Some developing hi-tech solutions to environmental problems admit their efforts will provide only temporary breathing space if the humans continue to multiply and consume more. By this logic Mars would only provide more temporary breathing space. For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Toblerone quietly becomes halal
The iconic Swiss chocolate Toblerone quietly became halal earlier this year, according to the newspaper SonntagsBlick. Owned by the American food company Mondelez, Toblerone chocolate has been produced in conformity with islamic law since April 2018, said the newspaper. The product is not labelled halal. The recipe, which contains sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa […]
Tax on flying rejected by narrow majority in Swiss parliament
Earlier this week a thin majority of Switzerland’s parliament rejected a plan to tax flights out of Switzerland. 93 voted against, 88 in favour, with 8 abstentions, according to RTS. The vote was part of a project looking at the country’s emissions rules. More than 10% of greenhouse gas emitted by Switzerland comes from flying, […]
Switzerland experiences its coldest night since last February
Tuesday night brought a chill to Switzerland. The temperature in the town of Brévine in the Jura plunged to -20 degrees. In Glattalp, another of Switzerland’s famed cold spots, the temperature went as low as -36.5 degrees. Neither Brévine (1043m) or Glattalp (1896m) are particularly high, however they both have micro climates dictated by geography […]
Swiss supermarkets selling products with no country of origin on label
Even when labelled properly food labels provide precious little information on what a product might contain. For example, a piece of farmed salmon will typically be labelled only with its country of origin, containing no information on what the fish has been fed. Contaminated fish feed can significantly push up the level of dioxins found […]
Switzerland’s army to be headed by a woman for the first time
Viola Amherd, one of two new women joining Switzerland’s seven-member executive team on 1 January 2019, will head the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), a position focused mainly on military matters. This will be the first time the position has been held by a woman, according to RTS. Amherd (on the […]
Swiss health insurance deductibles to be locked in for 3 years
One way to reduce the cost of compulsory Swiss health insurance is to choose a high deductible. Currently, some people do this and then postpone treatment until they’ve switched to a lower deductible the following year. Recently, Switzerland’s parliament voted 113 against 60 in favour of locking in deductibles for three years to reduce this […]
Three of seven of Switzerland’s executive will soon be women
Two members of Switzerland’s Federal Council announced they would step down earlier this year. Last week, two women were elected to replace them. Doris Leuthard and Johann Schneider-Ammann will be replaced by Karin Keller-Sutter and Viola Amherd. This means there will soon be three women, instead of two, among Switzerland’s seven-member executive team. Both women […]
When a discount is not a discount
When shoppers see a discount they typically assume the original price is correct. However, this is not always the case, as some hidden price labels have revealed. This week Ochsner, one of the Swiss retailers caught with suspect price discount labels, was fined CHF 4,000, according to the newspaper 20 minutes. Tandis que Manor dément […]
Switzerland’s 2019 motorway vignette goes on sale
Every year the vignette is a different colour. This year it’s metallic sky blue. Valid from 1 December 2018 until 31 January 2020, the new stickers will be available at the same CHF 40 price in the usual places: service stations, garages, post offices and customs offices. If you have a 2018 sticker it remains […]
