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Vienna International Community - Other Top Players - Latest Headlines
Read updated news about other key people in Vienna's international community
Austrian Forum for Peace 2024: Insights and Outlook for a Peaceful Future
The Austrian Center for Peace (ACP) presented the results of the second Austrian Forum for Peace, which took place at Friedensburg Schlaining in early July.
July 29, 2024
Algeria, Slovakia and Austria Deepen Economic Relations
A working meeting was held at the Imperial Hotel Vienna, organized by the Algerian Embassy in Austria and Slovakia with the support of the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC).
July 29, 2024
Salzburg Summit: Europe's Challenge in the Global Economy
The Salzburg Summit 2024 provided a platform for discussions on the pressing economic and political challenges facing Europe. One of the central debates revolved around the tense relationship with the major economic power China and the resulting impact on European competitiveness.
July 25, 2024
EU Rule of Law Report: Clear Criticism of Austria and Hungary
The EU Commission has sharply criticized the situation in Austria and Hungary in its latest Rule of Law Report 2024. The main focus is on political influence on the judiciary and a lack of transparency. The report, published annually since 2020, analyzes the state of the judiciary, media, and rule of law in the 27 EU member states and makes concrete recommendations for necessary reforms.
July 24, 2024
Austria Calls for a Reorientation of EU Policy Towards Syria
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg is calling for a fundamental reorientation of EU policy towards Syria and is receiving support from seven of his EU colleagues from Italy, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Slovenia, and Slovakia.
July 23, 2024
False Accusations Against Federal Police Chief Takacs in Wirecard Case Must Be Revoked by FPÖ
Austrian domestic politics recently experienced a considerable shake-up due to false accusations by the FPÖ, which claimed that Federal Police Director Michael Takacs had met with the fugitive ex-Wirecard manager Jan Marsalek on several occasions. These accusations led to legal action by Takacs, which resulted in a retraction and a cease-and-desist declaration by the FPÖ.
July 21, 2024
Vienna's Mayor Ludwig Reacts to Gang Violence in the City
In recent weeks, there has been a series of violent clashes between ethnic groups in Vienna, which have unsettled the population. The recent incident at Yppenplatz in Ottakring in particular, in which two men were seriously injured, has further exacerbated the situation. In response, Mayor Michael Ludwig has announced that the city's rapid reaction force will be increased in terms of personnel, while at the same time demanding comprehensive measures from the federal government.
July 21, 2024
Simpsons Cartoon Art: Unique Exhibition at the Caricature Museum Krems
To mark the 35th anniversary of the cult series “The Simpsons”, the Caricature Museum Krems is the first in Europe to present a special exhibition entitled “Here comes Bart! Simpsons Cartoon Art from the William Heeter and Kristi Correa Collection”.
July 16, 2024
Austria Among the World Leaders in Organic Viticulture
Austria is continuing its successful course in environmentally conscious viticulture and for the first time has more than 10,000 hectares of certified organic vineyards. The 10,432 hectares now correspond to around 24% of the country's total vineyard area, making Austria one of the global leaders in organic viticulture.
July 15, 2024
North Korean Agents in Vienna: A Network of Espionage and Currency Procurement
Vienna, the capital of Austria, is not only known for its high quality of life and cultural diversity but also conceals a network of espionage and illegal activities that extends to North Korea. New revelations shed light on the covert operations of the Kim regime, which cleverly uses its presence in Vienna to procure foreign currency and gather knowledge for nuclear armament.
July 11, 2024
Austria's Challenges and Successes in the OECD Report
The OECD has presented its latest country report for Austria. Every two years or so, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development analyses each member country as a whole and summarizes the findings of this analysis in a comprehensive report. Austrian policymakers have now taken up this report and are hotly debating it.
July 9, 2024
Reorganization Proceedings of Signa Prime Selection Fail in Court for the Time Being
In a significant decision, the Vienna Higher Regional Court (OLG) upheld the appeal of the Finanzprokuratur against the trustee restructuring plan of Signa Prime Selection AG. The reorganization plan previously confirmed by the Commercial Court of Vienna was thus annulled.
July 8, 2024
Vienna Stock Exchange Reaches New All-Time High in First Half of 2024
The Vienna Stock Exchange recorded a remarkable upward trend in the first half of 2024, taking the ATX Total Return (including dividends) to a new all-time high. The leading national index surpassed its previous high of February 9, 2022 (8,251.98 points) several times and reached its most recent record of 8,566.58 points on May 21, 2024.
July 4, 2024
Economic Outlook in Austria: High Inflation and Stagnation Until 2026
The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) has published a comprehensive analysis of economic development and inflation forecasts for Austria, covering the years 2024 to 2028. The study shows that Austria will continue to struggle with high inflation until mid-2026 before the European Central Bank's (ECB) target of two percent is reached. At the same time, the economy will not see a slight recovery until 2025.
July 1, 2024
Kuwaiti Ambassador Talal Alfassam Visits Salzburg: Deepening Bilateral Relations and Investment Opportunities
The Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) organized the visit of H.E. Talal Alfassam, the Ambassador of Kuwait to Austria, to Salzburg.
June 30, 2024
Vienna Once Again Named the World's Most Liveable City
Vienna has done it again: for the third time in a row, the Austrian capital has been named the most liveable city in the world by the British "Economist" group. In the annual "Global Liveability Ranking", Vienna beat 172 other cities to take the top spot once again.
June 27, 2024
Leopold Museum Presents New Exhibition "German Expressionism"
The Leopold Museum in Vienna is opening a new focus exhibition entitled "German Expressionism". This exhibition brings together works by important artists such as Alexej von Jawlensky, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Paula Modersohn-Becker, and Gabriele Münter and places them in an imaginary dialog with Austrian Expressionists.
June 26, 2024
Schwarzenegger's Climate Conference in Vienna: "Austrian World Summit" Calls for Concrete Measures
The "Austrian World Summit" (AWS) took place in Vienna for the eighth time. Host Arnold Schwarzenegger and several prominent guests emphasized the urgency of concrete climate protection measures. Around 700 international visitors, including high-ranking politicians and experts, gathered in the Vienna Hofburg to discuss the future of a clean energy supply and the fight against climate change.
June 20, 2024
Europa-Forum Wachau 2024: A Commitment to the Future of Europe
This year's Wachau European Forum, which traditionally takes place in Göttweig and Krems, opened with the title "Rebooting Europe". The forum focused on key topics such as innovation, research, and health to make Europe fit for the future.
June 20, 2024
Signa Group Stabilizes After Insolvency: Former CFO Retires
Following the collapse of the real estate group Signa, the former CFO Manuel Pirolt sees the company stabilized and announces his resignation.
June 20, 2024
25 Years "Partnership for Peace Consortium": Anniversary Celebration and Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding
NATO Headquarters in Brussels hosted an important celebration on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Partnership for Peace Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes (PfPC). At the invitation of the German Minister of Defense, high-ranking representatives of the "Stakeholder Nations" came together to pay tribute to the successes and future goals of the consortium.
June 20, 2024
Moscow Announces Enhanced Revision of its Nuclear Doctrine
Russia's nuclear doctrine, particularly concerning its large arsenal of non-strategic nuclear weapons (NSNW), has become one of the most pressing issues in Euro-Atlantic security. Russia is planning to revise its nuclear doctrine, the Russian Foreign Ministry has announced. This decision is of course being made against the backdrop of the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and the reactions of the West.
June 18, 2024
30 Years of the WKÖ Export Prize: Austrian Companies Honored for Top Performance
Austria's export industry has achieved impressive successes over the last 30 years. EU accession in 1994 played a key role in this, paving the way for a more than five-fold increase in goods exports. Despite challenging framework conditions, the 63,700 domestic export companies achieved a record value of 200 billion euros in goods exports and 83 billion euros in services exports last year.
June 18, 2024
Austria's Common Tones in Times of War and Conflict
Five musicians with Israeli, Arab, and Persian roots from Daniel Barenboim's West Eastern Divan Orchestra performed at Palais Niederösterreich, under the auspices of Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, highlighting the unifying power of music amid global crises and conflicts.
June 17, 2024
30 Years of the EU Referendum: A Success Story for Austria
On June 12, 1994, a groundbreaking referendum was held in Austria, in which two-thirds of the population voted in favor of joining the European Union. This decision laid the foundations for a new era of economic, political, and social integration of Austria in Europe. Since its official accession on January 1, 1995, the country has changed considerably and has since benefited from EU membership in many ways.
June 12, 2024
Russia Expels ORF Correspondent Maria Knips-Witting
In a surprising diplomatic escalation, Russia has withdrawn the accreditation of ORF correspondent Maria Knips-Witting and ordered her to leave the country as quickly as possible. This measure was described by the Russian side as a “forced measure” and explained as a reaction to the withdrawal of the accreditations of two Russian journalists from the state news agency TASS in Austria. Knips-Witting has been reporting from Moscow since January 2024.
June 11, 2024
Shift to the Right in the EU and its Impact on Austria and Europe
The recent EU parliamentary elections have shown a clear shift to the right across Europe, particularly in Austria, where the FPÖ celebrated historic successes. These results put the political stability and future direction of the EU to the test.
June 10, 2024
Austria Promotes Key Projects for Renewable Energies in Central Asia
High-ranking representatives from Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East as well as private investors are gathering in Vienna at the invitation of the World Bank to hold the International Energy Investment Forum. The event is being held in cooperation with the government of the Kyrgyz Republic and other international financial institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
June 10, 2024
Shield 24: Largest Austrian Armed Forces Exercise in a Decade
From June 10 to 21, 2024, the Austrian Armed Forces will be conducting the most comprehensive military exercise of the last ten years. Around 7,500 soldiers and civilian staff will take part in “Schutzschild 24”, supported by international forces from Germany, Sweden, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
June 9, 2024
Unrestricted Access to the Labor Market for Ukrainian Refugees in Austria Decided
Ukrainians who have fled the war should be able to participate in the Austrian labor market permanently and without restrictions. The Social Affairs Committee of the National Council today pushed the extension of the “Red-White-Red Card Plus” towards a final decision in plenary. The governing parties ÖVP and Greens, as well as the NEOS, voted in favor, while initiatives by the NEOS and FPÖ on immigration were postponed.
June 6, 2024
UN in Vienna to Get Monumental Mural to Promote Sustainable Development
An impressive art project will enrich the skyline of Vienna when a giant mural is created on one of the towers of the Vienna International Center (VIC). In collaboration with the Calle Libre Street Art Festival and the UN family in Vienna, the artwork aims to highlight the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and shaping our common future.
June 5, 2024
Brigitte Bierlein is Dead: Austria Mourns the Loss of its First Female Chancellor
Brigitte Bierlein, Austria's first female chancellor, has died at the age of 74. The Constitutional Court (VfGH) announced the news of her death, of which Bierlein had been a member for around 16 years. She succumbed to a short, serious illness. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer paid tribute to Bierlein as an outstanding personality who had served the country faithfully in many functions.
June 3, 2024
UNHCR Calls for Increased Efforts Against Statelessness in Austria
Ten years after the UN Refugee Agency's (UNHCR) #IBelong campaign launched, which aimed to end statelessness by 2024, an estimated ten million people worldwide still live without citizenship. The UNHCR also sees a considerable need for action in Austria.
June 3, 2024
Austria Signs Pact for Hydrogen Corridor
In a step towards a sustainable energy future, the energy ministers of Italy, Germany, and Austria have signed a joint declaration of intent to develop a hydrogen import corridor between the three countries.
May 30, 2024
Othmar Karas Warns Against Extremism and Emphasizes the Importance of the Political Center in Europe
Around two weeks before the EU elections, the outgoing first Vice-President of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas (nor ÖVP), issued an urgent warning about the dangers of "extremism and nationalism". At a press conference at the party headquarters of the South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP) in Bolzano, Karas emphasized the need for a strong "political center" characterized by cooperation and compromise.
May 27, 2024
Anti-Muslim Racism in Austria Reaches New High
The Documentation Center Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Racism (Documentation Center Austria) recently published worrying figures for the year 2023. A total of 1,522 cases of racist attacks on Muslims were recorded, which is the highest number since records began in 2015.
May 27, 2024
Franco-Armenian Concert in Vienna in Honor of Charles Aznavour
On May 23, 2024, Charles Aznavour, one of the greatest icons of French chanson, would have turned 100 years old. To mark this special occasion, the French and Armenian embassies joined forces to celebrate the impressive life and work of the French-Armenian singer, songwriter, and actor at the Theater Akzent in Vienna. This concert was a tribute to an artist whose music and influence have shaped generations of fans and artists.
May 26, 2024
Concordia Ball 2024: A Celebration of Freedom of the Press
On May 24, 2024, Vienna City Hall was transformed into the venue for the 124th Concordia Ball, at which the media industry, artists, and cultural figures as well as an international ball audience set an impressive example for freedom of the press. This year, the traditional ball, organized by the Concordia Press Club, was all about free journalism and diversity of opinion.
May 26, 2024
"Mozart at the Table": New Special Exhibition at Mozarthaus Vienna
Mozarthaus Vienna presents the special exhibition "Mozart at the Table" from May 24, 2024. This unique show offers fascinating insights into Mozart's private life and culinary experiences.
May 24, 2024
Supply Stop and Human Rights Allegations for OMV
OMV, Austria's leading energy company, is currently under immense pressure. Two developments could have a significant impact on the company and the Austrian energy market: the threat of Gazprom stopping gas supplies and serious allegations of involvement in war crimes against former OMV executives in Sudan.
May 22, 2024
Russia Begins Nuclear Weapons Exercises Near Ukraine
Russia has begun nuclear weapons exercises near the Ukrainian border, once again issuing a stronger nuclear threat to the West. The exercises, which are taking place in the south of Russia, include training with tactical nuclear weapons, as announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
May 21, 2024
Austria's Constitutional Protection Agency Warns of Chinese Economic Espionage
The Austrian Office for the Protection of the Constitution has issued an urgent warning about Chinese industrial espionage. Small and medium-sized enterprises and research centers are particularly at risk.
May 20, 2024
Georgia in the Focus of the OSCE: Protests, Political Tensions and International Support
The political situation in Georgia remains tense as the population takes to the streets to protest against a controversial law and international actors pledge their support. During his visit to Georgia, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Malta's Foreign Minister Ian Borg, emphasized the importance of civil society and the organization's role in conflict resolution. At the same time, protests against the so-called "agent law", seen by many as a threat to the country's democratic structures and EU integration, are continuing.
May 16, 2024
Slovakia Prime Minister in Danger: Assassination Attempt on Slovakia's Robert Fico Shakes Europe
A serious attack on Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has shaken Europe. A 71-year-old man shot Fico after a meeting and is in critical condition.
May 15, 2024
René Benko Business Scandal: Abu Dhabi's Ruling Family Demands Millions Back
The ruling family of Abu Dhabi, led by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, is demanding the return of 250 million euros from René Benko via the International Court of Arbitration (ICC) in Paris.
May 14, 2024
Austrian NEOS Party Calls for Special Audit on Flawed Austrian Counterintelligence
In a recent initiative in the Austrian National Council, the NEOS party has requested a comprehensive special audit by the Austrian Court of Audit focusing on the effectiveness of counter-espionage measures in the central ministries. This demand is particularly directed at the ÖVP-led interior, foreign, and defense ministries, which, according to NEOS Secretary General Douglas Hoyos, have shown a "lax" attitude to counter-espionage for decades.
May 13, 2024
High Turnover of Russian Embassy Staff in Austria
The Austrian authorities are at the center of a sensitive security debate as diplomatic relations with Russia are strained by high staff turnover and serious allegations of espionage. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg addresses these issues in light of new parliamentary questions.
May 13, 2024
Remembering the Past, Preserving the Future: Liberation Ceremonies in Mauthausen and Melk
In an impressive gathering, thousands of people commemorated the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp and its satellite camps to keep the lessons of history alive and fight against forgetting. International delegations, including high-ranking representatives from politics and society, gathered to underline the importance of law and justice and to honor the victims of National Socialism.
May 8, 2024
Medical Research Cooperation between Austria and France
An important framework agreement between Austria and France was signed at the French embassy, laying the foundations for closer scientific cooperation. The French Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) and the Austrian Wolfgang Pauli Institute (WPI) will intensify the transnational research and knowledge exchange.
May 7, 2024
Austria's Rapprochement with NATO in the Context of Geopolitical Tensions
In a new development, Austria and three other traditionally neutral countries - Ireland, Malta, and Switzerland - are seeking to deepen their relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This move is part of a strategic response to the increasingly volatile geopolitical situation in Europe, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
May 7, 2024
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