JAPAN - FUKUSHIMA: The building of a reactor explored for the first time since the accident

Workers entered Thursday in the reactor building number 1 on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (northeast) for the first time since the explosion occurred in the aftermath of the tsunami of March 11, announced the Japanese operator of the plant .

Two workers, equipped with protective suits and oxygen tanks, entered the building, as part of an operation to set up a ventilation system to reduce the level of radioactivity.

"This is the first time that our employees enter the reactor building since the explosion," said Satoshi Watanabe, a spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO).

Japanese power company said it intended to send at least 12 workers in the day to start up the ventilation system which should facilitate subsequent repairs to the cooling.

"We send the workers in small groups for a maximum of ten minutes to limit the duration of radiation exposure," added the spokesman.

The legal limit of radiation allowed for men working in the nuclear crisis time was increased to 250 mSv per year since the accident in Fukushima, as against 100 before.

TEPCO has been trying for nearly two months to restore the cooling circuits of the four engines damaged by the tsunami.

The operator estimates that it will take three months to begin to reduce the radioactivity and nine months for cooling the reactors.

Located along the Pacific Ocean, Fukushima Daiichi is one of the oldest plants in Japan, its first reactor was built in the early 1970s.

The earthquake and tsunami of March 11 devastated the Pacific coast north-east of Tokyo, killing nearly 26,000 people dead or missing, according to the latest official toll.

John Paul II beatified before 1 million faithful gathered in Rome

Follow live the Mass of beatification of John Paul II here.

More than a million pilgrims gathered in Rome to attend the ceremony. Throughout the city, are displayed portraits of John Paul II. This Sunday, the charismatic leader of the Catholic Church between 1978 and 2005, was beatified at the Vatican. The Mass was presided by Benedict XVI on the Place Saint-Pierre. A tapestry bearing an effigy of Pope John Paul II was held on the facade of the basilica and a reliquary containing a vial of his blood presented to the faithful.After Mass, the faithful will file past the coffin containing the remains of the former pope, placed before the main altar of the basilica.

"We welcome the desire of our brother, many other brothers in the episcopate and many faithful, after receiving notice of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (...), accept that the venerable servant of God John Paul II, pope, to be declared blessed, "said Benedict XVI.

For the occasion, giant screens were erected on the main square in the Vatican as well as several surrounding plazas - so that the faithful could follow the ceremony.Some 86 official delegations, including 22 Heads of State and Government attending the event. The head of the French government, Francois Fillon, as Interior Minister, Claude Gueant, also made the trip.

The miracle of Sister Marie Simon-Pierre

To recap, the process of beatification of John Paul II was opened by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI in June 2005, two months after his death. It ended in January 2011. This procedure did not place too quickly. Her beatification - not to be confused with canonization (see box) - was made possible through the recognition of a miracle.This miracle was experienced by a French nun, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, two months after the death of the pontiff.

Severely affected Parkinson's disease - also suffered by the deceased pope - for several years, the religious of the Congregation of Little Sisters of Catholic motherhood was miraculously healed after praying to John Paul II. The night after the prayer, the nun got up. His steps are then more confident, she feels no more pain, for the first time in several months. "I felt completely transformed.I was not the same inside, "she confided in 2007.

On the eve of the beatification, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre gave his testimony during a vigil in the Circus Maximus, a vast green area located in central Rome. Some 200,000 people attended. "Thanks to all young people, John Paul II, who sees you from up there is happy," said the French sister, who told how she was miraculously cured of Parkinson's disease through the intercession of Pope died ."A pastor after God's heart, near the lowest of the patient, the smallest," she said. "A political act"

Marco Tosatti, Vatican expert for the processions of the faithful who flocked to Rome for the beatification are an expression of the exceptional popularity of John Paul II. Polish origin, he was in turn actor, poet, laborer. "John Paul II was a secular priest now. Under his pontificate, the laity were finally recognized," says the Vatican.

But his ideology was far removed from the concerns of society and religious views (more liberal) many Catholics - especially on the issue of divorce and homosexuality.On the merits, not much has changed in the Church post-John Paul II. The beatification of Pope so popular is an opportunity for the Catholic Church, to say the same inflexibility. "This is a political act", says Frederic Lenoir, philosopher, sociologist and historian of religions, in "The World of Religions".

LIBYA: NATO bombs a residential Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli

AFP - The office of Colonel Gaddafi, in his huge residence located in Tripoli, was totally destroyed by a NATO airstrike early Monday, while heavy explosions were felt in several areas of the city overflown by aircraft, noted journalists from AFP.

45 people were injured, 15 seriously, in the bombing of Muammar Qaddafi's office, said a Libyan official accompanying reporters on the spot, saying ignore if there were other victims in the rubble.

"This is an attempt to assassinate Colonel Gaddafi," he said. Seif Al-Islam, son of Colonel Gaddafi has described the bombing of the office of his father "a coward"."This cowardly attack on Muammar Qaddafi's office can frighten or terrorize the children but we do not abandon the battle and we are not afraid," he said in a brief statement on its television Allibiya. "Millions (of people) are with Muammar Gaddafi. People who are not afraid," he said, asserting that the battle waged by Nato was "unwinnable." "Do you see all these people who are at Bab Al-Aziziyah despite raids? How will you overcome this people?" He said.

Radio Television of State referred to NATO?

Around 3:00 local time (0100 GMT), smoke poured always a part of the destroyed building, where dozens of curious onlookers and supporters of the plan gathered, chanting slogans in praise of the Guide.A meeting room, opposite the office of Colonel Gaddafi, was hit by the blast and partially destroyed, according to an AFP journalist. African leaders gathered in this room with Colonel Gaddafi two weeks ago to propose a peace plan accepted by the regime, but ultimately rejected by the rebels.

NATO had targeted Friday night the area of ​​Bab Al-Aziziya, where the residence of the Libyan leader. The international coalition had already destroyed a building in this residence, saying it was a command center.

Heavy explosions were felt Monday around 0:10 local (10:10 p.m. GMT Sunday) in several areas of the Libyan capital, since Friday raids target of intensive NATO.The explosions, with the largest shook the capital so far, have shaken the hotel hosting the foreign press correspondents in Tripoli, not far from downtown. The retransmission of the Libyan state television was temporarily cut immediately after the explosions, before returning a few minutes later, found the AFP journalists.

Quoting a military source, the official Libyan agency Jana said on his part that "many military and civilian sites in the city of Tripoli has been the target of raids assailant colonialist crusader (NATO), which resulted in damage human and material. "The agency also confirmed the break signal of television and state radio, saying the broadcast was restored "after a few minutes with national expertise. Jana did not specify whether television transmission sites have been targeted by the raids.

An international coalition intervened in Libya on March 19 on a UN mandate, to put an end to the bloody suppression of the revolt began in mid-February against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, in power for 41 years. NATO took command of the military action on March 31.

Football - COUPE DE FRANCE: PSG, who won at Los Angeles, will defend his title against Lille

AFP - Paris SG, defending champion and leading scholar of the event, qualified without opposition for another Cup final in France, breaking with the dream of authority Wednesday Angers (3-1), never tremble at the last resident of League 2.

Seriously and implemented, the specialist has struck again and Paris St Germain has offered the right to contest its sixth final on the last nine editions and join Lille at the Stade de France for the big event of May 14

Incidentally, Parisians have probably ensured at the same time a European qualification, the Europa League a minimum account the classification of Lille in the league.And their place in the finals is far from being misused.

Antoine Kombouare had yet clearly displayed color, by deciding to rest Ludovic Giuly and Claude Makelele, to the point of not even to appear on the scoresheet.

Dominating the early minutes of the game, his players have benefited the most from lack of aggressiveness and inhibition of Angevin players to establish their dominance.

Because the passion and commitment Scoïstes + + were not the same as those displayed during their remarkable skills against Valenciennes (2-1 aet) and Bordeaux (1-0), both residents of the elite fell to stadium Jean-Bouin in previous rounds.

Mathieu Bodmer has come from the show the 22nd minute with a subtle exterior of the right beyond the reach of Malicki (1-0, 22).And while many thought Charbonnier had put both teams tied after the break, it's Nene who drove the nail in the best time (2-0, 51).

The energy of despair, the SCO has led a moment, allowing him to save the honor by Renouard (2-1, 56), Hoarau put out the incipient fire five minutes later (3-1, 62).

Powerful and inspired, Paris SG has benefited mainly from the semi-finals of the Coupe de France to confirm his return to form net.After the success against Caen and Lyon who were placed back in the race for Champions League, the capital club looks up at the right time.

And with eight victories in eleven finals played since 1982 (date of first success), the capital club will discuss new confidence in the next final against Lille.

In Angers, the newspaper of the L2 will now resume his duties. "Our Cup France is already successful, and we have nice things to play in the league," recalled his coach Jean-Louis Garcia this week. Seventh five-point L2 of the podium, he will soon forget, however this disillusionment if he hoped to play the rise until the end.

Silvio Berlusconi appears in court for the first time in 8 years

The Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi appeared Monday in court in Milan for the first time in eight years, for a preliminary hearing for a possible trial, according to an AFP journalist.

He went directly to car inside the courthouse with his escort to visit the offices of a judge for preliminary hearings on the seventh floor of the imposing Palace of Justice in Milan.

This preliminary hearing, the first of a series of four or five, must be used to decide whether to be tried or not to tax evasion and breach of trust on the alleged overbilling of TV rights bought by Mediatrade-RTI, a company his empire, the Paramount and other U.S. majors.

Mr. Berlusconi made a hand sign to the many cameras waiting outside the entrance.Thirty activists from his party, the People of Freedom (PDL), also were waiting outside with banners proclaiming: "politics at the ballot box not in the courts," "Justice does not exist where there is no freedom "or" Silvio you must resist, resist, resist. "

The hearing scheduled at 08:00 GMT will be held in camera. However, Mr.Berlusconi might make a statement at its output.

Before going into court, the chief government complained in a telephone call to one of its private channels, the charges are "ridiculous and baseless."

He also lashed out at opponents of the leftist opposition, saying that "Italy, communism has never changed, there are still people who use the penal code as an instrument of ideological struggle."

Liveblogging: Follow live events in Libya and Syria

LIBYA

- On the sixth day of his speech, the international coalition has maintained Thursday the pressure on Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, with new air strikes in and around Tripoli and intensive raids over Sabha (South), the stronghold of the tribe of Libyan leader. State television confirmed that "military and civilian sites in the region Tajoura near Tripoli, continue to be the target of raids" of the cross and colonialist aggressor. "

- A French fighter shot down a Libyan military plane do not respect the exclusion zone over Misrata third Libyan city, reports the U.S. military.The French General Staff did not confirm this information. Moreover, the French Air Force has led an attack against an "air base" Jamahiriya "250 kilometers south of Odds" on the night of Wednesday to Thursday.

- Side diplomacy, ambassadors of NATO countries were to continue on Thursday, negotiations have been ongoing for several days to try to finalize the role of the Atlantic Alliance in the operation in Libya.

SYRIA

- Thousands of Syrians were again demonstrated on Thursday at Deraa, home to protest in the south. Wednesday, at least one hundred people fell under the bullets of police in Dera, witnesses and activists of human rights cited by AFP.The scheme will make "important decisions" to meet the aspirations of the people, told the press Boussaïna Shaaban, Advisor to President Bashar al-Assad.

YEMEN

- In Yemen, new clashes erupted between the presidential guard and soldiers who joined the insurgency.

If you want to follow the liveblogging from a smartphone, click here.

PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: The Fayyad government is about to be revamped

AFP - Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, presented Monday his government's resignation to the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, told AFP a minister under cover of anonymity.

"Fayyad told the Cabinet that the government had resigned. I will see President Abbas and give him a letter formalizing our resignation," said the minister.

A senior Palestinian official announced Sunday night that Mr. AFPFayyad would deliver his government's resignation to President Abbas to form a new cabinet.

The Prime Minister must promptly enter into consultations with the Palestinian parties and civil society, the source said.

President Abbas had announced at the end of last year its intention to overhaul the government headed by Fayyad, an independent economist. He then said that he, aged 58 years and prime minister since 2007, would be reappointed.