Leader of Austrian People's Party (OVP), Sebastian Kurz (L) and Leader of the Austrian Green Party, Werner Kogler (R) during a press statement after coalition negotiations for a new Austrian government in Vienna, Austria EPA
Leader of Austrian People's Party (OVP), Sebastian Kurz (L) and Leader of the Austrian Green Party, Werner Kogler (R) during a press statement after coalition negotiations for a new Austrian government in Vienna, Austria EPA
Leader of Austrian People's Party (OVP), Sebastian Kurz (L) and Leader of the Austrian Green Party, Werner Kogler (R) during a press statement after coalition negotiations for a new Austrian government in Vienna, Austria EPA
Leader of Austrian People's Party (OVP), Sebastian Kurz (L) and Leader of the Austrian Green Party, Werner Kogler (R) during a press statement after coalition negotiations for a new Austrian governmen

Austria’s Sebastian Kurz agrees on coalition government with Greens


  • English
  • Arabic

The leader of Austria’s centre-right People’s Party, Sebastian Kurz, has announced that he will go into coalition with the country’s Green Party.

Mr Kurz, 33, agreed the to the new power-sharing deal on Wednesday night, Austrian media reported.

The deal between the People's Party (OVP), Austria’s dominant political force, and the Green Party, which secured major gains in last year’s elections, finalises his return to power as the country’s chancellor.

Mr Kurz began talks with the Greens straight after the country’s November elections and his victory at the polls. The two parties have a combined 97 members in Austria's 183-seat Parliament.

The new deal marks a distinct swing to the political left for Mr Kurz, who was able to walk away from his previous coalition partner, the far-right anti-immigrant Freedom Party (FPO), after they suffered significant losses at the polls.

The two governed Austria in coalition for 17 months until May, when the government became mired in scandal.

Mr Kurz suffered a vote of no-confidence in Parliament after the emergence of video tapes that showed then-Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache offering favours to a purported Russian investor, prompting the chancellor to resign.

Mr Kurz and Wernler Kogler confirmed in their coalition announcement that they had managed to make sure neither party would renege on their key election promises, Austrian newspaper Die Presse reported.

There are still a few hurdles to overcome before the government is finalised, but these are seen as mostly procedural.

If the Green Party’s federal body gives its approval, the new government will be sworn in next week.

RESULT

Australia 3 (0) Honduras 1 (0)
Australia: Jedinak (53', 72' pen, 85' pen)
Honduras: Elis (90 4)

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
​​​​​​​

Generational responses to the pandemic

Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:

Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.

Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.

Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.

Race card

6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m

7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m

8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m

8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m

9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:

Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')

Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate

How to register as a donor

1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention

2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants

3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register. 

4) The campaign uses the hashtag  #donate_hope

The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Apple product price list

iPad Pro

11" - $799 (64GB)
12.9" - $999 (64GB)

MacBook Air 

$1,199

Mac Mini

$799

'C'mon C'mon'

Director:Mike Mills

Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman

Rating: 4/5

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle