On 15 May 2022, the Swiss electorate will vote on an Amendment to the Federal Act on Film Production and Film Culture. In Switzerland, domestic television broadcasters are obliged to invest 4% of their turnover in Swiss filmmaking. However, films and series are increasingly also offered by global companies via streaming services such as Netflix. […]
Switzerland releases 3 billion of frozen Russian funds
On 12 May 2022, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) announced the release of CHF 3.4 billion of funds that was initially frozen in relation to sanctions against specified Russian individuals and companies, reported RTS. The release of the funds follows highly comprehensive analysis to establish whether the funds belonged to any people or […]
The Swiss start-up generating heat from basements
Heat pumps are high-efficiency electric heaters that take heat from the air or ground and concentrate it. Currently, extracting geothermic ground heat typically involves costly processes such as boring holes deep into the ground or laying long lengths of pipe underground. Enerdrape, a start-up at EPFL in Lausanne, has come up will a simpler way […]
Swiss parliament backs lower tax on menstrual products
Switzerland has two rates of VAT: 2.5% for essential items such as food bought in supermarkets, and 7.7% on all other products. Currently, tampons and sanitary pads are taxed at 7.7%. A parliamentary majority would like to see them taxed at the lower rate of 2.5%. It’s a question of fairness, according to Sophie Michaud […]
Abandon organic farming to feed world, recommends Syngenta boss
In the face of a global food crisis, Erik Fyrwald, the boss of chemicals giant Syngenta, has called for the world to abandon organic farming, reported RTS. The pandemic, extreme weather and the war in Ukraine have pushed the prices of some foods up significantly. Africa and southeast Asia are the regions most exposed to […]
“Boys Do Cry” – Swiss entry makes Eurovision final
The Swiss entry into the 2022 Eurovision contest has made it through to the final, which takes place on 14 May 2022. Marius Hügli, a 29 year-old from the canton of Appenzell-Innerrhoden known professionally as Marius Bear is representing Switzerland in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy with the song “Boys Do Cry”. […]
Switzerland to see lunar eclipse on 16 May 2022
On May 16, 2022 (the night of May 15 in the Western Hemisphere), the Moon enters the Earth’s shadow, creating a total lunar eclipse, the first since May of 2021, according to NASA. The NASA animation above shows the changing appearance of the Moon as it travels into and out of the Earth’s shadow. The […]
Health premiums to rise 5% says Swiss price comparison website
According to the price comparison website Comparis.ch obligatory Swiss health insurance premiums are set to rise by an average of 5% in 2023, in some cases as much as 10%. Key drivers of the rise are the impact of the pandemic and pressure by the federal government on insurance companies to refund reserves to policy […]
Swiss canton rejects smacking ban
Many nations have laws that ban parents from spanking their children. Despite much political discussion, Switzerland does not. This week, the government of the canton of Jura voted against introducing such a law, reported Le Matin this week. More than 60 nations have made smacking children illegal after Sweden led the way by banning it […]
Swiss government concludes discussions on cutting social welfare for foreigners
As part of a revision of the rules related to foreigners in Switzerland the federal government has concluded discussions around cutting welfare entitlements for nationals from much of the world, reported the newspaper Le Matin. Discussions on restricting the welfare paid to some foreigners, which have been going on for some time, concluded on 3 […]
