Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

German Terrorism Trial Puts Racism Fears In The Spotlight

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:42:00 +0000

Emotions ran high as Germany's biggest terrorism trial in decades got underway Monday in Munich. The hearing is on the murders of 10 people who were the victims of a nearly decadelong neo-Nazi terror campaign against the Turkish community there.

A group of Turkish immigrants scuffled with German security forces, trying to get into the courthouse to see the trial up close. They and many others among the 3 million people of Turkish descent who live in Germany are angry, saying the murders and aftermath highlight prevalent racism not just in society but in the government.

Germany Braces For Trial Blamed On Right-Wing Extremists

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:11:00 +0000

Germany is preparing for its most important terrorism trial in decades.

Ten people — eight of them of Turkish descent, one of Greek extraction and one a German policewoman, were gunned down between 2000 and 2007. For years, German authorities failed to see a link between the crimes, even though the same gun was used in all of the shootings.

'I Liked It,' Putin Says Of Protest By Topless Women

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:09:00 +0000

At a trade fair in Hanover, Germany, on Monday, three women protesters got quite close to Russian President Vladimir Putin before stripping off their blouses and shouting expletives at the Russian leader.

Putin, who was joined at the fair by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, later sarcastically thanked the women for calling the news media's attention to the gathering.

"As to this action, I liked it," Putin said, according to a German translator.

Jewishness On Display: 'Truth' By Way Of Discomfort

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:19:00 +0000

In Berlin's Jewish Museum, a new exhibit called "The Whole Truth" asks visitors uncomfortable and even absurd questions about Jews. One of the curators, Michal Friedlander, says it is intentionally provocative.

"The point is to get people talking about how they perceive Jews, particularly in Germany today," she says.

But some German Jews accuse the museum of going too far.

Visitors to the 30-part exhibit are bombarded with questions but given few answers.

German Anti-Euro Group Has Big-Name Backers

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 10:11:00 +0000

Transcript

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

European politicians seeking to abolish the euro are plentiful, but they tend not to win elections. So, when a political party was founded in Germany this month to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel's euro policies, her allies quickly dismissed the group as unpopular. But this party, called Alternative for Germany, may not be easy to ignore. The party supporters include economists and business leaders playing to a German electorate that is growing weary of bailing out the eurozone with German funds.

Long After Its Fall, Berlin Wall Is Focus Of New Protests

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:21:00 +0000

Protected by scores of German police officers, workers removed sections of a key remnant of the Berlin Wall before dawn Wednesday despite earlier protests demanding the concrete artifact of the Cold War be preserved.

The removal came as a shock to residents, just as it did on Aug.

What's Worked, And What Hasn't, In Gun-Loving Switzerland

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:32:00 +0000

Switzerland has an entrenched gun culture that is embraced by most of its 8 million citizens, some of them as young as 10 years old.

Every Swiss community has a shooting range, and depending on who is counting, the alpine country ranks third or fourth in the number of guns per capita.

"You can walk into a cafe in a town where there is a shooting festival and you'll see rifles hanging on the hat rack. It's just incredible.

German Prince Plans To Put Bison Back In The Wild

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:59:00 +0000

A small herd of European bison will soon be released in Germany's most densely populated state, the first time in nearly three centuries that these bison — known as wisents — will roam freely in Western Europe.

The project is the brainchild of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.

Germans Are Drinking Less Beer These Days, But Why?

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:19:00 +0000

For centuries, Germany has been synonymous with beer. Tourists flock from around the world to take part in the country's many beer festivals, including the famous Oktoberfest.

But officials say the German beer tradition is waning. A recent government report found Germans drink less beer now than they did a generation ago.

Germany's Housing Market Is Hot. Is It Overheating?

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 10:28:00 +0000

Few Western countries are as conservative about home ownership as Germany, where less than half the country's citizens own property.

German banks have tough lending rules. Would-be buyers are usually asked to provide hefty down payments to secure mortgages, meaning few Germans even think about buying a home until they are settled and financially secure.

But the European debt crisis appears to be changing the traditions around home ownership.

Egyptian Constitutional Referendum Appears To Have Passed

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 13:26:00 +0000

In Egypt, voters appear to have approved the controversial draft referendum on a proposed constitution in the first stage of the referendum held across half of the country yesterday.

The outcome is unofficial at this point as the government has said it will not announce official results until the referendum concludes in the rest of Egypt next Saturday. The vote is being held in two stages because a boycott by many judges who were supposed to supervise the elections.

Some Polling Issues As Egyptians Vote On Draft Constitution

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:17:00 +0000

Update at 2:54 p.m. ET: Voting Hours Extended:

Voter turnout on the first day of a referendum on Egypt's controversial draft constitution was so high in Cairo and nine other governorates that election officials decided to extend poll hours from 7 until 11 p.m. local time.

Shortly after the extension was announced, the state-funded al-Ahram newspaper posted on its website the results from one polling station in the northern governorate of Dakahlia where 49 votes were cast.

How Long Will Egypt's Protesters Stay Unified?

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:55:00 +0000

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

Protests in Egypt rage on, despite President Mohammed Morsi's offer in a televised speech last night to meet with his opponents. Demonstrators filled Cairo's streets again today. The opposition in Egypt is confident and they're displaying a newfound unity, something Egypt hasn't seen since the early days of the revolution that ousted Morsi's predecessor, Hosni Mubarak.

Ach! No End In Sight For Berlin Airport Woes

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:09:00 +0000

Germans are famous for their efficiency and being on time. But a much-delayed, expensive new airport in the German capital, Berlin, is rapidly destroying that reputation.

Located in the former East Berlin neighborhood of Schoenefeld, the new airport is to replace three others that serviced passengers in the once-divided city.

Opposition Protest In Cairo A Rare Show Of Unity

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:48:00 +0000

Protesters thronged to Tahrir Square on Tuesday night to protest the Egyptian president's recent decision to give himself and a committee drafting a new constitution unchecked power. It was the largest crowd at a demonstration in Egypt since Mohammed Morsi became president last summer and displayed a rare unity of the secular opposition in Egypt.