EVN boss quits

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Business

One of Austria’s leading energy providers is to get a new chairman as Burkhard Hofer announced he has decided to step down as head of EVN’s executive board.The Lower Austrian company announced today (Weds) that the 66-year-old asked the supervisory board to release him from his position next month. EVN explained that its supervisory panel […]

More checks as Fiaker horse dies

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General News

Vienna city hall chiefs have promised to increase the number of checks on Fiaker horse carriage drivers after a Wallach horse died at a tourist hotspot in the heart of the capital.The six-year-old animal collapsed and perished at the Heldenplatz Square on Sunday – just a stone’s throw from the Hofburg Palace which features the […]

Voluntary speed reduction call as Austria battles snow

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General News

Traffic experts have appealed to drivers to adapt their speed to the treacherous conditions they are currently confronted with across Austria.Strong snowfall has led to dozens of accidents on streets across all nine provinces last night and this morning (Weds).Six people had to be hospitalised in Vorarlberg this morning after a 28-year-old driver lost control […]

Rueful robber hands himself in

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General News

A remorseful criminal who took part in a spectacular casino robbery has given himself up to police more than one year after the coup.Admir B. was member of a five-strong group who stole 47,000 Euros in cash from a casino in Graz in a robbery lasting just 30 seconds in November 2009.All four of the […]

Elderly ‘King of Burglars’ exposed as drug gang boss

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General News

An elderly Austrian nicknamed the “King of Burglars” has been identified as the ringleader of a drug-smuggling syndicate.Police in Vienna announced today (Weds) that Erich K., who spent many years in prison on account of hundreds of break-ins, was arrested earlier this week. Nineteen alleged accomplices are facing charges as well, officials added.The 77-year-old criminal […]

RATB builds tram bodies as firms end feud over blaze

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Business

A Romanian company has been assigned to produce tram bodies for Vienna’s public transport network.Romanian Times reports today (Tues) that Siemens Austria, the Austrian subsidiary of German technology giant Siemens AG, ordered the Bucharest Transport Society (RATB) to manufacture 60 structures for trams set to go into operation in the Austrian capital during the coming […]

More pickpocketing as crooks’ high season nears

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General News

The number of pickpocket offences is increasing – and police are bracing for another rise in figures as Austrians are flocking to shopping centres and Christmas markets.Federal police announced today (Tues) that they registered around 15,000 reported cases of thefts by pickpockets in the first nine months of this year. They stressed this was a […]

Over 10 per cent of Austrians categorised as poor

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General News

More than one in 10 Austrians are poor or threatened by poverty, according to a study by Eurostat.The European Commission’s (EC) statistics agency announced yesterday (Mon) that 12.4 per cent of people living in Austria earned less than 60 per cent of the national median income of 912 Euros a month for a one-person household. […]

Xmas debt trap warning issued

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General News

One in five Austrians are at risk of getting themselves into debt this Christmas, a financial expert has warned.Alexander Maly of the Viennese Debtors Counselling Authority said today (Tues): “Some people feel pressure to consume and shop in order to belong to a certain group of friends.”Speaking to the Kronen Zeitung newspaper, Maly said around […]

ÖBB rival Westbahn hopes for profits after five years

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Business

Westbahn boss Stefan Wehinger has said he hopes to make a profit five years after the new railway firm goes into operation.Wehinger said today (Tues): “We expect to achieve operative profits after five years. I have to say that I think many of those who have been in the business for a long time are […]