A young Austrian woman has become the worlds first pillow-fighting champion.Gudrun Grondinger won the competition which was held in New York City, USA, and attended by hundreds of enthusiastic fans of the quirky sport.The 24-year-old student from Vienna beat local heroes as well as participants from Japan and Sweden to scoop the title. Fellow Austrian […]
The Austrian economy has to up its focus on emerging markets, a government minister has warned.Peoples Party (ÖVP) Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner appealed on exporting firms based in Austria to eye up business in up-and-coming economies in Asia and South America to ensure Austria remains competitive.The minister explained today (Tues) that around 83 per cent […]
Struggling vaccine developer Intercell AG has presented a new company chief.The Vienna-based research firm said today (Thurs) board member Thomas Lingelbach will take over as CEO next Tuesday (10 May). Current head Gerd Zettlmeissl will leave the company “to pursue other personal and professional interests,” Intercell added.Lingelbach has been the companys COO since 2006. He […]
Peter Hagen is to become new head of Vienna Insurance Group (VIG), one of the leading insurers in Europe.The businessman, who joined the company in 1989, will succeed Günter Geyer as CEO on 1 June 2012. He is currently also a member of the supervisory boards of steel industry giant Voestalpine and the Vienna Stock […]
The Peoples Party (ÖVP) is in turmoil after two members of the European Parliament (MEP) quit within days.MEP Helga Ranner announced yesterday (Tues) she decided to resign. Austrian newspapers claimed Ranner tried to cover personal debts of around seven million Euros with MEPs reimbursement of expenses.Ranner vehemently denied the accusations, but argued the reports have […]
Impoverished Austrians have a significantly lower life expectancy, according to a charity.Siegfried Meryns “Nein zu arm und krank” (Say No to Poverty and Sickness) initiative (www.neinzuarmundkrank.at) reports that people with a monthly income of under 1,500 Euros die around four years earlier than the Austrian average.The organisation, which says poverty and diseases can form a […]
Bregenz-based textiles and tights manufacturer Wolford AG has managed to increase its turnover by more than six per cent.The company said today (Fri) its turnover climbed by 6.6 per cent to 120 million Euros in the first three quarters of the 2010/2011 business year compared to the same period of the previous business year.Its earnings […]
Freedom Party (FPÖ) chiefs have turned their guns on Peoples Party (ÖVP) officials in the wake of detonations at a nuclear power plant in Japan.FPÖ deputy chairman Norbert Hofer said today (Tues) former ÖVP Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel must make a decision over whether he wanted to be a “lobbyist for the nuclear power industry or […]
Drivers might be allowed to use the breakdown lane of motorways in Austria from next year.Klaudia Niedermühlbichler, a spokeswoman for road administration authority Asfinag, revealed today (Thurs) a plan to start running tests on the A4 eastern motorway between Vienna and Schwechat in Lower Austria in 2012.There has been discussion over whether motorists should get […]
Nearly one in two Austrians said their country should continue to participate in financial projects to stabilise ailing Eurozone members even if the European Union (EU) were to demand higher contributions.A study carried out by research firm Karmasin for weekly magazine profil shows that 49 per cent of Austrians think the federal government of Social […]