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.

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

Corona Infected People Are Getting Younger

The number of Corona cases is rising in Austria. However, the average age of the infected people is lowering and Minister Anschober is appealing to young people to consequently stick to all measures.

August 18, 2020

"Passport Doesn't Matter" Election in Vienna

About 30% of the population in Vienna is not allowed to vote in the election on October 11 as they do not have an Austrian passport. Therefore, "SOS Mitmensch" organizes again this year the "Passport doesn't matter" election where non-citizens can symbolically vote for their favourite party.

August 18, 2020

European Forum Alpbach Will Be Host to Numerous Outstanding Personalities Beginning August 23

The European Forum Alpbach will be opened by Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen on August 23 and will host various outstanding speakers, either in person or virtually, for 12 days.

August 18, 2020

Austrian Officials Open 13th IPU Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament

The 13th IPU Summit is held virtually and will cover important topics dealing with countless inequalities women face today. The organization of the event is a common effort between the Austrian Parliament and the United Nations.

August 18, 2020

Visit of US Secretary of State to Austria Results in a Joint Declaration by Austria and the United States

A joint declaration by Austria and United States was issued as part of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Austria. The declaration included, among other topics, commitment to rebuilding efforts after the Covid-19 crisis and the creation of an even better bilateral dialogue.

August 15, 2020

Meeting Between Čaputová and Van der Bellen

The Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen met his Slovak counterpart Zuzana Čaputová to talk mainly about climate change.

July 24, 2020

Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania Presents Credentials

The new Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations (Vienna), Maimuna Kibenga Tarishi, presented her credentials today to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Ghada Waly.

July 24, 2020

Illegal Migration: Austria Calls for More Coordination and Cooperation on Eastern Mediterranean Routes

Agreement reached at the Ministerial Conference to Combat Illegal Migration on the Eastern Mediterranean Routes in Vienna. It was decided to establish a platform for the fight against illegal migration.

July 24, 2020

New IOM Regional Director Renate Held Presents Credentials at UN Vienna

The new Permanent Representative of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to the United Nations, Renate Held, presented her credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna. The IOM has offices in 19 countries and territories in the "South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region" (SEEECA) including sub-regional offices in Central Asia and the Western Balkans.

July 22, 2020

New Georgian Ambassador to Austria Has Taken Up Her Post

H.E. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, the newly appointed Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Austria and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations and former Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality in Georgia, has handed over her credentials to the Foreign Ministry and the UNOV United Nations Office at Vienna. She succeeds H.E. Mr. David Dondua in this position.

July 21, 2020

Coronavirus in Vienna: Update - July 20, 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has also hit the metropolis of Vienna hard and the number of infected cases and unfortunately also deaths is constantly increasing. It must also be assumed that an unknown number of people who do not suspect this has already been infected. Medical science does not yet know the virus exactly. What is known so far is that in 80 percent of the cases the infection is mild. The mortality rate is currently three per cent, compared with just under one per cent for influenza. What is the Vienna Pandemic Plan? What is the situation in Vienna and what can be done individually? Questions and answers on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) below.

July 20, 2020

Meet the New Ambassador of India to Austria: H.E. Mr. Jaideep Mazumdar

The new Ambassador of the Republic of India to Austria, H.E. Mr. Jaideep Mazumdar presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

July 12, 2020 · Updated: July 15, 2020; 10:10

25 Years Srebrenica: Austria Commemorates the Victims of the Greatest Genocide in Europe since the End of the Second World War

The genocide of Srebrenica, the worst crime in Europe since the end of the Second World War, is currently being commemorated for the 25th time. This day of remembrance serves to commemorate the thousands of murdered people who lost their lives in the days after 10 July 1995.

July 13, 2020

Meet the New Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Austria: H.E. Mr. Majintha Jayesinghe

The new Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to Austria, H.E. Mr. Majintha Joseph Priye Jayesinghe presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

July 12, 2020 · Updated: July 13, 2020; 10:25

Meet the New Ambassador of North Korea to Austria: H.E. Mr. Choe Kang Il

The new Ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to Austria, H.E. Mr. Choe Kang Il presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

July 12, 2020 · Updated: July 13, 2020; 10:25

Meet the New Ambassador of Mexico to Austria: H.E. Mr. Luis Javier Campuzano Piña

The new Ambassador of the United Mexican States to Austria, the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Slovenia, H.E. Mr. Luis Javier Campuzano Piña presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg. He is also the new Permanent Representative of Mexico to the international organizations in Vienna.

July 12, 2020 · Updated: July 13, 2020; 10:20

New Dean of International Anti-Corruption Academy Accredited at United Nations Office at Vienna

Thomas Stelzer, an Austrian diplomat who serves as the Dean, Executive Secretary and Permanent Representative of the Laxenburg based IACA - International Anti-Corruption Academy presented credentials to the Director-General of UNOV - United Nations Office at Vienna.

July 12, 2020

Vienna Welcomes New Ambassadors from North Korea, Iran, India, Sri Lanka and Mexico

Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen welcomed the five newly accredited Ambassadors of the Republic of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of India and the United Mexican States to Austria to the Presidential Chancellery of the Vienna Imperial Palace for the presentation of their letters of accreditation.

July 12, 2020

The International Organization of la Francophonie's Nakseu Nguefang Presents Credentials

The new Permanent Representative of the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF) to the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Mr. Georges Nakseu Nguefang, presented his credentials to the Director-General of UNOV.

July 10, 2020

Harald Mahrer Remains Austrian Federal Economic Chamber President for Another Five Years

Harald Mahrer was re-elected President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) at the Economic Parliament and was immediately praised by Margarete Schramböck, Federal Minister for Digitalisation and Business Location.

June 26, 2020

Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna Committed to Fixing Failings Exposed by COVID-19

On the occasion of the commemoration of the signing of the UN Charter 75 years ago, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, Ms Ghada Waly, praised Austria's reasonable approach to the COVID-19 situation and presented the new UN Action Plan for COVID.

June 26, 2020

COVID-19 and the Situation of Refugees in Austria

A research project at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW - Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften) reveals the situation of refugees in Austria in the midst of the Corona crisis.

June 25, 2020

Austrian Top Diplomat Wolfgang Wolte Deceased

The Austrian Foreign Relations Community mourns the death of the long-time Austrian ambassador and pioneer of Austria's accession to the EU, former ambassador Dr. Wolfgang Wolte.

June 25, 2020

Arab - Austrian Expert Forum on the Economic Challenges in Light of Corona Pandemic

The economic obstacles that the Arab world faces due to the wide spread of the coronavirus, the enormous medical efforts that are being made to find a cure for this virus, and the challenges that the economic and trade relations between Arab countries and Austria in particular face in times of the coronavirus, were the main topics that centered around the geneticist and molecular immunologist Prof. Dr. Josef Penninger.

June 22, 2020

Powerful Federation of Austrian Industrialists Has a New President

The Federation of Austrian Industry, the lobby of 4,200 voluntary members and owners of Austrian industrial and industry-related companies, has elected a new president in Georg Knill.

June 19, 2020

New Permanent Representative of North Korea in Vienna Presented Credentials and Replaces Long-term Diplomat

The new Permanent Representative of North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) to the United Nations, Mr. Choe Kang Il, who was already stationed in Vienna from 2011 to 2015, presented his credentials to the Director-General of UNOV, Ghada Waly. He replaces Mr. Kim Kwang Sop, who, for 27 years has been the highest North Korean diplomat in Austria.

June 19, 2020

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas Visiting Vienna

In preparation for Germany's EU Presidency in the second half of 2020, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas visited Austria and met Foreign Minister Schallenberg, among other things to restore normality in the area of freedom of travel as quickly as possible.

June 19, 2020

Embassy of Kenya in Vienna Endorses Kenya for Africa's Seat on UN Security Council

The Embassy and Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya in Vienna, which serves the Kenyan diaspora in Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia, endorses Kenya’s bid for one of the five vacant slots reserved for non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Within Africa, Djibouti is still vying for the seat on the UN Security Council.

June 17, 2020

New Permanent Representative of Kenya Presented Credentials to UN and IAEA

The new Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the IAEA and the United Nations in Vienna, Robinson Njeru Githae, presented his credentials to the Director-General of the IAE, Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi.

June 9, 2020

Change at the Helm of Statistics Austria - Halt of "Message Control"

German-born Prof. Dr. Tobias Thomas replaces Konrad Pesendorfer, takes over as Co-CEO and becomes Technical Statistics Director General. His first official act is the suspension of advance transmissions of statistical press releases to the Federal Chancellery of Austria (BKA).

June 2, 2020

Jewish World Congress and Austria Agree: Hezbollah is a Terrorist Organization

Following the Austrian National Council's decision that the EU should reassess its dealings with Hezbollah, as Austrian MPs see it as a terrorist organisation, the President of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald S. Lauder, welcomed this decision.

June 1, 2020

Visit to the Western Balkans by Foreign Minister Schallenberg and European Affairs Minister Edtstadler

A trip to the Western Balkans by Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and European Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler took the two Austrian People's Party politicians to Albania, Serbia and Kosovo.

June 1, 2020

New Chief Financial Officer at Allianz Group Austria

German-born Anne Thiel (49) is to take over as CFO of Allianz Group Austria on September 1, 2020. She succeeds Eva Meyer-Schipflinger, who will take over a global management position at Allianz SE in Munich.

May 30, 2020

COVID-19 Drug Made in Austria

Austrian biotech company Apeiron Biologics AG, which is currently working on a drug to treat the coronavirus, announces financing round for the further development of the COVID-19 drug APN01.

May 19, 2020

Austria Has New Secretary of State for Art and Culture

Andrea Mayer, former Head of the Arts and Culture Section and current Cabinet Director of Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, was presented to the public at a press conference today as the successor to Ulrike Lunacek as Secretary of State for Arts and Culture.

May 19, 2020

War for Global Telecom Infrastructure Supremacy: Vienna first EU Capital with Area-wide 5G Network

While the Third World War is raging backstage between the USA and China for world supremacy in 5G infrastructure, Huawei wins another milestone in Vienna. Digital City Councilor Peter Hanke has set the goal "Vienna should become the first city in Europe with a complete 5G network". The city is supporting the network expansion with 20 million euros.

May 18, 2020

The European Forum Alpbach Gets a New Leadership

Bank manager Andreas Treichl is scheduled to take office as President of the European Forum Alpbach in 2021, succeeding Franz Fischler. Already this autumn, Philippe Narval, Secretary General and Managing Director of the European Forum Alpbach, is to hand over the reins to the entrepreneur and investor Werner Wutscher.

May 14, 2020

Austria Agrees to ESM Pandemic Crisis Support

The National Council has given its approval for financial aid within the framework of the ESM. Specifically, Finance Minister Blümel was authorized to approve a decision in the ESM Board of Governors to grant corona financial aid to all applicant ESM member states within the framework of the ESM Pandemic Crisis Support.

May 14, 2020