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.
Health experts were right: Covid infections in Switzerland keep falling
From over 40,000 new infections registered on February 1st, the latest tally (on February 21st) stood at 32,317 cases recorded from Friday until Monday — roughly 10,000 per day.
It is too early to say whether the numbers will continue their downward path in a sustained manner because it will take a few weeks to assess the impact of the lifting of Covid measures last Thursday.
For now, however, it appears that the pandemic is waning, as this chart from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) demonstrates.
Image:FOPH
Dairy products will soon cost more
Milk prices are skyrocketing around the world and Switzerland is no exception.
"Swiss dairy producers will probably charge around three centimes more per kilo of milk from April or May”, said Pierre-André Pittet, vice-director of the Federation of Swiss Milk Producers.
This increase will also be reflected in the price of dairy products like yogurts, butter and cheese.
The reason for this price hike is higher costs involved in farming in general, and milk production in particular.
READ MORE: How the cost of living will change in Switzerland in 2022
Residents in eight cantons ‘overpay’ their rent.
An average monthly rent in Switzerland is 1,373 francs, according to a new analysis by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
However, tenants in eight cantons — including the traditionally expensive markets like Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Zug and Vaud — pay about 1,750 francs in rent.
Residents of the 18 other cantons fall below the national average in terms of rent, but only Jura tenants pay less than 1,000 francs for their dwellings.
Image: FSO
READ MORE: In which Swiss canton can you find a rental bargain?
Switzerland could end up on EU’s “dirty money” blacklist— again
In view of a recent data leak showing that Credit Suisse bank accepted money from illicit sources, the European People's Party (EPP) has called on the EU to "re-evaluate Switzerland as a high-risk money-laundering country" and add it to the list of nations at high risk for financial crime.
READ MORE: ANALYSIS: How the latest banking scandal has damaged Switzerland’s reputation
Switzerland is no stranger to this list: in 2017, the country was placed on it because “it intentionally attracted foreign investors by allowing corporations and wealthy individuals to pay a low, lump-sum tax on the money they kept in Swiss banks”.
However, Switzerland was removed from the list in 2019 because that year Swiss voters accepted a legislation which introduced major changes in the Swiss tax system by ending some preferential tax schemes and replacing them with new regulations which are in line with international standards.
‘Swiss Secrets’: What would EU blacklisting mean for Switzerland?
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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Health experts were right: Covid infections in Switzerland keep falling
From over 40,000 new infections registered on February 1st, the latest tally (on February 21st) stood at 32,317 cases recorded from Friday until Monday — roughly 10,000 per day.
It is too early to say whether the numbers will continue their downward path in a sustained manner because it will take a few weeks to assess the impact of the lifting of Covid measures last Thursday.
For now, however, it appears that the pandemic is waning, as this chart from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) demonstrates.
Image:FOPH
Dairy products will soon cost more
Milk prices are skyrocketing around the world and Switzerland is no exception.
"Swiss dairy producers will probably charge around three centimes more per kilo of milk from April or May”, said Pierre-André Pittet, vice-director of the Federation of Swiss Milk Producers.
This increase will also be reflected in the price of dairy products like yogurts, butter and cheese.
The reason for this price hike is higher costs involved in farming in general, and milk production in particular.
READ MORE: How the cost of living will change in Switzerland in 2022
Residents in eight cantons ‘overpay’ their rent.
An average monthly rent in Switzerland is 1,373 francs, according to a new analysis by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
However, tenants in eight cantons — including the traditionally expensive markets like Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Zug and Vaud — pay about 1,750 francs in rent.
Residents of the 18 other cantons fall below the national average in terms of rent, but only Jura tenants pay less than 1,000 francs for their dwellings.
Image: FSO
READ MORE: In which Swiss canton can you find a rental bargain?
Switzerland could end up on EU’s “dirty money” blacklist— again
In view of a recent data leak showing that Credit Suisse bank accepted money from illicit sources, the European People's Party (EPP) has called on the EU to "re-evaluate Switzerland as a high-risk money-laundering country" and add it to the list of nations at high risk for financial crime.
READ MORE: ANALYSIS: How the latest banking scandal has damaged Switzerland’s reputation
Switzerland is no stranger to this list: in 2017, the country was placed on it because “it intentionally attracted foreign investors by allowing corporations and wealthy individuals to pay a low, lump-sum tax on the money they kept in Swiss banks”.
However, Switzerland was removed from the list in 2019 because that year Swiss voters accepted a legislation which introduced major changes in the Swiss tax system by ending some preferential tax schemes and replacing them with new regulations which are in line with international standards.
‘Swiss Secrets’: What would EU blacklisting mean for Switzerland?
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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