Smokers brace for price hikes

Categories
Business

Prices for some of the most popular cigarette brands in Austria will increase from next year, it has emerged.Japan Tobacco International (JTI), which manages Austrian tobacco maker Austria Tabak, announced today (Weds) that its product range will get more expensive from next month. JTI said the unit price for a packet of Memphis, Smart, Camel […]

AUA works council infuriated by board enlargement

Categories
Business

Austrian Airlines (AUA) staff representatives have criticised the decision to increase the number of co-chiefs of the airline.The company’s supervisory board announced yesterday (Weds) that Thierry Antinori will take over as new head next April. The Frenchman will take over the marketing agendas from Andreas Bierwirth who currently cooperates with fellow board member Peter Malanik […]

Ex-HGAA boss freed from custody

Categories
Finance

Former Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA) head Wolfgang Kulterer has been released from custody after three months.The banker, who is accused of being responsible for massive losses suffered by the bank in Croatia and other countries in southern Europe, left Klagenfurt prison yesterday (Thurs) after a bail of 500,000 Euros was transferred to juridical authorities.Kulterer’s […]

Austria rises in press freedom rating ‘despite negative occurrences’

Categories
General News

Austria has improved year on year in the Reporters Without Borders’ annual press freedom rating but only because the situation in other countries has worsened, the NGO’s Austrian branch has stressed.Reporters Without Borders (RWB) announced today (Thurs) Austria came seventh, up six positions compared to its 2009 list. Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland shared […]

Heads will roll as SPÖ and ÖVP lick their wounds

Categories
Politics

Several decision-makers of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) are facing the chop after the federal coalition partners were badly beaten in last Sunday’s Vienna election.The SPÖ lost its absolute majority in the 100-member city parliament, dropping from 49.1 per cent to 44.6 per cent. The party is now forced to […]

Social Democrats’ trip to North Korea causes a stir

Categories
Politics

The Austrian Social Democrats (SPÖ) have been harshly attacked after it emerged that five high-ranking officials met North Korean leaders.Political newspapers revealed yesterday (Tues) that a group of five SPÖ MPs and Members of the European Parliament (MEP) travelled to North Korea earlier this month. The Social Democrats stressed that the trip was a private […]

Kampusch admits fear of being a mum

Categories
General News

Kidnap victim Natascha Kampusch has revealed she is worried about whether she will be a mother one day.The 21-year-old told Austrian weekly magazine News: “Kids, family – that’s very complicated. It has a lot to do with responsibility – and there would, of course, be fears something could happen to my children.”Kampusch said it was […]

Brauner denies VIA switch as campaigning intensifies

Categories
Politics

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Vienna financial affairs councillor Renate Brauner has rubbished rumours she was set to enter Vienna International Airport’s (VIA) board.Speculations Brauner would leave politics to become a member of the board of Flughafen Wien AG, the company managing VIA, have lingered on for weeks as decision-makers at the airport have come under pressure […]

Another coming out of transsexual teacher

Categories
General News

Austria has seen a second case of a once male teacher set to return after the summer holidays to school as a woman.Viennese polytechnic college professor Walter S. infuriated some parents and colleagues by revealing last week he has undergone a sex change surgery recently. The federal education ministry however gave the green lights for […]

HGAA to launch compensation claims

Categories
Finance

Ailing Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA) bosses have revealed plans to demand compensation from former bosses and political decision-makers.HGAA chief Gottwald Kranebitter announced today (Fri) the bank would launch legal action against ex-chiefs “in the coming weeks”. Kranebitter explained that it would focus on “those who caused damage to the bank”.The HGAA head declined to […]