In October 2021, Switzerland’s government created a law requiring online streaming services to pay money into a Swiss cinema fund. Under the law, from 2024, streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ will need to pay a levy equivalent to 4% of their Swiss turnover into the fund, which would be spent on producing Swiss […]
Swiss train punctuality slips in 2021 with big regional differences
In 2021, 91.9% of Swiss passenger trains were on time, down 0.7 percentage points from 92.6% in 2020, with significant regional differences. Across eastern German-speaking Switzerland 94.7% of trains were on time in 2021, compared to 88.0% in western French-speaking Switzerland. In southern, Italian-speaking Switzerland, 90.7% were on time and in central Switzerland the rate […]
Swiss retailers still selling toxic plates despite ban
Plates made from a mix of plastic and bamboo were declared toxic by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) on 30 June 2021 and their sale has been banned since. However, the offending plates, some aimed at babies and children, have been found for sale at retailers in Switzerland, according to the French-speaking […]
Covid: quarantine and work from home extended and entry tests dropped in Switzerland
On 19 January 2022, Switzerland’s government announced an extension of its Covid-19 measures, citing strain on hospitals. The requirement to work from home will stay in place until the end of February, as well as the rules on contact quarantine, said the Federal Council. The ‘2G’ and ‘2G plus’ rule for certain indoor settings, the […]
US diplomats in Geneva report suffering from Havana syndrome
Several US diplomats in Geneva appear to be victims of the Havana syndrome, according to RTS. The mysterious syndrome was first reported in Havana in Cuba in 2016 by US and Canadian embassy staff, but may have been occurring earlier. The symptoms include ear pain and ringing, nausea, disorientation, dizziness and cognitive difficulties. Brain scans […]
1 in 7 new cars in Switzerland were electric and nearly half were 4x4s in 2021
Recent data on new car sales in Switzerland in 2021 show that 31,823 new electric cars were registered in 2021. The data also show that 48% of new registrations were 4x4s. Electric cars made up 13% of the 238,481 new vehicles registered in Switzerland in 2021. Diesel (42%), petrol (14%) and hybrid (31%) cars made […]
Covid: 164,000 new cases this week in Switzerland
This week, 164,333 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Switzerland, up 16% from the 142,085 cases reported a week earlier. Given the high contagiousness of the Omicron variant, which now dominates (84%) in Switzerland, and how mild the symptoms often are, the real number of cases could be significantly higher. This week, 418 people were hospitalised with […]
Long term mortgage rates rising in Switzerland
Over the last few years mortgage interest rates have been exceptionally low in Switzerland. However, since mid-December 2021 they have risen and are at levels last seen in 2018. According to recent data collected the newspaper Finanz und Wirtschaft, Swiss mortgage interest rates are 0.25 percentage points higher than a month earlier. 10-year guide rates […]
Covid: demand for booster shots drops sharply in western Switzerland
The number of people getting third booster doses of vaccine against Covid-19 has fallen sharply in French-speaking Switzerland over recent weeks. In Geneva, around 200 people a day with appointments are failing to show up, reported Le Matin. In Vaud, the number of vaccination appointments made has dropped by half compared to the period leading […]
New Swiss company tax rate set for 2024
On 12 January 2022, the Federal Council decided to implement the minimum tax rate for companies that was agreed by the OECD and G20 member states last year. The 15% minimum tax rate is to come into force on 1 January 2024. The new minimum 15% tax rate, which will apply to multinational companies with […]
