. Finally, we arrive at Liptako and after a quarter of an hour long queue, we eventually call the manager, posted among the fifteen persons entrusted to the withdrawal of accreditation.We ask him if he needs our press card or our identity card so that we can recover our precious sesame. "I need the badges!" He replied. "But wait, we have just to remove them," rétorquons us in charge. "Ah ... but this is not ladies," cried he with the utmost relaxation.

Thus, under the astonished gaze of Leela Jacinto, my alter ego speaking, we rapidly engulf in a taxi towards the center of Fespaco.From there, assisted by another volunteer, we succeed in dodging the dense crowd massed around and inside the imposing building ocher style post-colonial place to find the withdrawal of the international press.

Again, the kindness of Burkina Faso has been a great comfort. Badges in hand, we finally leave the premises. On the steps, we meet Michel Ouédraogo, Deputy General Fespaco. In an advanced state of nervousness, just a few hours of opening, it does not wish to answer our questions ... But appointment is made for the next day.