Latest Austria News
Former biathlon leader found guilty in Norway on corruption charges linked to favoring Russia
OSLO, Norway (AP) — The long-time former biathlon leader accused of protecting Russia from doping cases was found guilty of corruption charges in his native Norway on Friday and sentenced to more than three years in prison. Anders Besseberg was convicted of accepting bribes in the...
An espionage scandal rocks Austria, laying bare alleged Russian spying operations across Europe
VIENNA (AP) — Austria faces its biggest espionage scandal in decades as the arrest of a former intelligence officer brings to light evidence of extensive Russian infiltration, lax official oversight and behavior worthy of a spy novel. Egisto Ott was arrested March 29. The 86-page...
Austria likely to be largely ice-free within 45 years as glaciers recede quickly, experts say
VIENNA (AP) — Austrian glaciers receded last year at a rapid pace and the Alpine country is likely to be largely ice-free in 40 to 45 years as the process continues, experts said Friday. The Austrian Alpine Club said that, of the 93 glaciers its volunteers measured and observed,...
Police arrest 22 in EU raids linked to suspected theft of Italy's pandemic funds worth $650 million
BRUSSELS (AP) — Police in Italy, Austria, Romania and Slovakia arrested 22 people Thursday as part of an investigation into the suspected siphoning of hundreds millions of euros in post-pandemic relief funds from the European Union. The 600 million euros ($650 million) were part of...
Austrian minister aims to tighten espionage law to ban spying against international organizations
BERLIN (AP) — Austria's justice minister said Thursday that she plans to tighten the country's rules on espionage, which currently is explicitly banned if directed against Austria itself but not if it targets other countries or international organizations. Justice Minister Alma...
Austria stepping up police checks in border areas after Germany liberalizes cannabis rules
BERLIN (AP) — Austria will step up police checks near its border with Germany after its neighbor legalized the possession of limited amounts of cannabis for recreational use, the country's top security official said Tuesday. Germany's new rules went into force Monday, legalizing...
Chancellor says Austria needs to deter Russian infiltration after allegations of spying emerge
VIENNA (AP) — The arrest in recent days of a former Austrian intelligence officer on serious allegations of spying for Russia suggests that Austria needs to boost its security to thwart Russian infiltration, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said Monday. The allegations against...
17 reported hurt after river cruise ship hits a concrete passageway on the Danube in Austria
Seventeen passengers were hurt when a Bulgarian river cruise ship lost steering and hit the sides of a lock on the Danube in Austria, the apa news agency reported Saturday. Eleven of the injured were taken to hospitals. The ship with 142 passengers aboard, most of them from Germany,...
Austria expels 2 diplomats from Russia's Embassy in Vienna. An official says it's related to spying
VIENNA (AP) — Austria said Wednesday it has ordered two diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Vienna to leave the country. An Austrian official said the expulsions were related to spying activities. The Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement that the two Russian diplomats...
In ethnically split Cyprus, buffer zone tensions persist after decades, a UN official says
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Decades on from the ethnic division of Cyprus, tensions persist along the 180-kilometer buffer zone separating breakaway Turkish Cypriots from Greek Cypriots in the internationally recognized south, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping force on the island said...
