French for Australians - Learn to speak French Audio CDs

Audio 6 Basic Book

Berlitz Basic French 136 page fully illustrated course book and 6 Audio CDs Other Learn to Speak French Audio click here Berlitz Basic French - Course Book and 6 Audio CDs Brand New : 6 CDs * Audio CDs that play on Car/Home/Portable CD Player * Compatble with iPOD and mp3 devices * Go online for free additional materials Learning French is now made even simpler with Berlitz Basic French the affordable self-study audio course using the Berlitz conversational approach lauded by millions. For years the way to learn a language was through repetition and grammar drills - but current research shows that people learn best and retain more when engaged in meaningful real-life conversations. Berlitz B more here.....

+ CDs Reference while 4 - French drive Audio Learn Time Drive you Guide -

Drive Time French Learn French while you Drive Reference Guide and 4 CDs Get Other French Language Learning click here Drive Time French - Reference Guide and 4 Audio CDs - Learn to speak French Brand New (still shrink wrapped): Reference Guide and 4 CDs Now anyone can learn a foreign language while commuting to work running errands or even taking a trip with the family. The new all-audio Drive Time series starts with an ingenious "On-Ramp" CD that eases language learners into French with simple practical expressions and engaging warm-up exercises. Three additional CDs contain 18 lessons that cover all of the essentials-vocabulary pronunciation grammar and basic conversation. Drive Time also extra info.....

for French Learn speak

French for Children Activity Book CDs and Parents CD Other Learn to Speak French Audio click here French for Children Activity Book 2 Program Audio CDs 1 Parents Audio CD Brand New Includes A Full Color Activity Book (80 pages)- A complete Language Course A wide range of Activities Games French-language songs the cartoon adventures of Superchat Stimulating Program CDs - Numerous -activities drawn from the activity book additional activities created especially for the CD the songs for all the units each exciting episode of Superchat. Parents/Instructors CD - Tips for helping children get the most out of the program Additional games and activities All the program songs collected together the a more information.....

Learn French to Book CD Speak

French for Dummies 3 Audio CDs Book Our Complete Range French Audio Language Learning click here for individual titles: Pimsleur French click here - Pimsleur Conversational French click here Michel Thomas French click here Learn in your Car French click here French for Dummies - 3 Audio CDs and Book The fun and easy way to communicate effectively in a new language! Want to speak French? Don't have a lot of time? This practical audio set is designed to help you learn quickly and easily at home or on the road. From basic greetings and expressions to grammar and conversations you'll grasp the essentials and start communicating right away! Plus you can follow along with the handy 96-page portabl extra info.....

101 Verbs

French Verbs 101 Keep your vocabulary on the cutting edge Get Other French Language Learning click here French Verbs 101 - 36 page listening guide and 4 Audio CDs Brand New (still shrink wrapped) Learn in Your Car Verbs 101 CDs - French Pack contains 4 audio CDs and a 36-page listening guide. No sentence is complete without that one essential part: the VERB! An excellent beginner to intermediate student's verb guide that: demystifies verb conjugations; features an interactive audio format; organises verbs into patterns to simplify learning and recall; focuses on learning just the key verbs must used in everyday conversation. Learn in Your Car Verbs 101 presents 101 most used verbs in all con extra info.....

get kit speak - 2 started Audio Thomas

Michel Thomas Speak French Get Started Kit Other Learn French Audio Book CDs Click here for other Michel Thomas Audio Language Learning click here Michel Thomas Speak French Get Started Kit- 2 Audio CDs : Brand New : 2 Audio CDs No passport required! The world’s greatest language teacher is at your side. "There's no such thing as a bad student--just a bad teacher." --Michel Thomas No books. No writing. No drills. And nothing to memorize--ever! With his patented method Michel Thomas has taught languages to top celebrities and--through his bestselling audio programs--more than a million everyday learners around the world. At the end of this five-CD advanced program you will have acquire more details.....

CDs Instant French Immersion NEW Audio 8

Instant Immersion French 8 Audio CDs - play in your car - portable CD player - or at home - (they are not computer software) Get Other French Language Learning click here Instant Immersion French 8 Audio CDs - Learn to speak French Brand New : 8 CDs From Provence to Paris now you can join the conversation with Instant Immersion French the dynamic audio language learning system on 8 compact discs. Providing effective progressive instruction in all the basics of structure syntax and grammar Instant Immersion French for Travelers emphasizes the building blocks of proper speech and conversational skill-building all set to a lively lesson plan of practical French vocabulary. Not a phrase book not extra info.....

CDs 9 Audio - Course Complete French

Learn in Your Car French - The Complete Language Course 9 Hours of Audio - Level I II and III The complete Course - French Level 1 2 and 3 is available click here Get Other French Language Learning click here Learn in Your Car - French - The Complete Language Course - 9 Audio CDs Brand New : 9 Audio CDs - plus three listening guides plus zippered carry case plus bonus DVD This exciting new edition includes a 60-minute Travelogue DVD of the relevant destination countries for each language. This added feature will enrich the learning experience and add that extra stimulus to motivate users with their studies. New material in this second edition includes a variety of internet and digital media/ extra info.....

-Discount Speak AUDIO French 5 Language Pimsleur French Basic CD's Learn -

Pimsleur Basic French Totally Audio - only 30 minutes a day 5 CDs Brand New - Latest Pimsleur Release Get Other French Language Learning click here Pimsleur Basic French 5 Audio CDs - Learn to speak French Brand New : . 5 CDs The Pimsleur Method provides the most effective language-learning program ever developed. The Pimsleur Method gives you quick command of French structure without tedious drills. Learning to speak French can actually be enjoyable and rewarding. The key reason most people struggle with new languages is that they aren't given proper instruction only bits and pieces of a language. Other language programs sell only pieces — dictionaries; grammar books and instructions; more here.....

- to Learn - Conversational CDs

Pimsleur Conversational French - Audio CD 8CDs 16 Lessons Audio CDs play on Car/Portable/Home CD player Other French Audio Language Learning click here Other Pimsleur Audio click here Pimsleur Conversational French - Audio CD - Learn to Speak French Brand New : 8 CDs HEAR IT LEARN IT SPEAK IT The Pimsleur Method provides the most effective language-learning program ever developed. The Pimsleur Method gives you quick command of French structure without tedious drills. Learning to speak Italian can actually be enjoyable and rewarding. The key reason most people struggle with new languages is that they aren't given proper instruction only bits and pieces of a language. Other language programs s more information.....

Michel Discount French Speak 5 Audio French - speak Learn Thomas -

Michel Thomas Speak French Advanced Other Learn French Audio Book CDs Click here for other Michel Thomas Audio Language Learning click here Michel Thomas Speak French Advanced - 5 Audio CDs : Note: This item is being republished and will not be available until October 2009 Brand New : 5 Audio CDs No passport required! The world’s greatest language teacher is at your side. "There's no such thing as a bad student--just a bad teacher." --Michel Thomas No books. No writing. No drills. And nothing to memorize--ever! With his patented method Michel Thomas has taught languages to top celebrities and--through his bestselling audio programs--more than a million everyday learners around the wor extra info.....

Baby Teaching & Teach Audio Guide Your CD French

Teach Your Baby French Audio CD and teaching guide Get Other French Language Learning click here Teach your Baby French - Audio CD and Teaching Guide Brand New : . 1 CD Teach Your Baby French helps your child learn more than one language during the crucial window of opportunity: The first three years of life! Teaching counting colours body parts animals clothes and more Teach Your Baby French focuses on concepts and objects which infants can comprehend instead of abstractions like time or social greetings. Teach Your Baby French helps stimulate a baby's neural pathways build vocabulary and develop innate grammar understanding - in more than one language! Children learn multiple languages mor more information.....

Book

Teach Yourself Beginners French Cover all the Basics Get Other French Language Learning click here Teach Yourself Beginners French Book and 2 Audio CDs Brand New - 2CDs and Book cover all the basics go at a steady pace build your confidence to speak Teach Yourself Beginner’s French is the right course for you if you really want to learn French but are daunted by the prospect of complicated grammar classes and coursebooks. This book starts right from the beginning and explains everything in simple English. There are hints throughout to make learning easy and you can learn at your own pace with plenty of practice of each new point. It is a friendly introduction to the language which will find out more.....

French speak Thomas Learn CDs to French 10 Michel Speak - Audio

Michel Thomas Speak French for beginners Other Learn French Audio Book CDs Click here for other Michel Thomas Audio Language Learning click here Michel Thomas Speak French - 10 Audio CDs : Brand New : 10 Audio CDs Learn French with Michel Thomas--no passport required! No books. No writing. No drills. And nothing to memorize--ever! With his unique audio program Michel Thomas taught French to celebrities corporate leaders and schoolchildren around the world. Now you can enjoy the same immediate and amazing results. You will go from the basics to fluency in no time with this complete course. The premium method fit for a princess . . . and you! Stars and Heads of State who have used Thomas's me more details.....

Yourself Instant and

Teach Yourself Instant French By Elisabeth Smith 35 Minutes a Day - in Six Weeks you will speak French Get Other French Language Learning click here Teach Yourself Instant French Book and 2 Audio CDs Brand New Book and 2CDs 35 minutes a day in 6 weeks you'll speak french! Teach Yourself Instant French is the book for you if you want to speak basic French immediately or if you have tried other courses without success. The carefully structured method targets only the most important vocabulary and grammar and gets you speaking straight away. The special learning programme takes only 35 minutes a day for six weeks and has fewer than 400 words for you to learn. The grammar is explained in a no-no extra info.....

2 - Minute Speak Book to Audio French CDs 15 - FRENCH

15 Minute French DK Eyewitness Guide by Caroline Lemoine A complete course with Book and 2 60 minute CD's Get Other French Language Learning click here 15 Minute French Book and 2 Audio CDs - Learn French in 15 minutes a day Brand New Book and 2CDs Parlez-vous Francais in just 15 minutes! What can you do in fifteen minutes?...Wait in a supermarket queue? Flick through the latest celebrity magazine? Now with this revolutionary new system for learning a language you can learn French in just 15 minutes a day and speak and understand the language with confidence. This unique visual approach makes learning quick easy and fun. No homework no writing no fuss. Practice just 4 times a week for 3 mont more details.....

CDs French Speak

Michel Thomas Speak French Vocabulary Builder Other Learn French Audio Book CDs Click here for other Michel Thomas Audio Language Learning click here Michel Thomas Speak French Vocabulary Builder - 5 Audio CDs : Brand New : 5 Audio CDs No passport required! The world’s greatest language teacher is at your side. "There's no such thing as a bad student--just a bad teacher." --Michel Thomas In just six hours you can enrich your French vocabulary with the Michel Thomas™ method You already know and trust the Michel Thomas method™ for learning a new language--no books no writing no drills. And nothing to memorize--ever! Now the next generation of Michel Thomas-method teachers is more details.....

9 -mp3s guides Flashcards -20 - CDs

French Special Edition Deluxe Language Course 20 Audio CDs Flashcards 9 listening guides and more... Get Other French Audio Language learning Audio click here French Special Edition Deluxe Language Course 20 Audio Cds and more - Learn to Speak French Brand New : 20 Audio CDs and more Global Access Special Edition is a comprehensive beginner through advanced language learning program designed for travel business and personal enrichment. This 20 CD program begins with 1 60-minute audio CD of survival words and phrases needed for travel. Next 9 audio CDs feature beginning intermediate and advanced grammar concepts essential for language mastery. Then test your comprehension with 3 immersion aud extra info.....

- and

Berlitz French Travel Pack 224 page phrase book and Audio CD Get Other French Audio Language learning Audio click here Berlitz French Travel Pack 1 Audio Cd and Phrase Books - Learn to Speak French Brand New 1 Audio CD 224 page Phrase Book This travel pack offers a fast and effective way for travellers to learn basic words and phrases. Based on the Berlitz listen-and-repeat approach the CD features more than 300 essential expressions while the book contains more than 1200 words and phrases. * 1 200 words and phrases * sections color-coded by topic * easy-to-understand pronunciation * dictionary * menu reader * emergency expressions * CD includes more than 300 useful words and expressions * l find out more.....

Learn Car - CDs Your 1 3 - Audio - Level French in

Learn in Your Car French Level 1 The complete Course - French Level 1 2 and 3 is available click here Other Learn French Audio Book CDs Click here Learn in Your Car French - 3 Audio CDs : Brand New : 3 Audio CDs plus a full Text Listening Guide The Learn in Your Car French is the first system ever designed to teach a language in your car...or anywhere...without a textbook. Simple and effective you can learn to converse in another language while driving walking or doing tasks around the house. Each course is organized the way you learn best - by learning words and phrases - and building these into sentences and clear conversations. Arrange hotel accommodations order in restaurants change mon more details.....

3 - Car 2 CDs Audio -

Learn in Your Car French Level 2 The complete Course - French Level 1 2 and 3 is available click here Other Learn French Audio Book CDs Click here Learn in Your Car French Level 2 - 3 Audio CDs : Brand New : 3 Audio CDs plus a full Text Listening Guide The Learn in Your Car French is the first system ever designed to teach a language in your car...or anywhere...without a textbook. Simple and effective you can learn to converse in another language while driving walking or doing tasks around the house. Each course is organized the way you learn best - by learning words and phrases - and building these into sentences and clear conversations. Arrange hotel accommodations order in restaurants ch extra info.....

in 3 Level - Learn CDs - Audio French - 3 Your Car

Learn in Your Car French Level 3 The complete Course - French Level 1 2 and 3 is available click here Other Learn French Audio Book CDs Click here Learn in Your Car French Level 3 - 3 Audio CDs : Brand New : 3 Audio CDs plus a full Text Listening Guide The Learn in Your Car French is the first system ever designed to teach a language in your car...or anywhere...without a textbook. Simple and effective you can learn to converse in another language while driving walking or doing tasks around the house. Each course is organized the way you learn best - by learning words and phrases - and building these into sentences and clear conversations. Arrange hotel accommodations order in restaurants ch extra info.....

Volume French

Earworms Rapid French Volume 1 Musical Brain Trainer Get Other Earworms Musical Brain Trainers click here Get Other French Audio Language learning Audio click here Earworms Rapid French - Musical Brain Trainer - Volume 1 - Audio CD Brand New (still shrink wrapped): Audio CD + 20 page booklet. earworms mbt™ is a revolutionary accelerated learning technique that takes the hard work out of learning. By listening to these specially composed melodies with their rhythmic repetitions of French and English a few times you pick up over 200 essential words and phrases that will not just be on the tip of your tongue but burned deeply into your long-term memory in next to no time. If you like musi more information.....

2 Musical Brain - Earworms Audio Trainer

Earworms Rapid French Volume 2 Musical Brain Trainer Get Other Earworms Musical Brain Trainers click here Get Other French Audio Language learning Audio click here Earworms Rapid French - Musical Brain Trainer - Volume 2 - Audio CD Brand New (still shrink wrapped): Audio CD + 20 page booklet. earworms mbt™ is a revolutionary accelerated learning technique that takes the hard work out of learning. By listening to these specially composed melodies with their rhythmic repetitions of French and English a few times you pick up over 200 essential words and phrases that will not just be on the tip of your tongue but burned deeply into your long-term memory in next to no time. If you like musi more information.....

French Teach Childrens learning Me French musical -

Teach Me French - Deluxe A Musical Journey through the Day Get Other French Language Learning Audio Books click here Teach Me French - Audio CD and teaching guide Brand New 1 CDs Booklet and teaching guide The Teach Me... series includes a delightfully illustrated book with song lyrics and translations in English. For children ages 2 and up. 21 Favourite Songs Including: -Are You Sleeping -Twinkle Twinkle Little Star -The Wheels on the Car -Dinner is Delicious -Days of the Week -Head Shoulders Knees Toes ...and many more! Since 1985 the Teach Me... series has been embraced by teachers parents and children alike because of its innovative inviting and fun approach to foreign language learning. extra info.....

French-

Baby's First Words in French Teach Your Child French Get Other French Language Learning click here Baby's First Words in French - Book and CD - Newborn to 2 Years Expand Your Child's Mind and Horizons with a Second Language! Reccomended for babies and toddlers up to 2 years of age. Brand New - Still shrinkwrapped Before they focus in on their native language babies have an amazing ability to hear and absorb sounds that adults unconsciously block out like the subtleties of a foreign language. "Baby's First Words in French" is an introduction to the sounds of French and locks in a child's ability to learn these sounds. Created by linguistic experts "Baby's First Words in French" is more here.....

Talk Audio

Lonely Planet - Fast Talk Audio - French Other Language Learning French Audio Book CDs Click here Lonely Planet - Fast Talk Audio - French Brand New - CD and Book Fast Talk Audio - French is a pocket-sized phrasebook and CD companion packed with key phrases for short trips. Read and listen to all the language you need for sightseeing shopping eating drinking and more. Lonely Planet's Fast Talk with Audio series gives you all the basics you may need for an easy and hassle-free short trip away. This practical pocket-sized phrasebook and CD companion is your best bet to laughing eating and telling it like it is - in a way that even locals will understand! Includes an easy pronunciation extra info.....

- Games French

LinguaFun French Card Games and Audio CD Other Childrens Language Learning Audio click here Lingua Fun French - Card Games and Audio CD Brand New Language Learning Card Games and CD Play exciting games like Go Fish Solitaire Gin Rummy and more as you combine red white and blue cards to form sentences. Become instantly fluent with colourful cards making over 10 000 possible sentences. Included is a 45-minute audio CD for pronunciation! Two unique card decks: The Family deck focuses on basic vocabulary and everyday family activities. The Travel deck is the fastest and the most enjoyable way to pick up key travel phrases. About the French Language For the period up to around 1300 some linguists more information.....

visit

French Crash Course Essential Vocabulary Phrases and Pronunciation for quick and Easy mastery 3 Audio CDs - play in your car - portable CD player - or at home Get Other French Language Learning click here French Crash Course - Learn to Speak French on 3 Audio CDs Brand New : . 3 CDs Designed to pinpoint the most relevant information needed for daily communication Instant Immersion French Crash Course provides a quick and thorough program for travelers students and business people alike who want to master key speaking skills fast. This 3 CD audio suite features salutations the alphabet pronunciation and much more enabling you to converse with ease. Join the millions of people worldwide who ha more information.....

Teach 1 Me Judy Mahoney - - Volume

Teach Me Everyday French Volume 1: Written by Judy Mahoney illustrated by Patrick Girouard Other Childrens Language Learning Audio click here Teach Me Everyday French - Volume 1 - Judy Mahoney - Book and Audio CD Brand New Teach Me Everyday is the newest title available from the award winning Teach Me series. Kids love to learn a new language! And what better way than through the joy of song! Teach Me Everyday contains a 32 page hard cover book beautifully illustrated helping to capture your childrens attention and feed there imaginations! Accompanied by an Audio CD full of popular childhood songs. All songs are professionally recorded in French . The colour book contains full lyrics and tra more details.....

Language Activity - - way the Audio Fun

Learn French the Fun Way Lyric Language Live CD DVD and Book Value pack Other Childrens Language Learning Audio click here Other French Language Learning Audio click here Lyric Language Live - Learn French the Fun Way - Audio CD DVD and Activity Book Brand New The Multiple Award Winning Lyric Language series is one of the most successful audio and video language programs available. It teaches foreign languages to children through music and delightful bilingual lyrics. It's also perfect for ESL students! Includes a 70 minute DVD video with a full colour Lyric Book an audio CD containing 21 bilingual songs About the French Language For the period up to around 1300 some linguists refer to the o more information.....

Comprehensive 16 Discount Audio Level French CD 1

Pimsleur Comprehensive French Level 1 Get other Pimsleur Comprehensive French click here Get other French Language audio click here Comprehensive French I includes 30 lessons of essential grammar and vocabulary -- 16 hours of real-life spoken practice sessions -- plus an introduction to reading. Upon completion of this Level I program you will have functional spoken proficiency with the most-frequently-used vocabulary and grammatical structures. You will be able to: * initiate and maintain face-to-face conversations * deal with every day situations -- ask for information directions and give basic information about yourself and family * communicate basic information on informal topics and par more here.....

Pimsleur

Pimsleur Comprehensive French Level 2 Get other Pimsleur Comprehensive French click here Get other French Language audio click here Comprehensive French II includes 30 additional lessons (16 hrs.) plus Readings which build upon the language skills acquired in Level I. Increased spoken and reading language ability. Level II will double your vocabulary and grammatical structures while increasing your spoken proficiency exponentially. Upon completion of a Level II you will be able to: * engage in fuller conversations involving yourself your family daily activities interests and personal preferences * combine known elements into increasingly longer sentences and strings of sentences * create wit more here.....

Pimsleur CD 3 Discount - - Level French 16 Comprehensive

Pimsleur Comprehensive French Level 3 Get other Pimsleur Comprehensive French click here Get other French Language audio click here Comprehensive French III includes 30 additional lessons (16 hrs.) plus Readings which build upon the language skills acquired in Levels I and II. Increased spoken and reading language ability. Level III will increase your vocabulary and grammatical structures and triple your spoken proficiency. Upon completion of a level III you will be able to: * participate in most informal and some formal discussions on practical social and some semi-professional topics * form longer sentences while maintaining the target language syntax * be understood even by native speaker more here.....

French rocker Hallyday out of hospital

Veteran French rocker Johnny Hallyday has been released from a Los Angeles hospital where he underwent a back operation earlier this month, his publicists said. "The doctors judged that Johnny Hallyday's current state of health has improved and justifies a return home to his family while he continues to receive the medical treatment he needs," they said. He will spend Christmas at his home in Los Angeles with his wife Laeticia and two daughters. Hallyday, 66, who had been due to resume a concert tour in January, was admitted to the Cedars-Sinai hospital on December 7 suffering complications after an earlier operation in Paris. He has begun legal action to determine whether the surgeon who performed the operation in Paris was at fault and earlier this week submitted a letter to French judges declaring that he had "come close to death". Hallyday, one of France's most popular entertainers in a career spanning almost 50 years, is particularly famous for his energetic live performances. His health problems have forced the cancellation of the remainder of his concert tour, prompting widespread speculation about the likely financial impact for insurers and promoters. -

Crashes, cancellations amid winter chaos

Two women have died and 47 others were hurt in a bus crash in the south of England as ice and snow continues to throw the UK's transport systems into chaos. Snow and ice on the runways caused many flights to be cancelled. A Ryanair plane overshot the runway as it landed at Prestwick Airport in the west of Scotland. All 129 passengers were taken off the plane and no injuries were reported. As snow turns to ice, traffic conditions have become treacherous. Thousands of people left stranded by a three-day Eurostar service cancellation formed long queues at London's Saint Pancras International Station in the hope of finally getting to the continent. Tempers frayed amid confusion over who would get priority on the reduced number of trains that began running on Tuesday. All Eurostar's trains for Wednesday filled up by lunchtime. The operator said it would continue to run a modified timetable on Thursday. Passengers were urged to turn up an hour early. Many online shoppers shoppers in the UK have been told not to expect their goods by Christmas after snow stalled deliveries. Meanwhile, floodwaters drenched most of Venice, as a combination of wind, rain and the lagoon city's periodic tidal phenomenon saw water levels rise by 143 centimetres, a record for the year, officials said. Delays continued at Milan Malpensa airport in northern Italy after heavy snow, while bad weather was blamed for a traffic pile-up in the north-west of the country late on Tuesday in which one person died and about 30 were injured. Heavy rains closed motorways in southern Spain and Portugal, where power lines were also cut by heavy winds overnight. Snowfall also forced school closures in northern Spain. In northern Germany, a seven-year-old boy was stopped by police, driving back to a parking lot having ploughed the snow off the street with his parents' front loader. - ABC/AFP

Eurostar back on track amid winter chaos

Services have returned almost to normal after three days of chaos on the Eurostar rail link between the UK and France. But many parts of Europe continue to face severe transport disruptions and there have been more deaths as a severe cold snap sweeps the continent. More than 80 people have died across Europe, including 42 in Poland and another 27 in Ukraine who have frozen to death. Another 13 people died in car accidents in Austria, Finland and Germany, where temperatures dropped well below zero. Air, rail and road transport has been severely disrupted across northern Europe where as much as 50 centimetres of snow has fallen with more expected in the coming days. But after three days of cancelled services, Eurostar trains began running again between Brussels, Paris and London: an investigation has been launched into the disruption of services. More freezing fog was expected at Stansted, north of London, and forecasters from Britain's Met Office also issued severe weather warnings across the country, warning of icy roads and thick snow in eastern Scotland. Britain's Automobile Association said Monday was their busiest night for 25 years, with about 700 calls received every hour. In Buckinghamshire, west of London, about 100 people, including 20 children, spent the night in the John Lewis department store after being snowed in. "There was no way that I was going to throw customers out into that," said store managing director Deborah Strazza. "Basically we made up the beds and they all snuggled down in the bed department."

Head-butt rap helps Zidane rest easy

Former French midfielder Zinedine Zidane is glad he was sent-off for his head-butt in the 2006 World Cup final because he has not had to live with regret over escaping punishment. Zidane received a red card for head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the 2006 final, the last match of his career, which Italy won 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. "It [the sending off] was a very good thing," the former Real Madrid and Juventus playmaker told France Football magazine. "It's good that [Italian keeper Gianluigi] Buffon signalled what I had done to the referee because it was not pretty. I don't know how I could have lived with it had France become world champions and I had stayed on the pitch." Zidane, who helped France lift the World Cup in 1998, thought there had been an over-reaction to Thierry Henry's handball that led to France beating Ireland in November and securing a 2010 World Cup place. "Many people outside football got involved, people who love you when you lift trophies and let you down when things go wrong. I'm certain Henry is not proud of his gesture." -

France plans Eurostar inquiry

Eurostar is suspending train services for a third day to look into a weekend break-down of trains that trapped about 2,500 passengers in the Anglo-French Channel Tunnel, while France will order a public investigation. Eurostar, owned by the French and Belgian state railway firms and the UK, blamed bad weather for the problem that disrupted Christmas travel for thousands more passengers. But French officials doubted it was the sole reason for the travel chaos. "We can't believe that Eurostar trains can't run for three days as a result of snow, so there must be a technical problem," French Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau said during a visit to China with Prime Minister Francois Fillon. Eurostar announced in a statement that it was launching "an independent review into the problems it has experienced over recent days". It has said that moving from the cold into the warmer tunnel caused condensation that affected electrical systems. Christopher Garnett, who has served as chief executive of GNER railways and commercial director of Channel Tunnel operator Eurotunnel, will lead the review. Shares in Eurotunnel at one stage dropped 3 per cent early on Monday, making the stock among the top losers on France's SBF120 index. "These events might bring one-time charges, but more importantly, the real problem here is Eurotunnel's image," one Paris-based trader said. -

Eurostar cancels trains for third day

Eurostar passenger train services linking Britain to continental Europe will be suspended for a third day on Monday, the company said, after a series of trains broke down due to the freezing weather. Eurostar says it will not restart services until the source of the breakdowns - which left at least five trains stranded in the tunnel between England and France - has been identified and fixed. Thousands of passengers on both sides off the tunnel have been left stranded with no idea if and when they will be able to travel, but the company says normal services will not be resumed until after Christmas. Eurostar is offering passengers replacement tickets and compensation after 2,000 people spent hours trapped in the tunnel with limited food, water or fresh air. An investigation is underway into employees' handling of the crisis after many complaints from passengers they did not appear to know what to do. Eurostar's commercial director Nick Mercer said test trains had been running on Sunday with engineers trying to work out what was making them break down. They had made modifications to the trains, which will be tested on Monday to ensure they are effective, he said. Mercer said screens and shields meant to stop snow getting into the electrics had failed and needed to be improved. "The test trains did run satisfactorily. The engineers believe they've found the cause," he told BBC television. The weather conditions in northern France "caused snow to be ingested into the trains in a way that's never happened before," he said. The big temperature change between the open air and the warm tunnels has also been blamed for the breakdowns.

Cold snap strands thousands of travellers

Tens of thousands of European travellers have been stranded in rail stations, traffic jams and airports as heavy snow and ice continues to cause massive disruptions at the start of the Christmas holiday season. A deadly blizzard has also blanketed much of the eastern United States, cutting power to tens of thousands of homes, paralysing air traffic and stranding many motorists amid the worst storms to hit the region in decades. In Poland, at least 15 people have died of exposure, mainly the homeless or careless drunks caught outside in temperatures that plunged to minus 20 degrees Celsius, according to police. Another homeless Pole froze to death while sheltering in a doorway in the French Mediterranean port of Marseille, and a Frenchman was found dead in his ice-cold caravan close to the northern town of Arras. In Germany, a 46-year-old homeless man froze to death overnight in the southwestern city of Mannheim while sleeping on a bare pavement, while temperatures in Bavaria plunged to a glacial -33.6C. Two more Germans died in road accidents caused by the icy conditions. Forecasters across the continent are expecting more snow and freezing rain over the next couple of days, but with temperatures rising slightly and the outlook gradually improving. Roads and railways have been closed or disrupted by snow drifts, black ice or floods across northern and western Europe, from Portugal to the Netherlands, and flights from London, Brussels and Paris airports were delayed. The most crippling problems hit cross-Channel transport between Britain and France, amid chaotic scenes after the Eurostar passenger service from London to Paris was shut down for a second day after at least five breakdowns. Eurostar, the operator of the Channel Tunnel passenger trains, admitted it could not say when services would resume, with more than 24,000 passengers attempting to travel ahead of Christmas already affected. The company said it would send test trains along the route to see if they could withstand the sub-zero temperatures in northern France which are believed to have caused trains to break down in the tunnel on Friday (local time). "We did run two or three trains yesterday. They all got through the tunnel OK, but one or two of them showed symptoms of the problem that happened on Friday night," Eurostar director Richard Brown said. "We will not start services again until we're sure that we can get them through safely." More than 2,000 passengers spent Friday night trapped in the undersea tunnel, some without anything to eat or drink. There were reports of heated rows and some passengers bitterly criticised the company. Approach roads to the ports of Dover and Calais were snarled by tail-backs as a result of heavy snow and queues of trucks waiting for delayed shuttle trains through the Channel Tunnel. At Paris Charles de Gaulle, 40 per cent of flights have been cancelled and the remaining services were leaving an average of one hour late, while the city's second airport, Orly, was the scene of a strike by security staff. - Deadly blizzards - In the United States, the governors of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Delaware have declared states of emergency following the snowstorms. Three people have died on Virginia roads, with around 3,000 accidents forcing the closure of Virginia interstates for several hours. Officials reported many drivers and passengers had been stranded in their vehicles, some for more than 12 hours. Emergency services delivered heated meals and 400 bottles of water for stranded motorists, while others were moved to shelters. In the bull's eye of the weather, Washington shattered a 1932 December snowfall record, with 40 centimetres covering streets and homes. And with more snow forecast to fall on the US capital in coming days, the snowstorm is on track to become one of the biggest to hit the city since records began in 1885. The massive storm at one point stretched 800 kilometres across a dozen states, affecting around a quarter of the US population. President Barack Obama, after attending the climate change summit in Copenhagen, raced home to avoid the worst of the storm that hammered the East Coast with more than 61cm of snow in some places. He got back before dawn on Saturday, two days before winter's official arrival. By Saturday afternoon, the capital region's three main airports - Reagan National, Washington Dulles International and Baltimore Washington International - had cancelled all incoming and outgoing flights, stranding thousands of passengers. It was bleak news for millions hoping to drive or fly ahead of Christmas on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. With close to white-out conditions forcing many residents to stay home and shopping malls shuttered or closing early, the extreme conditions also looked likely to take a bite out of retail sales. The major shopping day usually accounts for some $US15 billion of all nationwide sales on the last weekend before Christmas. -

Passengers suffer on stuck Eurostar trains

More than 2,000 passengers have been rescued after spending hours trapped in the undersea Channel Tunnel linking France and Britain after four trains broke down due to poor weather conditions. Angry travellers said they had been left with no power, air conditioning, food or water. Rail operator Eurostar said the breakdowns had resulted from technical problems caused by the temperature difference inside the tunnel and freezing conditions outside. "It is snowing in northern France, it's very cold, conditions are very bad," a spokesperson for Eurostar, operated by French rail operator SNCF, its Belgian counterpart SNCB and British government-owned LCR, said. "Everyone is suffering from the bad weather. The airports are suffering, people on the roads are suffering, and so are our Eurostar trains." He said a rescue locomotive and a shuttle train were used to move passengers out of the 51-kilometre tunnel, the longest undersea subway in the world which conveys about 40,000 people a day between Britain and continental Europe. Passengers accused Eurostar of doing little to help them, with some finally reaching their destination more than 12 hours after leaving Paris. "There was very, very poor communication from the staff," said Lee Godfree, who was returning to Britain with his family from Disneyland Paris. He said passengers had been forced to get off the broken-down train themselves, had moved through the service tunnel in the dark, and then got onto a "filthy" car transport train. "We've had children asleep on the floor. They've been sick. We had one loo (toilet). It's been a complete nightmare," he told BBC radio. "We had people fainting on the train. It was just pandemonium." Eurostar said it had cancelled all its trains on Saturday before noon (local time) because of the severe weather and said services over the weekend would be severely disrupted. Last year, the tunnel, which opened in 1994, was shut for two days after a large fire broke out on a freight train, while a blaze in 1996 fire halted freight traffic for seven months. Heavy snowfalls across southeastern England in recent days had already brought chaos to road, rail and air passengers. London's Gatwick and Luton Airports were closed for many hours, while flights were cancelled at Heathrow and Stansted, the capital's two other major airports. Budget airline EasyJet said it had cancelled more flights on Saturday because of the bad weather, with forecasters at Britain's Met Office predicting further snow showers on Saturday with temperatures falling as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius. -

4 Eurostar trains break down, hundreds stranded

Four Eurostar trains with hundreds of people on board have broken down in the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France. The trains were on their way from Paris to London when they suffered serious technical failures and rescue locomotives are being sent down the tunnel to get the passengers out. A Eurostar spokesperson says the breakdowns happened when the trains entered the tunnel where temperatures were higher compared to the sub-zero conditions in northern France. "Currently the tunnels are closed," the spokesperson said, calling the situation "unprecedented". A total of around 1,200 to 1,300 passengers from two of the trains in one tunnel are being evacuated on an empty vehicle shuttle being sent to collect them from the other tunnel, the spokesperson said. The third train, in the other tunnel, is scheduled to be pushed out later. "At the moment we're not giving timescales. We hope to get this done as quickly as possible," the spokesperson said. A fourth passenger train had earlier broken down and was pulled to its London terminus. The spokesperson said the passengers are safe and well as the heating and electricity systems in the carriages are functioning. But for the hundreds on board each train it could be a long night. They have been stranded for several hours and its not yet clear when they'll reach London. "The weather in France was absolutely appalling and we were cooperating with the French authorities to limit the amount of traffic getting through to the French motorways," the spokesperson said. "Subsequent to that, as the snow stopped falling, we were preparing to run shuttles through with passengers from the UK, and we had a succession of Eurostar breakdowns in the tunnel. "There are currently three Eurostars broken down blocking both tunnels." "We're in the process of coupling up the rescue units to two of the trains to push them out and we also have an evacuation train, one of our shuttles in there to accept their passengers. "We're talking about 600 to 700 people on each train. "That's an awful lot of people to move safely from one train into a service tunnel and then from that service tunnel through on to a shuttle. "Nobody's been transferred, we're working it through as safely and as smoothly as we can." - AFP/BBC

Chirac investigated for misuse of public funds

Former French president Jacques Chirac has been placed under formal investigation for misuse of public funds while he was mayor of Paris. There are now two judicial cases hanging over Mr Chirac. Both concern his long period as mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995 and both centre on claims he paid senior members of his political party the RPR with funds that belonged to city hall. The first and larger of these cases will go to trial next year. Now Mr Chirac has been told he is under formal investigation in the second. That means a trial in this case is more likely. Mr Chirac has long protested his innocence in both affairs and he says he will be happy to explain his side of the story before a judge.