Swiss tennis icon Roger Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, announced on 15 September 2022 that he would retire after competing in the Laver Cup later this month. Only Spain’s Nadal (22 titles) and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (21 titles) have more men’s Grand Slam singles titles than 41-year-old Federer. Federer, who was born in Basel, […]
Switzerland tops latest Human Development Index
With a score of 0.962 out of 1.000, Switzerland topped the United Nation’s latest Human Development Index for 2021, a measure that includes life expectancy, education and income. The index, designed to look beyond GDP as a measure of well-being, was launched in 1990. Published on 8 September 2022, the latest report on 2021 reveals […]
38% of Swiss speak more than one language at work
In many places one language is all that is required at work. In Switzerland, 37.7% of workers surveyed reported regularly using two or more languages at work, according to data published by the Federal Statistical Office on 6 September 2022. While 62.3% used only one language at work, 22.2% regularly used two and 15.5% used […]
Switzerland’s population older than ever, shows recent data
In Switzerland, almost 1.7 million people were aged 65 or older at the end of 2021, a figure that makes up 19% of the population, according to data published on 28 August 2022. In 2021, one woman in five and one man in six was aged over 64, according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). […]
Abandoned animal numbers rising in French-speaking Switzerland
After a two-year lull the number of abandoned animals is on the rise, according to animal protection organisations in French-speaking Switzerland, reported RTS. Animal adoptions rose during the Covid-19 pandemic. But as people have transitioned back to normal life the number of abandoned animals has risen and the number in refuges is rising again, particularly […]
Trust in neighbours high in Switzerland, according to survey
A survey published this week shows high levels of trust and generosity towards neighbours in Switzerland. Published by the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute, an offshoot of Migros, the survey reported that three quarters of those surveyed felt very safe where they lived and practically no one reported being dissatisfied with their relationships with their neighbours. 67% […]
French administrative error behind forced landing of Swiss minister
On 5 July 2022, Alain Berset, Switzerland’s interior minister, took to the skies piloting a Cessna 182, a small 4-seat light aircraft. At 4:23 pm he entered a no fly zone close to a French military base, triggering the intervention of two French military jets. It was initially suggested that Berset had ignored instructions to […]
Swiss minister unlikely to be charged for illegal flight
On 5 July 2022, Alain Berset, Switzerland’s interior minister, took to the skies piloting a Cessna 182, a small 4-seat light aircraft. At 4:23 pm he passed close to a French military base, triggering the intervention of two French military jets, reported Blick. Two French fighter jets forced Berset, who was flying solo, to land. […]
Men continue to dominate the leadership of state companies in Switzerland
An article published by RTS presents data that shows men outnumber women among the leaders of 20 of Switzerland’s 26 largest state affiliated companies. Like in much of the developed world politicians in Switzerland are pushing to get more women into top spots. Switzerland’s Federal Council has said it aims to have 40% of leadership […]
FIFA: Blatter and Platini acquitted of fraud
In June 2020, Switzerland’s public prosecutor requested Sepp Blatter (86) and Michel Platini (66) get 20-month suspended prison sentences in connection with accusations of fraud against the football organisation FIFA. However, on 8 July 2022, the Federal Tribunal in Bellinzone acquitted the two men, reported RTS. Legal proceedings against the former FIFA managers was justified, […]
