France

1ST LEAD: Sarkozy demands common European stance on regulation

Sarkozy demands common European stance on regulation

Paris Match fined for photos of Sarkozy son's wedding

Paris Match LogoParis - A court in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Thursday fined the

Lindell-Vikarby out for season after crash, Riesch to continue

Jessica Lindell VikarbyVal d'Isere, France - Jessica Lindell-Vikarby of Sweden tore the cruciate ligament in her right knee during training for the world championship downhill ski race and is out for the season.

Germany's Maria Riesch also crashed and injured herself, but was set to compete in the next training run set for later Thursday.

Swedish team officials made the announcement on Lindell-Vikarby late Wednesday after medical examinations. She lost control in her practice run and crashed into the safety nets.

Sarkozy to address nation about economic crisis

Nicolas SarkozyParis - One week after a general strike and nationwide demonstrations to protest his government's economic policies, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will appear on national television late Thursday to defend his economic stimulus plans.

The success of the January 29 strike and demonstrations, in which up to two and a half million people took to the streets, has added urgency to his television appearance, which will be in the form of an interview.

British trade unions say deal has been reached over foreign workers

Foreign WorkersLondon - Demonstrators at an oil refinery in Britain were Wednesday urged to abandon their protest after a deal was reached in marathon talks between trade unions and employers at the plant owned by French energy company Total.

Trade union officials said they had won a pledge from management at the Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire, eastern England, that
100 new jobs would be created for British workers at the plant, the equivalent of 50 per cent of the 200 posts under dispute.

European Parliament invites EU to help US on Guantanamo inmates

Guantanamo BayStrasbourg, France - The European Parliament on Wednesday called on EU governments to help the new US administration close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and to consider hosting some of the released inmates who would face torture if sent back home.

The parliament "calls on the member states ... to cooperate in finding solutions, to be prepared to accept Guantanamo inmates in the EU, in order to help reinforce international law, and to provide, as a priority, fair and humane treatment for all," read a resolution adopted by the parliament in Strasbourg.

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