The number of xenophobic felonies is increasing. The federal interior ministry announced yesterday (Tues) that police and prosecutors registered 580 breaches of law with xenophobic, far-right, racist, islamophobic and anti-Semitic background last year, 28 per cent more than in the previous year. The ministry – which is headed by People’s Party (ÖVP) official Johanna Mikl-Leitner […]
Günter Verheugen has launched a scathing attack on German Chancellor Angela Merkel over her actions in the European debt crisis. The former vice president of the European Commission (EC) told Austrian magazine profil the situation would be different today had Merkel said from the start that Europe would let no member of the European Union […]
More interest by Russians and Swiss have helped the Viennese tourism sector to celebrate a new record. The city’s hotels counted 1.185 million overnight stays last month. Officials pointed out yesterday (Weds) Vienna had never recorded more stays by tourists in that month ever before. Thirty per cent more overnight stays by Russians and a […]
Employee representatives are outraged as a cable TV and internet connection provider registered 90 workers with the Labour Market Service (AMS). Vienna-based UPC confirmed yesterday (Weds) that the staff could be dismissed. The firm argued it was in the middle of a “phase of restructuring”. UPC currently employs 1,000 staff, down from 1,100 last year. […]
Chinese tourists have spent 41 per cent more in Austrian shops so far this year than in 2010, according to research. Travel and shopping information firm Global Blue Austria said yesterday (Weds) holidaymakers from China invested 28 million Euros in stores of the alpine country. Especially expensive watches and jewellery were in great demand, according […]
Hundreds of thousands of Austrians will be forced to fork out more on rent soon. Radio station Ö1 reported yesterday (Tues) prices would be increased for certain categories of contracts. According to tenants’ representatives, 300,000 households will feel the price hikes set to come into effect later this month or next month. They explained that, […]
More and more Austrians are buying second-hand cars. Statistik Austria announced today (Tues) 67,814 used cars were sold last month, 1.8 per cent more than in August 2010. The share of diesel-powered vehicles inched back by 0.5 per cent to 54.4 per cent. The number of registrations of second-hand trucks improved by 1.9 per cent […]
A vast majority of Austrians disapprove the European Union’s (EU) light bulb regulation. The EU’s decision to order an end to the production of regular light bulbs is widely considered as one of the most controversial steps taken by lawmakers in the past years. The decree was passed in an attempt to improve the protection […]
Lawmakers have presented a new awareness campaign to further increase kids’ safety in cars as the number of unprotected young passengers is in decline. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Traffic Minister Doris Bures announced yesterday (Weds) 5,526 drivers were reprimanded or fined for failing to buckle up children in their vehicles last year, down sharply from 2007 […]
Federal President Heinz Fischer has been criticised for backing calls for higher taxes on assets. The former Social Democratic (SPÖ) member of the federal parliament (MP) said yesterday (Sun) he worried about the social peace and balance in the country. Fischer said he would like to put the opinion that Austria’s rich must not be […]