E-cars may become mass phenomenon, Verbund boss says

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Business

The head of Austria’s biggest electricity provider has claimed electric cars (e-cars) could be established in Austria in less than 15 years. Verbund AG chief Wolfgang Anzengruber told the Kurier: “E-cars will either be a fun topic or something affecting the masses (in 2025).” The ex-Palfinger boss made aware of polls “30 years ago” revealing […]

US activist issues final PNR warning

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Politics

A human rights activist has highlighted the consequences an expected agreement between the European Union (EU) and the USA will have on travellers’ personal rights. US campaigner Edward Hasbrouck said speaking to the Kurier that the so-called Passenger Name Record (PNR) regulation – on which the EU and the United States are set to agree […]

Shock U-turn on 1980 prostitute murder

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General News

An Austrian may have spent nearly 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Manfred B. called the police after discovering the body of prostitute Heidemarie Mayerhofer at her flat in Salzburg in November 1980. The pimp, who was 29 at the time, was considered a suspect when police were told he […]

Family father gets 18 years for abusing daughter

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General News

A Viennese man has been sentenced to prison for molesting his daughter for five years. The 55-year-old – who resided with his family in Burgenland for years – was ordered to spend 18 years at a secure institution for felons with psychological disorders by a court in Eisenstadt yesterday (Tues). The verdict is not yet […]

SM bar boss admits attempted abduction

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General News

A sadomasochism (SM) sex club manager has been sentenced to seven years behind bars for trying to abduct a teenager. The defendant admitted in court in Vienna yesterday (Tues) to having attempted to kidnap the young woman in 2002 when she was 17. She was waiting for a night bus when the 47-year-old punched her […]

OMV efficiency ambition may enforce closures

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Business

OMV AG may shut dozens of petrol stations in Austria and Germany. Company chief Gerhard Roiss explained yesterday (Weds) the firm’s new efficiency programme should help save 700 million Euros by 2014. Roiss also said OMV would invest 2.4 billion Euros into its various fields of operation in the coming 10 years altogether. Roiss – […]

FDH and AUA cast shadows over FW boom

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Business

Austria’s biggest aerodrome is prospering despite a loss-making investment in Germany. Flughafen Wien AG (FW), which manages Vienna International Airport (VIA or VIE) announced yesterday (Thurs) it managed to increase its net profit by 13.7 per cent to 43.3 million Euros from the first half of last year to the same time span of 2011. […]

EVN turnover drops as gas price hike is imminent

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Business

Lower Austrian energy sector giant EVN AG has suffered a slight decline in turnover despite selling more electricity and gas to customers in the past winter. The firm announced today (Thurs) its turnover slid by 0.9 per cent to 2.16 billion Euros from the first three quarters of the 2009/2010 business year to the next […]

New MQ boss named

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Business

An Upper Austrian real estate manager has been appointed as head of Vienna’s Museumsquartier (MQ). Federal Social Democratic (SPÖ) Culture Minister Claudia Schmied and Viennese SPÖ Culture Councillor Andreas Mailath-Pokorny announced yesterday (Weds) Christian Strasser would head the MQ for five years from 1 October. His contract can be extended without public submission, they explained. […]

Fritzl cellar to be filled with concrete

Categories
General News

Walter Anzboeck, the liquidator of Josef Fritzl’s estate said the cellar of the house where Fritzl imprisoned and repeatedly raped his daughter for 24 years will be filled up with concrete. Anzboeck said the move was to ensure the space could never be entered again. He said in a statement on Friday that concrete will […]