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eNCA
04-07-2025
- Business
- eNCA
President Ramaphosa hosts Austrian president
PRETORIA - The red carpet is out at the Union Buildings as President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomes Austrian President, Alexander van der Bellen. The two leaders are expected to firm up ties across several key sectors, from clean energy and higher education to trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. While Austria and South Africa may be seas apart, they're finding common ground in global cooperation and sustainable development.
IOL News
04-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen's State Visit: A new chapter in South Africa-Austria relations
Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen is on a State Visit to South Africa. Image: bundespraesident President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to host his counterpart, Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday. Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the State Visit presents an opportunity to consolidate the long-standing and strong relationship between South Africa and Austria. Earlier this week, IOL reported that the bilateral relations span several sectors, particularly in the fields of arts and culture, higher education, renewable energy, trade and investment, and waste management. 'South Africa and Austria maintain cordial and cooperative bilateral relations that are rooted in mutual respect, shared values on multilateralism, and growing economic and cultural exchanges,' said Magwenya. 'Though geographically distant and differing significantly in size and economic structure, the two nations have found common ground in international cooperation, trade, and sustainable development.' Ramaphosa and Van der Bellen will also address a plenary session of the Business Forum on the afternoon of the State Visit, on Friday. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ According to the Austrian Embassy in Pretoria, the bilateral relations have a long history, and in 1962, the Austrian delegation in South Africa was upgraded to a full embassy. 'Bilateral relations between Austria and South Africa can be described as very good. Austria is perceived as an important economic partner with high technological expertise and as a significant source of tourists. Austria is actively engaged in various sectors such as economy, energy, culture, and scientific exchange. South Africa, being a BRICS founding member and a key advocate for Africa, is considered a crucial partner in the Global South,' the Austrian Embassy states on its website. In 2023, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Schallenberg visited South Africa in December 2023, leading a delegation of business-representatives and journalists. During the visit, he held discussions with South Africa's then Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, and participated in a joint economic forum with over 100 corporate representatives. Additionally, Minister Schallenberg inaugurated the Austrian Cultural Forum (centre) Pretoria, the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. On March 14, 2023, Ambassador Romana Königsbrun presented her credentials to President Ramaphosa. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
President Ramaphosa to host President of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen, in Pretoria
President Cyril Ramaphosa will this week host Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen. Image: bundespraesident President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday host the Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the State Visit presents an opportunity to consolidate the long-standing and strong relationship between South Africa and Austria. The bilateral relations span several sectors, particularly in the fields of arts and culture, higher education, renewable energy, trade and investment, and waste management. 'South Africa and Austria maintain cordial and cooperative bilateral relations that are rooted in mutual respect, shared values on multilateralism, and growing economic and cultural exchanges,' said Magwenya. 'Though geographically distant and differing significantly in size and economic structure, the two nations have found common ground in international cooperation, trade, and sustainable development.' Ramaphosa and Van der Bellen will also address a plenary session of the Business Forum on the afternoon of the State Visit, on Friday. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading According to the Austrian Embassy in Pretoria, the bilateral relations have a long history, and in 1962, the Austrian delegation in South Africa was upgraded to a full embassy. 'Bilateral relations between Austria and South Africa can be described as very good. Austria is perceived as an important economic partner with high technological expertise and as a significant source of tourists. Austria is actively engaged in various sectors such as economy, energy, culture, and scientific exchange. South Africa, being a BRICS founding member and a key advocate for Africa, is considered a crucial partner in the Global South,' the Austrian Embassy states on its website. In 2023, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Schallenberg visited South Africa in December 2023, leading a delegation of business-representatives and journalists. During the visit, he held discussions with South Africa's then Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, and participated in a joint economic forum with over 100 corporate representatives. Additionally, Minister Schallenberg inaugurated the Austrian Cultural Forum (centre) Pretoria, the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. On March 14, 2023, Ambassador Romana Königsbrun presented her credentials to President Ramaphosa. IOL News
Euronews
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
80 years on: The liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp
Thousands of people took part today in the solemn ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp, an event that has been held annually since 1946 on the initiative of the survivors and their associations. Mauthausen held nearly 200,000 prisoners during WWII, half of whom did not survive and must not be forgotten, as the organisers of the event insisted. "Nothing can be erased. Neither the transports, nor the forced labour, imprisonment, barracks, illness, cold, lack of sleep, hunger, the humiliation, degradation, beatings, screams. Nothing can, nothing must be forgotten," said Guy Dockendorf, president of International Committee of Mauthausen. Many high-ranking international guests were present at the ceremony, including the King and Queen of Spain. The Spanish were one of the first large groups of prisoners. Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen and several members of the Austrian government, including Chancellor Stocker, Vice Chancellor Babler and Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger, also took part. The event, organised by the Mauthausen Committee Austria, the successor of the Austrian Mauthausen Survivors' Association, brought together international representatives to honour the memory of the victims and renew the commitment to the values of freedom, human dignity and mutual respect. The ceremony recalls that historic 16 May 1945, when liberated Soviet prisoners left the camp in orderly formation for home. At that moment, the Mauthausen Oath was proclaimed in 16 different languages, a solemn commitment born of the terrible experiences in the concentration camps, calling for solidarity and unity for a better world. This oath, eighty years later, remains the ideological backbone of these commemorations, reminding us of our collective responsibility to prevent such atrocities from happening again. The first survivors' reunions served a crucial cathartic function. For thousands of former prisoners who returned to Mauthausen each year, these gatherings represented an opportunity to process the trauma they had experienced, to exchange experiences with fellow sufferers, and to reaffirm their survival. Over time, these commemorations took on a broader socio-political dimension, centred on the slogans "We must never forget!" and "Never again!", targeting especially the younger generation to pass on historical memory. The first official celebration in Mauthausen took place in 1946, barely a year after liberation, with a gathering of more than 10,000 people at the foot of the "Todesstiege" (Death Stairs) in the camp's quarry. On that occasion, the national delegates signed an official document stating that this commemoration would be held annually. The presence of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain on the 80th anniversary underlines the importance of keeping alive the historical memory and the commitment to democratic values. For decades, these ceremonies were mainly a matter for the survivors, always maintaining an international character but with little impact on Austrian society. Over time, the organisation has been taken over by the Austrian Mauthausen Committee in cooperation with the International Mauthausen Committee and the Austrian Lagermeinschaft Association, with public financial support and, to a greater extent, private donations. More than 333,000 registered voters in Portugal will be able to vote this Sunday in advance for the legislative elections on 18 May. This is a record number since mobile voting was implemented in Portugal, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Mobile voting allows voters to cast their ballot in advance and at the polling station that is most convenient for them, as long as they had marked the place where they wanted to vote when they registered. In the last elections, in 2024, 208,000 voters voted in advance and abroad, including Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. In fact, the president is due to vote early again Sunday. Around 10 million voters living in Portugal and abroad are registered to vote in these elections, which were brought forward after the fall of the centre-right minority government. In March, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro had a motion of confidence rejected in parliament following a case involving himself and a company owned by his family, Spinumviva. The case raised doubts about whether public officials followed rules on conflicts of interest. In light of the controversy, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa dissolved the coalition government led by Montenegro. At a time when the electoral campaign is about to enter its final week, 21 parties are running in these early elections, including coalitions. According to a poll carried out for Euronews, Luís Montenegro's AD (PSD/CDS) coalition is in the lead with 34.1 per cent of voting intentions. The Socialist Party, led by Pedro Nuno Santos, would have 27.1 per cent, and the far-right populist Chega party would maintain its position as the third most popular party with 15.2 per cent. The Liberal Initiative would have 8.3 per cent. These numbers refer to a Consulmark2 poll for Nascer do SOL and Euronews, carried out between 14 and 22 April.
