Tag Archives: 3.) Swiss Info

Closed shops, cancelled flights, shut construction sites: the pandemic is causing the Swiss economy to lose an estimated CHF4-5 billion a week (Keystone) The current pandemic will plunge the world economy into recession, at least in the first part of the year. What tools does Switzerland have to minimise the economic and social damage of this crisis? And what factors could jeopardise the prospects for an economic recovery? The CHF10 billion ($10.3 billion) in...

Restoring shuttered companies back to health may take more than state handouts. (Keystone / Laurent Gillieron) The CHF60 billion Swiss state bailout of companies is well underway. But there is a feeling that government funds that hand out loans and pay workers’ wages will not be enough. How do companies maintain contact with customers and develop their brands during a lockdown? The obvious solution is to embrace digital. The last few weeks has seen a number of...

The government is expected to present its Covid-19 exit plans on Thursday. The picture shows Swiss President Sommaruga (centre) with Interior Minister Berset (right) and Economics Minister Parmelin (left) talking to the government spokesman. (Keystone/Peter Klaunzer) Political parties, trade unions and other interest groups have published their proposals for the government to relax restrictions introduced to stem the Covid-19 pandemic. The calls come a day ahead of...

The 2020 edition of the fair was cancelled due to Covid-19. (Keystone / Georgios Kefalas) Rolex, Patek Philippe and Chanel will not exhibit at the Baselworld watch and jewellery trade show in 2021. The announcement marks another blow to the event, which has already seen high-profile exits, including by the Swatch Group. The luxury timepiece companies, along with Chopard and Tudor said on Tuesday they would launch a new trade show in Geneva with the Fondation de la...

Many Swiss are now doing their shopping online.  (Keystone) Switzerland’s consumer confidence index plummeted to a “historically low” level in April, according to a Wednesday statement from the Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The index fell to -40 points, compared to -9 points in January, when the previous survey was conducted. That marks the lowest results since the early 1990s. These results are provisional and are published exceptionally, SECO noted....

Electron microscope image of Covid-19 (yellow) emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in a US lab (Keystone / Niaid- Rml/national Institutes O) Swiss pharma and business insiders predict that an effective drug therapy against Covid-19 will be available by the end of this year, but a vaccine might take a year longer than that. “In the best-case scenario, a drug could be available before the end of 2020,” said on Monday Francesco De Rubertis, director...

Bread in Geneva costs considerably more than bread in Zurich, but far less than a loaf in New York. (© Keystone / Martial Trezzini ) Zurich and Geneva are still among the world’s ten most expensive cities, but both have slid down the rankings since last year. The full effect of the coronavirus crisis remains to be seen. In the Economist Intelligence Unit’sexternal link annual report comparing the cost of living in cities around the world, Zurich is tied for 5th place...

Schoolwork at home: some do more, some do less (Keystone / Laurent Gillieron) There is a big difference in the amount of time pupils are spending at their studies during the corona school closures, a Swiss-led study has found. Some children are doing five or more hours a day, others just one or two. This is one of the main findings of the School Barometerexternal link, led by the Institute of the Management and Economics of Education (IBB)external link of the...

In 207 the low-lying areas of Bolivia’s amazon were flooded after heavy rains ravaged the country.  (Keystone/Martin Alipaz) People began growing manioc and squash much earlier than previously thought, a team of researchers led by the Swiss university of Bern has found. A study shows that the earliest human inhabitants of Moxos plains began transforming the tropical savanna eco-region in Bolivia 10,000 years ago, that is 8,000 earlier than previously thought. They...

Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter. (Keystone / Alessandro Della Valle) The Swiss government is examining plans to stave off bankruptcies of companies struggling with the fallout of the coronavirus crisis. But regular debt collection procedures will resume on April 20. Justice Minster Karin Keller-Sutter said the aim was to stabilise the economy and to secure jobs. “It is key for the government to prevent or keep to a minimum job losses and bankruptcies,” she told...