Category: Austria

Austria’s lower house of parliament has passed a ban on Muslim headscarves in schools after a previous ban was overturned on the grounds that it was discriminatory.Lawmakers passed the new legislation on Thursday by a large majority, meaning that girls younger than 14 will not be permitted to wear headscarves that “cover the head in […]

Austria’s long negotiated Stability Pact will not be finalized until 2026, despite political agreement on its framework earlier this year, according to ORF news. On Tuesday, officials unveiled the draft “15a agreement,” a key document outlining future borrowing limits for the federal government, provinces, and municipalities. The timeline falls short of the European Union’s expectation […]

The Austrian town of Neunkirchen is heading toward new municipal elections after an extraordinary political collapse that prompted the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the Greens to vacate all their seats on the city council. Their collective resignation, announced on Facebook, clears the path for the fresh vote many residents had been demanding. The local […]

Austria’s free adult vaccination program is facing serious disruption, according to the Austrian Medical Association (ÖÄK), which reports a widespread shortage of key vaccines. Vice President Edgar Wutscher said Saturday that flu vaccines are currently unavailable through the national ordering system, and that private practices are also unable to obtain vaccines for pneumococcal disease or […]

Chancellor Christian Stocker is seeking to steady both his party and his public image, dismissing speculation about internal dissent and a possible comeback by former chancellor Sebastian Kurz. In an interview with Kronen Zeitung, the ÖVP leader said he intends to remain in office well past the next national election and will head the party’s […]

Austria was rattled this week after a violent knife attack in Vienna’s Donaustadt district, where a 50-year-old Afghan man allegedly stabbed his own daughter in what investigators describe as an “honor based” assault, according to “Heute”. The attack, which occurred Monday evening, sparked national outrage and renewed debate over deportation policies. According to police, the […]

Austria’s top health insurance official is pushing back against calls for a sweeping overhaul that would place the nation’s health-care planning, steering, and financing under a single centralized authority, according to “Kurier”. Andreas Huss, chair of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), said Friday in Klagenfurt that such a model would undermine the regional expertise […]

Austria is carrying the heaviest relative burden among the European Union’s net contributors, even as Germany remains the bloc’s largest net payer, according to a new analysis by the German Economic Institute (IW Cologne). The study, shared with Reuters ahead of publication, shows that Germany paid €13.1 billion more into the EU budget last year […]

Despite a sluggish economy and rising living costs, Austrians continued to donate generously last year, contributing a total of €1.07 billion to charitable causes, according to the Fundraising Association Austria, according to “Kronen Zeitung”. The figure, while slightly below past highs, reflects a strong culture of solidarity even in uncertain times. A survey found that […]

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker made his first public appearance Tuesday night after recovering from back surgery, using the moment to deliver a pointed message about the future of centrist politics in Austria. Speaking at an ÖVP event in Parliament, Stocker said he was “truly happy” to return and thanked his doctors for urging patience during […]