Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday
Women's rallies, and SBB prices versus foreign railways: find out what's going on on Tuesday in Switzerland with The Local's short roundup of the news.
"Women’s strike" planned today across Switzerland
Demonstrations are planned in major cities this afternoon and evening to commemorate a historic (for Switzerland) vote on June 14th, 1981, when gender equality was included in the Constitution following a referendum where 60 percent of voters approved the move.
Traffic is likely to be disrupted during the demonstrations, scheduled for following cities:
- Basel: 6:00 pm., starting on Theaterplatz
- Bern: 3:00 pm. to 11:00 pm., starting at Bundesplatz
- Chur: 5:30 pm., starting at Alexanderplatz
- Fribourg: 6:30 pm, starting at Place Pythonne
- Geneva: 6 pm, starting at Place de Neuve
- Lausanne: 6:30 pm., starting at Place de la Riponne
- Lucerne: 6:00 pm., starting at Theaterplatz
- Winterthur: 6 pm., starting at Neumarkt
- Zug: 6:00 pm., starting at Arenaplatz
- Zurich: 6 pm., starting at Bürkliplatz
MPs refuse to grant credit for purchase of Covid vaccines
The Council of States, the upper house of the parliament, rejected the Federal Council’s request for 780 million francs to buy new batches of vaccines for 2023.
Deputies said the government plans to purchase too many doses while “we still do not know which coronavirus variants” will be in circulation next year.
Parliament wants to ban criminals from changing their names
Since 2013, changing one's name in Switzerland has become easier — while previously, “good reasons” were required for the official permission, now it is sufficient to have “legitimate reasons”, though both criteria are subjective.
However, since it became known that an Iraqi national sentenced in 2016 for supporting the Islamic State is now living with a new identity, some MPs have just filed a motion aiming to ensure that criminals who are subject to expulsion can no longer change their name.
READ MORE: IN NUMBERS: Which Swiss cantons deport most (and fewest) foreign criminals?
Foreign railways undercut their Swiss counterpart's prices
The Austrian train system (ÖBB) beats the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) by offering a Geneva to Feldkirch (Austria) ticket for less than 30 euros
The same journey with SBB costs 112 francs.
ÖBB and other European rail networks regularly offer cheaper fares than those available in Switzerland.
The SBB concedes that the price difference with its neighboring counterparts is significant and is looking into offering competitive prices through new distribution channels in 2023.
However, the company already ruled out offering cheap fares like its neighbour Germany.
READ MORE: Why Switzerland won’t introduce €9 rail tickets like in Germany
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]
Comments
See Also
"Women’s strike" planned today across Switzerland
Demonstrations are planned in major cities this afternoon and evening to commemorate a historic (for Switzerland) vote on June 14th, 1981, when gender equality was included in the Constitution following a referendum where 60 percent of voters approved the move.
Traffic is likely to be disrupted during the demonstrations, scheduled for following cities:
- Basel: 6:00 pm., starting on Theaterplatz
- Bern: 3:00 pm. to 11:00 pm., starting at Bundesplatz
- Chur: 5:30 pm., starting at Alexanderplatz
- Fribourg: 6:30 pm, starting at Place Pythonne
- Geneva: 6 pm, starting at Place de Neuve
- Lausanne: 6:30 pm., starting at Place de la Riponne
- Lucerne: 6:00 pm., starting at Theaterplatz
- Winterthur: 6 pm., starting at Neumarkt
- Zug: 6:00 pm., starting at Arenaplatz
- Zurich: 6 pm., starting at Bürkliplatz
MPs refuse to grant credit for purchase of Covid vaccines
The Council of States, the upper house of the parliament, rejected the Federal Council’s request for 780 million francs to buy new batches of vaccines for 2023.
Deputies said the government plans to purchase too many doses while “we still do not know which coronavirus variants” will be in circulation next year.
Parliament wants to ban criminals from changing their names
Since 2013, changing one's name in Switzerland has become easier — while previously, “good reasons” were required for the official permission, now it is sufficient to have “legitimate reasons”, though both criteria are subjective.
However, since it became known that an Iraqi national sentenced in 2016 for supporting the Islamic State is now living with a new identity, some MPs have just filed a motion aiming to ensure that criminals who are subject to expulsion can no longer change their name.
READ MORE: IN NUMBERS: Which Swiss cantons deport most (and fewest) foreign criminals?
Foreign railways undercut their Swiss counterpart's prices
The Austrian train system (ÖBB) beats the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) by offering a Geneva to Feldkirch (Austria) ticket for less than 30 euros
The same journey with SBB costs 112 francs.
ÖBB and other European rail networks regularly offer cheaper fares than those available in Switzerland.
The SBB concedes that the price difference with its neighboring counterparts is significant and is looking into offering competitive prices through new distribution channels in 2023.
However, the company already ruled out offering cheap fares like its neighbour Germany.
READ MORE: Why Switzerland won’t introduce €9 rail tickets like in Germany
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]
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.