Health Insurance Premiums Set To Rise Again; Parking Fines Get A Remake; Basel Herbstmesse Injuries; Penguin Enclosure Shut For Renovations

News For 31 October 2017

Some of you may have already received notifications from your health insurer outlining the changes to your policy next year.  Most notably, premiums are set to rise an average of 4% across the board.  For the last 10 years, health insurance costs have risen an average of 3.7% per annum.  According to the government, the rising costs are attributable to an aging population, increase consumption of health care services and improvements in medical technology.

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Starting Wednesday, November 1, the Basler police will start using a new ticket format. It has a QR code that connects directly to an online “fine portal”. This way, people who receive parking tickets can scan their QR code and either pay directly or make an objection to their fines. The new ticket will also be printed on weather resistant paper, so you can say goodbye to the plastic baggies that used to conveniently keep your parking fines dry in wet weather. People who don’t want to or aren’t able to use the new service will still get an “Übertretungsanzeige” in the mail after 30 days informing them of their fine.

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Six people were hurt last Saturday's opening night for Basel's Herbstmesse.  In once incident, two trains on the newly premiered Rock & Roller Coaster collided near the boarding area injuring 5 people, one of whom was taken to hospital.  In another incident, a man attempted to leave the spinning Round up Rounder carousel before it had come to a complete stop, and was thrown to the ground injuring him.  Although injuries at Basel Herbstmesse rides are rare, no explanations have been offered for why the safety systems did not function properly on either ride.  More than a million visitors are expected at the annual fair which is in its 540th year and will end November 12th.

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The penguin enclosure at the Zolli Basel is set to be renovated. 18 king penguins and Gentoo penguins have been transferred to the Wuppertal Zoo in Germany in advance of the start of construction. This means that the popular “penguin walk” at the Zolli will not be taking place this year. The new enclosure is estimated to open in late Summer of 2018, meaning the penguin walk will only miss one season. However, the African penguins of the zoo have welcomed five new penguin chicks. These penguins were able to stay in Basel as they don’t require a cooler climate in Summer. They can still be found in the zoo near the snow leopard and rhinoceros enclosures.