Until recently, Swiss case law placed the responsibility for drug addiction on the drug user. Drug addicts only qualified for disability welfare if their addiction was connected with an illness or accident. A recent ruling on a case by the Federal Tribunal, Switzerland’s highest court, changes this. The case involved a man in Zurich dependent […]
Archives for 2019
Germany to reintroduce stiffer Swiss border checks, says minister
Before 2008, when Switzerland joined Schengen, a Europe-wide border-free zone, border checks were the norm. Since then people moving in and out of Switzerland to one of the 26 Schengen countries, which include Germany and Switzerland, have not been subject to routine checks. However, after an Eritrean man living in Switzerland allegedly pushed a boy […]
FILM: Catch these worthy ones before they’re gone
2 August 2019. By Neptune Dear cinephiles, it’s once again barren land in the summertime movie world. But there are some quality kids’ blockbusters that you could also enjoy. I’ve already covered them – if you didn’t catch them before, here are the WORTHY ONES to see before they’re gone: DOULEUR ET GLOIRE **** (Almadovar’s […]
Luzern may tax buses to reduce strain of mass tourism
Every year Luzern receives around 9.4 million visitors, or roughly 25,000 a day, according to a university study. Tourism is putting a strain on the city, bringing traffic to a standstill and creating crowds in public spaces. In addition, many visitors arrive on buses, tour the town, and leave without spending a night, which generates […]
Switzerland set to ban 15 pesticides
Switzerland’s Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) plans to look at the regulations on 15 pesticides containing the chemical chlorothalonil, an ingredient used since the 70s to protect fruit and cereal crops from disease. Environmental groups will be given a chance to comment on the review, said FOAG. Tests in parts of Switzerland have revealed high […]
Zurich’s mayor wants to let foreigners vote
Speaking to the newspaper Tages-Anzeiger recently, Corine Mauch, Zurich’s mayor said she plans to launch an initiative to give foreign residents the chance to vote at a municipal level. Mauch, whose mother Ursula Mauch was the first female federal parliamentarian from the canton of Aargau, said that while foreign residents live, work and pay taxes […]
Vaud explosion came from military jet
On Monday at around 14:50, a loud bang, that sounded like an explosion, took some people in the greater Lausanne region by surprise, prompting a number of them to call the police. The sound came from a military aircraft breaking the sound barrier, according to various newspapers, including 20 Minutes. The Swiss military reported that […]
Swiss apprenticeships – too many places, not enough takers
Figures on unfilled apprenticeship places show the difficulty of matching supply and demand in the labour market. This year there were 12,000 unfilled apprenticeship positions in Switzerland. Switzerland’s apprenticeship model, which helps match workers’ skills with employer demand, is one driver of Switzerland’s low unemployment (4.9%) – 2018 ILO basis. Switzerland has highest underemployment in […]
Switzerland has highest underemployment in Europe
In 2018, 830,000 people in Switzerland were unable to find the work they wanted, according the Federal Statistical Office. While 243,000 were looking but not immediately available and 231,000 were unemployed, most (356,000) were underemployed – working but unable to find as many hours of work as they’d like. The additional hours sought by underemployed […]
Switzerland’s most dangerous terrorist being held in Syria
A 24-year-old man from Geneva known as Daniel D. is being held in a kurdish prison in Syria, according to the newspaper Le Matin. Also known as Abu Ilias al-Swissri, Daniel D. is classified by counter-terrorism experts as the most dangerous Swiss jihadist. He is the only Swiss national on an Interpol list of 173 […]
