WWII bomb in Rhine near Koblenz successfully defused
Bomb disposal experts in the German city of Koblenz have successfully defused two bombs from World War II found in the riverbed of the Rhine. They were discovered when water […]
Debate about Sharia and Democracy – A Western Misconception
Source: Qantara Sharia is a collection of norms that can be interpreted in many ways – either for or against democracy. Islamist parties are not per se opposed to democracy, writes the renowned scholar of Islam, Mathias Rohe in his commentary How terrible would it be if, in future, Libyan […]
Court to rule on Muslim prayer in German schools
On Wednesday, Germany’s Federal Administrative Court is set to rule on whether German schools must accommodate Muslims by providing them with a place to pray. In a landmark case, Germany’s […]
Reviving Mideast negotiations in Jordan’s best interest – King
AMMAN (JT) – Returning the Palestinians and Israelis to the negotiating table is in the best interest of Jordan and Germany, His Majesty King Abdullah said on Tuesday, warning that […]
”Muslim Theologians are Instigators of Change”
Source: Qantara Islamic theology is still a very new academic discipline at German universities. It is hoped that a new nationwide post-graduate programme will boost its development, lead to increased representation […]
Embarrassment for Berlin
Source: Spiegel.de Iranian Airline Buys Chancellor Merkel’s Retired Jet On its website, Iranian airline Mahan Air (“The Spirit of Excellence”) counts five Boeing 747s and 27 Airbus aircraft among its fleet. The fact that sanctions against the country make maintenance of the jets extraordinarily difficult, however, is not addressed. Still, Mahan […]
Germany Is Making The Same Mistake That Allowed The Nazis To Come To Power
By 1931 the world was in depression. Germany would have been too, with or without its pathological fear of inflation. The Nazis would presumably have made the same electoral gains. But suppose Germany had inflated in 1931, like the U.K. did. The following chart compares the trajectory of the U.K. […]
German official praises Kingdom’s prudent policies
By ARAB NEWS JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s prudent and balanced policies in the Middle East under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Naif have helped avert many crises that might have led to catastrophic consequences to the world economy, according to German Consul […]
The problem is not that Merkel is crazy, but that an entire generation of Germans is crazy.
Source:Asia Times: The problem is not that Merkel is crazy, but that an entire generation of Germans is crazy. That is the theme of Tuvia Tenenbom’s report of his random (and sometimes not-so-random) conversations with Germans from all walks of life, from the political and business elite to bottle-throwing anarchists. […]
Scientists develop nose exam to detect Alzheimer’s disease early
Source: The Local Scientists in central Germany are working on a method with which they reckon they could diagnose Alzheimer’s disease years before any symptoms are noticed – by looking up patients’ noses. An early diagnosis would give people the chance to try to slow the development of incurable […]
Ibn Rushd Award 2011 goes to Tunisian Woman Journalist
Source: Ibn-Rushd.org The Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought is delighted to declare the journalist Sihem Bensedrine the winner of the 13th Ibn Rushd Award. Since 1998, the Ibn Rushd Fund has honored people or organizations that have rendered outstanding services to Freedom of Thought in the Arabic World. The award will be presented on November 25, 2011 in the Museum for Islamic Art, Berlin Germany. While […]
Germany: Fourth Suspected Terror-Cell Member Detained
Source: Spiegel online After the arrest of a fourth suspect on Sunday, there is speculation that the neo-Nazi group calling itself the National Socialist Underground may have been bigger than initially suspected. According to investigators, Holger G., who apparently helped the group with documents and vehicles, was a well-known member […]
Forced Marriages in Germany More Prevalent than Thought
Source: Spiegel Intenational A new study has revealed that thousands of young women and girls in forced marriages seek help every year in Germany. The vast majority of victims come from Muslim families, and many have been threatened with violence or even death. The numbers involved are much higher than previously […]
Religious plurality is our aim
In Indonesia, religious peace is at risk Berlin (ENI news). Indonesia has seen a sharp increase in religious violence over recent years, with radical Muslim groups targeting both Christians and members of the minority Ahmadiyah community. But at an ecumenical seminar in Germany, the chair of the Communion of Churches […]
Heidelberg scientists have found that evolution can produce novelty from scratch
Source: Uni-Heidelberg Images: Etwiller / Eichenlaub The vast majority of the human genome consists of DNA without any apparent function, so-called “junk DNA”. A study conducted by the scientists Dr. Laurence Ettwiller and Michael Eichenlaub at Heidelberg University’s Centre for Organismal Studies now highlights this “dark matter” of the genome […]
Bikes’ revival provokes tension in Germany
Cyclists and a pedestrian share a sidewalk in Berlin. Photo: John MacDougall/AFP Source/Credit:Monday, October 31, 2011 , by-Benoit-Toussaint,AFP Germany might still be known for its high-speed autobahns, but in cities, bicycles are now so popular that a war of words has broken out between drivers and cyclists over who rules […]
Germany’s Longest Subway – Billions Upon Billions for Berlin-Munich Bullet Train
Source: Spiegel International The new rail route being built between Berlin and Munich is nothing if not ambitious — as well as being the most expensive transportation project to take shape since reunification. But the line is yet another example of how France beats Germany in the high-speed rail game and critics […]
Mathias Rohe on Islamic Theology in Germany -Triggering Global Debates
Source: Qantara In Germany, Islamic theology is being introduced as a university course – a much debated issue in academic terms, but also politically. In this interview, Mathias Rohe, Germany’s most renowned academic expert on Sharia law, talks about what this means for the development of Islam in Germany and, potentially, on […]
Germany marks first phone call anniversary – 15 years before Bell
Source: The Local Move over, Alexander Graham Bell, Germany is marking the anniversary of the first phone call today – a century and a half after Johann Philipp Reis first transmitted a spoken sentence over a cable. The age of telephony was not hailed with Bell’s summons to his assistant, […]
Germany looks back at 50 years of Turkish immigration
Source : The Local This week marks the 50th anniversary of the treaty bringing hundreds of thousands of Turkish “guest workers” to Germany, a move which dramatically altered the fabric of German society. On October 30, 1961, booming West Germany signed a recruitment agreement with Turkey to supplement its workforce. […]