Poisoned: army attitudes, Syria chemicals and Swiss soil

(KEYSTONE/Salvatore Di Nolfi)

Almost every article published by swissinfo.ch contains a percentage, an age, an amount of money or some other figure. Here’s a round-up of the most interesting statistics to appear in the past week’s stories.

Monday

42

The number of reported cases of extremism among Swiss soldiers that the army followed up on last year. Right-wing extremism led the way, followed by jihad-motivated extremism and ethno-nationalist extremism. 

Tuesday

5

The amount in metric tons of the chemical isopropanol that Switzerland exported to Syria in 2014. The export was uncovered by a journalist from the Swiss public broadcaster, RTS. Isopropanol can be used to make sarin gas. 

Wednesday

2

The government announced that it would be closing its consulates general in Los Angeles and the Pakistani city of Karachi. Switzerland currently has 170 representations abroad, but has closed more than 30 consulates general in the past couple of decades.

Thursday

4,175

The number of Swiss tenants surveyed about their level of satisfaction with where they live. More than one in four said they were unhappy but could not afford something better. 

Friday

90

Researchers at the University of Bern found that 90% of the soils in Swiss nature reserves are contaminated with microplastics. There is concern the pollution can affect soil fertility by harming or killing earthworms.