Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A SECOND RESORT on the French Riviera coast has announced a ban against burkinis, after Cannes banished the full-body swimsuit from its beaches.
The mayor of Villeneuve-Loubet told AFP that he made the decision to bar the burkini worn by some Muslim women because of sanitary reasons.
“I was informed that there was a couple on one of our beaches where the wife was swimming fully dressed,” Lionnel Luca said.
I considered that unacceptable for hygienic reasons and that in general it was unwelcome.
Yesterday the mayor of Cannes, famous for its annual film festival, said he had signed off on the burkini ban out of “respect for good customs and secularism” – a founding principle of the French republic.
Prohibiting the burkini has caused an uproar with anti-racism organisations and human rights groups threatening to go to court to seek to overturn the “deeply worrying” ban.
Islamic State
In the city of Marseille this week, a waterpark cancelled plans to host a private event for women wearing burkinis after the proposal sparked an uproar.
The issue comes at a highly sensitive time for relations with Muslims in France after two attacks last month linked to the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.
Mayor Luca referred to the attacks in disputing charges that the burkini ban was discriminatory, saying it was intended “to avoid any disturbance to public order in the region which was hit by attacks”.
On 14 July the nearby Riviera city of Nice was the target of an attack claimed by IS which killed 85 people, when an Algerian ploughed a truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day.
And on 26 July, a priest was killed in his church in northwestern France by two attackers who had proclaimed their allegiance to IS.
Islamic dress is a controversial issue in France, where the full-face veil is banned in public places. But there is no ban on wearing religious symbols or clothing.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Bill Gates does amazing work for the third world, so not a bad person to see topping the list.
I’m sure he could be doing more if he’s got 59 billion in his account.
@Julian – he is givening most of it away to Charities in his will.
I’m pretty sure theres a couple of electricians working for the ESB that should be on the list…
But are they happy….?
ya
Bill looks happy :)
I’ve met David Koch many times… Nice guy and yes he’s happy.
No, but they can cry in their $200m yacht!
Hmm that can’t be right! Where is the president of Ireland on that list ?????????
You know what is sickening those five people have more than 250 billion of the worlds resources. How many lives could they save, how could they make the world a better place if they gave even half of it away. Everything that’s wrong with the world is manifested in that list, pure greed.
Warren Buffett is also heavily involved in the Gates Foundation and has allowed his name to be put on Obama’s new tax measures that intend to close tax loop holes for the mega wealthy. It will never pass gestation but it has good intentions.
Lest we also forget that Gates was a ruthless cut throat towards his competitors even by American standards. I guess he wants to repent or polish his legacy or both.
No time like the present, why doesn’t he donate ten or twenty billion now, I’m sure he’ll survive.
You the man
In all seriousness, who cares?
You seem you care – you didn’t have to click the link to the story if you didn’t care
I can’t believe David Hasselhof didn’t make it into the top ten…?
He must be drinking more than I thought.
David Koch only has $25? I might have more!
have your say