Peoples Party (ÖVP) Environment and Agriculture Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich suggested nuclear power plants in Europe should undergo “stress tests” in the wake of occurrences in Japan.Detonations at several nuclear power stations in the Asian country, which was rattled by an immense earthquake last week, could lead to a meltdown and significant radiation.Now Berlakovich who […]
A Green Party official has asked prosecutors to investigate against a right-wing politician over a controversial joke he posted on his Facebook profile.Gottfried Plichta of the Freedom Partys (FPÖ) branch in the Lower Austrian town of Hirtenberg wrote on his page of the social networking platform that his dog was granted welfare benefits “because he […]
Alcohol tax increase bid flops
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Alcoholic drinks sold in pubs and restaurants in Linz will not become more expensive due to higher taxes after such plans by the Social Democrats (SPÖ) were snubbed by political rivals.The SPÖ department in the Upper Austrian city said today (Fri) the factions of Peoples Party (ÖVP), the Freedom Party (FPÖ), the Alliance for the […]
Austrian aid for Libyan refugees
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The Austrian government will support Libyan refugees, it has been announced.Maria Fekter, interior minister in the coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the conservative Peoples Party (ÖVP), said today (Fri) Austria will send 15,000 so-called hygiene packages to refugee camps set up in Tunisia and Egypt where people fleeing from the civil war in the […]
The debate over whether the government spends enough on higher education is set to intensify after just one Austrian university made the top 100 in a global ranking.Vienna University was listed in the group of institutions placed between 91st and 100th in the 2011 Times Higher Education Ranking. The study provides detailed data for the […]
A majority of Austrians think the turmoil in North Africa and the Arab region will influence the political and economic situation in Europe.Research group Market, which interviewed more than 400 Austrians, said today (Thurs), 76 per cent expected the developments in Libya and other countries to affect current circumstances in Europe.While many Austrians reportedly brace […]
Faymann meets Merkel and Socrates
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Austrian Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann met political leaders from Germany and Portugal in Berlin today (Weds).Faymann gathered with German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Chancellor Angela Merkel and Portuguese Socialist Party Prime Minister Jose Socrates in the German capital to speak about topics which will be debated at the upcoming Eurozone meeting.The term Eurozone […]
The Austrian foreign ministry has abandoned its partial travel warning for Egypt.The ministry said today (Tues) it would still appeal to Austrians not to travel to sparsely frequented areas where the country borders with Sudan and Libya. The authority however warned tourists from going there already before the most recent protest movements which resulted […]
Austria freezes Gaddafi fortune
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Austria has blocked all assets of the Libyan Gaddafi clan in the country, it has been confirmed.The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) appealed on the countrys banks to block the deposits of 26 people including Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, his wife, their eight children and high-profile military and secret service chiefs.The OeNB said it estimated the […]
Town hall clerk blames mayor for suicide
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An Upper Austrian town hall official accused a mayor of mobbing before killing himself.Weekly magazine profil reports that Gmunden city office director Robert Hametner sent an e-mail to colleagues last Thursday evening in which he made Peoples Party (ÖVP) Mayor Heinz Josef Köppl responsible for his decision to commit suicide.”Let me tell you one thing: […]