| Road ban for drink-drive Sugababe Pop star Amelle Berrabah of the Sugababes is banned from the roads for 14 months after admitting drinking and driving. bbc.co.uk |
Shooters take Commonwealth golds Scotland's Jon Hammond and England duo Richard Brickell and Parag Patel all win gold medals on the last day of the Commonwealth Games shooting competition. news.bbc.co.uk |
Merkel: Multiculturalism 'has failed' Chancellor's assertion that onus is on new arrivals to do more to integrate into German society stirs anti-immigration debateThe German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has courted growing anti-immigrant opinion in Germany by claiming the country's attempts to create a multicultural society have "utterly failed".Speaking to a meeting of young members of her Christian Democratic Union party, Merkel said the idea of people from different cultural backgrounds living happily "side by side" did not work.She said the onus was on immigrants to do more to integrate into German society."This [multicultural] approach has failed, utterly failed," Merkel told the meeting in Potsdam, south of Berlin, yesterday.Her remarks will stir a debate about immigration in a country which is home to around 4 million Muslims.Last week, Horst Seehofer, the premier of Bavaria and a member of the Christian Social Union – part of Merkel's ruling coalition – called for a halt to Turkish and Arabic immigration.In the past, Merkel has tried to straddle both sides of the argument by talking tough on integration but also calling for an acceptance of mosques.But she faces pressure from within the CDU to take a harder line on immigrants who show resistance to being integrated into German society.Yesterday's speech is widely seen as a lurch to the right designed to placate that element in her party.Merkel said too little had been required of immigrants in the past and repeated her argument that they should learn German in order to cope in school and take advantage of opportunities in the labour market.The row over foreigners in Germany has shifted since former central banker Thilo Sarrazin published a highly-controversial book in which he accused Muslim immigrants of lowering the intelligence of German society.Sarrazin was censured for his views and dismissed from the Bundesbank, but his book proved popular and polls showed Germans were sympathetic with the thrust of his arguments.One recent poll showed guardian.co.uk |
G20 ministers resist US pressure US proposals to set targets to reduce trade imbalances look to be running into opposition at the meeting of G20 finance ministers. bbc.co.uk |
A break from politics: back to the oldies charts | Michael Tomasky I thought we needed a little break from politics. My head hurts. So let's do something fun.The date was March 11, 1972. You remember it. All in the Family was the number one television show. Apollo 12 was headed to the moon. The maxiskirt was in. And Sears was selling its very few microwaves. Actually, I just made all those things up, but they seem plausible. I'm sure you'll correct me, as you always do.Ah, but what ruled the charts? Here, we have hard facts, culled from the Joel Whitburn book I keep handy for just such occasions. This was my wheelhouse. I was 11. I knew all 10 of these artists without looking. Ready? Go.1. Without YouHint: Written by Paul McCartney's proteges, and recorded by John Lennon's later drinking buddy2. Heart of GoldHint: You really should not need one here, so I won't give one3. The Lion Sleeps TonightHint: Originally by the Tokens in the early 60s; here, an individual artist with two first names4. Down by the Lazy RiverHint: Andy Williams' most famous discovery5. Everything I OwnHint: Schlocky group, but at the same time rather talented in their way; one-word name.6. Precious and FewHint: Another one-word name, with innocent sexual overtones7. A Horse with No NameHint: A trio of Neil Young manques with yet another one-word name8. Hurting Each OtherHint: very famous duo; not one of their better songs9. The Way of LoveHint: Maximo obscuro tune, but extremely famous female artist who by this time was part soloist, part part-time duo-ist, if you follow me10. Bang a Gong (Get It On)Hint: Think JurassicAnswers below the fold.Answers:1. Nilsson. From Nilsson Schmilsson, a great record still2. Neil Young, duh3. Robert John; ya hadda be there4. The Osmonds; they were chart monsters during this mercifully brief period5. Bread; if you're a musician, try and figure out the chords to If. It totally holds up.6. Climax; the slow-dance number of choice at my junior high7. America; a very strong record from which they fairly quickly slid downhill, even, alas, under George Martin's tutelage8. The Carpenters; did I mention that I saw them live around this time?9. Cher. So there.10. T. Rex, obviously.How did you do? Swarty, you out there? Where've you been? Share your memories, please, especially the embarrassing ones. I just admitted I saw the Carpenters, after all.United StatesMichael Tomaskyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |