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Berlin opera cancelled over fears regarding Muslim backlash

Snip: An opera company in Berlin has cancelled a Mozart production of his work Idomeneo fearing a scene in which the prophet Mohammed's decapitated head is rolled on stage could trigger an Islamic backlash.

Driving while Muslim

Snip: "The question is: Are they loyal to the U.S. or to this terrorist group Hezbollah?" The answer Dearborn gives is that it's loyal to both, in much the same way that many American Jews are Americans first, with a sentimental attachment to Israel. There is no doubt that much of Dearborn's Muslim community, many of whom are Lebanese, Iraqi and Iranian Shiites, is sympathetic to Hezbollah, which the State Department designates as a terrorist organization. Some have gone beyond passive support. In March, the U.S. Attorney's office indicted 18 men for allegedly funneling profits from a Dearborn-operated cigarette-smuggling ring to Hezbollah, two of whom have pleaded guilty.

Canada border check program delayed by US congress

Snip: The border security program requiring travelers from Canada to have passports or other high-tech IDs will be delayed for up to 17 months. Congressional negotiators have accepted the holdup of the program which was set to be enforced by December 31, 2007.

According to Reuters, the language has been attached to a fiscal 2007 domestic security funding bill the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate will approve before proceeding to a recess ahead of November mid-term elections.

The Bush administration officials had told Congress of complications from preparing the identity cards and equipment at border stations.