Switzerland celebrated its 733rd birthday

A big event this week was Swiss National Day, with various celebrations taking place to commemorate a historic event (which is more a legend than a fact), when the people of what are now the Swiss cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden banded together on the Rütli meadow on August 1st, 1291, to ensure their autonomy in the face of threats from foreign powers after the death of Emperor Rudolf I of Habsburg.

These three cantons signed up to the Federal Charter (or ‘Letter of Alliance’) which saw them promise to “assist each other by every means possible against one and all who may inflict on them violence or injustice within their valleys and without.

This event, even if fictional, is celebrated each year across the country.

READ ALSO: How will Switzerland celebrate Swiss National Day this year?  

One of the highlights of the day was the hanging of  a giant Swiss flag on the rocky slope of the Säntis moutain, which can be seen from much of eastern Switzerland.

READ ALSO: Watch how a giant Switzerland flag is hung on the side of a Swiss mountain 

First use of Switzerland’s ‘death capsule’ stopped amid controversy

An American woman who was to be the first to die in the ‘suicide pod’ in Switzerland on July 17th, was not permitted to use the device, after conflicts arose between her and the assisted dying group behind the pod.

The woman, who eventually died days later with the help of another organisation, left behind aa accusatory letter detailing charges of manipulation and exploitation she allegedly experienced from the organisers.

The association, however, denied all charges.

READ ALSO: Conflict prevents American woman from using Swiss ‘death pod’ 

The use of English has grown in Zurich

In the last 10 years, the proportion of English speakers in the city of Zurich has gone up from 9 to 14 percent — an increase of 40 percent.

In fact, it is now spoken in 40 percent of city businesses, according to Christof Meier, head of integration promotion for the city of Zurich. 

And it is not only foreign nationals and tourists who are behind this trend: out of 136,000 people who routinely speak English at work, 90,000 are not native English speakers.

This trend “is encouraging and strengthens Zurich’s attractiveness and competitiveness as an international research location,” Meier said.

READ ALSO: How English has become more prevalent in Zurich 

Swiss employees on a reduced-work schedule will receive benefits longer

Employees in Switzerland put on a reduced work schedule will receive unemployment benefits for a longer period.

Up until now, those who had been put on a reduced work schedule (RHT) by their companies due to economic problems faced by their sectors — like the energy industry — received unemployment benefits for 12 months.

But the Federal Council decided to prolong this term by six months, for a total of 18, starting on August 1st.

READ ALSO: Partial unemployment benefits in Switzerland to be extended

Swiss banks begin to cut interest rates on savings

Switzerland’s central bank lowered the rate in June by 0.25 percentage points to 1.25 percent.

Now Swiss banks are also (though gradually) following suit, ultimately driving consumers’ savings downwards.

For instance, Raiffeisen Group now recommends an interest rate of 0.70 percent for members’ savings accounts, compared to 1.10 percent previously.

For deposits of more than 100,000 francs, the interest rate is reduced from 0.70 to 0.45 percent. For other types of savings accounts, too, the reduction is up to 0.5 percentage points.

READ ALSO: Swiss banks begin to lower their interest rates but will consumers benefit? 

And also:
 
Music, film, and folklore on show in Switzerland

On the lighter side of the news, August has just began and a number of festivals, concerts, and other cultural events will be taking place in Switzerland this month throughout many regions.

Some of them are listed here:

READ ALSO: Seven unmissable events in Switzerland this August