Mayor in court over attempted rape claim next year

Categories
Politics

A People’s Party (ÖVP) mayor faces a trial over an alleged sex attack, it has emerged.Wilfried Berchtold, ÖVP Mayor of the city of Feldkirch, went on sick leave from his political position after a woman’s accusations were uncovered by local media earlier this year. Now the state prosecution of Feldkirch confirmed that Berchtold will be […]

Spending cuts will not affect purchase power, survey shows

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Business

Austrians’ spending power will increase year on year in 2011 despite higher taxes and less welfare spending, a new study suggests.RegioData announced today (Tues) that it expected Austrians’ purchasing power to rise by 2.6 per cent next year compared to this year’s rate. The research agency said this increase meant people will have 450 Euros […]

Strache’s Israel trip causes a stir

Categories
Politics

Officials in Austria are at odds over Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Strache’s decision to travel to Israel.The right-winger visited Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a territory Palestinians are also claiming. Speaking about the ongoing conflict about the area and the throwbacks the peace talks have suffered, Strache said in the West Bank area […]

Sleep somewhere with a story

Categories
Travel

By Mary PenmanEver wanted to sleep in a converted sewer pipe, stay at a genuine Colorado ranch, or spend the night in an 18th century former prison? The 2011 edition of hotel guide “Unusual and unique overnight” is full of out of the ordinary places to stay, and would make a perfect Christmas gift for […]

Teen impaled trying to climb over iron gate

Categories
General News

A Viennese teenager was seriously injured when he got stuck on a driveway gate as he tried to climb over it on Saturday night.Alexander P., 18, was on his was home from a party in the city’s Döbling district when he attempted to enter the private property by climbing over the gate for unclear reasons. […]

Dachshund watchdog law change ahead

Categories
Politics

Political decision-makers in Lower Austria have presented plans to change a controversial ruling which allows small breeds like Chihuahuas and dachshunds to be declared as guard dogs.People’s Party (ÖVP) official Karl Bader announced today (Mon): “Some people registered their lapdogs as watchdogs as the law is unclear. That is why we plan to change the […]

Hotel room mix-up brawl puts skier in clinic

Categories
General News

A German holidaymaker ended up in hospital after a confusion over hotel rooms turned into a fistfight.The injured man, 48, was part of a group of three tourists partying in a hotel suite in the Tyrolean ski resort of Ischgl last night (Thurs/Fri).The pals’ boozy get-together was interfered by another German. The man, who just […]

Autopsy ordered as body found in Graz toilet

Categories
General News

State prosecutors have ordered an autopsy after the body of a young man was discovered in a public toilet in Graz.Reports by local media have it that the 23-year-old, who was found lying on the floor of a public lavatory near the opera yesterday (Thurs), was addicted to drugs.The Federal Institute for Health said recently […]

Hitler Salute soldier withdrawn from Bosnia

Categories
General News

An Austrian solider faces legal charges for giving the Nazi Salute while on an international peacekeeping mission.The 19-year-old member of the militia branch of the Austrian army is accused of racially insulting Bosnians and an Austrian solider of Turkish origin at a recent birthday party in Bosnia-Herzegovina.Austria currently participates in the United Nations’(UN) peacekeeping mission […]

Under-fire Michaelis ‘will not reapply’

Categories
Business

Peter Michaelis will not apply for another term as head of Federal Industry-Holding Stock Corporation (ÖIAG), it has emerged.A spokeswoman for ÖIAG announced today (Fri) that the businessman, whose contract ends next June, did not have any plans to suggest an extension of his contract. She refused to reveal any names for potential successors, but […]