Schengen system threatened by border clampdowns
VIENNA: The two-decade-old era of border-free travel in Europe was unravelling yesterday as countries imposed controls on their frontiers in response to an unprecedented influx of migrants.
Germany’s surprise decision to restore border controls on Sunday had a swift domino effect, forcing neighbours to shut their own frontiers as thousands of refugees pressed north and west across the continent.
Austria sent its military to guard its frontier with Hungary after thousands of migrants crossed the border on foot overnight. Slovakia said it, too, would shut its own borders with Austria and Hungary.
The measures were the biggest threat to the Schengen system which since 1995 had eliminated frontier posts across Europe. – Reuters LONDON: Helen Mirren has spoken of her irritation at seeing men walking around with their arms “slung round their girlfriends’ shoulders”, claiming the act was akin to “ownership”.
Mirren, 70, said if she could give her younger self one piece of advice, “it would be to use the words ‘f*** off ’ more frequently”.
”It’s like ownership. Of course, when you’re young, you want the guy to take your hand and look after you. But when I see girls being leant on, I want to say, ‘Tell him to get his damned arm off your shoulder.’”
The Queen actress has previously called for a halting of the use of the insulting word “sassy” to describe women. Earlier this year, Mirren said she detested being described as an actress who took on “feisty” roles. “Only women are feisty,” she said. “It just makes me gag.
“We need to find new words for female power and funniness and smartness.” – The Independent