Thieves Target ‘Liquid Gold’ as Olive Oil Prices Soar
Another brazen theft of Spanish olive oil — this time worth over half a million dollars — is
2023-09-06 13:23
French schools send ‘dozens’ of Muslim girls home over traditional robe
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
2023-09-06 04:24
Brexit Will Be Reversed Within 20 Years, Says Ex-M&S CEO Stuart Rose
The UK is likely to reverse Brexit within two decades according to retail veteran Stuart Rose, who briefly
2023-09-05 21:24
European Stocks Decline as Weak China Data Weighs; Luxury Slides
European equities fell at open on Tuesday as disappointing China data added to concern over the nation’s fragile
2023-09-05 16:26
LVMH-Backed Luxury Watch Site Hodinkee Cuts a Fifth of Jobs
Hodinkee, an online watch retailer and news site backed by Bernard Arnault’s LVMH Luxury Ventures, is cutting almost
2023-09-05 12:46
Top Green Fund Backs Deforestation-Free Crops With $189 Million
The world’s biggest global climate fund has approved a $189 million commitment to &Green facility to support agriculture
2023-09-04 23:59
Putin, Erdogan Talks End Without Reviving Ukraine Grain Deal
President Vladimir Putin said he wouldn’t revive a UN-backed deal that had eased global food prices by allowing
2023-09-04 23:46
Alien Species Threaten Food Supply, Public Health And Cost $423 Billion
Non-native species -- displaced either by global trade and travel or by climate change -- pose “a severe
2023-09-04 20:55
Ukraine Recap: Zelenskiy Aide Hopes Offensive Will Pick Up Pace
Ukraine is hoping that the tempo of its southern counteroffensive will intensify soon, Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s deputy chief of
2023-09-04 20:20
Watches of Switzerland Directors Purchase £890,000 of Stock
Watches of Switzerland Group Plc directors bought $1.1 million of stock, after Rolex SA’s plans to buy luxury
2023-09-04 18:21
Nestle Divests Peanut-Allergy Drug on Disappointing Uptake
Nestle SA sold its peanut-allergy medicine business to Swiss health-care group Stallergenes Greer after the food company gave
2023-09-04 14:56
Mercedes Bets on Range Boost in Swipe at Tesla’s EV Leadership
Mercedes-Benz Group AG unveiled an electric vehicle with a longer range than any Tesla Inc. model on the
2023-09-04 02:59