Two a penny

.France coach Marc Lievremont has forgiven Mathieu Bastareaud for lying about being attacked after a loss to New Zealand last year and named him in a 30-man squad for the Six Nations championship.
The 21-year-old centre had said he was attacked by up to five people as he returned to the team hotel following a 14-10 defeat by the All Blacks in Wellington last June. .
Back in France, after being told CCTV footage showed him entering the hotel uninjured, he admitted lying and said he had fallen in his bedroom because he was drunk.
“Bastareaud deserves to be back because he is performing well with his Stade Francais club and because he has started to do the community service he has been sentenced to.
“The unhappy episode of this summer is forgotten,” Lievremont said.
Half-back Frederic Michalak, winger Cedric Heymans, centre Florian Fritz and full-back Maxime Medard were left out of a squad already without suspended scrum-half Julien Dupuy plus prop Fabien Barcella and centre Damien Traille, who are both injured.”
The France coach also recalled 32-year-old scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, fly half Benjamin Boyet, wings Aurelien Rougerie and Julien Malzieu and full-back Clement Poitrenaud. It doesn’t mean they are too old or forgotten or rejected,” Lievremont said.
“There are some players we rely on, we appreciate but who have not performed as well in recent weeks.
France will start its Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 7.
Another surprise was the call-up of newcomer Fabrice Estebanez, a 29-year-old former rugby league international, who plays either at centre or fly half with Brive.
Backs: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Morgan Parra, Benjamin Boyet, Francois Trinh-Duc, Mathieu Bastareaud, Fabrice Estebanez, David Marty, Yannick Jauzion, Vincent Clerc, Benjamin Fall, Julien Malzieu, Aurelien Rougerie, Alexis Palisson, Clement Poitrenaud.
Forwards: Thomas Domingo, Luc Ducalcon, Sylvain Marconnet, Nicolas Mas, William Servat, Dimitri Szarzewski, Sebastien Chabal, Romain Millo-Chluski, Lionel Nallet, Pascal Pape, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir (c), Imanol Harinordoquy, Alexandre Lapandry, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles.
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.French world number 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has pulled out of the season-opening ATP event in Doha starting Monday with a wrist injury, organisers said Friday.
“I am really disappointed not to be able to participate in this tournament owing to a wrist injury. . I hope to be able to play in the future (in Doha) but for now I hope the tournament goes off well – Happy New Year to everyone,” Tsonga said in a statement.
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Murray has this season switched his opening week focus to Perth, Australia, as he bids for Hopman Cup glory alongside fellow Briton Laura Robson

.Sudanese journalist Lubna Ahmed Hussein says she has donned a full Islamic veil to sneak out of Sudan and travel to France, two months after she was freed from jail for wearing trousers.
On a visit to Paris to promote her new book, Ms Hussein accused Khartoum of trying to block her departure and said she was determined to exercise her right to travel freely.
“They wanted to prevent me from leaving; I resorted to the niqab and managed to leave,” said Ms Hussein, who was jailed for a day in September for violating Sudan’s clothing decency laws by wearing trousers.
“I did not flee Sudan.
“I requested documents to be able to leave, to be able to travel, and this is the only means I found to be able to leave Sudan,” she said. . I am a Sudanese citizen.
Ms Hussein faced a punishment of 40 lashes when she was convicted in July for wearing her green trousers in public.
After she refused to pay the fine, Ms Hussein served a one-day jail sentence.
But a Sudanese court in September ordered her to pay a fine instead, while 10 of the 12 other women arrested with her at a Khartoum restaurant on July 3 were lashed.
The Paris welcome for Ms Hussein came as France was debating measures to prohibit women from wearing the full Islamic veil, which President Nicolas Sarkozy has said is a symbol of women’s subservience.
More than 43,000 women were arrested last year in the Khartoum region by police tasked with enforcing Sudan’s laws on indecent clothing for women.
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.The world’s largest airliner, an Air France A380, touched down in New York after completing the superjumbo jet’s first Atlantic crossing from Europe to the United States.
The Airbus plane, carrying 538 passengers, left Paris earlier in the day and landed on Friday at 1:07pm (local time) at JF Kennedy Airport, several minutes ahead of schedule, under crisp blue skies.
Air France is the first European airline to put the giant aircraft into service, but the fourth worldwide after Singapore Airlines, Gulf-based Emirates and Qantas.
Two fire engines met the plane with a watery salute from their hosepipes as it taxied to its gate.
Air France will launch regular A380 flights across the Atlantic on November 23.
Passengers included 380 people who bought their tickets in an Air France auction to benefit disadvantaged children.
But major production and delivery delays mean the commercial success of the A380, the pride of Airbus and parent company EADS, has yet to be secured. The fleet of 12 huge planes will also serve Johannesburg, starting in February, and then Tokyo.
“A fantastic flight,” said one passenger, Bernard Boluvi. . You hardly feel the take-off and landing. “It’s a very quiet and stable plane.
“It doesn’t feel like one big cinema, because the plane is well divided into different sectors,” he said.”
Michel Schmitt, 45, also praised the lack of noise aboard and said the double-decker felt more roomy than other jumbos.
“Air France chose the most dense configuration,” he said.
But Gerard Jouany, 64, a journalist specialising in aviation, said he found the plane rather cramped and emphasising the bus aspect of Airbus.
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AFP – France’s top banks are demanding billions of dollars (euros) from the administrator of failed Wall Street investment bank Lehman Brothers, official documents issued on Friday showed.

BNP Paribas is claiming around 1.3 billion dollars, Societe Generale 800 million dollars and Dexia 400 million dollars, according to AFP’s calculations based on documents for the administrator published on the site Epiq Systems. The deadline for claims set by the US bankruptcy court was September 22, more than a year after the shock failure of Lehman Brothers. .

Like other creditors, we are engaged in a procedure to recover our debts, said a spokesman for Dexia who did not however confirm the amount sought.

Lehman’s collapse on September 15, 2008 sowed panic in boardrooms, government offices and households around the world and has come to symbolise the beginning of a steep slump that plunged the global economy into recession.

A spokesman for French insurer Axa, which is seeking 186 million dollars according to the documents issued Friday, said: We suffered a loss.

BNP Paribas – financial crisis – Lehman Brothers – Societe Generale
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BNP Paribas and Societe Generale decline to comment on their own claims

.Russia has moved closer than ever to the United States’ position that Iran should face harsh sanctions unless it makes concessions about its nuclear program.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has indicated he might be ready to take a tougher stance on Iran after a meeting with US President Barack Obama.
There are increasingly urgent efforts by the United States and other major powers to prod Iran into fully disclosing its nuclear program, so all eyes were on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly today.
“[We aim for the] eradication of arms race and elimination of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons,” he said.
Mr Ahmadinejad says his country is ready to shake all hands that “are honestly extended to us” and he says Iran is committed to building durable peace and security worldwide.
“If Iran does not respond to serious negotiations and resolve this issue in a way that assures the international community that it is meeting its commitments and is not developing nuclear weapons, then we will have to take additional actions,” Mr Obama said.
But momentum seems to be growing towards imposing new sanctions on Iran and the issue dominated today’s talks between Mr Medvedev and Mr Obama.
“Sanctions, serious additional sanctions, remain a possibility. .”
The White House says there is “no daylight” between Russia and the US when it comes to their objectives regarding Iran’s disputed nuclear program.
– Global pressure –
The increased pressure on Iran comes a week before international talks in Geneva about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“Sanctions rarely lead to productive results but in some cases sanctions are inevitable,” Mr Medvedev said.
“Iran should come to the talks on October 1 ready to engage in serious and substantive discussions with a sense of urgency and a review of the practical steps that need to be taken on the nuclear issue,” Senator Clinton said.
In preparation for those talks, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today met with her counterparts from Britain, Russia, China, France and Germany.
Mr Ahmadinejad has already hinted what he will request at those talks.
Mr Ahmadinejad has already hinted what he will request at those talks.
But French President Nicolas Sarkozy has a message for Iran’s leaders.
He says that will test whether the Obama administration is serious about engagement.
Mr Sarkozy has suggested that a December deadline be set for Iran to show progress in talks with world powers.
“If they rely on a passive response from the international community in order to pursue their military nuclear program, they will be making a tragic mistake,” he said.
“Let there be no ambiguity – Iran and North Korea must now know that the world will be even tougher on proliferation.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made it clear time is running out.
“Britain will insist in future that the onus on non-nuclear states is that in the years ahead it is for them to prove that they are not developing nuclear weapons. We are ready to consider further sanctions,” he said.”

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REUTERS – French Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry came out on Thursday in favour of U.-style primaries to select a presidential candidate in the latest attempt to unite the fractured opposition.

Reinventing democracy means deeply changing the practices and political rules at the heart of our party, notably about collecting mandates and the organisation of open primaries to find our candidate, Aubry wrote in newspaper Le Monde on Thursday.

Some Socialists have described the primaries as a life-or-death issue that could revive their leaders&rsquo popularity before the 2012 election. Primaries are used by U.

Two-thirds of French people would favour primary elections open to all left-wing supporters, an opinion poll for left-wing newspaper Liberation found on Wednesday. .S.

After initial scepticism, several prominent members have rallied behind the idea of primaries, a sign of how desperate they are to close internal rifts and find a candidate to challenge President Nicolas Sarkozy.

After initial scepticism, several prominent members have rallied behind the idea of primaries, a sign of how desperate they are to close internal rifts and find a candidate to challenge President Nicolas Sarkozy. On Thursday, a newspaper quoted Quiles as saying the plan was dangerous as it would increase confusion and strengthen other left-wing parties at the expense of the Socialists.

One version of the primaries would include Modem voters and candidates.

Manuel Valls, a rising force in the party who has repeatedly clashed with Aubry, called the primaries a final attempt to save the party and an issue of life or death.

Aubry faces mounting criticism from frustrated party members and a public that wants the Socialists to stop squabbling and come up with new political and economic ideas.

Only 9 percent of French people and 11 percent of Socalist supporters would like Aubry to be the presidential candidate, a separate poll showed this week. Bertrand Delanoe, the mayor of Paris and one of France most popular politicians, was one of the first supporters of the idea. The preferred candidate, with 33 percent support, is Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who heads the International Monetary Fund.

That puts her behind Delanoe and Segolene Royal, who lost the last presidential election to Sarkozy and the race for the party leadership to Aubry.

French politics

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AFP – A Foreign Legion drill instructor was suspended Thursday after what was branded an imbecilic shooting exercise triggered a huge wildfire that threatened the outskirts of Marseille.

No-one was killed as the blaze ripped through 1,100 hectares (2,718 acres) of brush and damaged homes in the suburbs of France’s second city, but one fireman suffered burns and four rescuers were treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire erupted on Wednesday after troops from the 1st Foreign Legion Regiment used tracer rounds, which contain an incendiary substance to make them visible in flight, during a practice session at their base.

Local prefect Michel Sappin, the French government’s senior regional offical and police chief, blasted the imbecilic actions of the military.

At dawn on Thursday firefighters pronounced the blaze under control, but this did little to calm the anger of local officials, who noted that this was the second time in as many years that the army had started a wildfire. That was the biggest fire last summer, he said.

It was the same thing last year close to the camp in Canjuers. Thursday’s fire, started at a camp in Carpiagne, was the worst to hit southern France in three years.

Personally, I can’t see the need to carry out military exercises in 32 degree heat and a strong wind.

Marseille’s mayor and senator, Jean-Claude Gaudin, demanded that the military help out with the clean-up operation.

We did the best we can but when you’re faced with this kind of incredible stupidity, you need to say so with a certain force, he added. It must really have been someone who is not from round here who took this decision, he said.

It was found that tracer rounds were used in violation of orders given.

The military accepted responsibility for the fire. As a result, the army general staff has taken an interim decision to suspend the leader responsable from his duties, Colonel Benoit Royal announced. As a result, the army general staff has taken an interim decision to suspend the leader responsable from his duties, Colonel Benoit Royal announced.

But with winds not forecast to weaken before evening, we are keeping all our assets on the scene, including close toly 500 firefighters — backed up by water dropping planes — spread over eight kilometres (five miles). At around 7:00 am, there were still some sources of fire, but the fire is contained and under control, he said.

Residents of a retirement home in La Panouse, south of the city, were evacuated at around 3:00 am Thursday, many still in their pyjamas and some in wheelchairs, as the blaze approached.

Thick black smoke swirled around the area, covering Marseille.

The fire moved down a hill outside the city and threatened the Trois-Ponts and La Barasse districts.

In the same district 90 people in a centre for the handicapped managed to leave the establishment in their own buses.

Several homes were damaged, but none destroyed, apart from some hill cabins and a shepherd’s hut. .

People in neighbouring La Barasse also left, although local authorities said no evacuation order had been given. Residents were evacuated from some areas, but some had begun to return by morning.

Director of public security Pascal Lalle said 135 policemen were on hand in the affected zones to watch over the houses, prevent looting and allow firemen to access the area.

Director of public security Pascal Lalle said 135 policemen were on hand in the affected zones to watch over the houses, prevent looting and allow firemen to access the area.

The D559 highway between southern Marseille and the town of Cassis was closed Thursday.

France – French military

.Belgian rider Tom Boonen has withdrawn from the Tour de France ahead of the 15th stage as a result of sickness, his Quick Step team said on Sunday.
The Paris-Roubaix champion vomited during the night and had a fever, according to the team.
The 28-year-old Belgian sprint specialist was controversially re-admitted to the Tour at the last minute after being initially sidelined by organisers as a result of a second positive test for cocaine. .
After Saturday’s 14th stage he was sitting in 148th place in the overall standings, one hour 38.
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.Australian-born German Heinrich Haussler has claimed his maiden stage win on the Tour de France as rainy conditions put a dampener on an anticipated battle for the yellow jersey.
Haussler was part of an early breakaway on the 200-kilometre 13th stage from Vittel to Colmar in the hilly Vosges region before he left his two remaining companions with two hills to climb.
After coming over the summit of the Col du Platzerwasel in the company of Sylvain Chavanel the Cervelo team rider went off on his own to quickly open up a gap on the Frenchman.
Spaniard Amets Txurruka of the Euskaltel team was second over the finish at just over four minutes behind.
The peloton with all the main favourites, and current yellow jersey wearer Rinaldo Nocentini, arrived 6 minutes and 43 seconds behind Haussler after he came over the finish line in triumph.
Nocentini, who has now spent a week in the race lead, still has a 6- and 8-second lead on Astana’s race favourites Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong.
Norwegian Thor Hushovd went for the line sprinting, his efforts giving him the few points necessary to take back possession of the sprinters’ green jersey from British rival Mark Cavendish.
With Saturday’s 14th stage set for a possible sprint finish, or a successful breakaway, the yellow jersey battle now seems set to resume on Sunday’s 207.
It is there that Astana may find out the cost of losing their American teammate Levi Leipheimer, an experienced helper in the mountains who pulled out with a fractured wrist on Friday.5km 15th stage from Pontarlier to Verbier in Switzerland. .
Haussler, known as the “Racing Kangaroo”, was born in Australia to a German father and Australian mother but went to Germany as a 15-year-old to pursue his dream of becoming a professional cyclist.
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