If you think 2016 is a mess, just wait until you see what's next. A toxic mix of potential disasters could send Europe into a death spiral.

A migrant who raped a boy in Austria because of a "sexual emergency" had his conviction overturned - because there was no proof the child said no.

Skifield says the hazard did not exist when its morning inspection was done.

A Wellington skier is critically injured after an accident on Mt Ruapehu which Peter Hillary witnessed from a chairlift before rushing to assist with the rescue.

Every year, 300,000 'Sound of Music' fans make the journey to Salzburg, Austria.

Natascha Kampusch has taken cameras inside the tiny room she spent for eight horrible years after being kidnapped.

Austria's government has moved to seize Hitler's birthplace by compulsory purchase amid warnings of its growing attraction for far Right "tourism".

A group of hikers had to be rescued from the Austrian Alps after a local guide allegedly got drunk and abandoned them.

In the idyllic ski region where James Bond wreaked havoc in the last 007 blockbuster, Spectre, I have taken on a mission of my own to discover one of Tirol's best-kept secrets.

Mention Arnold Schwarzenegger and almost no one will imagine glow-in-the-dark condoms.

James Edgar accomplishes his mission of skiing in the tracks of 007 in Soelden.

A dying grandmother took to a pile of euro bills with scissors, managing to cut up almost $1.6 million in an effort to spite her heirs.

The pre-dawn move eased immediate pressure on Hungary, which has struggled to manage the flow of thousands of migrants arriving daily from non-EU member Serbia.

The number of migrants found dead in a lorry abandoned on an Austrian highway climbed to 71 on Friday, as police disclosed that it had travelled through Hungary.

It is understood that the truck had been parked or even abandoned on the side of the road for several days.

A man has killed at least three people and injured 34 in a murderous rampage after driving his car straight into crowds of shoppers in Austria before getting out and stabbing passers-by.

Austria's magical capital can best be viewed from a bicycle seat, writes Paul Rush.

A rare woman rider tells Susan Buckland about the famed Lipizzaners.

These terrifying images show the moments after a window-cleaning cradle on Austria's tallest building suddenly slipped, leaving two workers clinging on for their lives.

From igloos to heli lodges in the Canadian wilderness, Jennifer Ennion looks at three of the Northern Hemisphere's top snow hotels.

Catherine Masters enjoys a kaleidoscope of European sights from her floating hotel.

Catherine Masters cruises the Danube, taking in central Europe's stunning cities.

The cruisy life on a river ship appeals to Justine Tyerman.

A cruise along one of Europe's most famous waterways aboard the MS Beethoven takes in the sights of Hungary, Slovakia and Austria.

Tourists who have lapped up the December-long pleasures of German Christmas markets could do worse than to try Austria's this year.

If your mind's slowly turning to the Christmas holidays and you're after something different, consider these top ski resorts.

Non-traditional urban accommodation providers are appealing to travellers in Austria and New York.

Austrian police hunting for the killer of four people have found the charred body of what they believe was the gunman after pushing through a wall into a smoke-filled hidden basement on the farm grounds the suspect had holed up in.

He's no star on the slopes, but Andrew Potter finds his feet in St Anton's bars.