Category: Feature Stories

For most people, the last day of the year is synonymous with fireworks, firecrackers, and popping champagne bottles—the louder, the better. In addition to driving away evil forces, New Year’s Eve is primarily about starting the coming twelve months with as much good fortune as possible, letting go of the old and making room for the positive. The following customs are practiced by cultures around the globe… Czech prophecy with an apple What events will the coming year bring? People in Czechia answer this question with the help of an…

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Across the Christian world, Christmas does not begin at the same moment. While many people celebrate on December 24th, others mark the holiday only on December 25th. The reasons lie in differing religious traditions, calendar systems, and cultural understandings of when a day begins. Why December 24th Dominates in Central and Western Europe In much of Western and Central Europe, Christmas Eve on December 24th is the emotional and liturgical heart of the holiday. This tradition has deep historical roots. Early Christianity was shaped by Jewish timekeeping, in which a…

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This Christmas, we celebrate the light that Filipinos carry wherever we go—across oceans, across seasons, and across every challenge of life abroad. Whether you’re spending the holidays here in Austria, back home in the Philippines, or somewhere in between, may this season remind you of the strength of our faith, the warmth of our traditions, and the joy of being part of a global Filipino family. From our newsroom to your home: Maligayang Pasko! May your days be filled with hope, connection, and the comforting glow of a parol shining…

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Despite the Sun gradually moving toward its next activity minimum, scientists still see a realistic chance of auroras being visible from Austria in 2026. According to space‑weather researcher Christian Möstl of the Austrian Space Weather Office at GeoSphere Austria, three to five geomagnetic storms strong enough to trigger auroras over Central Europe are expected next year. If weather conditions cooperate, this could translate into one or two opportunities to witness the aurora borealis from Austrian skies. Solar Activity Declining After 2024 Peak The Sun reached the maximum of its current…

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The amount of un-converted schillings has only decreased marginally compared to last year. At the end of November 2024, there was still 6.822 billion of the old currency (494.5 million euros), and at the same time this year, there was still 6.805 billion schillings hidden away in forgotten hiding places and elsewhere. From December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025, 17.4 million schillings were exchanged for 1.26 million euros, according to an APA inquiry to the Austrian National Bank (OeNB). Converted, the outstanding amount of schillings fell from 495.8 to…

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Early‑bird discounts, expanded summer flight schedules, and an undiminished appetite for travel: 2026 is shaping up to be another strong year for tourism. Austria’s automobile club ÖAMTC expects high demand and has outlined the most important changes holidaymakers should be aware of in the coming year. According to ÖAMTC travel expert Yvette Polasek, many of the new regulations will require additional planning. One major simplification, however, will be Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro. The Southeast European country will introduce the common currency on 1 January 2026. For the first month,…

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Higher vignette prices, new environmental zones, and additional entrance fees—vacations in 2026 will require more planning. Here is a summary of the most important information for you. 2026 is also expected to be a strong year for travel – the ÖAMTC has summarized the most important changes for vacationers. The changes mainly affect road traffic in popular vacation destinations such as Spain, Greece, and Croatia. “Many of the changes mean additional organizational effort for travelers, but the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria will make paying much easier,” explains ÖAMTC…

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Language is never still. Not only do new words emerge and old ones fade, but the meanings of familiar terms can shift dramatically within just a few decades. A new analysis of speeches from the U.S. Congress shows just how quickly—and how broadly—these changes take hold. It’s not only younger generations who adopt new meanings; older speakers adapt as well. Linguists have long known that language evolves on multiple levels: form, sound, and meaning. Words appear, disappear, or subtly transform until they refer to something entirely different from what they…

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A new wave of cybersecurity reports is once again shining a harsh light on one of the internet’s oldest and most persistent problems: weak passwords. Despite years of warnings, millions of people around the world continue to rely on simple, easily guessable combinations — leaving their personal data dangerously exposed. Recent analyses of leaked password databases reveal that the same predictable patterns dominate year after year. According to data compiled from global breaches, passwords like “123456,” “admin,” “12345678,” and the ever‑present “password” remain among the most frequently used worldwide. NordPass,…

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