Category: Austria

Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has called for urgent restraint amid rising military tensions in Venezuela, warning that preventing further escalation and upholding international law must now be the top priority. In a statement posted Saturday on X, Meinl-Reisinger urged all parties to exercise caution “to avoid further suffering,” stressing Austria’s commitment alongside its European […]

Austria’s motorists and public transport users will face higher costs in 2026, as price hikes for highway vignettes, transit passes, and vehicle-related taxes take effect, according to new details outlined by the Austrian motorists’ association, ÖAMTC. While some tax relief is planned, most changes point to a more expensive year for commuters, according to “Heute”. […]

Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker struck an optimistic tone at the start of 2026, declaring that the country has emerged from recession and is poised for renewed economic growth, as he called on citizens to unite behind reforms aimed at securing long-term prosperity. “Dear Austrians, and everyone who lives here, I wish you a healthy and […]

Part of the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the tiny Alpine village of Hallstatt is famed for its outstanding natural beauty and ancient salt mining history.Widely believed to be the inspiration for Frozen’s Kingdom of Arendelle, it is now however visited by thousands of Disney fans.With a tiny population of around 700 […]

The largest Western bank still operating in Russia has been ordered to pay nearly $400m in compensation for losses incurred by Russian company Rasperia due to European sanctions.Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) said in a statement that the sum – 339 million euros – reflected the amount frozen in Vienna and that it would appeal the […]

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 […]