Switzerland came second in this year’s World Digital Competitive Ranking, which ranks 67 nations across the world. The 2024 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, produced annually by IMD, placed Singapore at the top, followed by Switzerland and Denmark. This year’s ranking is the highest for Switzerland over the eight years that the report has been published. […]
Ukrainian vocal group to perform fundraising event in Lausanne, Geneva, Vevey and Montreux
The Ukraine Centre is organising a series of concerts by ManSound, a successful and well-known Ukrainian vocal group. The performance is a fund raiser for the Centre and the concerts will be held in early December in Lausanne, Geneva, Vevey and Montreux. ManSound (Ukrainian “МенСаунд”) is a vocal sextet, founded in 1994 in Kyiv, Ukraine. […]
Church leavers doubled in Switzerland last year
The number of people leaving the Roman Catholic Church has exploded since a preliminary study on sexual abuse in the organisation was published in September 2023, reported SRF. However, revelations of abuse have not only affected the Roman Catholic Church. In 2023, around 40,000 people left Switzerland’s Reformed Church, a number close to a third […]
University of Lausanne takes legal action against Gaza protesters
In May, the University of Lausanne was hit by protests. This week, cantonal prosecutors confirmed that three proceedings had been opened in relation to these protests, reported RTS. Dozens of protestors and pro-Palestinian activists occupied the entrance hall of the university for two weeks. Supported by some teaching staff and employees of the university they […]
Swiss wages set to rise in 2025
In 2025, many wage earners will see their pay rise. However, the increases may not be sufficient to cover the rising costs, rising health insurance premiums in particular. Who will receive more pay next year? Migros and Coop, Switzerland’s two largest private employers have announced pay increases of 1% to 1.3%, reported SRF. Denner, which […]
Federal Council hopes to boost savings with pension change
Switzerland’s pension system has three elements. The first is a state pension linked to the number of years worked. This is funded by a tax. The second is a salary based scheme funded by salary deductions, and the third is an optional element known as the third pillar. Contributions to all of these are tax […]
Swiss residential property prices continue to climb
Data published this week by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) shows that residential housing has risen in price by 18% since 2019. In the most recent quarter (Q3 2024) it rose 0.7%. With prices rising by 19%, stand alone houses have risen by more than apartments (+17.4%) over the same period. With the exception of […]
Switzerland’s cross border workers reach record level
At the beginning of the Covid pandemic there was talk of closing Switzerland’s borders. However, it was clear that Swiss hospitals and businesses near Switzerland’s borders would not function without the workers who cross the border daily to work for them, and the notion was dropped. Statistics published this week by the Federal Statistical Office […]
Expert calls for new approach to solar power in Switzerland
Renewable energy, such as electricity produced from the sun, comes with challenges. Sunshine does not follow our pattern of electricity consumption. Storing excess production helps. However, sometimes batteries hit full capacity. When this happens any excess must be dumped. Christoph Bucher and his team at Bern University of Applied Sciences advocate adding a system that […]
Winter tyre rules in Switzerland and its neighbours
Laws in France, Italy and Austria require drivers to fit winter tyres or carry chains between certain dates. In Germany, winter tires are mandatory for driving on snow, slush and ice. However, Switzerland leaves the decision on whether to fit winter tyres up to drivers. In Switzerland, there is no legal requirement to fit winter […]
