Troops called in to scare storks with eye contact

Categories
Green Austria

Austrian troops ordered into action to stop a colony of storks from forcing the closure of an air show have been banned from using their guns – and told to stare at the birds instead. The soldiers were ordered in after experts had failed using a variety of other methods to drive away the 25 […]

Nespresso ‘to lay off hundreds’

Categories
Business

Hundreds of jobs at Nestle Austria are at risk, according to a report. The Kurier revealed today (Fri) that the globally operating foodstuff giant decided to shut the Austrian representation of its Nespresso subsidiary. The firm confirmed the closure of the facility in Vienna which has orchestrated its operations in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), […]

Large rent-a-car price gaps disclosed

Categories
Business

Holidaymakers intending to rent a car have been urged to book online and in advance. The Upper Austrian department of the Federal Labour Chamber (AK) said today (Thurs) people could save up to 15 per cent if they reserved the vehicles on the internet and paid by credit card before starting their holidays. The AK […]

Austria almost at top of EU rich list

Categories
Business

Austria has been found to be among the European Union (EU) nations with the highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Eurostat, the European Commission’s (EC) research and statistic agency, said today (Thurs) that Austria’s per capita GDP was 25 per cent higher than the EU average last year. The institution found the same rate […]

Terror crackdown over Reichstag attack plot

Categories
Politics

A new anti-terror draft bill presented by the People’s Party (ÖVP) has sparked mixed reactions among opposition factions. Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the ÖVP’s new interior minister, announced yesterday (Weds) she agreed with ÖVP Justice Minister Beatrix Karl that people who incite others to carry out terrorist acts should go to jail. The interior minister explained the […]

Carinthia’s Children’s Treasures – Mickey Mouse and Kinder Hotels

Categories
Travel

One of the most memorable stories I ever had out of Austria when I worked as a correspondent for the Daily Telegraph was the discovery that Mickey Mouse had appeared in a 700-year-old fresco on a church wall in Carinthia. I remember the story well because it was so unbelievable – but sure enough when […]

Toilet cleaner hit by plummeting scaffold

Categories
General News

A worker sustained serious injuries when scaffold fell on his head as he cleaned a portable toilet. The 38-year-old man was assigned to disinfect the mobile loo on a construction site in Schwarzach, Vorarlberg, yesterday afternoon (Tues). He was severely injured when parts of scaffolding moved by a crane dropped on his head. The cleaner […]

Jazz Fest Vienna brings the stars to the city

Categories
Culture

A string of international superstars and some of the most celebrated young artists of the world of pop, blues and jazz are set to rock the Austrian capital this summer. The Jazz Fest Vienna is the perfect pick for music enthusiasts looking for first class performances in some of the city’s best venues such as […]

IT community denies CIA order

Categories
General News

A Viennese internet and research group has rubbished reports it has been “personally assigned” by US President Barack Obama to create a “bug-proof internet” for the CIA. Newspaper Heute claimed earlier this week that an Austrian firm called FunkFeuer agreed to construct the top-level security system for the USA’s national intelligence agency. The free sheet […]

Few Austrians own shares

Categories
Finance

The vast majority of Austrians have no interest in stocks, according to research. Pollster Imas found that 75 per cent of residents of the country had no intention to acquire shares. The survey also shows that just 13 per cent of Austrians hold participations in companies via shares and investment funds. The figure resembles results […]