If you run a red light in a car it costs CHF 250. On a bike it costs CHF 60. Other cycling fines, such as riding with no hands on the handlebar (CHF 20) and riding on the pavement (CHF 40) are also comparatively low. Hans-Peter Portmann, a federal councillor from Zurich wants this changed, […]
Geneva – investigators now actively hunting for welfare fraudsters and tax cheats
The team, which has been operating since the beginning of March, is hunting for people on welfare who might be working or have undeclared assets, according to 20 Minutes. In addition, it is looking for those living in the canton but pretending to live somewhere else like Monaco, Dubai or another Swiss canton. Last year […]
My Swiss Story – leaving the flip-flops behind and returning to Switzerland
This week we spoke to Simone Aïda Baur, an interior designer who runs her own design business and a blog offering design tips. She was born and grew up in Basel, and now lives in Zurich. Her other passion is travel. She’s lived in seven countries, speaks six languages, and especially loves the Caribbean – last […]
How hot politics in the Balkans slowed the clock on your oven
Switzerland’s power grid is part of a large pool of ebbing and flowing electricity spanning 25 countries, known as the Continental European (EC) power grid. Enough electricity must be fed into it to keep it at a stable frequency. The EC’s magic number is 50 Hz. Maintaining this requires a carefully coordinated trans-national balancing act. […]
Geneva Motor Show 2018 – the problem with electric cars
The Geneva International Motor Show 2018 opens in two days. Running from 8 until 18 March 2018, the show will present close to 180 exhibitors. This year the focus is on electric cars. Electrification of transport offers the hope of lower emissions, however there is a huge challenge that many are only starting to seriously […]
Geneva Motor Show 2018 – fewer fawning females
Car shows are well-known for their use of women as display decoration. This was highly evident at last year’s show. However a lot has happened in a year and the number of mini-skirted young women fawning over glistening cars has declined sharply. A quick scan of Instagram (#gims) on this year’s show reveals very few […]
Suicide leading cause of death among Swiss youth
A recent press release by Stop Suicide, an organisation for the prevention of youth suicide, highlights the vulnerability of young people in Switzerland. In 2015, 2.5 times as many people aged under 30 died from suicide as from car accidents. In addition, it is the first time since 2011 that the rate has risen. In […]
Swiss vote results on public broadcasting fee and federal tax – 4 March 2018
Today, Swiss voters voted on two federal initiatives: New Financial Regime 2021 and No Billag. Switzerland’s federal government must periodically seek voter approval to collect taxes. Currently, the federal government has the right to levy these taxes until 2020. Today’s New Financial Regime 2021 vote, is aimed at extending this right until 2035. The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, Switzerland’s public […]
Switzerland votes this weekend on federal tax and broadcasting fee
On Sunday 4 March 2018, Swiss voters will vote on two federal initiatives. New financial regime 2021 Switzerland’s federal government must periodically seek voter approval to collect taxes. If Sunday’s vote is successful, a constitutional amendment will be made extending the government’s right to tax Swiss residents. Swiss vote results – 4 March 2018 (Le […]
Drone-snatching eagles could grace the skies of Geneva this year
Two months ago Geneva Police acquired two eagle eggs, which both successfully hatched, according to Tribune de Genève. The video above shows an eagle in training in the Netherlands two years ago. The French army has also been using the birds to capture drones. They can only be used on small drones. The French military […]
