Weather remains sunny and mild at the end of the year

The last days of the year bring mild weather and sunshine to Austria. Temperatures of up to ten degrees are also forecast for New Year’s Eve. The end of the year will bring Austrians sunshine and milder temperatures as the days go by. According to the Geosphere Austria forecast, it is set to reach up to ten degrees on New Year’s Eve and even up to twelve degrees next Sunday. However, it will primarily remain cold—or rather, icy—in the morning. Year-end brings sunshine and milder temperaturesThe details: On Friday, there…

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Still 6.8 billion schillings not exchanged for euros

Almost 7 billion schillings are still in circulation. The value has only fallen marginally compared to 2023. While 6.8 billion schillings worth a reasonable 497 million euros had not been exchanged by the end of November last year, this figure was still 495.8 million euros at the same time in 2024—and thus, rounded up, there are still 6.8 billion schillings “hiding.” A total of 18.4 million schillings were exchanged for 1.3 million euros this year, the National Bank announced. According to the National Bank (OeNB), three billion schillings are banknotes,…

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Carolers (Sternsinger) go from house to house again

From 27 December to 6 January, the “Three Wise Men” will be out and about throughout Austria to bring the Christmas message of peace and blessings for 2025. The children also sing and collect to free people from poverty and exploitation for a better world. “We are already highly motivated,” said the carol singers from the parish of Leopoldau. The Epiphany Campaign, the aid organization of the Catholic Children’s Movement (Katholische Jungschar), supports around 500 aid projects in poor regions of the world with donations.540 million euros in donations already…

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Money, deposit, driving: This will all change from January 1, 2025 in Austria

Numerous things will change again from 1 January 2025, with some innovations coming in the course of the year. Here are the most important points: Higher energy billsThe new year will bring higher gas and electricity bills. The main reasons for this are higher grid costs and the fact that from January, the levies, which were reduced to a minimum during the energy crisis, will once again apply in full. The expiry of the electricity price cap on 31 December 2024 may also lead to higher costs. Household energy bills…

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New “plastic deposit” from January 1: What consumers need to watch out for in the future

Only a few days are left before the single-use deposit for drink packaging is introduced on 1 January 2025. But what will change for consumers at the beginning of January? How much deposit do they have to pay, and how do they get their money back? Which packaging will be subject to a deposit in future?As is already the case with reusable packaging, a deposit will also be introduced for disposable plastic or metal drinks packaging in January. Customers will have to pay 25 cents per PET bottle or can,…

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iPhone 17 Air: Apple’s new model clears an important hurdle

Apple is taking the next step by sending the thinnest iPhone of all time to the product launch phase at Foxconn, a contract manufacturer. Thus, the iPhone 17 Air is taking the next hurdle to actual mass production. Update from 16.12.2024: According to supply chain sources, the rumored iPhone 17 Air has reached Foxconn’s so-called NPI (New Product Introduction) phase, which involves transitioning from concept to mass production. In this phase, prototypes are tested, manufacturing processes are developed, and logistics are coordinated with suppliers to prepare for mass production (source:…

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Austria: Grid costs for electricity and gas to rise significantly in 2025

Grid costs for electricity and gas will rise from 1 January 2025. The regulatory authority E-Control announced the regulations on Monday. The grid fees for households will increase by an average of 23.1 percent for electricity and 16.6 percent for gas. There were minimal changes in the individual grid areas compared to the draft regulations. As levies will again be charged in full, energy bills will rise by several hundred euros in 2025. The biggest changes to the draft regulation are in Tyrol, where electricity grid costs will now rise…

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PACES hosts Thanksgiving Afternoon Tea

Vienna, Austria—8 December 2024, In a heartfelt celebration of generosity and shared purpose, the Philippine Austrian Cultural and Educational Society (PACES) hosted a Thanksgiving afternoon tea at the prestigious Haas & Haas Tea House in Vienna. The event honored the unwavering support of sponsors, donors, and supporters who have propelled PACES towards the realization of its mission of supporting “needy but outstanding Filipino university students in the form of scholarships in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)” with the vision of a sustainable scholarship program in STEM…

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The Feast of the Immaculate Conception Celebrated on December 8

Today, December 8, Catholics around the world celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a solemn holy day honoring the Virgin Mary’s conception without original sin. This important feast is a central belief in the Catholic Church and highlights Mary’s unique role in salvation history as the mother of Jesus Christ. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854, asserts that Mary was preserved from the stain of original sin from the moment of her conception. This privilege was granted through the merits of Jesus…

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