Latest news with #VanderBellen
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Austrian president questions gun laws after school shooting tragedy
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has called for a review of the country's relatively relaxed gun laws in the wake of a school shooting in Graz that left nine students and a teacher dead. "Does the legal situation really meet modern requirements? That will have to be examined," Van der Bellen said on Wednesday during a visit to the city, according to the APA news agency. On Tuesday, a 21-year-old man opened fire in his former high school, killing 10 people and taking his own life. The attacker was armed with a shotgun and a handgun, both of which he legally owned, police said. Van der Bellen, who once led the Green Party, said politicians must now address "how it can be that a 21-year-old has a handgun and a long gun and has the opportunity to buy the appropriate ammunition and cause this disaster." Calls for tighter gun laws have intensified in the wake of the attack. The communist mayor of Graz, Elke Kahr, has urged a ban on private firearm ownership. Under current Austrian law, purchasing handguns requires official authorization, but rifles and shotguns can be bought without a permit.
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
Japanese Emperor Meets with Austrian President
News from Japan Society May 22, 2025 18:27 (JST) Tokyo, May 22 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Emperor Naruhito met with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Thursday. During their 25-minute meeting, the Emperor expressed gratitude to Austria for hosting many Japanese people studying music in Vienna, according to the Imperial Household Agency. Music is an important element that connects people, Emperor Naruhito said. Van der Bellen said grasping geography and history is key to understanding Europe. The Emperor responded by saying that he agreed with the Austrian president. Van der Bellen invited the Emperor to visit Austria, according to the agency. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
22-05-2025
- Business
Japanese, Austrian Leaders Discuss Economy
News from Japan Politics May 22, 2025 15:37 (JST) Tokyo, May 22 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has held talks on economic issues with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen at the prime minister's office in Tokyo. In their talks, held Wednesday, the two leaders exchanged views in light of the impacts of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff measures on the global economy and the multilateral trade system. Van der Bellen is visiting Japan for his country's "national day" event at the World Exposition in the western city of Osaka. Referring to Austria's 1873 Vienna World's Fair, the first such international event in which the Japanese government officially participated, Ishiba said, "Japan hopes to further strengthen the two countries' cooperation in business and technology through the (Osaka) Expo." Van der Bellen expressed his wish to enhance the bilateral economic relationship using the Expo as a springboard. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New three-party coalition takes office in Austria
Austria's new three-party coalition government comprising the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the liberal NEOS was sworn in on Monday, ending months of political deadlock in the Alpine nation. Administering the oath to Cabinet members, President Alexander Van der Bellen urged the three factions to always put the good of the state before party interests. He also called on the new government to play an active role in strengthening the European Union in light of soaring global tensions. "We must strategically secure peace in Austria and in Europe," Van der Bellen said. The alliance will be led by ÖVP head Christian Stocker as chancellor, while SPÖ chief Andreas Babler will serve as vice-chancellor. NEOS party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger will take on the role of foreign minister. The ÖVP and SPÖ have appointed six Cabinet members each, while the NEOS hold two ministerial posts. The swearing-in ceremony marked the end of a five-month search for a new government. The far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) won the parliamentary elections in September, but has been forced to go into opposition after coalition talks with the ÖVP failed earlier this year. The new alliance's primary tasks include boosting the economy and reducing the country's large budget deficit. The three parties have also agreed on a tougher approach to migration.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Austria Installs New Cabinet in Shadow of Recession, Far Right
(Bloomberg) -- More than five months after elections, Austria appointed a conservative-led government entrusted with pulling the economy out of recession while cutting the budget deficit and reversing a surge in right-wing populism. Cuts to Section 8 Housing Assistance Loom Amid HUD Uncertainty Remembering the Landscape Architect Who Embraced the City NYC Office Buildings See Resurgence as Investors Pile Into Bonds Hong Kong Joins Global Stadium Race With New $4 Billion Sports Park NJ Transit to Deploy Customer-Service Teams After Record Delays People's Party Chancellor Christian Stocker will lead a coalition that includes the Social Democrats and liberal NEOS as junior partners. Austria's long history of consensual rule was underscored last month, when the Freedom Party failed to form a government because it couldn't strike a compromise on its radical policy agenda. Germany's ill-fated three-way coalition — voted out of office a week ago — underscores the threat now facing its southern neighbor, whose fragile compromise cabinet now has to contend with an economy characterized by rising political risk. 'For the sake of the country, they've overcome their reservations,' President Van der Bellen said Monday, urging the new government to pay particular attention to economic stability and social cohesion. Christian Stocker, 64, has emerged as an unlikely Chancellor. Previously a party secretary and long-serving deputy mayor of a small city south of Vienna, he replaced Karl Nehammer as People's Party leader in January to break a negotiation deadlock Stocker's immediate job will be to implement a €6.3 billion ($6.6 billion) budget savings program that cuts the deficit to the European Union's limit of 3% of gross domestic product. A plan already presented by the government will taper public payments and raise bank taxes. The Social Democrat's Markus Marterbauer, the former top economist at the Chamber of Labour, was appointed to plot the recovery as Austria's finance minister. His research has focused on post-Keynesian economics and income distribution. Economic output fell by 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024, the eighth straight quarter of contraction, Statistik Austria said Monday. NEOS party chief Beate Meinl-Reisinger will steer the Foreign Ministry. The three parties will need to reestablish Austria's place in a turbulent geopolitical era. The country's neutrality - the last nation among continental EU members to shun military alliances - has broad public support, but is increasingly at odds with the risk posed by Russian expansionism and President Donald Trump's recalibration of US foreign policy. The government has pledged to buy new fighter jets and raise defense spending to 2% of economic output by 2032. Rich People Are Firing a Cash Cannon at the US Economy—But at What Cost? Trump's SALT Tax Promise Hinges on an Obscure Loophole Walmart Wants to Be Something for Everyone in a Divided America Warner Bros. Movie Heads Are Burning Cash, and Their Boss Is Losing Patience OXO Fought Back Against the Black Spatula Panic. People Defected Anyway ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
