Switzerland trails only the US and UK in this year’s QS World University Ranking. UK-based QS, which ranks 1,200 universities across 78 countries, placed Switzerland’s two federal universities, ETHZ (7th) and EPFL (22nd), in the global top 50 in 2019. ETHZ was ranked in the top 10 across 22 domains, ranking first in biosciences. Both […]
Second hottest February south of Swiss Alps since records began
February 2019 was unusually hot in Switzerland. According to Swiss Meteo, the region south of the Alps experienced the second highest average February temperature since records began in 1864. The average monthly temperature at the 3,580 metre measurement point on the peak Jungfraujoch was 5 degrees higher than the norm between 1981 and 2010. The […]
Cost of winter sports accidents up 70 percent in Switzerland
According to figures published by the assurer SUVA, the cost of winter sports accidents has risen by 70% over the last 15 years. Around a quarter of Switzerland’s population partake in snow sport. Every year around 33,000 people living in Switzerland, who are insured for accidents via their employer, are hurt while skiing or snowboarding. […]
Sharp rise in divorce among Switzerland’s foreign population
This week, Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office published figures on the number of divorces in 2018. Overall Switzerland’s divorce numbers were up 2.1% at 16,200 for the year. However, when broken down the number of divorces among couples where both were Swiss went down 6.1% as did those where one was Swiss (-0.9%). Divorces among couples […]
Geneva wants to ban free plastic bags
The canton’s government could ban retailers from offering free plastic bags in the canton, according to the newspaper Tribune de Genève. Migros and Coop, Switzerland’s two large supermarkets stopped providing free plastic bags some time ago, so the ban would not affect them. The parliamentary vote, supported by the Green party and PDC, would mainly […]
Campaign launched for a pesticide-free Switzerland
On Monday, a referendum in Switzerland aiming to ban the use of all synthetic pesticides was launched. The popular vote, which collected the required 100,000 signatures in 2016, is scheduled for 2020, according to RTS. The pesticides that would be banned include glyphosate and neonicotinoids, a group of chemicals known to kill bees. Vote organisers […]
Mistrust of Islam nearly three times higher than negative views of muslims
A recent survey in Switzerland shows mistrust of Islam is close to three times more prevalent than negative views of muslims. Every two years, Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office compiles a survey of attitudes towards people of different race, religion and nationality. The survey entitled: living together in Switzerland, asks a wide range of questions covering […]
Decathlon to expand in Switzerland
The low-cost French sports goods chain has plans to expand in Switzerland. 14 new stores, employing between 500 and 600 staff, are planned for 2019, according to the newspaper 20 Minutes. Many of the new stores will be refurbished Athleticum stores. Décathlon teamed up with Athleticum in 2018. In German-speaking Switzerland, the first stores will […]
To save the planet Lausanne plants a tree when a baby is born
According to the newspaper Le Matin, the municipality of the city of Lausanne has a tradition of planting a tree when a baby is born, something it has been doing for 17 years. The “one tree one child” programme is intended to create a connection between the city’s residents and local forests and promote environmentalism. […]
Drug makers paid Swiss doctors 12.5 million francs in 2017
Since 2016, drug makers have voluntarily published the amounts they pay to Swiss doctors, many of whom prescribe drugs to patients. In 2017 the sum was CHF 12.5 million, according to the association Science Industries. In 2016, the same figure was CHF 14 million. While drug makers publish the amounts paid, the information published does […]
