Reaching the official retirement age1 is an important milestone for many people. Some look forward to it while others dread it. Some dreading it would prefer to continue working either because they enjoy their work or would like the extra income. Some feel they are being systematically and unfairly labelled too old to work. A […]
Archives for 2019
Question of the week: why do we eat some animals but not others?
Across Europe, eating cow is quite normal, but for many Indians it’s off the menu. Across much of Asia, dog meat can be found in markets, however in Europe eating dog is taboo. And, in France it’s normal to eat horse, while the British find it unappetizing. Why is this? For more stories like this […]
Question of the week: do we need a retirement age?
Reaching the official retirement age1 is an important milestone for many people. Some look forward to it while others dread it. Some dreading it would prefer to continue working either because they enjoy their work or would like the extra income. Some feel they are being systematically and unfairly labelled too old to work. A […]
Swiss man arrested in connection with murder of Scandinavian tourists in Morocco has long criminal record
A Swiss man arrested in Morocco in connection with the brutal murder of two Scandinavian tourists has a criminal record and is suspected of being radicalised, according to the newspaper 20 Minutes. The man from Geneva has a criminal record for crimes committed between 2007 and 2013. His crimes include drug offenses, theft, burglary, property […]
New year swim in chilly Lake Geneva attracts 120 swimmers
On 1 January 2019, around 120 brave souls took the plunge into the cool waters (7 degrees) of Lake Geneva. The event, which started 22 years ago, kicked off around midday with a champagne celebration. According to Le Matin, the event was started by a local resident from Lapland in 1997. The first year, there […]
Vaccination against tick borne encephalitis now covered by Swiss health insurance
In the face of a rapid rise in the number of infections, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has confirmed to various media, including RTS, that vaccination against tick borne encephalitis is now covered by basic Swiss health insurance. Page 7 of this PDF issued by FOPH shows a list of vaccinations covered […]
Renewal of Swiss residence permits now depends on good behaviour and integration
From 1 January 2019, the rules around renewing Swiss residence permits are different. The change, decided last year, grants renewals only if certain requirements are met. These include respect for the constitution and its values, respect for public order, participation in economic life1 or education, and competency in the local language. Language competence will be […]
Swiss VAT now applied to more foreign online purchases from 1 January 2019
In 2016, Switzerland’s government decided to tighten the VAT exemption on imported purchases, a move that affects most online orders from foreign retailers. The new rules took effect on 1 January 2019 – they were originally planned for 1 January 2018 but systems and processes were not ready. Until the beginning of this year, any […]
FILM: ON THE BASIS OF SEX – How lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s changed a man’s world
ON THE BASIS OF SEX (Une Femme d’Exception) *** By B.J. If I were to tell you that the heartbeat of one woman in Washington is a major determinant in where Donald Trump takes the US in what is left of his presidency and where the country goes after him you would think I am […]
FILM: WELCOME TO MARWEN – how a WWII soldier creates a make-believe universe to cope with trauma
4 January 2019. By Neptune WELCOME TO MARWEN *** Based on the life of Mark Hogancamp, this completely bizarre but charming film is a mix of live actors and Barbie-type figures that pop up in our character’s gentle musings but also in his worst nightmares. For his psychological problems stem from his time as a […]
