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A rescue team examine the wrecked car. Photo: Bergrettung Fusch / Paul Hasenauer

Two Britons killed in illegal car race

Two British men in their 20s were killed on Friday morning when their car veered off Austria's highest mountain pass during an illegal race, police said. READ

Photo: WTV

Mystery raccoon falls from Vienna window

Vienna council workers made an unusual discovery when they found an injured raccoon in the city’s central Landstrasse district, in front of an apartment building. They believe he fell out of one of the apartment windows, or from a balcony. READ

Not much chance of cooling down in the Klopeiner See. Photo: Jufa

Lakes reach 'bathtub' temperatures

Anyone planning to take a refreshing dip this weekend in one of Austria’s lakes after the scorching heat of the past few days is going to be disappointed - with the water in most lakes now as warm as a bathtub. READ

The Local List

The roof of the Stephansdom. Photo: Unesco/Vincent Ko Hon Chiu

The harshest TripAdvisor comments about Austria

Austria has something to offer every visitor, whether for a winter or summer break. First class ski resorts, cities buzzing with culture, magnificent palaces, beautiful mountains with spectacular hiking, and lakes so clear and clean you can drink from them. But not everyone is convinced of the alpine republic’s charms… READ

Iran deal

Heinz Fischer with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Photo: Bundespräsident Dr. Heinz Fischer

Austrian president announces Iran visit

Austrian President Heinz Fischer will in September make the first visit to Iran by a European head of state since 2004, his office said on Thursday. READ

The forest-themed toilet at Yppenplatz. Photo: Christian Jobst

Vienna's public toilets get a fancy makeover

Vienna regularly tops lists for best quality of life and most liveable cities - now it is aiming to have the best public toilets of any European capital. READ

This one should be OK... Photo: Olav's Plates

Neo-Nazi codes banned from number plates

Austria is banning neo-Nazi codes from personalized car number plates, in an effort to combat the influence of extreme right-wing groups. READ

A scene from the eviction. Photo: APA/Oczeret

State must foot costly squat eviction bill

The interior ministry has said that the state will have to foot the bill for evicting a squat in Vienna last summer- which came to €870,000. READ

"MozartVeronadallaRosa" by Saverio dalla Rosa.

Teen Mozart manuscript returns to Salzburg

The Salzburg Mozarteum Foundation has unveiled a manuscript penned by a teenaged Mozart that it acquired for €237,000 ($258,000) at a Sotheby's auction. READ

Fancy seeing the Grand Canyon without paying for a flight? Photo: Julius Reque/Wikimedia

'Travel drones' give lift to armchair tourists

For those of you who aren’t able to fly somewhere exotic this summer - do not despair. Austrian scientists have developed a new drone which means you could soon enjoy the bustling streets of Tokyo or the amazing vistas over the Grand Canyon from the comfort of your sofa. READ

Features

IAEA headquarters in Vienna. Photo: IAEA

The IAEA: The world's eyes and ears in Iran

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency will be the "eyes and ears of the international community" in Iran, according to its Japanese Director General Yukiya Amano. READ

My Austrian Career

Khaled Khoshdel. Photo: Negina Pirzad

'I want people to accept the differences’

A native Afghan who fled his homeland in 1994, Khaled Khoshdel immigrated to Vienna for a better life. He came with optimism and a culture he wanted to share with European people, which led him to open the only Afghan restaurant in Vienna, called Noosh. READ

Help Me, Helen

Photo: minimalisti.com

Why ‘good fences make good neighbours’

Do you ever get pressured into doing something you don't want to? Do you sometimes feel used by others? Is it hard for you to say “no”? If so, maybe you need to develop stronger boundaries. Many people do. READ

My Austrian Career

Mary and her two children. Photo: Private

'Growing up abroad - I feel international'

Mary Röttig was born in Bangladesh and adopted by an Austrian couple as a baby. She grew up in London and lived in New York and Texas before moving to Vienna where she set up a bilingual Montessori-inspired preschool and nursery. READ

The Local List

Photo: Austria.info

Nine spectacular rides in Austria you have to cycle

June 3rd is European Cycling Day and what better time to plan a cycling adventure in Austria? Picturesque riversides and lakes, idyllic villages, historical towns and magnificent mountains are on offer - and taking your bike on the train is no problem. READ

From our other editions:

File photo of a lake view in Switzerland's Ticino region.

Girl, 5, dies after mum leaves her in boiling car

A five-year-old girl in the Swiss canton of Ticino has died after her mother left her alone in a boiling hot car, as Switzerland continues to sizzle in a record-breaking heatwave. READ

An actress plays Chancellor Angela Merkel in the magazine ad. Screenshot:Twitter.

'Angela Merkel' stars in lesbian magazine ad

Wednesday sees the launch of new magazine "Straight," aimed at gay women across Germany – but the magazine's advert is already causing something of a stir, reports Der Tagesspiegel. READ

Integration Minister Inger Støjberg. Photo: Keld Navntoft/Scanpix

Denmark to run anti-refugee advertisements

The government plans to launch an information campaign in foreign newspapers to deter refugees in response to human smugglers publishing comparative information on refugee benefits in EU countries. READ

The mercury is set to soar again. Photo: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP

Warning: third heatwave to bake sweltering Spain

Spain is preparing for its third heatwave of the summer as 18 provinces are put on alert for high temperatures by the country's meteorological agency. READ

The ever-splendid Gorges du Verdon. Photo: Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho/Flickr

The daftest TripAdvisor comments about France

France opens its doors to over 80 million tourists a year, who enjoy everything from world-class museums to pristine natural wonders. But you can't please them all... READ

A tornado over the Italian city of Genoa. Photo: Bibipisi74

Tornado predicted as Italy heatwave ends

The hot stuffy weather brought by the hellish heatwave Caronte is set to end this weekend, but meteorologists are warning that it's no cause for celebration. READ

Aiming for a hole-in-one with a number two. Photo: Frank May / NTB scanpix

Norwegian golf course plagued by serial pooper

Stavanger Golf Club in south-west Norway has, for the last ten years, been the victim of an unknown culprit who has been using several of the course's holes as a toilet. READ

The Local List

Have you been on paternity leave? Photo: Melker Dahlstrand/Image Bank Sweden

Nine ways to become a truly Swedish man

You can shop the look at cool Scandinavian fashion stores, or stick around long enough to get your own residency permit. But to really become a Swedish man, The Local reckons you've got to share these nine experiences. READ

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