Austrian News

After the laying on of hands by Cardinal Schönborn and 28 other bishops, Josef Grünwidl officially assumed leadership of the Archdiocese of Vienna at 3:38 p.m. In his homily, Schönborn wished his successor “a listening, wise, and understanding heart.” Grünwidl emphasized that the Church must make “the melody of the Gospel resound.” “For you I am a bishop; with you I am a Christian” With these words—echoing St. Augustine—and with gratitude to many, Grünwidl addressed the faithful for the first time as Archbishop of Vienna at the conclusion of the…

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Starting this Sunday, Kunsthalle Wien will introduce a new monthly “Free Admission Sunday,” opening its doors at no cost on the last Sunday of each month. The initiative is made possible through a new partnership with the Dorotheum, Central Europe’s leading auction house, and applies to both Kunsthalle locations: Museumsquartier and Karlsplatz. The program aims to broaden access to contemporary art and invite new audiences into the museum’s spaces. Kunsthalle Wien is known for presenting internationally acclaimed artists alongside emerging talents, with exhibitions that engage directly with pressing social issues.…

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Austria is bracing for a turbulent winter weekend as a shift in weather patterns brings milder—but significantly wetter—conditions across the country. After days of biting cold driven by strong easterly winds, a southern airflow is now pushing moist air into the Alps. According to the Austrian Severe Weather Center (UWZ), several low‑pressure systems will trigger widespread snowfall, rain, and in some regions dangerous freezing rain. The highest risk of icy surfaces is expected from Friday night into early Sunday. Persistent Risk of Ice Meteorologists warn that freezing drizzle remains a…

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Linz, Austria – One of the country’s largest medical institutions, the Kepler University Hospital in Linz, has issued an urgent public warning about a new wave of fraud attempts involving fake donation collectors and impostors posing as medical staff. Police are urging residents to remain vigilant. Scammers Ringing Doorbells for Fake Donations According to the hospital, individuals have recently been going door to door, distributing leaflets and requesting donations under the pretense of supporting the Kepler University Hospital or specific departments such as the Children’s Heart Center. Hospital officials stress…

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Austria is heading into a turbulent stretch of winter weather, marked by persistent fog, thick cloud cover, and an increasing mix of rain and snow as the weekend approaches. Meteorologists warn that the coming days will bring not only bitterly cold nights but also a heightened risk of icy roads, especially on Saturday. Friday: Fog Dominates, Bitter Cold at Dawn On Friday, dense fog remains a defining feature along the Danube and across the northeastern and southeastern regions, with Lower Austria particularly affected. Elsewhere, passing clouds alternate with occasional sunny…

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Vienna – Withdrawing cash from an ATM remains part of everyday life for many people in Austria, even as digital payments continue to grow. One button on the machine, however, is often overlooked: the red “Cancel” key. Most customers only use it when they accidentally start the wrong transaction. Yet this button once played a far more important role – and in certain situations, it still does. A Look Back: What the “Cancel” Button Was Originally For In the early generations of ATMs, a session stayed active until the customer…

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In Linz, temperatures dropped to an icy minus 10 degrees in recent days, as shown on a car’s temperature display. Many insects don’t stand a chance in such conditions. The extreme cold of recent weeks is now having its first effects on nature: some insect species are likely to be heavily reduced. For years, the Asian tiger mosquito has been spreading in Austria—helped by mild winters. But this year, the extreme cold is expected to significantly slow its advance. “Winter mortality in this species is clearly higher this year than…

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Vienna’s housing market is heading into another challenging year, with experts warning that rents will continue to rise significantly in 2026. According to a new market assessment released on Tuesday by the real estate consultancy EHL Immobilien, a sharp decline in construction activity combined with persistently high demand is driving prices upward—most notably in districts outside the Gürtel. Construction Slump Deepens Supply Shortage EHL describes the current situation as marked by a “dramatic shortage of supply.” For the first time in nearly a decade, the number of newly completed apartments…

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