Switzerland today
In the news: Climate court, Security Council, angry Putin and rising prices.
Dear Swiss Abroad,
sometimes technology is not always the answer to today’s problems, especially when it comes to policing. The city of Geneva has gone back to the old ways and reintroduced a police unit on horseback, a relic that dates to the 19th century.
Three indigenous Franches-Montagnes horses that form part of this mounted brigade, have passed their aptitude tests after a year of training. They will be deployed in neighbourhoods to prevent burglaries and will be involved in keeping the peace at sporting and cultural events.
In the news: Climate court, Security Council, angry Putin and rising prices.
The recent verdict of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) confirming that Switzerland has not complied with the Paris Climate Agreement and violated the human rights of its citizens sent shockwaves through the Alpine nation and abroad. Andreas Zünd, the Swiss judge on the ECHRExternal link, explains how the court decided in favour of the elderly petitioners.
Switzerland’s permanent representative to the UN, Pascale Baeriswyl, has said that Swiss neutrality, which has been a frequent topic of discussion since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, is “no longer an issue” in the UN Security Council. She also expressed conceded that the Security Council needs to be reformed and admitted to being concerned when seeing the “big powers” arguing.
The Swiss foreign ministry is not reacting to Putin’s criticism of the Ukraine peace summitExternal link planned to be held on June 15-16 in Bürgenstock. In a speech on Thursday, Putin declared that Russia was not invited, and also stated that nothing could be decided without Moscow.
The inflation rate may be slowing but the cost of meat, cheese and coffee, as well as electricity and travel, don’t seem to be stabilizing anytime soon. Between January 2022 to March 2024, food prices soared by 7%. Rents (+4.6%) also rose, as did clothing (+11.5%), electricity (+47.9%), natural gas (+26%), fuel (+4.4%) and package holidays (+28.1%). The only surprise was the fall in the price of medicines (-5.5%).
Urbanisation limits: Shortage of land for building houses
Planning to move back to Switzerland and rent a flat or build a house? With about two-thirds of Switzerland covered in mountains and lakes, as well as tough zoning laws, there is a shortage of land that can be used for constructing housing. SRF have prepared an interactive mapExternal link that shows average rent for a 90 sq. metre apartment along with land available for construction in every municipality in the country. Choose wisely!
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