BERN, SWITZERLAND – The economics committee of the upper house of the Swiss parliament has decided to bury a proposed revision to the laws governing alcohol sales, after its legal counsel said it would be unconstitutional. The revision would also make it virtually impossible to negotiate treaties, for example with the European Union. It called […]
Swiss join Europe for noisier electric cars
BERN, SWITZERLAND – European electric vehicles will be required to make noise as of 2019, and Switzerland is preparing to follow suit, the Federal Council said Thursday. It noted that it is studying various aspects of the safety issues related to too-quiet cars. The council was responding to a request for information from Geneva politician […]
Alpine passes closing this week
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Snow is due this weekend and one of the clearest signs that winter is finally coming is that Swiss Alpine passes are closing this week. The canton Uri connection to the Gotthard closes tonight; the Susten pass closed Tuesday and the Furka closes Thursday evening. News agency ATS reports that this is […]
Train delays, changes on St Gallen-Geneva airport line
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Some trains are delayed on the line between St Gallen and Geneva airport, via Bern and Lausanne, and there are some changes – no restaurant car from St Gallen, for example – on some trains until mid-Monday morning. The delays are the result of a fire at a sub-station Sunday night that […]
Vaud Chasselas, 8 Valais stars – coming soon
I’ll be taking part in, and reporting back to you soon, on two annual events that are not open to the public but which will point you to some of the best Swiss wines. The first is the annual selection of favourite Chasselas wines from canton Vaud, the Lauriers de Platine Terravin, organized by the […]