of the culture in which I was raised which is regrettable in an

of the culture in which I was raised, which is regrettable in an avid supporter of multi-culturalism," the statement said.The decision to grant his brother a passport will undoubtedly fuel wild speculation that Mr Fayed has been the victim of a conspiracy, involving the Government, the secret intelligence service and the Royal Family. Some still resent his success in buying in 1985 the Knightsbridge store.Inside Harrods yesterday, it was business as usual as hordes of shoppers flooded up the bizarrely titled Egyptian Escalators with the wafting sound of Lord Lloyd-Webber's show tunes But outside there was a sense of bewilderment. "I cannot understand you people," said Nona Gregory, from Pennsylvania. "If you don't like this man, you should not have let him buy the store." Mr Fayed would have endorsed her views Instead he had to console himself with his birthright. "I live with my Egyptian passport, which is the most fantastic civilisation and the most fantastic country in the world.". NEWLY QUALIFIED teachers who fail to meet new national standards after a year will be sacked within 10 days and effectively barred for life from working in English state schools.

New teachers will be inspected in the classroom every six weeks as part of an "induction year" for staff which comes into force today. Teachers will have their performance reviewed by senior staff every half term and face formal appraisals by headteachers each term. The assessments will include written reports about classroom skills and measures of exam performance, according to guidelines published yesterday. Teachers who fail cannot repeat their induction year, and so cannot be registered as a state school teacher, although trainees will have a right of appeal against the decision.Estelle Morris, the Education Minister, said: "By giving new teachers the support and time to develop their skills we will raise the standards of those entering the profession. I expect most teachers to complete the induction period successfully but those who do not will not be eligible to teach in our schools."It is important that we give teachers the time and support to consolidate their skills."The 12-month induction replaces the "probationary year", which was abolished by the Conservatives in 1991. At present there is no formal assistance for staff once they leave training college.Under the new rules, all new teachers will have an experienced teacher to act as a tutor, who will sit in on lessons and offer advice and training. New staff will be given about three hours a week for on-the-job training. It will include watching experienced staff and advanced-skills "superteachers" in action to help improve performance, and could involve trips to high- performing "beacon" schools.

Failing schools will have to have permission to take on newly qualified staff.Teachers must show that they can maintain "high expectations of pupil discipline" and "set clear targets for improvement of pupils' achievement". They also have to plan ahead and report to parents.The targets for new teachers echo plans for new annual appraisals, due to be introduced next year as part of the Government's proposals for reforming teachers' pay.Nigel de Gruchy, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, welcomed the new measures, but said it was unfair to judge teachers by exam results so early in their career. He said: "We have to check things very carefully in teachers' first year so that we minimise the problem of teacher incompetence. But we would raise a big question mark over the link to pupil performance for a teacher in their first year.". THE APPARENTLY stalled Ulster peace process "inched forward" yesterday when the British and Irish Prime Ministers held crisis talks in Downing Street.