Switzerland Today

Dear Swiss Abroad,

Many of you got in touch with questions about the tax reform that came into force in Thailand at the beginning of this year. Our article, published today, provides some clarification.

Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner both won their races by large margins. Keystone

In the news:  Double Swiss success at the London Marathon, Ramesses II returns to Egypt, and increasing risk of late frost damage to fruit crops.

Swiss wheelchair athletes Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner won their races at the London Marathon yesterday. Hug crossed the line in a time of 1:28:35, 31 seconds ahead of American Daniel Romanchuk. Debrunner won in 1:38:55, more than six minutes ahead of Lucerne native, Manuela Schär.

Egypt has welcomed home a 3,400-year-old statue depicting the head of Ramesses II after it was stolen and smuggled out of the country more than three decades ago. Egyptian authorities spotted the artefact when it was offered for sale in an exhibition in London in 2013. It moved to several other countries before reaching Switzerland.

The risk of late frost damage to fruit crops and vineyards is increasing. As a result of climate change, winters are becoming milder and the growing season is being lengthened, says weather service MeteoNews.

The tax reform particularly affects retired foreign nationals, who previously paid no tax. Getty Images/Royalty-free

The tax reform affecting Swiss emigrants in Thailand since January 1 contains a number of grey areas. The authorities have therefore clarified the situation in recent months, particularly with regard to the taxation of pensions.

Does the reform have an impact on second or third pillar payments? Has the double taxation agreement been amended? If you can prove that you are living off your savings, do you have to file a tax return? These are just some of the questions from the Swiss Abroad that we received after our first article on the tax reform that came into force in Thailand at the beginning of this year.

Many of the 10,400 or so Swiss expats living in Thailand at the end of 2023 have called for help to clarify the situation. In this article we provide some answers.

The Böögg in action Keystone

The Böögg has a new date and place for his immolation! Heiden, canton Appenzell Outer Rhodes, on June 22.

The snowman stuffed with dynamite – who is said to predict the summer depending on how quickly he explodes – was meant to blow up last Monday as part of the Sechseläuten celebrations in Zurich, but for the first time ever the bonfire was postponed owing to the weather, more specifically dangerous gusts of wind.

The municipality of Heiden was chosen because it is well connected to the public transport network, the chancellery of canton Appenzell Outer Rhodes explained today. It also has the largest number of hotel rooms in the canton. Appenzell Outer Rhodes was the guest of honour at this year’s Sechseläuten.

Here are four other bizarre Swiss traditions.

People dancing at Montreux Jazz Festival. Lionel Flusin/Lionel Flusin

Here’s a look at some eye-catching facts and figures behind the Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland’s biggest annual music festival, which this year runs from July 5-20.

The line-up for the 58th edition was unveiled last week, but do you know how many people are expected? Or which artist has made the most appearances? And how many plays on Spotify there have been of Deep Purple’s Montreux classic ‘Smoke on the Water’? Read on to find out.