Today, Swiss voted on whether to support the federal government’s plan to overhaul Switzerland’s energy system. The plan was accepted by 58.2% of voters. The results were in line with most poll predictions leading up to the vote. Support for the plan was widespread. Majorities of voters supported the plan in 22 of Switzerland’s 26 […]
Archives for 2017
Swiss still show strong preference for car over train
Despite one of the world’s most efficient train networks, Swiss residents still overwhelmingly prefer hopping in their cars than getting on trains or other forms of transport. Of the 90 minutes an average Swiss resident spends moving every day they spend the vast majority of it in a car. In 2015, two thirds of trips were made […]
FILM: King Arthur – Legend of the sword. Told by Guy Ritchie
19 May 2017. KING ARTHUR – LEGEND OF THE SWORD **1/2 To enjoy this latest Guy Ritchie extravaganza on the ancient myth of King Arthur, you have to appreciate Ritchie’s style of filmmaking – fast, furious and flippant dialogue, speedy editing and innovative storytelling – like his early “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” or […]
Poor not being pushed out of Swiss cities
It is widely believed that as the price of real estate climbs those on low incomes are forced out of city centres. A study by the University of Geneva, commissioned by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office focused on the period between 2010 and 2014, shows this is not true in Switzerland. Rich leaving the centres […]
Swiss collectibles ending up inside cats
20 Minutes. A clinic in Zurich has warned Swiss cat owners to be on guard. Several cats have ended up at the vet after eating Coop’s little rubber collectables. A cat was recently rushed to the vet in Regensdorf for an emergency operation, according to 20 Minuten. The little rubber figurines were given to customers […]
Petrol vehicles more polluting than diesel ones, according to Swiss research
Researchers at Bern’s University of Applied Sciences have done tests showing that modern petrol cars produce up to 100 times more particulate matter than diesel ones. The team has been testing exhaust emissions in a facility in Nidau for three years. The work has involved the collaboration of four organisations. According to a report by […]
Strong Swiss franc could be over reckons currency strategist at UBS
Tribune de Genève. After more than two years of a highly overvalued franc, relative to the euro, the currency should ease in the near term reckons Thomas Flury, senior currency strategist at UBS. He expects a euro to be worth 1.14 francs in 6 months and 1.16 within a year. Emmanuel Macron’s victory and Marine […]
Switzerland’s fascination with funny money spreads to Valais
A new local currency, dubbed the “Farinet“, was launched recently in the canton of Valais. A similar one called the “Leman” landed in some pockets in Geneva and Lausanne in September 2015. #DYK that the #Swiss canton of Valais has its own currency, the Farinet? Find out more via @TheLocalSwitzer… https://t.co/R7S7ZRZFTm pic.twitter.com/0kKAHD5SRg — Swiss Consulate […]
Swiss cantons consider imposing income tax at source
20 Minutes. To reduce the outstanding amount owed by taxpayers, Basel’s parliament is discussing imposing income tax at source. Vaud is considering a similar plan. Every year, the canton Basel-City has to chase around 15,000 outstanding tax bills amounting to a total of CHF 80 million. According to the newspaper NZZ, getting employers to deduct […]
Poverty in Switzerland has more to do with age than any other factor
A recent report classifies 570,000 people in Switzerland as poor. This number represents 7% of the population, and relates to 2015. In 2014, the same percentage was 6.6%. The report, which looks only at income, defines as poor a single person with income less than CHF 2,239 per month or a family of four with […]
