After weeks of grey skies, Vienna can finally look forward to several hours of sunshine on Tuesday, 27 January. Forecasts suggest that bright, clear conditions will dominate across the entire city, offering a welcome break from the persistent winter gloom. Meteorologists expect the sun to show its best side throughout the morning and early afternoon. However, the improvement won’t last: as the day progresses, dense high fog is forecast to move in gradually from the southeast, dimming the sunshine later on. Winds will remain weak to moderate, shifting from west…
Read MoreVienna Launches Test Phase for New “Scan-Cars” to Boost Parking Enforcement
Vienna is turning to high‑tech tools in its ongoing effort to curb parking violations. Four newly developed “scan‑cars” will soon support the city’s parking enforcement teams, marking the start of a pilot phase that was officially announced on Monday. Full deployment is planned for December 2026. The vehicles—electric cars equipped with roof‑mounted sensors—use cameras to scan the license plates of parked cars. The system checks in real time whether a digital parking ticket or a valid residential permit is registered for each plate. If everything is in order, the onboard…
Read MoreAustria Plans New Helmet Rules for Young E‑Bike and E‑Scooter Riders
Austria is preparing to tighten its road safety regulations, with a new helmet requirement for young riders of E‑Bikes and E‑Scooters potentially coming into force as early as 1 May 2026. Although the measure has not yet been passed by Parliament, lawmakers are under pressure to finalize the 36th amendment to the Road Traffic Act (StVO). Under the current draft, children would be required to wear a helmet when cycling until the age of twelve, when riding E‑Bikes until fourteen, and when using E‑Scooters until sixteen. The proposal expands existing…
Read MoreAustria Set for a Marked Warm‑Up as Deep Freeze Ends
Austria’s grip of persistent frost is loosening. After days of bitter cold, temperatures across the country are expected to rise noticeably in the coming week. According to forecasts from Geosphere Austria, the nation will see milder conditions with highs reaching up to eight degrees Celsius. However, a developing low-pressure system over Italy is poised to bring new precipitation by midweek — and with it, a renewed risk of icy conditions in some regions. A Milder Start to the Week Monday begins under thick cloud cover across much of the country.…
Read MoreTravelers Take Note: A Familiar Airport Service Faces a Europe‑Wide Ban
Across Europe’s airports, a long‑established ritual may soon disappear: the sight of suitcases being tightly wrapped in layers of plastic film just moments before check‑in. For years, travelers have paid a few extra euros to have their luggage sealed—promising protection from scratches, dirt, rain, broken zippers, and even tampering. But this service is now on the brink of being phased out. Airports Begin Warning Passengers Several European airports have already started informing passengers that plastic luggage wrapping no longer complies with new EU regulations. While the machines are still operating…
Read MoreEl Nido and Siargao Light Up Vienna’s City Center
Philippine Embassy Launches Digital Billboard Hunt with Prizes Up for Grabs Vienna’s bustling city center is getting a tropical splash of color this January as two of the Philippines’ most iconic destinations—El Nido, Palawan and Maasin River, Siargao—appear on large digital billboards across the capital. From 10 to 31 January, residents and visitors in Vienna can catch a glimpse of these world‑renowned landscapes right in the heart of Europe. The initiative, launched by the Philippine Embassy in Austria, aims to spark curiosity, celebrate Filipino tourism, and invite the public to…
Read MorePope Leo XIV Appoints Fr. Cyril Villareal as New Bishop of Kalibo
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr. Cyril “Jojo” Villareal, a priest of the Archdiocese of Capiz, as the new Bishop of Kalibo. The announcement was made on Saturday, January 24, marking a new chapter of leadership for the Diocese of Kalibo. Fr. Villareal, 51, succeeds Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc, who retired in June 2025 after nearly fourteen years of dedicated pastoral service to the diocese. Born in March 1974, Bishop-elect Villareal pursued his philosophical studies at St. Pius X Seminary in Roxas City and completed his theological formation at the…
Read MoreJosef Grünwidl Becomes the New Archbishop of Vienna
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…
Read MoreFree Admission Sundays at Kunsthalle Wien Begin This Weekend
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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