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MewsAustria, Fritz Hahn Gasse 1, Vienna (2025)

05/08/2025

A growing number of Austrians are relying on consumer loans to cover significant or unexpected expenses, according to a new 2025 survey on household fixed costs conducted by Bilendi on behalf of the online comparison platform durchblicker.at.

The study reveals that nearly 40% of Austrians would be unable to afford large unplanned purchases—such as used cars or new furniture—without taking out a loan. One in four respondents is currently repaying one or more instalment loans.

"From our consultations and rising loan sign-ups, it’s clear that consumer credit is increasingly used as a financial stopgap,” said Martin Spona, managing director of durchblicker.at. “However, taking on instalment loans adds to households’ already growing fixed costs.”

Monthly repayments place considerable strain on household finances. Around half of those with loans pay over €370 per month, while nearly one in five faces monthly instalments exceeding €900.

Given Austria’s median gross salary of €55,000 annually, these repayments represent a substantial financial burden. About 25% of respondents admit they frequently struggle to meet their loan obligations, especially with rising interest rates.

Even borrowers with excellent creditworthiness are not spared. For a typical used car loan with a six-year term, the average effective annual interest rate stands at 6.46%, adding €5,496 in interest to the loan’s total cost. Some lenders charge as much as 8.44%, which increases the total to €7,310—over €1,800 more.

“A high interest rate can significantly inflate monthly repayments,” Spona noted. “That’s why interest rates are the most critical factor for borrowers trying to minimise pressure on their budgets.”

He strongly advises comparing multiple offers using independent comparison tools. “A look at platforms like durchblicker.at can help find the right loan among the wide range of offers.”

04/08/2025

Restaurants in Austria are raising prices sharply as soaring ingredient costs put pressure on the hospitality industry, with the country’s signature boiled beef dish, Tafelspitz, now costing diners €5 more than it did in 2023.

In Vienna, some customers were hit with a €1 increase for a veal Wiener Schnitzel this spring after a supplier hiked beef prices by 30%, said Erwin Scheiflinger of the well-known “Bastei Beisl” restaurant.

In Upper Austria, the situation is no different. Michael Wenzel, who runs “Wia z’haus Lehner” in Linz-Urfahr, said rising costs across the board have forced him to update his menu prices. “Food prices have risen enormously,” Wenzel told.

He cited Tafelspitz as a stark example: “In 2023, it cost me €12. Today, I charge €17.” Other staples are also affected — chocolate remains “incredibly expensive,” coffee beans have gone up 7%, and vegetables now cost significantly more.

The price hikes come on top of recent heavy rains that have hit local businesses hard, with some innkeepers reporting daily losses of up to €5,000.

03/08/2025

Peter Filzmaier, one of Austria’s most recognisable political analysts on ORF, has gone public with his new relationship – and it began with a shared passion for sport.

According to reports, the 57-year-old political scientist is now in a relationship with Carola Bendl, the 2024 Austrian women’s marathon champion. Filzmaier joked that he will now have to push himself harder to keep up with his athletic partner, both on and off the track.

The couple first met back in 2013 during Vienna’s Summer Running Cup, where Filzmaier took first place and Bendl came second. “Even though I was second, he gave me his winner’s time,” Bendl recalled in an interview. But it would take more than a decade before their friendship turned into romance.

Their relationship began to develop during the 2024 Linz Marathon, where Bendl was competing and Filzmaier was commentating for ORF. A chance meeting while picking up race numbers – and later at the pre-race party – brought them closer. “It was a bit of a conflict of interest,” Filzmaier laughed, “but I couldn’t exactly drop out halfway.”

Since then, Filzmaier has become Bendl’s self-proclaimed “first fan”, travelling with her to major races including Tokyo, Boston and soon Chicago. The pair also combine holidays with running events.

They describe their relationship as a “long-distance run” – requiring patience, planning and stamina – but with one key difference. “A marathon eventually hurts,” Bendl said. “Our relationship doesn’t.”

The couple are also considering professional collaborations, as both give talks on sport. “You give sport lectures, I give sport lectures – so why not do it together?” Filzmaier said with a smile.
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03/08/2025

Two female police officers were seriously injured late on Saturday after their patrol car collided with a stationary tram in Vienna’s city centre.

The crash happened shortly before 11 p.m. at the junction of Schottenring and Börsegasse in the Austrian capital’s first district. According to initial reports, the police vehicle, which was on an emergency call, apparently swerved during an evasive manoeuvre, left the road and struck a tram waiting at a stop.

The two officers, aged 25 and 22, suffered partly serious injuries and were treated at the scene by Vienna’s emergency services before being taken to hospital. The tram driver and passengers escaped unharmed, a spokesperson for the Vienna public transport operator said.

Police confirmed in a statement that the cause of the crash is still unclear and is under investigation by the traffic accident unit of Vienna’s state police directorate.
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02/08/2025

Austria is on alert this Saturday as powerful thunderstorms, hail, and heavy rain move across large parts of the country, prompting multiple severe weather warnings.

Meteorologists say a southwesterly upper-air flow, influenced by a low-pressure system over Denmark, is drawing in warm, moisture-laden air, creating unstable conditions. This has significantly increased the likelihood of showers and thunderstorms. By Sunday, the Azores High is expected to extend towards Central Europe, bringing a brief spell of calmer weather before another cold front arrives from the North Sea on Tuesday evening.

“A trough is bringing cloudy and at times turbulent weather to Austria today,” warned forecasters at Skywarn Austria. “From Flachgau to the Waldviertel, thunderstorms with intense rainfall could result in significant local downpours, while the south and east will see some stronger storms forming ahead of the trough.”

Rainfall began early in western Austria and spread eastward throughout the morning. From early afternoon, a band of heavy rain and thunderstorms is expected to sweep from Flachgau into western and northern Lower Austria. In the south, storms from Italy and Slovenia are forecast to move into Carinthia during the afternoon, with a potentially stronger second wave hitting in the early evening.

These organised storm lines will likely track northeast, crossing parts of Styria, most of Burgenland, and the far southeast of Lower Austria later in the day. Forecasters warn that isolated supercell thunderstorms — capable of producing large hail and damaging winds — cannot be ruled out. Most of the severe weather should clear Austria by around midnight.

02/08/2025

Simone Lugner says she experienced a powerful “message from the universe” during Kitzbühel’s annual Almrausch Party, hosted by well-known local restaurateur Rosi Schipflinger on the Sonnbergalm.

Lugner, attended the event with her friend Lydia “Wildsau” Kelovitz. Although the pair arrived later than planned, the evening quickly became memorable—largely due to a moment that, she says, felt like her late husband Richard Lugner, who died last year aged 91, was there in spirit.

Speaking to media, she recalled spending the early part of the evening with Schipflinger and her daughter-in-law, Anja. Their conversation turned to her late husband—known as the “Baulöwe” (“construction lion”)—and how he had intended to attend the event the year before but changed his mind at the last minute.

“As we were talking about how his soul is eternal, the song Hallelujah suddenly started playing through the speakers—despite no band being on stage,” she said. “It was a sign.”

Later, the discussion returned to the topic of his soul. “I believe that souls, including animal souls, perceive life differently—without pain, without bad thoughts, completely free,” she explained. At that moment, Über den Wolken (“Above the Clouds”) began to play. “That was really intense. I got goosebumps,” she added.

Lugner said she continued to celebrate the night “knowing that my ‘Mörtel’ is always with me.”
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01/08/2025

Spanish giants Real Madrid will travel to Innsbruck for a high-profile friendly against Austrian Bundesliga side WSG Tirol. The match will take place at the Tivoli Stadium on 12 August, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 local time, both clubs confirmed on Friday.

Stars such as Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé and Austria’s own David Alaba could feature in the exhibition match, which is being billed as a major football event for the region.

The fixture has been arranged through WSG Tirol’s partnership with Onside Sports, the agency that recently drew attention for organising Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr training camp in Saalfelden.

“For us, it is a great honour to play against Real Madrid,” said WSG managing director Julian Heiss. “A match of this magnitude is something extraordinary, and we are looking forward to a true football festival for fans of all ages.”

Tickets for the game will go on sale on Tuesday, 5 August, at midday via testspiele.at.

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01/08/2025

A suspected burglar has died after being shot by a homeowner during a break-in in Salzburg, Austria, police have confirmed.

The incident happened on Thursday afternoon in the district of Gnigl, when a 66-year-old man was confronted by two intruders inside his house near the Eichstraßen Bridge. According to police, the man said one of the intruders, a 29-year-old, threatened him with a knife, prompting him to fire his legally-owned gun.

Neighbours told Austrian media they heard at least three shots. Emergency services rushed the wounded man to hospital, but he died overnight from his injuries.

The second suspect, a woman, was arrested at the scene. Police cordoned off the area and launched a major investigation. The Salzburg state criminal police office is now leading the inquiry, and witnesses are being interviewed.

The shooter, who was celebrating his birthday on the day of the break-in, was questioned by police on Thursday evening. His sister told that he later phoned her to say he had defended himself against an intruder.

Authorities said there was no danger to the public during the incident.

31/07/2025

German Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has died at the age of 31 after being struck by falling rocks during a mountaineering expedition on Laila Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram range.

Dahlmeier was reportedly killed instantly during the descent after the rockfall. Her management confirmed that it was her explicit, written wish that her body should not be recovered if doing so would endanger the lives of rescuers. Her family also requested that this final wish be respected.

However, according to Bild and the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP), efforts are now being prepared to retrieve her remains. ACP Vice President Karrar Haidri said a recovery operation would begin “as soon as conditions allow for safe access,” emphasizing that the mission would be carried out in the spirit of international mountaineering solidarity.

Dahlmeier’s climbing partner reportedly attempted to assist her for several hours after the accident, but ongoing rockfall and the treacherous terrain made any immediate recovery impossible.

The tragedy has drawn significant attention in Germany and the mountaineering community, reigniting discussions over the risks of extreme alpine expeditions and the ethics of recovery operations in hazardous conditions.

31/07/2025

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) has firmly rejected proposals from business leaders to raise the legal retirement age to 70, insisting that the country’s recently adopted pension reform is sufficient for now.

In an interview, Stocker said that discussions about a retirement age of 70 by 2035 were misplaced. “We have already launched the pension reform, and I reject attempts to downplay it,” he stated. The reform, which includes partial pensions and a gradual increase in the effective retirement age, is expected to save around €2 billion annually.

Stocker noted that an automatic “sustainability mechanism” exists: if current measures fail to stabilize the system, raising the statutory retirement age could be considered in the future. However, he stressed that the government’s immediate priorities are boosting economic competitiveness, tackling inflation, and supporting wage growth.

On the contentious issue of part-time work, the chancellor took a firm stance, warning that those who avoid contributing to the system put it at risk, while making exceptions for people with caregiving responsibilities.

The chancellor also highlighted new “reform partnerships” with regional and local governments focused on energy, healthcare, education, and administration, acknowledging that limited financial resources will require changes to longstanding entitlements.

In foreign and security policy, Stocker reaffirmed Austria’s neutrality but committed to increasing defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2032. He also repeated his criticism of the European Court of Human Rights over rulings on deportations and family reunification, saying the issue is about how the convention is applied, not about abolishing human rights.
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29/07/2025

A disturbing incident unfolded at Vienna’s U6 Niederhofstraße subway station on Tuesday evening when a young man allegedly harassed and attempted to attack a teenage girl. The assault, which occurred around 6:30 PM, was witnessed by several bystanders who quickly stepped in to stop the aggressor.

According to eyewitnesses, the man, described as a teenager wearing a cap, became aggressively confrontational with the young woman. The victim, appearing frightened, avoided engaging with the attacker and attempted to flee into a nearby elevator.

Footage from the scene shows the chaos that ensued, with the attacker reportedly trying to strike the girl with his fists. Several courageous bystanders intervened immediately. One woman embraced the terrified girl to protect her, while a group of men formed a barrier between the attacker and the victim.

The suspect claimed the girl was his girlfriend, though witnesses believed she may have been his sister. Moments later, the teenager redirected his aggression toward the people defending the girl, threatening to “take them down.” The men, however, remained calm and restrained him until police arrived.

Police spokesperson Julia Schick confirmed the incident and said investigations into the background and motive are ongoing. Thanks to the swift and brave actions of passersby, the girl was not seriously injured.

Authorities are urging anyone affected by violence to seek help and have listed hotlines for both women and men in distress.

Helplines in Austria:

Women's helpline (24/7): 0800 222 555

Men's emergency line (24/7): 0800 246 247

Child and youth support: 147

Autonomous women’s shelters: 01/544 08 20

Police emergency: 133

Victim support line: 0800 112 112

Violence protection center: 0800 222 555

The incident is under investigation, and authorities are reviewing video evidence and eyewitness reports.
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29/07/2025

Mario Lerchbaumer, one half of the Austrian Austropop duo Zweite Chance, has died unexpectedly at the age of 38 following a medical emergency, just days after filming a music video.

Lerchbaumer had been set to perform alongside guitarist and songwriting partner Michael Plank at the 80th Villacher Kirchtag festival this Tuesday, where they planned to present their new single Villacher Kirchtog on the main stage in Villach.

The duo had formed two years ago through a mutual friend, quickly discovering their musical chemistry. Plank composed the songs and played guitar, while Lerchbaumer handled vocals. Villacher Kirchtog is the pair’s fifth release—a tribute in Carinthian dialect to the traditions and spirit of the Kirchtag folk festival, one of the oldest and largest in Austria.

According to local media, Lerchbaumer died just six days after completing the video shoot, which took place on the rooftop terrace of the Voco Hotel in Villach and features historical footage from the 1960s to 1980s.

Plank, originally from Villach and now living in Styria, said he is proud of the song and hopes it reaches as many people as possible in Lerchbaumer’s memory. “We poured our hearts into it. Now it’s meant to go out into the world—for Mario,” he told.

The future of Zweite Chance remains uncertain, as Plank cannot currently imagine replacing his late bandmate.

Lerchbaumer’s sudden death has deeply saddened fans and the Austrian music community, casting a shadow over what was meant to be a celebratory milestone for both the duo and the Villacher festival.
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MewsAustria

05/08/2025

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