Austrian held in Saudi Arabia expects verdict on June 23rd
An Austrian man held in Saudi Arabia after an attack in Mecca is expected to receive a verdict on June 23rd, according to Der Standard. Hasan E., now 21, has been in a high-security prison in Saudi Arabia for more than two years in connection with the stabbing of a security officer at the al-Harām Mosque and injuries to other officers who tried to detain him.
The case is linked to Beran A. and Arda K., who were sentenced in first instance in Wiener Neustadt to long prison terms after a trial connected to the planned Taylor Swift concert attack. Prosecutors want higher sentences for both men, and both described Hasan E. in court as responsible for their radicalisation.
Austria’s embassy in Riyadh is in contact with Hasan E. and provides consular support through prison visits. Hasan E. says he has been told the verdict is due on June 23rd and that he could face the death penalty.
READ ALSO: Taylor Swift concert attack plot suspect found guilty in Austria
Austria creates a €35 million support fund for single parents
Austria’s Nationalrat has created a support fund for single parents who receive neither alimony nor advance maintenance for their children, according to ORF. Up to €35 million a year will be available for financial relief, with the FPÖ the only parliamentary group to vote against the proposal.
Affected single parents are expected to receive around €240 per child each month. Payments will depend on an income limit, which is €2,768 net this year.
Women affected by violence may also receive additional start-up help in special hardship cases, in the form of a one-off payment of up to €4,000.
READ ALSO: What benefits are you entitled to in Austria if you have children?
Vienna closes Hirschstetten bathing pond after blue-green algae found
Vienna has completely closed the Hirschstetten bathing pond in Donaustadt after rapid tests confirmed the suspected presence of cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, according to ORF Vienna. The city’s MA 45 water department is now taking daily samples from the pond.
The closure affects the children’s bathing area known as the Babybucht, the east bank and the dog zone on the south bank. Samples from all three areas showed no bathing water quality, and access points have been marked with barrier tape and information signs.
The closure is being described as a precautionary measure because further analysis is still needed to determine whether the cyanobacteria are types that can cause health problems. Dog owners are being urged to be especially careful, as cyanotoxins can be fatal to dogs if they lick them from their fur or eat decaying algae material on the shore.
READ ALSO: How to stay safe when swimming in Austria's lakes and rivers this summer
Government drops plan to count partner income for emergency unemployment help
The Austrian government has dropped plans to count a partner’s income when assessing die Notstandshilfe, according to ORF. Social Minister Korinna Schumann said the change had been prevented during budget negotiations.
The proposal had been sharply criticised by social organisations. Schumann said counting the income of spouses or partners would have particularly affected women and weakened their economic independence.
The decision means Notstandshilfe will remain an individual insurance benefit for people who need support after receiving unemployment benefit.
READ ALSO: Unemployment benefits in Austria: Who is eligible and how much can you get?
From our guides
Starting a family in Austria can mean learning new documents, hospital routines and German terms at the same time. Our guide to four things you should know if you’re going to give birth in Austria explains the Mutter-Kind-Pass, registering for a birth place, finding a Hebamme and some cultural differences in pregnancy and birth care.
Members get access to this and other in-depth guides, explainers and practical stories that help make Austrian healthcare, family life and bureaucracy clearer.
What’s happening in Austria today
The Nationalrat sits from 9 am for the first general debate on the government’s double budget for 2027 and 2028. The drafts are due to go to the Budget Committee next, with a public hearing planned for June 26th and final approval currently planned for July 10th.
Parliament is also expected to deal with the Renewable Energy Expansion Acceleration Act, which is meant to speed up approval procedures for renewable energy projects. The bill needs a two-thirds majority, and it is still open whether that majority will be reached.
READ ALSO: What could change for families and jobseekers under Austria’s 2027/28 budget plan
Austria’s deadline to implement the EU asylum and migration pact falls today. The Austrian AMPAG package changes several laws, including the Asylum Act, the Foreign Police Act, the Basic Care Act, the Citizenship Act and the Employment of Foreign Nationals Act, with some transitional rules applying from June 12th.
On public transport, ÖBB lists several active construction sites, including works affecting the Ostbahn, Nordbahn, S60 and Mattersburger Bahn. In Vienna, tram lines 40 and 41 are diverted around Aumannplatz, line 42 is suspended, and replacement bus 41E runs between Währinger Straße, Volksoper and Gersthof until June 27th at the start of service.
READ ALSO: The immigration changes that await foreigners in Austria in 2026 and beyond
The weather remains cool, windy and changeable for June. Parts of Osttirol, Carinthia, southern Salzburg and western Upper Styria could still see 30 to 80 litres of rain per square metre, locally around 100 litres, with risks including mudslides, flooding of small streams, local outages and traffic problems.
In Vienna, the Lange Nacht der Praterstraße runs from 4pm to 11:45 pm in the 2nd district, while Vienna Pride has English-language queer history walks during the afternoon. The 2026 Football World Cup also starts tonight, with Mexico playing South Africa at 9 pm Austria time and ORF 1 coverage beginning at 7 pm.
Vocabulary
die Todesstrafe – the death penalty
die Notstandshilfe – emergency unemployment assistance paid after regular unemployment benefit
die Blaualgen – blue-green algae
die Hebamme – midwife
der Mutter-Kind-Pass – the mother-child health booklet used during pregnancy and early childhood in Austria
If you have any questions about life in Austria, ideas for articles, or news tips for The Local, you can contact us at news@thelocal.at or leave a comment below.
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