8 July, 2011.

Overseas News Service

Reuters

up and squeezed incomes, with the worst hit countries like Greece and Ireland seeing the most dramatic increases, researchers said on Friday. But rates of road deaths in the region fell during the same period, possibly because higher numbers of jobless people led to lower car use, according to an initial analysis of data from 10 European Union (EU) countries. Even though were starting to see signs of a financial recovery, what were now also seeing is a human crisis. Theres likely to be a long tail of human suffering following the downturn, said David Stuckler, a sociologist at Britains Cambridge University, who worked on the analysis. Stuckler, Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Sanjay Basu of the University of California San Francisco published their initial analysis in the Lancet journal and said the data reveal the rapidity of the health consequences of financial crises. Stuckler said in a telephone interview the researchers did not yet have enough data to make a worthwhile estimate of how many deaths in total could be linked to the financial crisis, but that is something they plan to do in future work. In particular, we want to understand better why some individuals, communities, and entire societies are especially vulnerable, yet some seem more resilient to economic shocks, the researchers wrote. Stuckler said he feared the social and health costs of the recent global economic downturn would turn out to be high. We can already see that the countries facing the most severe financial reversals of fortune, such as Greece and Ireland, had greater rises in suicides, he said. And suicides are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of mental health problems. Suicide itself is a relatively rare event, but wherever you see a rise in suicides there is also a rise in failed suicide attempts and in new cases of depression. Analysing data available so far, Stuckler and colleagues found that suicide rates were up 17 percent in Greece and 13 percent in Ireland. Unemployment increased by 2.6 percentage pointsa 35 percent relative increase between 2007 and 2009 across the EU as a whole, they said. The steady downward trend in suicide rates, seen...before 2007, reversed at once, the researchers wrote. In 2008 the increase in suicide rates in new EU members states studiedthose like Hungary and Lithuania, which joined after 2004 -- was less than 1 percent, but in the older members it increased by almost 7 percent. And in both, suicides increased further in 2009. Among the 10 countries studiedAustria, Britain, Finland, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia and Romaniaonly Austria had fewer suicides in 2009 than in 2007, with the rate down 5 percent. In all of the other countries, the increase was at least 5 percent. In Britain suicide rates rose from a recent low of 6.14 per 100,000 people aged under 65 in 2007, to 6.75 in 2008 -- an increase of 10 percent, and remained similarly high in 2009. Stuckler said that overall, the higher death rates from suicides appeared to be balanced out by the lower fatalities on the roads, which fell substantially, especially in new EU member countries where they were initially very high.

EUROPEAN SUICIDE RATES PUSHED HIGHER BY FINANCIAL CRISIS LONDON - Suicides rates rose sharply in Europe in 2007 to 2009 as the financial crisis drove unemployment

tax, which will put a price on greenhouse gas emissions from the nations top companies and help cut 160 million tonnes of emissions by 2020. Prime Minister Julia Gillard will detail the carbon plan on Sunday after more than six months of negotiations with Greens and independent lawmakers, and is expected to announce a starting carbon tax of around A$23 a tonne from July 2012. The plan, which will transition to an emissions trade scheme in three to five years, will include substantial compensation for export-exposed industries, steelmakers, coal mines and electricity generators, including reported loan guarantees to help power stations refinance debt. The carbon price will cover 500 of Australias top polluters, responsible for more than two thirds of Australian carbon emissions in an economy which relies heavily on coal for electricity generation and export income. The carbon price will reportedly push up prices by around 1.0 percent, although the central bank has said it would look through any inflationary impact when its sets interest rates. Gillard has promised compensation to 90 percent of householders for the higher food and electricity prices in a bid to help win public support for the tax and her ailing government, which has record low support in opinion polls. The carbon price is a make or break issue for Gillard, who leads a minority government after last Augusts dead heat elections. But Gillard secured on Friday the final pledge of support needed to ensure the scheme can pass through parliament, when Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie, who was not part of the carbon price negotiations, said he would vote for it. I will be supporting the governments move to put a price on carbon, Wilkie told reporters in Canberra after a full briefing on the carbon plan. I am satisfied the government has the settings right. Companies to be included in the scheme include electricity generators such as International Power , majority owned by GDF Suez, TRUenergy, owned by Hong Kongs CLP Holdings , Australias largest steelmakers BlueScope and OneSteel Ltd as well as global resource companies such as Rio Tinto , BHP Billiton and

AUSTRALIA PM WINS CRUCIAL SUPPORT FOR CARBON TAX CANBERRA - Australias government on Friday secured the final crucial vote needed to introduce a carbon

Woodside Petroleum . But export exposed companies will receive up to 90 percent of free carbon permits, while steel makers will receive up to 95 percent of free permits, with reports saying they could be shielded from the carbon tax for the first few years. Coal miners and coal fired power generators are also set to receive considerable assistance, including reports the government will issue loan guarantees to help generators refinance debt. Resources Minister Martin Ferguson on Friday also announced the government would set up a new independent renewable energy agency, which will oversee A$3.2 billion worth of government programmes to promote renewable energy.

stumble in recent months, although job growth is not expected to be strong enough to eat into high unemployment. Nonfarm payrolls are seen having risen by 90,000, according to a Reuters survey conducted last week. In May, employment rose a paltry 54,000. Many economists raised their forecasts on Thursday after a stronger-than-expected reading on U.S. private hiring from payrolls processor ADP, and they now expect gains of anywhere between 125,000 and 175,000. The private sector will account for all the jobs created, as has been the trend over the last seven months, with layoffs at state and local governments continuing. Nonetheless, the jobless rate, which is derived from a separate survey of households, is expected to hold steady at 9.1 percent. Nonfarm employment gains averaged 182,250 in the first four months of the year. Economists view the brake on hiring in May, with the smallest gain in eight months, as an aberration. Economic activity in the first six months of the year was dampened by rising commodity prices and supply chain disruptions following Japans devastating earthquake in March. But those restraints have been easing. Gasoline prices have dropped 38 cents from their peak just above $4 a gallon in early May, and motor vehicle production is picking up as the supply of parts from Japan starts to normalize.

US JOBS SEEN BOOSTING HOPES OF AN ECONOMIC REVIVAL WASHINGTON - U.S. companies probably stepped up hiring in June as the economy recovers from a

Finding firmer ground

The economy rather than downshifting is shifting up a little bit. We went through a soft spot and now we are getting to firmer ground, said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh. Any sign the labor market is improving will bring relief to the Obama administration. It has struggled to get the economy to create enough jobs to absorb the 13.9 million unemployed Americans. The economy is the top concern among voters and will feature prominently in President Barack Obamas bid for reelection next year. So far, the economy has regained only a fraction of the more than 8 million jobs lost during the recession. At the same time, the Federal Reservewhich wrapped up a $600 billion bond-buying program last week designed to spur lending and stimulate growthappears unlikely to take any further steps to boost the economy. The economy needs to create between 125,000 and 150,000 new jobs a month just to absorb new labor force entrants. We expect to see job growth in the second half of the year of around 200,000 a month, that will shave the unemployment rate a bit, said Leo Abruzzese, global forecasting director at the Economist Intelligence Unit in New York.. We do think the unemployment rate by the end of the year will probably be down in the mid-8 percent (range), maybe a little bit lower than that. The private services sector is expected to account for most of the job growth in June. Manufacturing payrolls are expected to have rebounded after contracting in May for the first time in seven months, with the recovery mostly reflecting a step-up in motor vehicle production. Construction employment will likely continue to surprise on the upside, despite weakness in the housing market. Construction payrolls have increased since February. Government employment is expected to have declined for an eighth straight month as municipalities and state governments continue to wield the axe to balance their budgets. The report is expected to show the average work week unchanged at 34.4 hours. Employers have been reluctant to extend hours because of the uncertainty surrounding the recovery, and a rise in the workweek would be a sign that more permanent hiring is in the cards. Average hourly earnings are expected to edge up 0.2 percent after rising 0.3 percent in May, which would do little for cash-strapped consumers but reassure financial markets wage-driven inflation is not a risk.

Obamas administration that the action would violate international treaty obligations and put U.S. citizens abroad at risk. In a case that garnered international attention, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a last-minute stay of execution on the grounds that Humberto Leal Garcia was not told of his right to diplomatic counsel when arrested. Leal Garcia, 38, was pronounced dead at 6:21 p.m. CDT (2321 GMT) after he was given a lethal injection at a prison in Huntsville, Texas. Leal Garcia, who had lived in the United States since he was an infant, was convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl and bludgeoning her to death with a piece of asphalt in 1994. In a last statement provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Leal Garcia apologized to the victims family and asked for their forgiveness. I truly am sorry. That is all. Lets get this show on the road, Leal Garcia said, according to the transcript. One more thing, Viva Mexico Viva Mexico. The Obama administration warned that executing Leal Garcia would violate the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and leave U.S. citizens traveling abroad at higher risk of arrest without cause or denial of diplomatic representation. Leal Garcias lawyers said Texas authorities did not inform him of his right to consult with Mexican consular authorities and violated the Vienna Convention, which guarantees foreign detainees the right to consult with representatives of their governments when they are arrested. In legal briefs filed before the Supreme Court, the U.S. government had warned that the execution would create an irreparable breach of international law, and Mexicos government said it would seriously jeopardize cross-border cooperation on joint ventures and extraditions. Mexico strongly condemned the execution, lodged an official protest with the U.S. State Department and sent letters to Texas Governor Rick Perry underscoring the importance of fulfilling the international obligations, according to a press release from the Mexican Foreign Ministry.

TEXAS EXECUTES MEXICAN CITIZEN DESPITE US PLEAS HOUSTON - Texas executed a Mexican national on Thursday over objections from President Barack

Strauss-Kahn, the case could discourage victims from coming forward, womens rights advocates say.

STRAUSS-KAHN CASE MAY DISCOURAGE SEX CRIME VICTIMS NEW YORK - Regardless of the outcome of the sexual assault charges against former IMF chief Dominique

The high-profile case shows why sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes in the United States: the accuser has been called a prostitute in print, intimate details of her past exposed to the world, and her credibility questioned by prosecutors trying to make a case against Strauss-Kahn. Unquestionably, it has had a chilling effect on the public consciousness and women in coming forward, said Sonia Ossorio, executive director of the National Organization for Women in New York City. It reinforces what we already know, that the majority of women do not report rapes because the spotlight will be on their personal history and their credibility will be questioned, she said. Forty-five percent of sexual assaults in the United States go unreported, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 2009 National Crime Victimization Studydown from 60 percent in 2007. A New York judge freed Strauss-Kahn from house arrest last week after prosecutors revealed that his accuser, a 32-year-old hotel maid from Guinea, had lied about her background, undermining her credibility as a witness. Womens rights advocates worry that the womans assertion that she was assaulted has been lost in the politics and legal maneuverings of the case. They have insidiously succeeded in shifting the focus from the reported act of sexual violence perpetrated by Strauss-Kahn to Hawas character, said Equality Now, an international womens rights group, using a pseudonym for the accuser. If she did fabricate the story, it would be unfortunate because it would perpetuate the stereotype that victims lie about their assaults, said Rita Garza of victims services agency Safe Horizon. The reality is that very few people lie about sexual assault, Garza said. It is a low one to three percent.

Media coverage

Media coverage of the woman has turned especially intense since details of the accusers past misstatements have come outthat she lied about being gang-raped in her application for U.S. asylum and changed details of her story about what happened after her encounter with Strauss-Kahn. The New York Post reported she worked as a prostitute before and after the Strauss-Kahn encounter on May 14, including while she was living under the protection of the District Attorneys office. That prompted a libel suit filed by the womans lawyers. Its the irresponsible journalism of the year, activist Gloria Steinem told Reuters. Certainly, the example set by the New York Post would be enough to discourage anyone from ever coming forward. The Post said it stands by its reporting. The coverage has also prompted debate over the media portrayal of minority and immigrant women and whether it could further discourage them from reporting sexual assaults. Immigrant black women are the least powerful in a society, Ossorio said. They are the least likely to be taken seriously. The accusers admission that she fabricated a story to improve her chances of getting U.S. asylum could expose her to criminal prosecution and possibly deportation, experts said. It is already difficult for a victim of a crime to come forward, especially with the added fear of deportation, said Michele Vigeant of Safe Horizon. It becomes an added barrier for those seeking service and seeking justice intervention. Women are often vulnerable after sex crimes and need to feel confident someone will believe their stories, Vigeant said. Even if she has had credibility problems outside of that day, a strong prosecutor would have said we are ready to stand up for her because it was a crime, said Diane Rosenfeld, a professor at Harvard Law School. Way too many prosecutors back out of rape cases.

empowerment scheme sponsored by President Robert Mugabes ZANU-PF party, a government minister said on Thursday. However, destitute Zimbabwe, the worlds second-largest platinum producer, does not have enough money to purchase majority stakes in the foreign firms and could be trying to ease the concerns of overseas investors, analysts said. Speaking at the launch of a five-year economic development plan, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Tapiwa Mashakada said the drive would take time and would not destroy the countrys fragile economy. Indigenisation and empowerment need not be the elephant in the room, said Mashakada, a senior member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirais rival Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) which joined ZANU-PF in a unity government over two years ago. It is there to make sure the majority of our people are broadly empowered. The 51 percent is not going to be expropriated. Its going to be funded and theres going to be a time frame for that, he said. Mugabe, 87 and in power since Zimbabwes since independence from Britain in 1980, signed the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act in 2008, which forces foreign-owned companies worth over $500,000 to achieve at least 51 percent black ownership within five years. Analysts say Mugabes drive targeting firms in all sectors, including banking and mining, is scaring potential investors in the resource-rich southern African country struggling to recover from a decade-long recession many blame on ZANU-PF policies. Mugabes seizures of white-owned commercial farms about a decade ago under the banner of correcting colonial injustices sparked a loss of overseas confidence in investing in the state and an economic downfall. The government has threatened to start the plan by taking over 51 percent stakes in foreign mines from September.

ZIMBABWE SAYS IT WILL PAY FOR FOREIGN FIRMS HARARE - Foreign companies in Zimbabwe will not be seized but bought out under a black economic

and nominated Justice Minister Angelino Alfano as his successor to lead the centre right into the next election. In a wide-ranging interview with the daily La Repubblica published on Friday, the 74 year-old premier criticised his own economy minister, promised to modify an austerity package and repeated his intention to stand aside from official duties. Absolutely not, he said, when asked whether he would stand again. The candidate for premier on the centre right will be Alfano. If I could, I would give it up now. Berlusconi, who is fighting allegations of corruption and of paying for sex with an underaged prostitute, has made similar remarks on a number of occasions recently. He has already named the 40 year-old Alfano, named this month as secretary-general of the ruling People of Freedom party, as his successor. I will campaign and I will help Angelino. I will act as patron. I will try to build the EPP (European Peoples Party) in Italy. But at 77 years of age, I cant be prime minister. He also ruled out any bid to become president of Italy, saying he believed the position as head of state should go to Gianni Letta, his chief of staff and most trusted aide. Berlusconi dismissed concerns that allies including the restive, pro-devolution Northern League would reject Alfano, a Sicilian lawyer, as the new head of the centre right. Why not? Ive already spoken about it. I think everyone agrees, he said. Berlusconis government has been struggling in recent months, slipping in the opinion polls and suffering sharp

BERLUSCONI SAYS WILL NOT SEEK NEW TERM ROME - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he would not run again when his term expires in 2013

losses in local elections and referendums. Tensions within the coalition have been heightened by an austerity budget aimed at eliminating the deficit in 2014 and shielding Italy from the Greek debt crisis. Berlusconi promised the budgetclosely watched by markets and ratings agencies for any signs of being watered downwould be modified in parliament and took a swipe at his economy minister, Giulio Tremonti, who drew up the package. He is worried about the markets, I understand him. But I always remind him that in politics the result is made up of consensus and votes. He isnt interested in consensus, but we are, he said. So, without changing the overall sum, we will change the budget in parliament. Italian media have long speculated that there is a widening rift between Berlusconi and Tremonti, who has been considered a potential successor to the media magnate. In the La Repubblica interview, Berlusconi made his most explicit criticism in recent months of the economy minister. You know, he thinks hes a genius and that everyone else is stupid, Berlusconi said. I put up with him because Ive known him for a long time and one has to accept the way he is. But hes the only one who is not a team player.

years deadly unrest in Bangkok must be fast and clear to satisfy Thais and foreign investors, adding her key priority was to unite the divided country. Yingluck also said lese majeste laws aimed at protecting the revered monarchy must not be abused, with many believing the military, former government and the establishment have used the laws to crack down on dissent. Yingluck, the sister of fugitive, self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was swept to power on Sunday with the help of her brothers red shirt supporters. The red shirts are demanding justice for 91 people, mostly protesters, killed in clashes with the military last year and for an end to Thailands bitter and often bloody political divisions. We have to unite Thailand and for everyone to accept the process (of reconciliation), Yingluck told Reuters in an interview, adding a Truth and Reconciliation Committee inquiry into the 2010 deaths must be independent and transparent. It should not be slow (the inquiry)...but fast and clear to Thailand and also foreign investors, that is most important, she said, declining to set a deadline. Among those killed was Reuters cameraman Hiro Muramoto, a Japanese national shot during clashes between troops and red shirts on April 10. A state investigative body concluded that soldiers did not fire the fatal bullet, contradicting earlier leaked findings suggesting the army was probably responsible. I really feel sorry for his family, Yingluck said at a later news conference. Anything we can do to help, we will try our best. Yingluck declined to say whether former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva should give evidence, with some protesters here demanding he face murder charges. I dont know (who is responsible). They (the committee) will
have to work on finding the fact and the truth first. We will follow the rule of law...and treat everyone equally, she said.

THAI PM-ELECT MAKES RECONCILIATION TOP PRIORITY BANGKOK - Thailands prime minister elect, Yingluck Shinawatra, said on Friday investigations into last

Dont abuse lese majeste

Yingluck issued a public warning that Thailands sensitive lese majeste laws should not be abused. Lese majeste, or insults to the monarchy, are punishable by up to 15 years in prison in largely Buddhist Thailand where many regard King Bhumibol Adulyadej as almost divine. Since the 2006 coup that toppled Thaksin, the lese majeste law has been used aggressively, with critics saying it is being wielded not to protect the monarchy but as a political tool to stifle criticism. Academics who have studied the lese majeste laws say nearly 400 known cases were submitted to the Criminal Court between 2006 and 2009, representing a 1,500 percent increase from the preceding 15 years. I think we have to make sure everyone does not misuse the majeste laws, said Yingluck. Thailand has always had tough laws protecting its monarchy but many activists, particularly the red shirts, want the laws either abolished or modified so that only representatives of the royal family itself can file complaints. I do not have a policy to change (the laws), said Yingluck. This is quite sensitive and should be left to the people who have the expertise. Thailands powerful army chief, Prayuth Chan-ocha, a general instrumental in Thaksins overthrow and military offensives against the red shirts, has not yet contacted Yingluck. He made comments in the run-up to the poll that were widely interpreted as attempts to discredit Yinglucks party. But Yingluck said she did not believe the military would try to undermine her new government. The military said in interviews several times that they wont intervene in this election, she added.

Amnesty will help justice

Yingluck believes a general amnesty may be one of the ways to unite Thailand, but this is a thorny issue for some red shirts and critics see it as a ploy to facilitate her brother Thaksins return without having to serve jail time for graft. Amnesty will be just one key technique, but the key thing is how we can achieve reconciliation, she said, adding the Truth and Reconciliation Committee would decide on an amnesty. The solution must be to unite Thailand. But commission head Kanit na Nakorn rejected Yinglucks comments. The committee does not deal with the amnesty issue. It is not our responsibility, Kanit told Reuters. Yingluck said the Thai economy and reconciliation were her priorities, not Thaksins future. My brother, I dont know when he can come back. Its up to the committee, she said.

government on Friday that its sustained crackdown on dissent will only bring more instability. In an interview with Reuters, Bao Tong, the most trusted aide to purged Communist Party chief Zhao Ziyang and now an outspoken critic of the government, said he believes Chinese leaders are filled with insecurity about the countrys social order. Chinas Communist Party has muzzled dissent since February, secretly detaining dozens of lawyers and activists, worried that uprisings across the Arab world could inspire challenges to its one-party rule ahead of a leadership succession late in 2012. A government that snatches the legitimate rights of the ordinary people, I think this kind of government will never be stable, said Bao, 79. He was jailed for seven years for his opposition to the government decision to send in troops to crush the pro-democracy demonstrations, and remains under close watch by security officers around his home in the west of Beijing. I think the measures they have taken are wrong. It will backfire on what they want to achieve. The transition is due to start late next year, when Vice President Xi Jinping is likely to take over from President Hu Jintao. Bao was once a political high-flyer, and as secretary to the Partys all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee held a rank equivalent to a cabinet minister. Bao said it was imperative that Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao create the conditions for future leaders, which means not creating problems. What theyre doing now is only increasing the obstacles, he said. On the approach that they are taking now, on what kind of consequences it will mean for the future, I think it will cause more trouble for the new leaders. If they start implementing democracy and the rule of law, itll be much easier for the incoming leaders. Therell be less risks and less resistant forces.

CHINA EX-OFFICIAL WARNS CRACKDOWN RISKS INSTABILITY BEIJING - The most senior Chinese official jailed over the 1989 Tiananmen protests warned the Chinese

Bao was harsh on Chinas Hu, whose government he says has reneged on its promises of democratic reform, and for its treatment of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, who was jailed in 2009 for 11 years for subversion. Hes telling the world that Chinas laws dont count. Only I, Hu Jintao, matter. Thats why I say Im thoroughly disappointed in Hu Jintao, said the healthy and alert Bao, sitting in front of a picture of his former boss Zhao. Zhao died in 2005 after more than 15 years under house arrest.

Ten years of empty talk

Bao was more sympathetic to Wen and applauded the premiers recent calls for democracy and human rights, most recently last month in London. . One thing I havent figured out is what the motive of his comments are, Bao said. Is it just for the sake of speech or is he really prepared to take action on what he has said? I hope he is prepared to do what he says. But he has not much time left, if he doesnt act quickly, people will say in the future that hes worked for 10 years and all he achieved was just empty talk for a decade, with nothing to show for it, he said. That will be a pity. Bao said he had high hopes for Vice President Xi. Xi is the son of reformist former vice premier and parliament vice-chairman Xi Zhongxun, making him a princelingone of the privileged sons and daughters of Chinas incumbent, retired or late leaders. I hope he will make a difference. I hope he will not be ... a second Hu Jintao. He should be Xi Zhongxuns son, have his own mind and know that his own father has worked a lifetime for the ordinary people, and that his father suffered. I hope he remembers his fathers experiences and not betray his father. Of course ... as a friend of his fathers, Ill also put more pressure on him. The worlds greatest politicians were made because of pressure from the people, said Bao. An emperor that has no pressure will definitely be corrupt.

going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as part of his plan begun in 2006 to donate 99 percent of his wealth. According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Buffett donated about 23.31 million Class B shares of his insurance and investment company Berkshire Hathaway Inc, with 19.34 million going to the Gates Foundation. Buffett, 80, also donated smaller sums to four family charities. These include the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named for Buffetts late first wife, and foundations for their children Howard, Peter and Susan. Buffett remarried in 2006. The shares were donated on Wednesday, the filing shows, when the B shares closed at $76.52. On Thursday, those shares closed up $1.25 at $77.77, while Berkshire Class A shares rose $1,840 to $116,640. Buffett has to date donated more than $11 billion of Berkshire shares. Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft Corp and a Berkshire director, and his wife, Melinda, created the Gates Foundation to address education, health and poverty problems. The foundation said it employs 927 people, spent $2.6 billion last year, and has a $37.1 billion endowment. Buffett expects the foundation to spend his gifts, which have totaled roughly $9.5 billion. In March, Forbes magazine said Buffett is the worlds third-richest person, with a $50 billion net worth. The number of shares that Buffett donates declines by 5 percent each year. His donations totaled $1.93 billion in 2006, $2.13 billion in 2007, $2.17 billion in 2008, $1.51 billion in 2009 and $1.93 billion in 2010, according to other SEC filings and Berkshires closing stock prices on the dates the donations were made.

BUFFETT GIVES $1.78 BLN TO GATES, FAMILY CHARITIES NEW YORK - Investor Warren Buffett has donated another $1.78 billion to several charities, with the bulk

U.S. military officer that elements of the Pakistan government had sanctioned the killing of a Pakistani journalist in May. The remarks by Admiral Mike Mullen are likely to place new strains on Pakistan.-U.S. ties, already seriously damaged following the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces in Pakistan in May. The death of journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad prompted intense speculation about the possible involvement of the Pakistan militarys powerful spy agency, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), but Mullen said on Thursday he could not confirm involvement of the ISI. If it is true, than the statement is extremely irresponsible, a Pakistani government spokesman said of Mullens remarks, in a statement quoted by the official APP news agency. It will not help in investigating the issue. Shahzad, who worked for the Hong Kong-based Asia Times Online, disappeared from Islamabad on May 29. His body was found in a canal two days later, bearing what police said were signs of torture. In the most explicit remarks to date on the case by a senior U.S. official, Mullen said he did not have a string of evidence linking Shahzads death to a specific government agency. But he added: I have not seen anything that would disabuse that report that the government knew about this. It was sanctioned by the government, yeah, he told reporters from the Pentagon Press Association.

PAKISTAN REJECTS US GENERALS COMMENTS ON SLAIN JOURNALIST ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Friday denounced as extremely irresponsible comments by the top-ranking

AFP
depuis sa libration aprs avoir attir des admirateurs mus, mais le rgime birman ne fermera pas les yeux sur de futures activits politiques, estiment les analystes. La laurate du prix Nobel de la paix a pu se promener sans encombre cette semaine dans les splendides temples sculaires de Bagan (centre), suivie chaque instant par des policiers en civil. Mais selon les observateurs, les militaires nauraient pas t si souples si elle avait entam dauthentiques discours politiques dans les villages. Que le rgime lait jou en douceur avec elle cette fois ne doit laisser

BIRMANIE: LA POLITIQUE, ZONE INTERDITE POUR AUNG SAN SUU KYI BAGAN - Licne birmane de la dmocratie, Aung San Suu Kyi, a boucl son premier voyage en province

personne penser que lorsquelle voyagera dans le pays pour se reconnecter avec sa base politiquement, il restera sans rien faire , assure Maung Zarni, chercheur et militant de la London School of Economics. Lopposante na fait aucun commentaire vendredi, avant de prendre lavion pour rentrer Rangoun. On a fait une pause mais on ne sest pas repos , a dclar de son ct son fils Kim Aris, citoyen britannique, qui avait accompagn sa mre. Il y avait trop de monde partout mais on ne peut pas y chapper , a ajout celui qui aura beaucoup tent de faire barrage de son corps pour prserver sa mre, 66 ans, des mouvements de foule. Inlassablement, Suu Kyi a sign des autographes et pos pour des photos devant les temples, dans les marchs et les magasins de souvenir, alors que la rumeur de sa prsence se rpandait comme une trane de poudre. Jai arrt ce que je faisais chez moi quand jai entendu quelle venait. Je devais la voir en personne , a expliqu New Nwe, matresse de maison de 54 ans. Mre Suu. Puissiez-vous tre en bonne sant , ont cri des admirateurs, dont certains en larmes. Si la foule navait pas grand chose voir avec les masses compactes des annes 2002-2003, elle a tmoign de ce que sa popularit avait survcu sept ans de rsidence surveille supplmentaires, jusquen novembre. Mais la question reste entire de sa capacit effectuer une vritable tourne politique, aprs les avertissements du quotidien officiel New Light of Myanmar quun tel voyage pourrait entraner le chaos et des meutes . Pour Trevor Wilson, ex-ambassadeur australien Rangoun, le pouvoir a fait passer le message que la politique tait zone interdite . Mais la Ligue nationale pour la dmocratie (LND, dissoute) pourrait se risquer un petit peu de provocation . Ils doivent prouver quils servent quelque chose , estime-t-il. Cest un jeu du chat et de la souris, mais il est difficile de croire que a va se terminer de faon pacifique. Cela a plus de chance daboutir un peu de dsordre, voire des violences mineures . En 2003, Mme Suu Kyi et son quipe avaient t agresses en province dans une embuscade semble-t-il orchestre par la junte, qui avait fait une centaine de morts selon la LND, quatre selon la junte. Lagression avait conduit son replacement en rsidence surveille. Craignant des incidents, la LND avait envoy des gardes du corps Bagan pour assurer sa scurit, mme si le voyage tait estampill priv . La police a aussi, semble-t-il, protg la Dame des mouvements de foule. Mais son avenir est incertain. Sa libration en novembre avait allg la pression internationale sur le rgime, une semaine aprs des lgislatives trs dcries que lopposante a boycottes. Depuis, la junte a pass le flambeau un rgime aux apparences civiles mais qui reste entre les mains des militaires. Et ces derniers veilleront ce quelle ne redevienne pas une menace. Je pense quils restreindraient rapidement ses mouvements si elle leur en donnait le prtexte , estime Wilson.

accuse de dtourner des fonds, au moment o la championne de tennis Li Na a indiqu ne plus faire confiance cette organisation caritative. Li, qui vient de remporter le tournoi de Roland Garros, a dit quelle ne passerait pas par la Croix-Rouge pour un don de 500.000 yuans (54.000 euros) en faveur dun tablissement pour personnes ges, handicaps et orphelins dans sa ville natale de Wuhan (centre), aprs avoir entendu parler de la controverse, a rapport vendredi le site internet du Quotidien du Peuple. Jespre vraiment tre en mesure de les aider, cest pourquoi jai finalement dcid de moccuper moi-mme de cette affaire , a-t-elle dclar, selon ce site. La Croix-Rouge chinoise est sur la sellette depuis le mois dernier, lorsquune jeune femme talant de manire ostentatoire sa richesse sur linternet stait prsente comme la directrice gnrale de la Chambre de commerce de la Croix-Rouge . Guo Meimei Baby a ensuite reconnu quelle navait rien voir avec lorganisation caritative et quelle avait invent son titre, mais peu aprs le Bureau national daudit pinglait la Croix-Rouge pour cinq problmes dans sa gestion lan pass, dont des dpenses lies des formations qui nont jamais eu lieu. En avril, la photo dune facture, montrant que sa succursale de Shanghai avait dpens 9.856 yuans (1.058 euros) pour un repas, avait t mise en ligne et avait soulev une vague dindignation, selon la presse. Nous couterons humblement les avis des uns et des autres pour renforcer notre sens de la responsabilit... afin daugmenter la crdibilit de la Croix-Rouge , a promis lorganisation caritative dans un communiqu diffus jeudi soir, prcisant quelle allait dornavant rendre publics tous les dons reus ainsi que toutes ses dpenses.

ACCUSEE DE CORRUPTION, LA CROIX-ROUGE VEUT RESTAURER SA CREDIBILITE PEKIN - La Croix-Rouge chinoise sest engage rendre publics tous les dons quelle reoit, aprs avoir t

monnaie et a galement critiqu les Etats-Unis pour leur politique dun dollar faible, selon lui. Bien sr, la Chine manipule sa monnaie et ce serait mieux que la monnaie fluctue, y compris en Chine , a dclar le ministre en anglais la presse, lors dun forum Paris. Il a galement critiqu la politique montaire amricaine, estimant que le dollar tait actuellement sous-valu. Je critique toutes les manipulations de monnaie, pas seulement aux Etats-Unis , a soulign le ministre brsilien qui rpondait la question dun journaliste qui lui faisait remarquer que pendant le forum il avait svrement critiqu les Etats-Unis, mais quil navait pas t aussi dur avec la Chine. M. Mantega a nuanc son propos en disant: je ne sais pas si aux Etats-Unis il sagit exactement dune manipulation . Il sagit de la flexibilit quantitative qui conduit une sous-valuation du dollar , a-t-il soulign. Il faisait ainsi rfrence la politique dassouplissement quantitatif consistant acheter des bons du Trsor adopte en novembre dernier par la Rserve Fdrale amricaine (FED) afin que les taux dintrt moyen et long terme soient les plus bas possible pour relancer lconomie. Interrog sur les mesures prises par son gouvernement pour viter que le real ne soit survalu, M. Mantega a dit: nous prenons constamment des mesures contre la survaluation du real, mais je ne peux pas les dtailler . Il a par ailleurs exclu la survenue dune bulle immobilire dans son pays. Il ny a pas de bulle au Brsil. Dans le secteur immobilier, les prix ont augment parce que les taux dintrt avaient stagn pendant de nombreuses annes , a dclar le ministre. Il y a des achats, les immeubles qui sont construits sont occups. Mais, il ne sagit pas dune bulle , a-t-il insist. Sagissant de linflation, M. Mantega a fait remarquer que linflation dans son pays baissait contrairement aux Etats-Unis et dautres pays.

LE BRESIL ACCUSE LA CHINE ET LES ETATS-UNIS DE SOUS-EVALUER LEUR MONNAIE PARIS - Le ministre brsilien des Finances Guido Mantega a accus jeudi Paris la Chine de manipuler sa

crant un risque de famine dans les rgions de Somalie les plus touches, a mis en garde jeudi ladministration amricaine. Les possibilits limites demploi, la baisse des rserves de nourriture et lexplosion des prix des crales privent dj de nombreux foyers de nourriture suffisante, a dclar Nancy Lindborg, une haute

SECHERESSE EN SOMALIE: LA SITUATION VA SAGGRAVER, FAMINE POSSIBLE WASHINGTON - La scheresse qui svit dans la Corne de lAfrique va saggraver dici la fin de lanne,

responsable de lAgence publique amricaine du dveloppement (USAID). Pour ces raisons, les experts amricains sattendent ce que la situation prilleuse dans la Corne de lAfrique empire dici la fin de lanne , a-t-elle expliqu devant une commission de la Chambre des reprsentants amricaine. Les Etats-Unis redoutent en particulier que la situation en Somalie continue de dcliner . Les premires estimations faites aprs la saison des pluies, davril juin, laissent penser que les rcoltes seront mauvaises dans les rgions fournissant plus de 70% des ressources en crales du sud du pays. Selon Mme Lindborg, des conditions de famine sont possibles dans les zones les plus gravement affectes, en fonction de lvolution des prix alimentaires, des conflits et de la rponse humanitaire la crise. La responsable a promis que ladministration Obama allait chercher de nouveaux moyens de fournir de laide en Somalie, tout en aidant les Somaliens forcs de fuir leur pays. Les Etats-Unis avaient annonc mercredi tre prts mettre lpreuve la bonne volont des insurgs islamistes somaliens, qui ont appel laide pour faire face la scheresse, lune des pires depuis des dcennies. LAgence de lONU pour lalimentation et lagriculture (FAO) a lanc la semaine dernire un cri dalarme au sujet de cette crise, qui menace plus de huit millions de personnes dans la Corne de lAfrique (Djibouti, thiopie, Kenya et Somalie).

Les plus grands fournisseurs daccs internet aux Etats-Unis et les grandes organisations de crateurs dans les domaines de la musique, du cinma et de la tlvision ont rvl jeudi avoir pass un accord visant lutter contre les violations des droits dauteur. Conformment un systme dalerte aux droits dauteur , les fournisseurs daccs enverront une srie davertissements par courriel aux internautes signals par des producteurs de contenus ayant remarqu des tlchargements illgaux. Au bout de cinq avertissements, les internautes pourront tre sanctionns par les fournisseurs daccs, qui pourraient ralentir leur dbit, ou les rediriger sur une page dinformation sur le piratage. Laccord noblige toutefois pas les fournisseurs daccs sanctionner les pirates prsums, ce quils font rarement en labsence dinjonction de la justice. Les fournisseurs daccs nauront pas fournir les coordonnes des internautes aux producteurs de contenus et les internautes pourront demander un examen indpendant de leurs activits pour valuer leur lgalit. Ce systme dalerte noblige en aucune circonstance les fournisseurs daccs mettre fin un compte dabonn , a soulign le Centre dinformation sur les droits dauteur (Center for Copyright Information), nouvel organisme fond par les fournisseurs daccs et les associations de crateurs. En revanche, cela reste une possibilit. Sur ce point, cet accord, qui na pas de valeur lgale, se distingue de la loi franaise Hadopi, qui permet de couper laccs internet aux personnes souponnes de tlcharger illgalement des contenus (films, musique, photos) sur internet, aprs lenvoi de plusieurs avertissements. La Chambre des reprsentants amricaine a vot jeudi un amendement interdisant au Pentagone de fournir des quipements militaires, un entranement et un soutien aux rebelles libyens. Par 225 voix contre 201, les lus ont adopt un amendement un projet de budget annuel, limitant la capacit de Washington aider les opposants au rgime du colonel Mouammar Kadhafi au pouvoir depuis 42 ans. Ce vote risque de rencontrer une forte opposition au Snat. Cet amendement interdit au Pentagone de fournir des quipements et entranements militaires, ainsi que des conseils ou toute autre forme de soutien concernant les activits militaires, que ce soit un groupe ou un individu, quil soit membre ou non des forces armes dun pays, dans le but dpauler ce groupe ou cet individu afin de mener des actions militaires contre et en Libye . Fin juin, la Chambre des reprsentants amricaine, domine par une majorit rpublicaine, avait inflig un revers au prsident Barack Obama en rejetant un texte qui autorisait lintervention militaire en Libye - ladministration stant jusqu prsent passe de consulter le Congrs ce sujet au grand dam de nombreux parlementaires des deux bords.

DROITS DAUTEUR: ACCORD AUX USA ENTRE FOURNISSEURS DACCES ET CREATEURS

USA: LA CHAMBRE INTERDIT LAIDE MILITAIRE AUX REBELLES LIBYENS

prsente la prsidentielle de 2012, selon deux sondages raliss ces derniers jours, au moment o une plainte tait dpose contre lui Paris pour tentative de viol. Toutefois, 44% des Franais pensent toujours que Dominique Strauss-Kahn ferait un bon prsident de la Rpublique , selon un sondage Opinionway pour Le Figaro Magazine (droite) et la chane LCI. Parmi les candidats dclars linvestiture socialiste, DSK se situe derrire Franois Hollandequi ferait un bon prsident pour 50% des sondsmais devant la patronne du parti, Martine Aubry (41%), et Sgolne Royal (21%). Cette enqute, ralise en ligne les 4 et 5 juillet auprs dun millier de personnes, montre que 65% des Franais ne souhaitent pas quil se prsente la prsidentielle (contre 35%). Chez les sympathisants socialistes, la proportion est de 55% contre 45%. Le baromtre CSA pour le quotidien conomique Les Echos, qui sera publi vendredi, rvle galement que 62% des Franais ne souhaitent pas une candidature de lex-patron du Fonds montaire international la primaire du parti socialiste, qui doit dsigner son candidat la prsidentielle. Selon cette enqute, ralise par tlphone les 5 et 6 juillet auprs dun millier de personnes, seuls 33% des Franais souhaitent sa candidature. Son image a t fortement et durablement atteinte et, dans lopinion publique, les conditions dun ventuel retour dans le jeu politique ne lui sont pas favorables , commente linstitut CSA. Lhypothse dun retour en course de DSK, grand favori des sondages pour la prsidentielle en France jusqu son arrestation New York la suite daccusations de crimes sexuels portes par une employe dhtel, a resurgi aprs sa libration sur parole le 1 er juillet. Mais la donne sest encore complique en dbut de semaine avec le dpt dune plainte contre lui par une crivaine franaise de 32 ans, Tristane Banon.

PRESIDENTIELLE: UNE MAJORITE DE FRANAIS CONTRE UNE CANDIDATURE DE DSK PARIS - Une forte majorit de Franais ne souhaite pas que le socialiste Dominique Strauss-Kahn se

des faits prsums de corruption, a annonc jeudi le prsident de la commission officielle anticorruption Rafiq alNatsheh, sans rvler leur identit.

LEVEE DE LIMMUNITE DE MINISTRES PALESTINIENS POUR SOUPONS DE CORRUPTION RAMALLAH - Limmunit de plusieurs ministres palestiniens a t leve pour permettre une enqute sur

 Limmunit de plusieurs ministres a t leve afin denquter sur eux , a dclar M. Natsheh la radio officielle Voix de la Palestine, ajoutant que cette mesure avait t approuve par le prsident Mahmoud Abbas. Il a soulign que la leve de limmunit de ces ministre ne signifiait pas pour autant leur culpabilit parce que la condamnation doit tre prononce par le Tribunal spcial anticorruption . Le prsident du syndicat de la fonction publique, Bassem Zakarna, a salu cette dcision. Nous avons prsent des dossiers de corruption contre des ministres du gouvernement actuel depuis 2009 et nous avons demand que trois ministres fassent lobjet dune enqute , a-t-il indiqu. M. Abbas a prsent en juin 2010 une nouvelle loi contre la corruption, qui prvoyait la cration de la commission dirige par M. Natsheh, un ancien ministre du Fatah, son parti. LAutorit palestinienne a t accuse maintes reprises de corruption depuis sa cration en 1994, mais lactuel Premier ministre Salam Fayyad, en poste depuis 2007, est crdit par la communaut internationale dun considrable effort de transparence dans les finances palestiniennes. Le Congrs amricain a menac une nouvelle fois, jeudi, les Palestiniens de mettre fin certaines aides amricaines sils persistent vouloir demander la reconnaissance dun Etat lONU en dehors de toute discussion avec Isral. Les lus de la Chambre des reprsentants ont vot une crasante majorit (406 voix contre 6) en faveur dune rsolution adressant un message svre aux Palestiniens, une semaine aprs que le Snat eut approuv lunanimit une mesure similaire. La rsolution vote jeudi presse, tout comme le faisait celle approuve par la chambre haute, le prsident Barack Obama envisager une suspension de laide amricaine lAutorit palestinienne en fonction de laccord de rconciliation nationale qui sera sign entre le mouvement islamiste Hamas et le Fatah du prsident Mahmoud Abbas. Tout gouvernement palestinien dunit doit dsavouer publiquement et officiellement le terrorisme, accepter le droit dIsral exister et raffirmer les accords passs avec Isral , indique la rsolution dpose par des responsables dmocrate et rpublicain. Le texte raffirme le soutien amricain une solution deux Etats, avec un Etat juif dIsral dmocratique, et un Etat palestinien dmocratique et viable, vivant lun ct de lautre dans la paix, la scurit et la reconnaissance mutuelle . Il met cependant en garde contre de graves consquences en matire daide amricaine aux Palestiniens et lAutorit palestinienne si ces derniers demandent la reconnaissance dun Etat palestinien lONU en dehors de toute discussion avec Isral. Les Palestiniens sont dtermins rclamer le statut de membre part entire lONU en septembre. Les Etats-Unis et plusieurs pays europens, comme lAllemagne et lItalie, allis dIsral, sont opposs une telle dmarche. Dautres, comme la France et lEspagne, gardent cette option ouverte, ayant laiss entendre quils pourraient ventuellement reconnatre un Etat palestinien. La communaut internationale veut croire la reprise du processus de paix, au point mort depuis septembre 2010, et exerce une certaine pression sur les Palestiniens et les Israliens, mais jusqu prsent en vain.

ETAT PALESTINIEN A LONU: LE CONGRES AMERICAIN MENACE LES PALESTINIENS

dala lama, en visite aux Etats-Unis, au lendemain de son anniversaire clbr en prsence de milliers de personnes Washington. Nous sommes fermement opposs toute activit du dala lama lors de visites ltranger visant la partition de la mre patrie , a dclar Hong Lei, un porte-parole du ministre chinois des Affaires trangres. Nous sommes fermement opposs ce quun gouvernement tranger ou une personnalit politique soutienne et encourage ces activits , a-t-il ajout. Mardi, le dala lama a rencontr la sous-secrtaire dEtat amricaine pour la dmocratie et les affaires mondiales, Maria Otero. Leur conversation a port sur le soutien amricain la prservation de lidentit religieuse, culturelle et linguistique unique du Tibet et sur la protection des droits de lhomme en Chine , selon un communiqu du dpartement dEtat. Le dala lama a par ailleurs rencontr jeudi au Congrs le prsident de la Chambre des reprsentants amricaine, le rpublicain John Boehner, qui a promis son soutien au chef spirituel, le prsentant comme un exemple pour les Etats-Unis et le reste du monde. Son exemple est une leon pour des nations comme la ntre qui sattachent diffuser des messages de libert, de tolrance et de respect de la dignit humaine , a lanc le prsident de la Chambre. M. Boehner a dclar que les lus amricains staient entretenus avec le dala lama sur nos valeurs communes, pas seulement en Chine et au Tibet, mais aussi au Moyen-Orient . Le moine tibtain en exil devait galement rencontrer jeudi la chef de file de la minorit dmocrate la Chambre des reprsentants, Nancy Pelosi. La prsidence amricaine na pas fait de commentaire mardi sur la visite du chef spirituel tibtain. Les autorits chinoises ont contact directement les Etats-Unis, a toutefois rapport au dpartement dEtat la porte-parole Victoria Nuland: Ils ont exprim le fait quils sont mcontents quand il a des rencontres officielles Washington . Les Etats-Unis, a-t-elle ajout, nont pas pris de dcision ce stade quant dventuels nouveaux entretiens du dala lama avec des responsables de ladministration Obama lors de son sjour amricain, prvu pour durer une dizaine de jours. Malgr les mises en garde rptes de Pkin, et alors que les relations bilatrales taient dj tendues, le prsident Barack Obama avait reu le dala lama en fvrier 2010 la Maison Blanche. Pkin accuse le dala lama de prner le sparatisme et lui demande rgulirement dabandonner dfinitivement toute aspiration lindpendance.

DALA LAMA A WASHINGTON: LA CHINE MET EN GARDE LES ETATS-UNIS PEKIN - La Chine a mis en garde jeudi ladministration amricaine contre toute discussion officielle avec le

TUNIS - Loin des confrences au ton feutr, le point de presse bi-hebdomadaire du gouvernement, instaur depuis deux mois en Tunisie, tourne rgulirement au dbat entre journalistes avides de rponses et officiels naviguant entre langue de bois et sincrit. Les rendez-vous du mardi et du jeudi la Kasbah, le sige du gouvernement Tunis, sont assidment suivis par une vingtaine de journalistes. Ils dbordent toujours allgrement la dure dune heure officiellement impartie. Les points presse nexistaient pas sous Ben Ali, les mdias utilisaient les communiqus de lagence TAP, souvent rdigs par la prsidence, et les journalistes entraient au compte-goutte la Kasbah. Ils y accdent dsormais sans protocole particulier, mme si la cellule de communication entend mettre en place une liste

TUNISIE: GOUVERNEMENT ET MEDIAS FONT CONNAISSANCE APRES 23 ANS DE SILENCE

daccrdits en bonne et due forme. Jeudi, trois intervenants se succdent sous limmense lustre en cristal et les dorures de la salle de presse, attenante au bureau du Premier ministre Bji Cad Essebsi. Son porte-parole, Moez Sinaoui, dtaille la rcente visite effectue par M. Essebsi dans les Etats du Golfe. Un journaliste intervient: le cas de Sakher el-Materi, le gendre de Ben Ali rfugi au Qatar, a-t-il t voqu Doha ? M. Sinaoui sourit. Il y a eu des entretiens privs. Vous me comprenez . Rires dans lassistance. Vient le tour du porte-parole de lIntrieur, Mohamed Hichem Moueddeb. Les questions fusent. Menaces salafistes, mouvements dAQMI (Al Qada au Maghreb islamique) la frontire algro-tunisienne... Les journalistes insistent, reviennent la charge, contredisent le responsable. Dont les rponses frlent parfois le surralisme. Sur linertie des forces de lordre lors de lattaque par des salafistes dun cinma Tunis: les policiers portaient des gilets pare-balle, ils taient encombrs et ne pouvaient pas passer des menottes aux manifestants . Sur les menaces dAQMI: En Tunisie, les citoyens sont vigilants. Les forces de lordre font les finitions, en quelque sorte . Il a tourn et tourn autour du pot, jai fini par lui dire: tu nous racontes des choses qui ne nous intressent pas! sourit Arbeya Cheikh, une jeune journaliste de Nessma TV, lissue du point de presse. Ada Klibi, responsable au sein de la cellule communication du gouvernement, samuse de leffervescence journalistique. Tout a est trs nouveau, au fond. Mais il faut quils apprennent. On narrte pas de leur rpter: UNE question, et courte si possible. Or tout se transforme toujours en dbat, et les journalistes se posent systmatiquement en opposition par rapport lintervenant officiel , estime-t-elle. Tout le monde essaye dutiliser sa libert. On travaille comme si on avait faim, on est avide, a bouillonne. Alors parfois les journalistes confondent insolence et pertinence , analyse Tarak Khalladi, un ralisateur de documentaires. Cest la premire fois quil y a des confrences de presse, la premire fois quon permet de poser de vraies questions , rappelle-t-il, en valuant les les rponses des officiels 50% correctes et 50% langue de bois . La Tunisie compte 1.600 journalistes dont 1.200 sont membres du SNJT (Syndicat national des journalistes tunisiens), selon son prsident, Nji Bghouri. Outre les radios, dont 12 nouvelles devraient obtenir une licence, les Tunisiens peuvent sinformer via deux chanes publiques et deux prives, ainsi que par le biais dinternet, qui a jou un rle dcisif de mobilisation lors de la rvolution. Ct presse crite, le ministre de lIntrieur a rcemment dlivr 9 nouvelles autorisations. Au total, 142 publications sont autorises.

trache-artre artificielle recouverte de cellules souches, a indiqu jeudi lhpital sudois o cette opration innovante a t ralise. Le 9 juin, un homme de 36 ans, souffrant dun cancer de la trache un stade avanc, a reu une nouvelle trache-artre faite dune structure synthtique et recouverte par ses propres cellules souches, a indiqu dans un communiqu lhpital universitaire Karolinska de Huddinge, dans la banlieue de Stockholm. Ce type de mdecine rgnrative pourrait, selon lhpital, rvolutionner le champ des greffes de traches, les rendant nettement plus accessibles. Les greffes de traches-artres conues avec une structure synthtique combine aux cellules souches du patient, leves au rang de procd standard, signifient que les patients nauront plus attendre un donneur dorgane compatible , a-t-il indiqu. Ce serait particulirement bnfique pour les enfants, tant donn que les traches de donneurs sont moins nombreuses que pour les patients adultes , a-t-il indiqu, insistant sur le fait quune opration rapide offrirait aux patients de meilleures chances de gurison. Lquipe de chirurgiens tait mene par le professeur Paolo Macciarini de Karolinska et comptait dans ses rangs le professeur Alexander Seifalian, de lUniversity College de Londres, qui a conu et fabriqu la trache-artre artificielle. Dans le mme temps, des chercheurs de Harvard Bioscience ont construit un bioracteur particulier utilis pour implanter les cellules souches du patient sur la structure. Les cellules ont pu se dvelopper sur la tracheartre synthtique pendant deux jours avant la greffe. Comme les cellules utilises pour rgnrer la trache taient celles du patient, il ny a pas eu de rejet du greffon et le patient ne prend pas de mdicaments immunosuppresseurs , a indiqu lhpital, ajoutant que lhomme allait bien, sur le chemin dune gurison totale, et quil serait autoris quitter lhpital demain (vendredi). La trache synthtique a t utilise en dernier recours, selon lquipe, tant donn que, malgr une radiothrapie, la tumeur du patient tait devenue si grosse quelle menaait dobstruer totalement la tracheartre, et quil ny avait pas de donneur compatible. Macciarini avait dj ralis avec succs des greffes de traches conues avec des cellules souches mais, dans ces cas, les traches-artres taient prleves sur des donneurs puis couvertes des cellules souches des patients.

GREFFE HISTORIQUE DUNE TRACHEE-ARTERE ARTIFICIELLE ENVELOPPEE DE CELLULES SOUCHES STOCKHOLM - Une quipe internationale de chirurgiens a russi la premire greffe mondiale dune

lAcadmie militaire de Caracas, o il a reconnu se trouver dans un guet-apens de la vie , tout en raffirmant croire au rtablissement de sa sant. Certains disent que cest un mensonge, que cela (cette maladie) est une invention de Fidel (Castro, le pre de la rvolution cubaine) et de Chavez. Mais si vous pouviez voir mon abdomen, jai pas mal de points de suture. Je ne les compte mme pas , a dclar le chef de file de la gauche radicale latino-amricaine devant des soldats. Hugo Chavez, 56 ans, a t opr dune tumeur cancreuse dans la zone pelvienne Cuba, o il est rest un mois avant de rentrer lundi dans son pays. Javais une tumeur maligne et je continue lutter contre elle, mais je vous promets que nous vivrons et vaincrons , a-t-il ajout. Vous savez que je suis dans un de ces guet-apens de la vie. Jai toujours t un soldat sain. Je ne me souviens pas avoir t une seule fois linfirmerie , a-t-il expliqu. Depuis son opration, M. Chavez doit suivre un traitement mdical strict et rduire ses apparitions publiques, mais il a affirm quil refaisait du sport. Je revis , a-t-il dit. Le prsident du premier pays latino-amricain exportateur de ptrole, lu pour la premire fois en 1998, a dj annonc quil voulait se prsenter la prsidentielle de 2012. La maladie de Chavez, son retour et son vidente faiblesse physique illustrent le problme inhrent dun mouvement qui repose exclusivement et uniquement sur un leadership personnel , a dclar lAFP Federico Welsch, professeur de sciences politiques lUniversit Simon Bolivar de Caracas. Selon des rumeurs, le prsident est rentr de Cuba pour mettre de lordre dans son gouvernement et dans le Parti socialiste uni du Venezuela (PSUV, au pouvoir). Certaines figures ont pris du poids pendant labsence du

CHAVEZ, OPERE DUN CANCER, RECONNAIT SE TROUVER DANS UN GUET-APENS CARACAS - Le prsident vnzulien Hugo Chavez, atteint dun cancer, a brivement rendu visite jeudi

prsident, comme le vice-prsident Elia Jaua, Nicolas Maduro, le ministre des Affaires trangres et homme de confiance du prsident, mais aussi le frre an de M. Chavez, Adan.

13 ans de rclusion pour lagression mortelle du fils du prsident tchadien, Idriss Deby, en juillet 2007 Courbevoie, prs de Paris. Un cinquime, qui comparaissait libre, a t acquitt par la cour dassises de Nanterre (ouest de Paris). Le 2 juillet 2007, Brahim Deby, 27 ans, tait dcouvert agonisant dans le parking de son immeuble de Courbevoie, aprs avoir t attaqu au pistolet impulsions lectriques Taser par quatre faux policiers. Son corps tait couvert de poudre dextincteur. Ivre et drogu aprs une soire passe en bote de nuit, il avait succomb une dtresse respiratoire. Son appartement avait t soigneusement fouill par ses assaillants et ses poches vides des 50.000 euros quelles contenaient. La cour na pas suivi les demandes de lavocat gnral qui avait requis mardi des peines de 10 20 ans demprisonnement lencontre des accuss. On ne comprend pas ce qui a motiv des peines aussi lgres. On a limpression que Brahim Deby a t assassin une deuxime fois , a dnonc lun des avocats de la famille, Me Jean-Bernard Padar, lissue de laudience. Il a dit souhaiter que le parquet interjette appel . Marin Cioroianu, 45 ans, qui a ni les faits tout au long du procs, cope de la plus lourde peine avec 13 ans demprisonnement. Une montre portant des traces de son ADN avait t retrouve sur les lieux du drame. Suspect dtre lorganisateur de lattaque, Dan Batoua, 31 ans, a t condamn 12 ans de prison. A la barre, ce loueur de vhicules de luxe, avait reconnu les faits expliquant quil ne sagissait pas dun projet dagression la base . Je devais simplement rcuprer des cls dappartement. Cela ne devait pas se finir comme a , avait-il expliqu. Jaime de Carvalho, un mcanicien de 29 ans, employ de Dan Batoua, galement suspect davoir particip lattaque, a t condamn 9 ans de rclusion. Il avait aussi reconnu les faits. Souponn davoir jou le rle dinformateur, Pierre-Claude Messi Ntsama, 28 ans, qui tait proche du fils du prsident tchadien et tait jug pour complicit, cope quant lui de 5 ans de prison. Quatre des accuss comparaissaient pour vol avec violence ayant entran la mort sans intention de la donner , et un cinquime, Pierre-Claude Messi Ntsama, tait jug pour complicit . Seuls deux dentre eux avaient reconnu les faits.

FRANCE: QUATRE HOMMES CONDAMNES POUR LA MORT DU FILS DU PRESIDENT TCHADIEN NANTERRE - Quatre hommes ont t condamns jeudi par la justice franaise des peines allant de 5

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