Last week, at a gathering in Madrid, Switzerland put forward a selection of three Swiss villages in the hope that the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) would include them on its list of “Best Tourism Villages”. To qualify for selection, Swiss villages had to promote local activities, such as farming and wine making and […]
Covid: Swiss government recommends vaccination of 5-11 year olds
This week, Switzerland’s federal government recommended two-dose Covid-19 vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11, reported RTS, in particular those suffering from chronic illness. On 10 December 2021, Swissmedic, Switzerland’s drug approval agency, announced its approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for use on children of this age. Once the vaccines are available for this age […]
Top 10 concerns among Swiss in 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences have topped the list of worries in Switzerland again in 2021, followed closely by environmental protection and climate change, as well as concerns about the state pensions. Every year, the bank Credit Suisse publishes the results of a survey of the top concerns of Swiss voters. Like last year, […]
Covid: unvaccinated dying at 8 times the rate of vaccinated in Switzerland
Over the last 4 weeks, around half1 of those dying from Covid-19 in Switzerland were unvaccinated. At a glance, it might appear that vaccines are not working very well. However, they are proving to be highly effective, reducing the chance of dying from the disease by more than 80%. Over the 4 weeks to 14 […]
An average 80 year old in Switzerland has a life expectancy of around 10 years
When people mention life expectancy, it is likely they are referring to average life expectancy at birth. In Switzerland, in 2020, this figure was 81.0 years for men and 85.1 years for women. However, this does not mean an average 80 year-old man should expect to live only 1 more year or an average woman […]
Switzerland repatriates children from Syria for the first time
Two children with Swiss nationality are to be repatriated from northern Syria without their mother, who once belonged to the terrorist group Islamic State, reported RTS. It will be the first time Switzerland has organised such a repatriation. The two girls aged 9 and 15 will return to Geneva. The girls’ fathers have been calling […]
Swissmedic gives green light to vaccination of 5-11 year olds with Pfizer
Swissmedic said that it has carefully examined all the data submitted with the application for an extension for the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech for use on 5 to 11 year olds. The vaccine is safe and effective in this age group, said the drug approval agency. The vaccine for children is given in two doses […]
Cigarettes might soon cost double in Switzerland
The world is getting tougher on tobacco. This week, New Zealand’s government announced plans to make it illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone born after 2008. In Switzerland, where cigarettes are around 40% of the price in New Zealand, an anti-smoking association has called for prices to be hiked from CHF 8 to CHF 14 […]
Switzerland to follow France and investigate sexual abuse in Catholic Church
Following in the footsteps of France the Catholic Church in Switzerland recently instructed two historians to investigate sexual abuse within the organisation, reported RTS. The researchers running the investigation are from the University of Zurich. They now have the task of collecting testimony from victims which will form the basis of a report on sexual […]
Switzerland no longer classified as a currency manipulator
According to the latest report by the U.S. Department of the Treasury released this week, Switzerland is no longer defined as a currency manipulator, a status it has held for some time. To be classified as a currency manipulator by the U.S. Treasury a nation has to fulfil three criteria. It has to have a […]
