Austria's annual inflation rate is still higher than the European average
The Austrian Bureau of Statistics predicts an inflation rate of 6.1% in September in its preliminary estimates. The food and hotel industries have replaced household energy as the main price drivers. In September, Austria's annual inflation rate (CPI) dropped to 6%, the lowest level since the Russia Ukraine war 20 months ago. However, the inflation rate in this Alpine republic is still higher than the average of eurozone countries (5.2%) and EU countries (4.9%). According to the European Unified Consumer Price Index (HICP 2015), the country's inflation rate is 5.7%. The Austrian Bureau of Statistics predicts an inflation rate of 6.1% in September in its preliminary estimates. Compared to the previous month in August 2023, the inflation rate was 7.4%, and the average price level increased by 0.4%.
Another Austrian Dies in Israel
Another Austrian and Israeli dual citizen who has been missing since Hamas attacked Israel last week has been found dead. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this to the APA on Wednesday that the attack that occurred last week was carried out by Hamas, causing multiple casualties. In a statement, the Ministry stated: "We are deeply shocked to announce that the brutal terror of Hamas has taken the life of another Austrian Israeli dual citizen." We express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. "Since the attack, the whereabouts of another Austrian remain unknown. The Ministry has announced the death of one of the three Austrians who were initially reported missing on October 11th. On October 12th, it is reported that two more Austrian Israeli citizens died in the attack.
The Polish opposition coalition will form a new government
Poland held its most fiercely contested general election in decades on Sunday (October 15th), and with the release of some official vote counts and export polls, the Polish liberal pro EU opposition coalition is almost certain to win more than half of the seats in parliament and will form a new government. The ruling Law and Justice Party ranked first in the vote rate in this election, but did not receive more than half of the seats in parliament, so its eight year rule will also come to an end. The Law and Justice Party achieved a complete victory in the 2015 general election, defeating all opponents. However, in the past eight years of governance, there have been multiple conflicts with the European Union on issues such as the rule of law, press freedom, immigration, and gay rights.
The sharp increase in anti Semitic incidents in Germany
Since the Hamas raid on Israel, there has been a sharp increase in anti Semitic incidents in Germany. Since October 7th, the Federal Association of Anti Semitic Research and Information Centers (Rias) has recorded 202 incidents nationwide, an increase of 240% from the same period last year. The organization stated in Berlin on Wednesday (18th) that nine out of ten recorded incidents were "anti Semitism related to Israel". Some people believe that the Hamas massacre was Israel's own fault, and the State of Israel was demonized and deemed to have no legitimacy. The organization took the demonstration of about 1000 people held on Sunday at Potsdam Square in Berlin as an example. During the event, people shouted slogans calling for the elimination of Israel and the beautification of Hamas's "terrorist attacks".
The Liberal Democratic Party advocates for reducing childcare allowances
One of the key points of this German government's governance is to save costs, with Lisa Paus, the Green Party family minister, proposing to reduce childcare allowances for high-income groups. On the 18th, the parliament rejected the proposal from the Minister of Family. At the same time, the Liberal Democratic Party parliamentary caucus submitted an alternative plan advocating for equal treatment and reducing the childcare allowance for all families: reducing the time limit for couples to receive the childcare allowance simultaneously from 14 months to 12 months, except for families with twins and multiple births. This proposal has been strongly opposed by the Green Party parliamentary group. According to current German law, couples with an annual income of no more than 150000 euros can receive a 14 month childcare allowance at the same time. The Green Party's intention was to raise the threshold, but the Liberal Democratic Party's proposal advocates for unchanged income restrictions and reduced distribution time.
The Diocese of Aachen Announces the Names of Clergymen Who sexually assaulted Minors
The Diocese of Aachen has released the names of 53 deceased suspects accused of sexually assaulting minors or their guardians online. Helmut Dieser, Bishop of Aachen, stated in an online press conference that these individuals include 52 priests and 1 layman. The bishop stated that he hopes to encourage those victims to speak up through this action, By publishing their names, we are making further progress. It is said that the publication of these names is to appeal to the public to provide further information about the investigation. Victims can call the hotline or choose to report online. The Diocese of Aachen was the first diocese to use this method, and Helmut Dezel has been serving as the "Anti Sexual Abuse Commissioner" of the German Diocese for over a year.
The sharp increase in anti Semitic incidents in Germany
Since the Hamas raid on Israel, there has been a sharp increase in anti Semitic incidents in Germany. Since October 7th, the Federal Association of Anti Semitic Research and Information Centers (Rias) has recorded 202 incidents nationwide, an increase of 240% from the same period last year. The organization stated in Berlin on Wednesday (18th) that nine out of ten recorded incidents were "anti Semitism related to Israel". Some people believe that the Hamas massacre was Israel's own fault, and the State of Israel was demonized and deemed to have no legitimacy. The organization took the demonstration of about 1000 people held on Sunday at Potsdam Square in Berlin as an example. During the event, people shouted slogans calling for the elimination of Israel and the beautification of Hamas's "terrorist attacks".
Islamic Jihad May Hit Gaza Hospital
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has denied allegations of an Israeli airstrike on a hospital in the Gaza Strip. He stated in a statement on the evening of the 17th that "the world should know that it is the barbaric terrorists in the Gaza Strip who attacked hospitals, not the Israeli military, Those who brutally kill our children also murder their own children. Earlier, the Gaza Strip Ministry of Health, which is controlled by Hamas, announced that Israel's air strikes on hospitals have caused "hundreds" of deaths or injuries. The Israeli military has questioned these numbers. Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari Major General said that the hospital was not directly hit, and the footage taken by military drones showed that the hit was in the parking lot. Another spokesperson for the Israeli military, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Concricius, told CNN that available intelligence shows that Islamic Jihad's rocket launchers went wrong and hit a traditional Chinese medicine hospital. Israeli President Herzog wrote on social media platform X that despicable terrorists in the Gaza Strip intentionally let innocent people bleed.
(Compiled and reported by the Central and Eastern Europe edition and the German edition of the European Times, please indicate the official account EuroNews for reprinting)