Thursday, Feb 09th

LATEST:
You are here: International International Sarkozy cracks down on crime, immigrants

Sarkozy cracks down on crime, immigrants

GRENOBLE/PARIS--President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed tough measures on Friday to fight crime, delinquency and illegal immigration as he looks to shore up his support amid scandals and low ratings ahead of 2012 elections. Speaking in France's southeastern city of Grenoble, the scene of riots two weeks ago sparked by the death of a man of Arab origin who was fleeing the police, Sarkozy partly blamed immigration for a breakdown in society. "We are suffering from 50 years of lax immigration regulation which has led to a failure of integration," he said in a defiant speech. Sarkozy, whose "tough on crime" stance helped him win the 2007 election, has promised to "wage war" on urban violence following the riots, a move critics say is partly aimed at winning back right-wing voters. The National Front, severely squeezed by Sarkozy in 2007, has regained some support due to the economic crisis which has raised unemployment to 10 percent and several political scandals that have fed its accusations of a corrupt establishment. "French nationality should be stripped from anybody who has threatened the life of a police officer or anybody involved in public policing," Sarkozy said. "Nationality is earned and you have to be worthy of it." Police in the Grenoble area have received death threats since the riots. Sarkozy proposed a string of measures including sentences of up to 30 years for killing police, convicted criminals wearing electronic tags after release and a review of underage offenders of foreign origin receiving nationality at 18. A furore over alleged illegal political donations and tax evasion by France's richest woman has dogged his government and sent Sarkozy's approval ratings to all-time lows. His centre-right UMP party lost an ultra-safe parliamentary seat in a by-election this month, highlighting anger at the scandals and an unpopular planned pension reform. He has announced a cabinet reshuffle for October, which is likely to ditch members lured from the left and bring in trusted conservatives to see him through the 2012 presidential vote. Sarkozy's government already faces criticism for pushing through a ban on wearing a full veil in public, which opponents say discriminates against Muslims and creates a climate of suspicion and hostility towards immigrant communities. He said he was unconcerned by those who said his measures were an attack on civil liberties. "There is no stigmatisation, this is in the general interest for everybody. Values are disappearing and we have to stop this," he said.

Image
Meyers names members for Tourism Authority
Thursday, 09 February 2012
~Government picks Wendy Wathey~ PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism Franklin Meyers on Wednesday... Read more...
235 students apply for study financing
Thursday, 09 February 2012
~Initiatives being studied to attract students back home~ PHILIPSBURG--A total of 235 students have... Read more...
Image
PJ Patterson unhappy with pace of change
Thursday, 09 February 2012
ROUND HILL, Jamaica--Former Prime Minister of Jamaica PJ Patterson has registered his... Read more...
Lawyers block attempt to charge Top Cop for rape
Thursday, 09 February 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana--Lawyers for Commissioner of Police Henry Greene have secured an order barring... Read more...
Image
After stunning victories, Santorum seeks money
Thursday, 09 February 2012
MCKINNEY, Texas--Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum, a day after his stunning sweep of... Read more...
Obama birth-control rule stokes election-year fight
Thursday, 09 February 2012
WASHINGTON--The top Republican in the U.S. Congress on Wednesday denounced President Barack Obama's... Read more...
Image
Ousted at gunpoint, ex-president of Maldives takes to streets
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
MALE--The ousted president of the Maldives, credited with bringing democracy to the Indian Ocean... Read more...
Image
Haitians bound for Brazil languish in Peru's Amazon
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
INAPARI, Peru--Nearly 300 Haitians fleeing the poverty of their earthquake-ravaged homeland have... Read more...
Image
French deficit drops, auditor urges stronger action
Thursday, 09 February 2012
PARIS--A dive in the central government budget deficit last year due to one-off accounting items... Read more...
Image
Hungarian town suffers as Nokia announces big layoffs
Thursday, 09 February 2012
KOMAROM, Hungary--Veronika Szalai had just graduated from elementary school when Nokia, the Finnish... Read more...
Image
Triathlon Thoughts
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
Dear Editor, This letter is for my Dad. Dear Dad, today is your birthday and though you are not... Read more...
Cockfighting is a bloody form of animal cruelty
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
Dear Editor, Cockfighting, a blood sport in which roosters are placed in a ring and forced to fight... Read more...
Image
Capitales invest in St. Maarten youth
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
PHILIPSBURG—Members of the Quebec Capitales of the Canadian-American Professional Baseball League... Read more...
Image
India overcome middle-order slump to beat Sri lanka
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
PERTH-- India made heavy weather of a modest run chase before securing a four-wicket victory... Read more...
Image
A Minute With: Rachel McAdams on remembering her Vow
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
LOS ANGELES--Eight years ago, Rachel McAdams hit Hollywood's map in teary, romantic drama "The... Read more...
Image
Family, fashion dominate days of Carolina Herrera
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
NEW YORK--Designer Carolina Herrera didn't grow up dreaming of a fashion career. Born in Caracas,... Read more...
Image
The Northern Lights are Spectacular this Year!
Thursday, 09 February 2012
A strong solar flare from an active region of the sun caused a dramatic display of the aurora... Read more...
Image
Parrots as Pets!
Thursday, 09 February 2012
Taking a parrot home is like taking home a new born baby. There are many things one needs to know,... Read more...
Editorial - In the right direction
Thursday, 09 February 2012
It appears the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament is finally seeing the light with a motion... Read more...
Editorial - School bus drama
Tuesday, 07 February 2012
Monday's stabbing (see Tuesday paper) is the umpteenth violent incident on a school bus. While one... Read more...
Image
Thursday Feb. 09, 2012
Thursday, 09 February 2012
Image
Wednesday Feb. 08, 2012
Wednesday, 08 February 2012
Notices February 10
Thursday, 09 February 2012
Only notices and events of non-profit or educational organisations will be placed in the... Read more...
Notices February 8
Tuesday, 07 February 2012
Only notices and events of non-profit or educational organisations will be placed in the... Read more...