.France has deported to Egypt a radical imam who for months had been inciting followers in Paris area mosques to rise up against the West, the government said.
Described as dangerous, Ali Ibrahim Al-Sudani was detained and sent back to Egypt under an emergency deportation order, Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said in a statement. .
The Egyptian national was the 29th imam or Islamic preacher to have been deported from France since 2001, according to the interior ministry.
Mr Sudani, aged around 27, showed “contempt for our society’s values and incited violence,” he added.
French security agencies had been tracking Sudani since 2008 and found his Jihadist teachings to be “quite hardline,” said an official close to the case.
In all, 129 Islamic radicals have been expelled from French territory, it added.
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.France has become the third country to close its embassy in Yemen, one day after the United States and Britain closed theirs.
All three countries cited the same reason – continuing threats from terrorist group Al Qaeda.
The closures increase the pressure on Yemen to deal with its Al Qaeda cell, which has been blamed for the failed attempt to blow up an American airliner on Christmas Day.
Germany and Japan are now conducting only essential business from their embassies.
Reports from Yemen say security forces have lost track of six trucks full of arms and explosives. .
.French world number 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has pulled out of the season-opening ATP event in Doha starting Monday with a wrist injury, organisers said Friday.
“I am really disappointed not to be able to participate in this tournament owing to a wrist injury. . I hope to be able to play in the future (in Doha) but for now I hope the tournament goes off well – Happy New Year to everyone,” Tsonga said in a statement.
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Murray has this season switched his opening week focus to Perth, Australia, as he bids for Hopman Cup glory alongside fellow Briton Laura Robson
.Veteran French rocker Johnny Hallyday has cancelled his farewell tour in order to recover after emergency surgery in the United States.
The 160,000 fans who bought tickets for the 24 concerts across France, which had been due to start January 8, will be reimbursed.
Doctors woke him on Tuesday after several days in a drug-induced coma.
The 66-year-old was hospitalised last week in Los Angeles after complications from a back operation performed in Paris last month.
Though little known abroad, Hallyday has sold more than 100 million albums and played 45 major tours in a career that began in the 1960s.
Hallyday’s son David said at the weekend that his father’s life was “out of danger”.
.New Zealand has filed an official complaint with the International Rugby Board after prop Tony Woodcock suffered abrasions around his eyes during Saturday’s 39-12 win over France in Marseille.
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen says the team had asked the citing commissioner to investigate an incident late in the match.
“We asked the citing commissioner to have a look at it and we’ll leave it in his hands.
“There’s no doubt Tony got a facial, that’s how he described it,” he said.
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The officer has 48 hours to decide whether any player has a case to answer, but Woodcock says television footage of the incident was inconclusive and is happy to let the matter rest
.Former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu returned to rugby union overnight with French semi-professional side Marseille-Vitrolles.
Once the most feared man in world rugby, the 34-year-old, who played 63 Tests for New Zealand between 1994 and 2002 before his career was cut short by kidney disease, returned in a 63-18 win over Montmelian in the equivalent of the third division.
Playing at centre, the former winger did not really shine and failed to score a try but said he was happy to have played again.
Lomu, who burst into the limelight at the 1995 World Cup, signed a two-year contract for the Marseille side earlier this year.
“I need to feel more confident and be able to communicate with my team-mates better but this was a first match and I wasn’t expecting miracles.
“I’m rather satisfied,” Lomu told reporters.”
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. I did my best
.The world’s largest airliner, an Air France A380, touched down in New York after completing the superjumbo jet’s first Atlantic crossing from Europe to the United States.
The Airbus plane, carrying 538 passengers, left Paris earlier in the day and landed on Friday at 1:07pm (local time) at JF Kennedy Airport, several minutes ahead of schedule, under crisp blue skies.
Air France is the first European airline to put the giant aircraft into service, but the fourth worldwide after Singapore Airlines, Gulf-based Emirates and Qantas.
Two fire engines met the plane with a watery salute from their hosepipes as it taxied to its gate.
Air France will launch regular A380 flights across the Atlantic on November 23.
Passengers included 380 people who bought their tickets in an Air France auction to benefit disadvantaged children.
But major production and delivery delays mean the commercial success of the A380, the pride of Airbus and parent company EADS, has yet to be secured. The fleet of 12 huge planes will also serve Johannesburg, starting in February, and then Tokyo.
“A fantastic flight,” said one passenger, Bernard Boluvi. . You hardly feel the take-off and landing. “It’s a very quiet and stable plane.
“It doesn’t feel like one big cinema, because the plane is well divided into different sectors,” he said.”
Michel Schmitt, 45, also praised the lack of noise aboard and said the double-decker felt more roomy than other jumbos.
“Air France chose the most dense configuration,” he said.
But Gerard Jouany, 64, a journalist specialising in aviation, said he found the plane rather cramped and emphasising the bus aspect of Airbus.
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.Melbourne Storm lock Dallas Johnson has accepted an offer “too good to refuse”, signing a three-year contract with Super League club Catalans Dragons.
The Storm reluctantly agreed to grant the two-time NRL premiership-winning forward an early release from his contract, which had been due to run until the end of the 2011 season.
“This was without doubt the toughest decision of my career.
“The Storm, as a club, has meant so much to me,” said Johnson, 26, who played in the last four State of Origin series for Queensland. .
“I made my debut in Storm colours, represented Queensland and Australia while playing for them, and have made some life-long friends.
“The opportunity to continue my rugby league career with the security of a long-term deal and in such a beautiful part of the world was one that I couldn’t refuse.
“But there are other areas of life I want to explore and living abroad and travelling is absolutely up there on the list.
“For a guy his size, to do what he does on the field, week after week, is simply incredible,” Bellamy said.”
Storm coach Craig Bellamy, who made his debut as coach on the same night Johnson played his first NRL game, described the hard-hitting lock as the toughest rugby league player he had seen.
“He’s a popular guy amongst the players and he will be missed by all.
“He’s the toughest player I have ever seen.”
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.Australia will meet England in the Four Nations final after the Kangaroos demolished France 42-4 and England defeated New Zealand 20-12 overnight.
Penrith Panthers centre Michael Jennings grabbed a hat-trick on debut while twin brothers Brett and Josh Morris each picked up doubles in their first Test together.
Johnathan Thurston (three) and Kurt Gidley (two) shared the goal-kicking duties.
Jennings’s Penrith colleague Luke Lewis was the other contributor in the nine-try rout, with Australia conceding the lone four-pointer to Olivier Elima in the second half.
A double from Peter Fox and an early try to Kyle Eastmond denied New Zealand a place in the decider, and a World Cup final rematch with Australia.
Meanwhile, England’s 18-6 half-time lead was enough to hold off the Kiwis in their clash. Ben Matulino scored New Zealand’s other try.
Kevin Sinfield nailed three conversions and a penalty, while Bryson Goodwin scored a try and two goals for the Kiwis. .
– Jennings stakes claim –
Jennings has staked his claim for a spot in the Four Nations final on the back of his scintillating hat-trick, and the Panther insists he can handle the pressure.
After missing out on a place at the 2008 World Cup, Jennings admits he is desperate to play a part in next week’s showpiece.
Jennings, Panthers Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in 2007, completed his hat-trick as Australia hammered home its advantage in the second half.
“I was pleased, obviously the team performance wasn’t as good as we would have wanted it to be but a debut hat-trick is pretty special.
“I’ve did my bit with my tries and I was really happy with the way I played but now it’s up to the coach,” said Jennings.
“A few guys were given a chance and I think it wasn’t just me who made the most of it.
“I was confident of doing well and I’m confident I can do well again if I get the nod.
“We weren’t flying by any measures but we were clinical and that is ultimately what you’re after.
“As a team we weren’t great in the first-half but I don’t think anybody let themselves down in the second-half.
Lewis went over to score shortly after the break with Brett Morris grabbing two tries in five minutes to hammer home the Australian advantage.”
– Rout –
The French held out for 22 minutes before Jennings crossed twice in the space of five minutes to set the Kangaroos on course for a comfortable win.
But after the disappointment of the World Cup final, head coach Tim Sheens called on his side to step up another gear in next week’s final.
Although Elima grabbed a consolation score for France, Jennings registered his third try of the game before Josh Morris crossed twice to match his twin brother’s haul.
“In the first half we were too sloppy and there were too many times where we knocked-on or we dropped the ball or we missed the pass.
“We were OK, we got the win and we scored some tries but I don’t think we really got going,” said Sheens.
“To be fair to the players they improved but I still don’t think we really found our true level and that is something we’ll have to rectify next week.
“To be fair to the players they improved but I still don’t think we really found our true level and that is something we’ll have to rectify next week.
“I don’t think whoever we play we’ll be able to play like that and win.
“No disrespect to France but just because we did enough to beat them it doesn’t mean we did enough to satisfy me.
“I think Michael Jennings played well and when it comes to picking my team that will be in my thoughts.
“I said before the game that I hadn’t finalised my team for next week and that remains the case.”
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.New evidence has emerged that shows faulty equipment may have caused the Air France crash off the Brazilian coast this year.
The plane took off from Rio de Janeiro bound for Paris, but flew into a thunderstorm three hours later and then plunged into the Atlantic – 228 passengers and crew died.
Three months after Air France flight 447 went down in the Atlantic, relatives of the 228 victims are still searching for answers.
The plane’s manufacturer Airbus has now told the ABC’s Foreign Correspondent program that the onboard weather radar could not detect ice at high altitudes.
“The French families are waiting for explanations about why this tragedy happened, technical explanations and acknowledgements of responsibility from all the companies involved in this crash,” he said.
Christopher Guillot-Noel lost his brother.
Safety expert Captain John Mahon has been independently investigating the crash for a British law firm representing the families.
He is among a group of French families who hope to sue the airline and the plane’s manufacturer Airbus.
“Some of the messages that were transmitted by the aircraft would seem to suggest that faulty pitot tubes or speed sensors were instrumental in this accident,” he said.
He says the disaster could have been prevented.
It is believed they iced-over at high altitudes, sending the wrong information about the flight speed to the pilots.
Before the plane crashed, a routine maintenance message from the plane sent back to France reported the pitots or sensors were not working.
After the crash, Air France pilots threatened to go on strike if the faulty pitots or air speed sensors were not replaced.
Both Air France and Airbus manuals offered advice on how to deal with the faulty sensors, but the pilots union says the advice was contradictory. Now the planes manufacturer Airbus says the onboard weather radar was also not working.
– Equipment fault –
Air France replaced the sensors after the crash.
The vice-president of the flight test division at Airbus, Fernando Alonso, said the Airbus onboard radar could not see ice particles.
This contributed to the series of confusing or false data sent to the pilot..
“You have weather radar which is a very. it’s an equipment which is fitted on every single aeroplane,” he said..”
Rhe black boxes and voice recorders still have not been recovered, making it hard to get an accurate picture of what went wrong.
“I believe the ice could not be detected.
“It’s highly desirable that data is streamed live from the aircraft to the maintenance base,” he said.
“It’s highly desirable that data is streamed live from the aircraft to the maintenance base,” he said.
“It is absurd that air safety depends on black boxes which sometimes cannot be recovered, or if they are recovered then the data cannot be properly transcribed because the boxes are damaged.”
The official investigation into the crash of Air France flight 447 continues.
Watch Foreign Correspondent tonight at 8:00pm (AEDT) on ABC 1.