Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday
Find out what's going on today in Switzerland with The Local's short roundup of the news.
Geneva vaccination centres will remain open despite USA-Russia summit
Although certain parts of the city will be shut on Wednesday due to the meeting this week between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, health authorities have said that Geneva's vaccination facilities will continue to operate.
Even if some modifications will have to be made, “their impact will be minimal”, according to the cantonal pharmacist Nathalie Vernaz-Hegi.
READ MORE: Historic Swiss lakeside villa spruced up for Biden-Putin talks
Night trains and buses will resume their activity in July
Suspended since November, following the Federal Council's decision to close restaurants at 11 pm, public transportation has not, or rarely, operated during the night since that time.
This is set to change in July, especially as there are now enough train drivers, particularly in the German-speaking Switzerland.
Shortages still remain in the French-speaking areas, as well as Ticino, but they should be resolved by fall.
Parents might be able to deduct more taxes for daycare costs
The parliament is debating about increasing the deduction for childcare costs, from 6,500 to 10,000 francs.
MP Christa Markwalder proposed this motion, arguing that it would allow a better reconciliation of professional and family life, as well as better integration of women into the labour market.
Opponents, however, claim that such a deduction would lead to considerable tax losses, without having any positive effect on equality between men and women.
However, the proposal has every chance of succeeding, supporters say.
READ MORE: How to decide where to live in Switzerland based on affordability
Deportations of foreign criminals should be improved for minor cases, MPs say
The National Council has widely adopted a motion proposing several changes to criminal law relating to the expulsion of foreigners who commit crimes in Switzerland,
The motion proposes three options.
Firstly, the Public Prosecutor's Office should be empowered to order expulsion in minor cases. Today, only a court can make this decision.
Secondly, foreign defendants without a residence permit or who entered Switzerland solely with the intention of committing a crime, should no longer be entitled to a defense.
Finally, the list of offenses must be re-examined to exclude minor ones; this includes contraventions leading to compulsory expulsion, in particular when they were committed by young foreigners who grew up in Switzerland.
Swiss residents opt to invest their money in pension funds
People in Switzerland have a marked preference for placing their money in pension funds and life insurance over other investment options, according to a study by Boston Consulting Group.
The study showed that the two investment vehicles accounted for 41 percent of the estimated $3.3 trillion of financial wealth in 2020.
Next — 32 percent — are deposits in foreign currencies, followed by equities and investment funds (23 percent).
At the end of 2020, the share of Swiss financial assets was more than 6 percent of Western Europe’s.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local please get in touch with us at [email protected]
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Geneva vaccination centres will remain open despite USA-Russia summit
Although certain parts of the city will be shut on Wednesday due to the meeting this week between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, health authorities have said that Geneva's vaccination facilities will continue to operate.
Even if some modifications will have to be made, “their impact will be minimal”, according to the cantonal pharmacist Nathalie Vernaz-Hegi.
READ MORE: Historic Swiss lakeside villa spruced up for Biden-Putin talks
Night trains and buses will resume their activity in July
Suspended since November, following the Federal Council's decision to close restaurants at 11 pm, public transportation has not, or rarely, operated during the night since that time.
This is set to change in July, especially as there are now enough train drivers, particularly in the German-speaking Switzerland.
Shortages still remain in the French-speaking areas, as well as Ticino, but they should be resolved by fall.
Parents might be able to deduct more taxes for daycare costs
The parliament is debating about increasing the deduction for childcare costs, from 6,500 to 10,000 francs.
MP Christa Markwalder proposed this motion, arguing that it would allow a better reconciliation of professional and family life, as well as better integration of women into the labour market.
Opponents, however, claim that such a deduction would lead to considerable tax losses, without having any positive effect on equality between men and women.
However, the proposal has every chance of succeeding, supporters say.
READ MORE: How to decide where to live in Switzerland based on affordability
Deportations of foreign criminals should be improved for minor cases, MPs say
The National Council has widely adopted a motion proposing several changes to criminal law relating to the expulsion of foreigners who commit crimes in Switzerland,
The motion proposes three options.
Firstly, the Public Prosecutor's Office should be empowered to order expulsion in minor cases. Today, only a court can make this decision.
Secondly, foreign defendants without a residence permit or who entered Switzerland solely with the intention of committing a crime, should no longer be entitled to a defense.
Finally, the list of offenses must be re-examined to exclude minor ones; this includes contraventions leading to compulsory expulsion, in particular when they were committed by young foreigners who grew up in Switzerland.
Swiss residents opt to invest their money in pension funds
People in Switzerland have a marked preference for placing their money in pension funds and life insurance over other investment options, according to a study by Boston Consulting Group.
The study showed that the two investment vehicles accounted for 41 percent of the estimated $3.3 trillion of financial wealth in 2020.
Next — 32 percent — are deposits in foreign currencies, followed by equities and investment funds (23 percent).
At the end of 2020, the share of Swiss financial assets was more than 6 percent of Western Europe’s.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local please get in touch with us at [email protected]
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