On Monday, the parents of a Swiss jihadist appeared in court charged with financing terrorism. They were accused of sending more than CHF 50,000 to their son while he was in Syria, reported RTS. Switzerland’s federal prosecutor accused the man’s 70 year old father and 60 year old mother of funding terrorism. The prosecutor described […]
Swiss population rises by highest level since 1960
At the end of 2023, more than 8.9 million people lived in Switzerland, rising by 147,000 (1.7%) across the year, reported the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). The population rose in all cantons, driven by high levels of immigration, particularly from Ukraine. The last time Switzerland’s population rose so fast was in 1960, wrote FSO. The […]
Most popular Swiss baby names in 2023
Every year, in August, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) publishes the most popular baby names from the year before. The most popular names in 2023 for newborns in Switzerland were Mia and Noah. In 2023, Mia pushed Emma out of the top spot for baby girls. Among the boys, Noah maintained first place. This is […]
Federal government to increase tax deductions
Over time, salaries increase with inflation. However, if tax deductions and allowances are not adjusted the percentage of income taken in tax rises, a phenomenon known as tax creep or fiscal drag. Given recent inflation, Switzerland’s federal government announced this week that it was increasing allowances and deductions, reported SRF. From 2025, the child and […]
All Swiss property owners could be hit with earthquake bill
Switzerland sometimes feels like the land of insurance. Numerous costs that are covered by taxes in many places come instead in the form of compulsory insurance in Switzerland. However, some risks remain uncovered by compulsory insurance. Earthquakes are one such risk. This week, a plan to force all property owners to contribute to the cost […]
Some foreign drivers pay significantly higher Swiss car insurance premiums
Insurance companies use customer data to estimate the risk of an accident and calculate a price for covering that risk. Any discernable attribute that correlates with differences in risk can help to make pricing more accurate. The age and gender of the driver, where they live and the vehicle they drive are the key factors […]
New temperature record broken in Switzerland
Last Sunday, a new temperature record was broken in Bisaca in the canton of Ticino. At 3:20 pm on 11 August 2024 the temperature reached an annual high of 36.3 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature ever recorded in the town, reported RTS. Temperatures reached uncomfortable levels in other parts of Switzerland too, hitting 35 degrees […]
Swiss economy grows more than expected in second quarter of 2024
Switzerland’s economy grew slightly more than expected in the second quarter of 2024, reported SRF. Between April and June 2024, Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.5%. A survey of economists had expected growth for the quarter to be between 0.2% and 0.4%. The biggest driver of growth during the quarter came from industry, which […]
Group against Swiss motorway enlargement launches its campaign
This week, a group in the Lake Geneva region against the federal government’s plan to expand key stretches of the A1 motorway in Switzerland, launched its campaign against the idea ahead of a vote on 24 November, reported RTS. The federal government recently announced a plan to add lanes to six stretches of Switzerland’s A1 […]
Swiss government plans to fund higher pensions with higher VAT
In March 2024, 58% of voters voted in favour of paying an additional 13th month of state pension. That triggered a fierce debate on how to fund it. This week, Switzerland’s Federal Council said it planned to fund the increase with higher VAT with no rise in salary taxes. The news was delivered by Elisabeth […]
