Oslo - Martti Ahtisaari, Finland's former president and winner of the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize, said Tuesday he was receiving numerous calls to mediate in various conflicts but had "no concrete project."

Before stepping in as a mediator, one must make a "feasibility study," he told reporters in Oslo the day before he was to accept the prestigious award.

Athtisaari, 71, hinted that he had been approached about Sri Lanka.

Trondheim, Norway  - World Cup leader Anssi Koivuranta of Finland was in command to win the Nordic combined over 10 kilometres in Trondhein, Norway on Sunday.

Koivuranta enjoyed a 25.9-second advantage over second-placed Bjoern Kircheisen of Germany, with France's Jason Lamy Chappuis third, 34.6 seconds behind the Finn.

It was the second win of the season for Koivuranta, who led after the jump and finished in 24 minutes 41.9 seconds (138.0 points/24:41.9)

Trondheim, Norway - Magnus Moan claimed his first World Cup season win in Nordic combined skiing on Saturday in front of a Norwegian home crowd.

Placed 20th after the morning jumping portion, Moan proved the strongest in the 10-kilometres cross-country pursuit, clocking 24 minutes 49.6 seconds for his eighth career victory.

Frenchman Jason Lamy Chappuis trailed by seven tenth of a second in second place. Third-placed Anssi Koivuranta of Finland was 2.2 seconds off the pace as the top six finishers were separated by less than five seconds.

La Clusaz, France - Petter Northug of Norway gave another demonstration of his sprint finish strength on Saturday to win a 30 kilometres cross-country ski race.

Northug, 22, was unstoppable on the home stretch of the freestyle mass start race in France as he claimed his third career victory in 1 hour 19 minutes 26.5 seconds in driving snowfall.

Dario Cologna of Italy was beaten by three tenth of a second as he climbed a World Cup podium for the first time in his career in second place.

Compatriot Giorgio di Centa and Alexander Legkov of Russia were joint third, 2.0 seconds behind Northug.

Oslo - Norwegian Parliament Speaker Thorbjorn Jagland was Wednesday named new chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee that selects the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The veteran Social Democrat has also held the posts of prime minister and foreign minister but earlier this year said he was leaving Norwegian politics.

Jagland, 58, succeeds Ole Danbolt Mjos as head of the five-member Nobel Committee as of January 2009.

The committee is elected by parliament, and each member sits for six years.

Mjos will December 10 present the Nobel Peace Prize to former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari who was recognized for mediating in a number of international conflicts.