General News
EU ministers agree on new anti-terrorism chief
Brussels (dpa) – EU government ministers have agreed to appoint a new anti-terrorism coordinator tasked with improving cooperation with EU institutions and among member states in a concerted bid to thwart further terrorist attacks on the 27-member bloc, sources in Brussels said. The appointment, whose official announcement was said to be “imminent”, was set to…
EU official outlines details of future “Blue Card” for immigrants
Brussels (dpa) – The EU is to grant a fast-track admission procedure and a decent salary to highly-qualified foreign workers wishing to relocate to Europe, a top EU official said Thursday. The initiative, which includes a future “Blue Card” – the EU’s equivalent to the Green Card in the US – is designed to counter…
Violence Against Apostates Acceptable
THE HAGUE – Three quarters of Muslims regard turning away from Islam as a personal choice, but there are few that applaud that choice. A survey commissioned by television programme Nova indicates that 38 percent of the Muslims questioned disapprove of apostasy. 24 percent say they cut off all contact with a fellow Muslim who…
Al-Qaida will take decades to eradicate, thinktank says
By Mark Tran Al-Qaida has retained the ability to plan and coordinate large-scale attacks in the west, a leading thinktank warned today. The terrorist group has proved adaptable and resilient, the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) in London said in its annual survey, six years after the group became a household word with its…
Euro Mosques Meet Opposition
PARIS – Though Islam is the continent’s second religion, Muslims across Europe are facing campaigns from far-right groups and some church leaders to have stately mosques. “The desire of Muslims to build a house of worship means they want to feel at home and live in harmony with their religion in a society they have…