Toulon, France - The economic turmoil provoked by crises in the American sub-prime and finance markets has put an end to the free- market economy, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Thursday in the southern French city of Toulon.

"Laissez-faire is finished, the all-powerful market that is always right, that's finished," Sarkozy said in a widely anticipated speech, his first in France on the economic crisis.

Brussels - The European Commission "stands ready" to support an emergency summit of major economies on the current financial crisis, as proposed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a meeting of the United Nations, officials in Brussels said Wednesday.

Plans for such a meeting "would still have to be worked out," but the European Union's executive "stands ready to participate in, and indeed to provide support for, any initiative that can further the stabilization of the financial markets," commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen said.

New York - French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged Tuesday a quicker pace in reforming the UN Security Council and the world's group of eight leading industrialized nations (G-8) in order to meet the demands of emerging countries.

Sarkozy said the world is still governed by 20th-century institutions in a 21st century world.

"Let today's major powers and the powers of tomorrow unite to shoulder together the responsibilities their influence gives them in world affairs," Sarkozy said in an address to the UN General Assembly.

London - Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, singer, former top model and First Lady of France, enhanced her celebrity status in Britain even further with a performance on BBC television in which she revealed that French President Nicolas Sarkozy takes kindly to being woken at night by her music.

"I play it at home and I disturb him with it in the middle of the night," the 40-year-old told fellow-musician and TV host Jools Holland on BBC 2 Tuesday evening.

Bruni-Sarkozy performed Tu Es Ma Came from her recent hit album, translating the title into English as meaning "You're my junk, you're my type, you're my cup of tea."

London, September 16 : Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has promised to teach President Nicolas Sarkozy judo.

The former president has revealed that Sarkozy wants to take some lessons on his martial arts skills.

"He is interested in martial arts and we have decided to do some training together," the Telegraph quoted him as telling Le Figaro, one of the leading French morning daily newspapers.

Officials at Sarkozy’s office have not confirmed the forthcoming judo sessions.

Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, will welcome Pope Benedict XVI when he arrives Friday at Paris's Orly Airport for a four-day visit to France, Sarkozy's office announced on Wednesday.

Sarkozy will then host the pope at the Elysee Palace for talks, which are to be followed by a reception at which both men will deliver speeches.

Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to spend two days in Paris before travelling to the pilgrimage site of Lourdes.