Vienna Prater Park Opens for Business

Categories
Travel

This weekend was the official start for the opening of the funfair and amusement Park section of the Prater park, known as the Wurstelprater. It includes 250 attractions which are accessed from the controversial Riesenradplatz that had been originally criticised because of cost – but feedback since its opening has been entirely positive from the […]

Micro Light Success As Rare Ibis Returns

Categories
Green Austria

By Michael Leidig A critically endangered bird species that lived in Europe for 1.8 million years before it was wiped out by hunters has been reintroduced in three locations by a bird lover who showed them the way using a microlight. Dr Johannes Fritz used the technique of imprinting by making sure he was the […]

Vienna SPÖ presents smart flats concept

Categories
Politics

The Viennese government plans to offer affordable apartments to young families and singles who are on a low income. Viennese Social Democratic (SPÖ) Housing Councillor Michael Ludwig said at the SPÖ Vienna’s summit in Rust, Burgenland, yesterday (Thurs) that his department would create 2,000 “smart flats” within the coming two years. Ludwig said the apartments […]

Post AG staff benefit from turnover jump

Categories
Business

Austrian postal services provider Post AG has managed to increase its turnover despite lower interest in sending letters. Post AG chief Georg Pölzl said yesterday (Thurs) that the firm’s turnover rose by 4.2 per cent from 2010 to 2011 to 2.3 billion Euros. He explained that his company registered significantly fewer posted letters and postcards […]

Austrian clubs reach for EBEL glory

Categories
Sports

Two Austrians teams are at the ready to fight for this year’s EBEL Hockey League title. Black Wings Linz beat Slovenian team Ljubljana while KAC – who play their home matches in Klagenfurt – prevailed against Zagreb in the semi final series which ended yesterday (Thurs). The best of seven final series will start next […]

Lufthansa all-clear for AUA capital increase

Categories
Business

Austrian Airlines (AUA) is set to receive fresh capital from Lufthansa while bosses up the pressure on the ailing carrier’s pilots. Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz said yesterday (Thurs) that the Viennese airline – which was acquired by Lufthansa in September 2009 – would get 140 million Euros. He warned that the money would only be […]

Appeal for baby Jonas to go back into care

Categories
Green Austria

Social workers ordered to hand back a 12-month-old boy to his mum after they took him into care because his grandmother had been fined for speeding have launched a legal challenge against the ruling. Baby Jonas, from Lambach, Austria, had been living with his 18-year-old mum Ann-Katrin Leitner and her partner Andreas when he was […]

Austrians call for right to name EC president

Categories
Politics

The vast majority of Austrians would appreciate the planned European Parliament (EP) voting law reform, according to a new study. The Austrian Society for European Policies (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Europapolitik, ÖGfE) announced today (Fri) that 60 per cent of Austrians wanted to elect the next president of the European Commission (EC) in a direct ballot. […]

ORF making waves

Categories
Green Austria

A report on ORF television in Vorarlberg about specially shaped waves designed to catch and deflect negative energy from ley lines has provoked a huge reaction. Dozens of people who have purchased the waves and had them mounted in their homes have since contacted the consumer protection office in Vorarlberg to ask about getting a […]

Space the Final Frontier for Felix

Categories
Green Austria

Skydiving daredevil Felix Baumgartner is more than halfway toward his goal of setting a world record for the highest jump. Baumgartner lifted off yesterday (Thurs) for a test jump from Roswell, N.M., aboard a 100-foot helium balloon. He rode inside a pressurized capsule to 71,581 feet — 13.6 miles — and then jumped. He parachuted […]