On 27 June 2018, Switzerland drew 2:2 to Costa Rica. This gave Switzerland a total of 5 points, placing it second in Group E, behind Brazil with 7 points. Brazil won 2:0 against Serbia in the other final Group E match. This sends Switzerland through to the next round. At 90 minutes, Switzerland was set […]
Archives for 2018
Geneva – vote to challenge new laws some deem discriminatory
In April 2018, the government of Geneva introduced rules designed to protect religious freedom and preserve religious peace, known as laïcité, or secularity, laws. Laïcité is enshrined in article 3 of Geneva’s constitution, which requires the state to be secular and separate from religion. In Switzerland, religion is a cantonal matter. Geneva’s parliament voted 63 […]
Geneva set to vote on world’s highest minimum wage
In May 2014, Switzerland voted against a minimum wage of CHF 22 an hour. At some point voters in the canton of Geneva will get to vote on a similar initiative, which would apply only in the canton. Similar to the federal vote, which was rejected by 76.3% of Swiss voters, the plan calls for […]
Swiss town tests blockchain-based voting
On 25 June 2018, the city of Zug, the town at the heart of Switzerland’s crypto valley, started testing a voting system based on blockchain technology. During the trial, which runs until 1 July 2018, around 200 voters will cast non-binding municipal votes on mock questions in a trial designed to identify any bugs in […]
Swiss government puts prizes in condoms
This week, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) launched a condom lottery to promote condom use under the slogan: Go out covered and win. Around 400,000 free condoms, which will be handed out over summer at pools, clubs and concerts, will contain a code. These codes can be entered into a website. Some codes […]
Football – Xhaka and Shaqiri cleared to play next world cup matches
Swiss footballers Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri both received a warning and a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs for unsporting behaviour by FIFA’s disciplinary panel, according to numerous reports. Details of FIFA fines for Swiss trio who celebrated scoring v Serbia with hand gestures of Albania’s national eagle symbol. Stems from Xhaka & Shaqiri having […]
EU unemployment rule change could cost Switzerland dearly
Currently, across EU and EFTA countries, unemployment benefits are paid by the country of residence. Last week, the EU announced plans to make the country of employment pay unemployment benefits instead. This change could be costly for Swiss cantons with large numbers of cross-border workers, workers who live in the EU but work in Switzerland. […]
Football – star Swiss players face sideline after political gestures
Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, two star Swiss footballers, risk being sidelined. The two goal scorers in the pivotal win against Serbia last Friday, could find themselves banned from playing in the next two world cup matches. On Saturday, FIFA’s disciplinary committee announced that it had opened disciplinary proceedings against the players. In a statement […]
Nearly 1 in 20 in Switzerland is a millionaire, according wealth to report
The 2017, a wealth report, published by Capgemini, shows there were 389,000 US$ millionaires in Switzerland, around 4.5% of the population, or close to 1 in 20. If children under the age of 15 are excluded, Switzerland’s millionaire percentage rises to 7.3%. In addition, these figures include only investable wealth, which does not include the […]
Football – Switzerland beats Serbia
On 22 June 2018, Switzerland won 2:1 against Serbia, following a 1:1 draw against Brazil last Sunday. Switzerland’s two goals were scored by Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri. Both of these Swiss players are of Kosovan descent, so winning against Serbia, a country that refuses to recognize Kosovo, would have had an additional emotional dimension […]
