The Balkan Chronicle

Boyko Borisov is tough enough to be Bulgarian PM again

Former bodyguard Boyko Borisov, is elected for another term as Bulgaria's prime minister in elections on Sunday, and he is as charismatic as he is tough.

But the dramatic way his first term ended in February makes it clear that these qualities may not be enough to tackle the deep problems faced by the European Union's poorest country. Nevertheless, he is now elected for a second term.

The 53-year-old quit the first term after anger about poverty, utility prices and corruption erupted into sometimes violent mass street protests. Seven people set themselves on fire.

The burly bruiser claimed he had been appalled by the sight of blood at a Sofia rally that got out of hand the night before he resigned, but analysts detected crocodile tears.

EU entry brings stiff competition to Croatian farm and food industry

Croatia's forthcoming admission to the European Union, set for 1 July is a great challenge for the national agriculture and food industry that will have to be prepared to operate in conditions of tight competition, and therefore farmers and producers are advised to be organised in co-operatives and clusters, it was said at a round table discussion held in Zagreb on Wednesday.

During the debate on "The Food Market After Croatia's Admission to the EU", organised by an association of Croatian reporters covering the agricultural sector, Deputy Agriculture Minister Snjezana Spanjol said that farmers and food producers must be aware of the necessity of being organised in associations and clusters in order to reduce costs and to boost their competitiveness.

Non-Muslims Carried Out More than 90% of All Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Soil

Terrorism Is a Real Threat … But the Threat to the U.S. from Muslim Terrorists Has Been Exaggerated

An FBI report shows that only a small percentage of terrorist attacks carried out on U.S. soil between 1980 and 2005 were perpetrated by Muslims.

Princeton University’s Loon Watch compiled the following chart from the FBI’s data (as explained below, this chart is over-simplified … and somewhat inaccurate):

According to this data, there were more Jewish acts of terrorism within the United States than Islamic (7% vs 6%).  These radical Jews committed acts of terrorism in the name of their religion.  These were not terrorists who happened to be Jews; rather, they were extremist Jews who committed acts of terrorism based on their religious passions, just like Al-Qaeda an...

Albania: Grand Prayer Hall Under Construction in Tirana

Construction of a great Mosalla (prayer ground) began in the Albanian capital city of Tirana in a ceremony earlier this week.

Ambassadors of Muslim countries, Muslim leaders from neighboring countries such as Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro and Muftis from different cities of Albania took part in the ceremony.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha addressed the ceremony saying that when the grand prayer hall is completed, the city's need to religious spaces will be met.

He regretted that prejudices had caused the construction of the prayer hall to remain on hold for 20 years.