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Today in Austria: A round-up of the latest news on Monday

Find out what's going on today in Austria with The Local's short roundup of the news.

Stadtpark blossom
JOE KLAMAR / AFP

Green passport for Austria and 12 other EU countries

Austria and twelve other EU countries have agreed on seven criteria for the creation of a “Green Passport” for tourism.

The aim is to implement the “Green Pass” quickly and as uniformly as possible at European level, Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger told APA, saying it was a “question of survival” for European tourism.

The twelve other countries are Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

There should be no introduction of a compulsory vaccination through the back door, Der Standard newspaper reports.

Intensive care situation continues to worsen

The situation in the Austrian intensive care units continues to worsen, particularly in the east of the country. More than 600 Covid-19 sufferers had to receive intensive care on Sunday, as bad as the situation in December.

In Vienna 243 seriously ill people had to be cared for in intensive care units there, more than ever before, Wiener Zeitung newspaper reports.

Vaccination reaches new milestones in Austria

From Thursday to Saturday last week more than 200,000 people in Austria received a corona vaccination, and over 60,000 people were vaccinated per day for three days in a row.

Last Friday set a new record with 77,036 jabs administered to protect against SARS-CoV-2. The total number of vaccinations given now exceeds two million according to Austria’s coronavirus dashboard.

Work begins on Austria’s ‘comeback plan’

Ministers Martin Kocher (ÖVP), Leonore Gewessler (Greens) and Gernot Blümel (ÖVP) will meet today in the Federal Chancellery to start work on an “economic comeback plan” for the Federal Government. A target has been set for half a million people to be brought back into regular employment within a year.

The plan will be based on “work”, “greening & digitization” and “strengthening the location”, according to Labor Minister Kocher, Der Standard newspaper reports. 

Test requirement dropped for Braunau district

As of Monday, there will no longer be an exit test obligation from the Upper Austrian district of Braunau. The increased test capacities as well as the police’s main checks on the generally applicable Corona rules will be retained for the time being, Der Standard reports.

Infections fall sharply in Schwaz

After more than half of the population of Schwaz received a BioNTech Pfizer vaccination between March 11 and 16, 2021 in a pilot project to combat an outbreak of the South African variant of the coronavirus, there was a significant decrease in infections.

On April 10, the seven-day incidence fell to 80 in Schwaz, while it remains at 180 in nearby Innsbruck-Land and Kufstein, Der Standard newspaper reports.

Criminal procedure change defended by minister

ÖVP Interior Minister Nehammer has defended the planned amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure on Sunday, according to which the judiciary will in future usually request documents from authorities via administrative assistance and confiscation in a raid should only be possible in exceptional cases.

Nehammer told ORF he could “guarantee” house searches would still be possible, but it was about proportionality, Wiener Zeitung newspaper reports.

Iran talks ‘overshadowed’ by Iranian violations of nuclear agreement

The new attempt at nuclear talks with Iran in Vienna is being overshadowed by Iranian violations of the nuclear agreement, according to media reports. On Saturday, there was an incident in Natan’s nuclear facility shortly after new centrifuges had been put into operation.

Iran’s state TV spoke of a “nuclear terrorist attack”, it is reported. The Israeli radio said that it was a cyber attack by Mossad, Die Presse newspaper reports.

Talks begin to rescue MAN truck plant

Opposition SPÖ leader Rendi-Wagner is calling for a new state investment fund of €10 billion to help rescue the MAN truck plant in Steyr and boost the economy after the pandemic, Der Standard newspaper report. 

ÖVP-Wirtschaftsbund Secretary General Kurt Egger is not in favour of the plan, saying socialist concepts for saving companies have never worked. The plant closure would put 8,400 jobs in the region at risk. Talks will start today on a possible solution. 

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VIENNA

Eight unmissable events in Vienna in April 2024

April in Vienna is a busy month filled with exciting events to explore. Here, we list some happenings that you should not miss out on.

Eight unmissable events in Vienna in April 2024

April is almost here and offers a wide range of interesting events to explore in Vienna. You can enjoy anything from the Vienna City Marathon or a dance ball to different exhibitions and music festivals.

Run or watch others run Vienna City Marathon

On April 21st, this year’s Vienna City Marathon will take place. If you have not signed up for it yet, you can still put your name on the waiting list and maybe get a chance to participate in the run. If not, the event is a day of celebration in the city that you can enjoy anyway.

The Vienna City Marathon is a lively event taking place all over the city. People from Austria and all over the world gather to watch the runners pass by, and at various locations in the city, you can enjoy live music or food and drinks from different stands set up for the occasion.

The run is for everyone, from elite runners to beginners who just want to reach the goal and do not care about time. The start is at the Reichsbrücke, which crosses the Danube River, and the finish line is on Ringstrasse, between the Burgtheater and Rathausplatz. The full route is on the website. 

Sign up for the waiting lists here.

The entry fee for the marathon is €145, and for the half marathon, it is €115.

Thousands of runners cross the Reichsbrucke bridge over the Danube river during the Vienna City Marathon. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

Enjoy Argus Bike Festival

On April 13th-14th, at Rathausplatz, Austria’s biggest cycling event takes place.

Here you can explore the latest bike trends, test different bikes, and enjoy bike shows with brave bikers performing all sorts of tricks in the air.

Some of the two-day program highlights include the bike flea market, where you can find bargains, the kids’ bike world, where children can explore biking, e-bike testing possibilities, and many different shows where stunt cyclists perform.

You can enter the festival for free and read more about the program here

 
 
 
 
 
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READ MORE: Train travel in Austria: The best day trips from Vienna

Check out the climate festival Klima Biennale Wien

This year’s climate festival takes place from April 5th until July 14th at various locations all over Vienna. The festival explores how art, design, architecture, and science can contribute to creating a sustainable and liveable future while also considering the impacts of climate change.

The festival pushes for significant changes to make our planet better for living. It highlights the idea of working together, sharing ideas, and raising awareness as the main tools for more sustainable co-living.

The three-month-long festival offers a wide range of performances, exhibitions, talks, concerts, and workshops.

If you want to participate, you can buy a festival pass at various locations, for which you pay as much as you like. You can, for example, buy it at the Museum Hundertwasser.

 
 
 
 
 
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Dance to support cancer research

The Dancer Against Cancer Ball is an annual cancer charity event in Vienna. This year, it will take place on April 13th at 7:30 p.m. in the Palace Hofburg. The event aims to raise funds for cancer research and support those affected by the disease.

Here, you can support a good cause while enjoying dancing and watching professionals present a variety of styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, and ballroom.

The event is organised by various dance schools, companies, and charity organisations and is famous for bringing together the local dance community and supporters of cancer research and awareness.

A standard ticket costs €115, and for students, it is €70. You can buy them online.

READ ALSO: 4 beautiful lakes you can easily reach from Vienna by public transport

Explore the Salam Music and Arts Festival

For more than two decades, this festival has been a lively celebration of music, art, and film from Middle Eastern cultures. This year, the event takes place from April 12th to April 21st at various locations in Vienna, such as Flex and Sargfabrik.

Here, you can explore different cultures and art forms presented by innovative artists. You can choose from a wide range of performances, such as concerts, films, dialogues, and exhibitions.

The festival is a platform for both international and local artists who want to connect with and engage people through their art. It sees itself as a bridge in a diverse society, creating a common identity through art and culture.

You can buy a ticket to the different performances here.

 
 
 
 
 
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Check out the rock festival Echoes of Erebos

On April 27th, the rock festival Echoes of Erebos will take place for the second time at METAStadt in Donaustadt.

If you enjoy rock music, ranging from stoner and doom to psych and everything in between, this is the place to be. Seven bands from Austria, such as Motorpsycho, Bismuth, 24/7 Diva Heaven, and Bikini Beach, will be the entertainment of the day.

The festival also offers a cosy beer garden where guests can enjoy food and drinks, and there will be an after-party after the bands finish playing.

A standard ticket costs €66 and can be bought online.

Visit the parliament and learn about it

You can visit the Austrian parliament and enjoy a guided tour for free. During the tour, you will explore the inside of the parliament and learn interesting facts about its architecture, history, and renovation. 

You will see and learn more about the historic chamber, the Federal Council chamber, and the newly designed National Council chamber.

The guided tour takes 55 minutes and is available on the following dates:

Monday to Friday: 11:45 am, 1:45 pm, 3:45 pm.

Saturday: 11:45 am, 3:45 pm.

Reserve your tour here.

An inner view shows the Austrian Parliament in Vienna.(Photo by VLADIMIR SIMICEK / AFP)

Visit the exhibition Climate.Knowledge.Action!

You can learn more about climate change through a new permanent and detailed exhibition at the Technical Museum Vienna.

The exhibition presents the causes and connections of the climate crisis. It brings up important new ideas and innovations in areas such as agriculture, energy supply, mobility, urban planning, and land use.

You can experience the exhibition through different senses, with things to see, experts to talk to, detailed information to explore, and big interactive screens to play with.

A standard ticket costs €16 and can be bought here.

READ NEXT: Everything that changes in Austria in April 2024

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