Austrian industrialist and billionaire Friedrich Karl Flick has died at the age of 79, Austrian media reported today.

Police in southern Austria today chased a kangaroo through the snow after the animal jumped a fence and decided to go walkabout in the wintery surroundings.

Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountaineer and former Nazi who fled a British prisoner of war camp in India for the northern Himalayas, where he befriended and tutored the Dalai Lama, died today. He was 93.

Two men were found dead today in southern Austria, and police said they apparently froze to death in the cold weather.

A driver who swatted at a spider inside his car hit an embankment and flipped the vehicle over, critically injuring himself, police in Austria said today.

Rescue workers piled sandbags to hold back surging floodwaters today and evacuated hundreds of people from alpine valleys in Austria and southern Germany as heavy rains and landslides battered central and southern Europe.

Snow whipped by gale-force winds created a blizzard effect that has caused chaos across much of Austria today, stranding hundreds of motorists for hours on a key highway and knocking out power to thousands of homes.

A senior parliamentary official today defeated a rival backed by right-wing populist Joerg Haider in a presidential election that also indicated voter dissatisfaction with the country’s government, preliminary results showed.

Right wing extremist Joerg Haider was easily re-elected governor of the Austrian province of Carinthia today, a formality after his Freedom Party defeated rival Socialists in provincial elections.

JOERG HAIDER’S political star appeared on the rise yesterday, with preliminary results showing Europe's most popular rightist holding on to a political post he needs to reclaim national prominence for his party.

Joerg Haider powered his political party to a stunning win in his home province in Austria today, confounding pundits and strengthening the odds for a national comeback for the controversial rightist known for anti-Jewish slurs and a friendship with Saddam Hussein.

HOPES that Ireland might again be in the running to stage the UEFA 2008 European Championships have been dashed after a far-right Austrian politician pledged cash to make sure a vital stadium is built.

ANGRY protesters greeted the controversial former leader of the far right Austrian Freedom Party as he arrived to speak at a university debate in Dublin last night.

Austrian far right politician Joerg Haider today said he would remain in politics, less then a day after taking responsibility for the disastrous showing of his party in general elections and announcing he was stepping down as governor of Carinthia province.

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.

Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel today called for early elections after resignations left a coalition partner, the far fight Freedom party, in disarray

Austrian Vice-Chancellor Susanne Riess-Passer and two other Freedom Party ministers have resigned from their government posts tonight

Austria has refused to deport a former SS officer to Italy where he is accused of being involved in the murder of more than 300 civilians.