Two a penny

.Extremely cold weather across northern Europe has left scores of people dead and caused widespread transport chaos.
Temperatures as low as minus 22 degrees Celsius have led to the deaths of 122 people in Poland, with the main river, the Vistula, now frozen over and resulting in fears of flooding.
In the Swiss Alps, avalanches have killed at least seven people, while in western France, 14 regions have been hit by heavy snow.
In the past two days Britain’s national grid issued only its second warning in history about supplies.
Severe weather warnings are still in place across the UK, which is in the grip of its longest cold snap in 30 years.
The military was called in after around 1,000 vehicles were stranded when more than 40 centimetres of snow blocked the A3 highway in southern England.
More snow was expected in London and the forecast for Scotland was for an overnight low of minus 20 degrees Celsius.
Authorities in southern Britain have warned motorists to only use their vehicles if absolutely necessary.
“If you do have to go out take some warm clothes etc,” he said.
Richard Westman, from the special response team at the roads authority, says people need to listen more carefully to the warnings. .
“But people don’t.
Around 5,000 homes in Sussex are still without power as the country suffers through the cold snap, which is expected to last at least another week.”
Thousands of schools have been closed and around half the UK workforce stayed home, which is said to have cost the economy $1 billion in lost output.

.Former Gold Coast Titans back Chris Walker has signed a two-year contract with French Super League side Catalans Dragons, the club said.
“This is good news for the club,” Dragons sporting director Sebastien Munoz said. .
“He will bring speed to the back line, which we have been lacking on occasion.”
Walker arrives from the Titans, having also played for Brisbane Broncos, Melbourne Storm, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters.
“A new player coming in will provide great competition at the back and that can only be positive for the team.
They have also recruited Storm lock Dallas Johnson and the Roosters’ New Zealand international Setaimata Sa for the club’s fifth Super League campaign.
The Dragons are coached by Walker’s former Broncos team-mate Kevin Walters.
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.Football’s world ruling body FIFA has officially turned down a request from the Irish football authorities to stage a replay of their controversial World Cup play-off defeat to France.
Backed by Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) had lodged the request with FIFA.
However a statement on FIFA’s website said: “FIFA has today, 20 November 2009, replied to the request made by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to replay the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa play-off match held on 18 November 2009 between France and the Republic of Ireland in Paris.”
France qualified for the 2010 World Cup by winning the two-leg tie 2-1 on aggregate, although there has been outrage and claims of cheating after a blatant Thierry Henry handball led to France’s decisive equaliser.
“In the reply, FIFA states that the result of the match cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed. .
The French Football Federation (FFF) said it had “taken note” of FIFA’s decision but said it would make “no further comment”.
“A previously scheduled meeting of the FAI board of management will take place this afternoon where the matter will be considered,” an FAI statement said.”
Despite no likelihood of a replay, there have been calls for FIFA president Sepp Blatter to personally comment on the controversy, which many commentators claim has further tarnished the sport.
“No further comment will be made until this meeting has concluded.
“Where is Sepp Blatter? Why hasn’t he come out and stood up and told everyone how it is?
“He’s very good at telling other countries how to run their game.
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Ray Houghton admitted he did not expect FIFA to order a replay as it is governed by the rules, but he called on Blatter to make a public statement on the decision.”
Henry admitted he handled the ball just before crossing for William Gallas, who headed home the equaliser that broke Irish hearts at the Stade de France. It really needed the top man to come out and tell the footballing public why they have made this decision.
But while Henry was widely condemned, and his integrity questioned, the French football authorities maintain that the referee, Swede Martin Hansson, and not Henry is to blame.
But while Henry was widely condemned, and his integrity questioned, the French football authorities maintain that the referee, Swede Martin Hansson, and not Henry is to blame.
FIFA’s statement added: “As is clearly mentioned in the Laws of the Game, during matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final. I don’t understand why we are expected to say sorry,” France coach Raymond Domenech said.”
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.France has closed in on the World Cup finals, while fellow star-studded giant Portugal struggled for a 1-0 home victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on a night of tense, first-leg play-off ties. .
Chelsea striker Anelka struck the vital away goal with 18 minutes left at Croke Park, with his shot taking a wicked deflection off Sean St Ledger and past Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given.
In Lisbon, Portugal, the 2006 semi-finalist but playing without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, struggled to a win over Bosnia Herzegovina.
Ireland had wasted a golden opportunity in the first half when Liam Lawrence missed the target from just eight yards.
Porto defender Bruno Alves was on target with a powerful backpost header after 31 minutes for the game’s only goal.
It could have been a black night for the Portuguese, who were saved by the woodwork on three occasions, including twice in the last minute.
But Senijad Ibricic crashed a header against the crossbar, before a dramatic final minute which saw Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko’s far-post header come off the crossbar while Zlatan Muslimovic’s follow-up volley came off the post.
Despite losing 2-1 to Russia in Moscow, Nejc Pecnik’s goal two minutes from time gave Slovenia hope it they can make sure of a second World Cup appearance in the return leg.
Meanwhile, unheralded Slovenia and Ukraine took tentative steps closer to finals.
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Ukraine, a quarter-finalist in 2006, will also be confident of achieving back-to-back World Cup spots, after holding 2004 European champions Greece to a scoreless draw in Athens

.France has comprehensively outmuscled world champion South Africa 20-13 to continue its 12-year home run of victories over the recently crowned Tri-Nations winners. .
Julien Dupuy kicked four penalites from six and Morgan Parra one, with winger Vincent Clerc bagging a try for the home side.
The Springboks repeatedly paid the price for ill-discipline, Morne Steyn and Ryan Kankowski both sin-binned as referee Wayne Barnes cracked down on collapsing the rolling maul and rucks.
“Everyone said you can’t play the Boks at their own game, in the same physical way,” France coach Marc Lievremont said.
Morne Steyn hit a penalty and drop-goal as well as converting an opportunist’s try by South African captain John Smit. We won the contest and had the extra physical edge to win the game.
“But we did.”
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said: “You can’t play the game without the ball.
“It’s very satisfying. They were the strongest side.
“They won the contest on the floor and we lost too much ball in contact.
But Dupuy and Damien Traille both failed to find their range with box kicks into a strong wind, to grant a flustered-examining Boks side some relief.”
The French matched the physicality offered by the Springboks in the opening quarter, young centre pairing Yann David and Maxime Mermoz resulting in the visiting midfield some problems, with flanker Imanol Harinordoquy and hooker William Servat prominent around the field.
France: V Clerc try, J Dupuy 4 penalties, M Parra penalty
South Africa: J Smit try; M Steyn conversion, penalty, drop goal
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South Africa’s famed second row pairing of Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield had a torrid opening 20 minutes, the former conceding the first penalty, while both had to temporarily leave the field after heavy knocks to the head

.The Church of Scientology has been convicted of organised fraud in France and fined almost $1 million.
A Paris court fined the church $980,000 but stopped short of taking up the prosecutor’s suggestion that the group’s activities be banned.
Four leading French Scientologists were also given suspended sentences.
The Church of Scientology is not recognised as a church in France, it is classified as a cult, and for the past 14 years the French government has kept it under strict surveillance.
The case centred on the claims of former Scientologists who say they were cajoled into spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on personality tests, vitamin cures, sauna sessions and counselling.
Four leaders of the church were found guilty and given suspended sentences of between 10 months and two years.
When a Paris court was asked to investigate claims of fraud among prominent French Scientologists, prosecutors took the opportunity to demand a ban on the group’s activities in France.
The group as a whole was fined but a loop hole in the law prevented the judge from shutting their operations down.
“This is the first time in France that Scientology has been condemned for organised fraud and we are extremely satisfied with this decision,” he said.
Lawyer Olivier Morice, who represented one of the victims in the trial, says it is an historic decision.
Catherine Picard is the president of the national union of associations in defence of families and individual victims of cults.
The investigating judge criticised what he called Scientologists’ obsession with financial gain.
On its website, scientology justifies the cost of its sessions by saying they could be compared to courses in a school or university.
“Once again, I think justice has delivered a blow to this organisation of crooks,” she said.
So-called auditing sessions are said to help members literally seek immortality, which they say is priceless.
So-called auditing sessions are said to help members literally seek immortality, which they say is priceless.
“We will win in appeal or we will win in the European Human Rights Court for sure.
“There has been a lot of political pressure and for sure we will go to appeal because we don’t agree at all with that,” he said. .”
The Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard.

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Oscar-winning Canadian film maker Paul Haggis quit the Church of Scientology overnight citing what he called the organisations tolerance of gay bashing

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Meal and rest breaks from work will become more flexible if legislation introduced into Parliament today is passed, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson says.

The Employment Relations (Rest Breaks and Meal Breaks) Amendment Bill was introduced today by Ms Wilkinson.

Ms Wilkinson said the new amendment would provide “greater flexibility” and give employers and employees the opportunity to develop breaks at a time best suited to individual requirements.

It seeks to alter legislation passed by the previous Labour government which set aside specific breaks and time for breastfeeding, depending on the length of a work day.”

The bill still has a requirement for breaks but allows for “compensatory measures” – such as earlier or later start times or time off in lieu, she said.

“Everyone needs to take breaks during their hours of work – but the law as it stands is too rigid and makes life difficult for a number of occupations and industries.

“These changes remove the absolutely fundamental right to minimum breaks at reasonably spaced periods during a working day.

Council of Trade Unions (CTU) president Helen Kelly said the amendment was unnecessary.

“The changes provided today will enable employers to determine whether or not a worker should have a break and then how long and when it should occur,” Ms Kelly said.”

Labour’s legislation only came into effect this year and ensured minimum requirements for workers in unorganised workplaces, she said.”

Ms Kelly said it was an example of the Government “pandering unnecessarily” to employers’ interests. .

.The United Nations nuclear watchdog is reporting positive steps at the start of new talks about Iran’s nuclear program. .
The negotiations between Iran, Russia, France and the US build on progress already made at a meeting early this month to end the stand-off over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Western powers fear Iran is trying to develop a nuclear bomb, although Iran insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.
Iran had tentatively agreed to ship enriched uranium to France or Russia for processing as a way of increasing international scrutiny of its enrichment activities, although state television is now reporting that Iran will not deal directly with France because it had failed to deliver nuclear materials in the past.

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The meeting will continue today

.Adelaide 18-year-old Sam Willoughby has been crowned this year’s overall season winner in BMX Supercross racing.
Willoughby became the youngest ever person, and the first Australian, to win a BMX Supercross World Cup series overnight in France.
“I don’t know what to say, I’m over the moon,” he said.
He said the win left him speechless.”
He lauded his competition and said it was a tough ride for the finish.
“It was a bit of a rough start to the day but I dug deep and I learnt a lot about myself today, to come back and get that.
“I learnt a lot today.
“The pressure was on but I managed to pull my head back in and refocus on the job at hand,” he said.
“For the final I wanted the inside lane and used that to my advantage. Our approach for this year was to focus on the World Cup events and the World Championships and that worked out.
“It is a privilege to race against such formidable competition. I fought it out on the first straight and it was a drag race to the finish.”
Willoughby’s father Colin says his son fought valiantly for the title. [It was] great to win here and to be the 2009 overall season winner.
“To the point that it’s determination that if something goes wrong, he just grits his teeth and fights back to make sure he atones for it.
“He’s just got that bit of attitude but it’s a good attitude,” he said. .”
Fellow Australian Khalen Young finished seventh.

.Italy scraped a draw against the Republic of Ireland to join Germany, Denmark and Serbia as the latest teams to secure 2010 World Cup places in a drama-laden penultimate batch of qualifiers earlier today (Australian time).
This quartet join already-qualified England, Spain and the Netherlands, leaving two automatic berths from the continent still up for grabs heading into Wednesday’s last throw of the South Africa dice.
Russia, beaten 1-0 by ten-man Germany in Moscow, and the Republic of Ireland, is among the teams assured of places in November’s two-leg play-offs.
The Irish came desperately close to pulling off a major upset in Dublin as Sean St Ledger headed them into a 2-1 lead with only three minutes to go, only for Alberto Gilardino to level on the whistle.
France, beaten on penalties in the 2006 final by Italy, are also in the play-offs after routing part-timers the Faroe Islands 5-0 to book second place in Group Seven behind Serbia, who trounced Romania by the same scoreline.
Italy coach Marcello Lippi praised the Azzurri’s “great performance”.
That put the world champions into an unassailable lead in Group Eight with Ireland as runners-up.
“If we had lost it would have been a big injustice because we played with passion, character and enthusiasm,” he added.
“We struggled but the result is even better for that.
Gilardino predicted Italy could go all the way again in 2010.
“We can hope to go all the way, the basis of this squad is the same as the one that won in 2006 but we’ve added some young players and some good players. At the end we deserved the draw,” the Fiorentina striker said.”
– Germany through –
Earlier, three-time world champion Germany ensured its participation in next year’s World Cup with a game to spare after a gritty defeat of Guus Hiddink’s Russia.
“Now we’ll go to South Africa in good spirits and with hope to win it again.
Miroslav Klose’s first-half goal booked Germany’s ticket with Joachim Loew’s team reduced to 10 men when Jerome Boateng was sent packing after receiving a second yellow card with 20 minutes remaining.
Miroslav Klose’s first-half goal booked Germany’s ticket with Joachim Loew’s team reduced to 10 men when Jerome Boateng was sent packing after receiving a second yellow card with 20 minutes remaining. We needed a bit of luck, but we have made sure of qualifying for the World Cup and you can’t ask for more,” Loew reflected.
“The team did well.”
Hiddink said his team can not be happy with the result. .
“We were not good enough at finishing our chances or on the counter-attack.
“But the team showed character in the second half,” he said.”
Denmark got the better of neighbour Sweden 1-0 to book its ticket as winners of Group One.
“But we still have a chance to qualify for the finals in November’s play-off.
Fabio Capello’s Group Six winners were reduced to ten men in the first quarter of an hour when goalkeeper Robert Green was sent off for a professional foul following a mistake by Rio Ferdinand.
– England’s streak ended –
Already-qualified England’s run of eight straight qualifying wins came to a sticky end in Dnipropetrovsk with Serhiy Nazarenko earning Ukraine a 1-0 win.
Spain, which had already guaranteed its place in South Africa as winners of Group Five, came through their trip to Armenia with a 2-1 win to extend their unbeaten run to nine from nine qualifiers.
Spain, which had already guaranteed its place in South Africa as winners of Group Five, came through their trip to Armenia with a 2-1 win to extend their unbeaten run to nine from nine qualifiers.
Bosnia-Herzegovina secured a play-off berth with a 2-0 win in Estonia to make sure of their position as runners-up to the Euro 2008 champions.
In other action, Switzerland boosted its prospects of making it to the finals with a 3-0 defeat of Luxembourg.
Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side are in pole position to qualify as Group Two winners, going into Wednesday three points clear of former European champions Greece.
Group Three is too close to call with Slovakia on 19 points, two ahead of Slovenia, with the same gap back to the Czech Republic.
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