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 As spring arrives and temperatures slowly rise again across Austria, there are a few German words and expressions that could come in handy soon. https://www.thelocal.at/20220411/nine-german-expressions-that-perfectly-sum-up-spring-in-austria Mon, 11 Apr 2022 17:54:57 +0200 nine-german-expressions-that-perfectly-sum-up-spring-in-austria Despite claims that the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) border checks would be "fully operational" by April 10th, many airports have reported disruption and some Channel ports don't even have the technology for full rollout yet. https://www.thelocal.at/20260411/full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:56:38 +0200 full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption A hike on a route near Salzburg that was closed for winter ended in a helicopter rescue. The young hikers from the UK and Australia who were wearing summer clothes were found in a state of hypothermia. https://www.thelocal.at/20260410/why-mountain-hikes-in-austria-can-still-be-dangerous-in-spring Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:32:38 +0200 why-mountain-hikes-in-austria-can-still-be-dangerous-in-spring The price of diesel fuel has rocketed by more than 30 percent across Europe since the start of the Middle East war highlighting the continent's dependence on imported energy and the lingering prominence of diesel on the car market. https://www.thelocal.at/20260404/european-drivers-choke-on-rising-diesel-prices Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:17:02 +0200 european-drivers-choke-on-rising-diesel-prices Rescuers in Austria on Saturday found the body of a Slovak man killed in an avalanche -- the 31st death in the country's current ski season, based on a prior toll given by the European Avalanche Warning Service. https://www.thelocal.at/20260404/31st-avalanche-death-in-austrian-alps Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:41:03 +0200 31st-avalanche-death-in-austrian-alps Spain and four other European Union nations have called for a tax on windfall profits of energy companies in response to rising fuel prices due to the Middle East war, Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said Saturday. https://www.thelocal.at/20260404/five-eu-nations-urge-tax-on-energy-firms-windfall-profits Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:12:23 +0200 five-eu-nations-urge-tax-on-energy-firms-windfall-profits Good Friday is not a general public holiday in Austria, but some bank transfers will still be delayed from Friday until Tuesday, April 7th, because the European payment system is closed over Easter. https://www.thelocal.at/20260403/bank-transfers-in-austria-delayed-over-the-easter-weekend Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:26:14 +0200 bank-transfers-in-austria-delayed-over-the-easter-weekend The number of people acquiring the citizenship of a European country has increased massively compared to a decade ago. Experts say that the trend has accelerated in recent years due various factors. https://www.thelocal.at/20260403/why-more-and-more-people-are-acquiring-citizenship-in-european-countries Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:09:12 +0200 why-more-and-more-people-are-acquiring-citizenship-in-european-countries The German word 'Wanderlust' means "the desire to travel" and is used even in other languages. Here are some of the other words commonly used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to describe aspects of travel. https://www.thelocal.at/20220506/language-six-german-expressions-to-entice-your-wanderlust Fri, 06 May 2022 16:01:30 +0200 language-six-german-expressions-to-entice-your-wanderlust A landmark agreement has been reached by the European Parliament and Council on the reform of EU rules around customs that include new measures to tackle e-commerce from non-EU countries. What will it mean for consumers? https://www.thelocal.at/20260402/shein-temu-why-european-consumers-will-pay-more-for-cheap-online-orders Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:38:55 +0200 shein-temu-why-european-consumers-will-pay-more-for-cheap-online-orders European airports and airlines organisations issued on Monday the latest warning about the next implementation phase of the EU's new biometric border system, “as the transition phase comes to an end right in the travel peak of the Easter holidays.” https://www.thelocal.at/20260330/european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:31:07 +0200 european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms The UK government is set to further increase the cost of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travellers from Europe, coinciding with the implementation of tougher entry rules. https://www.thelocal.at/20260207/uk-to-hike-price-of-electronic-travel-authorisation-for-foreign-travellers Sat, 07 Feb 2026 10:19:47 +0100 uk-to-hike-price-of-electronic-travel-authorisation-for-foreign-travellers After months of complaints about impossible waits, dozens of new ID Austria appointments have appeared for foreign nationals in Vienna, offering a rare chance to renew access before expiring certificates start locking people out of digital services. https://www.thelocal.at/20260330/dozens-of-new-id-austria-appointments-open-up-for-foreigners-in-vienna Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:01:28 +0200 dozens-of-new-id-austria-appointments-open-up-for-foreigners-in-vienna Public nudity is a part of Austrian culture, from FKK beaches to "textile free" spas. We want to hear what you think about it. https://www.thelocal.at/20260327/tell-us-what-do-you-think-about-austrias-attitude-to-public-nudity Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:01:23 +0100 tell-us-what-do-you-think-about-austrias-attitude-to-public-nudity A huge shipment of Nestle's crunchy KitKat chocolate bars was stolen in Europe, the brand said, warning that the heist risked causing shortages in stores right before Easter. https://www.thelocal.at/20260329/over-12-tonnes-of-new-kitkat-chocolate-range-stolen-in-europe Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:14:52 +0200 over-12-tonnes-of-new-kitkat-chocolate-range-stolen-in-europe Austria's workforce has grown significantly in the last 20 years, with a large increase in foreign residents joining. But experts say it will shrink in future if action is not taken to address the country's skilled labour shortage. https://www.thelocal.at/20260316/how-foreigners-are-helping-drive-austrias-workforce Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:59:43 +0100 how-foreigners-are-helping-drive-austrias-workforce Austria’s coalition government has agreed to introduce a social media ban for children under 14, after days of negotiations over how the measure would work. https://www.thelocal.at/20260327/austria-agrees-plan-to-ban-social-media-for-children-under-14 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:41:28 +0100 austria-agrees-plan-to-ban-social-media-for-children-under-14 The British government has alerted UK tourists travelling to the Schengen area around Easter about the full implementation of EU’s new Entry/Exit border system (EES), urging travellers to allow additional time for journeys. https://www.thelocal.at/20260327/uk-warns-of-easter-travel-delays-to-due-to-new-eu-border-checks Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:40:25 +0100 uk-warns-of-easter-travel-delays-to-due-to-new-eu-border-checks Austria’s ban on headscarves for girls under 14 in schools has drawn criticism from rights groups and experts ahead of its planned introduction in September. https://www.thelocal.at/20260327/austrian-headscarf-ban-for-schoolgirls-triggers-protests-and-legal-concerns Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:05:01 +0100 austrian-headscarf-ban-for-schoolgirls-triggers-protests-and-legal-concerns Vienna plans sand-yellow cycle zones and new crossing points on the Ring. Find out what changes first, and how car access is meant to work https://www.thelocal.at/20260326/how-changes-to-viennas-ringstrasse-are-set-to-affect-drivers-and-commuters Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:50:15 +0100 how-changes-to-viennas-ringstrasse-are-set-to-affect-drivers-and-commuters