24heures. According to the newspaper 24heures fewer Germans and more Spanish, Italians and Portuguese are moving to Switzerland. These southern Europeans are more likely to move to Italian speaking Ticino and the French speaking lake Geneva regions. They are putting downward pressure on salaries in these places, in particular areas with high numbers of cross-border […]
Archives for June 2015
Switzerland has no plans to ban sprays such as Roundup despite health warnings
Tribune de Genève. The newspaper reported that the Swiss federal council said last Friday that it did not consider it necessary to ban the use of sprays containing the active ingredient glyphosate found in around 70 sprays (including Roundup) available in Switzerland. In March 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an agency of […]
Swiss consumption up in May
The newspaper 20 Minutes reported that the UBS Swiss consumption index was up in May 2015. The index increased from 1.67 to 1.73 driven in part by an increase in new car sales. The strong franc is dampening sales of some retailers however, who have to compete with lower retail prices across the border in […]
Summer guide to delicious hot smoke barbequing in Switzerland
Hot smoking is the rage in Canada and the US and its popularity is spreading like wildfire throughout Europe. Hot smoking adds wonderful flavour to even the blandest food and transforms fish such as salmon into a delightful and impressive summer barbeque dish. Tempt your family and friends with well-tried and tested hot smoking ideas […]
UN international Yoga day 2015 – learn about this ancient art at events in Switzerland
“By proclaiming 21 June as the International Day of Yoga, the General Assembly of the United Nations has recognized the holistic benefits of this timeless practice and its inherent compatibility with the principles and values of the United Nations.” Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General, United Nations. In December 2014, the 193-member United Nations General Assembly approved by consensus a […]
The Swiss National Bank braced for Grexit
Bilan The Swiss National Bank decided to maintain the interest rate on sight deposit account balances at -0.75% on Thursday. It still believes its monetary policy is effective and defends its use of negative interest rates, which it believes should weaken the Swiss franc over time. While the bank’s base scenario does not involve Greece […]
UDC wants an immediate halt on asylum
20 Minutes The newspaper 20 Minutes reported that the UDC (SVP) presented a motion in the Swiss parliament for an immediate moratorium on asylum. The UDC demand follows a move in Austria last week to stop examining asylum demands to spur other EU members to make more effort to welcome refugees. The UDC’s demand includes […]
Bertarelli boat involved in dangerous collision
24heures The newspaper 24heures reports that the Bertarelli trimaran Spindrift 2 was involved in an accident, which left a woman severely injured possibly requiring the amputation of her leg. Spindrift 2 hit another boat on 16 June 2015 at Lorient in Sweden, the starting point of the ninth and final leg of the Volvo Ocean […]
Geneva’s best 2014 wines named
Tribune de Genève On Wednesday night, in the presence of Brigitte Rosset and state counsellor Luc Barthassat in the courtyard of Geneva’s town hall, 60 wine experts tasted 650 local wines. 56 were awarded medals. Gamay and chasselas were the best represented grape varieties, unsurprising given they make up two thirds of Geneva’s grape production. […]
Frontaliers hit hardest by proposed changes to Geneva’s tax rules
Tribune de Genève According to the newspaper Tribune de Genève, proposed changes to Geneva’s tax rules, designed to pull in an extra CHF 28 million of tax revenue, will hit cross-border workers hardest. The changes, to be put before the canton’s Grand Council as part of the 2016 budget, will replace deductions for actual travel […]