Category: Austrian News

Around 700 places of worship across Austria once again hosted the ecumenical “Long Night of the Churches” on Friday. According to the organizers, around 300,000 visitors took advantage of the offer, as in the previous year, as feedback from all federal states had shown, reported Kathpress.The event occurred simultaneously in all Austrian dioceses and in parts of Switzerland, South Tyrol in Italy, and the Czech Republic. Motto: “We can #open”The theme of this year’s program was “We can #open”. The aim was to convey an “ambiguous message”, “which includes the…

Read More

People who suffer from grass pollen allergies must be prepared for a stressful time. The peak grass pollen season is approaching. The heavy rainfall has slowed down the release so far, but has fueled the growth of the plants. The Austrian Pollen Information Service (ÖPID) reports this. This year, the first relevant grass pollen concentrations were measured between the end of April and the beginning of May. There was even an initial peak in mid-May before the weather provided temporary relief. The ÖPID provides free information on the current pollen…

Read More

The weather in Austria will remain changeable. However, according to the forecast from the meteorologists at Geosphere Austria, it should become increasingly milder from the weekend onwards. On Sunday, temperatures of up to 22 degrees are already possible, and on Tuesday, even 24 degrees will be reached in some places. This is how the weather will start at the weekendOn Friday, a persistent disturbance influence will result in mainly dense cloud cover. Sunshine will be rare, most likely in the west and north of Austria. Especially in Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and…

Read More

The weather has been changeable these days – after many dry weeks, the rain has brought a welcome refreshment to the soil, forests, and fields. However, anyone hoping for stable conditions will need to be patient. Country rain on Thursday and FridayBetween Thursday morning and Friday morning, widespread persistent rain is expected again. In between, there may be isolated showers and thunderstorms. Between 20 and 50 liters per square meter are forecast again, especially in the west and south – in some places it could be more. In comparison, Upper…

Read More

On Friday, May 23, around 700 places of worship across Austria will host the ecumenical “Long Night of the Churches” again. Around 3,000 individual program items will be offered. The event will also co-occur in parts of Switzerland, South Tyrol, Italy, and the Czech Republic. This year’s theme is “We can #open.” Once again, 300,000 visitors are expected. The Long Night of Churches is a “living sign of ecumenism in action and an open door for all those who want to experience and rediscover the church”, emphasizes the Armenian bishop…

Read More

With the presentation of the 2025/26 double budget by Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ), the whole truth about the government’s planned billion-euro austerity measures to restructure the state coffers is on the table. The corresponding laws are now coming. A first package was already passed in March, including the abolition of educational leave and the VAT exemption for solar installations, as well as the increase in tobacco tax and the bank levy. A second legislative package will be passed in the National Council next Thursday, May 22. This “Budget Restructuring…

Read More

The “chilly mood” regarding the weather in Austria continues: there is no sign of a sustained improvement in the new week either. Monday will be the friendliest and warmest before the next low pressure announces itself. The temperatures then plummet again on Friday. On Monday, a few more cloud fields will move across the sky from the north-east from Upper Austria to Burgenland during the day, and local, brief rain showers cannot be ruled out, as Geosphere Austria forecast on Sunday. Further west and south, on the other hand, the…

Read More

The Austrian-Filipino singer Johannes Pietsch, aka JJ, was born in Vienna but grew up with his family in Dubai. He attended the German International School and speaks fluently in German, English, Tagalog, and French, bringing a multicultural flair to his artistry. When he was 15 years old, the family moved back to Vienna. After graduating from school there, the musician started his career. This included participating in the ORF entertainment show “Starmania” in 2021, where he catapulted himself into the final show. At the same time, Pietsch continued to pursue…

Read More

Basel, Switzerland – Austria’s Eurovision hopeful JJ has stormed into the grand final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest with his powerful popera anthem “Wasted Love,” cementing his status as one of the top favorites to win. The 24-year-old countertenor, who boasts Filipino-Austrian heritage, delivered a show-stopping performance in Thursday’s second semi-final, securing one of ten coveted spots in Saturday’s ultimate showdown. From Semi-Final Triumph to Final AmbitionsStarting in sixth position—a lucky omen reminiscent of Austria’s 2014 winner Conchita Wurst—JJ captivated audiences and jurors alike with his soaring vocals and…

Read More