Austria Relaunches Repair Bonus as “Device Saver Bonus”
Austria relaunches its repair program as the “Device Saver Bonus” in December, focusing on household items with a €30M annual budget.
Vienna Insurance Group Buys Nürnberger For €1.38 Billion
Vienna Insurance Group acquires German insurer Nürnberger for up to €1.38B, its largest deal ever, expanding into Germany’s market.
Government to Ban E-Mopeds From Bike Paths Under New Traffic Law
Austria’s new traffic law bans e-mopeds from bike paths, adds helmet rules for e-bikes and scooters, and allows camera-based traffic control.
Serial Burglar Robs Seniors In Vienna, Stealing €600,000
Vienna police arrested a 49-year-old serial burglar accused of stealing seniors’ keys and looting homes, causing €600,000 in damage.
René Benko Sentenced to Two Years in Prison For Fraud
Ex-tycoon René Benko sentenced to two years in prison for fraudulent bankruptcy; acquitted in rent case but guilty over €300K gift.
200 Complaints Filed Against Supermarkets For Misleading Discounts
Vienna fined supermarkets for false price labels and missing discounts after 1,200 inspections; major chains increased profits by 60%.
Vienna Plans €2 Billion Savings To Cut 2026 Budget Deficit
Vienna plans €2B in savings for 2026 to cut its deficit to €2.65B, with fee hikes and reforms but no cuts to free kindergartens or schools.
Ikea Austria Fined €1.5M For Filming Shoppers’ PIN Entries
Ikea fined €1.5M in Austria for illegal video surveillance at its Vienna store, accused of filming shoppers and their PIN entries.
René Benko Pleads Not Guilty in Innsbruck Fraud Trial
Signa founder René Benko goes on trial in Innsbruck for allegedly hiding €660K from creditors; prosecutors seek up to 10 years’ jail.
AMS Chief: Red-White-Red Card Won’t Fix Labor Market Gaps
AMS chief Johannes Kopf warns Austria can’t fix labor shortages with immigration alone and urges better use of refugees and AI tools.
Bright Comet Lemmon to Light Up October Skies in Europe
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) will be visible from mid-October, reaching magnitude 3 brightness and glowing faintly to the naked eye.
Parship Survey: 62% Of Singles In Austria Live Alone
A Parship survey shows 62% of Austrian singles live alone, while nearly half under 30 still live with parents and 17% struggle with rent.
New Housing Package Faces Heavy Criticism in Review
Austria’s new rent reform faces strong criticism: business groups warn of housing risks, while unions and tenants say it falls short.
University of Vienna Ranks 95th in World Ranking
The University of Vienna ranks 95th in the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Ranking — Austria’s first-ever top 100 placement.
Vienna: Driver Gets 3.5 Years For Ramming Police Car
A 33-year-old Vienna driver was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison after a police chase where he rammed an officer and caused a crash.
Vienna Airport Begins Rollout Of EU Entry/Exit System
The launch of the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is about to begin at Vienna Airport in Schwechat. Starting Sunday, EU member states will gradually introduce the system. The automated IT system records travelers from third countries who intend to stay in the Schengen Area for short periods (up to 90
Wien Energie Raises District Heating Prices For 2025/26
Wien Energie will raise district heating prices for 2025/26 by about €12 a month, citing higher gas, labor, and construction costs.
AK Backs Grid Fee For Power Feeders
Austria’s Chamber of Labor backs grid fees for electricity producers, arguing it ensures fairness and efficient grid use despite criticism.
New Law To Cap Rent Hikes And Extend Lease Terms In 2026
Austria’s rent reform will cap rent hikes, introduce value protection for leases, and extend minimum contract terms starting in 2026.
Bank Austria Survey: Austrians Show Growing Interest in Stocks
Bank Austria survey shows rising Austrian interest in stocks, with 42% interested and 37% owning securities, up from last year.
Austria’s Agri-Trade Deficit Surpasses €1.3 Billion
Austria’s agri-trade deficit hit €1.3B in 2025 as imports rose faster than exports, with Germany remaining its top export market.
€1M Tax Fraud Found In Austria’s Luxury Car Market
Austria’s Office for Combating Fraud uncovered a €1M tax fraud scheme in the luxury car parts trade, involving forged documents and fake invoices.
Austria Reports 99.6% Success Rate In Siren Warning Test
Austria’s civil protection test saw 8,327 sirens working flawlessly and a nationwide AT-Alert broadcast, achieving a 99.6% success rate.
Holzleitner Proposes Service Requirement For Med Students
Austria’s Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner proposes that medical graduates of public universities work in the public health system.
The International Talks: Where Successful Migrants Connect
On 21–22 November 2025, Vienna will host the first edition of The International Talks, a two-day conference dedicated to connecting expats.
Defective Vienna U1 Train Causes Smoke, No Injuries
A defective Vienna U1 subway train caused smoke and evacuations Thursday evening. No injuries reported; service resumed after checks.
Nationwide Siren And AT-ALERT Test Planned For October 4
Austria will test 180 Vienna sirens and the nationwide AT-ALERT system on October 4, 2025, to check readiness and inform the public.
Austria’s First Littering Report Shows 15,000 Tons Of Waste
Austria’s first littering report shows 15,000 tons of waste yearly, with cigarette butts leading and cleanup costs hitting €200 million.
Unemployment in Austria Rises to Over 375,000 in September
Austria’s unemployment rose to 7% in September, with 375,120 registered jobless or in training, marking 30 months of consecutive increases.
Permanent Residency in Austria (Daueraufenthalt – EU) 2025 Guide
Austria’s Daueraufenthalt – EU explained: who qualifies, how it differs from Daueraufenthaltsrecht for EU citizens, plus documents and fees.
How to Get Austrian Citizenship in 2025: Full Criteria and Checklist
Austrian citizenship 2025: eligibility, documents, tests, renunciation rules, and special routes like spouses and §58c.
Residence Permits in Austria: Full List, Criteria, Documents (2025)
Complete 2025 guide to Austrian residence permits with criteria and document checklists.
Frequentis Stock Surges 22% Amid European Drone Threats
Frequentis shares rose 22% to €74 as NATO weighs a drone wall for Europe. Analysts expect more defense orders for the Vienna-based firm.
Vienna Police Dress As Superheroes For Kids At Hospital
Vienna police dressed as superheroes rappelled from a hospital roof to surprise sick children at AKH, bringing joy and gifts to patients.
Disability Mobility Subsidy Cut to €335 in Austria
Austria will halve the disability mobility allowance to €335 in 2025, citing budget cuts. Critics warn people with disabilities rely on it.
OMV Starts Building €700M Hydrogen Plant In Austria
OMV begins building a €700M hydrogen plant in Austria, set to produce 23,000 tons annually by 2027 and cut emissions at its Schwechat refinery.
ÖGK Chief Opposes WKÖ Call For Tougher Sick Leave Checks
ÖGK chairman Andreas Huss rejects WKÖ’s demand for stricter sick leave checks, saying broad suspicion of employees is unacceptable.
Herbert Kickl Re-Elected FPÖ Leader With Record 96.9%
Herbert Kickl was re-elected FPÖ leader with 96.9% of votes in Salzburg, his best result yet, vowing to become “people’s chancellor.”
Paris-Vienna Night Train Faces Cancellation In December
The Paris-Vienna and Paris-Berlin night trains face cancellation in December after France cut subsidies, sparking protests and a petition.
Austria Deploys First Data Sniffer Dogs For Police Work
Austria’s police deployed five trained data sniffer dogs to detect digital evidence, cash, and documents, aiding cybercrime investigations.
EU Makes Instant Bank Transfers Mandatory From October 9
From October 9, EU banks must offer instant transfers and check IBAN-name matches, aiming to fight fraud and boost payment security.
Austria Plans €500M Fund-Of-Funds To Boost Start-Ups
Austria plans a €300–500M start-up fund-of-funds to attract private investment, with the state as anchor investor and EU-wide scope.
RBI And EU Banks To Launch Euro Stablecoin In 2026
Raiffeisen Bank International and eight EU banks plan to launch a euro-backed Stablecoin in 2026 under MiCAR rules, offering a European payment alternative.
Study: Three Whitening Toothpastes Offer Little Cavity Shield
A test of 17 whitening toothpastes found three offered little cavity protection; some were downgraded for titanium dioxide and other risks.
New Rules For Freelancer in Austria From 2026
Austria will introduce new labor rules in 2026, allowing collective agreements and notice periods for freelance service workers.
Ex-SOS Children’s Village Worker Suspected Of Abuse
A former SOS Children’s Village worker in Seekirchen is under investigation for allegedly abusing two girls and mistreating a boy.
Trump At UN: Europe “Going To Hell,” Criticizes Austria
At the UN, Trump warned Europe of migration “overrun,” criticized Austria’s prisons, rejected Palestine recognition, and urged action on Russia.
Metal Industry Reaches Wage Agreement For 190,000 Workers
Austria’s 190,000 metalworkers won a two-year pay deal with wage hikes of up to 2.1%, one-time payments, and options for extra time off.
Driver Without License Flees Vienna Police At 180 Km/h
A 24-year-old without a license fled Vienna police at 180 km/h, endangering pedestrians and running red lights before abandoning the car.
Moose “Emil” Tranquilized Near Autobahn A1, Released In Forest
Moose Emil was tranquilized near Austria’s A1 highway and released in the Bohemian Forest. Animal groups call for more wildlife corridors.
Casual
Friday
Update
Every Friday afternoon – a round up of of the most important news of the past seven days in your inbox. FREE!