On 12 February 2017, the Swiss electorate will vote on the Federal Decree on the Simplified Naturalisation of Third-Generation Immigrants. Switzerland is well known for its strict citizenship requirements. Currently, most foreign nationals must live in Switzerland for twelve years before applying, and prove they are well integrated. There are numerous young foreigners living in […]
Archives for 2017
Siren tests in Switzerland. What you need to know.
Every year Switzerland tests its sirens. The sirens were installed across the country starting in 1936. Testing was introduced in 1970 and became compulsory in 1988. Testing now takes place once a year on the first Wednesday of February starting at 13:30. Sirens must be sounded for three minutes. The tests finish at 14:00 for […]
Toxic smog in Ticino forces authorities to ban cars from roads
20 Minuti. From midnight on Monday, driving a diesel vehicle with a Euro rating of 3 or lower was banned in the Sottoceneri region of the Italian-speaking Swiss canton of Ticino. In addition, local authorities made travelling on public transport free. Concentrations of fine particles per cubic metre of air reached alarming levels in Chiasso (126μg) Mendrisio (125μg), […]
Democracy’s decline: Switzerland now one of only 19 full democracies, says study
The latest Democracy Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit, entitled: Revenge of the “deplorables”, lists only 19 full democracies, down from 20 in 2015. 72 countries of the 167 surveyed, covering nearly the entire global population, experienced a decline in their total score compared with 2015. Now, only 4.5% of the world lives in a […]
More than 3,000 state beneficiaries in Geneva admit not declaring assets or other income
Tribune de Genève. Last October, Geneva state councillor Mauro Poggia, had his department send out close to 91,000 letters to those receiving social benefits, asking them to contact the authorities if they had failed to declare any assets or income. Laurent Paoliello, a spokesperson from the DEAS, said they received 3,200 letters back. So far, […]
Swiss-based scientist unable to go to Harvard because she is Iranian
20 Minutes. The executive order issued by the US president preventing those holding certain nationalities entering the US has caused travel chaos and upset the lives of many. Among them is Dr. Samira Asgari, a scientific researcher at EPFL in Lausanne. On Saturday, while trying to fly to the US, she was told she could not […]
Swiss naturalisation to cost less in Geneva
Tribune de Genève. Geneva’s government accepted changes to the laws on applying for Swiss citizenship last Friday. The changes mean the charge associated with applications will be determined by the costs of processing applications rather than the current system which calculates charges based on applicants’ income. The change, which will reduce the cost naturalisation, is […]
Swiss cold snap almost over with temperatures rising 22 degrees in some places
The ten day spell of icy weather that has swept across most of Switzerland is running out of steam as the warm Foehn wind starts to blow northward over the Alps. According to MeteoNews between now and Sunday, temperatures should turn positive across the plateau. Today saw large temperature differences across Switzerland. Valais got a taste […]
Those over 25 may pay more for Swiss health insurance
20 Minutes. The Swiss States Council commission on public health endorsed a plan that could lead to higher health insurance premiums for those over 25. Swiss health insurance providers are required to pay into a communal pot to spread risk between insurance companies. The latest plan would reduce the amounts paid into this communal pot for every […]
Asylum demands down 30 percent in Switzerland
20 Minutes. Switzerland received 27,207 requests for asylum in 2016, 31% fewer than the year before. In 2017, The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) expects around 24,500. The decline is related to the partial closure of the migration route through the Balkans, said SEM, particularly towards the end of the year. The number in December […]
