Since our inception at the end of October 2013 we have come a long way with many stories to tell. The paper, instrumental to our success, has been going from strength to strength, cultivating insight and building understanding among all members of the international community as to what is happening in the Lake Geneva region. […]
Archives for May 2014
Payot’s best sellers of the week
Top 10 best selling books of the week
This fusion life
One of the most amazing revelations I’ve had in Switzerland thus far (apart from the fact that eau de parfum is not pronounced ‘err de parfyoom’) is that not everyone likes biltong. I shared my treasured store with some British and Swiss friends once, and it was an eye-opener. Half of them paled at the […]
Are Swiss language divisions increasing?
The Swiss are well known for their language capabilities, many of them speaking at least three. Foreigners living here are therefore often surprised to discover how wide divisions are among the country’s four different language regions. Mastery of others’ tongues has been on the decline for decades, while there are few common cultural events and no national media.
Plans to toughen drink laws in Vaud
A damper on a night on the town LAUSANNE Young people looking for a great nightlife are flocking in ever-greater numbers to Lausanne. Many come from Geneva where the bar scene is less lively and, above all, more expensive. Not everyone plans to get roaring drunk, but under peer pressure more are doing so. And […]
Making sense of the referenda
Making sense of the referenda Just as Bern failed to explain the possible long-term impact of a positive vote to curb EU immigration, the Department of Defence also neglected to put across its case in support of the 18 May Gripen fighter vote. Given readers’ response, some for, others against, to a Le News story highlighting a critical Norwegian report on the Gripen, it […]
Referenda: “No fighters, but cheaper buses”
No fighters, but cheaper buses Switzerland’s functioning democratic system produced on 18 May an array of local and national decisions which shocked some, irritated others and rationally satisfied many, depending, of course, on which way you kicked. The majority federal vote (53.4%) rejecting the Swiss army’s proposal to purchase 22 Swedish-built multipurpose Gripen jet fighters […]
Le News edition 26
22 May 2014 Download the latest edition of Le News here: Le News 22.05.14 Edition 26 (Right click “save target as”)
English threatening Swiss cohesion?
MARTIGNY Once again the can of worms has been reopened regarding whether English or a Swiss national language should be the first foreign tongue taught at primary-school level. Several German-speaking cantons continue to object to a federal requirement that two mandatory foreign languages must be taught at primary level. Many schools in Canton Zurich already […]