A Nazi war crimes suspect is extradited to Germany - France cracks down on Internet piracy - An expenses scandal exposes British politicians - Berliners celebrate the airlift of 60 years ago - Dutch towns crack down on cannabis - Are government-backed militias to blame in Turkey? - France’s new rap star polarizes public opinion - An experiment to transform a sports novice into an Olympic athleteTune in to Inside Europe on the radio or sign up for the Inside Europe podcast! You can also download the program from the Web site.More political will required to prosecute former Nazi war criminalsSix decades after the Nazi era, an 89-year-old war crimes suspect has arrived in Germany after being extradited from the United States.Ukrainian-born John Demjanjuk is accused of complicity in the murder of more than 29,000 Jews at the Sobibor death camp. A series of legal attempts by Demjanjuk’s family to stop his deportation to Germany due to health reasons failed. Doctors will now consider whether he’s fit enough to stand trial. Some observers say this could be the last major trial dealing with war crimes from the Third Reich. However, Dr Efraim Zuroff, Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Jerusalem, disagrees. Interview: Helen Seeney/Dr Efraim ZuroffWill an expenses scandal force British politicians off the gravy train?Britain is in the grip of an intense - but rather unusual - political scandal. For once, it is not just the government that has been affected.All the main political parties have been tarnished. Both large and small sums of money are involved. There have been allegations of serious fraud and elements of farce. The scandal revolves around the issue of parliamentary expenses; in particular, how much MP's should be allowed to claim for a second home - so they can live both in their electoral districts and close to parliament. For the first time, the full details of the expenses have been leaked to a national newspaper. And that has unleashed a storm of protest from the voters. Report: Stephen Beard/LondonFrance cracks down on internet piracyFor some it's a vital measure to protect French music and cinema. For thousands of internet users, it's a draconian clampdown on freedom.Internet piracy is said to cost the entertainment industry up to a billion euros a year. The French parliament has just passed one of the toughest measures to combat illegal downloading. The new law means the pirates may have their internet connections cut off. An agency is to be set up to monitor and police the illegal downloading of music and films. But critics including civil liberties groups and the European parliament have condemned the law, while other critics say it'll be unworkable. Report: Alasdair Sandford/Paris Berliners celebrate the airmen who kept their city alive 60 years agoOn Tuesday, thousands of Berliners marked the 60th anniversary of the end of the Soviet Blockade of the western sectors of the city.Back in June 1948, the Soviets, who were occupying Eastern Germany, cut off supply lines into West Berlin to starve the people there into submission. In what’s regarded as the first battle in the emerging Cold War, the three Western allies - the United States, Britain and France - organised a gigantic air-born operation aimed at keeping alive the two million Berliners in the Western sectors of the divided city. The so-called Berlin Airlift lasted 11 months. On Tuesday, Berliners commemorated the pilots who died in the massive operation and celebrated those still alive. Report: Uwe Hessler/BerlinAre government backed militias responsible for crime and corruption in Turkey?Last week's massacre of a wedding party in southeast Turkey has focussed attention on the region's local militia known as village guards.Members of the militia have been implicated in last week’s incident in which 44 people died. They used state-issued weapons in the attack. The militia was created by the Turkish authorities as part of their battle against the PKK, a militant organization fighting for Kurdish autonomy. The European Union and human rights groups have accused the village guards of illegal killings and criminal activity. Pressure is growing for the militia to be disbanded. Report: Dorian Jones/TurkeyDutch towns crack down on the sale of cannabisFrom January next year, it’s going to be harder for foreigners to buy cannabis in the Netherlands.The province of Limburg in the south of the country announced this week that so-called coffee shops, which sell cannabis, will become private members clubs as of 2010. It means customers will only be able to buy the drug if they have a special pass. The measure is aimed at discouraging drug tourism. John Tyler, the political editor of Radio Netherlands, explained how the new scheme will work. Interview: Helen Seeney/John TylerAn experiment to transform a sports novice into an Olympic athleteA British maths teacher who’s trying to transform herself from an "ordinary" person into an Olympic athlete in just four years had her first major progress report this week.Eight months ago, 29-year-old Natasha Hunt had no experience of competitive sport. Until then, her idea of exercise was taking the dog for a walk. But a fitness instructor chose her for a unique experiment. Natasha started a rigorous training regime which - all going well - will enable her to compete in the 2012 Olympics as a pent athlete. Report: Olly Barratt/LondonFrance’s new rap star polarizes public opinionThe French minister of culture says she’s shocked and disgusted by him. Others say he’s the best new French rapper around.The man at the centre of this controversial and politically charged hip hop debate is OrelSan. "Orel" because his real name's Aurélian and "San", which is a courtesy title in Japanese, because he's into manga comics. OrelSan is a 26-year-old white rapper and his album, released in February, made him the best-selling young French artist this year. But now politicians are calling for one of his videos to be taken off the internet and have called on organizers to cancel his gigs. Report: John Laurenson/ParisMusic lovers of the 1920's come together in BrusselsMany toes get tapping for music from the 1920’s.Retro music certainly appeals to hundreds of people in Brussels who head to a community centre called De Marktem for regular dance parties. This is where young and old come together. And the beats of the past help them forget the worries of today. Report: Nina Maria Potts/Brussels

[ Sat, 16 May 2009 07:05:00 GMT ]

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