News

A look at Austria's complex system of quality media, tabloid papers and government funding – and how it is evolving.

At the centre of this investigation: ÖVP insider Thomas Schmid, investor Siegfried Wolf and a dubious tax remission of €630,000.

In this special exhibition, the Literaturmuseum explores how both Stefan Zweig and his stories travelled across the world.

The IAEA's Rafael Mariano Grossi asserted the agency's political neutrality amid hopes that the Iran nuclear deal might be revived.

Everything you need to know about the tax reform passed on Wednesday, a signature project of the turquoise-green coalition.

An explanation of the complicated history behind a small museum, the new interior minister and the collective memory of Austrofascism.

From sharing a royal cake to speaking with animals: Here are five European Christmas traditions to get you in the mood for holiday season!

The new chancellor Karl Nehammer also has confirmed that the coronavirus lockdown will end on the coming weekend. "The opening will take place". It was only a question of how.

More than 40,000 took to the streets of Vienna on Saturday to protest the ongoing lockdown and the planned vaccine mandate.

Right-wing Freedom Party Dagmar Belakowitsch caused outrage by claiming that hospitals are filled with people with vaccination "damage".

Under Kurz, the ÖVP’s success was so unprecedented that the party appeared inseparable from him. That was an illusion.

The French newspaper "Liberation" raises serious allegations against Austria's EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP).

Following Sebastian Kurz’s withdrawal from political life and chancellor Alexander Schallenberg’s offered resignation, a substantial government reshuffle is taking place.

All the latest news from Austria & Vienna – short, concise, and in English.

Embattled former chancellor says he is stepping back from politics to spend time with his newborn; remains confident the ÖVP will continue to succeed.

Vienna's controversial Lobau Tunnel project has been cancelled. While the mayor and others condemn the move, environmental activists rejoice.

Every year, the InterNations' Expat Insider surveys thousands of expats all over the world, who score their new home countries across several categor...

Omicron is officially in Austria. With vaccine protection and virulence unconfirmed, PCR tests are being upgraded to help track the spread.

The manufacturers of Mozartkugeln have applied for insolvency and hope to keep operating; meanwhile, the Chamber of Labor has stepped in to support unpaid employees.

As the economy recovers, demand is driving energy prices up – increasing heating bills as well as the cost of other goods and services. Austria is encouraging people to heat homes with renewables.

Every year on December 6, St. Nicholas surprises Austrian children with presents - while Krampus threatens with whips. How did this unlikely pair end up working together?

In view of the new coronavirus mutation Omikron, Austria is trying to get them around 200 registered Austrians who are currently on vacation in southern Africa back home.

With sky-high coronavirus levels among children and youth, virologists and educators differ on possible school closures.

In an interview with the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, Linhart said that he was looking forward to getting to know his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov personally.

Just because you're a long way from home doesn't mean you can't enjoy Thanksgiving in Vienna - even during a lockdown.

Despite all efforts, the negotiations and talks about nuclear inspections were without result. Inspectors have not been given access to IAEA surveillance cameras and to a workshop for uranium centrifuges for months.

New research says most victims know the perpetrators - and usually have family ties. Perpetrators need to be punished "with the full force of the law", stated Minister for Women's Affairs Susanne Raab.

Austria announced a nationwide lockdown starting Monday, as well as the introduction of mandatory vaccines from 2022.

Parliamentary immunity was lifted for Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), under investigation for alleged bribery and corruption in the tabloid scandal.

The City of Vienna has brought MA 35, AMS and the Vienna Business Agency’s Expat Center under one roof in what consultant Friedrich Bruckner calls a major “cultural shift”.

Austria's climate commitments, while significant, do not include a phasing out of fossil fuels. Activists say much more is needed to keep global heating in check.

"We all want a safe winter season for our guests, so joint regulations between the involved countries are necessary and sensible", said Minister for Tourism Elisabeth Koestinger.

On Sunday, Metropole brings you a COVID-19 update from Prof. Dr. Florian Krammer, an Austrian virologist who works and teaches at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City.

A country-wide lockdown for unvaccinated people will go into effect at midnight - and other updates.

The European Commission sees higher-than-expected GDP growth in Austria in 2021, but the impact of coming corona measures remains unclear.

Styrian authorities face allegations of environmental corruption: The businesses behind large-scale construction projects may have been allowed to write their own environmental impact reports.

In the pandemic year of 2020, twice as many people reported symptoms of depression - in fact, more than one in five.

According to data from Statistics Austria, 754 insolvencies were reported in the third quarter of 2021, 24.2 percent more than in the third quarter o...

Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) is due to meet with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in Jerusalem, with whom he will visit the Knesset.

Dr. Herta Steinkellner’s work could lead to a new, effective treatment for COVID-19 – and demonstrates the power of plants to produce highly complex human proteins.

Austria manages its own forests carefully, but consumer appetites for soy, beef and palm oil still contribute to global deforestation.

1.22 million people were at risk of poverty in Austria. According to government figures, this was 13.9 percent of the population.

A survey conducted by the Gallup institute and the Medienhaus Vienna found that public trust in media has plummeted following recent political scandals.

Forest fires on a mountainside in Lower Austria started last week and may not be extinguished until the weekend, despite continuous firefighting efforts and international support.

Economic think tank WIFO says the planned tax reform will drive growth in Austria, which should outperform the Eurozone from 2022-2026.

One year on, two-thirds of Austrians are not expecting further terror attacks. At the same time, the government intensifies its activities targeting “political Islam”.

When speaking about the climate crisis at the UN Climate Conference in Glasgow, Alexander Schallenberg reminded everyone that we all need to act together.

With 150,000 people of Bosnian descent in Austria, the community is one of the biggest of the country. Efforts are now underway to get Bosnian Austrians officially recognized by the law as an ethnic group.

Unique to Austria, traditional wine taverns serve each year’s new vintage with a simple buffet, amid the timeless pleasures of convivial conversation among friends. Many are excellent. Here are four of the best Heuriger in and around Vienna to try.

Not everyone in Austria loves Halloween. As editor Binu Starnegg a.k.a. Grumpy McPartypooper would like to explain.

The WIFO Business Climate Index shows that the Austrian businesses are more optimistic this month, despite the pandemic

The opposition NEOS party has accused the center-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) of "systemic corruption" following multiple scandals and the resignation of Sebastian Kurz as chancellor.

Most Austrians consider motorway expansion and other highways development to be at odds with climate goals: 63% are in against it.

A Greenpeace report shows most European short-haul flights can be easily replaced by train journeys - and calls for some routes to be banned

President Van der Bellen spoke on the importance of fighting climate change in his traditional televised speech on Austrian National Day, October 26.

The anti-vaccine party entered the Upper Austrian assembly during the regional elections in September and now plans to run nationwide.

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner criticized the EU and called for more action on a Common Security and Defence Policy

A video of a soldier with a far-right symbol on his helmet found its way into an Austrian army online game. The game has been taken offline.

Around 300 people were vaxxed against corona on Austria's National Day - most of them for the first time - in the "vaccination palace."

Austrian AIDS organisations have called for a de-stigmatisation of HIV-positive people in the criminal justice system.

On Oct. 26, Austria-wide "climate tickets" for trains and other public transportation go into effect - with 70,000 sold already.

Two new polls show most Austrians don’t want Sebastian Kurz back in the federal chancellery – but the ÖVP base remains loyal.

Austria takes pride in its museums. While some only open their doors “gratis” on certain days, others even go so far as never charging.

As of Jan. 1, 2022, a legal pathway for assisted dying in Austria will be available.

When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, 'tis near Halloween.

The Austrian labor minister was in Washington to discuss employment measures and pandemic recovery with his U.S. counterparts..

As in the previous year, the military parade on Austrian national day will largely take place virtually due to the corona pandemic.

The sixth "Vienna Migration Conference" is all about migration partnerships and the focus of this years' discussions was Afghanistan.

od star Matt Dillon, who last caused shivers in Lars von Trier's "The House that Jack Built", is coming as a guest of honor.

The new "Einwegpfand" deposit system aims to encourage consumers to keep their disposable plastic bottles and cans out of the trash - but it won't begin until 2025.

President Alexander Van der Bellen commended the efforts of Greenpeace in a Hofburg palace meeting held on Monday.

According to interviews with several daily newspapers Austria's new Foreign Minister Michael Linhart of center-right Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) plans continuity in Austrian foreign policy.

Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had exchanged "in a friendly atmosphere" on topical issues with regard to the European Council this week.

The Vienna Tourism Board keeps having artworks censored on social media. The solution? Now, Vienna is on OnlyFans.

Insects provide a climate-friendly, high-protein alternative to meat – and producers are betting that ever more consumers will bite in response to the latest buzz.

Interior Minister Karl Nehammer of the conservative People's Party (VP) travelled to the Netherlands on Friday for talks about migration.

Thousands of kindergarten teachers on strike this week said staff and children deserve better conditions - because early childhood education is education.

Foreign Minister Linhart spoke out in favor of the EUFOR peacekeeping force remaining in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He also emphasized the "extremely important task" of the Austrian contingent.

Each of us thrives on our social relationships, knowing our family is safe and healthy and having a routine and productive life. COVID-19 upended eac...

Only three days after his swearing-in ceremony, the new chancellor Alexander Schallenberg travelled to Brussels for his first foreign visit.

Former chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who stepped down last week amid corruption accusations, has joined parliament as head of the ÖVP faction

Opposition says budget draft for 2022, presented by Finance Minister Gernot Blümel on Wednesday, is short-sighted and lacks ambition

In future, people in Austria will receive catastrophe warnings delivered to their cell phones via an SMS emergency system

Finance minister Gernot Bluemel announced momentum in the Austrian economy, and announced a return to "sustainable budget policy" after overcoming the corona crisis.

Viennese scientists find "massive fraud" in Russian elections.

Polling analyst Sabine Beinschab was arrested on Tuesday, October 12 in connection with the Conservative Party (ÖVP) scandal

New Austrian Chancellor speaks: While VP and Greens call for stability, opposition parties see Kurz influence as a democratic threat

Justice minister Zadić and the EU commissioner for Justice Reynders discussed rule of law this Monday amid the ruling party's corruption scandal.

Alexander Schallenberg (Conservative Party, VP) has been sworn in by President Alexander Van der Bellen as the new Chancellor of Austria.

International scientist and curator of the acclaimed meteorite collection at Vienna's Natural History Museum, Ludovic Ferrière is bringing the wonder of shooting stars to the public.

This past week, Austrian politics has once again been at the center of widespread attention. We collected some media reactions from across Europe.

Sebastian Kurz announced today that he will step down as chancellor. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) is tapped to take over.

In 2019, it was a secretly filmed video that broke the coalition between ÖVP and FPÖ. For the ÖVP-Green government, chats may spell the end of the coalition.

The Austrian government is on the brink of collapse following allegations of corruption against chancellor Sebastian Kurz and the ÖVP. Here’s what could come next.

Insightful and heartfelt, the book was honored for its success at capturing the struggles of growing up. 

After the raids Wednesday, October 6, on ÖVP offices and allegations that favorable newspaper coverage was paid for with taxpayer money, the chancellor is under intense political pressure.

The political fall-out continues after Chancellor Kurz and associates are implicated in bribery and corruption allegations

Allegations are coming hard and fast in scandal already dubbed the “Ibiza of the ÖVP“: Chancellor Kurz and tabloid Österreich under extreme scrutiny

"This is supposed to be a positive incentive and not punishment", said Finance Minister Gernot Bluemel on television on Tuesday.

Inflation in Austria is expected to level off by 2022.