On trend: digital payments are booming like never before!

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In 2024, Austrians made ten percent more payments with Visa cards than in the previous year.Despite the popularity of cash, many see the future of payment as digital: Visa, the global payment giant, reported record-breaking growth figures for Austria in 2024. Consumers are increasingly turning to cards—whether in supermarkets, online stores, restaurants, or even when skiing.Despite their desire to keep cash, Austrians are in a digital payment fever: the number of payment transactions with Visa cards rose by a whopping ten percent last year, while payment volumes increased by eight…

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New deposit rules for plastic bottles and cans in Austria

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New deposit rules: Since February, extended deposit obligations for plastic and glass bottles have been in force in Austria. What is affected, and what remains deposit-free? Since this year, a one-way deposit system has been in place for most plastic bottles and cans in Austria. And as if that wasn’t change enough, the deposit on some glass bottles was also increased at the beginning of February. The new one-way deposit regulation applies to all plastic bottles and cans with a volume between 0.1 and 3 liters. A deposit of 25…

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TARA LET’S! Contemporary Filipino Art Takes Center Stage in Vienna

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Vienna is set to come alive with the colors, textures, and stories of the Philippines as TARA LET’S! Contemporary Filipino Art in Vienna opens its doors to art enthusiasts. Running from 23 March to 29 2025, at CITYgalleryVIENNA, Mahlerstrasse 11, 1010 Wien, this exhibition showcases Filipino talent and cultural expression. From bold abstract pieces to finely detailed realism, TARA, LET’s! highlights the diversity of contemporary Filipino artistry. Visitors will experience a dynamic fusion of traditional and modern techniques, reflecting Filipino artists’ unique narratives and perspectives. Each work tells a story—of…

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Three Vienna subway lines could be extended by 2035

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The City of Vienna is planning extensive subway extensions up to 2035. The “Vienna Plan” provides for examining a further extension of the U2, U3, and U6 lines, which will bring both opportunities and challenges.The “Vienna Plan” regulates urban planning up to 2035 and includes examining possible extensions to Vienna’s subway lines. Planning Director Thomas Madreiter explained in the program “Wien heute” that it will take at least ten years to review the settlement potential and structural feasibility of a subway. In-depth examinations for subway extensions in ViennaAt the forefront…

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Where to find the best tap water in the world

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The travel insurance company AllClear has set out to find the best-tasting tap water based on Reddit comments. Not every country is lucky enough to have high-quality tap water like Austria. But despite the high spring water from the Alps, our water is not the best in the world. At least, that was the conclusion of a study by travel insurance company AllClear.Almost 2,000 comments about tap water on Reddit were analyzed. The aim is to filter out the most popular travel destinations where tourists enjoy the best-tasting tap water.…

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15 degrees and more: the spring sun is now returning

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Tuesday: Sunny, but still coolThere will be widespread sunshine on Tuesday. In the morning, there will still be some residual clouds in the western valleys, and during the day, some spring clouds will develop, especially in the eastern half of the country. However, it will remain dry, and the clouds will disperse towards the evening. The wind will blow briskly from the east to northeast, especially in the Innviertel and around Lake Constance. After a frosty morning, temperatures will rise to 4 to 12 degrees during the day, with the…

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From today: 100 euro electricity bonus for Viennese households

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From today, 17 March, around 130,000 low-income households in Vienna will be able to apply for the EUR 100 compensation bonus from Wien Energie. This measure is intended to cushion the impact of the abolition of the electricity price brake and provide relief for directly affected customers. Who is eligible?Wien Energie electricity customers exempt from the ORF household tax are eligible. The credit will be offset directly against upcoming installments or outstanding invoices. The bonus can be claimed once per customer. There are three ways to apply: Online In person:…

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Pope Francis: “God will not abandon me”

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During the Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis declared that he was experiencing a “time of trial”. “I am in a time of trial and am united with many sick brothers and sisters who are as fragile as I am at this moment,” the Pope wrote in the Angelus prayer, which was published in written form as in previous weeks. “Our bodies are weak, but nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being luminous signs of hope for one another in faith. How much light shines in this…

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Five years after the first lockdown – traces of the pandemic in Austria

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The first nationwide coronavirus lockdown occurred in Austria on 16 March 2020. Public life was drastically restricted to contain the spread of the virus. Exactly five years ago today, on 16 March 2020, the first nationwide corona lockdown was enacted in Austria to curb the spread of the disease. Austria went into a state of emergency that was to last for several months. Nobody knew the effects at the time. Measures in AustriaThe first corona death was reported on 12 March 2020, and four days later the first lockdown was…

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