Cannes bans burqini

Anti-racism organisations and human rights groups yesterday vowed to overturn a "deeply worrying" ban on the wearing of burqinis -- full-body swimsuits -- on the beaches of Cannes. Cannes' mayor David Lisnard signed off on the ruling that "access to beaches and for swimming is banned to anyone who does not have (bathing apparel) which respects good customs and secularism," which is a founding principle of the French republic. France has had a full burqa and Niqab ban since 2004.