
Schwarzenegger surprises Vienna metro users with climate message
The Austrian Hollywood star is in town for an annual conference he organises on climate change.
'Thank you for your commitment to a healthy planet,' he says in German in the announcement, broadcast every 30 minutes over the intercom system of all public transport, according to network operator Wiener Linien.
He continues in English that 'you're all real climate action heroes, helping to unite in action and terminate pollution'.
Schwarzenegger, 77, launched the summit in his native Austria eight years ago to highlight the challenges of climate change.
In his opening speech on Tuesday, Schwarzenegger, who has been an outspoken critic of US President Donald Trump, held back criticism, while calling for 'action that makes their (people's) lives better'.
'I know that the people are sick and tired of the whining and the complaining and the doom and gloom. They want heroes... We have to win the people over,' he said.
This year, former British prime minister Tony Blair is attending, as well as Austrian Prime Minister Christian Stocker and Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen.
Around 2.4 million people use the city's public transport per day, according to Wiener Linien. The Austrian capital has around two million inhabitants.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
12 minutes ago
- The Star
EU halts 93-bln-euro tariffs on U.S. goods despite members' dissent
BRUSSELS, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Tuesday formally suspended planned retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports worth 93 billion euros (about 108 billion U.S. dollars), just days before they were due to take effect. The Commission's trade spokesperson, Olof Gill, said the decision was adopted under an emergency procedure and will require formal approval by a simple majority of member states within two weeks. The tariffs were scheduled to take effect on Aug. 7. "The Commission has today adopted necessary legal procedures to suspend the implementation of our European Union (EU) countermeasures," Gill told a press briefing in Brussels, adding that the regulation would be published in the EU's official journal later the same day. Ahead of this announcement, there has been mounting criticism from key member states, including France and Germany. German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has expressed frustration at what he described as a "weak" negotiating stance by the EU during the trade talks with the United States. "I think we were too weak. We can't be satisfied with the result that was achieved," Klingbeil said, referring to the agreement reached late last month between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Donald Trump. Under the deal, most EU imports to the United States will face a 15-percent tariff, while the bloc has pledged to purchase more American energy products and increase investment in the U.S. market. Gill expressed surprise at Klingbeil's remarks, noting that member states had been "fully briefed" and had supported a negotiated outcome to avoid tariff escalation. The spokesperson said the suspension would remain in place for six months, during which implementation of the broader understanding would continue. If commitments are not met, Gill noted, the EU retains the right to reactivate its countermeasures. (1 euro = 1.16 dollar)


The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Anwar calls for deeper appreciation of Asian history, free from colonial narratives
Anwar at the launch of the 'More Than A Day As A Tiger' exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. – Bernama --fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for a deeper appreciation of Asian history that moves beyond colonial narratives, citing Tipu Sultan of Mysore, an Indian ruler who fought against the British East India Company as a model of courage, learning and tolerance. He said that the contributions of Tipu Sultan and his father Haider Ali, as defenders against British colonial expansion, exemplified the importance of understanding history from the perspective of local and regional leaders rather than solely from Western accounts. "History is not necessarily very kind, one of our scholars Syed Hussein Alatas emphasised the need to reconstruct history because history cannot be written only by the winners or from the perspective of the colonial rulers," he said during the launch of the "More Than A Day As A Tiger" exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, here on Tuesday (Aug 5) night. Also present were the Prime Minister's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail; Albukhary Foundation chairman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary; Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai and his spouse, as well as representatives from embassies and consulates. Anwar noted that Malaysian history, like that of many others, is often written from the perspective of the British, essentially reflecting Western colonial rule. "Of course, there have been lots of academic accounts, including by Edward Said on Orientalism, but the manner, the whole discipline of history, culture and society is being dictated by certain Western viewpoints," he said. Anwar also shared his personal experience visiting Mysore before taking office, recalling his admiration for Tipu Sultan's modest palace and his protection of Hindu temples, including the ancient temple there. He also praised Tipu Sultan's foresight in mastering military technology to confront colonial powers, citing the Mysore Sultanate's renowned cannons and firearms that had shocked the British in the early wars. "It is not just an ordinary exhibition, but to showcase the history of India and the Muslim world, and the history of the anti-colonial struggle against colonial rule, in this particular case, the British rule. "His diplomatic skills with the few sultanates, Muslims and Hindus in India and his venture into international diplomacy, particularly in persuading the French forces to support his struggle against the British," he said. Anwar noted that while Malaysians have historically had limited knowledge of Tipu Sultan and Haider Ali's legacy, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia's exhibition would significantly enhance understanding about the two historical figures. Featuring an extensive collection of artefacts, manuscripts, weaponry and artworks related to Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, the exhibition will run from tomorrow until Jan 11, 2026, at Special Gallery 2. – Bernama


New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Anwar urges shift from colonial lens on Asian history
KUALA LUMPUR: Asian history should be viewed beyond colonial narratives, as it is important to understand history from the perspective of local leaders. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this is as the contributions of the likes of Tipu Sultan of Mysore and his father, Haider Ali, as defenders against British colonial expansion, exemplified courage, knowledge and tolerance. "History is not necessarily very kind. One of our scholars, Syed Hussein Alatas, emphasised the need to reconstruct history because it cannot be written only by the winners or from the perspective of the colonial rulers. "Malaysian history, as is other histories, is always written from the perspective of the British, essentially Western colonial rule. "Of course, there have been lots of academic accounts, including by Edward Said on Orientalism, but the manner, the whole discipline of history and culture and society is being dictated by certain Western viewpoints," he said. Anwar was speaking at the launch of the "More Than A Day As A Tiger" exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. He said Tipu Sultan was a strong leader, a fighter for freedom, a scholar, and one of the few who understood the need to master technology in order to fight colonial powers. "That is why you see his cannons and guns (are) remarkable for the time, used to challenge the colonial rulers," he said. Anwar recounted visiting Mysore, where he was struck by the modest size of Tipu Sultan's palace and the extent of his personal library. He also noted that Tipu Sultan was also a skilled diplomat who united Muslims and Hindus in India and persuaded French forces to support his struggle against the British. He said the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia's latest exhibition was the most comprehensive ever mounted on Tipu Sultan and Haider Ali, anywhere in the world. Anwar added that many artefacts once thought lost were now on display in Malaysia. The exhibition will be held from Aug 6 till Jan 11, next year. It highlights the legacy of the two men, who were rulers of Mysore in southern India. The exhibition showcases their heritage, struggles and impact, featuring artefacts, manuscripts, weaponry, textiles and artworks, while exploring the symbolism, ideology and historical legacy that made Tipu Sultan an enduring icon of anti-colonial resistance.