Tory Councillor Suspended for Complaining that Candidates Have 'Foreign' Names
THE TELEGRAPH: A Conservative councillor has been suspended after complaining that the party's would-be MPs do not have "normal" English names.

Peter Hobbins, a former parliamentary candidate, wrote a series of emails to fellow party members complaining that applicants for the Orpington seat in Kent sounded "foreign".

He also complained that candidates approved by Conservative Central Office all mention Africa on their CVs, describing their cover letters as "ridiculous" and "pathetic".

"I have been contacted by a Mr Dilon Gumraj and a Zerha Zaidi and others who are all on the approved Conservative Parliamentary Candidates list," he wrote in one email. "Not one of them has a ‘normal’ English name." >>> Matthew Moore | Saturday, November 21, 2009

Pakistan Suspended from the Commonwealth
Photo of Pervez Musharraf courtesy of the BBC
BBC: Pakistan has been suspended from the Commonwealth because of its imposition of emergency rule, the organisation has announced after a meeting in Uganda.

Secretary General Don McKinnon said Pakistan was being suspended "pending restoration of democracy and the rule of law".

Earlier Pakistan's Supreme Court dismissed a legal challenge to Pervez Musharraf's re-election as president.

The president has said he will now step down as head of the army.

Mr McKinnon said the 53-member Commonwealth had reached the decision by consensus.

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the "decision was taken in sorrow, not in anger", and that he hoped the group would be able to welcome Pakistan back soon.

"We're all clear that the choice is for Pakistan now, to make the changes that are in its interest nationally and internationally, and then to re-enter the Commonwealth as a proud and valued member," Mr Miliband added. Pakistan barred from Commonwealth (more)

NZZ:
Commonwealth beschliesst Aussetzung von Pakistans Mitgliedschaft: Bedingungen nicht erfüllt

Mark Alexander