This week, the newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported that Switzerland’s federal government is working on reducing the tax free allowance granted to people returning home from a shopping trip abroad. The amount is currently CHF 300 per person per day. The government is looking at cutting this allowance to CHF 150 per person per day, according to […]
Swiss politics poorly aligned with science
A study published this week highlights a significant disconnect between Switzerland’s scientists and politicians during the Covid-19 pandemic, reported SRF. Science and politics did not work together sufficiently during the Covid-19 pandemic, wrote the authors of the NRP 78 report. The partnership between the scientific community and government institutions was not sufficiently developed to withstand […]
New Swiss study on ticks finds nearly all carry pathogens
A recently published study shows 84% of ticks collected in urban areas and 77% of those in rural areas in Switzerland contained at least one non-viral pathogen in addition to a number of viruses. Almost every tick has the potential to make you sick, said Cornel Fraefel, a virologist from the University of Zurich who […]
The head of Switzerland’s Green party resigns
In Switzerland’s recent federal election the Green Party lost significant ground, its share of votes sliding from 14% to 10%. A significant number of former Green voters voted instead for the Socialist Party, Switzerland’s other main left leaning party. Others appear to have shifted to the centre or right. The Liberal Green Party, a right leaning […]
The Swiss ski resorts on death row
As the world gets warmer many winter resorts have found themselves too low for snow. Across Switzerland 65 lift systems have already been closed. Once they are closed they are often abandoned, leaving behind an environmental problem. A report by RTS looks at the problem. A striking example of an abandoned lift system can be […]
FILM: HOW TO HAVE SEX ***
17 November 2023. By Neptune HOW TO HAVE SEX *** This film by first-time director Molly Manning Walker should have been called ‘How NOT to Have Sex’. It’s about three English teenage girlfriends who go off to a Greek party resort to literally “get laid”. They’re terribly excited and the place is full of rowdy […]
Swiss government aiming for EU negotiating mandate by year end
Switzerland in not a member of the EU. However, via a series of deals it operates to a large extent as a member would. Brussels put pressure on Switzerland to replace these deals with a single agreement giving Switzerland less wiggle room. In May 2021, Switzerland said no to the deal on the table. On […]
What makes someone Swiss – a survey
A survey run by gfs.bern that asked more than 57,000 people what makes someone Swiss was published by RTS this week. One of the takeaways from the survey is that a person’s behaviour is more important than their origin. 54% said that origin was of secondary importance when establishing Swissness. The most important behaviour for […]
Fast-track heat pump approval challenged in Swiss court
Changing your home heating system is a complicated matter in Switzerland, involving much paperwork and significant administrative cost. To incentivise the installation of heat pumps, a more efficient form of electric heating, the canton of Vaud changed the rules to make it easier. A group of around 40 people, many with scientific backgrounds has challenged […]
Swiss pay rises won’t keep up with inflation in 2024
A report by UBS predicts average Swiss salary growth of 1.9% in 2024, set against expected inflation of 2%. If correct, real pay will be slightly lower by year end than it was at the start of the year. The bank said that rising health insurance premiums will mean many workers face a loss of […]
