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 In this week's episode of The Local's Europe-wide podcast, Lee Roden looks at what the future might hold for Catalonia. https://www.thelocal.at/20171027/theres-no-safe-option-in-catalonia-now Fri, 27 Oct 2017 19:22:58 +0200 theres-no-safe-option-in-catalonia-now The benches in front of Salzburg train station have been removed in a move by the city government to discourage homeless people, beggars and drug addicts from congregating near the station. https://www.thelocal.at/20161006/salzburg-removes-benches-from-train-station-to-get-rid-of-beggars-and-drunks Thu, 06 Oct 2016 12:45:13 +0200 salzburg-removes-benches-from-train-station-to-get-rid-of-beggars-and-drunks A beggar in Austria is being fined €38,000 for repeatedly begging with a child, despite critics saying the heavy fine is “unlawful” and unrealistic. https://www.thelocal.at/20160822/romanian-faces-38000-fine-for-begging-in-austria Mon, 22 Aug 2016 11:11:23 +0200 romanian-faces-38000-fine-for-begging-in-austria An attempt by Salzburg police to claim saying ‘please, please’ amounted to aggressive begging has failed after four beggars took their case to court and won. https://www.thelocal.at/20160525/salzburg-court-sides-with-beggars-over-police-fine Wed, 25 May 2016 12:34:43 +0200 salzburg-court-sides-with-beggars-over-police-fine Officials in the Austrian city of Dornbirn have come under fire another child beggar was illegally threatened with jail just months after authorities promised it would not happen again. https://www.thelocal.at/20160330/austrias-child-beggars-illegally-threatened-with-jail Wed, 30 Mar 2016 12:38:45 +0200 austrias-child-beggars-illegally-threatened-with-jail The governor of Vorarlberg, Austria’s westernmost state, has said that Roma people should be sent back to Romania as they have no interest in learning German or integrating into Austrian society. https://www.thelocal.at/20151202/roma-in-vorarlberg-not-interested-in-integrating Wed, 02 Dec 2015 13:00:42 +0100 roma-in-vorarlberg-not-interested-in-integrating Green politicians and even the police have expressed concern that a new draft law on begging in the Austrian state of Styria is too draconian. https://www.thelocal.at/20151112/police-say-new-begging-law-is-too-strict Thu, 12 Nov 2015 12:41:35 +0100 police-say-new-begging-law-is-too-strict Authorities in Dornbirn, Vorarlberg have begun to clear an illegal Roma camp by the Ach river. https://www.thelocal.at/20151109/police-evict-roma-camp-in-dornbirn-austria Mon, 09 Nov 2015 10:56:05 +0100 police-evict-roma-camp-in-dornbirn-austria The human rights group Plattform für Menschenrechte is to appeal against Salzburg’s ban on begging, which was introduced earlier this month. https://www.thelocal.at/20150629/rights-group-launches-legal-case-against-begging-ban Mon, 29 Jun 2015 14:00:10 +0200 rights-group-launches-legal-case-against-begging-ban The city of Salzburg has confirmed that it will outlaw begging in many parts of the city centre, as well as in markets and cemeteries. The local government will agree on the terms of the ban by May 20th. https://www.thelocal.at/20150417/salzburg-city-to-introduce-begging-ban Fri, 17 Apr 2015 12:30:25 +0200 salzburg-city-to-introduce-begging-ban Vienna's police have launched two major initiatives to target burglars and crack down on aggressive beggars in the run up to Christmas and the New Year. https://www.thelocal.at/20141205/police-christmas-crack-down-in-vienna Fri, 05 Dec 2014 11:40:00 +0100 police-christmas-crack-down-in-vienna A Bulgarian man has been sentenced to two years in prison for people trafficking after forcing a 75-year-old double amputee to beg in Vienna. https://www.thelocal.at/20141203/bulgarian-trio-forced-amputee-to-beg-in-vienna Wed, 03 Dec 2014 13:28:00 +0100 bulgarian-trio-forced-amputee-to-beg-in-vienna A Colombian con artist who distracted bank employees in Austria and stole cash amounting to €184,000 has been sentenced to two years in prison. https://www.thelocal.at/20140829/colombian-con-artist-stole-from-austrian-banks Fri, 29 Aug 2014 18:29:00 +0200 colombian-con-artist-stole-from-austrian-banks A Romanian couple who forced a disabled Romanian man to beg in Vienna are on trial for human trafficking. https://www.thelocal.at/20140828/disabled-romanian-forced-to-beg-in-vienna Thu, 28 Aug 2014 17:34:45 +0200 disabled-romanian-forced-to-beg-in-vienna Have you ever been asked to buy an Augustin paper at one of Vienna’s train stations, or whilst sitting at a cafe, and wondered about the story of the person trying to sell it to you? Or been annoyed when they wouldn’t take no for an answer? https://www.thelocal.at/20140818/why-beggars-are-a-problem-for-viennas-street-magazine Mon, 18 Aug 2014 18:43:00 +0200 why-beggars-are-a-problem-for-viennas-street-magazine The Local's media insider muses on Austria's frequent calls to ban begging. https://www.thelocal.at/20140808/eine-frage Fri, 08 Aug 2014 17:15:00 +0200 eine-frage The Tyrolean branch of the Freedom Party (FPÖ) waded into the debate over 'beggar mischief' in Innsbruck with an unusual approach. They hired a private detective to investigate the activity of the city's beggars, and claimed to have confirmed a few suspicions. https://www.thelocal.at/20140708/private-detective-snoops-on-begging-mafia Tue, 08 Jul 2014 16:14:00 +0200 private-detective-snoops-on-begging-mafia Begging is seen as an increasing problem in Austria’s cities, and some provinces are trying to tackle the issue with social measures. https://www.thelocal.at/20140703/austrias-begging-problem Thu, 03 Jul 2014 14:52:00 +0200 austrias-begging-problem