Man charged with manslaughter after girlfriend freezes to death on Austrian mountain

Austria's lower house of parliament has passed a law prohibiting headscarves in schools for girls under the age of 14, a move that has drawn criticism from rights groups who view it as discriminatory amid rising anti-immigration sentiments in the country.

Austria's parliament has voted to ban headscarves for girls under the age of 14 in schools, a decision that has sparked significant debate and concern regarding its implications for social cohesion and the treatment of Muslim communities. The law was passed by a conservative-led government despite fears it may exacerbate Islamophobia and could face challenges in the constitutional court.

Austria has implemented a ban on headscarves for girls under the age of 14 in schools, following a previous ruling by the Constitutional Court that struck down a similar ban for girls under 10, which was deemed discriminatory against Muslims.

Iceland has announced its decision to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Austria, becoming the fifth country to do so after the European Broadcasting Union allowed Israel to participate amid ongoing geopolitical tensions related to the conflict in Gaza.