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TODAY IN SWITZERLAND

Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Friday

From online scams to avoid to hot weather forecast: find out what's going on on Friday in Switzerland with The Local's short roundup of the news.

Published: 20 May 2022 08:18 CEST
Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Friday
Be aware of online scammers ready to attack your wallet. Image by Bartek Zakrzewski from Pixabay

Campaign launched against online shopping scams

Swiss police are warning the public against online shopping scams, including  the latest one, involving the activation of an online payment system that allows scammers to make several online purchases at the expense of the victim.

The best way to protect yourself and not fall prey to scammers, police say is to:

  • Always verify the sender and amount when receiving a payment request;
  • Never transmit a confirmation code to third parties;
  • Always check account statements;
  • Immediately report any suspicious transactions;
  • Report any such crime to the police.

All the advice and recommendations can be found on this website.

READ MORE:  How to avoid the most common online scams in Switzerland

Free travel for Ukrainian refugees to end

Since March 21st, refugees from Ukraine have traveled free of charge in on public transportation in Switzerland, a service which was provided by the federal government.

This perk, however, will end from June 1st.

“This free travel saved us from considerable administrative work, as these people would have had to be issued transport cards for each stage of their registration procedure”, according to Anne Césard, spokesperson for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).

A number of MPs are challenging this decision, however.

 “If these people can no longer travel for free, this will constitute an additional obstacle to their chances of integration, knowing that the financial aid granted to them is very low”, said Pierre-Yves Maillard.

“As long as the majority of these people cannot meet their needs sufficiently, we must continue to help them by extending this free service, even if it is in the form of a subsidy”, said another deputy , Benjamin Roduit.

United States impressed by Swiss sanctions

The US government has praised what Switzerland has done so far in the search for Russian funds to block, according to Scott Miller, the American ambassador to Switzerland.

Bern has made “immense progress” in freezing about  6.3 billion francs, belonging primarily to Russian oligarchs with ties to president Putin.

“This is a package of sanctions of a weight and breadth that, to be honest, have never been seen in the world”, he added.

READ MORE: EXPLAINED: Why Switzerland is a magnet for Russian money
 

Get ready to be very hot today

If Swiss meteorologists got it right, temperatures will reach the high of 32 degrees today.

“The current heat wave is relatively extreme for a month of May”, said meteorologist Joshua Gehring from official weather service MeteoSwiss.

Screenshot MeteoSwiss

The reason: “What we are currently experiencing, that is to say a relatively early heat wave, is a direct consequence of climate change”, Gehring noted.

READ MORE: Heatwave: Why is it so hot in Switzerland right now?

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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For members

TODAY IN SWITZERLAND

Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Friday

Foreigners worried about a letter revoking their residency rights; Swiss salaries are higher but don't go far; and more news in our roundup on Friday.

Published: 26 April 2024 09:06 CEST
Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Friday

‘You must leave Switzerland’: government warns against a fake immigration letter

A number of foreign nationals, especially in the German-speaking part of the country, have received an official-looking letter, purportedly from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) informing them that the Free Movement of People agreement between Switzerland and the EU has been lifted, and therefore “your residence permit has been revoked.”

Faced with enquiries from concerned recipients, SEM responded that the letters are fake, advising recipients to ignore it and, above all, not to click on the QR code on the top.

Swiss consumers have more money, but less purchasing power

In 2023, nominal wages in Switzerland  had increased more than in the previous four years. However, inflation has eroded purchasing power.

This is a finding of the Swiss Wage Index study published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on Thursday.

In general, the increase in nominal wages in 2023 was slightly less strong than the evolution of inflation last year.

The increase in prices, linked in particular to the higher electricity and fuel costs, as well as the more expensive rents, resulted in inflation rate of 2.1 percent at the end of 2023.
 
Therefore, the purchasing power of wages had decreased by 0.4 percent on average.

Migros will sell hamburgers made from beer waste

Swiss brewery Chopfab has teamed up with a start-up company to produce vegan burgers. They will be made from beer by-products.

The basic idea is simple: brewing beer generates waste called “dregs.” Rather than being thrown away, they will find a second life in meatless burgers.

“This process would be unique in the world and would guarantee the impeccable freshness, as well as texture and aroma of meat alternatives,” the manufacturer said.

The date when the beer burger will hit supermarket shelves is not known.

 Ahead this weekend :

Direct democracy in action

On Sunday, the Landsgemeinde, one of Switzerland’s oldest traditions of grass-root democracy will take place in Appenzell-Innerrhoden, one of only two cantons where this custom is still practiced (the other one is Glarus, where this event will be held on May 5th.)

Canton’s citizens will gather at noon in Appenzell city’s town square, and will vote on matters of local importance by show of hands.
 
READ ALSO: What is Switzerland’s Landsgemeinde (open-air assembly)?
 
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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