Paris

Arctic sea ice thinning at record rate

Paris, Oct 29 (ANI): Data from ESA’s (European Space Agency’s) Envisat satellite has indicated that the Arctic sea ice is thinning at record rate, with the thickness of sea ice in large parts of the Arctic declined by as much as 19 percent last winter compared to the previous five winters.

Using Envisat radar altimeter data, scientists from the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling at University College London (UCL) measured sea ice thickness over the Arctic from 2002 to 2008 and found that it had been fairly constant until the record loss of ice in the summer of 2007.

Unusually warm weather conditions were present over the Arctic in 2007, which some scientists have said explain that summer ice loss.

Renault Laguna Coupe in showrooms after Paris debut

Renault Laguna Coupe in showrooms after Paris debutParis - Only weeks after celebrating its world debut at the Paris Motor Show, the Renault Laguna Coupe goes on sale in Europe at a starting price of 30,300 euros (40,715 dollars).

Renault is offering the choice of three petrol and three diesel engines in the range 110 kW/150 hp to 175 kW/238 hp.

The 3.5-litre V6 petrol and 3.0 V6 turbo diesel engines equipped with six-speed automatic transmission are new and will in future also be available in other models, the manufacturer announced.

Del Potro keep pace in chase to China

French shares little changed in nervous trading

Paris  - French shares were little changed in early trading on Tuesday following a roller-coaster ride as the mood among investors remained nervous.

The Paris Bourse's CAC 40 index was up 0.07 per cent, at 3,069.36, at mid-morning, with advancing issues outpacing losers by nearly 2 to 1.

Bouyed by strong showings on Asian markets, the index rose more than 3 per cent shortly after the session opened, but then fell into the red after a report showing that the financial crisis was now affecting the French housing market.

According to the Ministry of the Environment, building permits for the third quarter fell by more than 23 per cent over the same period in 2007, while housing-construction starts had fallen by more than 8 per cent.

Baghdatis suffers more back-pain drama to bow out at Bercy

Marcos BaghdatisParis  - The back-pain drama which has limited Marcos Baghdatis to just 24 ATP starts this season came back to haunt the Cypriot as he was forced to retire for the third time in four matches on Monday at the Paris Masters.

The 2006 Australian Open finalist has struggled in the 2008 season with ankle and back problems. But after completing a match last week in Basle - even a loss - his spirits were again rising.

That all ended at the Bercy arena as American Sam Querrey earned a victory 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 3-2 when Baghdatis was again frustratingly forced to retire.

Federer to play in Paris

Paris - Roger Federer confirmed on Monday that he will play in this week's Paris Masters, a day after winning his hometown title in Basle for the third straight year.

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