A fire that engulfed a home for the elderly in western Austria killed 11 people and injured six others.

European leaders celebrate the end of border controls along a line stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic today as many of the European Union’s newest members join the EU’s passport-free zone.

Pope Benedict XVI made a pilgrimage to a famous shrine to the Virgin Mary today, where he planned to celebrate an open-air Mass for more than 30,000 faithful and make a case that faith is still a force for good in Europe.

At least 2,000 angry protesters chanted anti-government slogans today as Austria’s president swore in a new centre-left chancellor and his Cabinet, a “grand coalition” forged more than three months after hard-fought elections.

Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel says he’s “proud” of the tough position Austria staked out in crisis talks on the launch of negotiations with Turkey to join the European Union.

A DAY after his far-right Freedom Party suffered a crushing defeat in Austria’s general election, Joerg Haider said yesterdayhe was planning to step down as governor of Carinthia province, hinting he would leave the political scene altogether.

A day after his far-right Freedom Party suffered a crushing defeat in Austria’s general election, Joerg Haider said he was planning to step down as governor of Carinthia province, hinting he would leave the political scene altogether.

THE conservative party of Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel surged to emerge strongest in Austria’s general elections yesterday, according to preliminary results that showed right-winger Joerg Haider’s party took a pounding.

The conservative party of Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel surged to emerge strongest from general elections in Austria today, according to preliminary results that showed a pounding at the polls for the party of right-wing Joerg Haider.

Austrians chose from a handful of parties in parliamentary elections today after a lacklustre campaign focused largely on who would pick up the disaffected voters of right-wing Joerg Haider, whose popularity has plummeted in recent months.

CHANCELLOR Wolfgang Schuessel yesterday called for early elections to end a government crisis triggered by the resignation of four key leaders of the rightist Freedom Party, the junior partner in his coalition.

Palestinian gunmen killed five Israelis in two shooting attacks in the north today, throwing into question Israel’s planned withdrawal from areas in two West Bank towns it occupied to prevent attacks.