Probably we Swiss are unique in such OCD
attention to detail as to find a number of reasons matching the last two digits
of the year…
Some are peculiar (in every sense) to Switzerland, such as
higher tax deductions for childcare, up to CHF 25'000, more than double the
previous 10'100 francs per child. However, even Swiss coins have two sides, is
there another country where it would be normal and tax deductible to have care
costs for each child which exceed £20’000 p.a. ??
Although it doesn’t feature in the list, you will notice in
“Related News” that the SBB (Federal Railways) are renovating part of their
stations for CHF 500 million. In a first step there are new toilets. Apparently
a prestige project for SBB boss Vincent Ducrot: one wonders what sort of year
he is predicting, if he believes that we will feel the need for his toilets…
P.S. Link to: Swiss finance minister wins 2023 obfuscation award
Felix
MMXXIII
From: The Switzerland Times, originally in Global Geneva, 23 reasons why 2023 will be
a good year
Sunday, January 1, 2023
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The holidays fall better in 2023. Means: more vacation
days! (See 7. below).
1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrates its
75th anniversary. It was adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948.
The first article reads: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity
and rights” – without regard to race, sex or religion.
2. Once again, Switzerland lives up to its reputation as an
island: While the world slides into a recession, the local economy continues to
grow – at a snail’s pace, but still. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
expects the Swiss economy to grow by one percent in the coming year.
3. New album by Iggy Pop.
Not a bit tired, not a bit quiet: The original punk rocker
Iggy Pop (75) will release his new album “Every Loser” on January 6th. Pop
promises: “The music will kick your ass.” Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan
(58) and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith (61) also play on the album.
Rock’n’Roll! The old rockers from Metallica have also announced a new album for
April.
4. After the “annus horribilis” with the death of the Queen,
allegations of racism, expressions of dissatisfaction in various Commonwealth
countries and a historic low in popularity for the monarchy, the climax for all
royalists follows on May 6th: the ceremonial coronation of the new King Charles
III. (74) in London. In any case, it will be Charles III. fare better than his
predecessor Charles I (1600-1649): he was a wicked tyrant and was beheaded.
5. Higher deductions for child care.
Good news, at least for higher earners. In the case of
direct federal tax, higher deductions can be claimed for childcare by third
parties, up to CHF 25,000 per child. That is more than double, previously it
was only 10,100 francs per child.
6. Corona is weakening.
The German virologist Christian Drosten (50) told the German
“Tagesspiegel”: “In my opinion, the pandemic is over.” With this sentence he
explains his conclusion that the “first endemic wave” is currently being
experienced. Incidentally, SonntagsBlick already announced the P-ende-mie on
February 6, 2022.
7. After the bridging days were somewhat unfavorable in recent
years, things will definitely be better in 2023. Only a few public holidays
fall on a weekend, so there is a little more leeway when it comes to holiday
planning.
8. More enthusiasm in the Federal Council.
Toni Brunner (48), the Sünneli from Toggenburg, did not dare
to enter the Bundesrat race. With Albert Rösti (55), the SVP now has a real
sympathizer in the state government.
9. Minorities become majorities.
With the first female Federal Councilor from Jura, the
Confederation also succeeds in finally integrating the canton founded in 1979. Instead
of the rather stiff social democrat Simonetta Sommaruga (62), the accessible
Jurassic Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (59) is now on the Federal Council.
10. mRNA technology takes off.
According to the WHO, more than 600,000 people died from
malaria last year. An mRNA vaccine developed by the German company Biontech is
said to help in the fight against the infectious disease. The first clinical
tests will start shortly.
11. The big party follows the pandemic. In Basel, for example,
the harbor festival in Kleinhüningen is celebrated (June 2nd to 4th). In
Zurich, around 2.5 million people are expected to attend the Züri Fäscht (July
7th to 9th). In Baden AG, the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the
Badenfahrt (18th to 28th August) are on.
12. Soccer World Cup in summer.
Another World Cup in 2023? Yes, the ninth women’s World Cup,
for which the Swiss have also qualified. They play against teams from New
Zealand, Norway and the Philippines. The World Cup takes place between July
20th and August 20th in Australia and New Zealand. (More on that in Sports.)
13. The Gurten Festival turns 40.
The first festival on Bern’s local mountain took place in
1977, but still under the name International Folk Festival Bern-Gurten and with
headliner Ralph McTell (78). Every two years until 1987, two issues were
canceled due to corona. The birthday celebration in 2023 and thus the 40th
anniversary also makes mathematical sense. Somehow anyway.
14. The neo-noir thriller with the working title “Early Birds”
is the first Swiss Netflix co-production. Directed by Michael Steiner (53),
with Anatole Taubman (52), shooting started in Zurich at the beginning of
December. In Switzerland, “Early Birds” should also be shown in cinemas.
15. Fighting the climate crisis.
In 2020, the Swiss climate seniors filed their lawsuit
against Switzerland at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). They accuse
her of doing too little to protect older women from the climate crisis. In
2023, the ECtHR will examine the lawsuit: From March 29, the public hearing
will take place in Strasbourg.
16. different resolutions.
The «How are you?» campaign of the Pro Mente Sana foundation
raises awareness about the topic of mental health. For the year 2023, she
suggests slightly different resolutions: saying no when something is getting
too much, daring to accept help, or hugging someone every week.
17. Another successful Swiss book.
After the huge success of Kim de l’Horizon (30), a Swiss
book could also cause an international sensation this year. “The Magician in
the Kremlin” is a novel based on real people and true events by Giuliano da
Empoli (49), a Swiss-Italian. The work has already been sold over 300,000 times
in France.
18. How is dark matter distributed in the universe, or how did
the universe expand? The Euclid space telescope is scheduled to launch in 2023
to answer questions like these. It will explore space for six years and search
more than a third of the entire sky. (More on that in the magazine.), (see separate post on Zwicki).
19. With13 races, a total of 39 medals: The Alpine Ski World
Championships will take place in France in 2023, with Courchevel and Méribel
hosting the competitions. And Switzerland has several trump cards: first and
foremost the ski sensation Marco Odermatt (25), who is fighting for medals in
three disciplines. (More on that in Sports.)
20. More space for pedestrians and cyclists.
With immediate effect, the cantons are required to plan and
implement more cycle path networks. The federal government must also create
cycle paths along its streets. In addition, the procedure for the introduction
of 30 km/h and meeting zones will be simplified.
21. In Switzerland, 2023 is an election year! Means: The citizens can provide a
breath of fresh air in Parliament – and vote out those politicians who have
disappointed in the last four years. In view of the historical shifts in 2019,
the starting position is exciting.
22. The year 2023 is the first year in the 21st century without
parliamentary or presidential elections in a G7 country, that is the group of
large industrial nations. From a global perspective, this could result in
politicians acting a little less nervously.
23. On January 28, an exhibition of works by Joan Miró
(1893–1983) will open at the Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern. The Catalan artist’s
paintings are known for their vivid colours, bold forms and complex
compositions – the exhibition in Bern promises to be a feast for the eyes.
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