A collection of recent, random articles about Switzerland and Canada!
Dec 5, 2023 Watson recently published an article about the latest PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) results. 15-year-old students were tested in math, reading and sciences. Switzerland is highlighted in the article due to its high mark in math, where it ranked 8th overall with only one European country (Estonia) above it (form 81 tested countries). Canada ranked 9th overall in math. In reading Switzerland ranked 19th whereas Canada was in 8th position. And in science Switzerland ranked 13th (Canada was again 8th). In the overall ranking Canada’s position was #6 and Switzerland’s position was #20. https://www.watson.ch/schweiz/schule - bildung/270209583-pisa-studie-so-gut-schneidet-die-schweiz-ab [in German]
Dec 5, 2023 Cassandra De Pecol, a single female traveler, visited 196 countries within the span of just over 18 months (she beat a Guiness world record for the fastest to visit all these countries). In yet another ranking, this one published in the Business Insider, she ranked her 11 most beautiful countries. While it may surprise some that she ranked Mongolia as the number one most beautiful country, it will come as no surprise to the readers of SUISSE News that Switzerland and Canada were second and third, respectively, in her hit parade. She particularly enjoyed the mountains in Switzerland and the warmth of the people in Canada. https://www.businessinsider.com/most-beautiful-countries-in-the-world-from-guinness-record-holder-2023-12
Nov 27, 2023 A report on the Swiss public broadcaster website (SRF) highlights the fact that this year’s widespread wild fires in Canada have released an enormous amount of CO₂ into the atmosphere. This year almost 18.5 million hectares burned in Canada (the previous highest number was 7.1 million hectares in 1995). The output of CO₂ from these fires equates 3 times the CO₂ output from Canadian industry. https://www.srf.ch/news/international/rekordbraende-warum-kanadische-waelder-zu-co-schleudern-werden [in German]
Nov 29, 2023 The Neue Zürcher Zeitung featured an article on the first all-electric commercial airline: Harbour Air. The Sea Planes (or ePlanes) fly out of Vancouver Harbour to destinations around the Lower Mainland, mainly to Victoria. The Swiss company H55 from Sion (https://h55.ch/) provides the batteries for the Harbour Air planes. https://www.nzz.ch/mobilitaet/elektroflugzeuge-die-revolution-startet-vom-wasser-aus-ld.1765252 [in German]
Nov 28, 2023 Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding program for research and innovation. As such, Canada and Switzerland, since they are not EU members, are both excluded from this program. Horizon Europe has a budget of almost EUR 100 billion, so being on the outside looking in is not ideal. However, it seems that both countries are on the right track for inclusion. Swiss universities may be granted access as early as next year and an agreement with Canadian researchers is on the horizon as well, so to speak! Read more here: https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/horizon-europe-association-switzerland-and-canada-in-the-fast-lane/170675/
Dec 5, 2023 If you’re flying to Switzerland with Air Canada you are now able to take advantage of the direct air-to-rail booking options that the airline has just rolled out. If you’re flying into Geneva (GVA) or Zurich (ZRH) you will have the option of selecting among various rail destinations in Switzerland as your final stop. This means that your air and rail tickets will be booked together and you can simply walk onto the train in Switzerland with the ticket you receive from Air Canada. The destinations in Switzerland include: Basel, Zurich, Geneva, Lugano, Berne, Chur, Lausanne, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Interlaken, Bellinzona, Fribourg, Grenchen https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/air-canada-makes-europe-easier-to-explore-by-offering-customers-convenient-new-air-to-rail-connections-806483518.html
