ENFiD-Austria Joins D2D 11.0 with ACP and FilCom Leaders in Athens, Greece

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Athens, Greece — 29 March 2025 — In a landmark gathering of Filipino migrant leaders, the European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD) held its 11th “Diaspora to Dialogue” (D2D 11.0) Talk Series in Athens, Greece. Held at the Pinoy Fitness Dance Studio on Alistratis 3 in Ambelokipi, the event was themed “Filipinos in Greece: Strong, Resilient, United” and marked the first-ever D2D in Greece—a promising step toward establishing ENFiD-Greece. The event was spearheaded by ENFiD Vice Chairperson Jeffrey Morales (ENFiD-Germany) in close cooperation with Accredited Community Partners (ACP) and Filipino…

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Austria: Passport, driving license and other documents will be more expensive

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Austria has to make savings, and several things will become significantly more expensive. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) presented the double budget for 2025 and 2026 on Tuesday. Around a third of the savings will be made on the revenue side, which means that several things will become more expensive, such as the fees for the e-card or those for documents such as passports, driving licenses, etc. But because the subsidies for the climate ticket are also being cut back, people will also have to dig deeper into their pockets…

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Foot and Mouth diesease: Protective measures expected to end on May 20

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In all likelihood, the measures to protect against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) will end on May 20. Accordingly, border controls and army assistance missions are to be ended if no further cases occur, as the office of the responsible State Secretary Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ) confirmed an ORF report on Tuesday. “Farmers are sitting on pins and needles”However, a spokesperson for the State Secretary told APA that the final decision will not be made until next week. An ORF report confirmed on Tuesday that the minor crossings that were closed to Slovakia…

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Philippine Embassy in Vienna Concludes Smooth Digital Election Process

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Vienna, Austria – May 12, 2025 – The overseas voting process at the Philippine Embassy in Vienna concluded smoothly as the Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) officially closed the polls at 1:00 PM today, May 12, 2025. Despite a slight delay in the arrival of necessary election paraphernalia—including SIM cards and USB routers—the digital voting and counting proceeded efficiently, yielding results within hours. Consul General Zoilo Velasco, chairman of the SBOC, convened the board at 9:00 AM to oversee the proceedings. Poll watchers from various Filipino political parties were present…

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Currents of Healing: Mar Balcos on Art Aqua, Heritage, and Resilience

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Mar Balcos, a Filipino artist whose life journey has been shaped by the powerful duality of water, as a source of childhood joy and enduring trauma, emerges as a profound voice in the intersection of art, mental health, and environmental advocacy. In this candid conversation with the Austrian Press, Mar reflects on the personal experiences that inspired the creation of ‘Art Aqua,’ a project that connects the therapeutic flow of art with the essence of water, drawing deeply from the rich cultural heritage of Palawan. From using art as a…

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ENFiD-Austria Recognized at WFWP Global Women’s Peace Network Event

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Vienna, Austria—3 April 2025— The European Network of Filipino Diaspora-Austria (ENFiD-Austria), represented by its chairperson, Maria Zelda Rojas, and press relations officer and ENFiD board director, Sarah Jozelle Rojas, presented a compelling narrative report on their participation in the WFWPI Advocacy Training Workshop held in New York on 8-9 March 2025. Organized by the Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI), the workshop brought together 60 +/- global leaders and advocates from 17 countries to deepen their understanding of peacebuilding, policy influence, gender equity, rights, and empowerment, and the ethical…

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Will Pope Leo XIV renounce his salary?

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As Pope Leo XIV assumes his historic role, a practical but symbolic question looms: will he accept the salary formally due to the Bishop of Rome? According to the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, the answer is as yet uncertain, but it could give an indication of the style of his pontificate. The Vatican provides for all the Pope’s material needs, including accommodation, food, health care, travel, and security. In purely technical terms, the Pope is entitled to a monthly salary of around 2,500 euros. However, this sum is largely symbolic…

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Border controls with Hungary and Slovenia to be extended

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Border controls with Hungary and Slovenia will be extended for six months on Monday. This was announced by the Ministry of the Interior (BMI) on Sunday. It is a “necessary measure to deter the smuggling mafia,” it said. “The goal is clear: to push illegal migration towards zero,” ÖVP Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said. Border and near-border controls are essential factors in this. There has already been a massive reduction in apprehensions. The controls at these borders have been in place since the fall of 2015. “At the Austrian-Hungarian border…

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Less is more: Why you only need soap in five places

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Dermatologists repeatedly emphasize this: too much soap can damage the skin. If you sweat little and do not come into contact with dirt, cleansing every two to three days is sufficient. Dr. Uta Schlossberger, a dermatologist from Cologne, recommends proper skin care in an article on t-online and explains that soap is only necessary on five body parts, as reported by t-online. According to Schlossberger, soaps should only be used for hands, feet, armpits, and the front and rear sweat channels on the upper body, i.e., the middle of the…

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