Switzerland today
Dear Swiss Abroad,
You’ve probably heard someone say that “you can count your true friends on one hand”.
With the Swiss, this is really the case because on average the Swiss have four close friends, according to a friendship study released today.
Swiss friendship: quality over quantity
Overall, with an average of four close friends per person, the Swiss are comparable to Americans and Germans, based on the first major survey of its kindExternal link in Switzerland released on Monday. The extended circle goes as far as eight people.
It’s often not easy to make friends in the Alpine nation, but once you do, the relationship is likely to be solid.
“It’s difficult to break into Swiss friendship circles, because they are relatively static and based on long-standing relationships,” note the authors.
The best places to make friends are at school and work (43.7%), through family and acquaintances (23.5%), then sport (10%). Online friendships account for less than 3% of friendships.
Medicine shortage: overdependence on Asia
All types of medicines are now affected by shortages, according to the president of pharmaSuisse, the Swiss pharmacists association. Martine Ruggli-Ducrot called for swift action to address the shortage of medicine, in an interview published in Le Temps External linknewspaper on Monday.
“Whether it’s anti-diabetes drugs, high blood pressure remedies, opioids or antibiotics, they’re all affected,” she said.
The president of pharmaSuisse called for cooperation with the European Union. She wants to bring manufacturing back to Europe for the continent to be more autonomous in the event of supply chain problems. The active ingredients needed to manufacture medicines were very often produced in Asia.
“It is this high concentration that makes the whole system vulnerable,” she said.
Snow in summer? Cooler temperatures create white mountains
The snowfall zone fell below 2,000 metres in Switzerland on Sunday night, according to MeteoNewsExternal link. As a result, some of the Alpine peaks were partially covered in snow.
A photograph shared by the weather agency on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter, shows the Oberalp pass, linking the cantons of Graubünden and Uri, covered in snow. A few centimetres of snow fell at an altitude of 2,000 metres and sometimes more than 20 cm above 2,500 metres.
According to MeteoNews, summer snowfalls above 2000 metres occur every two to three years in Switzerland.
Be prepared! Scouts seek shelter from storm in South Korea
The “World Scout Jamboree” on the west coast of South Korea was originally supposed to last until August 12 with 43,000 scouts from 158 countries taking part. A heatwave has plagued the event (held every four years) since its start causing some contingents to abandon ship. The Swiss delegation with around 1,400 scouts decided to stay on but may regret it.
Now, an approaching stormExternal link threatens the jamboree forcing the scouts to take refuge in emergency shelters from Tuesday. According to the South Korean weather bureau, the strong typhoon Khanun is currently moving north towards the Korean peninsula and could make landfall in the south-east on Thursday. Strong winds and heavy rainfall are expected.
Ukraine arms exports: Outspoken RUAG CEO leaves prematurely
Swiss arms manugacturer RUAG announced the departure of its CEO Brigitte Beck barely a year since she took up the job. She had openly criticisedExternal link the government’s neutral stance over arms exports to Ukraine. She also spoke out against Switzerland’s acquisition of American F-35 fighter jets on the grounds that it would not benefit the Swiss defence industry.
The company was also under pressure over charges involving a dubious arms deals with Russia made by a senior employee. The suspect was acquitted due to a lack of evidence but was slapped with a suspended fine of CHF27,000 ($30,940) for illegally taking commission payments of CHF150,000.
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