Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger is set to become the new chairman of the conservative Peoples Party (ÖVP).The board of the party which forms a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) on federal level unanimously chose Spindelegger in a meeting this morning (Thurs). The panel was pressed to act after Finance Minister Josef Pröll […]
An important Vienna city centre traffic route will be closed down for three hours tomorrow (Thurs), it has been announced.Motorist association ÖAMTC appealed to drivers today to avoid the area of the State Opera, as the Ringstraße boulevard will be shut down for individual traffic between Schwarzenberg Square and Operngasse from 8pm to 11pm. The […]
Austrian oil and gas giant OMV has taken over a competitors exploration activities in Tunisia.The Vienna-based company announced today (Thurs) it has transferred 610 million Euros to American firm Pioneer Natural Resources to take over its operations in the north African country. OMV said the executive board of its Tunisian subsidiary company signed contracts earlier […]
Bank Austria (BA) CEO Willibald Cernko has warned tougher rules and new taxes could make it more difficult for banks to find investors.The former HypoVereinsbank manager said today (Weds): “I think the debate over investors should have an Austrian background or come from abroad is totally misleading. The decisive question will be whether we (the […]
A group of leading businessman has publicly backed OMV boss Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer who faces legal action for alleged insider trading.The entrepreneur, who has headed the oil and gas company since 2002, will be in court in January after the state prosecution decided to press insider dealing charges.Ruttenstorfer acquired OMV stakes worth 632,000 Euros in March […]
Works council chiefs are on high alert after new UniCredit boss Federico Ghizzoni revealed plans to save costs.The businessman, who succeeded Alessandro Profumo as chief of Italys biggest bank last month, said in an interview with Rome newspaper La Repubblica yesterday (Tues) that he wanted to “lower costs”.He also stressed: “UniCredit is a healthy bank. […]
Paul Scharner has been given the chance of a comeback for the Austrian national team.The midfielder who joined English Premiership side West Bromwich Albion (WBA) after five seasons at Wigan Athletic earlier this year has received a call-up by Austrian boss Dietmar Constantini for the upcoming Euro2012 qualifiers against Azerbaijan in Vienna on […]
Four people accused of selling cocaine at a posh Viennese eatery have been arrested.Police in the federal capital announced today (Thurs) that restaurant boss Werner D. had admitted having flogged 1.2 kilograms of the drug to regular customers over the past two years.The 66-year-old as well as three alleged accomplices were taken into custody yesterday […]
Legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong visited Austria last week to take part in a TV chat show aired tonight (Thurs), it emerged.Private broadcaster ServusTV revealed only today that Armstrong the first man on the moon took an invitation to a special edition of the “Talk im Hangar-7” show produced at Salzburg Airport to mark […]
Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz has revealed plans to make Red Bull Salzburg (RBS) the Under-21s team of his companys football ambitions.The entrepreneur said today (Fri) he was convinced that RB Leipzig who are currently competing in Germanys fourth-highest league will soon play a vital role in European football.”Red Bull Salzburg will be […]