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The Sacred Heart Home convent in Ixopo. Photo: www.mariannhill.de

Suspects arrested in Austrian nun murder

South African police said Tuesday they had arrested three people for the rape and murder of a 86-year-old nun of Austrian origin nearly two weeks ago. READ

Sebastian Kurz holds a Tweet chat. Photo: Twiplomacy

Kurz saves face for Austria on Twitter

Although Austrian leaders are lagging behind when it comes to social media, the youthful foreign minister Sebastian Kurz is the country’s most connected politician on Twitter, a new report released on Tuesday showed. READ

29/09 Kurz talks social media at UN »
02/06 Profile: Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz »

Photo: WWF/Cheile Bicazului

Austrian firm implicated in illegal logging

A major environmental advocacy group has accused the Austrian wood products company Holzindustrie Schweighofer of "willingly and knowingly accepting illegally harvested timber" in Romania. READ

Smoking ban

Photo: Shutterstock

Pro smoking lobby to protest at parliament

Bar and restaurant owners as well as die-hard smokers are demonstrating in front of Austria’s parliament on Tuesday afternoon in protest against the general smoking ban which will come into force in May 2018. READ

Photo: Guardia di Finanza Reggio Calabria

Mafia family's villa seized in Austrian spa town

A luxury villa owned by a member of the Italian Pesce crime family in Baden, Lower Austria, has been seized by justice officials. READ

Photo: Shutterstock

Austria more tolerant 'except on topic of Islam'

Austrians consider themselves to be increasingly tolerant when it comes to sexuality, race and gender - but not on the topic of Islam, according to a new survey. READ

Photo: Shutterstock

Austrian arms firm fails to meet grade in ethics

Austria's Hirtenberger Group, which produces industrial equipment and defence technology, is one of 37 companies that failed to make passing grades in an analysis of ethics and corruption released by Transparency International on Monday. READ

Klagenfurt Landhaus. Photo: Johann Jaritz/Wikimedia

Carinthia asks Vienna for financial support

Negotiations are continuing on Monday between the government of Carinthia - the home province of defunct lender Hypo Alpe Adria - and ministers in Vienna. READ

OSCE observers in Shyrokyne, southeast Ukraine. Photo: OSCE

OSCE: 'Intense shelling' in Ukraine village

Ukraine is pressing European leaders for peacekeepers and more financial support as shelling between Kiev forces and pro-Russian separatists intensifies near a strategic government-held city in the east. READ

Photo: laumat.at

Huge transporter truck goes up in flames

One of Upper Austria’s largest heavy transport vehicles burst into flames overnight as it travelled past Sattledt - luckily nobody was injured in the blaze. READ

Features

Help Me, Helen

Photo: Shutterstock

Challenges of expat life: Making new friends

Expats, who are globally mobile and move every few years, often have to make new friends with each move. Helen Rudinsky writes that making new friends can be a challenge, especially for children, shy people, or individuals with limited social skills. READ

Hermesvilla. Photo: Vienna Unwrapped

Five Viennese 'twin attractions'

Once you have ticked off Vienna’s most popular attractions on your sightseeing list, it's time to explore the ‘second tier’. The city is packed with little-known insider gems that have been overshadowed by the bigger tourist magnets - but offer a similar experience, without the crowds. READ

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Will climate change give us the blues?

Climate change is predicted to intrude into almost every area of life - from where we live, to what we eat and whom we war with. Now music can be added to the list. READ 2 comments

Expat Profile

Margarita Randl with her son.

'We believe children have unlimited potential'

Margarita Randl is the manager of Vienna's first Gymboree Play & Music Center. She spoke to The Local about the challenges of setting up a new business and what she loves about life in the capital. READ

Help Me, Helen

Photo: Shutterstock

Why denial is your worst enemy

Vienna-based Marriage and Family Therapist Helen Rudinsky looks at how to recognise if you're in denial, and what to do to break out of it. READ 2 comments

From our other editions:

Salt aims to shake up Swiss mobile market

A Swiss Orange has turned into Salt — but this is no magician's trick. READ

Defence minister Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: DPA

G36 rifle 'has no future' in German army

Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that the controversial G36 rifle 'has no future in the German Army,' signalling the end of a two decade relationship between the army and the dodgy weapon. READ

Still plenty to be happy about in Denmark. Photo: Colourbox

Danes no longer world's happiest people: UN

Danes had to settle for third place in the World Happiness Report released on Thursday, but one can only imagine that they're still pretty happy with that. READ

King Juan Carlos salutes during military parade October 2011. Photo: Dani Pozo / AFP

King Juan Carlos led 'double-life' with lover

Spain's ex-king Juan Carlos had an affair with a German aristocrat for the last 10 years of his reign, according to a new book about the monarch's "double life" that is flying off Spanish bookshelves. READ

Guest blog

The French love their fast food but they would never admit it. Photo: Shutterstock

How foreigners can blend in with the French

Ever been spoken to in English in France before you've even opened your mouth? French blogger Muriel Jacques offers some practical advice to help you blend in. READ

Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces in 2011. Photo: Arif Ali/AFP

Italy arrests suspected Bin Laden aides

Two men who allegedly acted as aides to terrorist leader Osama bin Laden have been arrested in Italy, as part of a "vast anti-terrorism operation" carried out on Friday. READ

These healthy looking salmon need no sugar pills. Photo: Norsk Havbrukssenter/Flickr

EU's crazy homeopathy cure for Norway fish

Norwegian vets are up in arms about a “scientifically illiterate” European directive that mandates the use of homeopathic medicines as the first line of treatment for organic farmed fish. READ

The Local List

Swedes eat crayfish in August. Only in August. Photo: Carolina Romare/imagebank.sweden.se

My Swedish habits that foreigners just don't get

Do the Swedes have certain habits you just can't work out? Here, The Local's Emma Löfgren, who has recently returned to Sweden from the UK, lists some of the Nordic traits that leave her foreign friends bemused. READ