Tonight it will be at its largest—the “Hay Moon” is coming

The first full moon of the astronomical summer is known as the Hay Moon in our region. Its origins go back a long way. It’s worth taking a look at the night sky today. At 9:17 p.m., the so-called Hay Moon or Buck Moon will rise over Vienna. It will be fully illuminated by the sun at 10:36 p.m. The July full moon is one of the lowest of the year; only the Strawberry Moon on June 11 was lower above the horizon. The reason is that after the summer…

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Partial retirement in Austria approved

Partial retirement approved: The government plans to extend working hours—new regulations are set to take effect in 2026, including restrictions on partial pension. Before the 75-day parliamentary recess, the government is rushing a marathon of legislation through the National Council. In addition to the controversial surveillance of messengers, this also includes a minor pension reform. The latter was decided on Thursday afternoon. The aim is to keep Austrians in the workforce for even longer. The key point is the introduction of partial pensions, which are to be paid in parallel…

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More and more warnings: How dangerous is the Asian hornet really?

The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) is spreading at an alarming rate in Europe, as several local institutions have recently reported. The insect was first sighted in France in 2015, and its spread is increasingly threatening biodiversity and agriculture in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Hungary. In Austria, the first case was documented on April 9, 2024, in the city of Salzburg. The threat posed by the Asian hornet to native honeybees is particularly worrying. The invasive species specifically hunts honey bees—and does so in a ruthless manner, lurking in…

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