20 Minutes. Only one army helicopter is now covering Val Mesolcina in the canton of Graubunden, now that forest fires there have been brought under control, according to 20 Minutes. A no fly zone imposed on the region has also been lifted. At the same time the Swiss air force says it is ready to spring […]
The ten most popular Swiss Google searches in 2016
According to Swiss broadcaster Swissinfo, the following ten items in the video below were the most searched things in 2016. The list includes, terror, a new train tunnel, sport, and one particular Swiss vote. More on this: Swissinfo article (in English) For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Snow finally falls after driest December since 1864
In 2016, the Swiss plateau experienced its driest December since records began in 1864, according to Swiss Meteo. Across the area between Lake Geneva in the west and Lake Constance in the East, an average of only 2mm of precipitation was recorded. Across half of the plateau, not a single drop of moisture fell. From 1981 […]
SMI set to end 2016 in negative territory
30 December 2016 – Swiss and global market roundup. Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. In the last week of the year, the Swiss Market Index deepened its loss for the year as banks continued lower on low trading volumes. The SMI is set to end 2016 with an annual loss of 6.8% as banking and […]
50 percent of Swiss sleep with their pets, estimates vet
20 Minutes. Is it OK to sleep with your cat or dog? There appears to be no evidence that the practice presents any dangers to human health. According to vet Gabrielle Brunner, from Basel, the phenomenon is widespread in Switzerland. “I estimate that half of Swiss do it” she told 20 Minutes. From a sanitary perspective […]
Young Swiss living at home for longer
24 Heures. Young Swiss are taking longer and longer to leave the family home according to a census study by Switzerland’s statistics office. During the 1970s and 1980s, the average age for making a break was between 20 and 21, now it’s around 24 or 25. One of the key drivers of the shift is […]
Miners, including Swiss-based Glencore, unearth a profit bonanza with rally set to last into 2017
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Miners had been digging in one of Australia’s oldest collieries for almost a century until operations wound down a year ago, the victim of plunging global commodity prices. Now owner Glencore Plc is resuming output at the Queensland site, the latest sign of a profit bonanza bringing the world’s […]
Unseasonal high-pressure system keeping snow away from Switzerland
According to Swiss Meteo, an unseasonal high pressure system is currently passing over Switzerland. Not good news for those hoping for snow, the system is likely to affect the weather between now and 1 January 2017. The last three winters have brought strong anticyclones during Christmas. While this weather pattern is unusual compared to the […]
Swiss fact: Switzerland sends no urban waste to landfill
According to the Swiss Federal office for the environment, no Swiss urban waste ends up in landfill. Around 50% is recycled and the rest is used to produce energy. In 2013, Switzerland produced 5.7 tonnes of urban waste, around 700kgs per person. Half of this was recycled, while the other half was incinerated to produce […]
Sentiment appears positive as investors close their books for the year
23 December 2016 – Swiss and global market roundup. Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Ahead of the Christmas break, trading volumes were thin this week amid a lack of new market catalysts. Swiss and European equities were generally unchanged through the week, tracking global stock markets. Overall, sentiment appears to be positive as investors close […]
