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Added on the 19/05/2019 12:21:25 - Copyright : Wochit
Vienna, Dec 18 (EFE) .- (Camera: Pablo Ayerbe) Life in Europe has been marked for centuries by contagious diseases, going through quarantines was common and so was doubting the health authorities. An exhibition in Vienna speaks of that past - until recently forgotten - that is now so current due to the coronavirus pandemic.The exhibition "Ancestors of the Coronavirus. Masks and epidemics at the Viennese court 1500-1918" reviews the pandemics in the city of Vienna during the Modern Era, to show that, despite the last 100 years of "tranquillity", living with contagious diseases is very normal.FOOTAGE OF THE EXHIBITION IN THE SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE IN VIENNA. SOUNDBITES OD MONICA KURZEL.RUNTSCHEINER, CURATOR OF THE EXHIBITION.
Tucked away in a remote part of the Austrian Alps, this unassuming construction site is the center of a controversy because of its dark past. The usually normal construction of a meat factory in the Austrian municipality of Haiming, near Innsbruck, continued to raise major questions from locals. What's the big deal? Well, Austrian pork producer Handl Tyrol plans to build a bacon and sausage factory here, on the former grounds of a Nazi forced labour camp. During World War Two, hundreds of prisoners were made to build a dam for a hydro-electric power plant in the area. After the surrender of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, the former labor camp was cleared and remained empty until the land was acquired by Austrian power company Tiwag, which didn't care to develop the land. Recently, Tiwag approved the sale of the site to Handl Tyrol, who made plans to build a new factory as soon as possible. However, Tiwag's sale of the controversial site to the pork producer has garnered criticism from descendants of the former landowners of the site, who say that Nazi authorities pushed them off the land. Still others question the impact on history of building over the site with the checkered past. Handl Tyrol representatives have stated that the question of the sales' legality should have been handled between the former landowners and Tiwag, and have already confirmed that they would not delay construction.
Central Europe certainly has its fair share of strange traditions, but one of the strangest takes place around Christmas time. Dozens of men dress up in demon-like costumes, wearing animal fur, wooden masks, an assortment of horns, and a motley collection of bells, whips, and chains. These monsters are two types of demons from pagan folklore - the Krampus and the Perchten.
European Union leaders are holding a summit on the migration crisis in Austria, where protecting the border and implementing the EU-Turkey deal remain top priorities. Nathan Frandino reports.
Hundreds of demonstrators protesting against plans to fence off Italian-Austrian border crossing at Brenner clash with Italian police. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).
Austrian police scuffle with Italian demonstrators protesting against the deportation of migrants and proposed tougher border checks at the Alpine Brenner Pass. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).