This week, Switzerland’s Federal Prosecutor requested that Credit Suisse be fined the maximum of CHF 5 million allowed under Swiss law for money laundering related to its dealings with a network of Bulgarian drug traffickers, reported RTS. The trial began two and a half weeks ago at the Switzerland’s Federal Penal Tribunal in Bellinzona. Two […]
Oxo-degradable plastics banned in Switzerland from April 2022
Everything in the universe eventually breaks down and degrades. This means claims regarding biodegradability are easy to make. However, the real question is: how long does it take and what does it breakdown into? In some cases, materials pitched as being friendly to the environment often fall significantly short of environment friendly claims upon closer […]
Chart of the week: rates of homeownership by Swiss canton
Switzerland has one of the lowest rates of home ownership. Most residents live in rented accommodation. Across the whole country, only 36.2% of homes were owned by their occupants in 2020, according to data published this week by Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office (FSO). However, home ownership rates vary significantly depending on the canton. In popular […]
Prices of dairy products set to rise in Switzerland
Dairy prices are rising globally. Higher global prices are expected to trigger price rises in Switzerland as local dairy farmers follow the global trend, reported 20 Minutes. Since the beginning of the year, the price of a tonne of dried milk has risen by around 16% to US$ 4,503, according to the website Global Dairy […]
Half of French households near Swiss border work in Switzerland
Recently published statistics show that more than half of the residents in certain parts of France were employed in Switzerland in 2018. The data, published by INSEE, a French statistics agency, found that more than half of households in the communes du Genevois, Pays de Gex and Annemasse-Les Voirons, all regions bordering Switzerland, contained family […]
Swiss employment reaches new record
Data published this week by Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office (FSO) show that the number of active workers in Switzerland rose to a record 5.239 million by the end of 2021. The number of people employed at the end of 2021 was 1.9% higher than at the end of 2020. 5.239 million represents around 73% of […]
Netflix 40% more expensive in Switzerland
In Germany, the lowest-priced Netflix subscription is CHF 8,30 (EUR 7.99) a month. The same subscription in Switzerland costs CHF 11.90, a price 43% higher than in Germany. Given the large difference between German VAT(19%) and Swiss VAT (7.7%), all other things being equal, Swiss subscribers should expect to pay 10% less than German subscribers. […]
City beehives destroying wild bee populations in Switzerland
There are too many domestic bees in Swiss cities, according to a study by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). Beekeeping is booming in Swiss cities, but the uncontrolled increase in honeybees is putting increasing pressure on wild pollinators, threatening urban biodiversity, found the study. The results suggest that beekeeping […]
Few third-generation foreigners born in Switzerland becoming Swiss
In 2017, in a referendum, 60.4% of Swiss voters agreed to let third-generation residents apply for citizenship via a fast-track process, which was opened in February 2018. However, out of the roughly 25,000 third-generation residents qualifying, only 1,847 (7%) of them had naturalised by the end of 2020, according to a recent report published by a […]
Swiss to pay extra for replay TV
Winterthur-based Init7 recently started charging extra for replay TV. Other providers are set to follow, according to 20 Minutes. Until recently, replay TV, which allows viewers to record shows and watch them at a time of their choosing, was included at no extra charge to subscribers. The problem with replay TV is that it allows […]
