Vienna International Community - People in the News - Latest Headlines

Read updated news about key players in Vienna's international community, such as expats, executives, politicians, diplomats, investors, artists and others.

Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert with Ticket Raffle

The Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert at 6 PM on September 18, 2020 will only satisfy 1,250 guests due to strict Covid-19 regulations. Nevertheless, a ticket raffle will allow lucky members of the public to experience the concert.

September 8, 2020

Foreign Trade Has Partially Recovered from Crisis

According to the latest report from Statistics Austria, imports and exports are only slightly behind last year's number indicating an upwards trend after Covid-19 has impacted foreign trade significantly.

September 8, 2020

German Chamber of Commerce in Austria: Perspectives for Overcoming the Corona Crisis from an Automotive Company Perspective

At a press conference of the DHK - Deutschen Handelskammer in Österreich in Vienna, experts from the automotive sector, F. Peter Mitterbauer and Hans Dieter Pötsch, highlighted the current economic situation and the prospects for overcoming the corona crisis from the company's perspective.

September 7, 2020

Climate Protection Minister Presents Measures Against Plastic Flood

Climate Protection Minister Gewessler announces a three-point plan to tackle Austria's plastic waste. These measures include a deposit system, a producer's levy and a reusable quota.

September 7, 2020

WKO Secretary General: Labor Market Situation Improves, But Remains Great Challenge

The secretary general of Austria's Federal Chamber of Commerce WKO recognizes a slightly positive trend in the labor market but underlines the importance of ongoing and future economic measures.

September 7, 2020

"Massive New Debt" in 2021

Federal Minister Blümel announces massive new government borrowing for next year in order to tackle the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. He hopes to return to meeting the Maastricht criteria again in the next years.

September 7, 2020

Nehammer: Do Everything To Protect Jewish Life

Minister of the Interior Nehammer visited the synagogue on David-Herzog-Platz in Graz together and highlighted the importance of the protection and promotion of Jewish life in Austria.

September 4, 2020

EU Supports Young Researchers with EUR 677 Million

The European Commission is providing a total of EUR 677 million to over 400 recipients of a "Starting Grant" from the European Research Council. Eleven of the selected junior researchers are conducting research at Austrian institutions.

September 4, 2020

Berlin Will Welcome Delegation of the Austrian National Council

The German capital will be host to a meeting between several German politicians and a delegation from the Austrian National Council. The main topics comprise measures to cope with the Covid-19 crisis and EU issues.

September 4, 2020

Climate and Energy Goals: Additional Measures Will Be Needed for Austria

Austria's Ministry for Climate Protection recognizes the need for additional protective measures in order to meet the climate targets established by the European Union. An increases of investments in sustainable ideas is demanded.

September 3, 2020

Austrian Technology Company Kapsch Will Cut Around 400 Jobs

Vienna-based company Kapsch is likely to cut about 400 jobs globally in the near future. The company has commenced a transformation program that will allow it to be successful in the future.

September 3, 2020

Hungary Recognizes Sobotka for Development of Bilateral Relations

The Hungarian government has awarded Austria's President of the National Council Sobotka the Commander's Cross for his efforts to further bilateral relations between the two countries and to promote the perception of Hungary's position in the EU.

September 3, 2020

Vienna International School: Lisa Biasillo Appointed as New Director

At the beginning of the new school year a change of leadership took place at VIS - Vienna International School. After 10 years at the top, Mrs. Lisa Biasillo has taken over from Mr. Peter Murphy as the new director.

September 3, 2020

Dombrovskis in Alpbach: Economy Must Serve All People

Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Dombrovskis highlights the importance of the young generation in rebuilding the economy after Covid-19. Unemployment needs to be tackled and sustainability and digital innovation will be supported.

September 2, 2020

Higher Unemployment Rate in Euro Zone, Decreasing Numbers in Austria

Even though many EU Member States have loosened Covid-19 containment measures, unemployment increased once again in the euro zone. Austria's rate decreased slightly from June to July 2020.

September 2, 2020

Biggest Ars Electronica Will Include 120 Locations

120 locations around the globe will feature performances organized by the Ars Electronica in Linz. Despite the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the festival organizers have once again surpassed the dimensions of the recent years.

September 2, 2020

Investigations About Turkish Espionage in Austria

Following the riots of Turkish activists in Vienna, Austria's Interior Minister Nehammer set up a task force that investigates the alleged influence of the Turkish secret service. These allegations have materialized to some extent and were presented at a press conference.

September 1, 2020

Edtstadler: Six New EU Member Countries in the Next Decade

Hungarian Minister Varga and Austria's Minister for the EU Edtstadler took part in a discussion at the European Forum Alpbach that dealt with the presence and future of the European Union. Edtstadler is optimistic that the EU will grow by six member states in the next 10 years.

September 1, 2020

Descendants of Nazi Victims Have the Right to Austrian Citizenship

From September on, it is easier for descendants of Nazi victims to apply for the Austrian citizenship. This was announced by Interior Minister Nehammer in order to "take historical responsibility for the crimes of the Nazi regime".

September 1, 2020

Tax Reform Will Be Valid from September 1 on

According to Finance Minister Blümel, the tax reform will be valid on from September 1 and there will be a corresponding refund for salaries already taxed with retroactive effect from 1 January 2020.

August 31, 2020

National Council President Sobotka Met Slovak and Czech Counterparts, Kollár and Vondráček

Austria's National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka invited his Slovak and Czech counterparts, Boris Kollár and Radek Vondráček, to discuss the cooperation between the three neighboring countries and other political issues.

August 31, 2020

Hatice Gruber-Tschida Appointed New Managing Director of Österreich Institut

Hatice Gruber-Tschida, former Head of the Integration Centers Division of the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF), will be the new Managing Director of the Österreich Institut, which is responsible for language teaching in the area of international culture at 10 locations in Belgrade, Brno, Bratislava, Budapest, Krakow, Rome, Sarajevo, Moscow, Warsaw, and Wroclaw.

August 28, 2020

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at the Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Berlin

Austria's Foreign Minister Schallenberg has come together with the other EU Foreign Minister to discuss current foreign affairs. The main topics were the conflict between Greece and Turkey, the current situation in Belarus, relations between the EU and Russia, and the peace process in the Middle East.

August 28, 2020

Federal Minister Nehammer: Joining Forces with Bavaria in the Fight Against Organized Crime and Trafficking

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann and Austria's Karl Nehammer intensify cooperation in the fight against human trafficking and organized crime. The two politicians have come together for a working meeting in Vienna.

August 28, 2020

Industry at Alpbach Technology Talks: Austria's Federation of Industries Demands to Start the Technology Offensive Now

The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (Industriellenvereinigung) Georg Knill used the European Forum Alpbach to underline the importance of research, technology and innovation for a wealthy future economy.

August 28, 2020

German-Speaking Finance Ministers Met in Vienna

Vienna hosted the tenth informal meeting of the German-speaking finance ministers. Representatives of Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Austria took part in discussions about Covid-19 and the future of taxes.

August 28, 2020

Iran Allows Vienna-based IAEA Access to Controversial Nuclear Facilities

Vienna-based IAEA is allowed to inspect two nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. After an ongoing dispute between the IAEA and the Iran, a joint statement settles the dispute.

August 27, 2020

Austrian Construction Company Porr Reports Losses in the Second Quarter of 2020

The second largest construction company in Austria, Porr, recorded losses in the first half of the year 2020. The obvious reason: Covid-19 and the subsequent shutdowns and restrictions.

August 27, 2020

Austrian Foreign Ministry Endows Special Prize for International Art

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg announces a new prize for international artistic projects that deal with the impact of technology and digitalization on society.

August 27, 2020

Agreement between the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the IAEA

After intensive bilateral consultations, the Director General of the IAEA and the Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the AEOI, Ali-Akbar Salehi, reached an agreement on the resolution of the safeguards implementation issues specified by the IAEA, in good faith.

August 26, 2020

Federal Minister Edtstadler Promises Action Plan Against Anti-Semitism

Karoline Edtstadler, Federal Minister of Austria for the EU and Constitution, introduced an action plan that will be implemented in the fall. This plan will comprise about 30 measures to fight ongoing anti-Semitism.

August 26, 2020

Van der Bellen Promoted a Common, Greener European Future at the 75th European Forum Alpbach

Austria's Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen opened the 75th European Forum Alpbach with his speech that focused on international cooperation and an environmentally friendly and sustainable future.

August 26, 2020

US and British Universities At the Top, Austria's Universities are Mid-Table

Similar to the recent years, British and US universities are dominating the newly published "Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities". Austria's best result was a ranking in between 151 to 200 by the University of Vienna.

August 26, 2020

Austrian Real Estate Companies with Devaluations in Central and Eastern Europe

Austrian real estate companies CA Immo and s-Immo felt the pressure of the Covid-19 crisis and had to face significant revaluations of their properties in Austria, Germany and Central Eastern Europe.

August 25, 2020

Financial Assets of Austrians Back at Record Level After Slump

Austrians have never been richer than today. Private financial assets have recovered and improved after a significant decline in the first quarter of 2020 due to Covid-19.

August 25, 2020

Despite Covid-19 Crisis: Austrian Automotive Supplier Pollmann International Builds Plant in Mexico

Austrian company Pollmann International expands to Mexico where it will build a plant in order to better supply the Central and South American market.

August 25, 2020

Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig Met German Vice Chancellor and Minister of Finance Olaf Scholz

Mayor Michael Ludwig and German Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz met for a working meeting in Vienna. Discussions were held about economic relations and municipal topics such as affordable housing.

August 25, 2020

Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka Presents Credentials to the United Nations Office at Vienna

The new Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations (Vienna), Majintha Jayesinghe, presented his credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV).

August 25, 2020

Criticism of SPÖ Officials Concerning Belarus

TV appearances in the Belarus state TV of two Austrians with close boundaries to the SPÖ led to an immense wave of criticism. One claims that the news coverage in Belarus is too European friendly. The other repeats a main propaganda message from Lukashenko's party.

August 25, 2020

Islamic Motivated Offender Attacked Synagogue

Yesterday a press conference was held concerning the attack of a synagogue and the president of the Jewish community in Graz. The attacker was identified as a Syrian citizen with an Islamic motive. In the upcoming weeks, synagogues in Austria will be protected by police officers.

August 25, 2020

Austria Expels Russian Diplomat, Russia Reacts and Expels Austrian Diplomat

After the Austrian Foreign Ministry had declared a Russian diplomat an undesirable person in connection with accusations of espionage, Russia has now reacted by deporting an Austrian diplomat.

August 24, 2020

President Van der Bellen at the Salzburg Festival: "Artists Need All Our Support"

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen invited his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier accompanied by Elke Büdenbender to a festival and working visit in Salzburg. Both presidents agreed on the fact that artists are in a very difficult situation at the moment and need to be supported.

August 24, 2020

Federal Minister Edtstadler: "We Must Protect and Promote Jewish Life Throughout Europe!"

After the recent attacks on the President of the Jewish Communities in Graz, Federal Minister Edtstadler made clear that Jewish life in Austria needs to be protected and promoted by any means.

August 24, 2020

Kaiser Apologizes for the Chaos at the Border

Governor Peter Kaiser apologized today to all people who got stuck at the borders to Austria on Saturday evening. He says that this situation should never happen again and claims that communication problems between the federal and the state government led to the chaos.

August 24, 2020

Vienna: 44 Hectares of Train Station Will Turn Into Housing for 16,000 People

By 2033, the City of Vienna together with Austrian Railways (ÖBB) will turn the train station at Nordwestbahnhof (20th district, Brigittenau) into living spaces that will comfort 16,000 people.

August 21, 2020

Vienna Based UNIDO Holds Expert Panel to Discuss Developments in Industry and Society

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization hosted an expert panel about the future of industry and society. Main topics were the advancement of attaining the sustainable development goals and shaping society as a whole.

August 21, 2020

Newest Report from Austrian Retail Association - Handelsverband: Top 100 Retailers Account for 55% of Austrian Consumer Spending

In the newly published report from the Austrian Retail Association - Handelsverband Rewe the top 100 retailers are responsible for more than half of Austrian consumer spending. Rewe sits on top of the list with a turnover of EUR 6.69 billion.

August 20, 2020

Austrian Assistance to Palestinian Refugees with EUR 8.1 Million

Over the period 2020 to 2022, Austria will pay a total of EUR 8.1 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

August 19, 2020

75th Anniversary of the Opening of the Liberation Monument at Schwarzenbergplatz: Austrian and CIS Officials Hold Ceremony

75 years after the unveiling of the Liberation Monument, Austrian President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka and Ambassadors of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries commemorated once again the Soviet soldiers killed during World War II.

August 19, 2020

Molecular Immunologist Penninger and AACC Discuss Potential Research Cooperations with Arab Countries

The Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce in Vienna welcomed prominent researcher and molecular immunologist Prof. Josef Penninger for cooperative talks on the subject of establishing modern and state-of-the-art research centers and scientific units in Arab countries.

August 19, 2020