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French state schools have sent “dozens” of Muslim girls home for wearing a traditional robe banned in educational settings last week. The French education minister reported that almost 300 pupils arrived at school on Monday wearing the abaya, a long, loose over-garment that spans from the shoulders to the feet. Similar to the djellaba worn in North Africa or the qamis which is popular in West Africa, it is largely worn by women. Official figures reflect that 298 girls, mostly aged 15 and over, wore the garment to school in spite of the ban, most of whom agreed to change their clothes after being reprimanded by teachers. However, 67 girls refused to comply with the rules and were sent home. Now, they face further discussions between their schools and families; should they refuse to obey, they could face exclusion. Education minister Gabriel Attal announced the ban at the end of August in line with France’s secularist ban on religious signs in state schools and government buildings. For Mr Attal, the garments are “an infringement on secularism” and, in some cases, a bid to destabilise schools. Elsewhere, pupils and teachers alike have been banned from wearing a headscarf in state-run schools since 2004, and full-face veils have been banned in public since 2010. The rules also include the Jewish kippa. France has a long history of secularism, having enforced strict bans on religious imagery in schools since the 19th century to curb Catholic influence on public education. Critics of the new policy argue that abayas, worn by women, and khamis, the male garb, are no more than a fashion statement. They say the garments do not constitute an ostentatious sign of religion and should not be banned from classrooms under a 2004 law. Authorities fear that religious symbols are a gateway to Islamic radicalism, while some Muslims feel stigmatised by efforts to make them conform. Islam is the second largest religion in France. “Our schools are continually tested. We know that,” Mr Attal said at a news conference a week ahead of the start of the school year. He said that the wearing of abayas and khamis, a “new phenomenon,” has recently grown, and must be met with a firm response to tackle what sometimes amounts to “infringements, attempts at destabilisation.” Read More France set to ban Muslim students from wearing abaya in state schools French education minister bans long robes in classrooms in effort to defend nation's secular values France's Macron says schools will be 'intractable' in enforcing ban on robes often worn by Muslims France's Macron supports experimenting with uniforms in some schools amid debate over ban on robes

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Chef Michel Roux Jr has announced that he will be closing Le Gavroche, his two Michelin-starred restaurant, after 56 years. The former Masterchef: The Professionals judge said the decision had been made so he could spend “more time with his family”. Le Gavroche, located in Mayfair, central London, was opened in 1967 by French restaurateur brothers Albert and Michel Roux Sr. At the time it was the only French restaurant of its kind in London, offering classical French food and the highest standards of cooking and service. Roux Jr, son of Albert Roux, has run the restaurant since 1991, earning two Michelin stars – one of the most prestigious accolades in the restaurant business. Other celebrity chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White have “earned their stripes” at Le Gavroche, according to the restaurant’s website. In a lengthy Instagram post announcing the closure on Friday (18 August), Roux Jr announced the restaurant would be closing in January 2024. The chef, 63, said he had “very mixed emotions” about the decision to close, but that the restaurant’s name would “live on”. “This decision has not been made lightly,” Roux Jr wrote. “Le Gavroche means so much, not just to myself and the Roux family, but to the wider Gavroche team and you, our guests, who have become our family over so many years. “I have always felt that should Le Gavroche ever close, it must be on a high. Le Gavroche continues to be fully booked, week in, week out, but I have known for a while that I must make time for a better work/life balance, so I can spend more time with my family and on my other business ventures.” Roux Jr added that a series of “celebratory dinners”, starting in November, would be held until the restaurant’s closure. “This is not the end of Le Gavroche – the restaurant may be closing, but the name will live on,” he said. “I could not be more grateful for the restaurant team, who have loved the restaurant as if it were their own. “The entire team both past and present, will forever have my gratitude, and will always be considered as part of the Roux family.” He added: “And to you, our guests. Our success is all down to you. I would like to extend a personal thank you to every single person that has dined with us. Your support means everything to us.” As well as being part of the judging panel on MasterChef: The Professionals, Roux Jr has appeared as a guest chef on MasterChef Australia. He has also appeared on Ramsay’s show Hell’s Kitchen, and presented two series of Michel Roux’s French Country Cooking. Food critic and journalist Jay Rayner wrote: “Very few emails make my eyebrows genuinely raise. This one did. I totally understand the thinking but, boy that really is the end of something, allowing for the fact the name will live on.” Additional reporting by Press Association. Read More Britney Spears shares first statement after ‘shock’ Sam Asghari divorce: ‘I couldn’t take the pain anymore’ The best outdoor restaurants, terraces and rooftop bars in London to book now Tiffany Gomas: Woman in viral plane rant video shares tearful apology to fellow passengers The best outdoor restaurants, terraces and rooftop bars in London to book now What to know about eating raw oysters safely Michelle Obama had the same thing for breakfast each day ‘for most of her life’

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Eating a snack late at night carries significantly more negative health implications compared to snacking during the day, a new study has found. According to researchers at King’s College London, people who eat most of their snacks in the evening after 9pm saw larger spikes in their blood sugar compared to those snacked earlier in the day. The group who snacked later also had higher concentrations of fat in their blood compared to those who snacked earlier. The researchers studied data from 1,000 people who took part in the Zoe Predict study. The participants kept a food diary and wore blood sugar monitors in order to keep track of the impact of snacking. On average, they ate two snacks a day, with one in three “late evening snackers” eating most of their snacks after 9pm instead of between meals. High blood sugar and fat can lead to diabetes and heart disease, studies have found. People with diabetes are also more likely to have other conditions that raise the risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure. The Zoe Predict project is a group of in-depth nutritional research studies that aim to reveal how and why people respond differently to the same foods. Kate Bermingham, a postdoctoral fellow at King’s College London and lead author of the study, said: “Surprisingly little has been published on snacking, despite the fact that it accounts for 20 to 25 per cent of energy intake. “Predict followed a large number of people and captured detailed information on their snacking behaviours, allowing this in-depth exploration of snacking on health.” Researchers analysed the relationship between the number of snacks participants ate, the quality of the snacks and the timing with blood fats and insulin levels. Snacking on higher quality foods, which are described as foods that contain significant amounts of nutrients relative to the calories contained, was associated with better bodily responses. The study concluded that the most important factor in determining the body’s response is the quality of snacks, not how often or how much they are consumed. Foods like fruit or vegetables resulted in a better blood fat and insulin response compared to processed foods, such as biscuits and cake. Bermingham added: “Our study showed that the quality of snacking is more important than the quantity or frequency of snacking, thus choosing high quality snacks over the highly processed snacks is likely beneficial. “Timing is also important, with late night snacking being unfavourable for health. This may mean that, universally, snacking late in the evening and interrupting the overnight fasting window is detrimental to health.” The study was presented at a meeting of the American Society for Nutrition. Read More My Taylor Swift exercise class has led me down a luxury fitness rabbit hole Husband fired from family business after wife roleplayed with reborn dolls MrBeast YouTuber Kris Tyson comes out as transgender: ‘I’m excited to authentically be myself’ Scientists share the 8 habits that impact your lifespan the most Cara Delevingne says her journey to sobriety has been worth ‘every second/ Bisexual people ‘experience worse health than other adults’

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