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26. 11. 09. - 17:00

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26. 11. 09. - 17:00

Mafia cops target Vatican bank

Anti mafia cops are asking the Pope to authorise access for police to see secret accounts in the Vatican's private offshore bank as part of money laundering investigations, it emerged today (thursday).

The Church's Institute for Religious Works accepts accounts from priests, Vatican city residents and worshippers who agree to donate part of their money to the Church.

Because of a special agreement with the Italian state, the bank gives high interest and transfers profits back to high street banks in Italy.

Now prosecutors are seeking access to the accounts as part of an investigation into organised crime money laundering, reports La Stampa newspaper.

According to police more than 60 million GBP has passed through just three targeted accounts within a year.

Bank president Ettore Gotti Tedeschi said he is co-operating with the investigation.

Austrian Times

Camera leads to hit and run boarder arrest
Austrian police have arrested a hit-and-run snow boarder after issuing the man's picture to local media.

Tragic schoolgirl Julia to be laid to rest
An Austrian schoolgirl whose disappearance was once linked to incest monster Josef Fritzl is to be buried today.

Vienna ÖVP endorses proposed district cuts
Vienna People’s Party (ÖVP) Josefstadt district head Veronika Mickel suggested continuing to speak about a reduction of positions in the city's administration.

Skiing starts in Vienna
Over this winter holiday week, Vienna’s residents will once again be able to make a trip to the slopes without venturing out of the city. The capital’s very own ski slope, "High Hills", will be open daily to the public from 4 February until 11 February.

Vranitzky appreciates tuition fees discussion
Former Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Franz Vranitzky has said he welcomes the current debate about a reintroduction of tuition fees.

Wiener Linien records rising demand for annual passes
The number of people opting for annual Wiener Linien tickets is soaring.

Many Austrians mistrust jurisdiction
Almost four in 10 Austrians had a worse opinion of the country’s juridical system today than a few years ago, a new survey shows.

Ice wine harvest later than ever
The grapes for ice wine production have been harvested later than ever this year in Austria. The fruit for the popular dessert wine are normally picked in December at the latest but only now have the temperatures been cold enough for the harvest.

Westbahn welcomes 6,000 a day
Westbahn manages to sell one in two of the overall number of tickets it offers, a spokesman said today (Fri).

Vice chancellor refuses to exclude FPÖ
The People’s Party (ÖVP) keeps refusing to disassociate itself from the Freedom Party (FPÖ) following FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache’s controversial comparisons with the Nazi era.