Baden-W?rttemberg has become the first German state to ban headscarves in state schools. Unlike the controversial French ban, this one affects only teachers, not schoolgirls. Also unlike the French ban, this one is targeted solely at Muslim symbols; Christian and Jewish religious accessories remain permissible. (From the tageszeitung; link in German)
Category Archives: Western and Central Europe
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Ireland’s smoking ban claims a prominent victim, reports the BBC: Fine Gael TD (that’s like an MP, only in Irish) and justice spokesman John Deasy has been thrown off the front bench for lighting up outside the parliamentary bar. (The place has since been designated a smoking area; another Irish solution for an Irish problem.)
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If you’re off to the pub in Ireland, leave your ciggies at home. As of today. smoking is illegal in public workplaces. Those near the border may slip across to the wee North for a fag with their pint.
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Newly released polls from Spain show that the PSOE may have been in the lead before last Thursday. More discussion of this at Harry’s Place
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After Madrid, there’ll be a series of emergency EU meetings to discuss greater co-operation over terror
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Who did it? – Maria Farrell on the questions raised by Madrid
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Reaction to the Madrid bombings from the British Prime Minister’s office: “This terrible attack underlines the threat that we all continue to face from terrorism in many countries, and why we all must work together internationally to safeguard our peoples against such attacks and defeat terrorism”
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Spanish Interior Minister Angel Acebes says that ETA were responsible for the Madrid bombings
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Blogged coverage of Madrid from Iberian Notes