On 20 August 2021, Mauro Poggia, Geneva’s health minister, recommended unvaccinated people cover part of their own hospitalisation costs and lost earnings compensation should they end up in hospital or be unable to work after catching the virus, reported 20 Minutes. Solidarity towards the unvaccinated has its limits, said Poggia, while pointing out that 90% […]
Majority of Swiss support gay marriage ahead of vote
Ahead of a vote aimed at stopping a legal amendments to allow gay marriage in Switzerland, a survey suggests a majority of Swiss voters favour the changes. According to a survey by Tamedia, 64% of the population said they plan to vote in favour of accepting the government’s amendment to Switzerland’s civil code allowing same-sex […]
Covid: younger people ending up in hospital in increasing numbers
On 24 August 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced that 97 Covid-19 patient admissions were reported in Switzerland over the last 24 hours. Over the last 7 days a total of 325 Covid-19 admissions have been reported. The number of hospital admissions is currently far below the peaks of the first and […]
Switzerland moves closer to paying second 1 billion to EU
After Switzerland ended talks with the EU on an institutional framework agreement aimed at replacing the country’s current patchwork of agreements with the bloc in May 2021, some in government have been focused on how to keep the EU on side. One obvious way to curry favour is to make the second 1 billion EU […]
The West’s abandonment of Afghanistan: a story of arrogance, ineptitude, and little understanding
By Edward Girardet The collapse of Afghanistan has been a disaster in the making for two decades and even longer. America’s shared responsibility for this country’s ongoing war stretches back to the summer of 1979 when the Central Intelligence Agency first began militarily supporting the anti-communist guerrillas, some of whom later became the Taliban. Even […]
Covid: Swiss cases up as health minister predicts 4th wave
This week, 14,811 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, up 30% from the week before (11,407). According to Alain Berset, Switzerland’s health minister, Switzerland will not be spared a fourth wave, reported RTS. However, this one will be different to the first three. The big difference this time is vaccination. 51% of Switzerland’s population has now […]
Swiss government considering new 60 km/h motorway limits
Swiss roads are clogged and the government is looking for new ways to make traffic run more smoothly. One idea is to cut the speed on certain stretches during periods of peak traffic, potentially to as low as 60 km/h. Currently, speeds are temporarily reduced from 120 km/h to 100 km/h and 80 km/h when […]
Most popular Swiss names in 2020
In 2020, the most popular baby names in Switzerland were Mia and Noah. Mia is a long time favourite, scoring the top spot in 2019 and 2020. Noah has had a good run in the top spot for boys. It came top in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2019, the top […]
Nearly three quarters of Swiss against buying an electric car
A survey in Switzerland found that 73% of the population does not plan to buy an electric car. Governments around the world are pushing for the electrification of road transport and many car manufacturers have made public commitments to stop making fossil fuel powered cars in the near future. However, these plans rest on the […]
Afghanistan — “We Tried to Tell You”
Afghanistan’s war has lasted over four decades and not 20 as is often claimed, notably since the US-led invasion of October 2001. Mort Rosenblum, who has covered Afghanistan since the early days of the Soviet occupation of the 1980s, explores the current US disaster and the crucial role of good reporting in getting people to […]
