Oktoberfest Brings Austrian and Filipino Communities Together at Kaiserwiesen

Vienna’s Kaiserwiesen at Praterstern turned into a sea of music, laughter, and clinking beer steins this weekend as Oktoberfest returned in full swing. Thousands of visitors gathered under the festive tents, dressed in colorful dirndls and lederhosen, ready to celebrate one of Austria’s most beloved traditions. What stood out this year was the strong presence of the Filipino community. Many Filipinos living in Vienna and across Austria join the celebrations, embracing the festival with enthusiasm. Sporting traditional Austrian attire—dirndls in bright colors and intricately detailed lederhosen—they dance to live folk…

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More and more people in Austria are ill, mainly due to the new XFG coronavirus variant

Most people have probably already noticed, whether at work, at school, among friends, or even within their own families, that many are currently suffering from a runny nose, cough, sore throat, or even fever, and are laid up. Sick leave figures have increased. This is due to the classic cold viruses (rhinoviruses), which are still dominating the infection situation at present, but also to the coronavirus. In recent weeks, a new variant called XFG “Stratus” has taken over. It is a BA.2.86 descendant of the Omicron family, which is rapidly…

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You should always unplug these 3 devices at night – everyone has them at home

Nighttime is probably the best time to actively save electricity. That’s when you’re least likely to notice that your electrical appliances are not in use. However, it’s also particularly important to be aware that there are energy guzzlers in your household for which this method is highly recommended. Energy guzzlers in the household: Pay attention to three devices Just because you’re asleep doesn’t mean your electrical appliances are too. On the contrary, standby mode, unused plugs, and the like ensure that energy continues to flow at night. You’re sure to…

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New SMS scam threatens more and more cell phone users

“Wrong number” SMS messages are a growing scam trend. Here’s how to recognize the scam and protect yourself from significant financial losses. A short message, seemingly sent at random, appears completely harmless at first glance. But it is precisely this opening line – “Hey, are you Sarah?” or similarly banal questions – that is the start of a scam that is currently on the rise worldwide. These so-called “wrong number” text messages are not random occurrences, but part of a systematic method used by criminals to steal personal data, money,…

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Why Viennese residents will receive a warning on their cell phones on October 4

On Saturday, October 4, an Austria-wide civil defense test alarm will take place. In addition to the sirens, the AT-Alert cell phone warning system will also be activated in Vienna. On Saturday, October 4, 2025, sirens will sound throughout Austria between 12:00 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. – including in Vienna. In addition, people in the federal capital will once again receive a warning message directly on their cell phones this year. The reason for this is the AT-Alert system, which has been an integral part of the test alarm since…

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Italy brings new super train to Austria

On Friday, Italian State Railways (FS—Ferrovie dello Stato) unveiled its latest high-speed train, the “Frecciarossa 1000.” The train, which can reach speeds of over 300 kilometers per hour, is capable of operating not only in Italy but also on seven European rail networks in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Spain. The new train will officially go into service this coming Sunday. With an investment of over €1.3 billion, 36 Frecciarossa 1000 trains will be delivered, with an option for a further ten and a delivery schedule of…

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More and more food is ending up in the trash in Austria

Austrian households are throwing away more and more food. According to a survey by Iglo Austria, which was presented on Thursday on International Day Against Food Waste, 80 percent of respondents said they throw food away. In 2023, the figure was 68 percent. According to the survey, 18- to 29-year-olds in particular frequently throw away food. Ninety percent of this age group disposed of food in the last three months. Among 40- to 49-year-olds, the figure is 80 percent. The proportion among the over-60s is lowest at 67 percent. The…

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New Vienna tram line 27 will connect Floridsdorf and Donaustadt from October

From October, the new tram line 27 will connect Floridsdorf with Aspern Nord. Six new stops, climate-friendly planning, and quick transfers are set to ease the burden on thousands of passengers. Groundbreaking ceremony for line 27 The new tram line 27 will go into operation in Vienna on October 6. It connects Floridsdorf with Donaustadt, creating a new cross-connection in the northeast of Vienna. From Strebersdorf, the 27 runs along the existing route of line 26 to Prinzgasse, then continues on a 2.4-kilometer-long new section to the new terminus at…

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Is Europe spending too much time online? These are the countries that spend the most time on the internet

Millions of people spend most of their time online, new global data shows. In a survey of 24 countries—including ten in Europe—an average of 28% of people said they use the internet almost constantly. The findings come at a time of growing concern about screen addiction, as studies have found that excessive screen time can increase the risk of emotional and behavioral problems in children. The proportion of those who are online almost constantly was highest in Japan (56%) and South Korea (49%) and lowest in Nigeria (13%) and Greece…

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