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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Analysis-Isolated and fearing a ban, Germany's far-right tones down the rhetoric
By Thomas Escritt and Sarah Marsh BERLIN (Reuters) -Last weekend, Germany's far-right lawmakers vowed to dress smartly, minimise parliamentary cat-calling, and signed up to a short manifesto notably omitting a call for repatriation of some immigrants that helped fuel their February election success. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is trying a tactical pivot away from the mix of attention-grabbing shock policies and provocative rowdiness that helped it become the second-largest parliamentary party, in a bid to go more mainstream and translate popularity into power, political commentators and a party insider said. Being the largest opposition party has conferred privileges like being able to respond first to the government in parliament, but in Germany power comes from being in coalitions, and every other party rules out governing with the AfD. Other parties have also prevented it from taking key positions on parliamentary committees as calls grow across the political spectrum for a ban on the AfD on account of its extremism. So far, conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz has opposed such a ban, which must be requested by either house of parliament or the government, and then examined by the Constitutional Court. The court has only banned a party twice in 1952 and 1956. A senior party official who declined to be named said the new rules were all about "professionalising" the party - although some, especially founding figures in the party's eastern heartlands who are not members of the national parliament, oppose changing a successful formula. At stake is the 2029 election, which the party, four points behind Merz's conservatives in some polls, could have a credible shot of winning. In the weeks following February's election where it won 20.8 percent of the vote, it briefly surged to first place. The AfD leadership hopes to follow hard-right parties like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy into the political mainstream, from where they could reshape the politics of Germany and Europe. Far-right essayist Goetz Kubitschek, a mentor and close ally to Bjoern Hoecke, leader of the party's most radical wing from the eastern state of Thuringia, said on his podcast: "I don't understand why a party polling at 20% should change its agenda." The manifesto or position paper agreed to by all 152 legislators omitted the word "remigration" - used heavily by leader Alice Weidel in the election campaign and widely understood as a call for unassimilated non-ethnic-German citizens and migrants to leave the country. The word was cited as evidence by a court that recently upheld a security service assessment that the AfD might be an extremist and therefore an unconstitutional party. To be banned in Germany, a political party must not only be deemed to take a position that undermines the functioning of Germany's democratic order, it must also be acting on it with a chance of success. The remigration phrase had become "toxic", said one legislator present at the weekend gathering, who did not want to be named, adding that averting a ban was another goal. An official spokesperson for the AfD did not immediately respond to a request for comment on any connections between the policy document and a desire to professionalize or head off a ban. "The word remigration has been found to be unconstitutional and has no future," wrote AfD legislator Maximilian Krah, once considered one of the party's most radical figures. "Case closed. The court has spoken." Nevertheless, Weidel still lashed out at Germany's migration policies in parliament this week. A REAL CHANGE? Many commentators are sceptical that the shift is any more than cosmetic. "This ongoing discourse about a possible ban is getting under their skin," said political scientist Oliver Lembcke, adding: "They are trying to be more palatable to other parties: it's about getting a share of the power and seeking not to be marginalised." The AfD reorganised its youth organisation last year when its campaigns were criticised for being racist. The regional politician Matthias Helferich, who was shown in leaked emails to have used language associated with the Nazis, was expelled from the party this week. He said he was a victim of a "show trial" by the party tribunal that expelled him. He denied being an extremist. Merz's conservatives remain committed to a policy of never governing with the AfD, but conservative parliamentary leader Jens Spahn suggested it was time to treat the AfD as an "ordinary" opposition party, which could see it get more access to non-partisan steering committees. Merz, having concluded that former Chancellor Angela Merkel's strategy of ignoring them was a failure, has started attacking Weidel in parliament directly, on Tuesday accusing her of trying to spread "bitterness" and "despair". It is unclear if all members will follow the party through its pivot. Hoecke pointedly posted an essay on remigration the day after the new strategy document was floated. "The AfD has given up the fight against population replacement," wrote Paul Brandenburg, a prominent activist, on Telegram. "This is causing uproar among sympathisers." (Additional reporting by Andreas RinkeEditing by Alexandra Hudson)
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
Haunting pics of empty Camp Mystic bunkbeds after 27 girls & counselors killed in horror Texas floods & 11 still missing
HORRIFYING pictures show the aftermath of the Texas floods at Camp Mystic, where dozens of girls and counselors died after being swept away by the rising waters. At least 90 bodies have been recovered since deadly rains flooded the Guadalupe River outside San Antonio over the July 4 holiday weekend. 14 One of the hardest hit spots was Camp Mystic - a girls' summer camp where 27 students and counselors were killed Credit: AFP 14 Campee's belongings lie on the ground at Camp Mystic Credit: Reuters 14 A search and rescue volunteer holds a T-shirt and backpack with the words Camp Mystic on them Credit: Getty 14 Homes were destroyed by flash flooding that blew through Kerr County, Texas, throughout the July 4 weekend Credit: AFP 14 Little Sarah Marsh was one of the girls killed by the rising tides Credit: Facebook 14 Ella Cahill is one of the girls who remains missing Credit: FOX4 One of the worst-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp located dangerously close to the flooding shores, which was overwhelmed when the river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes. Ten girls and a counselor attending the camp are still missing. They make up a heart-wrenching portion of the 41 people who are unaccounted for across the state. What we know so far... Chilling photos of the flooding aftermath at the camp show piles of abandoned sleeping bags strewn across the cabins. Bunkbeds were left askew by the rushing waters, and everything inside the buildings was covered with layers of mud and sediment. Survivors of the tragedy have started to open up about the chaotic mission to escape the waters after being surprised by the flash floods early Friday morning. Glenn Juenke, a security guard at the camp, said that he had to throw girls on top of floating mattresses to save them from drowning. But despite witnessing the death and destruction, he said he was struck by the "courage and faith" shown by the young girls. "Each of those sweet girls [were] cold, wet, and frightened - but they were also incredibly brave," he told CNN. Camp Mystic director's tragic final act to save girls from Texas floods as wall of water tore through cabins killing 27 "They trusted me, and we leaned on each other through a long, harrowing night together inside their cabin." The camp's director was among those who lost their lives after desperately trying to save young girls in a heartbreaking final act. Dick Eastland and his wife, Tweety, were the third-generation of their family to manage the camp, having bought it in 1974. Eastland's grandson, George, revealed his grandpa had died when the water crashed through the walls of the cabins. 'If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way—saving the girls that he so loved and cared for,' he wrote on Instagram. 'That's the kind of man my grandfather was. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and a mentor to thousands of young women. 'Although he no longer walks this earth, his impact will never fade in the lives he touched.' Eastland, who had previously fought brain cancer, was found dead near his car, as reported by the San Antonio Express News. Tweety, meanwhile, was found safe at the family home. Paige Sumner, a family friend, has led the tributes to the camp director. She said the girls at the camp looked up to Eastland as if he was a 'father figure,' in an op-ed to the Kerrville Daily Times. 'Dick and Tweety were also role models in their loving relationship,' she penned. 'When we looked at them, they were still that much in love.' 14 14 Belongings were strewn along the ground and covered in mud after the flooding Credit: AFP 14 Items from inside a cabin sit on the ground at Camp Mystic, in the aftermath of deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Sergio Flores Credit: Reuters 14 Chairs lie inside a damaged room in a cabin at Camp Mystic in the aftermath of deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Sergio Flores Credit: Reuters 14 Items from inside a cabin sit on the ground at Camp Mystic Credit: Reuters 14 Rescue teams cut through the debris in the desperate search for survivors Credit: Getty Callie McAlary, a 16-year-old camper, described the terrifying moment she realized that this wasn't a normal thunderstorm. "One minute you see lightning strike next to your cabin, and next to you, you hear water's coming up," she told Fox News. Callie said that she watched in horror as girls rushed across the campgrounds to try to get into cabins that weren't being filled with water. "It was really bad thunder," she said. "We heard one of the campers run in and say, 'Hey, our cabin is flooding.' "I knew some girls slept on trunks that night, some girls had to share beds, some girls slept on floors because they couldn't go back to their cabin because it was so flooded in three cabins." As the water rose in the middle of the night, Callie said she decided to put a name tag on her body in case her cabin was "next." "In my head I was saying, 'If something does happen, and I do get swept away, at least I'll have my name on my body.'" Callie's family is from Texas, but they now live in Virginia. Her parents said that they wanted to send her to Camp Mystic so she could stay in touch with her roots. Tara Bradburn, Callie's mother, said that she was overwhelmed by how much the staff did to try and protect the girls. "What the men and the staff and the Eastland family did to try and help everyone that they could - they are heroes," she told Fox News. "And those young girls and those young counselors that our young girls were under for the summer were remarkable and were brave and were strong and saved so many children." As of Monday afternoon, five million were still under flood warnings in Texas with fears 10 inches of rain could fall in some parts of the state. Governor Greg Abbott said officiala aren't expecting anything "to the magnitude of what was seen in Kerrville" but said there's still a threat of more flash flooding events. Slow-moving showers are creeping across the region with warnings expected to stay active into Monday evening. As the fourth day of searches comes to a close, brave crews refuse to give up hope that survivors are waiting to be saved. "We will never presume they're dead," Jake Stovall, the founder of Gulf Search and Rescue, told CNN and vowed to keep working the scene for up to 15 days. Legislators across the US are directing rescue crews to help search for more survivors. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed he's sending water rescue crews and was "happy to step up." "Texas has helped us when we've had different issues throughout the years," he said at a news conference. Meanwhile, Nebraska is sending a 45-member search and rescue team with two canine teams and boats. President Donald Trump is also expected to visit the flood site on Friday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump would be investigating the "once in a generation national disaster" and urged everyone to "remain vigilant." While central Texas recovers from the devastating floods, tropical storm Chantal also dumping rain on North Carolina and moving up through the northeast. Residents in central parts of the southern state were left stranded and waiting for rescue crews to save them from their flooded homes after the storm hit on Monday. At least 10 inches of rain poured onto parts of North Carolina, leaving some drivers trapped on the roads and highways shut down, according to the New York Times. 14 Callie McAlary, 16, described the moment she realized the flooding wasn't a normal storm Credit: Fox News
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
Haunting pics of empty Camp Mystic bunkbeds after 27 girls & counselors killed in horror Texas floods & 11 still missing
HORRIFYING pictures show the aftermath of the Texas floods at Camp Mystic, where dozens of girls and counselors died after being swept away by the rising waters. At least Advertisement 14 One of the hardest hit spots was Camp Mystic - a girls' summer camp where 27 students and counselors were killed Credit: AFP 14 Campee's belongings lie on the ground at Camp Mystic Credit: Reuters 14 A search and rescue volunteer holds a T-shirt and backpack with the words Camp Mystic on them Credit: Getty 14 Homes were destroyed by flash flooding that blew through Kerr County, Texas, throughout the July 4 weekend Credit: AFP 14 Little Sarah Marsh was one of the girls killed by the rising tides Credit: Facebook 14 Ella Cahill is one of the girls who remains missing Credit: FOX4 One of the worst-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp located dangerously close to the flooding shores, which was overwhelmed when the river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes. Ten girls and a counselor attending the camp are still missing. They make up a heart-wrenching portion of the 41 people who are unaccounted for across the state. What we know so far... Torrential rain sparked At least Five million Texans are Families of some Camp Mystic girls have A woman was rescued after being washed 20 miles downstream Two brothers told of their The victims include the niece of the Kansas City Chiefs' owners, a dad who died while read more on the floods Chilling photos of the flooding aftermath at the camp show piles of abandoned sleeping bags strewn across the cabins. Advertisement Bunkbeds were left askew by the rushing waters, and everything inside the buildings was covered with layers of mud and sediment. Survivors of the tragedy have started to open up about the chaotic mission to escape the waters after being surprised by the flash floods early Friday morning. Glenn Juenke, a security guard at the camp, said that he had to throw girls on top of floating mattresses to save them from drowning. Most read in The US Sun Exclusive Exclusive But despite witnessing the death and destruction, he said he was struck by the "courage and faith" shown by the young girls. Advertisement "Each of those sweet girls [were] cold, wet, and frightened - but they were also incredibly brave," he told Camp Mystic director's tragic final act to save girls from Texas floods as wall of water tore through cabins killing 27 "They trusted me, and we leaned on each other through a long, harrowing night together inside their cabin." The camp's director was among those who lost their lives after desperately trying to save young girls in a heartbreaking final act. Dick Eastland and his wife, Tweety, were the third-generation of their family to manage the camp, having bought it in 1974. Advertisement Eastland's grandson, George, revealed his grandpa had died when the water crashed through the walls of the cabins. 'If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way—saving the girls that he so loved and cared for,' he wrote on 'That's the kind of man my grandfather was. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and a mentor to thousands of young women. 'Although he no longer walks this earth, his impact will never fade in the lives he touched.' Advertisement Eastland, who had previously fought brain cancer, was found dead near his car, as reported by the Tweety, meanwhile, was found safe at the family home. Paige Sumner, a family friend, has led the tributes to the camp director. She said the girls at the camp looked up to Eastland as if he was a 'father figure,' in an op-ed to the Advertisement 'Dick and Tweety were also role models in their loving relationship,' she penned. 'When we looked at them, they were still that much in love.' 14 14 Belongings were strewn along the ground and covered in mud after the flooding Credit: AFP Advertisement 14 Items from inside a cabin sit on the ground at Camp Mystic, in the aftermath of deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Sergio Flores Credit: Reuters 14 Chairs lie inside a damaged room in a cabin at Camp Mystic in the aftermath of deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Sergio Flores Credit: Reuters 14 Items from inside a cabin sit on the ground at Camp Mystic Credit: Reuters 14 Rescue teams cut through the debris in the desperate search for survivors Credit: Getty Advertisement Callie McAlary, a 16-year-old camper, described the terrifying moment she realized that this wasn't a normal thunderstorm. "One minute you see lightning strike next to your cabin, and next to you, you hear water's coming up," she told Callie said that she watched in horror as girls rushed across the campgrounds to try to get into cabins that weren't being filled with water. "It was really bad thunder," she said. Advertisement "We heard one of the campers run in and say, 'Hey, our cabin is flooding.' "I knew some girls slept on trunks that night, some girls had to share beds, some girls slept on floors because they couldn't go back to their cabin because it was so flooded in three cabins." As the water rose in the middle of the night, Callie said she decided to put a name tag on her body in case her cabin was "next." "In my head I was saying, 'If something does happen, and I do get swept away, at least I'll have my name on my body.'" Advertisement Callie's family is from Texas, but they now live in Virginia. Her parents said that they wanted to send her to Camp Mystic so she could stay in touch with her roots. Tara Bradburn, Callie's mother, said that she was overwhelmed by how much the staff did to try and protect the girls. "What the men and the staff and the Eastland family did to try and help everyone that they could - they are heroes," she told Fox News. Advertisement "And those young girls and those young counselors that our young girls were under for the summer were remarkable and were brave and were strong and saved so many children." As of Monday afternoon, five million were still under flood warnings in Texas with fears 10 inches of rain could fall in some parts of the state. Governor Greg Abbott said officiala aren't expecting anything "to the magnitude of what was seen in Kerrville" but said there's still a threat of more flash flooding events. Slow-moving showers are creeping across the region with warnings expected to stay active into Monday evening. Advertisement As the fourth day of searches comes to a close, brave crews refuse to give up hope that survivors are waiting to be saved. "We will never presume they're dead," Jake Stovall, the founder of Gulf Search and Rescue, told CNN and vowed to keep working the scene for up to 15 days. Legislators across the US are directing rescue crews to help search for more survivors. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed he's sending water rescue crews and was "happy to step up." Advertisement "Texas has helped us when we've had different issues throughout the years," he said at a news conference. Meanwhile, Nebraska is sending a 45-member search and rescue team with two canine teams and boats. President Donald Trump is also expected to visit the flood site on Friday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump would be investigating the "once in a generation national disaster" and urged everyone to "remain vigilant." Advertisement While central Texas recovers from the devastating floods, tropical storm Chantal also dumping rain on North Carolina and moving up through the northeast. Residents in central parts of the southern state were left stranded and waiting for rescue crews to save them from their flooded homes after the storm hit on Monday. At least 10 inches of rain poured onto parts of North Carolina, leaving some drivers trapped on the roads and highways shut down, according to the 14 Callie McAlary, 16, described the moment she realized the flooding wasn't a normal storm Credit: Fox News Advertisement 14 She and her mother opened up about the heroes who helped save dozens of lives Credit: Fox News
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Everything we know about Texas flooding victims: Girl ‘living her best life' at camp and man who saved his family
Devastating floods that swept Central Texas over the weekend have killed at least 51 people, including 15 children. Unexpected torrential downpours struck the region on Friday evening, causing the Guadalupe River to rapidly rise and flood the surrounding area. The flooding destroyed homes, swept away vehicles and devastated Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp situated on the banks of the river. There are still 27 children missing from the camp as of Saturday afternoon. The identities of the victims are still being determined and released to the public. Here's what we know about the victims so far. Eight-year-old Renee Smajstrla was at Camp Mystic, the all-girls summer camp near the Guadalupe River, her uncle confirmed in a Facebook post. Smajstrla was one of the 27 campers unaccounted for after the devastating floods, Shawn Salta said in the post. 'Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,' Salta wrote. 'We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.' Sarah Marsh, an eight-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was killed in the devastating floods while at Camp Mystic. Debbie Ford Marsh, the grandmother of Sarah, confirmed the young girl's death in a now-private Facebook post. 'We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives,' Marsh wrote. 'She will live on in our hearts forever!' Janie Hunt, a nine-year-old Camp Mystic camper, died in the catastrophic flooding, her mother told CNN. Nine-year-old Lila Bonner of Dallas died in the floods while attending Camp Mystic. 'In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time. We ache with all who loved her,' the Bonner family said in a statement to NBC5. Jane Ragsdale, the director of Heart O' the Hills camp in Kerr County, is among the victims killed in the floods, a close friend confirmed on Facebook. 'Jane was more than the beloved Director of Heart O' the Hills. She was a legend in the camp community shaping generations of campers, staff, and leaders through her unwavering belief in the power of camp to change lives,' Dani Shaw wrote on Facebook. 'She modeled the highest standards of care, character, and connection.' Julian Ryan, 27, died in the floods while saving his family from the rushing water, according to a GoFundMe launched to support his family. 'Julian, his fiancé, kids, and mother were awakened when water came rushing into their home,' the GoFundMe reads. 'Julian jumped into action to protect and save his family and get them to safety.' 'Julian gave his life for his family, passing as a true hero,' the GoFundMe continues. 'While his family is eternally grateful for his sacrifice, they are shattered by their loss.' Katheryn Eads died in the floods, while her husband Brian survived, her family told The Washington Post. She previously worked at Olive Branch Counseling and Training. 'Katheryn was a hope and a light to all who knew her,' the company's owner told the Post. 'A daughter, a wife, a mother, grandmother, friend and colleague. She was a stellar counselor and professor and she simply just made everything better. Katheryn was changing lives.' Two sisters — 13-year-old Blair and 11-year-old Brooke — were killed by the floods in Kerr County, their father told CNN on Saturday night. Harber described Blair as 'a gifted student' who had 'a generous, kind heart.' Harber said that Brooke was 'like a light in any room, people gravitated to her and she made them laugh and enjoy the moment.' The sisters were not attending Camp Mystic, their father added.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Packed cabin swept away in Texas floods
Credit: social media A cabin packed with people was swept away by deadly floodwaters after torrential rain hit central Texas on Friday. At least 59 people are confirmed to have died in Kerr County and neighbouring areas after nearly a foot of rain fell on Friday, causing the Guadalupe River to overflow. Among the missing are 27 girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas. State officials said the death toll was expected to rise. The once idyllic retreat with green-roofed cabins with names such as 'Wiggle Inn' has been devastated by flood with the huts uprooted and destroyed alongside discarded vehicles. Footage shows a large cabin floating down the Guadalupe River in Hill County. Faint, yellow lights flickered from within as panicked voices echoed in the night. 'Oh my God, there's so many people in it,' a bystander is heard saying as the cabin disappeared into the current. On Sunday, emergency teams searched for those still missing. Credit: Reuters Larry Leitha, the county sheriff, confirmed 38 adults and 21 children were among the dead in Kerry County, while 10 more died in other Texas counties. Renee Smajstrla, eight, Sarah Marsh, eight, Janie Hunt, nine, and Lila Bonner, nine, all at Camp Mystic died during the flood. Shawn Salta, Renee's uncle, said: 'Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly. Debbie Ford Marsh, Sarah's grandmother, wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday: 'Our sweet Sarah is gone! 'We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives. She will live on in our hearts forever! We love you so much sweet Sarah!' Dick Eastland, the owner and director of Camp Mystic, reportedly died while trying to rescue campers. Paige Sumner, who knew Mr Eastland, in a tribute for the Kerrville Daily Times: '[Eastland] was family to so many campers. 'It doesn't surprise me at all that his last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers.' Lt Governor Dan Patrick said 700 girls were in residence at the camp when the flood hit. By Sunday morning, 27 remained missing. Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, was quizzed about why the National Weather Service's (NWS) alerts about heavy rainfall and flooding were delayed, blaming its 'ancient' alerts system. 'The weather is extremely difficult to predict,' she said alongside Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas. 'But also … the National Weather Service, over the years at times, has done well and at times, we have all wanted more time and more warning and more notification. 'We needed to renew this ancient system that has been left in place with the federal government for many, many years and that is the reforms that are ongoing there,' Ms Noem added. Residents in central Texas were warned of a 'moderate' storm at about 1.18pm on Thursday, with the NWS initial flood watch predicting 5-7 inches of rain. This was the first in a series of bulletins that grew increasingly serious in the early hours of Friday morning before a 'threat to life' was issued at 4.03am. The Trump administration has faced criticism for staffing cuts to the NWS, which saw nearly 600 employees laid off earlier this year, doubling the vacancy rate since January, The New York Times reported. But Greg Waller, an NWS hydrologist in Fort Worth, told the Texas Tribune that the team had 'adequate staffing, adequate technology' on the night of the storm. Mr Trump on Sunday signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr Country 'to ensure that our brave first responders immediately have the resources they need'. The US president said on social media: 'These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing.' 'Our incredible US Coast Guard, together with State First Responders, have saved more than 850 lives,' he said, ending the message with: 'GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!'
