At climate change bites the effects are becoming more apparent in Switzerland. A current concern is the lack of ground water, reported RTS this week. The amount of rainfall in parts of Switzerland in 2022 was half of what it was in 2021. The cantons of Valais and Ticino in particular have been badly affected. […]
Coca-Cola and Rivella to cut sugar in Swiss drinks
Excessive sugar consumption continues to drive high rates chronic disease across the world. Switzerland is no exception. Pressure from the government and health sector yielded some progress on reducing the problem this week, reported RTS. Nine sugary drink makers, including Coca-Cola, Rivella and Ramseier signed an agreement to cut the sugar content of the products […]
Strong job market boosts Swiss immigration in 2022
This week, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Migration published data showing a 32% rise in the net number of foreigners arriving in Switzerland in 2022 compared to 2021. The key driver of migration was employment. In 2022, 81,345 foreigners made Switzerland home, up from 61,526 in 2021. The number of non-Swiss citizens residing in Switzerland at […]
Bacteria found in 5% of salads in Switzerland
A study published this week reported finding bacteria in 5% of vegetable and fruit salads collected from restaurants, retailers and caterers in Switzerland, reported RTS. Cantonal chemists sampled 205 salads across the country and found 5% were contaminated to a level presenting a health risk. The samples were taken between May and September 2022. Rather […]
Risk of cracks rising for houses built on clay
More and more soil is being impacted by drought. Clay soils in particular are affected by drought. These soils expand and contract depending on their water content and often crack when dry. Building on them can be risky and requires a particular structural design. Home owners in parts of France have already been impacted by […]
Swiss government confirms first underlying deficit since 2005
On 15 February 2023, Switzerland’s federal government published finalised figures showing it spent CHF 4.3 billion more than it received in 2022. Excluding extraordinary expenses related to the Covid pandemic left an underlying operating deficit of CHF 1.9 billion, the first shortfall of this kind since 2005. Switzerland’s federal government is required to operate under […]
Only 19% of Swiss youth positive about future
After taking a dive during the pandemic, life satisfaction bounced back in Switzerland, according to a recent survey. However, among those aged 18 to 25 life satisfaction has continued to decline, falling from 43% in 2021 to 19% in 2022. The aim of the annual survey is to assess the generation gap in Switzerland. Overall, […]
Migros Bank to end nighttime cash withdrawals after spate of bank machine attacks
After a rising number of attacks on cash machines across Switzerland, Migros Bank has decided it will probably close all of its machines overnight, reported RTS. Last year, at least 38 cash dispensing machines were blown up and robbed across Switzerland. The most recent attack at the end of January 2023 was on a machine […]
700,000 in danger of glacial lake floods in Switzerland
As glaciers melt lakes often form at their bases. A combination of water build up and geological instability can lead to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF). A global study on the phenomenon estimates that around 700,000 people in Switzerland could potentially be exposed to the risks associated with these floods. These floods can be highly […]
Vote to preserve Swiss cash passes signature hurdle
Swiss voters look set to vote on whether to change the constitution to preserve the cash version of their currency after a group focused on defending Switzerland’s notes and coins announced it had collected 157,000 signatures, a figure exceeding the 100,000 required to launch a referendum, reported RTS. Of the 157,422 signatures the Swiss Liberty […]
