Latest Vienna News
An espionage scandal rocks Austria, laying bare alleged Russian spying operations across Europe
VIENNA (AP) — Austria faces its biggest espionage scandal in decades as the arrest of a former intelligence officer brings to light evidence of extensive Russian infiltration, lax official oversight and behavior worthy of a spy novel. Egisto Ott was arrested March 29. The 86-page...
Ecuador declares Mexican ambassador persona non grata and says she will leave 'shortly'
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador on Thursday declared Mexico's ambassador to Quito persona non grata due to recent statements made by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and said she will be leaving the country “shortly.” López Obrador's remarks were about the 2023...
Austrian minister aims to tighten espionage law to ban spying against international organizations
BERLIN (AP) — Austria's justice minister said Thursday that she plans to tighten the country's rules on espionage, which currently is explicitly banned if directed against Austria itself but not if it targets other countries or international organizations. Justice Minister Alma...
Chancellor says Austria needs to deter Russian infiltration after allegations of spying emerge
VIENNA (AP) — The arrest in recent days of a former Austrian intelligence officer on serious allegations of spying for Russia suggests that Austria needs to boost its security to thwart Russian infiltration, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said Monday. The allegations against...
In Vienna, 2 portraits of Alexei Navalny are painted near a monument to Soviet soldiers
VIENNA (AP) — Two large portraits of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have been spray-painted on a property owned by the family of a former Czech foreign minister behind a monument to Soviet soldiers in Vienna. The portraits were completed Wednesday on the wall...
Austrian police given small gifts after protecting Russian Embassy, told to reject them in future
BERLIN (AP) — Austrian police officers who provided security around the Russian Embassy on the day of that country's presidential election were given small presents as they left, Vienna police said Tuesday. Police were told to reject such gifts in the future. Receiving the gifts...
Austria expels 2 diplomats from Russia's Embassy in Vienna. An official says it's related to spying
VIENNA (AP) — Austria said Wednesday it has ordered two diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Vienna to leave the country. An Austrian official said the expulsions were related to spying activities. The Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement that the two Russian diplomats...
UN watchdog’s head in Russia to discuss safety of Ukrainian nuclear plant caught in crossfire
MOSCOW (AP) — The U.N.'s atomic watchdog agency chief is visiting Russia amid concern about a Ukrainian nuclear power plant caught in the crossfire since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022 and seized the facility shortly after. IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi...
Vienna Philharmonic, once an all-male ensemble, now has 24 female musicians
NEW YORK (AP) — Andrea Götsch was surprised when she won her audition in 2019 that led to membership in the Vienna Philharmonic. “When I went home, I was just laughing because I couldn’t realize that they had really taken me,” the 29-year-old clarinetist told The Associated...
The UN atomic watchdog's director says he's heading to Moscow for talks on nuclear safety in Ukraine
VIENNA (AP) — The U.N. atomic watchdog agency's director said that he's due to depart for a trip to Moscow on Tuesday for high-level talks with Russian officials to discuss the issue of nuclear safety in Ukraine. International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano...
