Ad astra per aspera
A suggestion that the full-length veil, or burqa, might be outlawed in France split the French government down the middle yesterday. The government's official spokesman, Luc Chatel, said that legislation might be introduced to ban full-length veils if it was proved that they were being "imposed" on Muslim women against their will. However, the Immigration Minister, Eric Besson, said legal action would "create unnecessary and unwelcome tensions" and re-open the anguished dispute which surrounded the decision in 2004 to ban Islamic headscarves, and other religious symbols, from state schools in France. President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking after the EU summit in Brussels, said he would address the subject in public on Monday but warned against surrendering to "emotional" arguments.
A suggestion that the full-length veil, or burqa, might be outlawed in France split the French government down the middle yesterday.
The government's official spokesman, Luc Chatel, said that legislation might be introduced to ban full-length veils if it was proved that they were being "imposed" on Muslim women against their will.
However, the Immigration Minister, Eric Besson, said legal action would "create unnecessary and unwelcome tensions" and re-open the anguished dispute which surrounded the decision in 2004 to ban Islamic headscarves, and other religious symbols, from state schools in France.
President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking after the EU summit in Brussels, said he would address the subject in public on Monday but warned against surrendering to "emotional" arguments.
Gordon Brown has admitted that he has been "hurt" by the personal attacks on him during the failed attempt to oust him this month, and said that he might move to teaching after he leaves office.Speaking to the Guardian in his first interview since the attempted coup by Labour backbenchers, the prime minister made an unprecedentedly frank series of observations on his time in office, reflecting that the recent weeks have been the worst of his political life. "To be honest, you could walk away from all of this tomorrow," he said. "I'm not interested in what accompanies being in power. I wouldn't worry if I never returned to all those places - Downing Street, Chequers ... And it would probably be good for my children." In an apparent acknowledgement of criticism of a lack of vision at the heart of government, the prime minister said he had found it hard to focus on strategic planning "as you have to deal with immediate events, like if a bank's going to go under".
Gordon Brown has admitted that he has been "hurt" by the personal attacks on him during the failed attempt to oust him this month, and said that he might move to teaching after he leaves office.
Speaking to the Guardian in his first interview since the attempted coup by Labour backbenchers, the prime minister made an unprecedentedly frank series of observations on his time in office, reflecting that the recent weeks have been the worst of his political life.
"To be honest, you could walk away from all of this tomorrow," he said. "I'm not interested in what accompanies being in power. I wouldn't worry if I never returned to all those places - Downing Street, Chequers ... And it would probably be good for my children."
In an apparent acknowledgement of criticism of a lack of vision at the heart of government, the prime minister said he had found it hard to focus on strategic planning "as you have to deal with immediate events, like if a bank's going to go under".
What Brown and many like him do not get, is that being a number-spewing leader is not impressive to most of the electorate. You can't be me, I'm taken
Nothing I've read about Brown suggests that what he does is reasonable. He doesn't just engage with heads of department about what he wants done, he will engage in correspondence at fairly junior levels. Which is absurd. keep to the Fen Causeway
A small throng of demonstrators arrived early ahead of British National Party leader Nick Griffin's "victory" speech in Blackpool. Ahead of the newly elected MEP's speech to a party rally, about 30 anti-fascism demonstrators converged outside the New Kimberley Hotel on the south promenade. They were joined by a similar number of police officers in high-visibility gear and plain-clothed officers patrolling around the hotel. Inside, scores of BNP members were arriving to sign in and prepare for the two-day Victory 09 event. The annual session was supposed to focus on party politics and be a debrief after the Euro elections in which Mr Griffin won a seat in the North West, and Andrew Brons was elected in Yorkshire and the Humber. But it was retagged Victory 09 following the far-right party's success.
A small throng of demonstrators arrived early ahead of British National Party leader Nick Griffin's "victory" speech in Blackpool.
Ahead of the newly elected MEP's speech to a party rally, about 30 anti-fascism demonstrators converged outside the New Kimberley Hotel on the south promenade.
They were joined by a similar number of police officers in high-visibility gear and plain-clothed officers patrolling around the hotel.
Inside, scores of BNP members were arriving to sign in and prepare for the two-day Victory 09 event.
The annual session was supposed to focus on party politics and be a debrief after the Euro elections in which Mr Griffin won a seat in the North West, and Andrew Brons was elected in Yorkshire and the Humber.
But it was retagged Victory 09 following the far-right party's success.
The remains of two bodies feared to be those of British hostages held in Iraq have been passed to Britain by the Iraqi authorities, the foreign secretary, David Miliband, said today.There was no immediate confirmation of who they were, he said, but the government's thoughts were with the families of five British hostages who were taken captive in Baghdad in May 2007."This is terrible moment of uncertainty and fear for them," said Miliband, who described the developments as "distressing"."We do not yet have confirmation of who they are. Forensic examinations are under way to establish their identities and the causes of death as soon as possible.
The remains of two bodies feared to be those of British hostages held in Iraq have been passed to Britain by the Iraqi authorities, the foreign secretary, David Miliband, said today.
There was no immediate confirmation of who they were, he said, but the government's thoughts were with the families of five British hostages who were taken captive in Baghdad in May 2007.
"This is terrible moment of uncertainty and fear for them," said Miliband, who described the developments as "distressing".
"We do not yet have confirmation of who they are. Forensic examinations are under way to establish their identities and the causes of death as soon as possible.
Two bodies feared to be those of British hostages held in Iraq have been handed over, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.Mr Miliband said forensic tests were being carried out on the remains to see if they were of two of the five Britons who were captured in Iraq in May 2007.
Two bodies feared to be those of British hostages held in Iraq have been handed over, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.
Mr Miliband said forensic tests were being carried out on the remains to see if they were of two of the five Britons who were captured in Iraq in May 2007.
Cars are being torched almost every night amid a sharp rise in left-wing crime in Berlin. Anger is set to peak with a mass protest on the site of Tempelhof airport on Saturday -- making it a burning issue for politicians. All that's needed is a bit of paraffin or some lighter fluid -- and a match. Tuck it under a tire and, after a few minutes, black smoke appears. Soon, the whole car is aflame -- by which time, the culprits have vanished into the night, leaving authorities helpless. In recent months, such scenes have been played out across Berlin almost every night.
Cars are being torched almost every night amid a sharp rise in left-wing crime in Berlin. Anger is set to peak with a mass protest on the site of Tempelhof airport on Saturday -- making it a burning issue for politicians.
All that's needed is a bit of paraffin or some lighter fluid -- and a match. Tuck it under a tire and, after a few minutes, black smoke appears. Soon, the whole car is aflame -- by which time, the culprits have vanished into the night, leaving authorities helpless. In recent months, such scenes have been played out across Berlin almost every night.
Photo gallery here.
Except when banks do it. Then it's called 'economics.'
