Category: Austrian News

It started slowly and went unnoticed for a long time. Since March, counterfeit euro notes have been circulating, initially passing through cash registers and into the hands of customers like ordinary cash. It was only when bank employees became suspicious and checked a few suspicious notes that suspicions arose, which were later confirmed by an official report from the National Bank. Companies in the town of Zwettl and the municipalities of Ottenschlag and Martinsberg are particularly affected. Counterfeit notes in denominations of five, twenty, fifty, and one hundred euros were…

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ESC winner Johannes “JJ” Pietsch received two honors on July 15: the Golden Rathausmann and a gold record. What an exciting day for ESC winner Johannes “JJ” Pietsch (24)! On July 15, the countertenor received the Golden Rathausmann – an honor from the city of Vienna, which was presented to him by Mayor Michael Ludwig in the presence of his family. And that wasn’t the only golden highlight of the day. In the morning, JJ’s parents, his sister, and his grandfather gathered in the Red Salon of Vienna City Hall.…

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The anniversary edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is just around the corner: in 2026, the international music competition will celebrate its 70th anniversary in Austria. The Alpine Republic owes this honor to the magnificent triumph of Johannes Pietsch (24) from Vienna, who won the ESC 2025 in Basel as JJ, thereby bringing the event to his home country. The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) is now responsible for organizing the anniversary show. Despite the austerity measures imposed on the broadcaster, Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Culture Andreas Babler (52) promptly…

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Fraudsters are sending fake emails on behalf of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO/WKÖ) asking recipients to apply for alleged government innovation subsidies. The emails contain deceptively genuine-looking sender addresses such as “Service@wko.vH.at” or “service@wko.qn.at” and claim to provide several links to official application forms on wko.at. However, these links lead to malicious websites that are used to steal sensitive company data and personal or financial information. The WKO expressly emphasizes that it is not the sender of these emails and urgently warns against opening the links contained therein or…

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After five years, global tourism has returned to the level it was at before the coronavirus pandemic. Around 1.47 billion international arrivals were recorded last year. This is according to data from the World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism, which regularly publishes statistics on global travel behavior. Austria recorded 32.2 million arrivals last year and ranks 13th. France ranks first with 102 million tourist arrivals. A ranking provides insight into which countries are trending or still popular and also which are less in demand than before. The latest list is based…

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The police are warning that there has been an increase in calls in Upper Austria in which the perpetrators introduce themselves as security staff from the victim’s bank. In this brazen scam, the victim is told that “suspicious money transfers” have been detected on their account and must be stopped immediately to prevent any damage. “Be careful, these bank employees do not exist—they are fraudsters!” warn the police. Tips from the police End these conversations immediately. Never allow remote access to your PC. Never install programs based on caller instructions.…

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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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According to ORF, the cause of the carp die-off is the koi herpes virus. The University of Veterinary Medicine identified this virus after examining the dead fish. The virus entered the Old Danube through illegally released koi fish The Austrian Fisheries Society has determined that the virus entered the waters through the illegal release of koi fish. Unfortunately, the affected carp apparently have no defense against this pathogen. Although 200 carp have died so far, Stefan La Garde from the Fisheries Society emphasizes that the general fish population in the…

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Fever, accompanied by a skin rash covered with red pustules: the measles virus is highly contagious. The Vienna Health Authority recently sent a warning to hospitals, emergency services, and doctors’ offices. In it, MA 15 reports an increase in measles and hepatitis cases in the city. Here are the reasons why and how you can protect yourself. Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease that is easily recognizable by the red pustules that cover the skin and cause fever. The insidious virus (transmitted by tiny droplets) often affects children, but…

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