In 2016, before the effects of taxes and welfare, the highest earning 20% of Swiss households made on average 40.8 times what an average household in the bottom 20 percent made, an inequality measure known as the S80/S20. However, after taxes and welfare, including low income support, health insurance subsidies, pensions and disability benefits, the […]
Archives for 2019
Over 40% of 14 and 15 year old smokers in Switzerland buy their own cigarettes
A recently published study shows that 41.4% of 14 and 15 year old smokers in Switzerland have already bought their own cigarettes from a shop, supermarket, kiosque, bar, restaurant or vending machine. The rate was higher in French- and Italian-speaking Switzerland (45.0%) than in German-speaking Switzerland (39.4%), and higher for boys (45.2%) than for girls […]
Steep drop in thefts in Switzerland
Comparing 2018 to 2012, thefts in Switzerland fell by nearly half, according to the Federal Statistical Office. In 2012, there were a record 219,000 thefts recorded in Switzerland. By 2018, the figure had fallen to 112,000, a drop of 49%. Over the same period, all categories of theft with the exception of fraud were down. […]
Up to 500 parking spaces to close at Geneva Airport
One of Geneva Airport’s car parks will temporarily close up to half its parking spaces. The park P26, which is under Halle 7 of the Palexpo exhibition centre, is undergoing renovation work which starts in April 2019 and is expected to last until June 2020, according a press release. The car park is getting its […]
Snow forecast in Switzerland on Thursday
It might feel like spring, however snow is forecast to fall as low as 500 metres in parts of Switzerland this Thursday, according to Swiss Meteo. The metrological service forecasts snow as low as between 600 and 800 metres in French-speaking Switzerland and as low as low as 500 and 800 metres in German-speaking Switzerland. […]
FILM: THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS – separated triplets who find each other at 19
29 March 2019. By Neptune Lots of films to cover, so these will be short reviews. Get out there and see the good ones. THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS **** This exceptional documentary by Tim Wardle, about separated triplets who find each other only at age 19, starts off as a heart-warming revelation but slowly turns into […]
Million franc salaries cause friction in Bern
Switzerland’s government recently voted for a ceiling on the salaries of those managing public companies such as Swisscom, Swiss Post, Skyguide and Swiss Rail. In response, the board of Swiss Rail wrote to the Federal Council requesting it to soften its position. From 2020, the company wants to pay its nine senior managers CHF 5.89 […]
Brexit FAQ for Swiss and UK nationals
Uncertainty continues around Brexit, however, for Swiss living in the UK and UK citizens living in Switzerland the uncertainty is far lower. Switzerland and the UK signed an agreement protecting the rights of each other’s nationals post Brexit, which apply regardless of how and when Brexit occurs. A Swiss government website sets out answers to […]
Paleo festival 2019 line up announced
Today, the Paleo festival in Nyon Switzerland announced the 2019 line up. The list includes The Cure, Lana Del Rey, Twenty Øne Piløts, Christine and the Queens, Patrick Bruel, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stephan Eicher & Traktorkestar, Angèle, Tash Sultana, Lomepal, Jacob Banks, Xavier Rudd, Shaka Ponk, -M-, Birkin Gainsbourg Le Symphonique, The Blaze and Polo & […]
Swiss Rail shares bumper profits with passengers
In 2018, Swiss Rail made a profit of CHF 568 million, 42.5% more than in 2017. Part of the rise was due to higher than average spending on maintenance in 2017. It is worth noting that Swiss Rail receives a large sum from taxpayers every year. In 2018, the company received CHF 3.5 billion of […]
