On 24 July 2017, the Swiss franc was 1.101 to the euro. One week later on 31 July 2017 it was 1.145, according to Bloomberg. Over the month it dropped from 1.095 to 1.145, a drop Reuters described as the biggest monthly drop in six years. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has been working hard to […]
Swiss scientists find link between stress and social status
A study by scientists at EPFL in Lausanne Switzerland shows social status is a major risk factor for developing chronic stress. In addition, the team discovered a certain kind of identifiable brain activity associated with high risk, something which might make it possible to identify those at risk. Stress is one factor often associated with mental disorders, however […]
Swiss trust in news media in decline, says report
A recent report by the Reuters Institute shows a fall in trust in news media in Switzerland. They survey shows that only 46% trust news overall. This is down 4% compared to the year before. The report suggests this is an effect of the debate around ‘fake news’ resulting from the presidential election in the […]
Bern buskers – Switzerland’s biggest busker festival
By Bill Harby The streets of Bern’s Old Town will be crazy alive in two weeks with 150 musicians, clowns, puppeteers, actors, dancers and other performers from 25 countries. Plus lots of tasty international food. The 14th annual Buskers Bern Street Music Festival begins Thursday night and continues Friday and Saturday (18h – 24h) at over […]
Swiss researchers show city dwellers travel more but not to where they thought
Data analysis shows that while those living in the city centres spend less time in their cars commuting, they travel more for leisure. One popular explanation for this is that these urban dwellers are seeking nature on their time off to compensate for their largely concrete existence, something known as the barbecue effect. The barbecue effect assumes those […]
Survey shows how foreigners feel about Switzerland
How foreigners feel about Switzerland depends largely on where they come from and why they came, according to survey due for release next year. The survey, entitled ‘On the Move‘, questions seven groups: Germans, Austrians, French, Italians, British, Spaniards, Portuguese, North Americans, Indians, West Africans and South Americans. For 53% of foreigners, Switzerland is the […]
It’s time to vote for Switzerland’s most beautiful village
By Bill Harby To the Swiss, it can seem like every time they turn around they’re being asked to vote on something. But this time it’s more fun than choosing among city council candidates you’ve never heard of. The online polls are open for the annual Most Beautiful Swiss Village contest. We’re down to 12 […]
Couple found on Swiss glacier 75 years after their mysterious disappearance
The mummified bodies of a couple were recently found near the summit of Les Diablerets in Switzerland by an employee of the 3000 Glacier lift operator, according to Le Matin. The two bodies, found together, revealed signs of where they were from and when they perished. The style of their clothes suggested they had been […]
Another Swiss citizenship application rejected in vote in small town in Aargau
In Switzerland, citizenship applications can be rejected by town councils if the applicant is not deemed to be fully integrated. In large communes (French) or Gemeinde (German), such as big cities, the process is quite administrative. You sit tests and if you pass you get a green light. In some small towns however decisions can become […]
Swiss government to take aim at high Swiss prices
20 Minuten. Switzerland’s Federal Council wants to introduce new measures to lower prices in Switzerland to curb cross-border shopping, something that it says hurts Swiss businesses. Minister for Economic Affairs, Johann Schneider-Ammann, said in an interview with the newspaper Schweiz am Wochenende that he’s working on a package of measures to tackle high retail prices in Switzerland. He thinks […]
