Archive — December 2016

Migrants reduce crime rate

The number of criminals or suspects among migrants in Germany fell sharply in the third quarter of 2016. Compared to the first quarter of the same year, the number of crimes committed or suspected of…

Land of Wild Apologies

In Japan, it is common to see people apologizing to each other. Constant apologies have become a kind of cliché associated with this country. But recently, a new variation of this tradition has…

Resettlers are still returning

Last year, almost 6,500 late resettlers from the countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe moved to Germany. As in previous years, the absolute majority of direct descendants of ethnic…

Financing Studies in Germany

Every year, the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD awards thousands of scholarships to students, graduates, and doctoral candidates. DAAD is the largest organization supporting students and young…

Taxes Will Add Money for Germans

Next year, employed residents of Germany can expect a small increase in their salaries. True, this will happen not because of employer generosity, but due to changes in the German tax system. At…

Inexpensive Michelin Stars

The best chefs in the world work in Michelin-starred restaurants, and the price of a dish can reach several hundred dollars. For those who want to experience fine dining but are not ready to spend a…

Energy sector rolls out onto the road surface

For the first time in the world, a roadway has been covered with solar panels in France. The pilot project was implemented not in the sun-rich south of France, but in Normandy, near the town of…

Switzerland updates its law on foreigners

The Swiss law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens on the Territory of the Swiss Confederation" has received an important addition to its title, now becoming the "Law on Foreigners and…

Where is it good for an expat to live?

For the third year in a row, analysts at InterNations, the world's largest expat community, have been observing the lives of their fellow expats in more than 60 countries day after day. In the latest…

Many refugees bid farewell to the Alps

This year, Switzerland deported a record number of refugees – 327 people whose asylum applications were rejected. This required 65 flights to their countries of origin.

Foreigners are paid less

The German labor market is much less accepting of foreign citizens than of native residents: the salary of workers with a foreign passport is on average 21.4 percent lower than that of Germans. The…

High-speed train launched to Poland

Ukrainian Railways has launched a new high-speed train on the Kyiv–Przemyśl route. The travel time from the capital of Ukraine to the city in eastern Poland will be just over 7 hours, and the same in…

Who Gets Paid Well in Europe

By the end of the year, several statistical reports were released comparing wages and inequality levels in European Union countries. By all parameters, France traditionally ranks above most EU…

Can't Live on One Salary

In 2004, statisticians counted 1.4 million residents in Germany working a second job. As of June 30, 2016, there were about 2.5 million workers in the country who, in addition to their main job, were…

Oysters: How to Kiss the Sea on the Lips

Scare Yourself with a Sweater

Silly snowmen and Santas, bright green cone-shaped Christmas trees, and, of course, garish moose and reindeer – this winter, jumpers with such extravagant prints have simply flooded the shelves of…

Christmas Internet Frenzy

Almost all parents in France know the address where, for nearly thirty years in a row, children can send their wishes for Christmas gifts to the French Santa Claus. But modern children write few…

European Silicon Valley

Five universities located in the German capital and the Bavarian capital are a true breeding ground for startup talent. These are Humboldt University of Berlin, Free University of Berlin, Technical…

Subtleties of Christmas Decor

Running lights of garlands, glowing reindeer figurines, Santa Claus climbing a rope onto the roof of a house: it's clear that Christmas is the favorite holiday for Germans. And to feel its magic as…

This is transport, not a restaurant

So you've just lifted the lid off the container brought to you by the flight attendant and seen something completely unappetizing. But don't rush to blame the chef – most likely, it's all about the…

Conquerors of the Sea Land

Population density in cities is constantly growing, and as a result, building new homes on land reclaimed from the sea, or even floating homes, is becoming increasingly profitable. BBC Future…

Where in Switzerland it is good to live

To optimize their expenses and achieve significant budget savings, a Swiss family sometimes just needs to move a couple of kilometers away. This is stated in a report by Credit Suisse bank on the…

Poles calculate earnings of Ukrainians

Ukrainian citizens working in Poland earn on average about 2.1 thousand zlotys (equivalent to 470 euros) after taxes. Such data was presented by the National Bank of Poland. As reported by Polskie…

Ski Magic of Lapland

Are you planning to take up alpine skiing and conquer new heights? Do you crave speed and extreme sports? The rounded hills of Finnish Lapland offer skiers and snowboarders ski slopes of all…