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 thats 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 […]
Vienna is among the worlds top 25 cities in spending power, a global study has found.Swiss bank UBS announced today (Thurs) that Vienna had retained 24th place in its international spending power survey. The institute added that the Swiss cities of Zurich and Geneva were in first and second places, respectively, ahead of New York, […]
The number of people passing driving licence examinations edged up year on year in 2009, it has been reported.Statistik Austria announced today (Thurs) that 90,100 people had received licences to drive cars last year, three per cent more than in the previous year.The state agency added that most licences had been handed out in Lower […]
Greens MP Peter Pilz has claimed one to two million Euros was a “realistic” amount of financial compensation for kidnap victim Natascha Kampusch.The politician caused a stir some weeks ago by publishing top secret police files suggesting that authorities attempted to cover up investigation blunders into the abduction case.The documents show that investigators failed to […]
Peoples Party (ÖVP) Interior Minister Maria Fekter said she was “alarmed” by rising asylum application figures.The minister said today (Mon) around 800 foreigners have asked for asylum in Austria every month between January and July, adding that the number of monthly applications could reach 1,300 at the end of August.Fekter claimed this development was an […]
A controversial Catholic bishop has claimed he was “misinterpreted” after branding the Love Parade stampede “Gods punishment” but stressed he would still regard the event a “sin”.Salzburg Auxiliary Bishop Andreas Laun today (Mon) accused media of misinterpreting his statements made in a blog on a Catholic website last week.Laun said: “Love Parade equals sin […]
A majority of Austrians fear suffering from a serious disease, according to research.Insurer Generali said today (Weds) its latest poll found that 54 per cent of Austrians were afraid of catching a life-threatening illness.The same share of the 1,372 people interviewed admitted being worried about a rise in living costs and a cutback of social […]
Austrias oldest driver died when he crashed into a truck on Tuesday, it emerged today (Fri).Josef Kainz, 96, steered his Toyota into a lorry near Schrems, Lower Austria, after entering a road in the wrong direction.The pensioner died instantly while the truck driver only suffered minor injuries, according to local authorities.Neighbours in Marbach said Kainz […]
Twenty people have suffered from FSME (tick-borne encephalitis) so far this year after being bitten by ticks across Austria, it has been announced.ARGE Gesundheitsvorsorge said today (Weds) all cases could have been avoided since none of the affected people were vaccinated against the dangerous disease. The healthcare body added two of the victims were children […]
Social Democratic (SPÖ) Labour Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer has strongly challenged pension age appeals by European Union (EU) Commissioner László Andor.Hungarian economist Andor the EUs Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion said yesterday (Weds) EU member states must increase the age their citizens retired to avoid a breakdown of the social system.Think tanks […]