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Read updated news about key players in Vienna's international community, such as expats, executives, politicians, diplomats, investors, artists and others.
Vienna International Community - People in the News - Latest Headlines
Sobotka, Bures and Hofer Form New National Council Presidency
Parties staked out positions in the first debate in the newly elected Austrian National Council. Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP), Doris Bures (SPÖ) and Norbert Hofer (FPÖ) form the presidency of the new National Council. Wolfgang Sobotka elected President of the National Council with 143 of 163 valid votes. He called for respectful treatment and tolerance.
Yesterday
Inaugural Session of the Austrian National Council
The Austrian National Council was constituted today. 40 percent women, 56 newcomers, the Greens are back. The presidency, secretaries and stewards were newly elected. After the constituent session of the National Council, the Main Committee, the Incompatibility Committee, the Immunity Committee and the Budget Committee also met to constitute themselves and to appoint committee chairmen, secretaries and stewards.
Yesterday
Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito in the Presence of Van der Bellen
Guests from around 200 countries attended the ceremony of the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito in the Japanese Imperial Palace in Tokyo, including Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Doris Schmidauer.
October 22, 2019
City of Vienna Battles Airbnb & Co
Shortly before the new European Commission takes up its tasks, the City of Vienna is launching a new Europe-wide offensive to finally achieve clear rules for digital platforms such as Airbnb & Co.
October 22, 2019
Belgrade and Vienna Sign Cooperation Agreement
Not only the Danube connects Vienna with the Serbian capital Belgrade, but now also a new city cooperation agreement with a focus on urban development, affordable housing, smart city, digitisation, open government and culture.
October 21, 2019
Counter-Terrorism in the Focus of UN and Interparliamentary Cooperation
Reinhold Lopatka elected Chairman of the High-Level Advisory Group on Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism.
October 21, 2019
Celebration of the Imperial Accession to the Throne in Tokyo with Van der Bellen
President Van der Bellen takes part in the ceremony for the accession of the new "Tenno", Emperor Naruhito, to the throne in Tokyo and in the bilateral economic forum "Austria Connect Japan". Other items on the agenda include talks with the Presidents of Georgia and Estonia.
October 21, 2019
Politburo Member of Communist Party of China Courted by Austria's Top Leaders
Yang Xiaodu, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the National Supervisory Commission of the PRC, visited Vienna and met with Alexander Van der Bellen, Wolfgang Sobotka, Clemens Jabloner and UNODC, among others.
October 17, 2019
Vienna's UNODC and China Sign Agreement on Combating Corruption
The United Nations and China, represented by the Chairmen of the National Supervisory Commission of the Peoples Republic of China, Yang Xiaodu - currently visiting Vienna - signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in combating corruption.
October 17, 2019
The Austrian Leadership Program Draws International Alumnis to Austria
The current round of the Austrian Leadership Program (ALPS) was dedicated to deepening and expanding existing contacts.
October 16, 2019
Turkey: Schallenberg Calls for an End to EU Candidate Status
The meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg focused on the Turkish military offensive in Northern Syria. In the run-up to the meeting, Foreign Minister Schallenberg emphasised that the military action was "simply wrong" and that it was now the EU's turn to take clear decisions.
October 16, 2019
Inaugural Visit of the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Ralf Beste
The newly appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany H.E. Mr. Ralf Beste met the First President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka in Parliament.
October 15, 2019
Visit of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia to Austria
While the North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski pays his respects to Austria and the Federal President continues to strongly support the accession of North Macedonia into the European Union, it becomes known from Paris that France's President Emmanuel Macron is vetoing EU accession negotiations with the Balkan states of North Macedonia and Albania, as he apparently considers the progress made so far in the two countries to be insufficient.
October 11, 2019
Start of the Austrian-Slovenian Year of Neighbourhood Dialogue
The Federal Ministry for Europe Integration and Foreign Affairs opened the Austrian-Slovenian Year of Neighbourhood Dialogue with a concert with Austrian and Slovenian artists in the Viennese REAKTOR and in the presence of the Slovenian ambassador Ksenija Škrilec. More than 60 cultural events are planned in both countries until autumn 2020.
October 10, 2019
Writer Peter Handke Awarded Nobel Prize for Literature 2019
The Swedish Academy has awarded the Austrian writer Peter Handke the Nobel Prize in Literature 2019 "for an influential work that with linguistic ingenuity has explored the periphery and the specificity of human experience". The prestigious award is endowed with more than 800,000 euros.
October 10, 2019
Billionaire Heidi Horten Unveils Her Contemporary Museum Concept
Heidi Goëss-Horten has announced the winning architectural office, which will design the new museum of the Heidi Horten Collection in the Palais Goëss-Horten (Hanuschhof / Stöcklgebäude) until the beginning of 2022.
October 9, 2019
Schallenberg: Full Integration into the European Union for Albania
After his visit to North Macedonia, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg met with representatives of the Albanian state and city governments in Tirana.
October 8, 2019
Model European Parliament with 100 Participants in Vienna
Students from ten countries discussed European policy issues in the Great Redouten Hall of the Austrian Parliament.
October 8, 2019
First Sub-Two Hour Marathon Challenge - Why Vienna Was Chosen?
Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge, the current marathon world record holder, plans to break the last great barrier of modern athletics - the 2-hour marathon. An epic challenge of this magnitude needs a suitable and equally grand location to do it justice, and the Prater in Vienna is the perfect fit - from the air quality to the climate.
October 7, 2019
Kurz Is Assigned the Mandate to Form a Government
Federal President Van der Bellen gave the mandate to form a government to the head of the Austrian People's Party, Sebastian Kurz. Kurz announced talks with all parties. The most discussed coalition variant is the cooperation with the Green Party.
October 7, 2019
Bulgarian Head of State Radew Met Austria's Heads of State
During the first official visit of the Bulgarian President Rumen Radev to Vienna, he met with President Van der Bellen in the Hofburg, Chancellor Bierlein in the Federal Chancellery and President Sobotka in Parliament.
October 7, 2019
Election 2019: Five Parties Make Their Entry into the Austrian National Council
Five political parties will be represented in the newly elected Austrian National Council. In addition to ÖVP, SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS, the Greens - after a two-year forced break - have also rejoined the House. The Liste JETZT, on the other hand, failed, as did the other small parties, at the 4% hurdle.
October 4, 2019
Hearing of Austrian Commissioner-Designate Johannes Hahn
The Austrian EU Commission candidate Johannes Hahn passed the stress test in the EU Parliament.
October 4, 2019
Diplomatic Academy: Diplomacy is Profoundly the Art of Dialogue
At the opening ceremony of the Diplomatic Academy's 2019/2020 academic year, National Council President Sobotka underlined the importance of dialogue in international relations.
October 3, 2019
Government Formation: Party Leaders in the Presidential Chancellery
Next Monday, Federal President Van der Bellen will commission ÖVP leader Kurz to form a government.
October 2, 2019 · Updated: October 4, 2019; 13:03
Austrian-American Hollywood Legend Eric Pleskow Has Died
Eric Pleskow, the expelled son of a Jewish merchant family in Vienna, Hollywood legend and Viennale president, died at the age of 95 in Connecticut.
October 2, 2019
Austrian Caretaker Government Demission and Re-Appointment
President Van der Bellen has entrusted the transitional government with the temporary continuation of the administration. Until a new government is formed, Chancellor Bierlein's government will remain in office.
October 1, 2019
Juncker: EU Requires a Strong Austrian Voice
European Commission President Juncker congratulated Sebastian Kurz on his victory in the National Council elections.
October 1, 2019
Schallenberg: Human Rights are Simply Non Negotiable
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg addressed the UN General Assembly, stressing the need for enhanced international cooperation.
September 27, 2019
Austrian President and Chancellor at UN General Assembly
President Van der Bellen, Chancellor Bierlein, Environment Minister Maria Patek and activist Anika Dafert attended the 74th UN General Assembly in New York.
September 25, 2019
Ambassador Kumlin Granit Takes Over from Ambassador Al-Hadid as New Chairperson of IAEA Board of Governors
The IAEA Board of Governors elected by acclamation Ambassador Mikaela Kumlin Granit of Sweden as the Chairperson of the IAEA’s Board of Governors for 2019–2020.
September 24, 2019
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at UN General Assembly
Tight schedule at the Annual General Meeting in New York City. Meetings with counterparts from Iran, Javad Zarif, Belarus, Vladimir Makei and Iraq, Mohamed Ali Alhakim and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer. A speech to the UN General Assembly is scheduled for Thursday. The strengthening of Vienna as a UN location is also on the agenda.
September 24, 2019
Austria's Oldest Holocaust Survivor Marko Feingold Dies at 106
The oldest Austrian survivor of the atrocities of National Socialism, Marko Feingold, was a significant contemporary witness to the Holocaust.
September 23, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Prince Abdullah Bin Khaled Bin Sultan Al Saud
The new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Austria, Prince Abdullah Bin Khaled Bin Sultan Al Saud presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg. He is also non-resident ambassador to Slovakia and Slovenia.
September 20, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of Qatar to Austria: H.E. Sultan Salmeen Al-Mansouri
The new Ambassador of Qatar to Austria, H.E. Sultan Salmeen Al-Mansouri presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
September 20, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay to Austria: H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Ojeda Viglione
The new Ambassador of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay to Austria, H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Ojeda Viglione presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
September 20, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Austria: H.E. Mr. Nom Piseth
The new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Austria, H.E. Mr. Nom Piseth presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
September 20, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of the Netherlands to Austria: H.E. Mr. Albert Hendrik Gierveld
The new Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Austria, H.E. Mr. Albert Hendrik Gierveld presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
September 20, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of Germany to Austria: H.E. Mr. Ralf Beste
The new Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Austria, H.E. Mr. Ralf Beste presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg. He succeeds Ambassador Johannes K. Haindl in this position.
September 20, 2019
Multilateralism: Austrian Delegation at UN General Assembly in New York City
Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein is attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York together with Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Sustainability Minister Maria Patek. Schallenberg speaks as Austria's representative.
September 20, 2019
Federation of Industries Warns Against Wrong Location Policy Decisions
In the context of the current election discussions, the Federation of Austrian Industries (Industriellenvereinigung) appeals to the political rationality of all parties with regard to location not to take short-sighted and ill-considered decisions.
September 20, 2019
Presentation of the European State Prize in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
With the European State Prize, the Austrian Foreign Ministry once again honours the extraordinary commitment of organisations and citizens to the promotion of European awareness in Austria.
September 18, 2019
Visit of Japanese Princess Kako to Austria
The Japanese Emperor's niece, Her Imperial Highness Princess Kako of Akishino, visits Austria for several days on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Austria and Japan, and met with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Bierlein for talks.
September 18, 2019
New Croatian Foreign Minister in Vienna
The visit of the new Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić-Radman, to the Foreign Ministry in Vienna focused on the forthcoming EU Presidency, which Croatia will assume for the first time on 1 January 2020, as well as the possible start of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania.
September 13, 2019
Passing the Baton at Fulbright Austria
Fulbright Austria has recently been placed under a new leadership. Dr. Hermann Agis has replaced the former executive director Dr. Lonnie R. Johnson, who will retire on September 30, after over 20 years of service.
September 12, 2019
Jane Goodall Awarded Honorary Cross in Vienna
The well-known primate researcher and environmental activist Jane Goodall has been awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art 1st Class by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen.
September 12, 2019
Reception for Representatives of Churches and Religious Communities
Brigitte Bierlein and Alexander Schallenberg invited the representatives of the churches and religious communities based in Austria to the Federal Chancellery.
September 10, 2019
Inaugural Visit of the New Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Chalupka
The intertwining of climate change and justice as well as the responsibility of man and the Protestant Church before God were central points of the discussion.
September 10, 2019
Who Will Become the Next IAEA Director General?
Following the death of Yukiya Amano, the IAEA is still looking for a new Director General. The Board of Governors of the IAEA has received 4 applications for the prestigious position of IAEA Director General from Argentina, Burkina Faso, Romania and Slovakia. The candidate must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Board. Read on to find out who the candidates are.
September 10, 2019
The European Way: Meet the Team of Ursula von der Leyen
At the heart of the new Commission's work is the need to address the changes in climate, technology and demography that are transforming European societies and way of life. Von der Leyen has structured and presented her team according to these requirements. Read below where the 27 commissioners come from and what they represent.
September 10, 2019
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