Two a penny

.Yvo de Boer, head of the UN’s climate change convention, will resign as of July 1, his office announced.
De Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will join the consultancy group KPMG as global adviser on climate and sustainability and work with a number of universities, the UNFCCC secretariat said.
The announcement came nearly two months after the Copenhagen summit on climate change, seen even by its supporters as a disappointment and by its critics as a chaotic failure. .
The UNFCCC, an offshoot of the 1992 Rio summit, gathers 194 nations in the search for combating the causes of man-made climate change and easing its effects.
“I believe the time is ripe for me to take on a new challenge, working on climate and sustainability with the private sector and academia,” he said.
In a statement Mr de Boer said it had been a “difficult decision” to step down.
“Copenhagen did not provide us with a clear agreement in legal terms, but the political commitment and sense of direction toward a low-emissions world are overwhelming.”
A Dutch national, Mr de Boer was appointed the UNFCCC’s executive secretary in September 2006.
“This calls for new partnerships with the business sector and I now have the chance to help make this happen.
Instead, after nearly two weeks of talks, the summit was only able to yield a general agreement on limiting warming to two degrees Celsius.
He had pinned hopes on a breakthrough in Copenhagen that would unlock a new treaty on climate change that would take effect after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol’s current pledges expire.
The document did not gain approval at a plenary session of the UNFCCC, and it has so far failed to gain the official endorsement of major developing emitters which helped to craft it.
The accord did not spell out the means for achieving this goal, and the pledges made under it are only voluntary.
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.Yvo de Boer, head of the UN’s climate change convention, will resign as of July 1, his office announced.
De Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will join the consultancy group KPMG as global adviser on climate and sustainability and work with a number of universities, the UNFCCC secretariat said.
The announcement came nearly two months after the Copenhagen summit on climate change, seen even by its supporters as a disappointment and by its critics as a chaotic failure. .
The UNFCCC, an offshoot of the 1992 Rio summit, gathers 194 nations in the search for combating the causes of man-made climate change and easing its effects.
“I believe the time is ripe for me to take on a new challenge, working on climate and sustainability with the private sector and academia,” he said.
In a statement Mr de Boer said it had been a “difficult decision” to step down.
“Copenhagen did not provide us with a clear agreement in legal terms, but the political commitment and sense of direction toward a low-emissions world are overwhelming.”
A Dutch national, Mr de Boer was appointed the UNFCCC’s executive secretary in September 2006.
“This calls for new partnerships with the business sector and I now have the chance to help make this happen.
Instead, after nearly two weeks of talks, the summit was only able to yield a general agreement on limiting warming to two degrees Celsius.
He had pinned hopes on a breakthrough in Copenhagen that would unlock a new treaty on climate change that would take effect after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol’s current pledges expire.
The document did not gain approval at a plenary session of the UNFCCC, and it has so far failed to gain the official endorsement of major developing emitters which helped to craft it.
The accord did not spell out the means for achieving this goal, and the pledges made under it are only voluntary.
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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

.The European Union has chosen Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy to be its first president.
The leaders of all 27 EU countries agreed to the choice at a meeting in Brussels.
The new job was made possible because of the recent ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.
Speaking in French and English at a news conference after his appointment, Mr Van Rompuy cited employment and the environment as urgent concerns for Europe.
Mr van Rompuy is known as a consensus builder but has a very low profile outside Belgium.
“Every country has its own history, its own culture, its own way of doing things.
He says he is confident EU member countries will be able to work together successfully. . Without respect for our diversity, we will never build on our unity.
“Denying this would be counter-productive.”
For weeks there had been intense lobbying and speculation about who may end up representing the EU to the world. I will always bear this principle in mind.
The post of the EU’s foreign affairs chief, however, has gone to a Briton, Baroness Catherine Ashton.
Former British prime minister Tony Blair was a frontrunner for the job, but he was eliminated early in proceedings after it was clear neither the French nor German leaders would support his appointment.
Emerging from the meeting, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Baroness Ashton’s appointment proved Britain was still at the heart of the future of Europe despite Mr Blair failing to garner enough support.
Emerging from the meeting, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Baroness Ashton’s appointment proved Britain was still at the heart of the future of Europe despite Mr Blair failing to garner enough support.

.Melbourne Storm lock Dallas Johnson has accepted an offer “too good to refuse”, signing a three-year contract with Super League club Catalans Dragons.
The Storm reluctantly agreed to grant the two-time NRL premiership-winning forward an early release from his contract, which had been due to run until the end of the 2011 season.
“This was without doubt the toughest decision of my career.
“The Storm, as a club, has meant so much to me,” said Johnson, 26, who played in the last four State of Origin series for Queensland. .
“I made my debut in Storm colours, represented Queensland and Australia while playing for them, and have made some life-long friends.
“The opportunity to continue my rugby league career with the security of a long-term deal and in such a beautiful part of the world was one that I couldn’t refuse.
“But there are other areas of life I want to explore and living abroad and travelling is absolutely up there on the list.
“For a guy his size, to do what he does on the field, week after week, is simply incredible,” Bellamy said.”
Storm coach Craig Bellamy, who made his debut as coach on the same night Johnson played his first NRL game, described the hard-hitting lock as the toughest rugby league player he had seen.
“He’s a popular guy amongst the players and he will be missed by all.
“He’s the toughest player I have ever seen.”
– AAP

.Australia will meet England in the Four Nations final after the Kangaroos demolished France 42-4 and England defeated New Zealand 20-12 overnight.
Penrith Panthers centre Michael Jennings grabbed a hat-trick on debut while twin brothers Brett and Josh Morris each picked up doubles in their first Test together.
Johnathan Thurston (three) and Kurt Gidley (two) shared the goal-kicking duties.
Jennings’s Penrith colleague Luke Lewis was the other contributor in the nine-try rout, with Australia conceding the lone four-pointer to Olivier Elima in the second half.
A double from Peter Fox and an early try to Kyle Eastmond denied New Zealand a place in the decider, and a World Cup final rematch with Australia.
Meanwhile, England’s 18-6 half-time lead was enough to hold off the Kiwis in their clash. Ben Matulino scored New Zealand’s other try.
Kevin Sinfield nailed three conversions and a penalty, while Bryson Goodwin scored a try and two goals for the Kiwis. .
– Jennings stakes claim –
Jennings has staked his claim for a spot in the Four Nations final on the back of his scintillating hat-trick, and the Panther insists he can handle the pressure.
After missing out on a place at the 2008 World Cup, Jennings admits he is desperate to play a part in next week’s showpiece.
Jennings, Panthers Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in 2007, completed his hat-trick as Australia hammered home its advantage in the second half.
“I was pleased, obviously the team performance wasn’t as good as we would have wanted it to be but a debut hat-trick is pretty special.
“I’ve did my bit with my tries and I was really happy with the way I played but now it’s up to the coach,” said Jennings.
“A few guys were given a chance and I think it wasn’t just me who made the most of it.
“I was confident of doing well and I’m confident I can do well again if I get the nod.
“We weren’t flying by any measures but we were clinical and that is ultimately what you’re after.
“As a team we weren’t great in the first-half but I don’t think anybody let themselves down in the second-half.
Lewis went over to score shortly after the break with Brett Morris grabbing two tries in five minutes to hammer home the Australian advantage.”
– Rout –
The French held out for 22 minutes before Jennings crossed twice in the space of five minutes to set the Kangaroos on course for a comfortable win.
But after the disappointment of the World Cup final, head coach Tim Sheens called on his side to step up another gear in next week’s final.
Although Elima grabbed a consolation score for France, Jennings registered his third try of the game before Josh Morris crossed twice to match his twin brother’s haul.
“In the first half we were too sloppy and there were too many times where we knocked-on or we dropped the ball or we missed the pass.
“We were OK, we got the win and we scored some tries but I don’t think we really got going,” said Sheens.
“To be fair to the players they improved but I still don’t think we really found our true level and that is something we’ll have to rectify next week.
“To be fair to the players they improved but I still don’t think we really found our true level and that is something we’ll have to rectify next week.
“I don’t think whoever we play we’ll be able to play like that and win.
“No disrespect to France but just because we did enough to beat them it doesn’t mean we did enough to satisfy me.
“I think Michael Jennings played well and when it comes to picking my team that will be in my thoughts.
“I said before the game that I hadn’t finalised my team for next week and that remains the case.”
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The partial defence of provocation should be abolished, a parliamentary committee recommended today.

The justice select committee said the opportunity for a defendant to get a murder charge reduced to manslaughter because they were provoked should be removed from statute and common law.

The committee’s report said that the law change would still allow judges to consider provocation as a mitigating factor in sentencing.

The MPs recommended the Crimes (Provocation Repeal) Amendment Bill should be passed into law.

The MPs said they did not agree with arguments that provocation should remain as a defence for a battered defendant.

This would mean in extreme cases someone found guilty of murder could get less than life imprisonment if the judge believed that sentence was “manifestly unjust”.

They also rejected submissions calling for a defence of diminished responsibility saying limited intellectual capacity was best dealt with by judges when considering sentencing.

“It would be more appropriate for them to rely on self-defence, which could result in an acquittal rather than a manslaughter conviction,” the report said.

Weatherston pleaded guilty to manslaughter but the jury found him guilty of murder.

The partial defence of provocation came under intense debate after Otago University tutor Clayton Weatherston argued he was provoked into stabbing girlfriend Sophie Elliott 216 times.

Mr Brown was beaten with a banjo before the instrument’s neck was rammed down his throat.

In July, Ferdinand Ambach was found guilty of manslaughter rather murder after killing 69-year-old gay man Ronald Brown.

Some supporters of law change said the defence of provocation had generally been used to justify attacks on gay people. It was alleged he made sexual advances to Mr Brown.

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&raquo Special Report on France&#039s trial of the decade
&raquo Who&#039s who in the trial
&raquo How a finance trial turned into a major political scandal
&raquo A glossary of terms in the Clearstream saga
&raquo From Ben Barka to Elf, justice turns a blind eye to political elites
Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin appeared in court on Wednesday to testify on his role in the Clearstream scandal. He told judges that he had never heard of the Clearstream affair until a meeting on January 9, 2004, at the Foreign Ministry, of which he was head at the time. He added that Nicolas Sarkozy name never came up in the context of that discussion. .
He told the judge, I have been steadfast in difficult moments.

General Philippe Rondot, who was working at the ministry of defence at the time, was also present at this meeting, which de Villepin described to the court as a non work-oriented meeting.

January 9, 2004

According to de Villepin testimony, the January 9 meeting was when former EADS president Jean-Louis Gergorin informed Villepin of the existence of the lists. De Villepin said he did not see the files at the meeting.

But, he said firmly, Chirac never gave specific presidential instructions.

De Villepin said he later instructed Rondot to investigate the Clearstream client list, saying that he was acting on the general instructions of the President of the Republic (Jacques Chirac, at the time) to raise the moral standards of international business. At no time was Nicolas Sarkozy mentioned in connection with these lists, he said, adding that Sarkozy was only mentioned in passing, as someone who should not be informed about the list.

Bythem Top Story aired on 30 September 2009
De Villepin was equally adamant about the matter of Nicolas Sarkozy name. They are widely thought to be damning and include the brief note Political stakes, Sarkozy.

The notes Rondot took at the meeting became material evidence in the case.

Jean-Louis Gergorin, former executive VP of French corporation EADS, gave a different version of events from that of his former associate de Villepin.

Jean-Louis Gergorin, former executive VP of French corporation EADS, gave a different version of events from that of his former associate de Villepin.

Gergorin testified that, contrary to de Villepin claim of innocence, the two in fact had a number of clandestine meetings in 2004. Gergorin has already admitted to leaking the false Clearstream list.

Lahoud also took to the stand, confirming his previous statements that Gergorin told him that he had received orders from de Villepin to throw Sarkozy to a judge.

The court read aloud from May 2004 entries in Rondot notebook, wherein Rondot wrote that Gergorin had informed him of these meetings. During a brief interrogation in the court Tuesday he repeated that he never had any idea of, nor held in [his] hands, any falsified lists.

He may already be finished

The crux of de Villepin innocence or guilt depends on whether he knew about the forgery, and whether he in fact gave the order to commit the forgery.

According to them Catherine Norris-Trent, who is covering the trial, No one believes de Villepin will be sentenced to prison. If found guilty, he faces up to 5 years in prison and a ban from holding political office.

But even if the court did not sentence him at all, says Norris-Trent, the maximum damage has already been done to de Villepin. He will most likely get a ban on holding office, which would be a major blow since he still had political ambitions. People are saying that is what the prosecution is going for, she said. People are saying that is what the prosecution is going for, she said.

Clearstream trial – Nicolas Sarkozy

.Roman Polanski has refused to be extradited from Switzerland to the United States over a 1977 underage sex case, the filmmaker’s lawyer said on Monday.
“He has refused the request from the United States for his extradition,” said a statement issued by the 76-year-old director’s French lawyer Herve Temime, two days after he was detained in Switzerland on a US warrant.
Polanski pleaded guilty before a US court in 1978 of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor as part of a plea bargain. .
But he fled the country before sentencing and has been a fugitive from US justice ever since.
Polanski was detained on Saturday at a film festival in the Swiss city of Zurich, sparking protests from the French and Polish governments and outrage in the film world.
“After that his defence team will demonstrate the illegal nature of the extradition request he is facing,” it said.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he and his Polish counterpart have written to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the arrest.
“Frankly it’s all a bit sinister this story.
Speaking on French radio, Mr Kouchner described the arrest as grim. All this isn’t nice,” he said. A man of such talent, known throughout the world, known in the country that’s arrested him. The judge has since died.
The director’s legal team argues the 1970s US legal case against him should be annulled because the judge who heard the case had improperly colluded with prosecutors.
The woman named as the victim in the 1977 case has joined defence lawyers in calling for a dismissal.
The woman named as the victim in the 1977 case has joined defence lawyers in calling for a dismissal

.Former world surfing champion Mick Fanning won the Quiksilver Pro France to almost claim the lead in this year’s WCT race.
With three events to go Fanning, the 2007 champion, is just 146 points behind his mate Joel Parkinson who bowed out in the third round in France.
Fanning won the final 16.87 against fellow Aussie Bede Durbidge who climbed to fourth in the standings.66 points to 12.
With a win worth 1,200 points, Parkinson leads on 5896 points, Fanning has 5750,
Hobgood 4872, Durbidge 4792, Slater 4638, Brazil’s Adriano de Souza 4573 and Australian Taj Burrow 4417.
Nine times world champion Kelly Slater was beaten in the quarter-finals and sits fifth in the standings while fellow American CJ Hobgood is third. The next stop is Mundaka in Spain where the waiting period begins October 5.
– AAP