February 5, 2008 by asgard14.

The outspoken culture minister, Kim Howells, last night found himself at the centre of a race row after claiming that the time had come to stand up to the “idiots” of rap culture.

Mr Howells, who previously attacked exhibits at the Turner Prize show as “cold, mechanical conceptual bullshit”, launched into an extraordinary attack on black British music hours after the police had criticised the music industry for “glamorising guns”.

During a radio discussion on the killing of two black teenagers caught in the crossfire between rival gangs in Birmingham after a new year party, Mr Howells laid part of the blame at the door of British rappers.

“The events in Birmingham are symptomatic of something very, very serious,” he said. “For years I have been very worried about these hateful lyrics that these boasting macho idiot rappers come out with.

“It is a big cultural problem. Lyrics don’t kill people but they don’t half enhance the fare we get from videos and films. It has created a culture where killing is almost a fashion accessory.”

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February 2, 2008 by webmaster.

Russia’s armed forces will not only be stronger in future. They will also be better dressed. A couture collection of new military uniforms has been shown to President Putin by Valentin Yudashkin, the country’s famous clothing designer, at a fashion parade in the Defence Ministry headquarters.
Chisel-jawed servicemen and leggy female models stood to attention in chic fur collars, stylish peaked caps and goldembroidered tunics as Mr Putin, the Commander-in-Chief, examined the dashing new look on Monday.
He remained impassive while Mr Yudashkin and Vladimir Isakov, the Deputy Defence Minister, explained the finer details of the uniforms, but was said later to have approved the designs for general introduction.
The uniforms will get their first public display in Red Square on May 9 in a parade marking the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Controversially, Mr Putin is also reviving the Soviet-era practice of parading tanks and nuclear missiles on the square past Lenin’s tomb.

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