Austria

The farmer from Austrias federal state of Styria, who was holding a slave for 30 years, does not have to go to prison. The judge gave him a suspended sentence of 18 months imprisonment.

The case was revealed and came to public in autumn 2008. A 56-year-old man was working for the farmer since 30 years without salary and medical treatment.

For his good nature to work for free and only for some food he was also beaten and insulted by his employer. A quite outlandish way to show gratitude.

Austrian furniture megastore chain XXXLutz has coughed up around 200 million Euros to snatch up a Slovenian competitor, it has been claimed.
Business dailies report today (Thurs) that XXXLutz – which has around 17,000 employees – transferred between 150 and 200 million Euros to Lesnina owners to take over the company in full.

The head of Austria’s second-biggest bank has caused a stir by calling for the introduction of a tax on assets.
Erste Bank boss Andreas Treichl told weekly magazine News today (Thurs): "A ’decent’ taxation on assets must be set up, of course, as well as (higher) real estate tax levels and inheritance tax."

Telekom Austria Group (TA) has joined an internationally-operating union of telecommunication service providers.
Technology media report today (Thurs) that the Austrian market leader has become a member of the Wholesale Applications Community (WAC), with TA chief Hannes Ametsreiter named board member of the body.
WAC aims to be an international interface between creators of IT applications and customers around the world.

Allied forces fighting in Afghanistan were using Austrian weaponry in a possible breach of Austrian law, according to leaked files.
Internet portal Wikileaks got hold of secret United States documents suggesting that troops operating in the crisis-stricken country used grenades and bomb throwers produced in Austria.

Most apples on sale in Austria are laced with pesticides, a consumer magazine report has shown.
Consumer information magazine Konsument said today (Thurs) 12 of the 16 samples it took contained chemical agents. It added that the discovered amounts were nevertheless below the allowed concentration.

Austrian Airlines (AUA) bosses have said they will continue to carry out the ongoing cost-cutting regime as the firm suffered losses of 67 million Euros in the first half of this year.
Operative losses reached 93.5 million Euros in the first six months of 2009.
AUA co-chiefs Peter Malanik and Andreas Bierwirth announced today (Thurs): "Our measures begin to have effects. We are going the right way but have not reached our goal yet. We will need to remain responsible."

Allied forces fighting in Afghanistan found Austrian weaponry in raided Taliban hideouts, according to leaked files.
Internet portal Wikileaks got hold of secret United States documents suggesting that troops operating in the crisis-stricken country discovered grenades and bomb throwers produced in Austria.

A 61-year-old bedridden man from Vienna was eaten alive by maggots, reported Austrias Broadcasting Corporation “ORF”. His 34-year-old girlfriend was sleeping next to him in bed until his death was noticed.

The first autopsy reaveled that he died because of a circulatory failure. The man was totally corroded by maggots. They were already inside his lungs. But the forensic medicine don’t wanted to confirm that maggots got the blame for his death.

Motorway authority Asfinag said today (Weds) next year’s annual motorway toll sticker will be slightly more expensive than its predecessor.