Sidestepping a roaring waterfall and stumbling over rocks, an Austrian amateur theatre group re-enacts the treacherous Alpine escape of thousands of Jews seeking a new home after the Holocaust.

Surrounded by Austria's snow-capped peaks, two dozen spectators hike alongside lay actors who perform scenes based on the real experiences of as many as 8,000 Holocaust survivors who traversed the Alps to reach the Italian harbour of Genoa, where they hoped to board ships to Palestine in 1947.

"The special thing about the play is that you experience it and you get an idea of what people went through back then," says actor Celine Nerbl of the Pinzgau region group Teatro Caprile, which has been staging the theatre hike in summer.&nbsp;

After the end of World War II, thousands remained stuck in camps for displaced Holocaust survivors in countries such as Austria, with little hope of starting a new life while anti-Semitism remained so deeply entrenched.

The Jewish flight aid organisation Bricha smuggled groups of as many as 200 people on trucks via the camp "Givat Avoda", which translates to "Hill of Labour", in the Austrian town of Saalfelden, to Krimml from where they had to continue by foot.

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It is here that the re-enactment begins, and it is an emotional, eight-hour-long hike for participants.

"You can feel yourself in there," says Austrian Marion Mikenda, a local who participated in the guided trek with her father.

The only route

"Nobody wanted them, even after the war, so they had to flee," says historian Rudolf Leo, who grew up in Salzburg province and who remembers his mother telling him about the 1947 Jewish exodus.

Back then, British allied forces prevented Jews from fleeing to British-controlled Palestine, making the back country mountain pass of Krimml their only escape route.&nbsp;

"I always thought she was wrong about the year," Leo says of his mother's memories. "But, no, she was completely right."

Physical exertion helps the audience imagine what the refugees experienced, says author and director Andreas Kosek.

He set the scenes along the original path: in a dense spruce forest, a lush meadow where cows graze, and inside a hut which, at an elevation of over 1,600 metres (5,250 feet), had offered the Jewish refugees shelter and a meal.

"I was here with people who said 'We never imagined there were mountains this steep'," says Celine Nerbl's husband Hans, who accompanies the group as a hiking guide.

The main difference is that today's hikers are well-equipped and travel by day.

In 1947, the Jewish refugees were at times forced to hike in complete darkness, some carrying their children and hoping not to be spotted.&nbsp;

Reviving history&nbsp;

The history of the displaced persons' camp and the escape of Holocaust survivors had long been forgotten, but they are slowly being resurrected in Austria. In 2007, the Alpine Peace Crossing association was founded to &nbsp;commemorate the post-war exodus with an annual hike.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen participated in the hike in 2017, and while it could only be held virtually due to the pandemic last year, hundreds of people once again followed in the Holocaust survivors' footsteps this summer.

Thinking of what happened back then, Hans says he sees a lot of parallels to refugees migrating today.&nbsp;

"The reasons for flight have stayed the same, and so has the attitude of countries who don't want to take anyone in," he says.

As for the hikes, actor Nerbl says descendants of survivors have even travelled by plane from Israel to Austria.&nbsp;

"They want to walk with us, and that's often very, very moving," she notes, adding that she remembers the son of two survivors who broke down and cried.

His parents, he told Nerbl, had made the journey with the few belongings they could carry -- and the hope for a new life.

Sidestepping a roaring waterfall and stumbling over rocks, an Austrian amateur theatre group re-enacts the treacherous Alpine escape of thousands of Jews seeking a new home after the Holocaust.

Sidestepping a roaring waterfall and stumbling over rocks, an Austrian amateur theatre group re-enacts the treacherous Alpine escape of thousands of Jews seeking a new home after the Holocaust. Surrounded by Austria's snow-capped peaks, two dozen spectators hike alongside lay actors who perform scenes based on the real experiences of as many as 8,000 Holocaust survivors who traversed the Alps to reach the Italian harbour of Genoa, where they hoped to board ships to Palestine in 1947. "The special thing about the play is that you experience it and you get an idea of what people went through back then," says actor Celine Nerbl of the Pinzgau region group Teatro Caprile, which has been staging the theatre hike in summer. After the end of World War II, thousands remained stuck in camps for displaced Holocaust survivors in countries such as Austria, with little hope of starting a new life while anti-Semitism remained so deeply entrenched. The Jewish flight aid organisation Bricha smuggled groups of as many as 200 people on trucks via the camp "Givat Avoda", which translates to "Hill of Labour", in the Austrian town of Saalfelden, to Krimml from where they had to continue by foot. Also read | 17 years after founding Virgin Galactic, Branson bound for space It is here that the re-enactment begins, and it is an emotional, eight-hour-long hike for participants. "You can feel yourself in there," says Austrian Marion Mikenda, a local who participated in the guided trek with her father. The only route "Nobody wanted them, even after the war, so they had to flee," says historian Rudolf Leo, who grew up in Salzburg province and who remembers his mother telling him about the 1947 Jewish exodus. Back then, British allied forces prevented Jews from fleeing to British-controlled Palestine, making the back country mountain pass of Krimml their only escape route. "I always thought she was wrong about the year," Leo says of his mother's memories. "But, no, she was completely right." Physical exertion helps the audience imagine what the refugees experienced, says author and director Andreas Kosek. He set the scenes along the original path: in a dense spruce forest, a lush meadow where cows graze, and inside a hut which, at an elevation of over 1,600 metres (5,250 feet), had offered the Jewish refugees shelter and a meal. "I was here with people who said 'We never imagined there were mountains this steep'," says Celine Nerbl's husband Hans, who accompanies the group as a hiking guide. The main difference is that today's hikers are well-equipped and travel by day. In 1947, the Jewish refugees were at times forced to hike in complete darkness, some carrying their children and hoping not to be spotted. Reviving history The history of the displaced persons' camp and the escape of Holocaust survivors had long been forgotten, but they are slowly being resurrected in Austria. In 2007, the Alpine Peace Crossing association was founded to commemorate the post-war exodus with an annual hike. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen participated in the hike in 2017, and while it could only be held virtually due to the pandemic last year, hundreds of people once again followed in the Holocaust survivors' footsteps this summer. Thinking of what happened back then, Hans says he sees a lot of parallels to refugees migrating today. "The reasons for flight have stayed the same, and so has the attitude of countries who don't want to take anyone in," he says. As for the hikes, actor Nerbl says descendants of survivors have even travelled by plane from Israel to Austria. "They want to walk with us, and that's often very, very moving," she notes, adding that she remembers the son of two survivors who broke down and cried. His parents, he told Nerbl, had made the journey with the few belongings they could carry -- and the hope for a new life.

In the Austrian Alps, post-Holocaust escape is re-enacted

Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup caused heads to roll but the team looked rejuvenated under new boss Roberto Mancini. The Azzurri qualified with a perfect record in Group J, winning all 10 matches, scoring 37 goals and conceding only four. They finished the campaign with a 9-1 demolition of Armenia with seven different goal scorers.

<h3>GROUP STAGE</h3>

TURKEY 0-3 ITALY

Turkey were seen as dark horses at the tournament but after a goalless first half, the floodgates opened when an own goal gave Italy the impetus to pile on the pressure.

Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne also got on the scoresheet while at the back Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci were rarely troubled by Turkey's top scorer Burak Yilmaz.

ITALY 3-0 SWITZERLAND

Italy's strength was in their goals coming from multiple sources but little did Switzerland expect them to come from midfielder Manuel Locatelli who struck twice to add to his previous international tally of one goal.

Immobile scored again late on to give Italy back-to-back 3-0 wins as the Azzurri became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages.

ITALY 1-0 WALES

Mancini made eight changes but still managed to get all three points when midfielder Matteo Pessina scored from a set-piece in the first half in Rome. Italy also kept a clean sheet for an 11th consecutive match.

<h3>LAST 16</h3>

ITALY 2-1 AUSTRIA (AFTER EXTRA TIME)

Underdogs Austria were in the knockout stage for the first time at the Euros and they gave Italy a scare by with an effort that was ruled out by VAR before they forced extra time as the match ended 0-0 after 90 minutes.

However, it gave Mancini the opportunity to test Plan B, which worked to perfection as substitutes Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina struck to book Italy's place in the quarter-finals.

<h3>QUARTER-FINAL</h3>

BELGIUM 1-2 ITALY

Belgium's "Golden Generation" presented Italy with a headache but a tense match against the top-ranked side in the world was settled with first-half goals from Nicolo Barella and a sublime curling effort from Lorenzo Insigne.

Romelu Lukaku's penalty halved the lead but Italy held on in the second half. The Azzurri's night was soured, however, when influential left-back Leonardo Spinazzola was taken off on a stretcher with a torn Achilles tendon that ended his tournament.

<h3>SEMI-FINAL</h3>

ITALY 1-1 SPAIN (ITALY WON 4-2 ON PENALTIES)

A resurgent Spain represented Italy's toughest test at the Euros as Luis Enrique's side dominated the midfield battle in a compelling 1-1 draw in which Spain substitute Alvaro Morata cancelled out Federico Chiesa's superb curling shot.

With nothing to separate the sides after 120 minutes, Italy held their nerve in the penalty shootout. Jorginho converted the winning spot-kick with a cool finish as the Azzurri extended their unbeaten run to 33 matches.

Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup caused heads to roll but the team looked rejuvenated under new boss Roberto Mancini. The Azzurri qualified with a perfect record in Group J, winning all 10 matches, scoring 37 goals and conceding only four.

Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup caused heads to roll but the team looked rejuvenated under new boss Roberto Mancini. The Azzurri qualified with a perfect record in Group J, winning all 10 matches, scoring 37 goals and conceding only four. They finished the campaign with a 9-1 demolition of Armenia with seven different goal scorers. GROUP STAGE TURKEY 0-3 ITALY Turkey were seen as dark horses at the tournament but after a goalless first half, the floodgates opened when an own goal gave Italy the impetus to pile on the pressure. Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne also got on the scoresheet while at the back Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci were rarely troubled by Turkey's top scorer Burak Yilmaz. ITALY 3-0 SWITZERLAND Italy's strength was in their goals coming from multiple sources but little did Switzerland expect them to come from midfielder Manuel Locatelli who struck twice to add to his previous international tally of one goal. Immobile scored again late on to give Italy back-to-back 3-0 wins as the Azzurri became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages. ITALY 1-0 WALES Mancini made eight changes but still managed to get all three points when midfielder Matteo Pessina scored from a set-piece in the first half in Rome. Italy also kept a clean sheet for an 11th consecutive match. LAST 16 ITALY 2-1 AUSTRIA (AFTER EXTRA TIME) Underdogs Austria were in the knockout stage for the first time at the Euros and they gave Italy a scare by with an effort that was ruled out by VAR before they forced extra time as the match ended 0-0 after 90 minutes. However, it gave Mancini the opportunity to test Plan B, which worked to perfection as substitutes Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina struck to book Italy's place in the quarter-finals. QUARTER-FINAL BELGIUM 1-2 ITALY Belgium's "Golden Generation" presented Italy with a headache but a tense match against the top-ranked side in the world was settled with first-half goals from Nicolo Barella and a sublime curling effort from Lorenzo Insigne. Romelu Lukaku's penalty halved the lead but Italy held on in the second half. The Azzurri's night was soured, however, when influential left-back Leonardo Spinazzola was taken off on a stretcher with a torn Achilles tendon that ended his tournament. SEMI-FINAL ITALY 1-1 SPAIN (ITALY WON 4-2 ON PENALTIES) A resurgent Spain represented Italy's toughest test at the Euros as Luis Enrique's side dominated the midfield battle in a compelling 1-1 draw in which Spain substitute Alvaro Morata cancelled out Federico Chiesa's superb curling shot. With nothing to separate the sides after 120 minutes, Italy held their nerve in the penalty shootout. Jorginho converted the winning spot-kick with a cool finish as the Azzurri extended their unbeaten run to 33 matches.

Football: Italy's road to the Euro 2020 final

Austria's former vice-chancellor and longtime leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) stands trial for alleged corruption on Tuesday, in a case linked to a scandal that brought down the government.

One of Europe's most high-profile far-right leaders, Heinz-Christian Strache was forced to resign as vice-chancellor in 2019 after the publication of a video that showed him offering public contracts in return for electoral campaign support from a woman posing as a Russian investor.

The scandal, dubbed "Ibiza-gate" as the video was&nbsp;secretly filmed on the Spanish party island, spawned a sweeping corruption investigation that uncovered several different accusations of wrongdoing.

Tuesday's trial concerns charges that Strache helped change a law for an FPOe donor when he was in a coalition government with the centre-right People's Party (OeVP) of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

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The donor, Walter Grubmueller, owns a private clinic in Vienna and told a parliamentary committee that he had invited Strache aboard his yacht and on a vacation at his holiday home on the Greek island of Corfu in 2016.

While negotiating the coalition agreement with the OeVP, Strache directly asked the clinic owner "which amendment to the law" he would need for his "clinic to finally be treated in a fair manner", according to chat messages uncovered in the investigation and which were later leaked to the media.

In the messages, the donor also reportedly said that he'd deliver a draft law to the FPOe's party headquarters.&nbsp;

After Strache took office in 2017, the far-right took charge of the health ministry and went on to oversee a change in the law that widened the category of establishments that were eligible for public funding.

According to expert estimates, this means clinics like Grubmueller's were allowed to apply for as much as 2.2 million euros (US$ 2.6 million) in funding in 2019 alone.

Grubmueller has also been charged, but denies any wrongdoing or that he profited from the amendment.&nbsp;

When contacted by AFP last week, Strache's lawyer Johann Pauer said: "Neither my client nor I will make a statement before or during active proceedings."

Far-right infighting

When the "Ibiza-gate" footage emerged in 2019, the coalition between the FPOe and the People's Party collapsed.

In the video, Strache claimed that several high-profile billionaires and international gambling company Novomatic had been funding political parties through off-the-books donations to associations, some owned by high-ranking OeVP politicians.

All those named by Strache deny any wrongdoing.

The claims triggered an array of investigations, including a probe into the appointment of Thomas Schmid --&nbsp;a civil servant and Kurz ally -- as head of the Austrian state holding company OeBAG.&nbsp;

Kurz told a parliamentary committee that he had no hand in the appointment, but leaked chat messages have suggested otherwise.

Prosecutors have now put him under investigation for the possible offence of making false statements to the committee.

Kurz, who returned as Chancellor after a snap 2019 election, denies the allegation.

But if he is indicted, he faces going on trial for an offence that can be punished by a prison sentence of up to three years.

Strache was at the helm of the FPOe for 14 years before having to resign in disgrace when the scandal erupted.

Since then he has also been accused of embezzling party funds to pay for his luxurious lifestyle.&nbsp;

The revelations disillusioned many of the party's voters, and the FPOe slumped from 26 per cent of the vote in the 2017 general election to just 16 per cent in 2019.

Last year Strache attempted a comeback in Vienna municipal politics with a bid for mayor, but his list gained just three per cent of the vote.

The FPOe has spent much of the time since the scandal consumed by infighting.

Last month Strache's successor as leader, Norbert Hofer, resigned after weeks of tension with party colleague and former Interior Minister Herbert Kickl.

Kickl, seen as a party ideologue and mastermind of some of its anti-Islam and anti-migrant campaigns, swiftly took over as leader.&nbsp;

Austria's former vice-chancellor and longtime leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) stands trial for alleged corruption on Tuesday, in a case linked to a scandal that brought down the government.

Austria's former vice-chancellor and longtime leader of the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) stands trial for alleged corruption on Tuesday, in a case linked to a scandal that brought down the government. One of Europe's most high-profile far-right leaders, Heinz-Christian Strache was forced to resign as vice-chancellor in 2019 after the publication of a video that showed him offering public contracts in return for electoral campaign support from a woman posing as a Russian investor. The scandal, dubbed "Ibiza-gate" as the video was secretly filmed on the Spanish party island, spawned a sweeping corruption investigation that uncovered several different accusations of wrongdoing. Tuesday's trial concerns charges that Strache helped change a law for an FPOe donor when he was in a coalition government with the centre-right People's Party (OeVP) of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Also read | 9 arrested over alleged plot to plant bombs around Hong Kong The donor, Walter Grubmueller, owns a private clinic in Vienna and told a parliamentary committee that he had invited Strache aboard his yacht and on a vacation at his holiday home on the Greek island of Corfu in 2016. While negotiating the coalition agreement with the OeVP, Strache directly asked the clinic owner "which amendment to the law" he would need for his "clinic to finally be treated in a fair manner", according to chat messages uncovered in the investigation and which were later leaked to the media. In the messages, the donor also reportedly said that he'd deliver a draft law to the FPOe's party headquarters. After Strache took office in 2017, the far-right took charge of the health ministry and went on to oversee a change in the law that widened the category of establishments that were eligible for public funding. According to expert estimates, this means clinics like Grubmueller's were allowed to apply for as much as 2.2 million euros (US$ 2.6 million) in funding in 2019 alone. Grubmueller has also been charged, but denies any wrongdoing or that he profited from the amendment. When contacted by AFP last week, Strache's lawyer Johann Pauer said: "Neither my client nor I will make a statement before or during active proceedings." Far-right infighting When the "Ibiza-gate" footage emerged in 2019, the coalition between the FPOe and the People's Party collapsed. In the video, Strache claimed that several high-profile billionaires and international gambling company Novomatic had been funding political parties through off-the-books donations to associations, some owned by high-ranking OeVP politicians. All those named by Strache deny any wrongdoing. The claims triggered an array of investigations, including a probe into the appointment of Thomas Schmid -- a civil servant and Kurz ally -- as head of the Austrian state holding company OeBAG. Kurz told a parliamentary committee that he had no hand in the appointment, but leaked chat messages have suggested otherwise. Prosecutors have now put him under investigation for the possible offence of making false statements to the committee. Kurz, who returned as Chancellor after a snap 2019 election, denies the allegation. But if he is indicted, he faces going on trial for an offence that can be punished by a prison sentence of up to three years. Strache was at the helm of the FPOe for 14 years before having to resign in disgrace when the scandal erupted. Since then he has also been accused of embezzling party funds to pay for his luxurious lifestyle. The revelations disillusioned many of the party's voters, and the FPOe slumped from 26 per cent of the vote in the 2017 general election to just 16 per cent in 2019. Last year Strache attempted a comeback in Vienna municipal politics with a bid for mayor, but his list gained just three per cent of the vote. The FPOe has spent much of the time since the scandal consumed by infighting. Last month Strache's successor as leader, Norbert Hofer, resigned after weeks of tension with party colleague and former Interior Minister Herbert Kickl. Kickl, seen as a party ideologue and mastermind of some of its anti-Islam and anti-migrant campaigns, swiftly took over as leader.

Austria's former far-right leader on trial for corruption

Austria will leave Euro 2020 after failing to get past the last 16 following Saturday's 2-1 extra-time loss to Italy but having earned a lot of praise while also making national team history along the way.

The Austrians under coach Franco Foda arrived at the tournament having not won a game in any of their previous European Championship appearances and therefore having never got past the group stage.

But Foda's team hit the ground running, firing three goals past North Macedonia in their first group match while impressing fans with their brand of attacking&nbsp;football&nbsp;and earning their maiden win in the competition.

With the team brimming with lots of top Bundesliga talent and captained by two-time Champions League winner David Alaba, the quality of Austrian players was never in doubt.

What was questioned though before the tournament was their ability to deliver when it matters at a competition, with Austria having failed to reach the second round of any competition since the 1982 World Cup.

With striker Marko Arnautovic suspended following a verbal attack on a North Macedonian player, Austria slumped to a 2-0 defeat against the Netherlands in their second game but recovered quickly to snatch a 1-0 victory over Ukraine and qualify second in their group, another first for Austria.

They produced their best performance on Saturday at Wembley Stadium when they frustrated Italy, unbeaten now for 31 games, over 90 minutes to force extra time.

Extremely disciplined and compact at the back and with an appetite to hit on the break, the Austrians had their share of chances and could have even snatched a surprise win but fatigue and brief concentration lapses proved costly in extra time as they conceded two goals.

But even then Austria refused to surrender, bagging a goal through Sasa Kalajdzic in the 114th minute and then desperately chased an equalizer in a dramatic finale.

"It is difficult to find words after such a game," Alaba said. "But we just have to be immensely proud of ourselves and Austria can be proud of us. We threw everything we had in it. We were just not rewarded for the effort."

They will, however, be leaving with a lot of newfound respect.

Austria will leave Euro 2020 after failing to get past the last 16 following Saturday's 2-1 extra-time loss to Italy but having earned a lot of praise while also making national team history along the way.

Austria will leave Euro 2020 after failing to get past the last 16 following Saturday's 2-1 extra-time loss to Italy but having earned a lot of praise while also making national team history along the way. The Austrians under coach Franco Foda arrived at the tournament having not won a game in any of their previous European Championship appearances and therefore having never got past the group stage. But Foda's team hit the ground running, firing three goals past North Macedonia in their first group match while impressing fans with their brand of attacking football and earning their maiden win in the competition. With the team brimming with lots of top Bundesliga talent and captained by two-time Champions League winner David Alaba, the quality of Austrian players was never in doubt. What was questioned though before the tournament was their ability to deliver when it matters at a competition, with Austria having failed to reach the second round of any competition since the 1982 World Cup. With striker Marko Arnautovic suspended following a verbal attack on a North Macedonian player, Austria slumped to a 2-0 defeat against the Netherlands in their second game but recovered quickly to snatch a 1-0 victory over Ukraine and qualify second in their group, another first for Austria. They produced their best performance on Saturday at Wembley Stadium when they frustrated Italy, unbeaten now for 31 games, over 90 minutes to force extra time. Extremely disciplined and compact at the back and with an appetite to hit on the break, the Austrians had their share of chances and could have even snatched a surprise win but fatigue and brief concentration lapses proved costly in extra time as they conceded two goals. But even then Austria refused to surrender, bagging a goal through Sasa Kalajdzic in the 114th minute and then desperately chased an equalizer in a dramatic finale. "It is difficult to find words after such a game," Alaba said. "But we just have to be immensely proud of ourselves and Austria can be proud of us. We threw everything we had in it. We were just not rewarded for the effort." They will, however, be leaving with a lot of newfound respect.

Football: Austria leave their Euro mark despite last-16 exit

Late goals from substitutes Michael Gregoritsch and Marko Arnautovic gave Austria a convincing 3-1 victory over European Championship debutants North Macedonia in their opening Group C clash on Sunday as they earned their first tournament victory in 31 years.

Gregoritsch prodded home David Alaba's cross in the 78th minute before Arnautovic struck in the 89th, as Austria earned the first win at the Euros at their seventh attempt and their first victory at a major tournament since the 1990 World Cup.

"We deserved to win today," Austria coach Franco Foda said. "The players made history today. You could feel from the first minute that they wanted to win it."

"The substitutions had an effect and brought new impulse. They were important and the team did everything to win it."

"I am very satisfied. We started well and were aggressive. Then they scored through a momentary lapse of concentration from us," Foda said.

"After the break, we wanted to increase our passing speed. We were more mobile. We did it really well."

The Austrians, who started unusually with Alaba in central defence, had possession and circulated the ball well but struggled to break through until Marcel Sabitzer floated a perfectly-timed cross to the far post.

Stefan Lainer latched on to it, leaping into the air to beat keeper Stole Dimitrievski from a tight angle.

The North Macedonians, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, drew level with their first chance of the game 10 minutes later when defender Martin Hinteregger's clearance first bounced off the back of Sabitzer and keeper Daniel Bachmann then let the ball slip for captain Goran Pandev to slot in.

That was his country's first-ever goal in a major tournament and the forward, who has 38 goals in 120 appearances, also became the second-oldest player to score at the Euro, after Austria's Ivica Vastic, who was 38 back in 2008.

Pandev had another chance just past the hour after Boban Nikolov had failed to beat Bachmann as Austria continued to struggle up front and hoped this would not be another missed opportunity.

Foda was forced to switch to a formation with two strikers, bringing on forwards Arnautovic and Gregoritsch and the move paid off and moving Alaba into a midfield role.

Gregoritsch timed his run to perfection to tap in Alaba's cross before keeper Risto Jankov got his hands on the ball.

Arnautovic then pounced on a defensive mistake to round the keeper and seal the Austrians' first tournament win in 31 years.

Austria plays the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday, while North Macedonia stay in Bucharest to face Ukraine.

Late goals from substitutes Michael Gregoritsch and Marko Arnautovic gave Austria a convincing 3-1 victory over European Championship debutants North Macedonia in their opening Group C clash on Sunday as they earned their first tournament victory in 31 years.

Late goals from substitutes Michael Gregoritsch and Marko Arnautovic gave Austria a convincing 3-1 victory over European Championship debutants North Macedonia in their opening Group C clash on Sunday as they earned their first tournament victory in 31 years. Gregoritsch prodded home David Alaba's cross in the 78th minute before Arnautovic struck in the 89th, as Austria earned the first win at the Euros at their seventh attempt and their first victory at a major tournament since the 1990 World Cup. "We deserved to win today," Austria coach Franco Foda said. "The players made history today. You could feel from the first minute that they wanted to win it." "The substitutions had an effect and brought new impulse. They were important and the team did everything to win it." "I am very satisfied. We started well and were aggressive. Then they scored through a momentary lapse of concentration from us," Foda said. "After the break, we wanted to increase our passing speed. We were more mobile. We did it really well." The Austrians, who started unusually with Alaba in central defence, had possession and circulated the ball well but struggled to break through until Marcel Sabitzer floated a perfectly-timed cross to the far post. Stefan Lainer latched on to it, leaping into the air to beat keeper Stole Dimitrievski from a tight angle. The North Macedonians, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, drew level with their first chance of the game 10 minutes later when defender Martin Hinteregger's clearance first bounced off the back of Sabitzer and keeper Daniel Bachmann then let the ball slip for captain Goran Pandev to slot in. That was his country's first-ever goal in a major tournament and the forward, who has 38 goals in 120 appearances, also became the second-oldest player to score at the Euro, after Austria's Ivica Vastic, who was 38 back in 2008. Pandev had another chance just past the hour after Boban Nikolov had failed to beat Bachmann as Austria continued to struggle up front and hoped this would not be another missed opportunity. Foda was forced to switch to a formation with two strikers, bringing on forwards Arnautovic and Gregoritsch and the move paid off and moving Alaba into a midfield role. Gregoritsch timed his run to perfection to tap in Alaba's cross before keeper Risto Jankov got his hands on the ball. Arnautovic then pounced on a defensive mistake to round the keeper and seal the Austrians' first tournament win in 31 years. Austria plays the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday, while North Macedonia stay in Bucharest to face Ukraine.

Football: Michael Gregoritsch, Marko Arnautovic strike late to end Austria's long wait

A leading group&nbsp;of Muslims in Austria is&nbsp;planning to sue the government for carving out an “Islam map” which identifies and traces Muslim spots including mosques across the country. The map was unveiled by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’ government and the website was launched by Integration minister Susanne Raab on Thursday.

Officially called the “National Map of Islam”, the listing names locations of at least 620 mosques, Muslim associations and officials with foreign connections.

The move was met with scathing critique, especially from the Muslim community. A group called “Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGOE)” warned against the dangers posed by such maps&nbsp;which could cause stigmatisation of Muslims across Austria.

IGGOE believes that the listing endangers&nbsp;Muslim citizens and could add to their security risks. The group added that the naming of all Muslim institutions represents an “unprecedented crossing of boundaries”, while claiming&nbsp;that such measures could disrupt the democratic harmony in the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/he-led-hitlers-secret-police-in-austria-then-he-spied-for-the-west-375682" hreflang="en">He led Hitler’s secret police in Austria. Then he spied for the West.</a>

Kurz, the Austrian Chancellor has been a staunch critic of “political Islam”, and the country’s integration minister denies any concerns regarding the map, claiming that it was not aimed at putting Muslims “under suspicion”, as quoted by news agency AFP. Raab added that the objective remains fighting political ideologies and not religion.

IGGOE has said that the controversial map&nbsp;"demonstrates the government's manifest intent to stigmatise all Muslims as a potential danger”, while adding that "racism against Muslims is growing."

On Friday, Turkey hit out at the move, with the foreign ministry calling the map “inadmissible”. Ankara urged Kurz to adopt a “responsible policy” instead of developing a register of Muslim citizens and locations.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/break-their-lineage-break-their-roots-report-details-chinese-authorities-torture-rape-of-uighur-muslims-378793" hreflang="en">'Break their lineage, break their roots': Report details Chinese authorities’ torture, rape of Uighur Muslims</a>

A leading group of Muslims in Austria is planning to sue the government for carving out an “Islam map” which identifies and traces Muslim spots including mosques across the country.

A leading group of Muslims in Austria is planning to sue the government for carving out an “Islam map” which identifies and traces Muslim spots including mosques across the country. The map was unveiled by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’ government and the website was launched by Integration minister Susanne Raab on Thursday. Officially called the “National Map of Islam”, the listing names locations of at least 620 mosques, Muslim associations and officials with foreign connections. The move was met with scathing critique, especially from the Muslim community. A group called “Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGOE)” warned against the dangers posed by such maps which could cause stigmatisation of Muslims across Austria. IGGOE believes that the listing endangers Muslim citizens and could add to their security risks. The group added that the naming of all Muslim institutions represents an “unprecedented crossing of boundaries”, while claiming that such measures could disrupt the democratic harmony in the country. Also read: He led Hitler’s secret police in Austria. Then he spied for the West. Kurz, the Austrian Chancellor has been a staunch critic of “political Islam”, and the country’s integration minister denies any concerns regarding the map, claiming that it was not aimed at putting Muslims “under suspicion”, as quoted by news agency AFP. Raab added that the objective remains fighting political ideologies and not religion. IGGOE has said that the controversial map "demonstrates the government's manifest intent to stigmatise all Muslims as a potential danger”, while adding that "racism against Muslims is growing." On Friday, Turkey hit out at the move, with the foreign ministry calling the map “inadmissible”. Ankara urged Kurz to adopt a “responsible policy” instead of developing a register of Muslim citizens and locations. Also read: 'Break their lineage, break their roots': Report details Chinese authorities’ torture, rape of Uighur Muslims

Austrian Muslims to sue Kurz government for controversial 'Islam map'

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif cancelled his meeting with his Austrian counterpart as a sign of displeasure over Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz flying Israeli flag in Vienna. Zarif was due to meet Austria's foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg but he called off the meeting, said a spokeswoman for Schallenberg

"We regret this and take note of it, but for us it is as clear as day that when Hamas fires more than 2,000 rockets at civilian targets in Israel then we will not remain silent," the spokeswoman said.

Hamas is the Islamist group that runs Gaza. Israel has pummelled Gaza with airstrikes and Palestinian militants have launched rocket barrages at Israel in the worst escalation of violence in years.

The dispute between Iran and Austria has come during talks to revive 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Former US President Donald Trump had unilaterally taken US out of the deal struck between Iran and world powers.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-rises-as-violence-rocks-gaza-israel-and-west-bank-385182">Death toll rises as violence rocks Gaza, Israel and West Bank&nbsp;</a>

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who is firmly pro-Israel, had called flying the Israeli flag over the federal chancellery on Friday a mark of solidarity amid the violent clashes. But Abbas Araqchi, who heads the Iranian delegation at the Vienna talks, criticised the move.

"Vienna is the seat of (nuclear watchdog) IAEA &amp; UN, and (Austria) so far been a great host for negotiations," Araqchi wrote on Twitter. "Shocking &amp; painful to see flag of the occupying regime, that brutally killed tens of innocent civilians, inc many children in just few days, over govt offices in Vienna. We stand with Palestine."

(With inputs from agencies)

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif cancelled his meeting with his Austrian counterpart as a sign of displeasure over Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz flying Israeli flag in Vienna.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif cancelled his meeting with his Austrian counterpart as a sign of displeasure over Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz flying Israeli flag in Vienna. Zarif was due to meet Austria's foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg but he called off the meeting, said a spokeswoman for Schallenberg "We regret this and take note of it, but for us it is as clear as day that when Hamas fires more than 2,000 rockets at civilian targets in Israel then we will not remain silent," the spokeswoman said. Hamas is the Islamist group that runs Gaza. Israel has pummelled Gaza with airstrikes and Palestinian militants have launched rocket barrages at Israel in the worst escalation of violence in years. The dispute between Iran and Austria has come during talks to revive 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Former US President Donald Trump had unilaterally taken US out of the deal struck between Iran and world powers. Also Read | Death toll rises as violence rocks Gaza, Israel and West Bank Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who is firmly pro-Israel, had called flying the Israeli flag over the federal chancellery on Friday a mark of solidarity amid the violent clashes. But Abbas Araqchi, who heads the Iranian delegation at the Vienna talks, criticised the move. "Vienna is the seat of (nuclear watchdog) IAEA & UN, and (Austria) so far been a great host for negotiations," Araqchi wrote on Twitter. "Shocking & painful to see flag of the occupying regime, that brutally killed tens of innocent civilians, inc many children in just few days, over govt offices in Vienna. We stand with Palestine." (With inputs from agencies)

Iran foreign minister cancels meet with Austrian counterpart over Israel flag

A few hours after Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz claimed that some European Union countries have "secret contracts" with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine</a>&nbsp;companies, five EU states have demanded a summit to discuss the accusation.

On Friday, Kurz claimed several of the European Union (EU) countries have developed secret contacts with vaccine companies through which they are receiving more doses of the coronavirus vaccines than they are entitled to receive, on the basis of the EU rules.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/austrias-chancellor-accuses-eu-of-having-secret-contracts-with-vaccine-companies-369989">Austria's Chancellor accuses EU of having 'secret contracts' with vaccine companies</a>

"There are clues that point to so-called bazaars where additional agreements between member states and pharmaceutical companies were made," Kurz said.&nbsp;

Now, according to a letter published on Saturday, five EU states — namely Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Latvia — have called for an EU summit to discuss "huge disparities" in the distribution of coronavirus vaccines.

Kurz, along with his four counterparts, sent a letter addressed to EU President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. Their letter claimed that "deliveries of vaccine doses by pharma companies to individual EU member states are not being implemented on an equal basis."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/what-is-a-vaccine-passport-all-you-need-to-know-369934">Watch |</a>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/what-is-a-vaccine-passport-all-you-need-to-know-369934/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

"If this system were to carry on, it would continue creating and exacerbating huge disparities among member states by this summer, whereby some would be able to reach herd immunity in a few weeks while others would lag far behind," the letter continued. "We therefore call on you... to hold a discussion on this important matter among leaders as soon as possible."

An EU spokesperson, however, subtly declined the claim saying it was up to the member states to "ask less or more of a given vaccine". Another EU official said that "the coordination in the fight against the pandemic" will be discussed on priority in the next summit, which is scheduled for March-end.

The Austrian health ministry has, also, dismissed Kurz's claims, backing the statement of the EU spokesperson that every member state has the responsibility of asking for the number of needed does of the coronavirus vaccines.

"These were very balanced and transparent negotiations," said Ines Stilling, general secretary of the Austrian health ministry, in an interview.

A few hours after Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz claimed that some European Union countries have "secret contracts" with coronavirus vaccine companies, five EU states have demanded a summit to discuss the accusation.

A few hours after Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz claimed that some European Union countries have "secret contracts" with coronavirus vaccine companies, five EU states have demanded a summit to discuss the accusation. On Friday, Kurz claimed several of the European Union (EU) countries have developed secret contacts with vaccine companies through which they are receiving more doses of the coronavirus vaccines than they are entitled to receive, on the basis of the EU rules. Also read | Austria's Chancellor accuses EU of having 'secret contracts' with vaccine companies "There are clues that point to so-called bazaars where additional agreements between member states and pharmaceutical companies were made," Kurz said. Now, according to a letter published on Saturday, five EU states — namely Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Latvia — have called for an EU summit to discuss "huge disparities" in the distribution of coronavirus vaccines. Kurz, along with his four counterparts, sent a letter addressed to EU President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. Their letter claimed that "deliveries of vaccine doses by pharma companies to individual EU member states are not being implemented on an equal basis." Watch | "If this system were to carry on, it would continue creating and exacerbating huge disparities among member states by this summer, whereby some would be able to reach herd immunity in a few weeks while others would lag far behind," the letter continued. "We therefore call on you... to hold a discussion on this important matter among leaders as soon as possible." An EU spokesperson, however, subtly declined the claim saying it was up to the member states to "ask less or more of a given vaccine". Another EU official said that "the coordination in the fight against the pandemic" will be discussed on priority in the next summit, which is scheduled for March-end. The Austrian health ministry has, also, dismissed Kurz's claims, backing the statement of the EU spokesperson that every member state has the responsibility of asking for the number of needed does of the coronavirus vaccines. "These were very balanced and transparent negotiations," said Ines Stilling, general secretary of the Austrian health ministry, in an interview.

Five EU states call for summit after accusations of 'unfair' vaccine deliveries

In a shocking claim, Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has suggested that some European countries have signed "secret contracts" with several <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine</a>&nbsp;companies.

Kurz has claimed several of the European Union (EU) countries have developed secret contacts with vaccine companies through which they are receiving more doses of the coronavirus vaccines than they are entitled to receive, on the basis of the EU rules.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/excellent-vaccine-who-backs-use-of-astrazenecas-coronavirus-vaccine-369954" hreflang="en">Excellent vaccine': WHO backs use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine</a>

"There are clues that point to so-called bazaars where additional agreements between member states and pharmaceutical companies were made," Kurz said.&nbsp;

Previously, all EU members had agreed that the number of doses of coronavirus vaccines should be distributed among the European countries on the basis of the population.&nbsp;

However, Kurz has alleged that some hints have pointed out that "deliveries do not follow the per capita quota system". He has managed to reach this conclusion after comparing the total procurement between member states.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-first-ever-summit-of-quad-leaders-begins-369981" hreflang="en">LIVE: First-ever summit of Quad leaders begins</a>

"Malta will receive three times as many doses per capita as Bulgaria until the end of July," he justified his allegation with examples. "The Netherlands would not only receive more doses of vaccine per capita until the end of June than Germany, but almost twice as many as Croatia," he added.

Calling out the discrimination and the me-first attitude, he said, "This is in clear contradiction to the political goals of the EU".

However, the EU has denied these allegations and has dismissed the existence of any back-door agreements.&nbsp;

"Member states may decide to ask less or more of a given vaccine, and this is discussed between the member states," said EU spokesperson, Stefan de Keersmaecker. "It's possible in this context, following the outcome of the discussions between the member states, that a new distribution key is agreed upon with the company."

While Kurz has made the allegation, he has defended the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine amid the concerning reports of severe side-effects of the vaccine, leading to a temporary suspension in a few EU countries.&nbsp;

"I informed myself and after seeing so many people in Austria being worried about the vaccine, I'm willing to get the Astra Zeneca vaccine. I want to show that I have trust in this vaccine. Experts here have a clear opinion and this vaccine is being used in many countries around the world, and it is already being used by tens of millions," he said.

In a shocking claim, Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has suggested that some European countries have signed "secret contracts" with several coronavirus vaccine companies.

In a shocking claim, Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has suggested that some European countries have signed "secret contracts" with several coronavirus vaccine companies. Kurz has claimed several of the European Union (EU) countries have developed secret contacts with vaccine companies through which they are receiving more doses of the coronavirus vaccines than they are entitled to receive, on the basis of the EU rules. Also read | Excellent vaccine': WHO backs use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine "There are clues that point to so-called bazaars where additional agreements between member states and pharmaceutical companies were made," Kurz said. Previously, all EU members had agreed that the number of doses of coronavirus vaccines should be distributed among the European countries on the basis of the population. However, Kurz has alleged that some hints have pointed out that "deliveries do not follow the per capita quota system". He has managed to reach this conclusion after comparing the total procurement between member states. Also read | LIVE: First-ever summit of Quad leaders begins "Malta will receive three times as many doses per capita as Bulgaria until the end of July," he justified his allegation with examples. "The Netherlands would not only receive more doses of vaccine per capita until the end of June than Germany, but almost twice as many as Croatia," he added. Calling out the discrimination and the me-first attitude, he said, "This is in clear contradiction to the political goals of the EU". However, the EU has denied these allegations and has dismissed the existence of any back-door agreements. "Member states may decide to ask less or more of a given vaccine, and this is discussed between the member states," said EU spokesperson, Stefan de Keersmaecker. "It's possible in this context, following the outcome of the discussions between the member states, that a new distribution key is agreed upon with the company." While Kurz has made the allegation, he has defended the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine amid the concerning reports of severe side-effects of the vaccine, leading to a temporary suspension in a few EU countries. "I informed myself and after seeing so many people in Austria being worried about the vaccine, I'm willing to get the Astra Zeneca vaccine. I want to show that I have trust in this vaccine. Experts here have a clear opinion and this vaccine is being used in many countries around the world, and it is already being used by tens of millions," he said.

Austria's Chancellor accuses EU of having 'secret contracts' with vaccine companies

March 12 in history: From Gandhi's salt march to Hitler's invasion of Austria

Israel, Austria and Denmark said on Thursday they would set up a joint research and development fund and possibly production facilities for COVID-19 vaccines to ensure they had long-term supplies for booster shots or to contend with virus mutations.

European Union members Austria and Denmark have been chafing at delays in ordering, approving and distributing vaccines within https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronaviurs-vaccine-europe-int-idUSKBN2AU11Vthe 27-member bloc that have left it trailing far behind Israel's world-beating vaccination campaign.

After hosting his Austrian and Danish counterparts for talks and a tour of an Israeli gym open to those documented as having been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 with presumed immunity, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the pact.

"Once we get over this cycle of the disease we have no guarantee that it won't come back. We don't know how long - nobody knows - how long these vaccines will hold up," he said at a joint news conference. "And therefore we have to protect our people against the reemergence of this pandemic or mutations."

Austria's Sebastian Kurz said he was "very happy" about an EU vaccine initiative "but we also need to cooperate worldwide".

The European Commission has said member states were free to strike separate deals should they wish to.

The trilateral pact, Kurz said, would include investment in production plants in Europe and Israel, and each country contributing where it best can to the manufacturing cycle.

"In Austria, for example, lipid production necessary for many vaccines is already taking place," the chancellor said.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her country was looking to expand its production capacity. "We would like in common also to explore possible cooperation on clinical trials" with Israel and Austria, she said.

Netanyahu, who said 90% of eligible Israelis have either received at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or recovered from the virus, has made the programme a showcase of his campaign for a March 23 election.

"We will be, together, 'Vaccination Nations'," he said of the deal with Austria and Denmark. "And we agreed that if other nations want to join us, we will discuss this among ourselves and welcome others to come in as well."

Israel, Austria and Denmark said on Thursday they would set up a joint research and development fund and possibly production facilities for COVID-19 vaccines to ensure they had long-term supplies for booster shots or to contend with virus mutations.

Israel, Austria and Denmark said on Thursday they would set up a joint research and development fund and possibly production facilities for COVID-19 vaccines to ensure they had long-term supplies for booster shots or to contend with virus mutations. European Union members Austria and Denmark have been chafing at delays in ordering, approving and distributing vaccines within https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronaviurs-vaccine-europe-int-idUSKBN2AU11Vthe 27-member bloc that have left it trailing far behind Israel's world-beating vaccination campaign. After hosting his Austrian and Danish counterparts for talks and a tour of an Israeli gym open to those documented as having been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 with presumed immunity, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the pact. "Once we get over this cycle of the disease we have no guarantee that it won't come back. We don't know how long - nobody knows - how long these vaccines will hold up," he said at a joint news conference. "And therefore we have to protect our people against the reemergence of this pandemic or mutations." Austria's Sebastian Kurz said he was "very happy" about an EU vaccine initiative "but we also need to cooperate worldwide". The European Commission has said member states were free to strike separate deals should they wish to. The trilateral pact, Kurz said, would include investment in production plants in Europe and Israel, and each country contributing where it best can to the manufacturing cycle. "In Austria, for example, lipid production necessary for many vaccines is already taking place," the chancellor said. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her country was looking to expand its production capacity. "We would like in common also to explore possible cooperation on clinical trials" with Israel and Austria, she said. Netanyahu, who said 90% of eligible Israelis have either received at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or recovered from the virus, has made the programme a showcase of his campaign for a March 23 election. "We will be, together, 'Vaccination Nations'," he said of the deal with Austria and Denmark. "And we agreed that if other nations want to join us, we will discuss this among ourselves and welcome others to come in as well."

Israel, Austria and Denmark establish vaccine-supply alliance

Austria and Denmark, chafing at the slow rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in the European Union, have broken ranks with Brussels to form an alliance with Israel to produce second-generation vaccines against mutations of the coronavirus.&nbsp;

The move by the two EU member states comes amid rising anger over delays in ordering, approving and distributing vaccines that have left the 27-member bloc trailing far behind Israel's world-beating vaccination campaign.&nbsp;

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said while the principle that the EU procures vaccines for member states was correct, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had been too slow to approve them and lambasted pharmaceutical companies' supply bottlenecks.&nbsp;

"We must therefore prepare for further mutations and should no longer be dependent only on the EU for the production of second-generation vaccines," the conservative chancellor said in a statement on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Danish Prime Minister Danish Mette Frederiksen was also critical of the EU's vaccine programme.&nbsp;

“I don’t think it can stand alone, because we need to increase capacity. That is why we are now fortunate to start a partnership with Israel," she told reporters on Monday.&nbsp;

When asked if Denmark and Austria wanted to take unilateral action in obtaining vaccines, Frederiksen said: “You can call it that.”&nbsp;

Kurz and Frederiksen are due to travel to Israel this week to see Israel's rapid vaccine roll-out up close.&nbsp;

A growing number of EU countries have placed side orders for doses of vaccines from Russia and China, even though the EMA is yet to rule on whether they are both safe and effective.&nbsp;

Slovakia on Monday ordered two million doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. It expects half to arrive this month as it looks to step up vaccinations amid a surge in Covid-19 infections and deaths.&nbsp;

Austria and Denmark, chafing at the slow rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in the European Union, have broken ranks with Brussels to form an alliance with Israel to produce second-generation vaccines against mutations of the coronavirus.

Austria and Denmark, chafing at the slow rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in the European Union, have broken ranks with Brussels to form an alliance with Israel to produce second-generation vaccines against mutations of the coronavirus. The move by the two EU member states comes amid rising anger over delays in ordering, approving and distributing vaccines that have left the 27-member bloc trailing far behind Israel's world-beating vaccination campaign. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said while the principle that the EU procures vaccines for member states was correct, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had been too slow to approve them and lambasted pharmaceutical companies' supply bottlenecks. "We must therefore prepare for further mutations and should no longer be dependent only on the EU for the production of second-generation vaccines," the conservative chancellor said in a statement on Tuesday. Danish Prime Minister Danish Mette Frederiksen was also critical of the EU's vaccine programme. “I don’t think it can stand alone, because we need to increase capacity. That is why we are now fortunate to start a partnership with Israel," she told reporters on Monday. When asked if Denmark and Austria wanted to take unilateral action in obtaining vaccines, Frederiksen said: “You can call it that.” Kurz and Frederiksen are due to travel to Israel this week to see Israel's rapid vaccine roll-out up close. A growing number of EU countries have placed side orders for doses of vaccines from Russia and China, even though the EMA is yet to rule on whether they are both safe and effective. Slovakia on Monday ordered two million doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. It expects half to arrive this month as it looks to step up vaccinations amid a surge in Covid-19 infections and deaths.

Austria, Denmark break ranks with EU to produce vaccines with Israel

Germany has defended its border restrictions with Austria and the Czech Republic. The European Nation has said that these curbs are temporary measures and the last resort to avoid lockdown restrictions.

Germany restricts borders with Austria, Czech Republic

The house of one of the ministers closest to Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was searched Thursday as part of a probe into possible party financing offences, prosecutors said.

The specialised anti-corruption prosecutors' department said in a statement that it was investigating Finance Minister Gernot Bluemel and two other suspects over possible corruption and bribery offences.

The probe relates to possible illicit payments from a gambling company to the centre-right People's Party (OeVP), to which Kurz and Bluemel both belong, in return for "help... with tax liability that the business was facing abroad", according to the prosecutors.

Bluemel said the probe had to do with alleged donations from Austrian gambling giant Novomatic but denied that the OeVP had ever received any funds from the company.

Prosecutors said searches had been carried out at "several private and business addresses".

The Der Standard daily reports that at the time of the alleged discussion of a donation in 2017, Novomatic was facing the prospect of tens of millions of euros' worth of fines from authorities in Italy.

That was the same year Kurz took over the leadership of the OeVP while serving as foreign minister, before leading the party to victory in elections that autumn and becoming chancellor.

Bluemel held several senior positions in the Vienna section of the party at the time.

Bluemel confirmed in a statement sent to AFP that he had had "a good conversation at a pre-arranged appointment" at the prosecutors' headquarters.

"Of course at the house search which followed the interview I supplied all the requested documents and electronic devices," he added.

Bluemel, who denies all wrongdoing, is seen as close to Kurz and recently made an unsuccessful bid for mayor of Vienna as the OeVP candidate.

All the main political opposition parties have demanded Bluemel's resignation but the OeVP's junior coalition partners the Greens have been more circumspect.

The Novomatic investigation is one of several that have grown out of the so-called "Ibizagate" scandal which brought down Kurz's first government, a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe).

The scandal erupted in May 2019 when a video emerged showing the then leader of the FPOe and Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache appearing to offer public contracts to a woman posing as a wealthy Russian in return for election campaign help.

During that conversation Strache was heard suggesting that Novomatic "pays everyone".

The company denies any impropriety and Strache withdrew the remarks.

The scandal lead to early elections in autumn 2019 in which the OeVP emerged strengthened, profiting from a collapse in the FPOe's vote share.&nbsp;

The house of one of the ministers closest to Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was searched Thursday as part of a probe into possible party financing offences, prosecutors said.

The house of one of the ministers closest to Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was searched Thursday as part of a probe into possible party financing offences, prosecutors said. The specialised anti-corruption prosecutors' department said in a statement that it was investigating Finance Minister Gernot Bluemel and two other suspects over possible corruption and bribery offences. The probe relates to possible illicit payments from a gambling company to the centre-right People's Party (OeVP), to which Kurz and Bluemel both belong, in return for "help... with tax liability that the business was facing abroad", according to the prosecutors. Bluemel said the probe had to do with alleged donations from Austrian gambling giant Novomatic but denied that the OeVP had ever received any funds from the company. Prosecutors said searches had been carried out at "several private and business addresses". The Der Standard daily reports that at the time of the alleged discussion of a donation in 2017, Novomatic was facing the prospect of tens of millions of euros' worth of fines from authorities in Italy. That was the same year Kurz took over the leadership of the OeVP while serving as foreign minister, before leading the party to victory in elections that autumn and becoming chancellor. Bluemel held several senior positions in the Vienna section of the party at the time. Bluemel confirmed in a statement sent to AFP that he had had "a good conversation at a pre-arranged appointment" at the prosecutors' headquarters. "Of course at the house search which followed the interview I supplied all the requested documents and electronic devices," he added. Bluemel, who denies all wrongdoing, is seen as close to Kurz and recently made an unsuccessful bid for mayor of Vienna as the OeVP candidate. All the main political opposition parties have demanded Bluemel's resignation but the OeVP's junior coalition partners the Greens have been more circumspect. The Novomatic investigation is one of several that have grown out of the so-called "Ibizagate" scandal which brought down Kurz's first government, a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe). The scandal erupted in May 2019 when a video emerged showing the then leader of the FPOe and Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache appearing to offer public contracts to a woman posing as a wealthy Russian in return for election campaign help. During that conversation Strache was heard suggesting that Novomatic "pays everyone". The company denies any impropriety and Strache withdrew the remarks. The scandal lead to early elections in autumn 2019 in which the OeVP emerged strengthened, profiting from a collapse in the FPOe's vote share.

Austrian minister's home searched in corruption probe

It was a picture-perfect moment for a wedding proposal — the sun was setting, the breeze was cold and the cliff was set for a proposal. However, things took an unexpected turn when the woman fell off the cliff.

A man got down on a knee to propose to his girlfriend on a cliff in a&nbsp;picturesque location. The cliff was at 650 ft height and the sun was setting. To his relief, his girlfriend said yea, but as soon as she said yes, his fiance took a step back and found herself falling from the cliff.

Have a look|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/times-square-famous-new-year-countdown-goes-socially-distanced-with-a-touch-of-glamour-353735" hreflang="en">Times Square famous new year countdown goes socially distanced with a touch of glamour</a>

Fortunately, their happy day did not turn into a tragedy as the 32-year-old 'just engaged' woman landed on a bed of snow and survived the fall.

The unnamed couple had been dating for a while and the 27-year-old man had decided to take his girlfriend atop the famous&nbsp;Falkart mountain in Carinthia, Austria to pop the question at the picture-perfect moment of sunset.&nbsp;

However, as soon as his girlfriend said 'yes', she slipped due to the rocky terrain and fell down the cliff. The fiance jumped forward to save the love of his life but was left hanging&nbsp;50-feet while his girlfriend fell deeper.

Have a look|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-fireworks-australia-new-zealand-welcome-2021-353638" hreflang="en">With fireworks, India, other nations welcome 2021 as celebrations turn low-key</a>

"The two were extremely lucky. He flew 15 meters through the air. The woman fell 200 meters over rocky terrain. Had it not been for snow, it would have turned out very differently," an officer reported.

Emergency services were soon spotted on the proposal site. The boyfriend, hanging for his life, was rescued by a helicopter crew and was immediately taken to a hospital. The doctors revealed he had only suffered a&nbsp;fractured vertebra.

The woman, too, has been admitted to a hospital and does not have any life-threatening injuries.

It was a picture-perfect moment for a wedding proposal — the sun was setting, the breeze was cold and the cliff was set for a proposal. However, things took an unexpected turn when the woman fell off the cliff.

It was a picture-perfect moment for a wedding proposal — the sun was setting, the breeze was cold and the cliff was set for a proposal. However, things took an unexpected turn when the woman fell off the cliff. A man got down on a knee to propose to his girlfriend on a cliff in a picturesque location. The cliff was at 650 ft height and the sun was setting. To his relief, his girlfriend said yea, but as soon as she said yes, his fiance took a step back and found herself falling from the cliff. Have a look| Times Square famous new year countdown goes socially distanced with a touch of glamour Fortunately, their happy day did not turn into a tragedy as the 32-year-old 'just engaged' woman landed on a bed of snow and survived the fall. The unnamed couple had been dating for a while and the 27-year-old man had decided to take his girlfriend atop the famous Falkart mountain in Carinthia, Austria to pop the question at the picture-perfect moment of sunset. However, as soon as his girlfriend said 'yes', she slipped due to the rocky terrain and fell down the cliff. The fiance jumped forward to save the love of his life but was left hanging 50-feet while his girlfriend fell deeper. Have a look| With fireworks, India, other nations welcome 2021 as celebrations turn low-key "The two were extremely lucky. He flew 15 meters through the air. The woman fell 200 meters over rocky terrain. Had it not been for snow, it would have turned out very differently," an officer reported. Emergency services were soon spotted on the proposal site. The boyfriend, hanging for his life, was rescued by a helicopter crew and was immediately taken to a hospital. The doctors revealed he had only suffered a fractured vertebra. The woman, too, has been admitted to a hospital and does not have any life-threatening injuries.

Hanging by a ring: Woman falls down 650 ft high cliff after boyfriend proposes

Austria will go into coronavirus lockdown for a third time after Christmas, the government confirmed on Friday, just 11 days after the country's second lockdown ended.

Austria will go into third lockdown on December 26, Kurz says

Just after 11 days of the second lockdown, third lockdown is on its way in Austria. The country will enter its third coronavirus lockdown between December 26 and January 24, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced on Friday.

Austria to enter third coronavirus lockdown after Christmas

After months of gruelling training, world champion sport climber Angela "Angy" Eiter completed a groundbreaking, gravity defying route on a rock face in the mountains of Tyrol, Austria she has dubbed, 'Madame Ching,' after an early 19th century pirate.

Defying gravity, climber first woman to conquer fearsome Austrian route

Austria’s Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that a law banning girls aged up to 10 from wearing headscarves in schools was discriminatory, overturning the measure introduced by the ruling conservatives while allied with the far right.

The legislation did not specify that the ban referred to headscarves, instead forbidding the wearing of “religious clothing that is associated with a covering of the head”.

But the court found that it was clearly aimed at Muslim headscarves.

That went against the state’s duty to treat officially recognised religions equally, and the principle that singling out any one of them requires special justification, it ruled.

“The selective ban ... applies exclusively to Muslim schoolgirls and thereby separates them in a discriminatory manner from other pupils,” court President Christoph Grabenwarter said.

Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has consistently taken a hard line on immigration, and his stance overlaps significantly with that of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which says Islam has no place in Austrian society.

Kurz formed a coalition with the FPO in 2017 that collapsed last year after the far-right party’s then leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, was caught in a video sting offering to fix state contracts.

Kurz is now in government with the left-wing Greens, but their coalition agreement includes many policies introduced during his alliance with the FPO, including a plan to extend the headscarf ban up to the age of 14.

The current government programme says children should grow up “with as little coercion as possible”, for which it gives wearing a headscarf as the only example.

The body that officially represents Austria’s Muslims, the Islamic Faith Community, which brought the legal challenge, welcomed the ruling.

“Ensuring equal opportunities and self-determination for girls and women in our society is not achieved through bans,” it said in a statement.

Austria’s Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that a law banning girls aged up to 10 from wearing headscarves in schools was discriminatory, overturning the measure introduced by the ruling conservatives while allied with the far right.

Austria’s Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that a law banning girls aged up to 10 from wearing headscarves in schools was discriminatory, overturning the measure introduced by the ruling conservatives while allied with the far right. The legislation did not specify that the ban referred to headscarves, instead forbidding the wearing of “religious clothing that is associated with a covering of the head”. But the court found that it was clearly aimed at Muslim headscarves. That went against the state’s duty to treat officially recognised religions equally, and the principle that singling out any one of them requires special justification, it ruled. “The selective ban ... applies exclusively to Muslim schoolgirls and thereby separates them in a discriminatory manner from other pupils,” court President Christoph Grabenwarter said. Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has consistently taken a hard line on immigration, and his stance overlaps significantly with that of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which says Islam has no place in Austrian society. Kurz formed a coalition with the FPO in 2017 that collapsed last year after the far-right party’s then leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, was caught in a video sting offering to fix state contracts. Kurz is now in government with the left-wing Greens, but their coalition agreement includes many policies introduced during his alliance with the FPO, including a plan to extend the headscarf ban up to the age of 14. The current government programme says children should grow up “with as little coercion as possible”, for which it gives wearing a headscarf as the only example. The body that officially represents Austria’s Muslims, the Islamic Faith Community, which brought the legal challenge, welcomed the ruling. “Ensuring equal opportunities and self-determination for girls and women in our society is not achieved through bans,” it said in a statement.

Austrian Constitutional Court overturns headscarf ban in schools

The former finance minister of Austria, Karl-Heinz Grasser, has been sentenced to eight years of jail time after he was proven guilty on corruption charges.

Grasser was hailed for becoming the youngest&nbsp;finance minister of the country in the year 2000. However, his fame soon turned away when he was charged on counts of embezzlement, bribery and falsification of evidence to sell thousands of publicly owned apartments.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/france-belgium-and-austria-move-into-the-frontline-of-a-battle-for-the-soul-of-islam-347891">France, Belgium and Austria move into the frontline of a battle for the soul of Islam</a>

He has been accused of falsifying information and passing on confidential information to a third party, along with another middleman. This helped the third party — identified as the rival party — to come up with a higher winning bid.&nbsp;

An association then, three years later, bought the apartments for&nbsp;€961 million, which were valued at double the amount. One per cent of this purchase, €9.6 million, was also passed on to&nbsp;ex-Freedom Party of Austria General Secretary Walter Meischberger and lobbyist Peter Hochegger. This money was then divided into three different accounts of Lichtenstein to cover the tracks. The two, along with Grasser, have been given prison sentences.

"Those who do business honestly do not need any accounts in Lichtenstein," Judge Marion Hohenecker said.

Accusing Grasser of providing the sensitive information to the winning bidder, she added the only way the bidders won was "through bribery and was only possible because of the intentional abuse of authority" by the former finance minister.

Also watch|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/austria-plans-christmas-skiing-but-effectively-for-locals-only-347289">Austria plans Christmas skiing, but effectively for locals only</a>

The Judge has issued an eight-year-long prison sentence to Grasser on the basis of hundreds of witness statements and several phone tappings.

Grasser and his lawyers have dismissed all the allegations describing them as "blatant misjudgement". His lawyers will now be challenging the decision.

The former finance minister of Austria, Karl-Heinz Grasser, has been sentenced to eight years of jail time after he was proven guilty on corruption charges. Grasser was hailed for becoming the youngest finance minister of the country in the year 2000.

The former finance minister of Austria, Karl-Heinz Grasser, has been sentenced to eight years of jail time after he was proven guilty on corruption charges. Grasser was hailed for becoming the youngest finance minister of the country in the year 2000. However, his fame soon turned away when he was charged on counts of embezzlement, bribery and falsification of evidence to sell thousands of publicly owned apartments. Also read| France, Belgium and Austria move into the frontline of a battle for the soul of Islam He has been accused of falsifying information and passing on confidential information to a third party, along with another middleman. This helped the third party — identified as the rival party — to come up with a higher winning bid. An association then, three years later, bought the apartments for €961 million, which were valued at double the amount. One per cent of this purchase, €9.6 million, was also passed on to ex-Freedom Party of Austria General Secretary Walter Meischberger and lobbyist Peter Hochegger. This money was then divided into three different accounts of Lichtenstein to cover the tracks. The two, along with Grasser, have been given prison sentences. "Those who do business honestly do not need any accounts in Lichtenstein," Judge Marion Hohenecker said. Accusing Grasser of providing the sensitive information to the winning bidder, she added the only way the bidders won was "through bribery and was only possible because of the intentional abuse of authority" by the former finance minister. Also watch| Austria plans Christmas skiing, but effectively for locals only The Judge has issued an eight-year-long prison sentence to Grasser on the basis of hundreds of witness statements and several phone tappings. Grasser and his lawyers have dismissed all the allegations describing them as "blatant misjudgement". His lawyers will now be challenging the decision.

Former Austrian Finance minister to serve eight years in prison for corruption scandal

Punching above its weight, the United Arab Emirates is wielding a combination of religious soft power, commercial and economic sway, and hard power in its bid to counter political Islam in ways that potentially could threaten pillars of Western democracy as well as US and European strategic interests.

The UAE’s footprint is visible across the globe, most recently in France, the latest arena in what amounts to a battle for the soul of Islam, as well as in US disclosures about the nature of Emirati intervention in Libya.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia appear to have been lobbying for a tougher French policy towards political Islam prior to the crackdown initiated by President Emmanuel Macron in the wake of the gruesome killing of a schoolteacher in September and subsequent attacks, including on a church in Nice.

The lobbying, emphasising common interests in countering political Islam and Turkey, with which France is at odds in Libya and the eastern Mediterranean as well as on the issue of political Islam, aligned themselves neatly with Macron’s domestic and international agenda.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia in effect gave the French leader welcome Muslim cover to target political Islam and Turkey more than six months before the attacks this fall as he gears up for an election in 2022 in which Marie Le Pen, the leader of the far right, nationalist and anti-immigration National Rally, looms large.

Speaking in the French city of Mulhouse in February, Macron laid out his strategy to combat political Islam represented by the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists who in his words insist that Islam’s legal code supersedes the laws of the French Republic and emphasise what he calls “Islamist separatism” and “Islamist supremacy.” The UAE and Saudi Arabia have both declared the brotherhood a terrorist organisation.

Austria last month started cracking down on the brotherhood following a shooting rampage in the heart of Vienna in which four people were killed.

Kuwait and Qatar are funding the construction of an Islamic religious and cultural centre in Mulhouse. The UAE and Saudi Arabia alongside Bahrain and Egypt have been boycotting Qatar economically and diplomatically since 2017, alleging that the Gulf state is a prime supporter of Islamist groups.

“In the Republic we cannot accept that we refuse to shake hands with a woman because she is a woman. In the Republic, we cannot accept that someone refuses to be treated or educated by someone because she is a woman. In the Republic, one cannot accept school dropouts for religious or belief reasons. In the Republic, one cannot require certificates of virginity to marry,” Macron said.

Qatar has backed the brotherhood in the past and is home to Yusuf al-Qaradawi, widely viewed as a one of the foremost influencers of the Brotherhood, a catch-all for a multitude of aligned Islamist groups that bicker among themselves.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar as well as mediator Kuwait expressed hope in recent days that talks in advance of a Gulf summit in Riyadh later this month would produce at least a first step towards an end of the boycott.

Macron’s crackdown involves tighter legal control of Muslim organisations and aims to centralise the formation and accreditation of Muslim religious leaders in the country.

Critics, including United Nations experts, charge that a new security law introduced in parliament undermines democratic freedoms by implicitly targeting Muslims, imposing a wider ban on home schooling and controls on religious, sporting and cultural associations, and introducing degrees of surveillance and limits on freedom of expression.

Macron “does not want to see Muslims ghettoized in the West and he is right. They should be better integrated into society. The French state has the right to explore ways to achieve that,” UAE minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash said in November.

Playing on Macron’s differences with Turkey that are shared by the UAE, Gargash suggested that the French president was drawing a line in the sand for his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.&nbsp;

“It is only when he is shown the red line that he shows himself ready to negotiate," Gargash asserted.

Mohammed al-Issa, head of the Muslim World League, a one-time major vehicle for the global propagation of past Saudi ultra-conservatism that now projects the kingdom’s undefined notion of moderate Islam, insisted last month that the law would defend French secularism against Islamic radicalism.

Speaking earlier at an inter-faith conference in Paris co-hosted by the League, Al-Issa stressed that religion needed to be protected from political exploitation to safeguard youth against extremist groups.

Much of Macron’s thinking appears to be informed by French Muslims who maintain close contact with both the French and Emirati governments.

Hakim El Karoui, the French-born son of an anthropologist of Islamic law and nephew of a former Tunisian prime minister, has long advocated notions of a French Islam that are reflected in Mr. Macron’s thinking.

This includes an undifferentiated view of political Islam, the notion of Islamists being secessionists or separatists, and the belief that Middle Eastern funding and political manipulation of faith rather than of domestic and economic factors primarily drive support for political Islam.

An advisor to former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, university lecturer, investment banker, geographer and author of several reports on Islam in France, El Karoui has long projected the UAE as a model of best practice in countering political Islam and fostering a moderate form of the faith.

The UAE promotes a concept of state-controlled Islam that preaches absolute obedience to the ruler.

“I think that France and the UAE must engage more in a religious debate. The positions of the moderate Muslims in France can be close to the ones of the UAE,” El Karoui told an Abu Dhabi-based newspaper in 2018.

French Middle East scholar Francois Burgat noted in an interview that “arguments put forth by El Karoui are enthusiastically embraced by authoritarian leaders in the Muslim world. They absolve them from responsibility for problems in their own societies.”

Macron’s UAE and Saudi-backed campaign is producing unintended advantages for the two Gulf states in their battle for the soul of Islam. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are in competition with one another but also frequently see their interests aligned.

In a parallel development, the Belgian government, acting on the advice of security services, this month rejected a request of the once Muslim World League-controlled Grand Mosque in central Brussels to be recognized as a faith community.

Justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said the application had been rejected because agents of the intelligence service of Morocco, a competitor for ownership of the definition of a moderate form of Islam in Europe and West Africa, had gained control of the mosque since Saudi Arabia handed it back to the government in 2018.

“I cannot and will not accept that foreign regimes hijack Islam for ideological or political motives, try to call the shots here and prevent Muslims in our country from developing their own progressive Islam,” Van Quickenborne said, echoing Macron’s approach.

A podcast version of this story is available on Soundcloud, Itunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spreaker, Pocket Casts, Tumblr, Podbean, Audecibel, Patreon and Castbox.

(Dr James M Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute.)

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

Punching above its weight, the United Arab Emirates is wielding a combination of religious soft power, commercial and economic sway, and hard power in its bid to counter political Islam in ways that potentially could threaten pillars of Western democracy as well as US and European strategic interests.

Punching above its weight, the United Arab Emirates is wielding a combination of religious soft power, commercial and economic sway, and hard power in its bid to counter political Islam in ways that potentially could threaten pillars of Western democracy as well as US and European strategic interests. The UAE’s footprint is visible across the globe, most recently in France, the latest arena in what amounts to a battle for the soul of Islam, as well as in US disclosures about the nature of Emirati intervention in Libya. The UAE and Saudi Arabia appear to have been lobbying for a tougher French policy towards political Islam prior to the crackdown initiated by President Emmanuel Macron in the wake of the gruesome killing of a schoolteacher in September and subsequent attacks, including on a church in Nice. The lobbying, emphasising common interests in countering political Islam and Turkey, with which France is at odds in Libya and the eastern Mediterranean as well as on the issue of political Islam, aligned themselves neatly with Macron’s domestic and international agenda. The UAE and Saudi Arabia in effect gave the French leader welcome Muslim cover to target political Islam and Turkey more than six months before the attacks this fall as he gears up for an election in 2022 in which Marie Le Pen, the leader of the far right, nationalist and anti-immigration National Rally, looms large. Speaking in the French city of Mulhouse in February, Macron laid out his strategy to combat political Islam represented by the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists who in his words insist that Islam’s legal code supersedes the laws of the French Republic and emphasise what he calls “Islamist separatism” and “Islamist supremacy.” The UAE and Saudi Arabia have both declared the brotherhood a terrorist organisation. Austria last month started cracking down on the brotherhood following a shooting rampage in the heart of Vienna in which four people were killed. Kuwait and Qatar are funding the construction of an Islamic religious and cultural centre in Mulhouse. The UAE and Saudi Arabia alongside Bahrain and Egypt have been boycotting Qatar economically and diplomatically since 2017, alleging that the Gulf state is a prime supporter of Islamist groups. “In the Republic we cannot accept that we refuse to shake hands with a woman because she is a woman. In the Republic, we cannot accept that someone refuses to be treated or educated by someone because she is a woman. In the Republic, one cannot accept school dropouts for religious or belief reasons. In the Republic, one cannot require certificates of virginity to marry,” Macron said. Qatar has backed the brotherhood in the past and is home to Yusuf al-Qaradawi, widely viewed as a one of the foremost influencers of the Brotherhood, a catch-all for a multitude of aligned Islamist groups that bicker among themselves. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar as well as mediator Kuwait expressed hope in recent days that talks in advance of a Gulf summit in Riyadh later this month would produce at least a first step towards an end of the boycott. Macron’s crackdown involves tighter legal control of Muslim organisations and aims to centralise the formation and accreditation of Muslim religious leaders in the country. Critics, including United Nations experts, charge that a new security law introduced in parliament undermines democratic freedoms by implicitly targeting Muslims, imposing a wider ban on home schooling and controls on religious, sporting and cultural associations, and introducing degrees of surveillance and limits on freedom of expression. Macron “does not want to see Muslims ghettoized in the West and he is right. They should be better integrated into society. The French state has the right to explore ways to achieve that,” UAE minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash said in November. Playing on Macron’s differences with Turkey that are shared by the UAE, Gargash suggested that the French president was drawing a line in the sand for his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “It is only when he is shown the red line that he shows himself ready to negotiate," Gargash asserted. Mohammed al-Issa, head of the Muslim World League, a one-time major vehicle for the global propagation of past Saudi ultra-conservatism that now projects the kingdom’s undefined notion of moderate Islam, insisted last month that the law would defend French secularism against Islamic radicalism. Speaking earlier at an inter-faith conference in Paris co-hosted by the League, Al-Issa stressed that religion needed to be protected from political exploitation to safeguard youth against extremist groups. Much of Macron’s thinking appears to be informed by French Muslims who maintain close contact with both the French and Emirati governments. Hakim El Karoui, the French-born son of an anthropologist of Islamic law and nephew of a former Tunisian prime minister, has long advocated notions of a French Islam that are reflected in Mr. Macron’s thinking. This includes an undifferentiated view of political Islam, the notion of Islamists being secessionists or separatists, and the belief that Middle Eastern funding and political manipulation of faith rather than of domestic and economic factors primarily drive support for political Islam. An advisor to former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, university lecturer, investment banker, geographer and author of several reports on Islam in France, El Karoui has long projected the UAE as a model of best practice in countering political Islam and fostering a moderate form of the faith. The UAE promotes a concept of state-controlled Islam that preaches absolute obedience to the ruler. “I think that France and the UAE must engage more in a religious debate. The positions of the moderate Muslims in France can be close to the ones of the UAE,” El Karoui told an Abu Dhabi-based newspaper in 2018. French Middle East scholar Francois Burgat noted in an interview that “arguments put forth by El Karoui are enthusiastically embraced by authoritarian leaders in the Muslim world. They absolve them from responsibility for problems in their own societies.” Macron’s UAE and Saudi-backed campaign is producing unintended advantages for the two Gulf states in their battle for the soul of Islam. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are in competition with one another but also frequently see their interests aligned. In a parallel development, the Belgian government, acting on the advice of security services, this month rejected a request of the once Muslim World League-controlled Grand Mosque in central Brussels to be recognized as a faith community. Justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said the application had been rejected because agents of the intelligence service of Morocco, a competitor for ownership of the definition of a moderate form of Islam in Europe and West Africa, had gained control of the mosque since Saudi Arabia handed it back to the government in 2018. “I cannot and will not accept that foreign regimes hijack Islam for ideological or political motives, try to call the shots here and prevent Muslims in our country from developing their own progressive Islam,” Van Quickenborne said, echoing Macron’s approach. A podcast version of this story is available on Soundcloud, Itunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spreaker, Pocket Casts, Tumblr, Podbean, Audecibel, Patreon and Castbox. (Dr James M Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute.) (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

France, Belgium and Austria move into the frontline of a battle for the soul of Islam

Two days ago, WION asked a question as to how would Europe have reacted had a country like India proposed sweeping powers for the government against Islamism? The backlash can be imagined had New Delhi said the government would put electronic bracelets on radicals. These European countries are all secular. But many of them have laws to regulate Islam

Austria in 2015, banned foreign funding to religious institutions. Germany in 2019, kicked off a pilot project to train Imams. It created a special university course. Can we imagine such a thing in India?

16 Islamic preachers have been expelled from India in last three years. But the situation has deteriorated because we have gone from expulsion to arrests.

Italy deported 16 radical Imams from 2015 to 2018.&nbsp;

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Laws in Denmark are specific still. It has a law for children living in 'Ghetto neighbourhoods'. Ghetto neighbourhoods are enclaves with a large population of Muslim citizens. Children from these neighbourhoods must spend at least 25 hours apart from their parents every week. In these 25 hours, these kids are taught 'Danish values'. They are taught about Christmas and Easter traditions.

Denmark is a secular country. But the government mandates Muslim children to learn about Christmas and Easter. They also take Danish language classes.

How does the govt explain this? It says it is westernising these children. And immersing them in the secular culture of country. This is a constitutionally mandated intervention. The government says it's not an interference in religious affairs. It's something they must do to tackle the rising threat of Islamism.

This is part of a global pattern.

Take a look at this report from two days back.

"In 2018, government restrictions on religion reach the highest level globally in more than a decade," says a Pew research report. It's based on laws around the world.

What they found is very interesting. More and more countries are pushing laws, policies and actions that restrict religious practices. And most of them cite extremism as the reason for this.

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Let's see what European Union charter of fundamental rights says about freedom of religion.

"Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others."

So there is freedom of religion but with reasonable restrictions. Leaders in Europe and all over the world are well within their rights to make laws to protect their countries.

In some cases, even sweeping powers may be justified. In India, the previous UPA government introduced two laws after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The first set up a National Investigation Agency.

The second strengthened existing anti-terror laws to allow suspects to be detained without bail for up to six months on the orders of a judge.

The current n.D.A govt introduced the UAPA or the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

It has special provisions to deal with terrorist activities. Both laws have been slammed as draconian. But neither is unique in the global context.

Two days ago, WION asked a question as to how would Europe have reacted had a country like India proposed sweeping powers for the government against Islamism? The backlash can be imagined had New Delhi said the government would put electronic bracelets on radicals.

Two days ago, WION asked a question as to how would Europe have reacted had a country like India proposed sweeping powers for the government against Islamism? The backlash can be imagined had New Delhi said the government would put electronic bracelets on radicals. These European countries are all secular. But many of them have laws to regulate Islam Austria in 2015, banned foreign funding to religious institutions. Germany in 2019, kicked off a pilot project to train Imams. It created a special university course. Can we imagine such a thing in India? 16 Islamic preachers have been expelled from India in last three years. But the situation has deteriorated because we have gone from expulsion to arrests. Italy deported 16 radical Imams from 2015 to 2018. × Laws in Denmark are specific still. It has a law for children living in 'Ghetto neighbourhoods'. Ghetto neighbourhoods are enclaves with a large population of Muslim citizens. Children from these neighbourhoods must spend at least 25 hours apart from their parents every week. In these 25 hours, these kids are taught 'Danish values'. They are taught about Christmas and Easter traditions. Denmark is a secular country. But the government mandates Muslim children to learn about Christmas and Easter. They also take Danish language classes. How does the govt explain this? It says it is westernising these children. And immersing them in the secular culture of country. This is a constitutionally mandated intervention. The government says it's not an interference in religious affairs. It's something they must do to tackle the rising threat of Islamism. This is part of a global pattern. Take a look at this report from two days back. "In 2018, government restrictions on religion reach the highest level globally in more than a decade," says a Pew research report. It's based on laws around the world. What they found is very interesting. More and more countries are pushing laws, policies and actions that restrict religious practices. And most of them cite extremism as the reason for this. × Let's see what European Union charter of fundamental rights says about freedom of religion. "Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others." So there is freedom of religion but with reasonable restrictions. Leaders in Europe and all over the world are well within their rights to make laws to protect their countries. In some cases, even sweeping powers may be justified. In India, the previous UPA government introduced two laws after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The first set up a National Investigation Agency. The second strengthened existing anti-terror laws to allow suspects to be detained without bail for up to six months on the orders of a judge. The current n.D.A govt introduced the UAPA or the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. It has special provisions to deal with terrorist activities. Both laws have been slammed as draconian. But neither is unique in the global context.

How countries are tackling Islamic extremism with the help of laws

Austria on Wednesday chose a middle way in its standoff with neighbouring countries on whether skiing over Christmas is safe, by letting resorts reopen on Christmas Eve but making ski holidays virtually impossible.

Austria plans Christmas skiing, but effectively for locals only

Across the globe, there are several funny names of places, towns, cities, among others.

And one such town is in Austria that is the centre of many jokes.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-in-austria-conducts-raid-on-dozens-of-addresses-linked-to-radical-islamists-341848">Police in Austria conducts raid on dozens of addresses linked to radical Islamists</a>

This town that is named Fu*#ing has finally decided that it will no longer be a part of banter and be officially renamed.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vienna-terror-attack-austria-announces-closure-of-radical-mosques-341159">Vienna terror attack: Austria announces closure of 'radical' mosques</a>

It will be known by Fugging from January 1, 2021, Mayor Andrea Holzner told Austrian broadcaster Oe24. &nbsp;

"I can confirm that the village is being renamed. I really don't want to say anything more - we've had enough media frenzy about this in the past," the mayor said.&nbsp;

Interestingly, Fu*#ing has a population of just 100 people and is known by this name for about 1,000 years.&nbsp;

The town has featured in several lists of places with rudest names.

A 2012 article said that locals were getting fed up with naked couples arriving in this tiny place bordering Germany and having sex in front of the sign.&nbsp;

Some locals even started using the Fu*#ing on everything from postcards to beer to attract attention.&nbsp;

However, the move has not been welcomed by everyone with some people suggesting that the original name must be kept.&nbsp;

"Don't people have any sense of humour these days?" a person told Austrian newspaper OOeN.&nbsp;

"They're getting free publicity - they ought to have been happy to have a funny name," another individual said.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Across the globe, there are several funny names of places, towns, cities, among others. And one such town is in Austria that is the centre of many jokes. Also read | Police in Austria conducts raid on dozens of addresses linked to radical Islamists This town that is named Fu*#ing has finally decided that it will no longer be a part of banter and be officially renamed.

Across the globe, there are several funny names of places, towns, cities, among others. And one such town is in Austria that is the centre of many jokes. Also read | Police in Austria conducts raid on dozens of addresses linked to radical Islamists This town that is named Fu*#ing has finally decided that it will no longer be a part of banter and be officially renamed. Also read | Vienna terror attack: Austria announces closure of 'radical' mosques It will be known by Fugging from January 1, 2021, Mayor Andrea Holzner told Austrian broadcaster Oe24. "I can confirm that the village is being renamed. I really don't want to say anything more - we've had enough media frenzy about this in the past," the mayor said. Interestingly, Fu*#ing has a population of just 100 people and is known by this name for about 1,000 years. The town has featured in several lists of places with rudest names. A 2012 article said that locals were getting fed up with naked couples arriving in this tiny place bordering Germany and having sex in front of the sign. Some locals even started using the Fu*#ing on everything from postcards to beer to attract attention. However, the move has not been welcomed by everyone with some people suggesting that the original name must be kept. "Don't people have any sense of humour these days?" a person told Austrian newspaper OOeN. "They're getting free publicity - they ought to have been happy to have a funny name," another individual said.

Believe it or not: This 'Fu*#ing' Austrian town will be renamed!

After France & Austria, Switzerland has reported a suspected act of terror. A 28-year-old 'Jihadist' attacked two women with a knife at a departmental store in Lugano. WION's Molly Gambhir gets you a report.

Gravitas: 'Jihadist' knife attack in Switzerland

From France to Austria, European Nations are proposing laws to fight political Islam and counter the terror threat, but is Europe missing the root cause of the problem? Why is it not cracking down on terror exporters like Pakistan? WION's Palki Sharma makes a case.

Gravitas: Austria proposes sweeping laws against Radical Islam

After the terror attack in Vienna, Austria wants to ban political Islam. Sebastian Kurz's government wants powers to close mosques, strip citizenship and imprison terrorists for life. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: How Austria is dismantling Islamist infrastructure within its borders

the fight against political Islam – the ideological basis behind it – we are going to create a criminal offense called ‘political Islam’, says Sebastian Kurz

Austria to make it a criminal offense to spread political Islam after Vienna terror attack

Austria's Interior Minister Karl Nehammer has admitted that a warning from Slovakia last summer about a gunman.

Austria admits failing to act on warning on gunman

Large quantities of mobile phone footage have confirmed that the jihadist who killed four people in a rampage in Vienna on Monday was the only gunman, but Austria fumbled intelligence on him, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said on Wednesday.

Vienna gunman rampaged alone, intelligence was fumbled, minister says

We are witnessing the resurgence of terrorism in Europe. It's not just France or Austria that faces the terror threat. Radicalism has been growing around Europe. And European leaders are waking up to the threat posed by political Islam. On Monday, France struck back.

More than 50 Jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda were killed in an airstrike in Mali. France has been fighting a long-drawn battle against extremism in this region&nbsp;

In&nbsp;return, Macron now has a target on his head. Al Qaeda is threatening to attack the French President. It said that killing anyone who insults the Prophet is the right of every Muslim. Islamist extremism has become Europe's reality. 
&nbsp; 
With words 'Islam is a religion in crisis' Emmanuel Macron painted a target on his back. What followed was a major backlash from the Muslim world. Protesters took to the streets.

The Islamic world may have rejected Macron's message but European leaders must take it as a wake-up call. It's a continent that is struggling with growing radicalism.

In 2019, there were 119 attempted attacks in Europe. Out of these, 21 were linked to Jihadist terrorism.

In 2020, the attacks in France and Austria mark a resurgence of terrorism in Europe.&nbsp;

The challenge is collective. The response isn't.

Different European countries are trying to deal with terror threats with their own unique measures. Austria banned foreign funding for the Islamic group in 2015.

Germany made a push to train Imams locally. Italy punished radical Imams. By 2018, it has expelled 16 Imams. Sweden axed government funding to two Muslim organisations. This included a Muslim brotherhood youth group.

Sweden said that the group didn't fulfil the 'democracy requirement' needed for government aid.

Clearly, these limited measures were not enough. Europe needs a united front to challenge Islamism. A front, that can collaborate with international partners.

During his visit to Germany, India Foreign Secretary highlighted the need for greater co-operation against terror networks.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
While raising the issue of growing radicalism in Europe he said, "The terrorists are united in purpose and action while we, the victims, are yet to be so" 
&nbsp; 
This is a pivotal moment for Europe. Leaders who pushed for open borders and sat in judgment of other countries that implemented tough measures are learning it the hard way.

They need decisive action and a comprehensive approach.

We are witnessing the resurgence of terrorism in Europe. It's not just France or Austria that faces the terror threat. Radicalism has been growing around Europe.

We are witnessing the resurgence of terrorism in Europe. It's not just France or Austria that faces the terror threat. Radicalism has been growing around Europe. And European leaders are waking up to the threat posed by political Islam. On Monday, France struck back. More than 50 Jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda were killed in an airstrike in Mali. France has been fighting a long-drawn battle against extremism in this region In return, Macron now has a target on his head. Al Qaeda is threatening to attack the French President. It said that killing anyone who insults the Prophet is the right of every Muslim. Islamist extremism has become Europe's reality. With words 'Islam is a religion in crisis' Emmanuel Macron painted a target on his back. What followed was a major backlash from the Muslim world. Protesters took to the streets. The Islamic world may have rejected Macron's message but European leaders must take it as a wake-up call. It's a continent that is struggling with growing radicalism. In 2019, there were 119 attempted attacks in Europe. Out of these, 21 were linked to Jihadist terrorism. In 2020, the attacks in France and Austria mark a resurgence of terrorism in Europe. The challenge is collective. The response isn't. Different European countries are trying to deal with terror threats with their own unique measures. Austria banned foreign funding for the Islamic group in 2015. Germany made a push to train Imams locally. Italy punished radical Imams. By 2018, it has expelled 16 Imams. Sweden axed government funding to two Muslim organisations. This included a Muslim brotherhood youth group. Sweden said that the group didn't fulfil the 'democracy requirement' needed for government aid. Clearly, these limited measures were not enough. Europe needs a united front to challenge Islamism. A front, that can collaborate with international partners. During his visit to Germany, India Foreign Secretary highlighted the need for greater co-operation against terror networks. While raising the issue of growing radicalism in Europe he said, "The terrorists are united in purpose and action while we, the victims, are yet to be so" This is a pivotal moment for Europe. Leaders who pushed for open borders and sat in judgment of other countries that implemented tough measures are learning it the hard way. They need decisive action and a comprehensive approach.

With radicalism growing, Europe witnesses resurgence of terrorism

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