Author: admin

Fake business with cheap prices

admin

High discounts, non-existent goods: fake stores spoil Christmas It actually sounds too good: a 50 percent discount on exactly the gift that was missing for Christmas. If it sounds too good to be true, it really is, warns Joachim Leitner from the consumer arbitration service. Fake webshops lure customers with immorally high discounts.Consumers usually don’t see the goods they ordered and paid for. Or only worthless plastic scrap instead of the product that was promised. Extreme caution is required, especially in the Christmas and subsequent exchange businesses.The “Watchlist Internet” gives…

Read More

New record level of COVID-19 sick leave

admin

A total of 52,338 people insured with the ÖGK health insurance fund were off sick with COVID-19 in the previous week (week 50). This is just over 25 percent more than the 41,690 cases in the previous week—a new high. In addition to the coronavirus sickness figures, the number of people registered as unfit for work with flu-like infections at ÖGK rose from 90,405 to 102,274 in the previous week. According to this data, there were 888 cases of “real” flu, i.e., influenza (week 49: 568). In total, more than…

Read More

EU states agree: these plastic packaging items should disappear completely

admin

The EU member states agreed on uniform measures to reduce packaging waste across Europe on Monday in Brussels. This is according to a statement from the Council of EU Environment Ministers. Quotas will be set for reusable or recyclable packaging. Some single-use plastic packaging is to disappear completely. This includes, for example, small shampoo bottles in hotels or plastic wrapping for fruit and vegetables. However, the EU countries will be given some leeway for derogations. Furthermore, a reduction in packaging waste of five percent by 2030, ten percent by 2035…

Read More

WWF warns of enormous food waste at Christmas in Austria

admin

According to the WWF, Austria alone produces around one million tons of food waste annually—over 100 kilogrammes per person. The NGO expects even more food waste at Christmas. The WWF warns of food waste and its consequences before the Christmas holidays. “During the Advent and Christmas seasons and around the turn of the year, we place a particularly heavy burden on the environment and climate. Careful handling of valuable food can significantly contribute to sustainable holidays,” said Dominik Heizmann, WWF expert for sustainable nutrition, in a press release published on…

Read More

The number of burglaries increases at Christmas

admin

The police consider December 24 the day with the highest number of burglaries in Austria yearly. The Federal Criminal Police Office, therefore, warns people to be vigilant around the holidays and “use common sense.” “We have around 15 percent more burglaries at dusk on this day than on normal December days,” says Hans-Peter Seidl, from the Burglary Unit at the Federal Criminal Police Office. There are around 25 burglaries at dusk every dayAccording to Seidl, there are currently around 25 daily break-ins throughout Austria. Each season (November, December, January), the…

Read More

Did you already know? The color of your dishwashing sponge has a purpose

admin

The color of a dish sponge isn’t just for aesthetics; it plays a crucial role in determining its suitability for various cleaning tasks. Ignoring these color codes could inadvertently cause damage to your dishes. It is essential to choose the right sponge to avoid scratching delicate dishes, but many people are unaware of this. Decoding the colors of dishwashing spongesDifferent colors of dishwashing sponges serve different purposes, experts explain. The green sponge, known for its sturdiness, is ideal for removing stubborn dirt and grime. However, its abrasive nature is not…

Read More

Fake invoices: Fraudsters are targeting Apple users

admin

Criminals are currently trying to defraud iCloud users with fake invoices. Find out how you can protect yourself here.Type of scam: phishing emailTarget of the attacks: iCloud usersRisk classification: HighA new wave of phishing messages targets Apple’s iCloud service users, warns the consumer advice center. With the subject “Your file may be deleted,” this email refers to allegedly full iCloud storage. The content includes an invoice with the invoice date, order number, and other data.However, the exact item or service ordered is not specified. This is followed by the information…

Read More

Border controls with the Czech Republic extended by two months

admin

Austria is continuing extraordinary controls at the Schengen border with the Czech Republic for fear of illegal migration. The Ministry of the Interior announced on Saturday that checks will continue for a further two months after December 17 for the time being. “Border controls are necessary both to combat the smuggling mafia and to take consistent action against internationally active extremists,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP). Border controls with the Czech Republic since OctoberAccording to information, border controls between Austria and the Czech Republic were reintroduced on October 18.…

Read More

The Corona variant Pirola (BA.2.86) has produced an even more contagious subline with JN.1.

admin

For weeks, Austria has been in the middle of a coronavirus wave that has never been seen before on this scale. Around 40,000 sick days due to the virus were reported to the Austrian Health Insurance Fund last week. Hospital admissions have increased by over 30 percent within a week, and the viral load curve in wastewater has reached a level never seen before. The creeping wave was triggered by the XBB lines. In the meantime, however, another variant has taken over and is likely to dominate the incidence of…

Read More