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Politicians in Austria walked out of a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, placing signs in their places that said “A place for peace” and “A place for neutrality.” Zelensky was addressing the Austrian parliament via videofeed. The conservative party called the Party of Freedom had warned that they would stage some kind of demonstration if the Ukrainian president showed up in parliament to ask for military support. Austria’s current public-facing position is that it supports Ukraine politically but will not send weapons or engage militarily in its conflict with Russia because neutral is neutral. Apparently some politicians...

After Austria and Hungary, Bulgaria has also joined the minority group of European Union countries that refuse to send weapons to Ukraine, news and opinion portal Mandiner reports [link at URL]. Bulgaria has declared that it will not take part in the EU’s joint ammunition purchase program, nor will it supply fighter jets or tanks to Ukraine, Euronews reports. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev is under enormous pressure from opposition parties, but he has said he stands by his position. ... Although many of its Western allies accuse Hungary of siding with Russia in the war based on its firm stance...

Tourists from New Zealand, China and Germany were among the dead at a number of different ski resorts. Austrian authorities put in place a level four avalanche alert - the second highest - following intense snowfall and wind in the area. Despite the warnings, ski resorts in western Austria have been filling up due to school holidays in Vienna. Austrian police announced five deaths on Sunday, including that of a 59-year-old man who was using a snow plough in the western region of Tyrol. They also recovered the bodies of a ski guide in Sankt Anton am Arlberg and a...

A former Australian Winter Olympic bobsledder has died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. Duncan Pugh, 48, passed away in his hometown of Perth over the weekend after he suffered a bleed on the brain. The bobsledder competed at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and leaves behind his wife McKenzie and two young sons, aged six and seven.

Austria and Hungary have agreed not to send military assistance to Ukraine, Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner and her Hungarian counterpart Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky said at a meeting in Budapest on Jan. 30, cited by Euractiv.According to the top officials, both countries' position regarding Russia's war against Ukraine is "clear" as they don't provide Ukraine with defense assistance "to prevent a further escalation."Szalay-Bobrovniczky added that Hungary would only supply humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on Jan. 29 that it is important for Ukraine to continue receiving military support from partners at...

Tesla lowered prices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, following a series of cuts last week in Asia, in what analysts saw as a clear shot at both smaller rivals that have been bleeding cash and legacy automakers aggressively ramping up electric vehicle production...The U.S. price cuts on Tesla's global top-sellers the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover SUV were between 6% and 20%, Reuters calculations showed, with the basic Model Y now costing $52,990, down from $65,990.Tesla also cut prices for its Model X luxury crossover SUV and Model S sedan in the United...

The UN General Assembly this week passed a resolution to characterize the founding of the modern state of Israel in 1948 as a “catastrophe,” in what has been heralded as a major victory for pro-Palestinian activists. The word “Nakba,” which means catastrophe or disaster in Arabic, was also a term coined by the Palestinians to commemorate the Jewish state’s founding. The UN resolution acknowledges the Palestinian version of the events that led to Israel’s creation, and calls for the “commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba,” with a “high-level event” at the global body on May 15th, 2023. May...

Iranian security forces have arrested 14 foreigners, including American, British and French citizens, for their involvement in anti-government protests, the semi-official Fars news agency said on Wednesday. -excerpt- "Citizens of 14 countries, including the United States, Russia, Austria, France, the United Kingdom, and Afghanistan, have been arrested in recent riots in Iran, of which Afghan nationals are the most numerous,"

To own a vessel that’s worth more than $1 million would be a luxury for most of us, but in the case of a billionaire, this is just one of the tenders that come with the mothership, a fabulous superyacht. With the owner’s connection to the real estate market, it’s no surprise that this opulent pleasure craft feels like a true top-level resort on water. At just 45, Rene Benko is one of the richest men in Austria, with an estimated fortune of almost $5 billion. He founded the company that would become a real estate empire at age 22,...

WARSAW (Reuters) – Germany said on Wednesday it was receiving less oil but still had enough supplies after Poland found a leak in the Druzhba pipeline that takes crude from Russia to Europe, which Warsaw said may have resulted from an accident rather than sabotage…. …Drone footage showed a black slick of oil from the underground pipeline spreading across farmland at the spill site, surrounded by fire engines and other emergency teams. “The security of supplies in Germany is currently guaranteed,” an Economy Ministry spokesman told Reuters. He added that “the refineries in Schwedt and Leona are still receiving crude...

MOSCOW/KIEV, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Europe may have breathed a collective sigh of relief after Russia and Ukraine signed a long-term gas supply deal, averting a possible repetition of the New Year supply cutbacks that unnerved the continent. But after a closer look at the complex pact signed on Wednesday, outsiders may yet have cause for concern about the region's energy security, especially after Ukraine's ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko launched a legal challenge to stop the deal. The accord uses as middleman a little-known Swiss-based joint venture called RosUkrEnergo, owned half by Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom (GAZPPE.RTS: Quote, Profile, Research) and...

Coal is re-emerging as a key source of energy for European countries racing to replace increasingly scarce natural gas as Moscow shuts off key pipeline flows. Europe is caught in a worsening energy crisis as Russia uses its energy exports to retaliate against sanctions. So countries like Germany are turning to coal to secure energy supplies before winter hits. Power generation using coal has shot up over 20% in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK together since last year, Rystad Energy data shows. European countries have increased coal consumption this year. "Coal is definitely making a comeback, with...

VIENNA — Joe Biden was rejected from the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts Friday after failing his second entrance exam. Professor Alois Delug said Biden's art was a mimicry of other, more successful works. "He has a talent for mimicry, I'll give him that. Not sure why he didn't make a go at still life. Still life painters just sit and copy whatever they're staring at. It would've been a natural fit for him, I think. Instead, he kept trying to pass off imitations of Thomas Kinkade as his own." Delug shook his head sadly. "And I like Thomas Kinkade!"...

Gibraltar finally joined the official list of British cities on Monday (Aug 29), after 180 years in which its status, granted by Queen Victoria, had been overlooked due to an administrative error. The British overseas territory bid to become a city earlier this year as part of the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, but research in the National Archives established it had in fact been granted city status in 1842. "It is excellent to see official recognition given to the City of Gibraltar, a huge accolade to its rich history and dynamism," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in...

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer backs a European Union-wide cap on runaway electricity prices, he said in a statement issued by his office on Sunday. Austria's conservative-led government was initially sceptical at the idea of capping power prices but it has warmed to the idea as they have continued to rise in line with soaring gas prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "We must finally stop the madness that is taking place in energy markets. And that can only happen through a European solution," the statement quoted Nehammer as saying, adding that he would seek to convince holdouts in the bloc....

Just shortly after the news that one in three Burger King burgers sold in Belgium is meat-free, and in some locations even one in two, BK reveals that from now on, almost the entire Burger King range, including the popular classics, will be served on a plant-based basis in Austria. The fast-food giant has already demonstrated what the future could look like in an experiment in a restaurant in Vienna’s Margaretengürtel, where plant-based products became the new normal. Those who ordered without expressing a special request for “meat” received a veggie burger. And those who wanted to eat the popular...

An Austrian doctor who was targeted by anti-vaxxers for her public advocacy in favor of the Covid-19 vaccines has committed suicide. The body of Lisa-Maria Kellermayr, who was often quoted in the media about the pandemic and the importance of vaccines, was found at her office in rural northern Austria on Friday, according to Austrian media reports. Officials said she left a suicide note but did not reveal its contents. Kelllmayr had been the target of death threats from anti-vaccination activists. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen praised the doctor as a great healer and called out those who had...

Many countries are ramping up coal to keep up with rising energy demands. Even some EU countries that were otherwise planning to exit coal usage are now seeing an increase in production and fossil-powered energy generation. ... Despite the best efforts to the contrary, short-term global reliance on coal has only increased... energy is getting harder and harder to come by, and most countries are falling back on reliable .. sources. Energy Issues Have Left Many Nations with No Other Choice.. In the US, coal production has risen significantly from last year... production is up 6%.. ... China, too, has...

The obligation to vaccinate is abolished. Yesterday, a unamimous decision by the National Council ensured this. Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) justified the measure with "completely different conditions" than when it was introduced. OVP mandater Josef Smolle also referred to the less lethal omicron variant, immunization through vaccination and the availability of medication. The opposition will not go away from the obligation to vaccinate either. At least when it comes to compulsory vaccination, the government botch is coming to an end, said SPO health spokesman Philip Kucher. The liberal health spokesman Gerhard Kaniak thanked not only his own party but...

Summary A tale of three countries: In Austria, they’ve figured out the vaccines are dangerous, so the Health Minister is now blaming the doctors. In New Zealand, the data clearly shows the vaccinated have higher all-cause mortality, so their solution is more vaccines and they bury the papers showing the vaccines are the problem. In Australia, the mandates are gone and a few people are coming to realize they goofed big time.