On 10 August 2023, a freight train derailed in the Gotthard base tunnel. The tunnel will remain closed at least until next Wednesday, 16 August, reported SRF. Those travelling by train via the tunnel must expect delays and train cancellations. According to Swiss Rail the Gotthard base tunnel will remain closed to passenger traffic until […]
The high cost of protecting Swiss farmers
Swiss farmers are heavily supported by taxpayers. In addition to higher taxes, Swiss consumers must also dig deep to cover the import tariffs built into some food prices. Tariffs on meat are well known. But they are also significant on some vegetables, reports SRF. During Switzerland’s cherry tomato harvest season, which runs from May to […]
Demand for Emmental cheese falls sharply
In 2012, Switzerland produced close to 27,000 tons of Emmental, its famous holey cheese. By 2022, production had fallen to below 15,000 tons, a fall of around 45%, according to reports from the industry association representing the brand. The force behind lower production is lower demand. The cheese is coming under increasing pressure on the […]
Fury at UBS ending government guarantee for Credit Suisse deal
On 11 August 2023, UBS announced it had ended the contract it had with Switzerland’s federal government that guaranteed CHF 9 billion of potential losses. The contract also required the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to provide liquidity assistance loans of up to CHF 100 billion. All loans from the SNB have now been repaid. The […]
Small amounts of drugs will no longer be confiscated, rules Swiss court
A recent decision by the Federal Tribunal, Switzerland’s highest court, opens the way for the police to allow drug users caught with small amounts of banned drugs to keep them, reported SRF. The federal court decision, which relates to cannabis possession, is likely to be applied to other drugs such as cocaine, according to legal […]
FILM: GRAN TURISMO ***1/2 – pure adrenalin!
11 August 2023. By Neptune Dear Cinephiles, who may be hungry for good films in the summer drought of great cinema, as mentioned before, I am still on holiday. Therefore I will just shortly mention 2 films coming out this week which are definitely worth your while: GRAN TURISMO ***1/2 Not to mistake with Clint […]
Pressure from the USA on Switzerland over Russia increases
Thomas Borer, a former US ambassador warns against Switzerland underestimating the current criticism from the United States on its economic relations with Russia, reports SRF. Last week, the US Helsinki Commission harshly criticised Switzerland and demanded that three Swiss people – including former federal prosecutor Michael Lauber – be put on a sanctions list in […]
Swiss medical students losing interest in becoming family doctors
With 4.6 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants, Switzerland has one of the world’s highest rates of doctors per capita. At the same time it has a shortage of family doctors, reports SRF. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend a rate of 1 family doctor for every 1,000 people. Switzerland has around 8,500, which comes to 0.97 […]
Swiss central bank suffers large 2nd-quarter loss
On 31 July 2023, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) announced it had made a loss of CHF 13.2 billion during the second quarter of 2023. This takes the bank’s net equity down to CHF 79 billion and pushes the reserves used to make distributions to the cantons deeper into negative territory – at 30 June […]
Switzerland has a problem with foreigners, according to nation’s largest party
This week, the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) reiterated its position on immigration at a press conference ahead of Switzerland’s upcoming federal election, reported RTS. The party, Switzerland’s largest, also set out its stance on immigration on its website. According to party president Marco Chiesa, mass immigration and asylum chaos are Switzerland’s greatest problems. Too many […]
