Money Buzz! Europa

Category: Cover

  • €1,000 per month for freelance artists in Austria

    €1,000 per month for freelance artists in Austria

    The €90 million fund will be available for a maximum of six months and will enable self-employed artists to receive €1,000 per month.  

    “We are setting up a bridging fund for self-employed artists in the amount of €90 million to supplement existing measures in the arts and culture sector, with planned payments of €1,000 per month”, said Finance Minister Gernot Blümel at a press conference on the Federal Government’s culture package.

    Some measures have already been implemented in the arts and culture sector.

    These measures include bolstering the artists’ social insurance fund by €5 million, adapting the hardship fund by extending the application period from three to six months, increasing the minimum payment to €500 and offering a comeback bonus of €500 per month.

    In addition, an umbrella association package worth up to €700 million plus retroactive insurance of €25 million have already been put together for the film industry.

  • The legendary Goodyear Blimp returns to Europe after almost a decade

    The legendary Goodyear Blimp returns to Europe after almost a decade

    The Goodyear Blimp operating in Europe will be a Zeppelin NT airship, operated by Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei GmbH of Friedrichshafen, Germany.

    This marks the latest chapter in an almost 100-year relationship between Goodyear and Zeppelin.

    The semi-rigid Zeppelin NT airship measures over 75m in length – nearly three quarters the length of a soccer field – and almost 18m in height. It is the same model airship as the three Goodyear Blimps operated by Goodyear in the United States.

    The Goodyear Blimp will fly in the Friedrichshafen, Germany area and more widely around Germany over the coming weeks and is ultimately planned to provide aerial coverage of some of the major remaining European races of the 2020 motorsports calendar.

    March 1972, first Goodyear Blimp flight in Europe

    Goodyear Blimp first arrived in Europe in March 1972, making its maiden flight in June that year in Cardington, England.

    Christened ‘Europa,’ the famous airship took to the skies over Europe over the subsequent 14 years, visiting Italy, France, Belgium, Scotland and the Netherlands and appearing at a number of prominent sporting and cultural events, including the 1985 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, the 1986 French Open at Rolland Garros and even two British royal weddings, before being retired in 1986.

    The Goodyear Blimp returned to tour Europe in subsequent years; however, now is the first time the Goodyear Blimp has flown in Europe since 2012.

  • 1.472.000 persons in Austria at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2019

    1.472.000 persons in Austria at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2019

    1.472.000 persons or 16.9% of the population in Austria were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2019, as Statistics Austria reports.

    They belonged to the social target group of the EU’s Europe 2020 strategy because of low household income (1.161.000 persons or 13.3%), severe material deprivation (223.000 persons or 2.6%) or low work intensity of the household (507.000 persons below the age of 60, or 7.8%).

    Since these categories can overlap, the total number of persons at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion is lower than the sum of the three individual indicators.

    Compared to the year before, data showed only a minor, statistically insignificant decrease of the number of people affected (2018: 17.5% or 1.512.000 persons at risk of poverty or social exclusion). However, since 2008, the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions EU-SILC show a declining trend: In total, 227.000 persons less were reported to be at risk of being poor or socially excluded.

    303.000 children and youths below the age of 18 were among those affected by poverty or social exclusion

    303.000 children and youths below the age of 18 were among those affected by poverty or social exclusion in 2019. Not only did their households belong to this group, but they were also excluded from social participation in their own life spheres.

    Children up to 15 years were more likely to not invite friends to play or eat due to financial reasons if their households were at risk of poverty or social exclusion: 8% of children from those households could not afford such invitations, as compared to only 2% of all other children.

    Also regular leisure activities that come with costs like sports or music lessons could be followed less by those affected by poverty risks: 22% could not afford such activities for their children whereas only 3% with no poverty risk reported so.

    36% of all under 18-year-olds from households at risk of poverty or social exclusion did not have access to a computer at home, but only 10% of their peers.

    Every fourth person (27%) coming from a family background with low educational attainment (both parents only had a compulsory school degree or none at all) managed to finish only compulsory schooling themselves, potentially leading to lower income and lack of social participation.

    In contrast, only 6% had the lowest educational attainment if at least one of their parents had a higher degree. Compared to persons from families with higher education, the risk of poverty or social exclusion was 1.4 times higher for those coming from families with a low educational background.

  • Vienna’s public pools to open the special season on May 29th

    Vienna’s public pools to open the special season on May 29th

    On Friday, May 29th, Vienna’s 17 summer pools, 10 family pools, the indoor pools in Hütteldorf and Brigittenau with outdoor facilities, and the outdoor area of ​​the Jörgerbad will reopen.

    Due to the corona crisis, it will be a special summer season with some restrictions: minimum distance, special hygiene rules and, in certain areas, mouth-nose protection masks also apply in bathing operations. 

    • Admission is permitted for one person per 10 m2 of lying area.
    • The use of the swimming pools is permitted for one person per 6 m2 of water surface.
    • A minimum distance of one meter from other bathers must be kept at the entrance as well as at the entire bathing area, unless they live in the same household.
    • The number of changing boxes to be used will be reduced accordingly.
    • A minimum distance of 1-2 meters must be observed in swimming pools and 3-4 meters in natural waters. 
    • The general hygiene rules must be observed, special hygiene is expected in sanitary rooms and swimming pools.
    • A mouth-nose protective mask must be worn in all interiors.
    • Lingering at entrances, pool edges and pool surrounds is not permitted.
    • Accumulations should be avoided, except for regulated queuing at water slides, diving boards or restaurants.

    Up to 40.000 users at the same time

    The requirement of 10 m2 per swimmer means a reduction in visitors to around a third of the normal capacity. Rapid full utilization of many bathrooms is therefore quite possible with bathing weather. 

    Free bathing spots will be shown this year here and the app “Stadt Wien Live”. If a bathroom is full, this is indicated on site by signs and the “blue flag”.

    Monthly and season tickets will not be available in 2020 or their validity will be suspended as access cannot be guaranteed. Control systems, markings and, if necessary, barriers are set up in the entrance areas. 

    Entry is possible in the 17 summer pools for up to 40,000 swimmers at the same time. This corresponds to about a third of the usual capacity. The access options at the individual locations range from 350 swimmers in the summer pool in Hadersdorf-Weidlingau to, for example, 1.695 in the summer pool in Döbling, 2.630 in the Strandbad Alte Donau and up to 13.075 in the goose heap.

  • Austria: Number of naturalisations decreased by 11.3% in Q1 2020

    Austria: Number of naturalisations decreased by 11.3% in Q1 2020

    2 451 persons acquired Austrian citizenship in the first quarter of 2020.

    According to Statistics Austria, the number of naturalisations decreased by 11.3% compared to the first quarter of 2019 (2 764 naturalisations).

    Females accounted for 55.1% of all naturalisations, children and juveniles under 18 years of age for 34.6%. Over a third of the new citizens had already been born in Austria (38.4%).

    In the first quarter of 2020, the largest groups of naturalised people were former citizens of Serbia (327), Bosnia and Herzegovina (291), Turkey (226), Kosovo (150), Afghanistan (87) and Romania (86).

  • Brazilian star volleyball player is Sonova’s latest brand ambassador

    Brazilian star volleyball player is Sonova’s latest brand ambassador

    Sonova Holding AG, a provider of hearing solutions, is pleased to announce its collaboration with Brazilian professional volleyball player Natália Martins.

    The 35-year-old has had profound hearing loss since childhood and wears hearing aids from Sonova brand Phonak.

    In Brazil, she is the first volleyball player with hearing loss to play at professional level and to make it into her country’s national team.

    Having played successfully for various leading Brazilian clubs, Natália decided last year to take the next step in her career by joining a premier league team in Romania. Sonova has now made a short film about her life.

    Life without limitations – The story of Natália Martins

    The portrait-in-film ”Life without limitations – The story of Natália Martins” is the next chapter in the Sonova Group’s storytelling-based communications strategy that continues to win international awards.

    Following up on prize-winning short films about German soccer player Simon Ollert, Chinese dancer Tianjiao Zhang, Swiss aerial acrobat Jason Brügger and French model Sophie Vouzelaud, this year it is Brasilian volleyball player Natália Martins who tells her story.

    In each case, the film project work led to a deeper and longer-term collaboration with the Sonova Group, aimed at inspiring people with hearing loss.

    The protagonists of the film series act as brand ambassadors for Sonova around the world, as well as for the Hear the World Foundation, a Sonova Group initiative. In each production, Sonova presents an authentic portrait that transports audiences into the world of the protagonist. 

  • TBI Bank, innovative digital financing solution for dental services

    TBI Bank, innovative digital financing solution for dental services

    TBI Bank announces a new partnership to offer a digital lending solution for dental services with Dr. Leahu Dental Clinics, the leading dental care provider in Romania.

    Romanians can now access TBI Bank’s 100% digital solution for their dental problems and repay in installments, in the context of dental clinics expected to be gradually reopened starting May 15th.

    In 2019, mainly due to lack of financial resources, about 50% of Romanians didn’t go to the dentist at all and over 20% declare they don’t intend to schedule a dental check-up in the upcoming period either, shows a recent study developed by Dr. Leahu Dental Clinics.

    Furthermore, during the state of emergency, patients had challenges in accessing the needed dental care services and most of them postponed visits to the dentist for immediately after the state of emergency period.

    Clients can use TBI’s solutions to pay for dental services

    Through the partnership with Dr. Leahu Dental Clinics, clients can use TBI’s solutions to pay for the dental services they need, from basic procedures such as cavity treatments to complex medical care such as implants, in a fully digital lending process that can be completed on the spot, in less than 10 minutes.

    After establishing the dental plan, patients can determine the financing solution that best suits their needs and follow the credit approval process within the clinic, without the need to go to the bank.

  • Wiener Linien Transport Museum opens again from May 30th

    Wiener Linien Transport Museum opens again from May 30th

    The Wiener Linien Transport Museum was closed for eleven weeks because of the coronavirus. The museum in Erdberg will reopen on May 30th. 

    As a special highlight, there is a special exhibition on the subject of “50 years of underground construction”. It opens a journey through time into Vienna’s underground: from November 3, 1969, when the excavators and construction vehicles first appeared on Karlsplatz, to the driverless subway of the future.

    Visitors must wear mouth-nose protection and maintain a distance of at least one meter from other people. Until further notice, there is a limited number of people in the shop. 

    In addition, the already known hygiene rules apply, such as sneezing in the crook of the arm or handkerchief, and regular hand washing with soap. Notes and markings help with orientation. 

    Due to the corona protection measures, no guided tours or events can take place in the coach house until further notice.

    Opening times from May 30, 2020

    • Museum: Saturday, Sunday and selected public holidays 10 A.M. – 6 P.M. | Wednesday 9 A.M.. – 6 P.M.
    • Shop: Saturday, Sunday and selected public holidays 10 A.M. – 6 P.M. | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9 A.M. – 3 P.M. | Wednesday 9 A.M. – 6 P.M.
  • Only three countries control over 80% of global diamond reserves

    Only three countries control over 80% of global diamond reserves

    Data gathered by Learnbonds.com indicates that Russia, Congo, and Botswana control about 86.1% of the global diamond reserves.

    Total global diamond reserves are about 1.1 billion carats.

    The demand for diamonds is set to grow

    Russia controls more than half of the global reserves (52%) with 650 million diamond carats followed by Congo with 150 million carats. Botswana is third with reserves totaling 90 million carats. Other notable reserves are in South Africa (54 million), Australia (39 million) and other countries (120 million carats)

    In terms of diamond production, at the end of 2019, Russia produced an estimated 19 million diamond carats in mining. Australia had 13 million carats followed by Congo at 12 million carats. Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa produced six, three, and two million carats respectively. Other countries produced one million diamond carats.

    The research further shows that the buy and sell demand for diamonds is set to keep rising whereby 2050, the figure will be 292 million carats, a growth of 88.38% from 2018’s number of 155 million. By 2022, the demand will be 178 million diamond carats. Four years later, the demand will grow by 12.36% to 200 million carats.

    Although the demand is set to grow, various factors come into play. According to the report: “The demand for polished diamonds is mainly driven by two major factors including geopolitical and macroeconomic. These factors tend to increase or lower consumer confidence and thus affect the demand directly.”

    Some of the global diamonds reserves are expected to deplete in the coming years. However, apart from mining, diamonds can also be produced in laboratories in the form of synthetic diamonds.

  • Life expectancy at birth of the Bulgarians is 74.9 years

    Life expectancy at birth of the Bulgarians is 74.9 years

    • Life expectancy at birth of the Bulgarian population calculated for the period 2017 – 2019 is 74.9 years.
    • Compared to the previous period (2016 – 2018) it increased by 0.1 years, show latest Bulgarian National Statistical Institute data.

    Bulgaria is the country with lowest life expectancy in the EU. Highest life expectancy at birth is registered in Spain (83.5) and Italy (83.4 years).

    Life expectancy at birth for female it is 7 years higher than men

    Different mortality rates among male and female, as well as among urban and rural population resulted in differences in the life expectancy at birth for these population categories.

    Life expectancy at birth for male population is 71.5 years, while for female it is 7.0 years higher – 78.5 years.

    Between 2009 and 2019, the life expectancy at birth increased for male population by 1.6 years, while for female – by 1.4 years.

    Lowest life expectancy in 72,8 years in Vratsa and Sliven

    Life expectancy at birth varies from 72.8 years in districts Vratsa and Sliven to 76.7 years in districts Sofia (stolitsa) and Kardzhali. Life expectancy is higher than the country average in eight districts.

    Women live longer than men in all country districts, but highest is the difference between sexes in district Kyustendil (8.9 years), while smallest is in district Kardzhali (5.7 years).

  • Skrill is official global payments partner of AC Milan

    Skrill is official global payments partner of AC Milan

    AC Milan and Skrill shared details of the four year partnership deal they recently signed which sees Skrill become the Club’s Official Global Payments Partner.

    Although the deal was signed some weeks ago, and the Skrill name has already appeared in the San Siro stadium on several occasions, both parties were reluctant to talk about marketing activities at a time when both the Club and Italy were enduring the devastating arrival and impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

    Skrill has a track record of supporting football as well as other popular sports and identified AC Milan as an ideal partner, given the highly relevant profile of the team’s fan base and followers around the world, combined with the general popularity of digital wallets and prepaid cards as payment methods in Italy.

    As part of the partnership agreement, Skrill has become the preferred payments partner for AC Milan merchandise sales and is a live payments option on its international online store which serves fans around the world.

    The partnership also means that Skrill branding will be prominently displayed at all AC Milan home matches and promoted on an ongoing basis across the club’s online channels including its website and official App, as well as its hugely popular social media channels.

    Skrill has additionally been integrated into Vivaticket giving fans the option of using Skrill’s digital wallet when buying match tickets and other AC Milan experiences once they resume.

  • Zippo launched a limited-edition WWII replica lighter

    Zippo launched a limited-edition WWII replica lighter

    To mark 75 years since the Second World War ended, Zippo has launched a steel lighter design, a replica of the Zippo lighters every GI wanted in their pocket, even after the war ended.

    During the war, Zippo’s production lines were dedicated entirely to the US military, cementing Zippo as the American icon, tool and talisman it is known as today.

    Every lighter that the factory rolled out was bought by the military so that soldiers could buy them on US bases and in ship stores.

    The brass, normally used to fashion Zippo lighter cases, was strictly rationed for munitions production so, with the massive military order to fulfill, the company started using steel.

    How Zippo WWII replica lighter looks

    The steel lighter design is a 1941 replica, including the lighter insert’s 3-2-3 windproof chimney pattern and the flint wheel; but with a lighter case made from steel instead of brass.

    The new design features the same black crackle paint finish as the original WWII version, which was used to prevent the lighters from rusting.

    The collectible’s edges have been given a worn look, depicting how frequently the original lighters were used and the impact of a lighter repeatedly being dropped into and pulled out of a serviceman’s pocket.

    The limited edition run of 40,000 lighters will be available from June for 100 UK pounds.