Paris  - The back-pain drama which has limited Marcos Baghdatis to just 24 ATP starts this season came back to haunt the Cypriot as he was forced to retire for the third time in four matches on Monday at the Paris Masters.

The 2006 Australian Open finalist has struggled in the 2008 season with ankle and back problems. But after completing a match last week in Basle - even a loss - his spirits were again rising.

That all ended at the Bercy arena as American Sam Querrey earned a victory 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 3-2 when Baghdatis was again frustratingly forced to retire.

Paris - Roger Federer confirmed on Monday that he will play in this week's Paris Masters, a day after winning his hometown title in Basle for the third straight year.

Paris - By a significant margin, the French believe that China has supplanted the United States as the most powerful country in the world, according to a survey made public on Monday.

Paris - French shares were down sharply in early trading on Monday following panic sell-offs on several Asian markets overnight.

At mid-morning, the CAC 40 index had lost 5.45 per cent, to 3,019.87, with 39 of its 40 listed stocks on the down side.

The bank Societe Generale was the biggest loser, off by 10.73 per cent, to 40.17 euros, while car maker Renault, which is drastically cutting back production, lost 7.88 per cent, to 20.45 euros.

Paris - A high-speed TGV train en route to Paris was delayed for over two hours after a passenger got his arm stuck in the toilet, France Info radio reported on Monday.

The 26-year-old man found himself in this embarrassing - and painful - position after inadvertently dropping his cellphone into the commode.

When he tried to retrieve the device, he found himself trapped by the john's suction action.

Paris - Frenchman Richard Gasquet withdrew on the opening day of the Paris Masters on Sunday, citing an elbow injury.