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 Four people were thrown out of the first Eurovision Song Contest semi-final, which saw attempts to disrupt Israel's performance, organisers said Wednesday.afp https://www.thelocal.at/20260513/four-removed-from-eurovision-semi-final-in-austria-after-israel-performance-disruption Wed, 13 May 2026 16:27:59 +0200 four-removed-from-eurovision-semi-final-in-austria-after-israel-performance-disruption The rules of the Eurovision Song Contest have evolved to keep pace with technological, artistic and geopolitical changes over the past 70 years. https://www.thelocal.at/20260508/esc-vienna-how-the-eurovision-song-contest-works Fri, 08 May 2026 09:40:14 +0200 esc-vienna-how-the-eurovision-song-contest-works The US has given the European Union an ultimatum - grant access to sensitive police data or else lose access to visa-free travel for EU citizens. https://www.thelocal.at/20260506/us-threatens-to-scrap-eu-visa-waivers-over-data-sharing-demands Wed, 06 May 2026 12:42:51 +0200 us-threatens-to-scrap-eu-visa-waivers-over-data-sharing-demands Austria will sign an agreement with Uzbekistan next month to facilitate deportations, including to Afghanistan via the central Asian country, the interior ministry said. https://www.thelocal.at/20260430/austria-plans-deal-with-uzbekistan-on-afghan-deportations Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:46:16 +0200 austria-plans-deal-with-uzbekistan-on-afghan-deportations Austria is sketching out savings on taxes, AMS support and family payments, but not everything is fixed. Which measures look most concrete so far? https://www.thelocal.at/20260429/what-could-change-for-families-and-jobseekers-under-austrias-2027-28-budget-plan Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:40:38 +0200 what-could-change-for-families-and-jobseekers-under-austrias-2027-28-budget-plan Austria’s minimum income benefit is always under scrutiny. But for thousands in Vienna, it’s a lifeline - here’s how the system really works. https://www.thelocal.at/20250414/explained-what-is-austrias-minimum-income-support-and-who-can-get-it-in-vienna Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:39:52 +0200 explained-what-is-austrias-minimum-income-support-and-who-can-get-it-in-vienna Austria’s coalition is split over a draft integration law with mandatory measures from day one. The biggest fight is over the proposed criminal penalties. https://www.thelocal.at/20260417/explained-what-austrias-proposed-integration-changes-would-do Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:30:00 +0200 explained-what-austrias-proposed-integration-changes-would-do A new Austria poll suggests EU enlargement is not a problem in itself. The real divide is which countries Austrians want to see join next. https://www.thelocal.at/20260409/which-eu-candidates-do-austrians-support-and-which-do-they-reject Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:02:07 +0200 which-eu-candidates-do-austrians-support-and-which-do-they-reject Austria’s next presidential election is still two years away, but parties are already weighing in on who could succeed the Green Party-backed Alexander Van der Bellen in the Hofburg. https://www.thelocal.at/20260407/why-austrias-2028-presidential-race-is-opening-up-as-van-der-bellen-steps-aside Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:11:54 +0200 why-austrias-2028-presidential-race-is-opening-up-as-van-der-bellen-steps-aside Austria will adjust pensions in January 2026, but the uplift will not be equal for everyone. So who gets full inflation protection, who does not, and why ministers say the model is 'socially balanced'? https://www.thelocal.at/20250912/explained-what-austrias-2026-pension-changes-mean-for-you Fri, 12 Sep 2025 11:46:28 +0200 explained-what-austrias-2026-pension-changes-mean-for-you Austria’s strict citizenship rules mean even a bathroom break or phone call on a bike can be enough to delay or derail your application. https://www.thelocal.at/20250624/four-of-the-strangest-reasons-people-were-denied-austrian-citizenship Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:22:15 +0200 four-of-the-strangest-reasons-people-were-denied-austrian-citizenship Austria's government is tightening rules around mandatory German language courses for refugees and asylum seekers in a bid to boost integration. Here's what you need to know and how all foreign residents could be impacted. https://www.thelocal.at/20260323/german-is-key-what-is-austrias-language-course-reform Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:40:49 +0100 german-is-key-what-is-austrias-language-course-reform Every year, children in Austria, including foreign born infants, must take the MIKA-D test to assess their German skills. But why is this test facing such heavy criticism, and could it soon be reformed? https://www.thelocal.at/20250318/does-austrias-german-test-for-schoolchildren-do-more-harm-than-good Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:22:25 +0100 does-austrias-german-test-for-schoolchildren-do-more-harm-than-good Austria’s neutrality doesn't allow military alliances, but Vienna is pushing for more exercises and access with NATO. Will things change? https://www.thelocal.at/20260311/explained-will-austria-ever-join-nato Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:20:36 +0100 explained-will-austria-ever-join-nato Austria said on Saturday it was moving its embassy in Iran to neighbouring Azerbaijan due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has put Tehran under regular US-Israeli strikes. https://www.thelocal.at/20260308/austria-temporarily-moves-tehran-embassy-to-baku-amid-middle-east-crisis Sun, 08 Mar 2026 09:15:10 +0100 austria-temporarily-moves-tehran-embassy-to-baku-amid-middle-east-crisis Recent headlines suggest welfare payments in Austria can rival low-paid jobs. But when you factor in taxes, rent, and lost pension rights, the reality looks very different. https://www.thelocal.at/20251020/are-austrias-social-benefits-really-more-attractive-than-having-a-job Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:23:55 +0200 are-austrias-social-benefits-really-more-attractive-than-having-a-job Herbert Kickl, leader of the populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) says he expects Austria to head to early national elections in 2028 and claims he is already laying the groundwork for new coalition talks. We look at what foreign residents need to know. https://www.thelocal.at/20260302/explained-why-the-far-right-expects-early-elections-in-austria Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:22:41 +0100 explained-why-the-far-right-expects-early-elections-in-austria Austria's strict dual citizenship rules are putting many foreign residents off from applying for Austrian nationality, readers have revealed. https://www.thelocal.at/20260108/its-a-deal-breaker-foreign-residents-frustrated-by-austrias-strict-dual-citizenship-rules Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:26:19 +0100 its-a-deal-breaker-foreign-residents-frustrated-by-austrias-strict-dual-citizenship-rules Turning the house where Adolf Hitler was born into a police station has raised mixed emotions in his Austrian hometown. https://www.thelocal.at/20260221/austria-turns-hitlers-home-into-a-police-station Sat, 21 Feb 2026 16:10:12 +0100 austria-turns-hitlers-home-into-a-police-station A yearly ball organised by Austria's far-right takes place in Vienna - the next one will happen this Friday. What exactly is it and why does it draw so much attention? https://www.thelocal.at/20230223/akademikerball-whats-the-story-behind-viennas-annual-glitzy-ball-for-the-far-right Thu, 23 Feb 2023 13:28:29 +0100 akademikerball-whats-the-story-behind-viennas-annual-glitzy-ball-for-the-far-right