Switzerland Today
Dear Swiss Abroad,
Brrrrrrrr. It’s freezing out there – people are skidding about on Bern’s icy streets and there’s a dusting of snow on the picturesque rooftops. The below-zero temperatures and chilly winds are not ideal for that return to work or school.
But conditions are reportedly perfect for winter sports. As for the people of Brunnen in canton Schywz, the winter weather is probably the last thing on their minds as they celebrate the start of carnival today (photo above).
In the news: Swiss inflation rate, new bacteria species, soldiers deploy to Davos and a Gambian ex-minister on trial.
- The annual inflation rate in Switzerland averaged2.1% last year, according to the Federal Statistical Office. This compared to 2.8% in 2022 and 0.6% in 2021. The rise last year can be explained by higher electricity and gas prices, as well as higher rents. Inflation was stable at 1.7% in December 2023.
- Researchers in Basel in northwest Switzerland have found 35 newspecies of bacteria (photo above) in patient samples taken at hospitals. Seven of them can cause infections in humans.
- Swiss soldiers have started arriving in the mountain resort of Davos in southeast Switzerland to provide security for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) that begins on January 15.
- A record 43 spin-off companies were launched from the Swiss federal technology institute ETH Zurich last year.
- The former Gambian Interior Minister Ousman Sonko is on trial in Switzerland in a long-awaited case, accused of crimes against humanity for his alleged role in years of repression by the west African country’s security forces against opponents of its long-time dictator. The landmark universal jurisdiction trial opened on Monday at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona and is due to run until the end of January.
Poll: the Swiss do not take many risks when investing.
According to a survey by the Migros Bank, the Swiss much prefer to deposit their money in savings accounts instead of stocks.
A poll published today found that 61% of Swiss adults put aside up to CHF1,000 ($1,175) per month. Almost 80% of those surveyed put their money in a savings account. Around half would like to put more in so-called third pillar/private pension plans (38%) or a private savings account (29%).
Riskier investments such as Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies are lessinfavour (only 4% of respondents). A similar survey conducted in 2019 found that 12% were interested in cryptocurrencies.
Most savers want to build a financialbuffer in the event of an urgent financial need or unexpected payments. This is followed by saving for retirement and home ownership.
In general, women are lesswilling to take financial risks than men, the survey found: only 4% of women accept risk in order to gain high profits, while the figure for men was 11%. Men are more likely to invest in real estate, stocks or investment funds. Most women who answered the poll (60%) said their knowledge of investments was “not good at all”, compared to 34% for men.
The Swiss Alps are shrinking due to global warming.
Switzerland’s white peaks have lost between one and 29 metres in altitude over the past 60 years due to the climatecrisis. Almost all of the highest summits reported a decline, it has been reportedExternal link.
Pointe Parrot, situated in the Monte Rosa massif on the border between Valais and Italy, has experienced the most significant decline, losing 29 metres since records began in 1960. Tête-Blanche, on the border with Italy, has lost 13 metres in 63 years.
Switzerland boasts 48 peaks over 4,000 metres. But some risk losing this symbolicstatus in the years ahead. The Weissmies, for instance, shrunk from 4,023 metres in the 1960s to 4,013 metres in the last measurement.
“The acceleration of the melting process in recent years has been extreme,” ETH Zurich glaciologist Matthias Huss told theSonntagszeitung newspaper. Last summer, the zero-degree limit was above 5,000 meters for several days.
But not all Swiss peaks have gotsmaller. The Mönch gained 11 metres due to heavy precipitation in the Bernese Oberland.
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