France

France

• Sirigu the unexpected star for league leader PSG

  Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu has achieved the rare feat of taking the spotlight away from striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in recent ... 

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  French capture Islamists' last major Malian town

  French forces met no resistance Wednesday in Kidal, the Islamists' last major town, as the two-week-old mission scored another success in its effort ... 

• 5th seed Vinci loses to Barthel at Open GDF Suez

  Fifth-seeded Roberta Vinci was bounced out of the Open GDF Suez when she was beaten by Mona Barthel of Germany 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the second round on ... 

• Pregnant Laure Manaudou retires for 2nd time

  Former Olympic swimming champion Laure Manaudou says she is quitting for good after announcing her retirement for the second time on Wednesday. 

• Expectation levels soar for England in Six Nations

  One seismic win over New Zealand has flipped England from a work in progress to a major force in world rugby, ramping up expectation levels and making ... 

• Bartoli recalled to Fed Cup team to face Germany

  Marion Bartoli has been recalled to the Fed Cup team by France captain Amelie Mauresmo, nine years after her last selection. Bartoli fell out with ... 

• US eyes drone base in Africa with al-Qaida in mind

  Plans to base unarmed American surveillance drones in the African nation of Niger highlight the Obama administration's growing concern about extremist ... 

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  In recaptured city in Mali, Islamists hunted down

  Residents in Mali's newly liberated city of Gao hunted down and beat suspected Islamist extremists who had not fled with their brothers-in-arms as ... 

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  Rummenigge: Football in cold, snow 'not logical'

  A scheduling change away from winter football could be coming to Europe, according to Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Rummenigge, who ... 

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  Platini defends voting for Qatar World Cup bid

  FIFA vice president Michel Platini has defended his decision to vote for Qatar as 2022 World Cup host after a magazine in his native France on Tuesday ... 

• Brazil's Bastos joins Schalke on loan from Lyon

  Schalke has signed Brazilian midfielder Michel Bastos on loan from Lyon until the end of next season, with an option to make it a permanent move from ... 

• Villeneuve-d'Ascq track meet canceled

  France's second biggest annual athletics meet has been canceled because of financial reasons. The Villeneuve-d'Ascq meet drew a crowd of 10,000 in ... 

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  Mali military enters fabled town of Timbuktu

  Backed by French helicopters and paratroopers, Malian soldiers entered the fabled city of Timbuktu on Monday after al-Qaida-linked militants who ruled ... 

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  France warns extremists could prevail in Syria

  Syrian opposition leaders pleaded Monday for funds and political backing from the international community as France warned that extremists could ... 

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  Flanker Dusautoir recalled to 6 Nations squad

  Coach Philippe Saint-Andre recalled veteran flanker Thierry Dusautoir in an experienced squad for France's opening Six Nations match against Italy on ... 

• Zakopalova beats Medina Garrigues at Open GDF Suez

  Eighth-seeded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic beat Anabel Medina Garrigues 2-6, 7-5, 6-0 Monday in the first round of the Open GDF Suez. 

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  Paris urges Syrian opposition to stop extremists

  France warned Monday that extremists could prevail in Syria if nations fail to support the opposition coalition and don't deliver promised funds and ... 

• Bordeaux signs forward Diego Rolan from Defensor

  Bordeaux has signed 19-year-old forward Diego Rolan from Uruguayan club Defensor. After Bordeaux said on its website that an agreement had been ... 

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  French autoworkers disrupt Peugeot Citroen plant

  A few hundred French striking autoworkers are disrupting production at a key Peugeot Citroen plant north of Paris, protesting layoffs linked to its ... 

• PSG scrapes 1-0 win against Lille to reclaim lead

  Paris Saint-Germain needed a fortuitous own goal from center back Aurelien Chedjou to earn a 1-0 win against Lille on Sunday and move back to the top ... 

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  French, Mali forces head toward Timbuktu

  French and Malian forces pushed toward the fabled desert town of Timbuktu on Sunday, as the two-week-long French mission gathered momentum against the ... 

• Francois Gabart wins Vendee Globe in record time

  French sailor Francois Gabart won the Vendee Globe around-the-world race in a record time on Sunday, shaving six days off the previous record held by ... 

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  Pro-gay marriage protesters hit Paris streets

  Tens of thousands of people marched in Paris Sunday in support of a government-sponsored bill that would legalize marriage and adoption for same-sex ... 

• Injured Lauret out of Six Nations squad

  France will be without backup flanker Wenceslas Lauret for its opening Six Nations match against Italy after he sustained a concussion playing for ... 

• Title challenger Marseille draws 2-2 at Rennes

  Marseille remains in third place in the French league after twice wasting the lead in a 2-2 draw at Rennes, with a handling error from goalkeeper ...