All posts tagged: Austrian

Elfie Semotan, Austrian Fashion Photographer, Dies at 84

Elfie Semotan, Austrian Fashion Photographer, Dies at 84

Published by Jenni Sidey

Elfie Semotan, an Austrian fashion photographer known for her collaboration with designer Helmut Lang, died “unexpectedly” on Saturday at 84 years old in Jennersdorf, a town in southeast Austria, according to an obituary posted on Instagram and a report by Austria’s national public broadcasting network ORF. Semotan was based in Vienna, New York, and Jennersdorf, which is near the border with Slovenia and Hungary. She had spent time there since first buying a farmhouse in the area in the mid-1970s. Related Articles Semotan was born in 1941 in Wels, and studied fashion in Vienna. Soon after finishing her studies, she moved to Paris and worked as a model while developing her interest in photography. After moving back to Vienna in 1971, Semotan’s photography career began in earnest. One of her first major assignments was in the mid-’70s with the Austrian lingerie brand Palmers. The advertising campaign paired Semotan’s provocative photos—many of which referenced art historical images—with the slogan “Trau dich doch” (“I dare you”). The photos “[bore] witness to a new, hedonistic zeitgeist that was …

Austrian sentenced to 15 years for planning attack on Taylor Swift concert – POLITICO

Austrian sentenced to 15 years for planning attack on Taylor Swift concert – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Co-defendant Arda K. from Slovakia, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. While he was not involved in planning the attack on the Taylor Swift concert, prosecutors said he and Beran A. discussed further attacks in other cities. The jury also found the defendants guilty of having encouraged a former friend, Hasan E., to carry out a knife attack in Mecca in 2024, a charge both denied. Hasan E. stabbed five people in Islam’s holiest city because he believed Muslims there were not practicing their faith correctly. He has since been held in custody in Saudi Arabia. Beran A. was arrested just ahead of Swift’s planned concert in Vienna on Aug. 9, 2024, after the CIA tipped off Austrian authorities. Following the arrest, the pop superstar canceled all three Vienna concerts that had been planned. Beran A.’s indictment followed in February 2026. The verdict comes just days after another major terrorism case in Austria. On Wednesday, a Syrian asylum seeker was sentenced to life imprisonment for carrying out a deadly knife attack in the southern …

Jury Retires at Austrian Trial Over Foiled Attack on Taylor Swift Concert

Jury Retires at Austrian Trial Over Foiled Attack on Taylor Swift Concert

Published by Sam Flores

WIENER NEUSTADT, Austria, May 28 (Reuters) – The jury at the ⁠trial ⁠of a 21-year-old over a foiled Islamist ⁠attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024 retired for deliberations on Thursday, ​with the defendant having already pleaded guilty to the main charges including terrorism offences. Beran A, whose last name has not been made public ‌in accordance with Austrian privacy rules, was ‌arrested on August 7, 2024, the day before the first of three planned concerts by the U.S. pop star in the ⁠Austrian capital. All three ⁠dates were then cancelled, to the dismay of fans and of Swift, who wrote ​afterwards that it was “devastating.” While crowds of disappointed fans sang together in Vienna then to console themselves, neither Swift nor any “Swifties” appeared at the courthouse in Wiener Neustadt, a town south of the capital. Beran A, who is Austrian, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the planned attack, ​which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He covered his face with a ring binder as ⁠he …

Austrian Hotel Defends Burkini Pool Ban As Hygiene Dispute With Muslim Guests Heads To Court

Austrian Hotel Defends Burkini Pool Ban As Hygiene Dispute With Muslim Guests Heads To Court

Published by Jenni Sidey

Authored by Thomas Brooke via Remix News, A hotel in the Austrian city of Salzburg is defending its refusal to allow two women to use its pool while wearing burkinis, arguing that the decision was based on hygiene concerns rather than discrimination. The case is now before the Salzburg Administrative Court after the operators of the hotel in Pongau appealed fines imposed by the district authority, according to Salzburger Nachrichten. Boshra and Jasmina Amasha, two sisters from Upper Austria, had booked a short wellness break at the hotel on Oct. 25 last year. They arrived early with the intention of using the swimming pool before going hiking. The dispute started at reception when one of the women mentioned that she was going to retrieve her burkini from the car. Staff told her that burkinis were not allowed in the hotel pool, a decision that was upheld after a phone call with the hotel manager. The hotel manager later confirmed in court that women wearing burkinis were not welcome in the pool. She said the policy was …

Austrian Police Detain Suspect in Case of Rat Poison Found in Baby Food Jars on Supermarket Shelves

Austrian Police Detain Suspect in Case of Rat Poison Found in Baby Food Jars on Supermarket Shelves

Published by Sam Flores

VIENNA (AP) — Police in eastern Austria say a 39-year-old suspect has been arrested after rat poison turned up in some HiPP baby food jars on supermarket shelves in central Europe. HiPP, which recalled some of its baby food jars in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic after the case came to light last month, said in a statement Saturday it was “greatly relieved” by the arrest, and would provide further updates as verified details come in. The Burgenland State Criminal Police Office, under the direction of prosecutors, said a probe was launched after poison turned up in a baby food jar purchased at a supermarket in the city of Eisenstadt on April 18. It said the suspect was being questioned, and that no further details would be immediately provided. The Burgenland public prosecutor’s office has announced an investigation into suspected “intentional endangerment of the public.” In an email to The Associated Press on Sunday, the Burgenland police office said the suspect was arrested in Salzburg state, to the west. The Austrian Press Agency reported …

Sarah Ferguson ‘seeking refuge with friends’ after fleeing her Austrian hideaway

Sarah Ferguson ‘seeking refuge with friends’ after fleeing her Austrian hideaway

Published by Sam Flores

Sarah Ferguson is reportedly seeking refuge with friends after fleeing her secret Austrian hideaway last week, following the publication of pictures of her near the resort. The former Duchess of York, 66, was staying in a £2,000-a-night apartment at the Mayrlife wellness spa in Altaussee, near Salzburg. It is understood that Sarah mostly kept to her suite as she waited out the media storm following the release of the Epstein Files, and ordered room service, far away from communal areas such as the lobby and poolside. But after her location was tracked down by The Sun, Fergie fled the spa and is understood to be depending upon her network of international contacts as she avoids the media, The Daily Mail reports. A source told the newspaper: “Sarah has good friends. People who know her well are happy to help her. She won’t be left with nowhere to go.” The ex-duchess is also said to be dreading the prospect of a US subpoena over her links to the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. She was described …

Can an Austrian hostel give a luxury ski chalet a run for its money? | Austria holidays

Can an Austrian hostel give a luxury ski chalet a run for its money? | Austria holidays

Published by Sam Flores

‘Want to come skiing in Austria at half-term?” I asked my 13-year-old son. “It’ll be just like one of those luxury chalet holidays, only we’ll make our own beds, cook our own dinners and carry our gear back to our accommodation ourselves.” Osian didn’t hear the caveats. “Sounds amazing,” he said, his eyes glazing to a cinematic sweep of white powder and the chance to perfect his 360. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. For many families, the dream of a catered chalet – and its ready-lit fires, homemade strudels and chauffeured lift shuttles – remains just that. Apartments offer access to the slopes at less vertigo-inducing prices, but they tend to come with a minimum seven-night stay. If you only have a few days to spare, or a budget that won’t stretch to a full week’s lift pass, hotels fill the gap, but then you’re back navigating the moguls of cost. Schruns in Austria’s Montafon valley has easy access to five …

Austrian Climber and Prosecutors Appeal Sentence for Girlfriend’s Death

Austrian Climber and Prosecutors Appeal Sentence for Girlfriend’s Death

Published by Sam Flores

VIENNA, Feb 24 (Reuters) – A 37-year-old climber ⁠and ⁠Austrian prosecutors are both launching ⁠appeals of his suspended prison sentence and fine ​for manslaughter over his girlfriend’s death on the country’s highest mountain while he ‌had gone to fetch help. The ‌couple, identified as Thomas P and Kerstin G, were running ⁠far behind ⁠schedule as they approached the summit of the Grossglockner mountain ​on a freezing, windy night in January of last year. When she was unable to go on out of exhaustion, he left her to fetch help ​in a shelter on the mountain, but also failed to make clear ⁠to ⁠the mountain police that ⁠they ​needed help, and did not respond to calls back and instant messages from ​the police. By ⁠the time rescuers arrived hours later, she had died of cold. A court in the western city of Innsbruck ruled last week that Thomas P should have realised long before they got stuck that his girlfriend ⁠would be incapable of completing the climb, adding that as the ⁠far more experienced mountaineer he …

Austrian Olympian hospitalized after bobsled crash

Austrian Olympian hospitalized after bobsled crash

Published by Sam Flores

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. U.S. takes gold in women’s mass skating for first time 01:10 Canada defeats U.S. for women’s curling bronze medal 01:22 USA takes gold in freestyle skiing mixed team aerials 01:14 Now Playing Austrian Olympian hospitalized after bobsled crash 01:03 UP NEXT U.S. dominates Slovakia to reach gold medal match 01:02 Alex Ferreira wins gold in men’s freeski halfpipe 00:33 Team USA falls to Switzerland in women’s curling 00:55 ‘Blade Angels’ discuss their Winter Games experiences 01:29 Team USA dominates on the ice at the Winter Olympics 01:39 U.S. women’s hockey celebrates gold medal win 00:52 U.S. advances to women’s curling semifinals on final shot 00:40 Alysa Liu wins gold in women’s figure skating 00:54 Alysa Liu describes returning and winning ‘her way’ 01:00 U.S. beats Canada to win gold in women’s hockey 01:07 American Amber Glenn wows Olympic crowd with triple axel 00:50 Jordan Stolz snatches silver in the 1500M 00:38 Team USA eyes Olympic gold in the women’s hockey …

Say no to fake snow: the Austrian ski resort that likes to keep it real | Austria holidays

Say no to fake snow: the Austrian ski resort that likes to keep it real | Austria holidays

Published by Sam Flores

Walking up a winding trail in the Dobratsch nature park in Carinthia, surrounded by picturesque snowy slopes dotted with pines, we hear shrieks coming from round the corner. The path is as wide as a one-way street but Birgit Pichorner, the park ranger I’m taking a tour with, motions for me to move to the side, where we watch a couple with wide grins glide past on a wooden toboggan. We have seen families out hiking with young children and speed walkers pacing for the summit, while on a trail above us, four skiers are zigzagging up one of the nature park’s designated ski touring routes. For residents of Villach, the southern Austrian town at the foot of Dobratsch, this is very much their Hausberg, a much-loved “locals’ mountain”, says Birgit. Until 2002, it was a ski resort – Birgit points out the slopes where she learned and later taught her kids to ski – but after successive bad winters at the turn of the century, the town faced the same choice as many ski …