This summer, trade your couch for a field and your playlist for a live band. Gather in open fields to listen to loud music and bust out questionable dance moves. Music festivals are back, featuring sun (hopefully), mud (probably), and bands you’ll claim to have discovered first. It’s a celebration of sound, sing-alongs, and Alpine views. Pack sunscreen and wellies and prepare to lose your voice.
Switzerland still world’s wealthiest country; Swiss vs Germans: Who is more optimistic?; Geneva keeps residents cool during heatwaves
News for 24 June 2025
This has been a very good week for Switzerland: first it was named as the world’s most competitive nation, and in another study, its two largest cities Zurich and Geneva, took the second and fifth places, respectively, among the world’s 173 most liveable cities. And there’s more: according to the UBS Global Wealth Report, Switzerland remains the world’s richest nation.
The average wealth per adult in Switzerland stands at 563, 900 francs, ahead of the USA 509,303 francs, and Hong Kong in third place.
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Swiss vs Germans: Who is more optimistic? This question is answered in a new study carried out by a German sociologist Rüdiger Maas among those aged between 16 and 29 years old. It reveals that young Swiss are more confident about the future than their Germans counterparts.
While Germans in that age group have “a deep sense of unease," their Swiss counterparts "display higher levels of well-being,” the study found. More than 80 percent of Swiss say they are proud of their country — regardless of their origin —although only 40 percent are prepared to defend their homeland in an armed conflict, and 20 percent are ready to give their lives for Switzerland.
Furthermore, 68 percent feel “a sense of security,” and trust their public institutions, versus only 39 percent of German respondents.
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With the official beginning of summer on June 21st — and given the forecast that calls for the hot weather to continue — Geneva authorities will “deploy 26 summer installations” to provide some relief from the heat. The city is installing 12 misting systems, six 'micro-oases', and eight shady areas in public spaces.
"These initiatives are part of the City of Geneva's Climate Strategy, which aims to adapt public spaces to climate challenges, by ensuring their proper use even during high temperatures," municipal authorities said in a press release.
"They help lower the perceived temperature, and thus encourage residents, especially those most vulnerable to extreme heat, to continue using public spaces in a welcoming and friendly environment, they added.