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 19:28:00 +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 20:30:00 +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 20:58:00 +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 17:33:00 +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.

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 12:33:00 +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.

A Wave Of Plagiarism Cases Strikes German Politics

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 10:32:00 +0000

More than half a dozen politicians in Germany are caught up in an embarrassing cheating scandal that last year cost the German defense minister his job.

The country's education minister is also implicated.

A German City With Debt Problems Of Its Own

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 22:37:00 +0000

Germany, the economic engine of Europe, has been a key player in bailing out the Continent's most troubled economies.

Yet there are places in the former West Germany — like Oberhausen — that are struggling with their own debt problems, even as they pay hefty sums to revitalize former East German cities with transfers known as "Solidarity Pact" payments.

Borrowing To Stay Afloat — And Pay Out

Can't Change Your Money In Iran? Try Afghanistan

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 22:31:00 +0000
The western Afghan city of Herat has become a thriving hub for the money exchange business, a consequence of geography and politics.

Iran Turns To Afghanistan When Laundering Money

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 22:03:00 +0000
There may be international sanctions against Iran, but not in Afghanistan's border provinces with the Islamic Republic where trade and money-laundering are thriving. Every day, millions in Iranian currency are brought in by taxis ferrying passengers. The Iranian money is exchanged for dollars, which are then shipped back to Iran. American officials recently ordered the Afghan banks to crack down on this phenomenon and it appears to be having some effect. But Afghan money changers claim the money-laundering will never stop unless border guards stop accepting bribes and letting the Iranians in.

Amid Strains, U.S. Begins Wind-Down In Afghanistan

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:04:00 +0000
When the U.S.

U.S. Hands Over Control Of Bagram Prison To Kabul

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 09:17:00 +0000
Transcript
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
It's MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.
RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:
And I'm Renee Montagne.
The largest U.S. prison in Afghanistan, containing over 3,000 inmates, was handed over to Afghan control this morning. But the transfer was not without controversy. Several dozen prisoners - including some foreign terrorist suspects - were kept in American custody.
The prison at Bagram Air Base north of Kabul has been a sore point in U.S.-Afghan relations for years.

Afghans Seek A Homegrown Plan For Security

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 07:21:00 +0000
For years, Kandahar province has been a key focus of NATO's efforts to stabilize Afghanistan. The volatile region is the birthplace of the Taliban, and its capital is the country's second-largest city.
American troops have begun leaving this area by the thousands and are handing security responsibilities over to Afghan forces.

For Afghan Girl, Going To School Is Act Of Bravery

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 20:53:00 +0000
In Afghanistan, girls are required by law to go to school. However, many of them never do.
Death threats, acid attacks and bombings by Taliban militants and other extremists lead many parents who support female education to keep their daughters at home.
Sometimes, it's the families themselves who stand in the way.

U.S. Drawdown Leaves Afghans With Mixed Feelings

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 10:24:00 +0000
Tens of thousands of American troops will be leaving Afghanistan as the NATO-led coalition enters its final two years in the country. Already, more security responsibility is being placed in the hands of the Afghan security forces, says U.S. Gen. John Allen, who heads the NATO-led coalition here.
"The insurgency is today confronted by a rapidly transforming and increasingly capable [Afghan army], which is bearing a larger share of the burden and a larger share of the sacrifice," Allen says.
Many Afghans welcome the rapid exodus of Western forces.

For Afghan Leaders, Facing Death Is A Fact Of Life

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:32:00 +0000
Almost daily, Taliban assassins target Afghan government officials and community elders with ambushes or bombings. The United Nations says such killings are up more than 50 percent compared to the same period last year.
On Monday, the target was the powerful police chief in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province. A suicide bomber struck the convoy of Gen. Abdul Raziq, who survived the attack and is at a U.S.

Afghan Attacks On Western Partners Rising Sharply

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 20:12:00 +0000
In the past two weeks, seven Afghans in uniform have opened fire on Western forces. The most recent incidents occurred Friday. First, a newly recruited policeman in western Afghanistan turned his gun on U.S. military trainers, killing two and wounding a third. A short time later in southern Kandahar province, an Afghan soldier shot and wounded two foreign troops.
Such assaults were rarely heard of a few years ago. This year, they account for more than 10 percent of the deaths among NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Mubarak's Dream Remains Just That In Egypt's Desert

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 07:25:00 +0000
In the middle of southern Egypt's windy desert, wheat fields stretch as far as the eye can see on a 24,000-acre farm. It's part of a grandiose project called Toshka that was dreamed up 15 years ago by the government of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's authoritarian leader who ruled the country for three decades before being ousted last year.
A key component of the Toshka project was to cultivate a half-million acres of farmland in the desert to deal with Egypt's rising demand for food.

Life Sentence For Ex-Egyptian Leader Hosni Mubarak

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 21:05:00 +0000
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison Saturday for his role in killing protesters during the revolution that ousted him from power.
A hushed courtroom listened as the head judge read the verdict: guilty of accessory to murder and attempted murder. Mubarak lay motionless on a hospital gurney inside a courtroom cage, his only noticeable emotion being the slight quivering of his lips.
This was the moment many Egyptians had waited for. They hoped a conviction would bring them closure to a brutal era.

Egyptians Prepare For Historic Presidential Vote

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:08:00 +0000
The first free presidential election in Egypt begins Wednesday.
Twelve candidates are running for the top spot vacated by Hosni Mubarak during last year's revolution.

Egyptian Candidate Gains Support, Despite Reputation

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Sun, 20 May 2012 12:39:00 +0000
Transcript
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Egyptians are getting ready for an historic vote, their first real presidential election since former President Hosni Mubarak was ousted during the Arab Spring. Twelve candidates are in the running. One them, former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, is already dividing voters ahead of Wednesday's vote.

Egypt's New President Could Come From Old Guard

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:52:00 +0000
In Egypt's historic presidential race, opinion polls place the oldest candidate with the most political experience far ahead of his 11 rivals.
Many opponents try to portray Amr Moussa as a holdover from the hated regime of Hosni Mubarak. Moussa was Egypt's foreign minister under Mubarak and later the secretary-general of the Arab League.
Yet many voters believe he is the only candidate who can end the country's growing insecurity and economic problems.
Moussa, 75, proudly recalls his disputes with Mubarak, who eventually pushed him out as Egypt's foreign minister.