Energy discount in eastern Austria

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Business

Three leading electricity providers have reduced their prices. The Austrian Energy Alliance – the distribution agency of Vienna’s Wien Energie, Lower Austrian company EVN AG and Eisenstadt-based BEWAG – said yesterday (Weds) it reduced the price for one kilowatt hour (KWh) of electricity by 3.3 per cent at the beginning of this month. The decrease […]

Racist youth check causes controversy

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General News

A sociologist has questioned the results of a disputed study on Austrian teens’ attitudes. Newspaper commentators, integration experts and radio talk show hosts engaged in a heated debate about the outcome of the latest examination by the Austrian Institute for Youth Culture Research. The organisation found that 43.6 per cent of Vienna-based teens agreed with […]

Vienna part of European tourism elite

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Business

Vienna takes fifth place in a survey checking European city’s tourism competitiveness. German consulting group Roland Berger investigated the marketing efforts of 24 capital cities in Europe in their battle for vacationers. The firm’s study also considered economic aspects. Roland Berger ranked Vienna in fifth place, neck and neck with Berlin in Germany. Paris in […]

Ritz Vienna at the ready

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Business

Vienna will get a Ritz next year, it was confirmed yesterday (Tues). A group of Kazakh investors signed contracts with Austrian real estate company Bauträger Austria Immobilien GmbH (BAI) in Vienna. The business partners said afterwards that a new hotel of the famous brand would open in the city in the second quarter of 2012. […]

Strache security punches party-goer

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Politics

Freedom Party (FPÖ) boss Heinz-Christian Strache is in hot water after a bodyguard put a man into hospital last weekend. One of Strache’s three personal security guards attacked another guest of a club in Vienna-Favoriten on Saturday night. The man – understood to be an internationally successful banker – threw a ham roll and ice […]

Raidl snubs ÖVP hot seat offer

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Politics

The Viennese People’s Party (ÖVP) tried to persuade an industrialist and conservative opinion leader to take over as chairman, it has emerged. Claus Raidl – who formerly headed tool steel manufacturer Böhler Uddeholm – confirmed today (Thurs) that he was approached by Vienna ÖVP officials about whether he could imagine becoming the party’s new leader. […]

Brain transplant appeal over AKH budget freeze

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Business

A legendary theatre actor has suggested politicians should “have their brains transplanted” at Vienna’s General Hospital (AKH) after medical staff presented plans to reduce night and weekend services. The AKH’s works council and the Austrian Doctors’ Chamber said on Monday just 154 doctors would be at work at the hospital during the night and at […]

Vienna tops quality of life ranking

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General News

Vienna has retained its reputation as the most liveable city in the world in a global consulting group’s latest investigation. Mercer said today (Tues) the Austrian capital made first place in its Quality of Living Survey 2011. Zurich in neighbouring Switzerland remains in second place followed by Auckland, New Zealand, and Munich, Germany. Dusseldorf in […]

Fewer AKH docs on night duty from next year

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Business

The number of doctors on night duty at Austria’s largest clinics is set to shrink, it has emerged. The works council of Vienna’s General Hospital (AKH) announced yesterday (Mon) that 145 doctors would be at work at night and at weekends from February 2012, down from 172 at the moment. The doctors’ representation explained it […]

George Michael’s condition worsened overnight say doctors

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General News

 Doctors treating singer George Michael on the 13th floor of the Vienna AKH general hospital say his condition has worsened overnight. He was hospitalised on Monday after a doctor was called to his suite at the Hotel imperial in Vienna’s posh first district and diagnosed breathing difficulties. He was taken by ambulance to the city’s […]