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/ 26 March 2007

Asterix seeks peace in Middle East

Comic-book hero Asterix did his bit for Middle East peace this weekend, when Arab and Hebrew translations of an Asterix album with a Middle Eastern touch were released simultaneously at the Paris book fair. ”Translation opens us up to others, to all peoples,” said Syrian Jamal Shehayeb, who usually translates literary works by Proust or poet Lamartine.

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/ 26 March 2007

Bordeaux winery inspired by California, Australia

Inspired by the success of up-market wine centres in California and Australia, a French wine merchant from Bordeaux this month opened a new â,¬20-million complex, the first of its kind in France. The 12 000 square metre Winery is the inspiration of fourth-generation Bordeaux wine merchant and mail-order specialist Philippe Raoux, who owns Chateau d’Arsac, next door to the complex.

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/ 26 March 2007

‘Los Lobos’ complete World Cup line-up

Unheralded Portugal have completed the 20-strong line-up for the Rugby World Cup and are hoping that their dream of taking on the mighty All Blacks does not turn into a nightmare. ”Los Lobos” edged out favourites Uruguay in the final play-off tie in Montevideo to take their place in Pool C alongside the Kiwis, Scotland, Italy and Portugal.

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/ 23 March 2007

Total boss under formal investigation

A French judge has placed the chief executive of the Total oil group under formal investigation on suspicion of paying bribes to secure a major gas-field deal in Iran. Christophe de Margerie, who is already under investigation over the Iraq "oil-for-food" bribes scandal, was officially warned of the new accusations on Thursday night after he had spent more than a day in detention.

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/ 21 March 2007

New Total CEO held for questioning

The new CEO of French oil giant Total was being held for questioning on Wednesday in an investigation into the group’s activities in Iran, the latest legal challenge for the company and its embattled chief. Christophe de Margerie has already been targeted in a French probe over the scandal-ridden oil-for-food programme in Iraq.

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/ 21 March 2007

Europe braces for long-awaited PS3

A boat will ferry a special consignment of PlayStation 3s (PS3) to the foot of the Eiffel Tower as hard-core gamers queue in the cold at special midnight openings across Europe when Sony’s next-generation console hits stores on Friday. "The launch of PS3 will be the biggest video-games console launch of all time," said Jim Batchelor, entertainment head at Britain’s Woolworths.

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/ 21 March 2007

Protect us or arm us, Darfur rebel leader tells UN

A rebel leader from Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region said in an interview in Paris that the United Nations must either protect the area’s residents or arm them so they can defend themselves. "Either UN forces come to protect our people or the international community has to arm us to defend our people from genocide," Abdul Wahid Mohammed Nur said in an interview.

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/ 21 March 2007

Man jailed for ripping out wife’s eyes

A man who ripped out his wife’s eyes in a fit of rage was sentenced by a French court to 30 years behind bars on Tuesday. Mohamed Hadfi (31) tore out his 23-year-old wife Samira Bari’s eyes following a heated argument in their apartment in the southern French city of Nimes in July 2003 after she refused to have sex with him.

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/ 17 March 2007

French Resistance hero was ’emblematic’

Wartime French Resistance hero Lucie Aubrac, who famously rescued her husband in a daring attack on a German convoy, died on March 14 in a Paris hospital at the age of 94. In 1943, Aubrac was with a group of fighters who ambushed a truck bearing Raymond Aubrac and 13 other resistance members from Gestapo headquarters in Lyon.

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/ 8 March 2007

United through in Europe as Arsenal fall by wayside

Henrik Larsson produced a fairy-tale end to his brief but eventful Manchester United career on Wednesday as the Swedish legend scored to give the Red Devils a 1-0 win over Lille to put them into the Champions League quarterfinals. United clinched the last 16 clash 2-0 on aggregate. United’s joy, however, was not mirrored by Premiership rivals Arsenal.

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/ 28 February 2007

Airbus announces massive job cuts

European jet maker Airbus is set to axe 10 000 of its 56 000 workforce as part of a cost-cutting operation to lift it out of a financial crisis. The company said on Wednesday it will cut the jobs over four years: 4 300 in France, 3 700 in Germany, 1 600 in Britain and 400 in Spain.

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/ 23 February 2007

Chadian PM dies in Paris hospital

Prime Minister Pascal Yoadimnadji of Chad died early on Friday in a Paris hospital after a brain haemorrhage, the ambassador of the impoverished north-central African state said. The premier had been flown from the Chadian capital, Ndjamena, on Wednesday after he collapsed with high blood pressure.

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/ 22 February 2007

Cornered Lille hit out at United

Lille have hit out at being forced to adopt entrenched views in the friction with Manchester United following the crowd trouble at their Champions League game, which had echoes of the Hillsborough tragedy. French riot police used tear gas when they believed an uncontrollable situation was unfolding in a stand behind one of the goals.

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/ 21 February 2007

Uefa to probe Lille-United incidents

European football’s governing body, Uefa, confirmed on Wednesday that they have officially opened an investigation into incidents that marred the Champions League last 16, first-leg match between Manchester United and Lille in Lens. Tear gas was used during the match, which United won 1-0 at the Stade Felix-Bollaert on Tuesday night.

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/ 20 February 2007

Past failures drive Man United

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted on Monday that his team’s past failures in the Champions League are driving their glory quest this season. United face Lille at the Stade Felix Bollaert in Lens on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 stage.

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/ 19 February 2007

Suspicious mail triggers alert at embassy in Paris

French authorities issued an alert on Monday at the Canadian embassy in Paris when a staff member suffered from a nosebleed after receiving a suspicious envelope, firefighters said. But tests showed there was no danger and employees were allowed to return to their desks less than two hours later, said Florent Hivert, spokesperson for the Paris firefighters.

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/ 16 February 2007

Sudan rejects UN peace mission

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Friday rejected a United Nations peace force for Darfur and said he would not grant visas to UN rights monitors who want to visit the strife-torn region. Bashir said an international force in Darfur would remain under the aegis of the African Union and that the UN would be confined to a ”technical and logistics role”.

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/ 16 February 2007

Sudan and neighbours agree not to support rebels

The leaders of Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic met on Thursday and declared they would not back rebels attacking each other’s territory — repeating a pledge that has failed to stop fighting in the past. Violence in Sudan’s Darfur province has spilled over into the neighbouring states, which accuse Sudan of supporting rebels launching cross-border attacks.

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/ 15 February 2007

Minister says Sudan is attacking Chad

Chad’s foreign minister accused Sudan of attacking his country and said talks expected on Thursday between the two neighbours and the Central African Republic (CAR) would be ”useless”. Violence in Sudan’s western region of Darfur has spilled over into neighbouring Chad and the CAR, both of which blame Khartoum for the attacks.

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/ 15 February 2007

All eyes on Darfur talks at summit

A summit intended to strengthen ties between Africa and former colonial power France opened on Thursday but all eyes will be on a subject not on the agenda — Sudan’s battered Darfur province. The United Nations Security Council has proposed sending peacekeepers to secure Darfur’s border area, but UN officials say there must first be peace.

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/ 15 February 2007

France ‘reaping what it sowed’ in Africa

An era draws to a close this week when French President Jacques Chirac hosts his last summit of leaders from Africa, a continent where France’s traditional influence is being threatened by resource-hungry China. Chirac’s office said there would likely be a meeting on Thursday between the heads of Sudan, Central Afrian Republic and Chad about Darfur.

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/ 9 February 2007

Michalak joins Natal Sharks

France flyhalf Frederic Michalak has signed a one-year contract to play for the Natal Sharks in South Africa after this year’s World Cup, Sud Radio reported on Friday. The 24-year-old Toulouse playmaker will make an official announcement on his transfer at a press conference in Paris later on Friday.

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/ 8 February 2007

Landis to miss Tour de France

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has said he will not take part in this year’s race, the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) announced on Thursday. AFLD said they had postponed their disciplinary hearing into Landis scheduled for Thursday after the American promised not to participate in any race in France until the end of 2007.

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/ 6 February 2007

Move to end use of child soldiers

Fifty-eight countries agreed on Tuesday to take action to protect children from being recruited as soldiers in wars, joining for the first time an effort that has been largely confined to NGOs. The 58 countries that signed up to the so-called Paris commitments at the end of a two-day conference include 10 of the 12 nations where an estimated 250 000 children bear arms.