A banker found guilty of one of the biggest investment belly flops in the history of the country will walk free due to his fragile health, it has emerged. Judges in Vienna announced yesterday afternoon (Thurs) that Helmut Elsner was too sick to serve the remainder of his 10-year term. The 76-year-old spent the past […]
A leading right-winger from Austria has caused a stir by accusing a journalist from his home country of “fouling his own nest” by posing a question about Adolf Hitler in Strasbourg, France.Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Strache travelled to the city to meet French politician Marie Le Pen, head of the Front National (FN) party, […]
A right-wing politician has stepped down after a dispute considering a tattoo.Carinthian Freedom Party (FPK) Councillor Gerry Leitmann announced today (Tues) he informed Franz Felsberger, the Social Democratic (SPÖ) mayor of Ebenthal, Carinthia, about his decision to resign yesterday.Leitmann came under fire by political rivals for a tattoo saying “Blut und Ehre” (Blood and Honour) […]
The worlds leading satirical newspapers have pounced on Arnold Schwarzenegger after it emerged that the “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” star and his wife Maria Shriver are separating.German fake news magazine Titanic reacted to the news by publishing a poster showing the horrified face of assassin-turned-saviour “Terminator” cyborg.Referring to intensifying rumours about another “Terminator” movie and […]
Peoples Party (ÖVP) boss Josef Pröll has ended ongoing speculations about his health and role in the government by announcing his step down from all political roles.The former agriculture minister who was sworn in as vice chancellor and finance minister in December 2008 said today (Weds) he decided to retire after consultations with […]
The apartments of former Vienna International Airports (VIA or VIE) managers in Vienna and Lower Austria have been searched by prosecutors, it was confirmed.Klosterneuburg prosecutors announced that search warrants were executed at two homes of former VIA decision-makers and businesspeople assigned to create a new terminal called Skylink this morning (Tues). They added that several […]
The provincial government of Salzburg has uninvited Jean Ziegler from speaking at the opening of a high-profile festival later this year.Social Democratic (SPÖ) Governor Gabi Burgstaller announced yesterday (Thurs) that she decided to withdraw the invitation. Ziegler a well-known globalisation critic, sociologist and author was initially asked to hold a speech at an […]
Three former Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA) employees have been found not guilty of embezzlement.Ex-HGAA head Wolfgang Kulturer, former HGAA Austria chief Gert Xander and Albin Ruhdorfer, a former attorney of the bank, were acquitted at the Provincial Court in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, yesterday (Tues).The businessmen were accused of embezzlement concerning two controversial lending deals.HGAA […]
Crosses hung up in kindergartens are no “preference in favour of certain religions”, according to the Constitutional Court (VfGH).The federal panel announced in Vienna today (Weds) that kindergartens in Austria were not discriminating against other religious communities by displaying crucifixes at their facilities.The issue had to be dealt with by the VfGH after a Lower […]
A national TV manager has caused a stir by calling on staff not to let the Opera Ball “turn into a ball of the bitches”.Wolfgang Lorenz, the chief programme director of Austrian broadcaster ORF, confirmed today (Weds) that a leaked company-internal e-mail with this statement was sent by him to employees in charge of the […]