On Thursday, Swiss power operator Axpo announced that it will take the Beznau nuclear power plant, which was first switched on 6 September 1969, offline from 2032, reported SRF. Interest in nuclear energy in Switzerland began shortly after the Second World War. In 1945, Switzerland’s federal government appointed a team led by the physicist Paul […]
Swiss parliament accepts contentious budget
On Thursday, Switzerland’s federal parliament accepted a budget for 2025 by 120 versus 73 votes, reported RTS. Opposing votes came from politicians on the left, who make up a large minority in Switzerland’s lower house. Included in the budget were an increase in military spending, cuts to farm subsidies and large cuts to international aid. […]
Tourism one quarter of Switzerland’s traffic
New data show that tourism accounts for 25% of the total traffic on Swiss roads, reported SRF. The Federal Council report shows that leisure and tourism account for 53% of passenger road traffic, with the other 47% made up of commuting to and from work. Regular leisure traffic by residents of Switzerland accounted for 27% […]
Swiss voters shift right according to new poll
If elections were held in Switzerland today, parties on the right would move ahead at the expense of those on the left, especially parties focused on the environment, according to a recent poll run by Sotomo. The biggest gainer would be the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), which gained 2.0 percentage points in the poll, reaching […]
Possible relief for the nearly half a million Swiss struggling with debt
In Switzerland, nearly half a million people are struggling with debt. This week, parliament discussed new measures that may offer relief to those unable to dig themselves out of insolvency, reported RTS. In Switzerland, personal bankruptcy does not extinguish your debts in the same way as it does across much of the rest of world. […]
French government decides not to halve unemployment benefits for cross-border workers
Several hundred thousand French residents work in Switzerland. These workers pay unemployment insurance in Switzerland. However, their unemployment benefits, should they find themselves out of work, are covered by the French administration. In November 2023, French authorities announced a plan to cut the amount they pay to unemployed cross-border workers. This week, several French parliamentarians […]
FILM: CONCLAVE ***** this film is perfection!
6 December 2024. CONCLAVE ***** This film is perfection! (Notice the rare 5 stars). Everything about it is just right: the acting, the dialogue, the setting and its gravitas. You feel you are actually in the Vatican with magnificent cinematography, assisting in the process of choosing a new Pope. That’s what the word Conclave signifies […]
New data on Switzerland’s gender pay gap
Across much of the developed world, gender pay disparities all but disappear if comparisons are made like for like, looking at individuals doing the same function in the same company, according to Korn Ferry Hay Group research, which looked at 20 million salaries at 25,000 organizations in 100 nations. However, because of job and career […]
Blokes and Black Dogs: It’s OK to talk
By Carl Wahlers Depression, suicide and loneliness are key factors among men over 40 years old, particularly expatriate and retirement age professionals living in countries such as Switzerland. It is often difficult to develop social ties with local communities or to find purpose leaving afflicted individuals high and dry, reluctant or unable to seek help. Three […]
Winter tyre rules in Switzerland and its neighbours
Laws in France, Italy and Austria require drivers to fit winter tyres or carry chains between certain dates. In Germany, winter tires are mandatory for driving on snow, slush and ice. However, Switzerland leaves the decision on whether to fit winter tyres up to drivers. In Switzerland, there is no legal requirement to fit winter […]
