France to issue citizens' handbook on how to be more French to every child
French children are to be given a "citizen's handbook" to teach them to be better republicans, as part of national identity measures announced by the government today.
Schools will be ordered to fly the French flag and to have a copy of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in every classroom.
The measures, announced by the French prime minister, François Fillon, are the first to emerge from the country's controversial debate on national identity.
Under new rules, immigrants who come to live in France, who since 2007 have had to sign a contract of welcome and integration, will have to take part in a more solemn ceremony to become French citizens. They will also be expected to demonstrate a better command of the French language and a greater knowledge of the "values of the republic". All candidates will be required to sign a "charter" outlining their rights and responsibilities. U.S. Stocks Retreat on Concern Europe Finances to Hurt Recovery
U.S. stocks slid and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed below 10,000 for the first time since November amid concern that deteriorating European government finances will derail the economic recovery.
Bank of America Corp. and American Express Co. lost at least 2.8 percent for the biggest declines in the Dow. Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. fell 4 percent to lead the Standard & Poor's 500 Index lower after its forecast for operating expenses topped some analysts' estimates. Home Depot Inc. rose 2.2 percent and Google Inc. climbed 0.4 percent on analyst upgrades.
The S&P 500 decreased 0.9 percent to 1,056.74 at 4:07 p.m. in New York, its biggest Monday drop since October. The Dow slipped 103.84 points, or 1 percent, to 9,908.39. Almost four stocks retreated for each that rose on the New York Stock Exchange. All 10 major groups in the S&P 500 fell today.
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