Dominique Strauss-Kahn under house arrest on Broadway

The former head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was accused of sexual crimes, arrived Friday evening in the Manhattan building where he will reside temporarily under constant surveillance after leaving prison Rikers Island.

The arrival of former French finance minister in the building south of Broadway near Ground Zero, site of the twin towers destroyed in the attacks of Sept. 11, was confirmed to AFP by police.

"It is here," said a police official requesting anonymity, while his brothers erected metal barricades to keep away from many journalists.

"I do not really like (it is there).I find it a little scary, "said Gemma Harding, a woman dressed in his 31 which has magnetized the flashes of many photographers in front of the temporary residence of Mr. Strauss-Kahn.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn was released from prison after a New York judge had approved all the documents establishing the conditions that accompany his parole.

Several addresses were given successively for the dwelling which reside temporarily the former boss of the International Monetary Fund, accused of sex crimes against a hotel employee.

Mr.Strauss-Kahn had to move to an apartment on 65th Street in Manhattan, but the place has been changed due to "invasion" of journalists who upset the neighborhood, said Friday his lawyer, William Taylor.

The man of 62 years will remain "a few days," Judge Michael Obus of New York Supreme Court, in this residence near Ground Zero, owned by the local press to the company Stroz Friedberg responsible for ensuring its implementation house arrest.

He can overcome this temporary residence, unless a case of force majeure.

Mr.Strauss-Kahn will then leave this apartment for another permanent which he may leave for specific reasons - hearings, appointment of lawyers, doctor visits or synagogue - if requested by at least six hours advance, "said Justice in New York.And he can not go out between 10:00 p.m. to 6:00.

Judge Michael Obus was signed earlier this afternoon, the release order of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, jailed since Monday in the Rikers Island prison after his lawyers and his guarantor court had provided the bond of one million dollars and a deposit of five million.

Former IMF chief is accused of sexual assault and attempted rape on May 14 against a housekeeper Guinea 32 years of the Sofitel Manhattan.

Justice had authorized his release Thursday if a set of conditions were met. Besides the security and the security deposit, he had to prove that he was living in a Manhattan residence under surveillance 24 hours 24.

The next meeting of Mr.Strauss-Kahn to justice was set for June 6 At that hearing, he will plead guilty or not guilty to seven counts against him.

If he pleads guilty, there will be no trial but sentenced to several years in prison, whose number will be negotiated with the judge. If he pleads not guilty, as his lawyers have suggested, a trial will take place.

In France, writer and journalist Tristane Banon, who said he was sexually assaulted in 2002 by Dominique Strauss-Kahn, decided against pursuing and will not testify against him in the United States.

She informed by his counsel, Mr. David Koubbi, it reserved "for later" his decision to press charges.But in all cases of possible criminal acts occurring in 2002 would be required in 2012.

Meanwhile, speculation continued to go well on the estate of Mr. Strauss-Kahn to head the IMF.According to European sources, the French Christine Lagarde was "almost inducted" as a candidate of the European Union and "you should already have a signal from Deauville" at the G8 summit on 26 and 27 May in the Normandy resort.

Chancellor Angela Merkel supported lip to Christine Lagarde, saying she had to "particular esteem".

The United States said they were "prepared to support" as a candidate who can create a "broad" support among members of the institution.

The IMF announced Friday that it would open Monday until June 10 nominations for the post of general manager and he stared for "objective" to appoint his number one "by 30 June."

He also denied Friday a report in the New York Times describing the relationships between employees of the institution as marked by leniency vis-à-vis sexual harassment."Harassment is not tolerated in this institution."

As for the future of the former hexagonal poll favorite, "politically, it will be Dominique Strauss-Kahn and his alone" to say "if it can or can not be a candidate in the primary PS, "said Francois Hollande, himself a candidate in the primaries, taking the foot of the Socialist-cons had already drawn a line on an application" DSK ".

FRANCE: Gas shale: the Assembly vote against exploitation by hydraulic fracturing

French deputies adopted Wednesday by 287 votes against 186 the UMP bill prohibiting hydraulic fracturing technique for exploration and exploitation of gas and oil shale.

Groups UMP and New Centre (NC) voted for the text presented by Christian Jacob, the president of the UMP.The opposition, finding several provisions "ambiguous", voted against this bill that the Senate will look to turn on 1 June

The technique of hydraulic fracturing highly controversial because of its impact on the environment, is to liberate the carbides, inject large amounts of water mixed with sand and chemicals ajduvants.

The text, introduced by Christian Jacob, the president of the UMP, and as amended in committee, speaks only hydraulic fracturing and the repeal of the exploration permit who use them, which would pave the way for potentially using another technique.

The bill provides that the exclusive licensee of Research shall, within two months, state in a report to the administrative authority of the techniques used in their operations.

In case of non submission of the report or whether it is stated that the licensee uses hydraulic fracturing, the license granted by the Government will be repealed.

The Minister for Ecology Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, who brought the government's support of this text, acknowledged that the licenses granted they have "not been in good terms" and "things have been made upside down. "

"With this text, it is an opportunity to go further in the implementation of the precautionary principle," she said, by ensuring, in connection with article 2 of the bill, it "is indeed abrogate all research permits that have no raison d'etre after the ban" of hydraulic fracturing.

The Socialist Group, which had seemed at first to accept the version of the text developed by the Committee on Sustainable Development, has backtracked.

"It is a text that does not legally," said Pascal Terrasse (PS)."We do not trust you," he said in calling for total repeal of all operating permits granted.

Several hundred people, including all the heads of associations and environmental movements, protested Tuesday in the vicinity of the National Assembly to protest against the proposed law as "poor".

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Manchester United and Schalke corrects joined Barca in final

By aligning lone striker Raul, Ralf Rangnick had taken a gamble on his midfield to cut muscle transition ball between the lines of Manchester United. But, as one way, Schalke has hardly existed against the Red Devils, and was heavily tilted at Old Trafford (4-1).

Manchester, even with a team carried by a trio bis offensive Valencia-Berbatov Nani-unpublished, confirmed the undeniable superiority of his community. Never Alex Ferguson's men have appeared in real trouble and if they were not as dominating as the go into the game, they have proven to be equally effective.

Finally, after two meetings, the qualification of Alex Ferguson's men could not be more logical.On Wednesday, the Red Devils have mastered the early game, negating the few German offensive tendencies. Farfan only managed to break the lock but the Mancunian hit the Peruvian could not find the part (8e).

Manchester while control

After a pleasant half hour but no clear chances, it is ultimately the Mancunians who would initiate hostilities. Ball on a good recovery Nani, Valencia was alone with Neuer. The Ecuadorian, a crossfire at ground level, the German goalkeeper was crucified (26th, 1-0).

In the process, gave Manchester a little more breadth to its domination by doubling the bet.Gibson, well served by Valencia back, let fly a shot that dries Neuer could not divert enough (31e, 2-0).

Paradoxically, it is in the hole that players were Gelsenkirchen resources to respond. On a recovery of approximately Smalling, Uchida recovered the ball on the right. The Japanese, with much success, managed to pass the ball to Jurado which reduced the mark of a beautiful half-volley into the top corner of Van der Sar (35th, 2-1).

Behind, the match resumed its course on the same pace.Schalke was trying clumsily to the physical impact, while Manchester was content to manage the adverse timid attempts.

Schalke sank

After the break, the Germans finally managed to get some play on their own, but was once again Manchester, cons, who would get the most candid opportunities.

Shortly before the hour, Anderson, at the edge of the box, fired in a magnificent strike from the left towards the top corner of Neuer. The German goalkeeper was able in extremis to push the ball for a corner with a superb flight (56th).

Following the match would confirm the slow erosion of Schalke. The Red Devils, taking advantage of the many approximations of their opponents in the evening, would put even triple by Anderson.The Brazilian found the penalty spot by a center of Berbatov, is playing defense in two Neuer before crucifying once again powerless (72nd, 3-1).

In the process, the match would even turn the demonstration. Berbatov again pierced the German defense on the right side and found Anderson.The Brazilian, to six meters, concluded this new opportunity with a flat foot unstoppable (76th, 4-1).

And as to give a more pronounced bitterness at the loss, the men saw themselves Rangnick - logically - a goal disallowed Klass Jan Huntelaar in any end game (82nd).

The addition would have been even heavier if Neuer, in stoppage time, had not made a new high-class parade before Owen (90 +2).

Remains in a relaxed, the Devils players have proved they were the most credible challenger Barça, Real Madrid's winner Tuesday in the other semifinal. And the opponent they meet in the final of the Champions League on 28 May at Wembley, should offer a challenge of any magnitude.

JAPAN: The shutdown of the plant in Fukushima last between six and nine months

The operator of the nuclear accident in Fukushima (north-eastern Japan) said Sunday it would take about three months to begin to reduce the radioactivity and between six and nine months to cool the reactors.

"We estimate it will take approximately three months to ensure that the radiation level begins to drop," said Tsunehisa Katsumata, president of the board of directors of the company Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO).

"Having completed this first step, it will take three to six months before we can reduce radiation leaks at a very low level," he said at a news conference.

The company says this second stage will aim to achieve "cold shutdown" reactor (cold shutdown), thus allowing the intervention of technicians.

Located 250 km from Tokyo, Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (No. 1) was severely damaged by the magnitude 9 earthquake and the giant tsunami that devastated the north-eastern Japan on March 11.

TEPCO and the Japanese authorities have been trying to prevent this incident from escalating nuclear and cause massive radiation leaks.

Mr. Katsumata said the company hoped to "cool the reactors and storage pools of spent fuel so complete and stable."

The cessation of cooling circuits and backup generators is at the origin of the series of incidents that occurred on the site. The staff had to inject huge amounts of water to control the temperature of the fuel.

TEPCO said it would "give priority to prevent hydrogen explosion in Units 1, 2 and 3."The workers will inject nitrogen into the reactor to maintain the lower the ratio between hydrogen and oxygen," the company said in a statement.

A few days after the disaster of March 11, explosions occurred at Units 1 and 3, caused by an accumulation of hydrogen in the building housing the facility.

TEPCO will also strive for not releasing highly radioactive water.

"On the reactor 2, we begin to clean up highly radioactive water in June," said Mr.Katsumata.

The injection and dumping bulk water since March 11 has resulted in highly radioactive water leak in the engine rooms and in trenches adjacent to the facilities, some of which sank in the sea

LIBYA: Resigned, the Libyan foreign minister flees UK

AFP - Faithful servant of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan foreign minister, Musa Kusa, who announced his resignation Wednesday at his arrival in London, was in recent years in all negotiations and turnovers that had allowed the return of Libya in the comity of nations frequentable.

Chief of Intelligence from 1994 to 2009, Musa Kusa, 59, was a strong man of the revolutionary committee, the backbone of the Libyan regime, and the prisoners of Muammar Gaddafi.

He has been responsible for large files including Libya in Africa and regards its relations with the West.

It was thus a key negotiator in the business of the Bulgarian nurses that led to their release in July 2007 and in 2003 the dismantling of Libya's nuclear program that opened the way for lifting the trade embargo imposed by the United States against Libya in 1986.

He is best known for his role in compensating the families of victims of the Lockerbie bombing (1988, 270 dead) and the UTA DC-10 (1989, 170 dead), removing the remaining obstacles to the normalization of relations Tripoli with the West.

After two decades, embodied the dark side of the Gaddafi regime, symbolized this Tripolitan recent years the opening.

Born into a poor family, scholarship and holds a Masters of the American University of Michigan (1978), he began his career in special services such as security official Libyan embassy in Northern Europe.

In 1980, Koussa was appointed ambassador to Libya in London before being expelled in the same year by the British after stating his determination to liquidate the "enemies of the revolution" on British soil.

In 1984, he joined the Mathaba, a Foundation to coordinate the liberation movements worldwide, especially in Africa and Latin America.

Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1994, he was later appointed head of intelligence, a position he held until 2009, before being responsible for Foreign Affairs, replacing Abdulrahman Shalgham, Libyan ambassador to the UN, who had also defected a few weeks ago.

Tens of thousands of Britons on the streets against austerity

AFP - Tens of thousands of Britons were demonstrating peacefully Saturday at midday in central London to protest against austerity, responding in mass to the appeal of unions.

"Participation is beyond anything we dreamed it's fantastic.. This is the biggest event in a generation in London," enthused the general secretary of Unite union, Len McCluskey.

"There is a palpable anger in this country and hundreds of thousands of people came here to say. According to police, there would be almost half a million people," he said.

No official estimate was available, however.Before the event, the Confederation of British trade unions, Trades Union Congress (TUC), predicted "more than 100,000 people, and certainly much more" and the media had forecast 250,000 to 300,000 people.

Unions hope the gathering will be the largest in London since the 2003 war against Iraq (one million) and the broader social movement for two decades.

About 4,500 police were mobilized for fear of spills, such as occurred during the student demonstrations this fall.The unions have also provided an important service order to preserve "family atmosphere" of this event, bringing people of all ages.

"Do not break Britain!", "Defend our public services!" Proclaimed the banners of the demonstrators. Many had come with family, strollers and vuvuzelas, the famous horns used by fans at the World Cup football in South Africa.

"I'm here because the government makes us pay to repair what did the bankers.It is currently building a society where the rich are even more weak and more needy, "said Gillian Siddons, a retiree of 60 years.

"We want to show the government what we think of his politics," added Jim Waters, 62.

The government decided to impose a course of unprecedented rigor in the UK, with cuts of more than 90 billion euros by 2015.

USA: Justice is a blow to Google's digital library

It was one of the most ambitious of Google. But since Tuesday night, the giant project of the Internet to scan then upload all books published worldwide has suffered a serious setback. A U.S. federal court has decided that this great work "googlesque" was "way too far" and allowed the giant Mountain View (California) to crush the market for online publishing.

More concretely, the American judge Denny Chin ruled, at the request of the Department of Justice on the legality of a 2008 agreement between Google and the two main associations of the U.S. edition: Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers.He found that too much to compromise the benefit of Google and found that virtually gave him the right to post any book without permission of the author.

The agreement in question provided for the creation of a fund, fed by Google, to compensate authors. The Internet giant had thus committed $ 125 million. In return, the multinational could quietly continue to scan all books published in English in the world. Authors who did not want to be included in this virtual library were, themselves, notify Google. This posed a problem for books "orphans" - those we can not find the copyright holders.This system has not pleased the judge Denny Chin, who argued that the search had to ask permission to scan books.

"Not only the literature"

The ruling was eagerly awaited. "We are disappointed by the decision because we believe it is important to bring to the world millions of otherwise hard to find books," he lamented in a statement Tuesday night Hilary Sware, spokesman for Google. But the real issue lies elsewhere: it is rather a story of "big money".

It is no coincidence that, in addition to the U.S. Department of Justice, the prosecution received the support of the Open Book Alliance.Which includes the major competitors of Google - starting with Microsoft and Yahoo's agreement, subject to the judge "allowed Google to interfere a little more privacy and awarded him a monopoly in the internet search" said Gary Reback Tuesday night, co-founder of the Open Book Alliance.

For Google, the works are, in fact, not only in literature. Since 1998, Larry Page, co-founder (with Sergey Brin) Google's dream of a virtual digital library that would work hand in hand with its search engine. Since its IPO in 2004, the group began to scan books. It is now more than 15 billion digital works.

Not dead yet

These pages can be very lucrative.Indeed, if users can use Google to search the contents of a book, the search engine benefit to retrieve information about their reading habits - which would sell more personalized advertisements.

Microsoft, which tries to impose its search engine against Google Bing, did not want to see his enemy to raid the market. Others, like Amazon, do not want a new competitor to sell books online. In December 2010, Google has, in fact, the U.S. launched a virtual library.

But the Google project is not dead, however. Judge Denny Chin has hinted that he might reconsider his decision if the agreement was renegotiated.If Google is trying so hard since 2004 to achieve its ends, it is likely he will return to discuss with publishers and authors.

NUCLEAR POWER: The entry into force of the START Treaty sealed the rebuilding of Russian-American relations

The new Russian-American treaty of nuclear disarmament START signed April 8, 2010 came into force on Saturday, after the exchange of instruments of ratification between the chiefs of diplomacy of both countries.

"Today we have exchanged instruments of ratification of a treaty reducing nuclear dangers imposed on the Russian and American peoples and the world," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a ceremony with his Russian colleague Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the annual security conference in Munich (southern Germany).

The treaty is the centerpiece of the "restart" of relations between Washington and Moscow after tensions emerged at the end of the presidency of Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush. It was signed by MM.Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev in Prague in April 2010 after lengthy negotiations.

This treaty is valid for ten years and renewable for five years provided that each country can deploy up to 1,550 warheads, a reduction of 30% over 2002.

It allows the resumption of mutually verifiable nuclear arsenals of both superpowers, interrupted in late 2009 at the expiration of the previous bilateral agreement on disarmament, in 1991.

It has however been criticized for its lack of ambition, because it ignores the thousands of nuclear warheads stockpiled by Russia and the United States.

Although six other countries (excluding North Korea whose capabilities are still embryonic) have nuclear weapons, Washington and Moscow still hold over 90% of the world's nuclear arsenals.

And it sets limits for vectors (missiles and bombers at long range) actually deployed - 700 countries by over 100 in reserve - more or less correspond to the reality on the ground already, the Russians were already below this threshold and the Americans very little above.

Mr.Lavrov told the Munich conference that the agreement would improve "international stability".

Whatever the limitations or reservations, the event marks a new era symbolically called for by his vows before the same conference two years ago the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, namely to "press the button "to restart the Russian-American relations.

These had been damaged by the war between Russia and Georgia in August 2008.The U.S. intervention in Iraq in 2003 and criticism of Vladimir Putin against the American tendency to dictate to the world his behavior at that same forum in Munich in 2007, had already deteriorated relations between the two former Cold War adversaries .

This treaty will allow Washington to go to Moscow for further discussions on limiting short-range weapons as well as the famous stock mothballed nuclear warheads, which he will one day get rid of too, as confirmed Saturday Clinton.

The treaty was not ratified without difficulty and is accompanied by documents which are reported reserves of Moscow.

The fundamental point of disagreement concerns the decision of the Obama administration to pursue construction of a European missile shield. Russia said it would accept the project unless they can participate in their own right.

The record floods over 600 dead

AFP - The president of Brazil Dilma Rousseff declared Saturday a national mourning for three days after torrential rains that killed more than 600 dead in the mountains near Rio where desperate people are facing chaos and shortages.

According to the latest report from the Civil Defense, at least 610 people perished in this disaster, one of the worst in Brazilian history.

On the other hand, 14,000 people are homeless in this agricultural region and resort to a hundred kilometers from Rio, where peaks rising to 2,200 meters.

Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday sent a message of solidarity to the victims and families of victims posted on the website of the Archdiocese of Rio, where he said he was "appalled by the tragic consequences of heavy rains and expressed his" spiritual solidarity to the people Rio.

A seven-day mourning was also declared in the State of Rio in memory of the victims most of whom were surprised in their sleep by the rivers of mud that took everything in their path.

A Teresopolis, 100 km from Rio, where 263 deaths were counted, people buried their dead.

In the municipal cemetery "a dog, Leao, do not leave the grave of his mistress, Maria Cristina Santana, buried two days ago," said one undertaker told AFP.

Inside the morgue, "it's like a horror movie," he told AFP a voluntary worker, Michelle Tosetti.

The bodies are so decomposed that medical examiners do more photo identification for fear of scaring the families of survivors and also because the photos are not used for anything, "she said.

Now, families are asked to describe the tattoos and any particular sign. In some cases, DNA testing by saliva are made.

The rain had stopped resumed in the afternoon.The soil remains saturated with water and the risks of further landslides remains high.A dozen agricultural areas are still isolated and as relief overtook them, the death toll rise, firefighters have warned.

"I think at the end of it all, we have over a thousand bodies," said Mauricio Berlim, a municipal cemetery sexton.

The Secretary of Health, Solange Sirico, warned against "the risk of epidemics such as hepatitis and leptospirosis.

She also asked people "not to drink well water is contaminated" and it appealed for donations of medical supplies and volunteer doctors.

A Nova Friburgo where 274 people were killed, the streets of this peaceful city, founded by Swiss emigrants in the early nineteenth century and valued by Cariocas for its mild climate, back images of ruins and chaos.

The people trying to leave the city, but gasoline is rationed and the road is dangerous because the yield point in several places.

Important economic consequences ahead: it was already very difficult to find fresh vegetables in Rio, the region serrana (mountain) is the main vegetable production area of the state of Rio.

The tourism sector has already lost 30 million dollars, said the vice-president of the Brazilian Hotel, Michel Chertouh.

This tragedy has generated a wave of solidarity throughout the country. Twenty tons of food were collected by Civil Defense and Rio several hundred people gave their blood.