By August 2015, a group determined to create a fallback plan should Switzerland’s government fail to negotiate a deal with the EU, had gathered enough signatures to hold a referendum. Their initiative, known as RASA, would give voters a chance to decide whether to repeal the changes made to the constitution by the February 2014 vote to […]
Swiss migration drops substantially
Statistics published yesterday show a drop in net foreign migration into Switzerland of 18.3% over the first nine months of 2016, compared to the same period in 2015. The drop was driven by a 6.9% decline in immigration, combined with a 4.7% increase in emigration. The number arriving from the EU and EFTA countries dropped by […]
Swiss clocks go back one hour this Sunday
Early on Sunday 30 October 2016 Swiss clocks turn back one hour. Officially they are adjusted at 3am. This means you can stay in bed longer and it will be lighter when you get up. On the down side, it will be darker in the evenings. The rest of Europe will adjust its clocks at […]
Migros experiments with personalised discounts
Tribune de Genève. According to the NZZ am Sonntag, in September, Swiss supermarket Migros launched a new system which offers personalised discounts. The discount experiment will run for a year in stores in Geneva, Nyon, Bern and Zurich. What is it exactly? Those with Cumulus loyalty cards will receive special offers via an app on […]
EPFL, Lausanne’s prestigious science university, opens its doors for a weekend
24 Heures. According to the newspaper 24 Heures, EPFL, one of Switzerland’s two prestigious federal science universities, will open its doors on 5 and 6 November 2016. The weekend, focused on children from 4 to 15 years old, is designed to encourage interest in science. The campus, based in Lausanne , will offer 200 presentations, […]
Swiss in favour of going nuclear free, says survey
24 Heures. On 27 November 2016, Swiss will vote on whether to shut down their nuclear power stations when they reach 45 years of operation. According to a recent survey by Tamedia, which owns the newspapers Tribune de Genève and 24 Heures, 55% of Swiss would like to see Switzerland’s nuclear plants shut down. The […]
Earthquake shakes houses in Switzerland
Tribune de Genève. According to Tribune de Genève, at 16:44 yesterday, an earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale, shook Valais. The quake’s centre was 6km north of the town of Sierre at a depth of 8.3 kilometres. The quake, which lasted several seconds was felt throughout central Valais, a canton known for famous resorts such as […]
Brexit brings specter of common EU tax plan, and bodes poorly for Switzerland’s immigration negotiation
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Ireland is facing another tax battle with the European Union and this time it will have to fight its own corner. Less than two months after the European Union ordered Ireland to claw back a record 13 billion euros ($14.2 billion) from Apple Inc., saying the nation illegally allowed […]
Syngenta slumps on concern of protracted ChemChina EU review
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Syngenta AG shares tumbled on concern that China National Chemical Corp.’s $43 billion takeover of the Swiss herbicide and pesticide maker risks regulatory delays in the European Union. ChemChina didn’t submit so-called remedies in the EU’s early-stage review of the deal by the Oct. 21 deadline, the European Commission’s […]
West zest – Zürich’s hippest quarter
By Bill Harby Aficionados of über urban culture, get thee to Zürich – specifically, the trendy neighbourhood locals call “Züri West”. You can get started at Im Viadukt, where the neighbourhood’s past and present meld. A railway viaduct hand-built in 1894 to transport coal for the area’s 19th-century factories, today the 36 archways are home […]
