https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Austria in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Austria’s new defence minister Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) has said that he wants to extend the length of basic military service to help the army cope with the influx of refugees and migrants. https://www.thelocal.at/20160127/defence-minister-wants-to-extend-military-service-during-refugee-crisis Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:23:59 +0100 defence-minister-wants-to-extend-military-service-during-refugee-crisis Four Austrian soldiers from the Nato-led KFOR mission in Kosovo are being investigated on suspicion of animal cruelty. https://www.thelocal.at/20150730/austrian-kosovo-soldiers-charged-with-animal-cruelty Thu, 30 Jul 2015 16:11:10 +0200 austrian-kosovo-soldiers-charged-with-animal-cruelty Soldiers from Zeltweg barracks in Murtal, Styria are facing serious allegations of drug use and sexual harassment. https://www.thelocal.at/20150506/drug-use-and-sexual-harassment-in-barracks Wed, 06 May 2015 16:44:55 +0200 drug-use-and-sexual-harassment-in-barracks Austria’s Defence Minister is under pressure after it emerged that he used a luxury taxpayer-funded BMW and army chauffeur for a private trip from Zurich to France last week. https://www.thelocal.at/20150423/defence-minister-in-hot-water-after-using-chauffeur-for-private-trip Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:24:43 +0200 defence-minister-in-hot-water-after-using-chauffeur-for-private-trip The Austrian army has withdrawn 100,000 items of aluminium dishware which troops used in the field as they were found to be “significantly scuffed” and concerns were raised about the possible implications for soldiers’ health. https://www.thelocal.at/20150319/austrian-army-withdraws-dangerous-aluminium-dishes Thu, 19 Mar 2015 09:43:12 +0100 austrian-army-withdraws-dangerous-aluminium-dishes The number of men opting to do civil service rather than military service reached a record high in Austria in 2014. https://www.thelocal.at/20150120/more-men-opt-for-social-care-over-guns Tue, 20 Jan 2015 12:49:00 +0100 more-men-opt-for-social-care-over-guns Soldiers in Vienna have been carrying out anti-terrorism training exercises this week - but a report in the Kurier newspaper says that the majority of them didn’t have proper combat helmets or vehicles, and had problems with their radio equipment. https://www.thelocal.at/20141113/anti-terror-exercises-marred-by-lack-of-kit Thu, 13 Nov 2014 13:25:44 +0100 anti-terror-exercises-marred-by-lack-of-kit Austria’s army will be drastically restructured in an effort to cut costs, Defence Minister Gerald Klug (SPÖ) and Chief of Staff Othmar Commendam announced on Friday. https://www.thelocal.at/20141003/army-announces-wide-ranging-cuts Fri, 03 Oct 2014 18:22:46 +0200 army-announces-wide-ranging-cuts A manufacturing fault has been discovered in Austria’s controversial Eurofighter typhoon warplanes, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. https://www.thelocal.at/20141001/defect-found-in-austrias-troubled-eurofighters Wed, 01 Oct 2014 17:43:16 +0200 defect-found-in-austrias-troubled-eurofighters Austria is amending its defence act so that women who have volunteered for military service will now be treated the same as men when it comes to taking part in regular army drills. https://www.thelocal.at/20140924/women-to-have-equal-military-service-rights Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:15:00 +0200 women-to-have-equal-military-service-rights The chief of Austria’s Air Support Command, Brigadier Andreas Putz, has warned that the government’s austerity measures are having a negative effect on disaster relief. https://www.thelocal.at/20140829/army-cuts-affecting-disaster-relief Fri, 29 Aug 2014 17:07:00 +0200 army-cuts-affecting-disaster-relief Leader of the conservative People's Party (ÖVP), Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger, has caused tension between the coalition parties by calling for a financial reform of the Austrian army. https://www.thelocal.at/20140824/spindelegger-calls-for-army-reform Sun, 24 Aug 2014 20:45:00 +0200 spindelegger-calls-for-army-reform The conservative People's Party's (ÖVP) military spokesman Bernd Schönegger has said that he wants to support the Minister of Defence Gerald Klug (Social Democrats/SPÖ), in demanding more money for the Austrian army. https://www.thelocal.at/20140811/austrias-army-needs-more-money Mon, 11 Aug 2014 17:11:00 +0200 austrias-army-needs-more-money A former elite Austrian army soldier is reported to have been arrested in Libya under suspicion of spying, and released after two and a half weeks after diplomatic intervention from Austria. https://www.thelocal.at/20140714/austrian-ex-soldier-arrested-in-libya Mon, 14 Jul 2014 18:22:24 +0200 austrian-ex-soldier-arrested-in-libya