In Switzerland it is possible to order goods online without paying up front. Retailers will send orders with a payment slip included with the goods. Fraudsters are exploiting this quirk of Swiss postal retail. Fraudsters order goods online pretending to be someone else. The goods are then shipped without the need to provide any payment […]
FIFA: Blatter and Platini acquitted of fraud
In June 2020, Switzerland’s public prosecutor requested Sepp Blatter (86) and Michel Platini (66) get 20-month suspended prison sentences in connection with accusations of fraud against the football organisation FIFA. However, on 8 July 2022, the Federal Tribunal in Bellinzone acquitted the two men, reported RTS. Legal proceedings against the former FIFA managers was justified, […]
Sharp rise in Covid cases in Switzerland this week
Over the 7 days to 4 July 2022, 46,025 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), a figure 39% higher that the 7 days prior. In addition, 455 people were hospitalised, a number 52% higher than the week before. And 13 patients died. 45 ICU […]
Switzerland gets green light to restart oldest nuclear power plant
On 1 July 2022, the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (FNSI) gave a green light for the restart of Beznau 1, Switzerland’s oldest nuclear reactor. The reactor, which entered operation in 1969, was shut down on 29 April 2022 for planned annual maintenance. During the work the fuel assembly was replaced, said FNSI. The work […]
World’s most powerful particle accelerator now operating at record energy
On 5 July 2022, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle accelerator located just outside Geneva started operating at new higher record energy levels. After more than three years of upgrade and maintenance work the LHC is back online. Beams of particles have been circulating in CERN’s accelerator complex since April, with the LHC machine and […]
Nearly 1 in 6 lives in a household with outstanding debts in Switzerland
Even before high inflation hit people’s pockets many Swiss households were over extended. In 2020, almost one in six residents lived in a household with debt arrears, according to data released this week by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). The most common overdue payments were taxes (7.5%), health insurance premiums (5.5%), phone bills (4.1%), utility […]
Swiss inflation up again in June 2022
On 4 July 2022, Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office (FSO) published June inflation data, which show prices 3.4% higher than one year ago, well above the Swiss National Bank target of 2.0%. Switzerland’s consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.5% in June 2022, less than the 0.7% rise in May 2022. At the end of May […]
Swiss minister asks public to reduce their heating next winter
Switzerland faces a potential gas shortage next winter, warns Switzerland’s Federal Council. Reduced consumption or rationing cannot be ruled out, it warns. At a press conference in Bern on Wednesday, economy minister Guy Parmelin said that there is a very real risk of a gas shortage over winter, reported RTS. Around three quarters of the […]
Swiss restaurant fines those who don’t finish their meals
An Indian restaurant in Baden in the Swiss canton of Aargau threatens those who don’t finish their plates with fines. The system has been in place for two years, reports Le Matin. In a bid to cut food waste the Casanova restaurant has come up with a system of CHF 5 fines for unfinished plates. […]
Swiss government looking at how to tax electric vehicles
Roads in Switzerland are largely funded via tax on fuel. But with electric vehicles set to become the main means of road transport and no equivalent taxes on electricity the government is looking at alternative forms of tax to fund roads, reports 20 Minutes. The Federal Council has asked the Federal Department of the Environment, […]
