CASE DSK: Christine Lagarde says she deserves the position of DSK?

According to Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Christine Lagarde? Only the first harbinger of Thursday's resignation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the possible candidacy of the current French Minister of Economy to the position of CEO of the institution gained credibility - at least in Europe .

"She has a very strong authority, which is vital to find a consensus in negotiations on important issues," said Anders Borg, Swedish Minister of Finance on the British television station Sky News.Christine Lagarde could also benefit from support from Berlin, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung - which qualifies it as "favorite".

Thursday noon, the main "interest" has called for "a gathering of European candidate" without discussing his own case. In France, Secretary of State for Transport, Thierry Mariani, acknowledged Thursday that it would be a "good candidate" but that it will be "difficult". Indeed, the nomination of Christine Lagarde does not have only advantages.

Why would it matter?

A true international stature: Four years spent in Bercy allowed Christine Lagarde to enforce internationally.So much so that in 2009, the influential British economic daily The Financial Times elected "best Minister of Finance of the euro zone."

She knows the situation in the euro area: Europeans want someone like Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has the necessary relations among countries in the euro area to conduct effective negotiations to resolve the crisis of sovereign debt. This is the case of Christine Lagarde, who participated in the development of all successive bailouts - Greece, Ireland, Portugal.

It has the American Fiber: The French minister is not a pure European product. She worked for nearly ten years in Chicago law firm Baker & McKenzie (1995 to 2004), it was one of the leaders.Of dealings with the United States which would not displease overseas because "even if the United States did not appoint the director of the IMF, their influence on the functioning of the institution is important," says Christine Rifflart, an economist at the French Office of Economic Conditions (OFCE), France 24.

She is a woman: Christine Lagarde is currently the only woman among the potential candidates. So far, all directors of the IMF have been men.The accession of the French Minister of Economy at the head of the international organization could be a powerful symbol of "able to forget the origin of European and French Christine Lagarde," Judge Robert Wade, an economist at the London School of Economics at France 24.

Why she would do the trick?

Even France? The current legal woes now former CEO of the Fund are that France is not among the favorites to field a candidate.A disadvantage of the more important since the IMF was established in 1946, four of its ten directors were the French (Pierre-Paul Schweitzer from 1963 to 1973, Jacques de Larosiere from 1978 to 1987, Michel Camdessus from 1987 to 2000 and then Dominique Strauss-Kahn from 2007 to 2011).

Yet a European? Since its inception, the IMF has always been a European director. This is the result of a tacit agreement with the United States, which, in turn, keep your hand on the direction of the World Bank. Emerging countries would like their growing weight in the global economy is finally translated by a director from their ranks.They may therefore be opposed in principle to all those who come from the Old Continent.

The "pan" Bernard Tapie: In France, Christine Lagarde could end up before the Court of Justice of the Republic for "abuse of authority." Indeed, the prosecutor asked in early May, the opening of an investigation. The minister is accused of having done everything to encourage the businessman Bernard Tapie in the dispute between, for over ten ANSl at Credit Lyonnais. The satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine said Wednesday a report by the Court of Auditors very critical of the Minister of Economy. A political and legal scandal could be fatal to his possible candidacy for the leadership of the IMF.

DIPLOMACY: Pakistan and the United States show their willingness to restore confidence

AFP - U.S. Senator John Kerry, appointed by President Barack Obama, and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Islamabad said Monday that both countries wanted to restore mutual confidence after the crisis resulting from the elimination of Osama bin Laden .

"We are strategic partners with a common enemy," said U.S. Senator John Kerry.

After assuring that the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would announce "soon" a visit to Islamabad, Mr.Kerry said he had "explained" to the heads of the Pakistani army and state and government, he was "here with the support of President Barack Obama (...) to rebuild confidence between (our) two countries. "

The Democratic chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate, is the first senior U.S. official to visit Pakistan since a helicopter-borne U.S. commandos killed the leader of al-Qaida May 2 in Abbottabad, a city-garrison two hours drive north of Islamabad.

This attack, "illegal" according to Islamabad, caused a stir at a population overwhelmingly anti-American, not for the death of bin Laden, who has raised little protest, but for the "violation of sovereignty" Pakistan.

For their part, officials and prominent U.S. lawmakers have accused Pakistani authorities of incompetence at best, complicity at worst after learning that the leader of al-Qaeda had been hiding for years in a city- garrison, more so near the capital of Pakistan, its key ally in its "war against terrorism."

In a statement, Mr Gilani followed the lead of Mr.Kerry, "stressing the need for mutual trust, mutual interest and respect the sovereignty of Pakistan to strengthen the national consensus on the war against terrorism in order to finally achieve our common goal of defeating the forces of terror. "

"Pakistan is involved in the full solution to ensure lasting peace in the region and it is the strong interest of Pakistan and the United States to rebuild trust between their governments and institutions," concluded chief of the Pakistani government.

The CIA, which conducted the commando operation on 2 May, said she had not warned the Pakistani authorities for fear of leakage.U.S. officials have since reported suspicion of "complicity" in the military and intelligence community to explain the presence of brain attacks of Sept. 11 in a city housing more than 10,000 soldiers.

For its part, Pakistan, protesting feebly since 2004 against the very frequent firing missiles CIA drones targeting the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the tribal areas of northwest, bordering Afghanistan, has raised its voice after the raid against bin Laden. He threatened to Washington to review its policy of cooperation on counterterrorism if such an incursion happened again.

COTE D'IVOIRE: Laurent Gbagbo says Desmond Tutu's desire to see the country "heal its wounds"

AFP - Former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo has "insisted he had to heal the wounds" of Côte d'Ivoire, told journalists on Monday the South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, after meeting Mr.Gbagbo in Korhogo (north), in his house arrest.

"We had a brief but cordial exchange, we were pleased to note that former President (Laurent Gbagbo) has expressed the desire to see the country return to normalcy," said Archbishop Tutu, after meeting the president fallen for 45 minutes.

The archbishop was with the former Secretary General Kofi Annan and former President of Ireland and former High Commissioner for Human Rights UN, Mary Robinson.

"In his speech (Mr.Gbagbo) has insisted that he had to heal the wounds of the country. That's what we came to encourage. As you have seen, he looks healthy, he told us himself. He looks relaxed and he requested a Bible, "said the Nobel Prize for Peace.

It is the first known visit by officials from Mr.Gbagbo since he is under house arrest in Korhogo.

Dressed in a blue shirt and black pants, smiling, the former president shook hands with three members of the group known as Elders (Elders) and told them "thank you for coming," noted a AFP, while the press had been allowed to attend the beginning of the meeting.

Promoting "healing and reconciliation"

Members of the Elders arrived Sunday in Abidjan with the objective of promoting "healing and reconciliation in Cote d'Ivoire after a post-election crisis more than four months resulted in the arrest of Lawrence Gbagbo came to power and Alassane Ouattara, who won the election on November 28.

Arrested with his wife Simone and a hundred people and detained at the Golf Hotel in Abidjan, the headquarters of Mr. Ouattara, M.Gbagbo was transferred on April 13 in Korhogo, where he has been under house arrest.

His wife, for his part was transferred April 22 to Odienné (northwest).

The hearings by the Ivorian justice the former head of state, his wife and about 200 former officials of his regime under house arrest throughout the country to begin Wednesday.

However, the Ivorian Minister of Justice Ahoussou Jeannot Kouadio, who also made the trip on Monday in Korhogo, told AFP that the date of commencement of the hearing of the former president was "not certain" Mr. Gbagbo himself has said that its lawyers were "not available".

The deposed head of state is accused of being responsible for abuses, extortion and incitement to hatred.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in more than four months of crisis and fighting in Ivory Coast, authorities said.The United Nations reports, more than 1,000 dead.

COTE D'IVOIRE: African Union lifts its sanctions

AFP - The African Union has lifted sanctions on Thursday against the Ivory Coast decided on December 9 following the presidential election, announced in a statement.

The Council for Peace and Security of the African organization, meeting in Addis Ababa, decided "to terminate the suspension of the participation of Côte d'Ivoire to the activities of the AU," the statement said.

December 9, Côte d'Ivoire had been suspended the activities of the AU as the dispute around the election of Alassane Ouattara - contested by incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo - would not have been resolved and Mr. Ouattara, recognized by the international community would not be able to assume his duties.

Mr.Gbagbo was arrested April 11 in Abidjan following an offensive military forces supporting Alassane Ouattara.

The AU has welcomed calls for reconciliation launched since then by the elected president and urged him to quickly appoint a government of unity and reconciliation.

IRAN: Former President Rafsanjani rejected the leadership of the Assembly of Experts

Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has lost Tuesday a key position within the government, ceding the presidency of the Assembly of Experts Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani, a religious conservative Iranian news agencies reported.

Mr Rafsanjani had said in his speech at the opening session of the Assembly of religious experts that would not stand for the position if the candidacy of Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani.

The Assembly of religious experts, which has 86 members, is responsible for appointing, monitoring and eventually dismiss the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Mahdavi Kani, influential religious conservative who was Prime Minister for a year shortly after the Islamic revolution in 1979, aged 80.

Mr.Rafsandajani, moderate conservative who was president of the Islamic Republic for eight years (1989-1997), has for several months the target of a broad political offensive of the ultra-conservatives, who accuse him of having supported the opposition in the reformist crisis that followed the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009.

It takes yet another important position within the regime, as Chairman of the Expediency Council, which advises the guide and arbiter in disputes between parliament and government. But there is appointed directly by Supreme Leader.

CHINA: Beijing acknowledges discontent and wants to tackle inflation

Premier Wen Jiabao said Saturday that his government's priority was to fight against inflation and a recognized public discontent, while setting a growth target of 8% for 2011, in a speech to parliament.

"We have to consider price stability as the priority of our macro-economic control," said the head of government before the nearly 3,000 delegates to the NPC, met for ten days in the Chinese capital, according to the translation his official speech in French.

He described the price rise and inflation expectations "problems which are closely the standard of living of the population, the overall situation and stability of the country."

The aim of rising consumer prices, which reached 4.9% in January over one year was set at "4%" for 2011, against 3% last year, while the objective of growth of gross domestic product (GDP) was maintained at 8%.

China's GDP in 2010 became the world's second largest behind the United States, surpassing that of Japan.

This year, the Chinese government "will continue to pursue a policy of recovery", but by reducing the budget deficit will be contained in "about 2% of GDP."

Priority spending will be devoted to "rural development", "to improve the level of the population and develop the social sectors," according to this discourse that determines the main directions for the country's official year.

"Some issues are subject to strong reactions among the population have not been completely resolved," admitted the Prime Minister.

"The educational resources and lack of quality medical and their distribution is uneven," he detailed.

"The property prices have experienced an excessive increase in some cities," continued Mr.Wen wants to boost the construction of social housing.

He further stressed that "social contradictions raised by the illegal requisition of land and demolition of illegal houses have multiplied," that "food security is poor" and that "some sectors are vulnerable to corruption."

China also wants to continue to "improve the formation mechanism of RMB exchange rate," considered undervalued by its major trading partners, but without making any specific commitments.

Always fight against inflation, it wants to implement "a prudent monetary policy" by limiting to 16% increase in money supply M2 (broad money comprising currency in circulation, deposit accounts and accounts of savings).

The National Popular Assembly (ANP) is the largest parliament in the world. She just basically endorse Communist Party projects and the government.

This body meets only once a year in plenary session for ten days in March.

LIBYA: Police fire on protesters in Tripoli

Forces loyal to the Libyan regime of Muammar Gaddafi opened fire in broad daylight on protesters Friday in Tripoli after the announcement by the opposition of "liberation" of Eastern countries, the international community to stop hurrying bloodshed.

The 11th day of the bloody revolt against the tottering power of M.Gaddafi has accused his opponents of being guided by Al Qaeda, the initiatives are increasing: UN meeting, proposals for sanctions, embargo and establishing a no-fly zone.

The challenge extends west from Tripoli to Benghazi, 1000 km east of the capital, in cities or close to the coastal shores of the Mediterranean, the vast majority of the country, 93% desert, being spared by the fighting.

But while the eastern oil is in the hands of organized armed opposition to a possible step toward Tripoli, Gadhafi pro-government forces fired on protesters in eastern districts of the capital, causing casualties, according to witnesses reached by telephone.

"The police opened fire on protesters without distinction. There are dead in the streets of Soug Al Jomaa," said one resident told AFP.

Other witnesses of suburban neighborhoods, like Ben Achour and Fachloum, reported "heavy fire upon all who are in the street."Similar scenes take place Ghout Achaal in the west of the city.

"They fired on unarmed civilians leaving the prayer," he told AFP capita residential qartier Ben Achour.

The police had deployed around several mosques to prevent demonstrations, witnesses said.

Hundreds of people Tajoura, a neighborhood in Tripoli, protesting against the regime, according to witnesses.

Proponents of the "Guide" in power for over 40 years are concentrated in Tripoli, where the militia would have Khamis than 9,000 fighters, tanks and aircraft, according to unconfirmed reports.

Sign that power seeks to stem the wave of protest, the official Libyan television announced an $ 400 Libyan families, and the 150% increase of salaries of certain officials.

At Tobruk in the east, an event attended by a thousand people. The protesters waved flags of the Libyan monarchy of King Idris Sanusi who has become a symbol of the insurgency. "Free Libya, Gaddafi outside," "The people want the fall of the regime," they have launched.

Musratha third largest city, about 150 km east of Tripoli, was deserted by loyalists to Mr.Gaddafi, but clashes took place on an air base nearby that have caused many deaths, "said one resident told AFP.

Heavy fighting murderers had opposed these days Musratha supporters of the regime "supported by African mercenaries" and protesters, according to several witnesses.

To the west of Tripoli, in the city of Zawiyah (60 km), "terrorists" have murdered several soldiers, according to state news agency Jana, while the newspaper based in Benghazi Libya Quryna 23 people were killed in the assault by security forces against the city.

That the inhabitants of this town spoke Thursday Mr.Gaddafi charged that AA in an audio message on television, Al Qaeda orchestrating the insurgency by giving his view of "hallucinogenic pills" to opponents.

Two days earlier he had vowed to suppress the insurgency, warning of possible "butcher".The violence has already caused several hundred deaths, from 300 to a thousand different sources.

Abroad, the outrage is growing against his regime, increasingly isolated after being abandoned by his peers and several relatives and Arab diplomats, including ambassadors to Libya and UNESCO Paris, and al-Gaddafi -Dam, close adviser and cousin of Colonel Gaddafi.

Paris and London have proposed to the Security Council of the United Nations which meets at 20:00 GMT in New York a draft resolution calling for "a total embargo on arms," "sanctions," and "referral to the ICC for crimes against humanity, "the French foreign minister Michele Alliot-Marie.

The countries of the European Union and NATO are preparing also to establish a no-fly zone to prohibit Libya Libyan military planes to fly, if the UN gives green light, according to a diplomat.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay expressed concern over "brutal and shocking situation."

Faced with the chaos in Libya, evacuations in difficult conditions by land, sea and air continues, several European countries, foremost among them Italy concerned about a humanitarian crisis due to the exodus of tens of thousands foreigners and Libyans.

The World Food Programme UN has warned that the food supply chain in Libya "was in danger of collapse."Food imports can no longer in ports and distribution is compromised because of the violence.

FOOTBALL: Real Madrid is still the richest club in the world

Real Madrid Football Club is the world's richest for the sixth consecutive year, according to the annual report released Thursday by consulting firm Deloitte.

With 438.6 million euros in revenue for the 2009-2010 season, ahead of Real Madrid FC Barcelona (398.1) and Manchester United (349.8).Followed Bayern Munich (323), Arsenal (274.1), Chelsea (255.9), AC Milan (235.8), Liverpool (225.3), Inter Milan (224.8) and Juventus (205).

The French club is the richest Olympique Lyon, 14th with 146.1 million euros, followed closely by Olympique de Marseille (15th, 141.1).

The top twenty ranking from all five major championships: England (7), Italy (4), Germany (4), Spain (3) and France (2).

While the top six rankings remain unchanged, Manchester City jumped from 20th to 11th place with 152.8 million against 102.2 a year earlier.

Combined revenues of the twenty wealthiest clubs exceeded for the first time the 4 billion euros in fiscal year 2009-2010 ($ 4.3 billion, up 8% over the previous year).

"This shows the impressive strength of the sport in a global crisis," said Deloitte.

DENMARK: The perpetrator of a cartoonist Muhammad found guilty of terrorism

The Somali Geele Mohamed was found guilty of attempted "terrorism" and murder against the Danish Mohammed cartoonist Kurt Westergaard said Thursday the judge of the court in Aarhus.

"The Court finds that a murder attempt at his home on January 1, 2010 against Kurt Westergaard, a man who personifies the cartoons of Muhammad should be seen as an attempt to frighten the population and a high degree of destabilization structures of society, "said the magistrate Ingrid Thorsboe.

This verdict has been "made unanimously by the jury," she said.

The sentence of up to life imprisonment must be imposed Friday.

In the evening of 1 January 2010, Mohamed Geele now aged 29, had burst into the home of the draftsman in Viby, near Aarhus, armed with a hatchet and a knife, shouting that he wanted to kill him because he had insulted the Prophet and Muslims.

Kurt Westergaard, 75, had taken refuge in a bathroom safe, forcing the attacker to give up his project before being shot by the police arrived on the scene.

HANDBALL: France world champion

AFP - France has been crowned world champion in handball for the fourth time in its history, beating Denmark 37-35 after extra time in the World Cup final-2011, Sunday in Malmo.

Shaken ever since the tournament began, the Blues have overcome the equalization of Denmark at 31-31 with four seconds remaining in regulation time to talk about their experiences in overtime.

France had already won in the same conditions the final of 2001 World Championship in Paris against Sweden.

It Nikola Karabatic, voted best player of the tournament before the final, which was the major player in the French success with 10 goals, but the captain Jerome Fernandez who proved decisive with two goals late on capital .

The scenario of this crazy fantasy game just adds to the happiness of players Claude Onesta which base a little place more marked in the legend of the sport.

For this fourth world title after the 1995, 2001 and 2009, allowing them to join Sweden and Romania on the list.It is also the fourth major title in a row for the Blues after their victories in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the World-2009 and Euro-2010, a fourfold increase ever.

In total, France has now seven major titles.Have managed to raise in just sixteen years testifies to the meteoric rise of a team that, thirty years ago still remain constant in third world division.

Qualified for the Olympics

Another remarkable fact, France has lost one of its eight major finals, the first in the World-1993, before winning the next seven.

This new title offers the Blues as the direct qualification for the London Olympics in 2012 and the next World Cup that will take place next year in Spain, a significant luxury for players in high demand.

In Sweden, players Claude Onesta, performed a flawless, winning nine out of ten matches, conceding only one draw in the first round to Spain, who took the bronze medal Sunday.

They flew the second phase, beating Hungary, Norway and Iceland to reach their eighth final four in a row in a big tournament.They have dominated the other two Scandinavian teams with Sweden, beaten 29-26 in the semifinals Friday, and Denmark on Sunday.

Doubt, however, was allowed in early tournament with the absences of two major players of previous campaigns, Daniel Narcisse and Guillaume Gille.

But the absences were offset by two youths who have successfully completed an amazing World, and especially William Accambray Xavier Barachet, author of a new great game in the final.

In the finals, the Blues were pushed into a corner by a generous Danish team, led by its star Mikkel Hansen, a diabolical efficiency (10 goals) and has successfully completed a second period of great beauty.

Led 15-12 at the break, Denmark returned to the tune of the Blues to a quarter of an hour remaining. And while France had recovered a goal ahead, the Scandinavians have equalized by Bo Spellenberg four seconds of the term in a crazy atmosphere, punctuated by the Danish and Swedish supporters.

A first world title seemed so close at hand for Denmark, beaten in the final in 1967.But then the Blues have shown what was their strength: self-control, and physical experience enabled them to control the extension in which they were conducted for the first time in the match (32-33) before ending on a 5 - 2 full of panache.

Thus ensuring a fourth coronation is also the third world title for Didier Dinart staff, Jerome Fernandez and Thierry Omeyer, already there in 2001 in 2009 and have already promised to continue at least until the London Olympics .