Category: Austrian News

From today, 17 March, around 130,000 low-income households in Vienna will be able to apply for the EUR 100 compensation bonus from Wien Energie. This measure is intended to cushion the impact of the abolition of the electricity price brake and provide relief for directly affected customers. Who is eligible?Wien Energie electricity customers exempt from the ORF household tax are eligible. The credit will be offset directly against upcoming installments or outstanding invoices. The bonus can be claimed once per customer. There are three ways to apply: Online In person:…

Read More

The first nationwide coronavirus lockdown occurred in Austria on 16 March 2020. Public life was drastically restricted to contain the spread of the virus. Exactly five years ago today, on 16 March 2020, the first nationwide corona lockdown was enacted in Austria to curb the spread of the disease. Austria went into a state of emergency that was to last for several months. Nobody knew the effects at the time. Measures in AustriaThe first corona death was reported on 12 March 2020, and four days later the first lockdown was…

Read More

The government is planning far-reaching changes to the pension system starting in June 2025. In addition to increased health insurance contributions for pensioners, adjustments to the retirement age, and new regulations for additional earnings are also planned. These measures are part of the restructuring plan for the budget deficit. Government reaches into the pockets of senior citizensFrom 1 June 2025, health insurance contributions for pensions will be increased from 5.1 percent to 6.0 percent. This will lead to a noticeable reduction in net pensions. An average old-age pension means an…

Read More

In the morning, heavy rain will spread from the southwest, covering almost the entire country. The snow line is between 600 and 1500 meters. The snow will fall particularly deep in the Tyrolean lowlands, Salzburg, Upper Austria and the Waldviertel (Lower Austria). Parts of Carinthia may also see snow in some valleys due to the high precipitation intensity. West of Innsbruck will remain predominantly dry during the day and the precipitation will generally decrease in the late afternoon. The wind will be mostly weak to moderate. However, it will freshen…

Read More

The Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications (RTR) warned on Thursday of increased abuse originating in Great Britain. 250 complaints have been registered with the relevant abuse reporting office since 1 March alone. This is a very high increase within a very short period of time. Klaus M. Steinmaurer, Managing Director of the Telecommunications and Postal Services Division, advises that if the numbers of calls begin with +44, one should ask oneself whether one is expecting a call from Great Britain. Recently, a female computer voice has increasingly told…

Read More

The Südosttangente is Austria’s busiest road, with around 230,000 vehicles per day between the Prater junction and Handelskai. Renovation is planned in both directions, with all lanes remaining open, according to Asfinag- How Vienna will change by 2035The preparatory work was already carried out last year, and the central reservation crossings were installed. From 17 March 2025, the main construction work will start in the northbound direction. In the southbound direction, the emergency lane will be used as an additional lane, and traffic will be shifted to the right. This…

Read More

5.3 billion euros—that’s how much sick leave cost Austria in 2023. On average, employees were off sick for 15.4 days. In Germany, Allianz insurance boss Oliver Bäte recently made a move. His idea: no pay on the first day of sick leave. This could save 40 billion euros in Germany.Absenteeism is also an issue in Spain at the moment. The number of sick days has skyrocketed in recent years, and Spain’s Minister of Labor commented that the trend is “not positive.” More checks and staffAnd in Austria? The government program…

Read More

If you want to see something of it in Austria, you have to be on time and look very closely because it starts in Vienna at 6:09 a.m. The moon will set six minutes later, slightly later in the west.If you look towards the western horizon in clear weather, you can at least see the beginning of the eclipse—in the form of a small dent on the moon’s left side. Its left side will also appear darkened, writes the Austrian Astronomical Society. The peak of the lunar eclipse is reached…

Read More

In Austria, drivers typically switch from winter to summer tires when temperatures consistently exceed 7°C. This temperature threshold is crucial because winter tires are designed for optimal performance in colder conditions, and using them in warmer weather can lead to increased wear and reduced handling efficiency. Due to Austria’s diverse climate, the exact timing for this change can vary. In eastern regions, such as Vienna, temperatures may rise above 7°C as early as March, while alpine areas might not reach these temperatures until late April or May. Therefore, drivers must…

Read More