The news

On 21 December Martina Cufar from Slovenia redpointed her first 8c, Vizija at Misja pec, Slovenia.

Manfred Stuffer spent last summer amassing a series of hard ascents, solos and enchainements, including "Costantini-Apollonio" (6c+), "Costantini-Ghedina" and 1° Spigolo Tofana di Rozes in 5 hours 30 minutes.

Cristian Brenna climbed in the Czech Republic andSardinia where he repeated "Sapientino" (8c) and "Anime Salve" (8b+) and on-sighted "XL" 8a/a+, "Raoni" 8a and "Totem" 8a at Cala Fuili, and "Manifesto" 8a at Jerzu.

Scottish climber Scott Muir has made an impressive repeat of what is believed to be Europe's hardest continental mixed climb, Game Over M13 at Drylands near Innsbruck, Austria.

According to the University of Bern, Switzerland, light pollution in the Alps has doubled in the last 15 years.

The Italian Valle di Susa is currently in the international spotlight due to strong opposition against the planned construction of the TAV, the high-speed railway line which is to link Turin with Lyon, France.

From 4 - 8 January 2006 Europe's most important ice climbing meeting, the Ice Climbing Ecrins, will take place in Argentière - La Bessée, France.

On Sunday 11 December the fifth Compéticimes Challenge Massimo Farina will take place at the “Mont-Blanc Escalade” climbing wall at Les Houches-Chamonix.

Marcello Cominetti, Thomas Reilly, Alistair Crafword, Andrew Denton, Simon Shercliff, Tania Cotton, Andy Lewitt, Kewin Mulligan, Filippo Beccari have carried out the 1st complete east-west traverse of the Hielo Patagonico Sur, Patagonia.

Ermanno Salvaterra's intervention after his latest ascent on Cerro Torre with Rolando Garibotti and Alessandro Beltrami.

Markus Bendler has made the first ascent of "Das Erbe der Väter" 8c+ at the Schleierwasserfall, Tyrol, Austria.

Denis Burdet, Nicolas Zampetti and Jacques Vouilloz have made the first on-sight of "Sul filo della notte", Taghia, Morocco

Mick Fowler and Chris Watts have made the first ascent of Kajaqiao (6447m) located in the Nyainquentaglia East Range of Tibet.

20/11 Historic Italian victory in Kranj: Flavio Crespi is the first Italian to win the Climbin World Cup Lead. The Women's World Cup was won by Angela Eiter from Austria.

On 13/11/2005 Ermanno Salvaterra, Alessandro Beltrami and Rolando Garibotti reached the summit of Cerro Torre vie their new route 'El Arca de los Vientos' (The Arc of Winds), Patagonia.

Stefan Glowacz and Robert Jasper have completed their "Vom Winde verweht" up the North Pillar of Murallón, Patagonia.