The Austrian government is cracking down on another alleged safe haven for private equity. Only last week, Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter met with Swiss Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf to finalise a tax treaty between the neighbouring countries. The agreement means that Austrians’ money in Switzerland would be charged with tax rates […]
Grasser rejects BUWOG corruption claims
Categories
Former Freedom Party (FPÖ) Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser has denied any wrongdoing regarding the sale of real estate management company BUWOG. The enterprise – which manages more than 60,000 apartments – was privatised in 2004 when Grasser headed the finance ministry. Ex-FPÖ General Secretary Walter Meischberger and marketing expert Peter Hochegger, who used to be […]
Final chance for Alaba
Categories
Bayern Munich ace David Alaba is optimistic regarding his team’s chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League final. The Austrian national team star said after last night’s (Tues) 2-1 win against Real Madrid in the first leg of the semi final that Bayern were well prepared and knew what to expect from the Primera Division […]
PPÖ sets the sails for Graz
Categories
A public opinion researcher has given the Austrian Pirate Party (PPÖ) good chances to enter the city hall of Graz next year. Sophie Karmasin of Viennese research group Karmasin said the recently established political party might manage to make it into the parliament of the capital of Styria in next year’s city hall ballot. Graz […]
Sensational space odyssey now on stage
Categories
Alexander Wiegold’s attempt to create a gripping stage version of Stanislaw Lem’s famous novel “Solaris” can be considered as a full success. All members of the cast of the theatre production – now on at the Burgtheater’s Vestibül stage – perform on a high level but it is Oliver Masucci’s engagement which sticks out. Masucci […]
Hundstorfer ready to reduce working week
Categories
The Social Democrats (SPÖ) plan an initiative for shorter working weeks. SPÖ Labour Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer said yesterday (Tues) he would appreciate a reduction of the general working volume from 40 to 38.5 hours. Hundstorfer claimed such a reform could help keeping elderly labourers and employees in work longer. He argued that lowering people’s average […]
Prices spiral up less strongly
Categories
Predictions that the Austrian inflation will decelerate this year appear to be correct. Products and services on offer in the country cost 2.4 per cent more last month than in March 2011. This increase followed a price jump of 2.6 per cent between February 2011 and February 2012. The annual inflation soared by 3.3 per […]
No Fugging chance for name change
Categories
Austrians considering renaming their village from Fucking to Fugging have been told to think again – because the name is already taken. Villagers at Fucking in Upper Austria voted yesterday to change the name to Fugging. But then came the news that there used to be a second village with the name Fucking in Austria […]
Vienna Vintner wine tour 2012
Categories
Wine lovers in Vienna have the opportunity this coming weekend to take part in a wine tour the ‘Wiener Winzertour’ (Vienna Vintner) where local wine producers will be displaying their locally produced wine specialties for the fourth consecutive year. Wine buffs can tour the Vienna wine region and treat the palette to the very best […]
The Majestic Imperator Train that offers a taste of Imperial luxury upon a train once used by Emperor Franz Josef I and his wife Elisabeth is getting a new head of steam under new management. A total of 150 dinner seats in six wagons are on offer for a variety of destinations either around Vienna […]