All-clear given on suspected Ebola cases

Austria's health ministry gave the all-clear Tuesday evening after regional authorities earlier reported two suspected cases of Ebola in two men recently returned from Nigeria. READ  

• 19/08 Two new suspected Ebola cases in Austria »
• 17/08 Ebola scare hits Tyrol as woman's body found »
• 06/08 Viennese doctor downplays risk of ebola »

ÖVP calls for Sunday trading in Vienna

Austria's People's Party (ÖVP) has repeated calls for Sunday trading in Vienna, especially in connection with next year's Eurovision Song Contest. READ  

• 06/07 Foodies find good choice in Vienna's markets »
• 16/05 Mariahilferstraße to be pedestrianised »

'Batman' spotted on Vienna's rooftops

A young parkour aficionado was spotted recently, hurling himself off rooftops above the streets of Vienna, dressed as the popular character Batman from comics and movies. READ  

3,000 new Kindergarten places announced

On Tuesday, Family Minister Sophie Karmasin of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) announced that the government would be creating an additional 3,000 Kindergarten places, at a cost to the state of €98 million over the next four years. READ  

• 13/08 Where playing and learning go hand in hand »
• 11/08 Snakes inspire kindergarten children »
• 11/05 Nanny fired for taking part in protest »

Legal action planned to force piracy blockade

VAP, the anti-piracy group for film and video in Austria, announced this week that it plans to take legal action against Austrian Internet service providers (ISPs), to force them to block access to so-called piracy websites. READ  

• 06/08 IFPI demands further website bans in Austria »
• 29/07 Austrian ISPs ordered to block The Pirate Bay »

Two new suspected Ebola cases in Austria

Two Nigerians in Upper Austria who recently returned from Lagos on August 13 have been placed into quarantine on Tuesday while medical officials test them for the possibility of the deadly Ebola virus. READ  

• 17/08 Ebola scare hits Tyrol as woman's body found »
• 06/08 Viennese doctor downplays risk of ebola »

Tyrol mosque defaced with swastikas

A mosque in the town of Telfs, in Tyrol, which is known for its distinctive white minaret has been defaced with swastikas. READ  

• 13/08 Death threats against Vienna's Yazidis »
• 07/08 Pig's head left on Islamic school site »
• 14/07 Muslim leader moots anti-discrimination law »
• 27/06 The silent minaret of Graz »

Vienna's luxury streets and boutiques

Vienna is becoming a major mecca for high-end living and shopping, with the expansion of its Golden Quarter luxury zone - but some of the most interesting boutiques are scattered around other parts of the Austrian capital. READ  

• 19/08 Vienna is second most 'liveable city' »
• 14/05 Vienna plans to be a green metropolis »

Vienna is second most 'liveable city'

Vienna came second place in an Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) poll of the most pleasant cities to live in - after Melbourne which has topped the ranking for the fourth year running. READ  

• 28/07 Eight cheap things to do in Vienna this summer »
• 23/07 Vienna records new high in overnight stays »
• 08/06 Fiaker and their horses »

Alaba is FIFA 15’s Austrian cover star

EA Sports has revealed that young Viennese footballer David Alaba will be the cover star for FIFA 15 in Austria. READ  

• 27/06 David Alaba: 'Living the dream' »

Why beggars are a problem for Vienna's street paper

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? READ  

'No one speak English to him!'

The Local talks to Ben Connor, an Australian baritone who moved to Austria to study and perform music. READ  

Where playing and learning go hand in hand

If you’re a parent in Vienna and are struggling to entertain your children over the summer, or dread rainy weather when the kids are stuck indoors all day - do not fear, you’re not alone. READ  

The grassroots group uniting Muslims and Jews

The organiser of the Muslim Jewish Conference, held in Vienna this year, says that he believes the gathering of young people from around the world has helped break down stereotypes and that every participant has been changed by their experience. READ  

The question of begging in Austria

The Local's media insider muses on Austria's frequent calls to ban begging. READ  

Landslide derails Swiss passenger train

Five passengers were seriously injured when a landslide derailed a train in a mountainous area of the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland on Wednesday, following heavy rain in the region. READ  

Stomach bug behind Berlin 'Ebola' scare

Update: Around 600 people were held for several hours in emergency quarantine at a Berlin Job Centre on Tuesday after a West African woman collapsed with Ebola-like symptoms. READ  

Danish art project deemed racist by Swedes

A performance art project designed to give "a deeper understanding of discrimination" is accused of being an offensive blackface performance and removed from the Malmö Festival. READ  

Woman on Madrid plane had 1.7kg coke in breasts

A Venezuelan woman with 1.7 kilos of cocaine hidden in her breast implants was arrested at Madrid airport after arriving on a flight from Colombia, police said on Friday. READ  

Air France staff object to flying to Ebola countries

Air France cabin crew are so concerned about the threat of the Ebola epidemic that unions have started a petition calling for flights to be stopped to those West African countries most affected by the disease. READ  

'Take down Facebook honeymoon snaps': court

A court in Naples has ordered a woman to take down photos posted on Facebook from her honeymoon after her husband complained that he did not give his permission for her to post them. She may even have to pay damages. READ  

Second death within hours at Chess Olympics

A second chess player died at the Norway Chess Olympiad in Tromsø on Thursday. READ  

Sweden celebrates 200 years of peace

Sweden has not actively taken part in a war since 1814 - breaking even Switzerland's record for peace. One peace and conflict expert has told The Local that Swedes learned the hard way to take the non-confrontational stance. READ