SBB Train Schedules and Delays Announced; Swiss Goal Celebrations Draws FIFA Ire; Swiss Wealth Rises; Basel-Stadt Canton Continues Growth

News For 26 June 2018

Preparations for SBB's summer construction work are underway, and the impact on Basel based train travel were announced by the trains operator.  Travel between Zurich, Lucern and Bern will be impacted by a reduction in scheduled train traffic and those on trains should expect longer travel times.  For example, half of the scheduled trains between Zurich and Basel are cancelled during the month of July, and travel time will increase by 19 minutes according to calculations made by the Aargauer Zeitung.  According to SBB spokesman Reto Schärli, the best way to stay up-to-date with the expected changes is to use the SBB's on-line or app portal.  Mr. Schärli went on to say that there is little expected reduction in overall transport capacity as the trains remaining in service will have cars and service personnel added.

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During Switzerland’s 2-1 victory over Serbia last Friday, Xherdan Shaquiri and Granit Xhaka celebrated their goals with a hand gesture known as the Albanian eagle. This sparked some politically charged controversy and FIFA’s disciplinary committee has fined the two former FC Basel players CHF 10,000 each. Both Shaquiri and Xhaka are of Kosovar Abanian heritage and Albanians were a persecuted minatory of the former Yugoslavia. Tensions remain between them and the Serbians. Kosovo, the national home of many Albanians, declared independence from Serbia and Montenegro in 2008. The hand gesture is meant to mirror the two-headed eagle depicted on the Albanian flag. Shaqiri was born in Kosovo before his family fled for Switzerland. Xhaka was born in Switzerland to Albananian parents, one of whom served time in Yugoslavian prison for protesting against the government. There was a possibility of a two-match suspension, but both players will now be on the pitch when the Swiss play Costa Rica tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the third and final group play match. ********** In its recent 2018 Global Wealth Report, the French business consulting firm Capgemini estimates that Switzerland is home to 389,000 millionaires.  To put that in perspective, the tiny country's residents number 0.1% of the global population, and also 2.1% of global millionaires.  The figures which are based on a 2017 tally, also show that 4.5% of the Swiss population can be construed to be millionaires, well ahead of the United States, Hong Kong and Singapore. ********** Soon, Basel-Stadt will surpass 200,000 residents 2018 marking a 10-year trend in which more people have moved in to the canton than moved out. Germany continues to be the top source of the expat newcomers with 1,956 welcomed into Basel last year followed by Italians (526), Americans (512), French and the British (at 431 each). It is also popular for the Swiss, as 44 percent 13,736 newcomers were already citizens.  The migration analysis determined the Basel-Stadt is a sought after canton for students, young couples and family households. The latter is due to the successful businesses in town, which over the past 10 years have recruited 20,000 employees.