The continuous downpours of recent weeks and rainfall of 40 to 60 mm in the past 24 hours has caused a shock landslide to hit a Rhaetian Railway train carrying 200 passengers running along the Albula line between Tiefencastel und Thusis in the Grison. Three passenger cars were derailed and 11 people injured. One of […]
Swiss cheese off EU over Russian sanctions
As tensions rise between Russia and the West, Switzerland announced last week that it has added 26 Russian and Ukrainian individuals and 18 organizations to its sanctions list, bringing the total number of individuals affected to 87 and the number of entities to 20. Switzerland is not part of the European Union and is not […]
Pay more for a 4 x 4
Anti 4×4 and SUV sentiment is being supported by a system of penalties being charged for importing polluting vehicles by the government. In a report by 24 Heures, importers of cars into Switzerland last year paid penalties of over CHF 5 million to the government for importing large polluting vehicles such as 4x4s. The penalties […]
More right-wing curbs on foreigners
Despite a formal refusal of the European Union to make any special concessions on last February’s migration vote, Switzerland’s right-wing UDC party seems determined to push for even more curbs on foreigners. Catherine Ashton, the EU’s chief diplomat, has transmitted a letter to Bern agreed by the European Union’s 28 member countries that it cannot […]
Asian Killer Hornets in Switzerland
BERN Swiss farmers are increasingly concerned by the impact of invasive species on agriculture. Europe currently has some 12,000 invasive species, both flora and fauna. While only 15% are considered dangerous or otherwise harmful, this is enough to threaten long-term food production. One of these is ambrosia, a weed introduced from North America during the […]
Swiss law priority over international law?
BERN The question of whether Swiss law should have priority over international law is expected to be decided when the Council of States convenes its next session either this summer or early fall. The issue is whether to go along with suggestions by the Swiss People’s Party (UDC) and others that Swiss law should stand […]
Keep your data private in Switzerland
Companies are increasingly regarding Switzerland as key to security and the protection of private data. Over 140 companies, many of them start-ups, have now established themselves in the EPFL’s Innovation Park in Lausanne. One of the principal reasons for locating to the Lake Geneva region, some maintain, is that Switzerland is one of the few […]
Swiss lead among small arms exporters
According to the latest worldwide Small Arms Survey, Switzerland ranks sixth among exporting countries, following the US, Germany, Austria, Italy and Brazil. The annual survey by Geneva’s Graduate Institute of International Studies said Swiss exports amounted to USD 191 million (CHF 172 million) compared to the US lead of USD 917 million. Survey authors said […]
Cross-border car fines: lousy information
Last week’s front page story by Pamela Taylor on the risk of massive fines for cross-border driving with Swiss or EU-licensed vehicles has produced more vehement reader interest than any Le News story so far. It also appears that such problems are nothing new, but have been a relatively unknown fact of life for years. Furthermore, […]
Swiss army has more support than it has had in 20 years
ZURICH Despite Swiss voters refusing to back the purchase of 22 Gripen fighter planes from Sweden in a national referendum on 18 May, a new study finds that the army has more support than it has had in 20 years. The concept of neutrality was also favoured by a record 96% of respondents, rising to […]