Austria

Austria closes country roads to German travelers

21 June 2019; DW: Austria's Tyrol province announced on Thursday that it would restrict access to country roads for vehicles seeking to avoid its highways. The move has drawn the ire of officials in the state of Bavaria, which borders the western Austrian province, as the ban would affect southern Germany's summer cross country travelers.

Russia observing moratorium on nuclear tests — Russian diplomat

VIENNA, May 29. /TASS/: Russia is observing the moratorium on nuclear tests, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said on Wednesday.

Ulyanov was commenting on the remarks made earlier by director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley. Ashley said that "the United States believes that Russia probably is not adhering to its nuclear testing moratorium in a manner consistent with the 'zero-yield' standard" outlined in the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Schwarzenegger teams up with activist Greta Thunberg at climate summit

28 May 2019; DW: A top climate summit organized by Arnold Schwarzenegger's environmental organization has opened in Vienna. Swedish youth activist Greta Thunberg spoke at the opening of a failure by the leaders in attendance to act.

Swedish youth activist Greta Thunberg on Tuesday called on leaders to inform the public about climate change without sugarcoating "the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced."

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz faces no-confidence vote

21 May 2019; DW: Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is preparing to fight a no-confidence vote in his leadership. His bid to sack the far-right interior minister over a corruption sting has triggered a damaging backlash.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is set to face a no-confidence vote from lawmakers in a special parliamentary session next Monday, the speaker of the lower house said.  

Vienna refused to participate in Valdai Club due to crisis in Austria

VIENNA, May 21. /TASS/: Austrian representatives refused to participate and provide a venue for the 6th European conference of the Valdai International Discussion Cluba because of the domestic political crisis, Russian Ambassador in Vienna Dmitry Lyublinsky said on Tuesday.

Demonstrators celebrate Austria government collapse

Vienna, May 19 (AFP) After hours of chanting and whistling, thousands of demonstrators on Saturday cheered the collapse of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's government over a corruption scandal -- and the prospect of fresh elections.

"Kurz must go" cried the crowd that had built up in Vienna's historic first district from late morning.

As the news of fresh elections came through on demonstrators' smartphones later, loud cheers erupted.

Austrian leader calls an early election amid video scandal

VIENNA (AP) — Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called Saturday for an early election after his vice chancellor resigned over a covertly shot video that showed him apparently promising government contracts to a prospective Russian investor.

Kurz said he would ask President Alexander Van der Bellen to set a date for a new election “as soon as possible.”

Austrian president approves snap election proposed by Kurz

VIENNA, May 18 (Xinhua): Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen approved on Saturday the proposal of holding snap elections after the far-right vice chancellor resigned over an alleged corruption video and effectively led to the collapse of the coalition government.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced at a press conference Saturday evening that considering both the Social Democratic Party (SPO) and the Freedom Party (FPO) "are not what our country needs", it is necessary to carry out elections "at the earliest opportunity".

Subscribe to Austria