Learn to Speak French Audio CD and Books

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.....

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 details.....

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 information.....

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.....

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 extra info.....

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 information.....

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 extra info.....

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 find out more.....

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 find out more.....

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 : 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 world. At the end of this five-CD advanced program you will have acquired: A powerful extra info.....

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.....

English-French - Bilingual Beginners Sara Jordan Book and CD Set Get other Children's Language AudioBooks click here English-French - Bilingual Beginners - Sara Jordan - Audio Book CD Brand New (book and CD set): About English-French - Bilingual Beginners A great introduction to the new language with songs teaching: greetings alphabet counting to 12 about vowels consonants telling time animals food parts of the body family members colors opposites and much more! Packaged with a reproducible lyrics book. We also recommend the companion reproducible resource book enhancing what has been learned in the songs. About Sara Jordan Sara Jordan began composing music to boost literacy and numeracy in find out more.....

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.....

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 extra info.....

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 information.....

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.....

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 information.....

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 find out more.....

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 details.....

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 find out more.....

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 French for Children 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 portab more here.....

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 find out more.....

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.....

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/ find out more.....

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 more here.....

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 more information.....

Teach Yourself Complete French Book and 2 Audio CDs Gaelle Graham Get Other French Audio Language learning Audio click here Teach Yourself Complete French - Learn to Speak French - Book and 2 Audio CDs Brand New : Book and 2 Audio CDs - 523 page book Are you looking for a complete course in French which takes you effortlessly from beginner to confident speaker? Whether you are starting from scratch or are just out of practice Complete French will guarantee success! Now fully updated to make your language learning experience fun and interactive. You can still rely on the benefits of a top language teacher and our years of teaching experience but now with added learning features within the cou extra info.....

French for Children Activity Book Kids CDs and Parents CD Other Childrens Language Learning Audio click here 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 a more information.....

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 find out more.....

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 find out more.....

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 extra info.....

Play and Learn French Hardcover book with 1CD Get other French Language AudioBooks click here Get other Children's Language AudioBooks click here Play and Learn French - Learn to Speak - Audio Book CD Brand New (1 CD - 1 hour): About Play and Learn French The fun easy and natural way to get kids started in learning French Young children have an amazing capacity for picking up new languages and every parent is a natural-born language teacher. Now Play and Learn French introduces a unique approach to getting kids started in French that is as fun as it is easy. Instead of drills and boring grammar exercises you get loads of fun games activities and songs that let you seamlessly integrate the more information.....

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 extra info.....

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 find out more.....

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 more details.....

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 more information.....

French trumpet big win over pirates

The French navy has captured 35 suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia in what French officials are hailing as the most successful mission since the European Union began monitoring the seas in 2008. Four mother ships and six smaller boats have been seized over three days. The EU's mission has focused on the Gulf of Aden - one of the world's busiest shipping routes. More than 100 Somalis accused of piracy have been sent to Kenya, but few have been convicted. Jurisdiction over the suspects remains unclear, and there have been renewed calls for an international tribunal to be set up.

Davis Cup heavyweights roll on

Defending champions Spain proved there is life without Rafael Nadal when it swept aside Switzerland 4-1 overnight to set-up a mouthwatering Davis Cup quarter-final clash with France. World number two Novak Djokovic won a five-set thriller to defeat America's John Isner and hand Serbia a first ever place in the Davis Cup quarters. Serbia will face bitter rivals Croatia at home on July 9-11 for a spot in the semi-finals after Djokovic claimed a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 win over Isner in a four hour, 16 minute marathon as his team took an unassailable 3-1 lead. Russia also went through thanks to a 3-2 win over India, its 17th successive home win, which gave it a last eight clash against Argentina who defeated Sweden 3-2 in Stockholm. Croatia, the 2005 champions, the Czech Republic, which was runners-up to Spain last season, and France had already wrapped up their quarter-final places on Saturday. In Logrono, world number 16 David Ferrer scored the winning point for Spain as he easily saw off an exhausted Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 to give the hosts an unbeatable lead after they had led 2-1 overnight. Nicolas Almagro then eased past Marco Chiudinelli 6-1, 6-3 in the dead rubber. Despite his heroics, Ferrer admitted that his place in the team for July's clash with France was not guaranteed with Nadal and Fernando Verdasco expected to return. "I hope to play and be picked, but we will see. I just want to focus on the next tournaments," said Ferrer. France maintained their 72-year domination of Germany when they wrapped up a 4-1 win in Toulon, leaving the French eager to face Spain on home ground. "It'll be like a final, it's the kind of thing you dream about," said France captain Guy Forget. "Facing the defending champions with Nadal, Verdasco, Ferrer, Lopez...we want to beat the best in the world. We have started to talk about it and I hope that the boys will be in peak form." France will have the advantage of playing the tie at home and will - not surprisingly - opt for a hard court rather than the clay courts favoured by the Spanish. "You play tennis for moments like this, at home, in front of your own fans and against a very strong team," said Forget. Croatia wrapped-up a 5-0 win over Ecuador in their first round tie. In Moscow, Mikhail Youzhny eased Russia into the last eight when he beat Somdev Devvarman 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 to give his side a 3-1 lead over India. Rohan Bopanna won the dead rubber, beating Teimuraz Gabashvili 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, to ensure a final scoreline of 3-2, after veteran doubles pairing Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi won Saturday's doubles to keep India in the tie. "It wasn't as easy as the scoreline may suggest," Youzhny said. "It was much easier for me in the first two sets. I won many points with drop shots as he (Devvarman) was not running well." David Nalbandian was Argentina's match-winner in Stockholm when he defeated Andreas Vinciguerra 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the deciding rubber after Robin Soderling had seen off Leonardo Mayer 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 to pull Sweden level. The Czech Republic saw off Belgium in Bree and will face either Chile or Israel. Chile were 2-0 ahead after the opening singles. -

France calls to say it loves Stevie Wonder

US singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder has been awarded one of France's top cultural honours, 30 years after he was tapped to receive it. "I receive this honour in memory of my mother and in memory of all of those that have made it possible for me to stand here today," said an emotional Wonder, clad in marine-blue striped suit, as he received the Commander of Arts and Letters award from French culture minister Frederic Mitterrand. "As I was... listening to what you were saying, I had a flash in my memory, the memory of 1964, when I came to Paris, France for the first time. I came with my mother," 59-year-old Wonder told Mr Mitterrand. His mother died in 2006. Standing next to Mr Mitterrand was former culture minister Jack Lang, who first named Wonder for the medal. The accolade has been bestowed over the years to personalities ranging from South African writer Nadine Gordimer, British actor Roger Moore and Lebanese diva Fairuz. "As citizen, administrator and culture minister I just called to say we love you," Mr Mitterrand told Wonder, mixing French and English and referring to one of Wonder's biggest hits, which featured in the film The Woman in Red. Mr Mitterand praised Wonder as "music's familiar genius". A political activist who fought for national day to honour slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Wonder more recently backed US President Barack Obama's run for office in 2008. During the ceremony, he made a pitch for Mr Obama's push to extend health coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. "I'm very encouraged you have it here, in this country," he said, referring the France's close to-universal coverage. "Don't change." -

France, Czechs, Croatia into Davis quarters

France set-up a potential Davis Cup quarter-final blockbuster against defending champion Spain after extending its 72-year stranglehold over Germany overnight. France cruised past Germany in their World Group first-round tie when Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber and Christopher Kas 6-1, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in Toulon. France will face Spain in the last eight if the champions get past Switzerland in Logrono. Spain, playing without the injured Rafael Nadal, opened a 2-1 lead in its tie when Marcel Granollers and Tommy Robredo defeated Yves Allegro and Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (10-8), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. "The attitude was very good and the result was ideal," said France skipper Guy Forget. "We know what awaits us in the next round. It will be another high level." Croatia, the 2005 champions, saw off Ecuador 3-0 and will face either bitter rivals Serbia or 32-time champions USA for a place in the semi-finals. Marin Cilic and Ivo Karlovic coasted to a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 7-5 win over Nicolas Lapentti and Giovanni Lapentti in Saturday's doubles to give Croatia an unassailable 3-0 lead. "It wasn't one-way traffic in the doubles, it was as tough as we expected it to be and we are overjoyed to have secured a berth in the last eight," said Cilic. In Belgrade, Bob Bryan and John Isner kept the US in their tie when they defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic 7-6 (10-8), 5-7, 7-6 (10-8), 6-3 to leave Serbia 2-1 in front going into the final day. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi kept India's hopes of advancing alive beating Igor Kunitsyn and Teimuraz Gabashvili in straight sets in Moscow. The Indian doubles specialists, who won 14 grand slam titles during their career, outclassed the Russian duo 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to make the tie score 2-1 to Russia ahead of Sunday's reverse singles. The winner of the tie faces either Sweden or Argentina in the last eight. The Argentines took a 2-1 lead in Stockholm when David Nalbandian partnered Horacio Zeballos to a 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) victory over Robert Lindstedt and Robin Soderling. Nalbandian only arrived on Thursday after examining as though he would miss the tie with a leg injury. Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek gave the Czech Republic a 3-0 victory over Belgium in Bree, beating Steve Darcis and Olivier Rochus 7-6 (7-0), 6-0, 6-3. The Czechs, runners-up in 2009, will face the winners of the delayed Chile-Israel encounter in the quarter-finals, where they would be away to Chile or home to Israel. Nicolas Massu gave the Chileans a 1-0 lead Saturday after winning the opening singles against Dudi Sela 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. -

Spain level with Swiss in Davis Cup

Spain's David Ferrer dispatched Marco Chiudinelli in straight sets to level the depleted champions' Davis Cup first-round tie against Switzerland at 1-1 in Logrono overnight. Seven of the eight World Group matches were under way around Europe, with the start of Chile's tie at home to Israel delayed to Saturday (local time) as a result of the disruption caused by last weekend's deadly earthquake. Russia carved out a 2-0 advantage over visiting India, victories for Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga put France 2-0 up at home to Germany, and last year's finalists Czech Republic opened up a 2-0 lead in Belgium. The Swiss are bidding to become the first team to beat the Spanish in 19 home ties stretching back to a defeat by Brazil in 1999. Spain also won the title in 2000, 2004 and 2008. Stanislas Wawrinka, leading the Swiss in the absence of world number one Roger Federer, drew first blood at the Plaza de Toros de Ribera bullring when he twice battled back from a set down to beat Nicolas Almagro 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Ferrer, ranked 16th in the world, is the only survivor from last year's Cup-winning team, with Rafael Nadal (3), Fernando Verdasco (12) and Juan Carlos Ferrero (14) hit by injuries. Backed by the noisy, red and yellow-clad home support, he fought off stiff resistance from the powerful, 56th-ranked Chiudinelli in the second set on the clay before completing a 6-2, 7-6, 6-1 victory. The three-day, best-of-five tie is finely balanced ahead of Saturday's doubles, when home pair Tommy Robredo and Marcel Granollers play Wawrinka, who won the Olympic doubles gold in Beijing with Federer, and Yves Allegro. Real fighter France's Monfils earned his first Davis Cup point in Toulon when he fought past tenacious German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 before Tsonga took four sets to beat Benjamin Becker. "To win that game was a matter of honour because Kohlschreiber is a real fighter," Monfils said. "It was one of my best matches of the season," he added. "I'm very happy with the way I moved on the court and the way I controlled the match and, of course, very happy to bring the point for France for the first time." Elsewhere, Sweden's Robin Soderling beat Eduardo Schwank 6-1, 7-6, 7-5 in the opening singles in Stockholm to put the hosts ahead against Argentina. Ivo Karlovic came through in five sets to give Croatia the advantage over Ecuador in Varazdin and Serbia moved 1-0 ahead against the United States in Belgrade thanks to Viktor Troicki's hard-fought 7-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 victory over John Isner. After finding out he was playing an hour before the start, Russia's Igor Kunitsyn rallied to defeat Somdev Devvarman 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the opening singles in Moscow and Mikhail Youzhny followed up with a straight-sets demolition of Rohan Bopanna. Kunitsyn, drafted in after the injured Igor Andreev pulled out, said: "It was a surprise for me and there is no way you can prepare yourself with just an hour to go before your match". -

French fans jeer captain Henry

France captain Thierry Henry said he understood why fans were jeering him after persistent booing from the home crowd during the 2-0 loss to Spain in a World Cup warmup match at the Stade de France on Wednesday. France, in its first game since Henry's infamous handball against Ireland in a World Cup play-off in the same stadium last November, was outclassed by the European champions and the 32-year-old captain was the main focus of French fans' wrath even before Spain opened the scoring. "It's the same story as usual and it's not the first time I've experienced that kind of situation at the Stade de France," he said. "I understand people who were eager for us to play well against Spain and, when you don't play well, you have to expect being jeered at. I don't know if I deserved that but there is nothing I can do. "I absolutely had no pace. When you have to run after the ball after having only played one game in the last month and a half, it is really tough," Henry, who is no longer in the starting line-up at Barcelona, added. Coach Raymond Domenech, who had been a firm supporter of France's all-time topscorer until Wednesday night, expressed his concern at Henry's present state. "Obviously, everybody knows Titi has performed better in the past and it's obvious that it is becoming a problem for him to play high level games such as this one while he's got less playing time [at Barcelona]," Domenech, the only man French fans booed more than Henry, said. "[His situation] raises some questions but we've not reached the point yet when it has become alarming." -

Investigators want Portugal's Madeleine McCann files

Files containing reported sightings of missing British girl Madeleine McCann and held by Portuguese police should be handed to investigators still searching for her, a family spokesman says. Several British newspapers are reporting that thousands of previously unseen pages of information passed to police after the case was closed had been released to them after they applied to a Portuguese court. Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell says the girl's parents are very disappointed. "Kate and Gerry [McCann] have made it clear that they were shocked to see the lack of follow-up work done by the Portuguese police since the investigation was shelved," he said. "All the information in these files must go to the private investigators as they are the only people still looking for Madeleine." The Portuguese are no longer investigating the case, but other investigators acting on the couple's behalf are still looking for the missing girl and appealing to the public for information. Fresh leads reported by the newspapers include security camera footage in New Zealand showing a girl resembling Madeleine being led into a supermarket by a man. Other reported sightings crop up in Portugal, Spain, France and the United States. Madeleine went missing from a holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, a few days before her fourth birthday, as her parents and their friends dined at a nearby restaurant. The McCanns were named as official suspects in her disappearance in September 2007 although this was lifted in July 2008. -

Rwandan widow arrested over genocide

French police have arrested Agathe Habyarimana, the widow of Rwanda's assassinated ex-president, who is wanted in her homeland as one of the alleged masterminds of the 1994 genocide. The arrest came just five days after President Nicolas Sarkozy made the first trip by a French leader to Rwanda since the genocide. Habyarimana has lived in a Paris suburb for 12 years, having fled Rwanda after her husband Juvenal Habyarimana's plane was shot down in April 1994 and his supporters launched a massacre of 800,000 civilians. French police - acting on an international arrest warrant issued by Rwanda - arrested Habyarimana at her home in Courcouronnes, south of Paris on Tuesday morning. She was later freed on bail, the state prosecutor's office said, and must now go before a judge who will rule on a request by Rwanda for her extradition. The Tutsi-led government in Kigali has accused the 67-year-old of being a member of the Hutu inner circle that planned the mass killings. She has steadfastly denied the charge. -

Real shatters another rich list record

Real Madrid has become the first team in any sport to post revenues in excess of 400 million euros ($602 million) in a single year, according to an annual survey of the richest soccer clubs by accountancy firm Deloitte. In its survey released today, Deloitte said the figure of 401.4 million euros had been helped by high broadcast revenue. Real topped the "Football Money League" report, which ranks the 20 biggest clubs by revenue, for the fifth consecutive year. European and Spanish champion Barcelona overtook Manchester United, which was hit by the weak pound, into second position. Barcelona posted the largest absolute increase in the Deloitte report, from the 2008-09 season. The club's revenue rose by 57 million euros to 366 million euros. "Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have created a clear revenue gap between themselves and their European competitors, and look set to contest the top two positions in the Money League for the foreseeable future, particularly if the pound doesn't strengthen against the euro," Alan Switzer, director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said in a statement. Top clubs weathered the worst economic crisis in decades thanks to their loyal fan bases and large broadcast audiences, according to the report. The combined revenue growth for the 20 clubs slowed compared with previous years to over 3.9 billion euros ($5.8 billion). "However, it will not be until 2009-10, the season currently in progress, before we see the full impact on clubs' revenues," said Paul Rawnsley, director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte. The top 20 was little changed from last year, with Werder Bremen and Manchester City replacing VfB Stuttgart and Turkish club Fenerbahce. The list was again dominated by European clubs, with seven English clubs, four from Italy, and two each from France and Spain. The number of German clubs grew from four to five. Rankings (position, last year's position, club, country, revenue in millions of pounds, revenue in million of euros): 1. (1) Real Madrid (ESP) 341.9, 401.4 2. (3) FC Barcelona (ESP) 311.7, 365.93. (2) Manchester United (ENG) 278.5, 327.0 4. (4) Bayern Munich (GER) 246.6, 289.5 5. (6) Arsenal (ENG) 224.0, 263.06. (5) Chelsea (ENG) 206.4, 242.3 7. (8) Liverpool (ENG) 184.8, 217.0 8. (11) Juventus (ITA) 173.1, 203.29. (10) Inter Milan (ITA) 167.4, 196.510. (7) AC Milan (ITA) 167.4, 196.511. (15) Hamburg SV (GER) 124.9, 146.712. (9) AS Roma (ITA) 124.7, 146.413. (12) Lyon (FRA) 118.9, 139.614. (16) Marseille (FRA) 113.5, 133.215. (14) Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) 113.0, 132.716. (13) Schalke 04 (GER) 106.0, 124.517. (n/a) Werder Bremen (GER) 97.7, 114.718. (20) Borussia Dortmund (GER) 88.1, 103.519. (n/a) Manchester City (ENG) 87.0, 102.220. (17) Newcastle United (ENG) 86.0, 101.0 -