Newsletter: Vienna International News

Covid-19 in Austria: New Rules Apply From February 8

Austria's federal government has announced a slight relaxation of the current lockdown. Shops and schools will reopen under certain requirements, but penalties for disregarding measures and and entry into Austria will be tightened. The aim of the government is to contain the current virus mutations from the UK and South Africa.

Portuguese State Secretary Ribeiro Appointed OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

The OSCE member states recently made new appointments to the organization's leadership positions at the Ministerial Council. Teresa Ribeiro, the former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the Portuguese government, has filled the post of OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. Apart from her diplomatic career, the 66-year-old Portuguese had also worked in the media sector in the past.

Edtstadler in Paris: Meetings with Secretaries of State and Chief Rabbi

In order to discuss Covid-19 coordination and the fight against terrorism and anti-Semitism, Austria's Minister for European Affairs Karoline Edtstadler has traveled to Paris, France and met with, among others, Secretary of State for Europe Clément Beaune and Chief Rabbi of France Haim Korsia.

Pahor and Van der Bellen Demand European Cooperation

The Slovenian President Borut Pahor and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen met virtually to discuss current issues, especially the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the fight against the climate crisis. Both heads of state stressed the importance of European and, in fact, global cooperation in both matters.