There is far more to Switzerland than cheese and chocolate. Switzerland has watches too! Home to global watch brands such as Audemars Piguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre, La Vallée de Joux, is one of Switzerland’s most renowned watch making regions. Watchmaking is woven into the valley’s past. Farming has always been a challenge, given the region’s high […]
Swiss heating emissions down dramatically in 2023
After adjusting for weather conditions, emissions from heating oil and gas fell by 8% 2023, according to data published this week by the Federal Office of the Environment (FOEN). The main driver of the improvement is improved building efficiency from better insulation and more efficient heating technology. The fall in emissions from burning gas (-41.7%) […]
Plans to use controversial death capsule in Switzerland
The first suicide in the controversial death capsule, dubbed “Sarco”, is set to take place in the next few weeks, reported SRF. Philip Nitschke, the Australian inventor of the device, has chosen Switzerland to launch the use of his invention. The pod, which creates an airtight space, fills with nitrogen upon the push of a […]
Swiss politicians discuss making patients pay larger share of medical bills
Switzerland’s system of compulsory health insurance already requires patients to pay a portion of medical bills in addition to paying premiums. To stem the rise in premiums, an old idea has resurfaced: make patients pay an even greater share of their medical costs. This week, some political parties voiced support for a higher minimum deductible, […]
The QR code scam costing parkers dearly
This week, Vaud Police warned a scam using QR codes has been discovered. The scam is simple and effective. Criminals cover the original QR code on parking ticket distributers with another which directs the user to a fake website resembling the original one. From there the user is asked to enter payment details, and the […]
How Switzerland’s best river swim became a summertime commute
Most people float down the Aare River in Bern just for fun. For Evelyn Schneider-Reyes, it was her summertime commute home. “I only had like 30 seconds walking from my office to the river,” she recalls. “I had an ‘Aare Bag’, where I put all my clothes, my smartphone, wallet and shoes. I put on […]
Switzerland faces England on Saturday in Euro quarter final
At 6pm on Saturday 6 July 2024, Switzerland’s football team will face England’s in the quarter finals of the Euro 2024. The game will be played in Dusseldorf, Germany. England are the favourites, with one estimate giving them a 43% chance of victory compared to a 25% chance of Switzerland prevailing. In an interview on […]
More than half of buildings in Switzerland at flood risk
Currently, Switzerland’s mountain regions are suffering badly from flooding following thunderstorms and exceptionally heavy rain. However, Switzerland’s plateau is not immune to flooding, reported SRF. New calculations suggest more than half of Switzerland’s buildings are at risk of being damaged by storms and floods. As the climate changes, devastating thunderstorms are becoming more frequent everywhere, […]
Swiss smoking rate declines but remains high
In 2022, 24% of Switzerland’s population smoked, according to data published on 2 July 2024 by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). This percentage is down 3 percentage points from the rate in 2017 when the survey was last done. The smoking rate has fallen most significantly among people with tertiary education. The proportion of heavy […]
Swiss electricity prices set to fall in 2025
The price of electricity is set to fall in 2025 according to a survey run by the Swiss Electricity Suppliers Association, reported RTS. As many as 75 out of 83 suppliers surveyed said they definitely or probably expect price cuts next year. Price data from 52 companies generating more than a third of Switzerland’s electricity […]