Emergency services in the Russian Kabardino-Balkaria region said that at least 11 people were killed, and six others were injured, after a group of climbers in the North Caucasus region were exposed to an avalanche.
The avalanche descended from Mount Megyergi, one of the highest peaks in the Russian North Caucasus, at about five o'clock in the evening local time (14:00 GMT) yesterday, Sunday, hitting a group of 33 climbers, according to Reuters news agency.
Emergency services reported that 10 climbers were able to descend the mountain on their own as of 9 a.m. on Monday, local time, while the fate of six others remains unknown.
She added that more than 50 emergency personnel participated in the search and rescue operation, but the efforts faced obstacles such as rugged terrain and high risks of other avalanches.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed on Monday his "deep shock" after the heavy defeat suffered by his conservative party in local elections against the far-right Alternative for Germany party, pledging at the same time to proceed with reforms.
“My determination to continue the path of reform has not wavered,” Merz said the day after his party, the Christian Democratic Union, was defeated in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, which was part of communist East Germany, adding that he would seek to explain the procedures “better.”
For its part, the far-right Alternative for Germany party announced on Monday that its landslide victory in the Saxony-Anhalt district elections yesterday shows that Chancellor Friedrich Merz has become a “huge burden” on the country, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
Party co-chair Alice Weidel said after her party's landslide victory in these local elections: “No chancellor has ever been as unpopular as Friedrich Merz, who has become a huge burden on Germany's prosperous development,” adding that “the Saxony-Anhalt elections showed that the people expect a change in policy.”
During a press conference in Berlin, she confidently predicted that the Alternative for Germany would win over the Meretz government coalition between the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union, in the general elections in 2029.
The German domestic intelligence service considers the Alternative for Germany party in Saxony-Anhalt to be an “extreme right-wing” group, and its victory there raised great concern among traditional parties, minorities, and among immigrants.
“The Saxony-Anhalt elections showed that the people expect a change in policy,” Weidel said.
She added: “The people of this country do not want the situation to continue as it is,” calling for an end to “illegal immigration and open borders, the high rates of crime committed by foreigners, and the rejection of deportations.”
She also strongly criticized Germany's "disastrous energy policy" and "the rampant industrial decline that is weakening its economy."
For his part, Tino Kruppala, co-chair of the Alternative for Germany party, criticized German support for Ukraine in its battle against the Russian invasion.
He said: “People are tired of this situation. They see us transferring billions of dollars from our taxes to Ukraine... as if we are shipping tax revenues abroad instead of spending them on our people.”
The Alternative for Germany party achieved a landslide victory in the district elections located in former East Germany, obtaining 44 percent of the votes, but three seats short of an absolute majority.
The most prominent candidate, Ulrich Zigmond, confirmed on Monday his desire to form a majority government to become head of the provincial government, extending an invitation to other parties or “MPs who wish to join us in this historic mission.” Commenting on the election result, he said: “It is a very clear mandate to rule. It cannot be clearer than that.”
The landslide victory of the Alternative for Germany party sparked mixed reactions in Europe. Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban welcomed the result, describing it as “an important night for Germany and Europe.”
He said: “Congratulations to Alice Weidel, Ulrich Siegmund and the rest of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on their landslide victory in Saxony-Anhalt!” Get ready, this is just the beginning! During his years in power, Orban maintained close relations with right-wing conservative and populist movements in Europe, including the Alternative for Germany party.
On the other hand, the result raised concern in France and Italy. French Finance Minister Rolon Lescure described the party's victory as a "very worrying signal" and said that the result shows that Europe faces "a major challenge in the face of a populist wave that is spreading around the world today and that we must resist."
In Italy, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Taiani described the result as “very bad news,” expressing his hope that the success of the AfD would remain a “local exception.” Taiani, who heads the conservative Forza Italia party, said that the Alternative represents a political force that “radically contradicts the liberal and Western values” that his party embraces, calling for action to prevent “the spread of populist and fanatical tendencies in Europe.”
The ban imposed by Austria on girls under the age of 14 wearing the hijab faces its first test today (Monday), with the resumption of studies in Vienna and other states, amid condemnation from organizations including the main body representing Muslims in the country.
This decision is likely to be legally challenged.
The country's ruling coalition, composed of three parties affiliated with the centrist movement, proposed banning the hijab in schools under the pretext of protecting the freedom of girls. In December, Parliament approved legislation in this regard, which was supported by the far-right Freedom Party, and was opposed only by the smallest party in Parliament, the left-wing Green Party, according to Reuters news agency.
The organization that officially represents Muslims in Austria (the Islamic Religious Authority of Austria) said that this step constitutes a violation of basic rights, and pledged to appeal it before the Constitutional Court, which rejected the appeals in July. Because the legislation had not yet entered into force.
A court ruled in 2020 that a previous ban, which applied to female students under the age of 10 in schools, was illegal; Because it discriminates against Muslims, and the state has a duty of religious neutrality. The court considered that violating this principle requires special justification.
In response to a question from Austrian ORF TV about whether the court would overturn the new ban, Education Minister Christoph Vidarker said: “We can never confirm that.”
Vidarker added in an interview broadcast today: “We in the government conducted very extensive consultations, and we in the Ministry of Education made great efforts to draft a law that is consistent with the constitution.”
Leftist student organizations called for protests. The new academic year begins today (Monday) in 3 of Austria's nine states: Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland, all of which are located in the east, and it will begin in the rest of the states next week.
The legislation stipulates that the school must hold discussions with any student who violates the ban, after which a fine ranging between 150 and 800 euros ($175-930) could be imposed.
