Currently, fire risk is high in central Valais, Ticino, parts of Graubunden and St. Gallen, according to Switzerland’s government. The warning comes with a call not to light fires outside. Current warnings in these regions are at level 4 out of 5, which means burning matches, flying sparks from barbecue fires and lightning will very […]
Archives for July 2018
EU migration into Switzerland down significantly in 2017
Net migration into Switzerland from the EU was down by 11% last year, according to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). In 2017, a net 31,250 people from the EU and EFTA moved to Switzerland. And, with a 4% decline in the number arriving over the five months to May 2018, the fall looks […]
The large tax differences between Swiss cantons
In Switzerland, tax is largely determined by the canton of residence. The range of tax rates is wide. In 2017, a single person earning CHF 100,000 paid only CHF 7,592 in the canton of Zug but CHF 19,233 in the canton of Neuchâtel, more than 2.5 times as much. Someone married with children earning the […]
FILM: 3 FACES – wisdom from Iran
6 July 2018. 3 FACES **** (vo Farsi) The unending wisdom and gentleness of Jafar Panahi are once again here to delight us. The veteran Iranian director, who is supposedly still under house arrest and prohibited from making films, is back with another tale from a corner of his country. One can only wonder how […]
How mathematicians solved glacier death mystery after 86 years
On the 4th of March 1926 three brothers and a fourth man set out on a hike to Koncordiaplatz on Switzerland’s Aletsch glacier, the largest in the Alps. They never returned. When their bodies were discovered in 2012, scientists and mathematicians were able to work out what happened to the men 86 years earlier. The […]
Switzerland’s most beautiful village contest
To the Swiss, it can seem like every time they turn around they’re being asked to vote on something. But this vote is more fun than choosing a city council candidate. The online polls are open for the annual Most Beautiful Swiss Village contest, with 12 to choose from, each one shamelessly enchanting, as you’ll […]
Hiring a cleaner – around half break law on Swiss accident insurance
Brought to you by quitt.ch – No. 1 provider of registration and administration services for domestic help in Switzerland. In Switzerland, around one in seven hire someone to do their cleaning, but around half break the law, risking fines and a big bill because they don’t have compulsory accident insurance, according to a recent […]
FILM: SICARIO 2 – day of the soldado
6 July 2018. SICARIO 2 (Day of the soldado) *** But if you’re looking for nerve-wracking tension and thrills, then this film about the Mexican drug cartels is for you. Both Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin are back in their roles as U.S. agents dealing with cross-border drug problems. Their connections with the highest […]
Recording TV could be under threat in Switzerland
With TV recording there’s no need to miss programmes just because they’re on at the wrong time. And, when it’s time to watch them, it’s easy to fast forward through the adverts, something that can’t be done when watching live. In Switzerland, television recording is offered by big distributers, such as Swisscom, Sunrise and UPC. […]
Don’t get caught out by Swiss summer train track closures
Swiss rail is closing parts of its network from 30 June 2018 until 26 August 2018. Engineering work across more than 30 sites means some sections of track will be closed. Work can be done at night, allowing trains to run during the day, however, work is much faster if it is done around the […]