MONTH THAT WAS

Euro: co-existence crisis, French Minister
Paris: The European single currency could break up and Europe itself unravel if political leaders fail to tackle the region’s debt crisis, France’s minister for European affairs warned.
"The situation is serious….the euro can explode and Europe unravel". Jean Leonetti told France’s Canal Plus television hours ahead of what is being seen as a crucial European summit on the issue in Brussels.
He said that if possible all 27 members of the European Union should be involved in talks on tackling the debt crisis but that non-eurozone members might have to be excluded. "When there are some in the 27 who say ‘I’m not interested in what you are talking about because I never want to join the euro’," like Britain for example, "this should not cause paralysis," he said.
The most difficult point of contention at the summit would be "discipline," he said, a reference to France and Germany’s efforts to force other eurozone members to accept legal limits on their budget deficits and automatic sanctions for countries who break the rules.

GUV gets 14 years in prison – Senate seat auction
Chicago: Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison for trying to auction President Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat in 2008 and several other corruption charges.
He became the second governor after George Ryan to be sentenced for corruption, who was spent 6.5 years in jail for fraud and racketeering charges in 2006, PTI reports.
Blageojevich’s sentence came following his conviction at trials in 2010 and 2011 on 18 felony counts of corruption during his tenure as governor of Illinois, including his effort in 2008 to illegally trade appointment of a United States Senator in exchange for USD 1.5 million in campaign contributions or other personal benefits, the report said.

Cambridge: Shaking hands to shaking heads!
London: There is no need to shake hands with foreign students – that’s Cambridge University’s latest advice to its academics.
In its directive, the UK based world-renowned institution has cautioned all its academics against automatically shaking their hands with foreign students in case it causes offence. ‘The Daily Telegraph’ reported.
The varsity has sent out the directive to its administration tutors explaining that some people are culturally sensitive of greeting. It advises that ‘suitable body language conveys welcome just as well".
Academics were sent an alert advising them to read the instructions. Under the headline: ‘Welcoming the Applicant’, the instructions add: "There is a certain amount of cultural sensitivity relating to handshakes. Suitable body language conveys welcome just as well."
However, the directive sent out by the university’s Admissions office has caused anger and consternation among the dons who say it is treating them like "social misfits".
"This is ridiculous. It would be obvious if someone objected to handshakes and we would know what to do. We don’t need instructions," an academic was quoted by the British newspaper as saying. But, the university’s press office said the instructions applied to Muslim women and certain people with disabilities.
"It is not banning handshakes, it is just saying that best practice in some cases such as Muslim women who do not want to shake hands and certain people with disabilities. Dons should read the situation properly and bear in mind that not all people want to shake hands," a spokesman said.
Saudi man sentenced to 2,080 lashes
Riyadh: A man in Saudi Arabia convicted of raping his daughter has been sentenced to 13 years in prison and 2,080 lashes. A court in the city of Mecca found the man guilty of raping his teenage daughter for seven years while under the influence of drugs, the Gulf News reports. According to The Okaz newspaper, the man will receive the lashes in stages throughout his prison sentence. Saudi religious police said the girl’s uncle tipped them off regarding the crime. Lashing is one of the penalties available to the clerics serving as judges in Saudi Arabia and issue rulings according to the kingdom’s strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Citizenship oath: Canada bans veils
Toronto: Women aspiring for Canadian citizenship have been barred from wearing burqa or Islamic hijab when they take oath of citizenship, Immigration Minister Jason Kenny said, PTI reports.
The move was announced by the minister, who said it was necessary as women with face coverings could not be fully identified at ceremonies to swear-in new citizens, the ‘Montreal Gazette’ reported.
The ban has triggered widespread concerns among the Islamic community here as they fear that it could lead to similar ban in other settings.
Canada has now joined countries like France, Belgium, Australia and Netherlands who have banned women from covering their face in public. In Australia, the ban has been imposed in only two states.
The Immigration Minister said that there were misgivings about covering of faces by women. He said the feelings were that new citizens should take oath in full view of other fellow citizens.
Kenny said he had received complaints from lawmakers and judges who said that they found it difficult to know whether individuals who masked their faces were actually reciting the oath or not.
The conservative minister said the issue went deep into the heart of Canada’s identity as a nation valued its openness and equality.
The Gazette quoted Salam Elmenyawi, head of the Muslim Council of Montreal, as labeling the ban an attempt by the conservative government to divide Canadian Muslims.
The minister made the announcement in the French speaking province of Quebec, which is in the middle of a raging debate on how much Canada should bend to accommodate newcomers.
Though the ban went into force with immediate effect, the Immigration Minister assured that the authorities did not intend to go further by drafting laws to ban women from wearing veil in public.
Quebec Province has already banned veils at polling booths on election day.

All-religion prayer meet
An all-religion prayer was held in the presence of Governor Ram Naresh Yadav on the occasion of 27th anniversary of Bhopal gas tragedy. Tributes were paid to those who died in Bhopal gas tragedy with leaders of various religious verses from their respective scriptures. A two-minute silence was also be observed.

‘No pay, no work’ for MPs
New Delhi: With Parliament being stalled for the sixth consecutive day, BJP MP Varun Gandhi said MPs should face ‘no work, no pay’ if minimum business is not transacted, PTI reports.
"Good news about the government accepting united opposition’s demand of adjournment motion in Parliament. 6th straight day of no work. Current Lok Sabha has had fewest working hours since 1985. Time has indeed come for ‘no pay’ for MPs if minimum business not transacted, Gandhi said on Twitter.
He further said he felt "silly, getting paid to sit around drink coffee in Central Hall."
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Smriti Irani took on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his Twitter comments that MPs disrupting Parliament should not get any pay, accusing him of creating more controversies.
"Instead of answering questions on fears of small traders, small shopkeepers and unemployed youth, the chief minister of J.K is using his Twitter handle to create more controversies," Irani said.