France

Moses justifies the hype

Heavily touted as a youngster at the Wests Tigers, Moses justified the hype following a mid-season switch to the Parramatta Eels that saw him guide the blue and golds to the finals for the first time since 2009. 

Lebanon fans were hoping to see something similar from the talented playmaker and the 5,492 at Canberra Stadium weren't disappointed as Moses took the game by the scruff of the neck in the final 10 minutes to seal the Cedars' first World Cup win. 

New Caledonia show fight in big loss to France

Making their debut appearance at a FIFA tournament, the French territory made a horror start when defender Bernard Iwa turned the ball into his own net in the fifth minute.

Further goals followed as France opened up a sizeable 6-0 lead at half-time, including a second own-goal just minutes before the interval.

The Oceania runners-up avoided further calamity eight minutes into the second spell when keeper Une Kecine saved a penalty, after substitute Raoul Wenisso had clumsily brought down Willem Geubbels in the box.

France offers $275 million to host World Cup

The host nation must pay the governing body $220 million to stage the tournament but France has offered the additional money as it tries to edge out Ireland and South Africa in the battle to win hosting rights.

"You have to pay a fee to host. It is a minimum. We have proposed not 120 million pounds but 150 million pounds," France's bid leader Claude Atcher said.

"This fee is 100 percent guaranteed by the French government."

France, South Africa and Ireland have submitted formal bids for the 2023 tournament.

France urged to respect UN's Tahiti stance

The rally was held outside the territorial assembly in Papeete to coincide with a three-day official visit of France's secretary of state for technological transition Sebastien Lecornu.

The Tavini Huiraatira party's Antony Geros said the rally was to remind France that the Pacific Ocean was not for sale.

Mr Geros said he also wanted to remind the international community that last December the UN General Assembly affirmed that the marine resources belong to the indigenous people of French Polynesia.

North Korea missile tests impact Air France routes

That follows reports that last week's ballistic missile flew within about 100 kilometres of an Air France flight between Paris and Tokyo.

RNZI reports the Tokyo route is the standard way for travel between France and Noumea.

Air France said it was the first time it faced such a risk and had therefore widened the security zone around North Korea

     

Ranger back to France

The 30-year-old, who featured only sporadically for Tana Umaga's Blues in 2017 as he battled injury and form issues, has agreed to a two-year deal with La Rochelle in the French Top 14 competition.

Ranger, who has made 76 appearances for the Blues, previously played for Montpellier in France from 2013-15, before returning to the Auckland franchise in 2016 in an ill-fated bid to revive his New Zealand career.

France to be COP23 spokesman

Speaking at the 10th conference of Pacific Community (SPC), French Overseas Minister Annick Girardin thanked the Pacific for the support it provided for the successful adoption of the Paris Agreement during COP21.
 
“I want to thank you for the unfailing support that you provided during COP21. It was due to your contributions and commitment that COP21 was so successful.
 

France to reconsider compensation for nuclear test victims

This has been disclosed by the French Polynesian president Edouard Fritch, who communicated the French decision in a letter to the heads of three test victims organisations in Tahiti.

Mr Fritch announced the decision on today's 51st anniversary of France's first nuclear weapons in the South Pacific.

The day has been marked by a commemoration of those who perished and those who continue to suffer radiation-induced illnesses.

The announcement coincides with opposition and church moves to pursue France for crimes against humanity over its test regime.

France beats England 3-2

Teenage striker Kylian Mbappe set up the 20-year-old Dembele's winner in the 78th minute with an astute pass, and the youthful attacking pair caused problems all night for a patchy England defense with their electrifying speed and skill.

Striker Harry Kane scored both goals for England, while defenders Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe got their first goals for France, as did Dembele. Only a fine stop from goalkeeper Jack Butland in injury time, and the crossbar earlier, denied Mbappe his first international goal.

France bans extremely thin models

Models will need to provide a doctor's certificate attesting to their overall physical health, with special regard to their body mass index (BMI) - a measure of weight in relation to height.

The health ministry says the aim is to fight eating disorders and inaccessible ideals of beauty.

Digitally altered photos will also have to be labelled from 1 October.

Images where a model's appearance has been manipulated will need to be marked photographie retouchée (English: retouched photograph).