Brian Lima’s record-breaking World Cup career is officially over.

France striker Thierry Henry was happy with the progress his side showed in their 2-0 victory over Denmark, despite insisting there is still room for improvement.

DEMONSTRATORS opposed to a new jobs law swarmed parts of downtown Paris last night throwing stones, tearing down street signs and ripping up park benches.

More than 100,000 protesters started marching through French cities today, with organisers aiming for more than a million participants and their biggest show of strength yet to demand repeal of a job law that has riven the country.

Rioting by French youths spread to 300 towns overnight and a man hurt in the violence died of his wounds – the first fatality in 11 days of unrest, police said today. Governments worldwide urged their citizens to be careful in France.

France's biggest Muslim fundamentalist organisation, the Union for Islamic Organisations of France, has issued a fatwa, or religious decree, in a bid to help quell riots which have seen nearly 1,000 arrested in recent days.

IRELAND’S hopes of carrying indoor track glory onto the world cross country stage this weekend received a blow when Alistair Cragg was forced to withdraw from the world championships due to injury.

EUROPEAN gold medallist Alistair Cragg is considering an audacious attempt at the 4km and 12km titles on successive days at the World Cross-Country Championships in Saint-Etienne/Saint-Galmier next weekend.

ALISTAIR CRAGG has conquered Europe and is ready to take on the world. The new European indoor 3,000m champion plans that assault in two weeks time when he renews rivalry with the double champion, Kenenisa Bekele, at the World cross-country championships in Saint-Etienne/Saint-Galmier.

France coach Bernard Laporte today named an unchanged team for the World Cup semi-final showdown with England – and then paid a glowing tribute to Clive Woodward’s team.

Ireland, Wales and Scotland today welcomed the decision to award France host nation status for Rugby World Cup 2007.

SEVEN people have been killed and more than 20 injured in a cable car accident in western India.

Sheep exported to France from Britian may have had foot and mouth disease.