Switzerland

Compulsory tipping does not meet with unanimous approval among the Swiss: over two-thirds of citizens do not want to include it in the price of their food, according to survey published earlier this month

First physical and commercially usable quantum computer was inaugurated at Uptown Basel competence centre in Arlesheim; it will be available to companies, academic institutions and start-ups in areas such as simulation, optimisation and machine learning

From January 1, 2025, it will be forbidden to cover the face in public places throughout Switzerland; violations can be fined up to CHF1.000 (about $1.143); the new law does not apply in diplomatic premises and exceptions span from art to health reasons

Nearly four million of Rolex Submariner and Sea Dweller diving watches were produced between 1953 and 2020; all Submariner watches make a total value of almost $50 billion, based on analysis of the first-ever release of production data by the watchmaker

The UBS CFA indicator, which summarises expectations of financial analysts and economists regarding the economy over the next six months, remains negative for the fifth month in a row, despite a figure slightly better than expected in the October report

An average of 185 people die every year while playing sport in Switzerland; most of the fatal sports accidents occur in mountain sports, followed by snow sports and water sports, according to latest report of the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention

Ten-year fixed mortgage rates for loans emitted in Switzerland halved since 2022 peak according to online comparison platform Comparis; this relatively low level has led to strong demand, with 72% of those surveyed choosing a ten-year fixed-rate mortgage

Muriel Furrer, an 18-year-old Swiss cyclist, has died; she was competing in the women’s junior road race at the world championships in Zurich yesterday, when she was badly injured in a fall

The Swiss voted on reform of the occupational pension scheme and on a biodiversity initiative; neither proposal was accepted at the ballot box, and the text were rejected with 67% and 63% votes against, respectively

Several kilos of explosives intended for “loosening blasting for the purpose of rock removal” were stolen from a Federal Railways construction site in canton Basel; the Attorney General of Switzerland has opened criminal proceedings

The city of Basel will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2025: the contest was born in Lugano, in 1956 and will return to its birthplace almost 70 years later

The Federal Armaments Office of Switzerland, state agency in charge of armaments and military technology, published an announcement offering a total prize of over €50.000 to the best ideas for removing the many remnants of war from lakes

Around 920.000 party-goers attended the 31st Zurich Street Parade on Saturday 10 August, confirming the city status of global techno music capital