Category: Austrian News

The VKI has contested price increases for electricity and gas by Wien Energie. Hundreds of thousands of customers will now get an average of 275 euros back. Several hundred thousand electricity and gas customers of Wien Energie will receive money back following a successful agreement with the Association for Consumer Information (VKI), the responsible Ministry of Social Affairs and Consumer Protection of Johannes Rauch (Greens) announced on Monday. The amount depends on individual consumption. On average, it is 275 euros. “Once again, we have succeeded in enforcing the rights of…

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The switch to bicycles is rewarded. Up to 900 subsidies are available for e-bikes, transport, and folding bikes with and without electric drive. Private individuals, companies, clubs, and municipalities can apply for funding again starting April 2 at www.umweltfoerderung.at. This also applies to bikes purchased in March. The subsidy for bicycles with and without electric drive and e-bikes is entering the next round. Last year, almost 10,000 bicycles were subsidized. In the previous year, the Ministry of Climate Protection promoted the purchase of (electric) bicycles in cooperation with Austrian sports…

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Around 16,000 church services take place throughout Austria during Holy Week and Easter. Special websites and apps provide an overview of all the festivities. The period between Palm Sunday and Easter Tuesday forms the highlight of the church year, along with Holy Week and Easter. A correspondingly dense religious life also characterises this time of year in the approximately 3,000 parishes throughout Austria. Holy Week and Easter services: Websites provide an overviewTo fulfil the need for quick information about the nearest and closest church services, the Catholic Church offers an…

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Pollen counts are currently on the rise. According to a press release on Friday, allergies should be taken seriously and clarified by a doctor. “Allergy sufferers are currently suffering from the pollen load of ash and birch, which may be further exacerbated by the increased outdoor activity during the upcoming Easter vacations,” emphasized Naghme Kamaleyan-Schmied, Vice President of the Vienna Medical Association. Pollen allergy: these are the most common symptoms“The most common symptoms are a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing and coughing. In some cases, the allergy can…

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In the future, the nostrification of foreign qualifications will be based more on a template and less on complex individual examinations. Education Minister Martin Polaschek and Economics Minister Martin Kocher (both ÖVP) have set themselves this goal. A summit with all parties involved will be held as soon as possible. The initial focus will be on health professions and the care sector. Nostrification means that a degree obtained abroad is equivalent to an Austrian degree. This means an academic degree can be used, or a certain profession can be practiced.…

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As with every year, the weather during Easter vacation is mostly unstable and rainy. Gales of around 80 km/h can even be expected in some regions. It will briefly become milder on Monday, and temperatures could reach up to 20 degrees Celsius. Friday will remain mostly cloudy until later in the morning, followed by a mix of clouds and sunshine. Isolated rain showers may also occur in Lower Austria. The wind will be weak to moderate. It will be warmest in the west and southwest, with temperatures of up to…

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The Chamber of Labor (AK) warns of rising prices for basic fees for existing mobile phone contracts in April. The reason for this is the value protection clauses, which are set to take effect again. “An increase of around eight percent can be expected,” writes the AK on Wednesday. At the same time, however, making calls and, above all, surfing on cell phones have become cheaper in recent years. This is mainly due to the fact that new tariffs offer higher data volumes for the same basic charges.Not all providers…

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One point of criticism often voiced by people who are not ready to pay their “Kirchebeitrag” is the impression that the church has a lot of money and enough assets. It is incomprehensible to them that they must also pay a church contribution. You must contribute if you are a member of the Protestant or Catholic Church in Austria. However, the church tax (church contribution) in Austria is not a tax as we know it in the conventional sense but a contribution that is only intended for the respective church.…

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With the Easter holidays in sight, the weather will offer a rollercoaster of temperatures and conditions until then. It’s all here, from overnight frost to spring-like temperatures of 20 degrees and even a hint of polar air. Here, we take a detailed look at the current trends and give a preview of the weather until Easter.Changeable until the middle of the weekNight frost and spring warmth up to 20 degrees: The start of the week promises a friendly and mild Sunday before the weather cools down again at the beginning…

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