On his way from Davos to Geneva, Chinese President Xi Jinping, stopped in Lausanne where he visited the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters and its president Thomas Bach. It is the first time a Chinese leader has visited the Olympic city. He arrived yesterday evening and visited the IOC today. The two leaders chatted about […]
Archives for January 2017
Squeezed and angry: how to fix the middle class crisis – a look at Switzerland
One of the topics at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos is: Squeezed and angry: how to fix the middle class crisis. As a precursor, the WEF published the 135 page Inclusive Growth and Development Report 2017, which ranks Switzerland 3rd behind Norway and Luxembourg on inclusion, out of a group of 30 advanced economies. In […]
Winds of over 140 km/h hit Vaud today
High winds whistled past the Dôle today. At 1,677 m above sea level, the Dôle is the second highest peak in the Jura. Winds there today went as high as 142 km/h. Down by Lake Geneva, winds got up above 90 km/h in Saint-Prex and Nyon, according to MeteoNews. Maximum wind speeds in other places today […]
Switzerland ranked number one at attracting and keeping talent, says study
This year’s 2017 Global Talent Competitiveness Index places Switzerland at the top. In addition, the study by the business school INSEAD, with input from the Adecco Group and the human capital leadership institute, puts Switzerland at or near the top on all six measures that make up the overall ranking of 118 nations. Switzerland excels […]
A Swiss experiment begins with ski pass discounts for bad weather
Over the Swiss January school holidays we planned a one day ski trip. Snow conditions were poor so we planned our day around lunch. The plan was to start in Zermatt on the Swiss side of the Alps, then head over to Italy for lunch at a particular restaurant. We arrived in Zermatt at around 10am, bought […]
Freezing Bise wind to sweep across Switzerland
The cold, dry wind known as the Bise, which blows across the Swiss plateau, occurs when the air pressure in eastern Switzerland exceeds that in the west. As the wind reaches Lake Geneva it gains intensity as it is channeled through the narrow gap between the pre Alpine mountains and those of the Jura to the […]
Swiss franc less overvalued according to latest Big Mac index
On 12 January 2017, the Economist came out with its latest Big Mac index. Also known as the burger benchmark, the index compares the price of a Big Mac around the world. This catchy, if highly incomplete means of comparing the relative purchasing power of different currencies, uses the United States and the US$ as its […]
World cup skiing cancelled in Switzerland because of too much snow
According to race organisers, the FIS Alpine World Cup men’s Lauberhorn downhill race was cancelled today. The men’s race was to take place in Wengen in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. In Wengen, nearly half a metre of snow covered the men’s course and there was no window to prepare the surface, as it continued to snow throughout the day. […]
Comedy: Dara O’Briain, one of the most recognisable faces on British TV, is in Geneva
Brought to you by International Comedy Club. Dara is one of the most recognisable faces on British TV, as the host of the hugely successful Mock The Week and Star Gazing Live. Not forgetting his most recent shows the brand new series of Robot Wars for BBC Two and Go 8 Bit for Dave. Catch […]
Winds of over 150 km/h battered parts of Switzerland last night
Winds above 150 km/h hit Switzerland last night as winter storm “Egon” swept across the country, according to Vincent Devantay of MeteoNews. The strongest winds were recorded at Säntis (154 km/h), Pilatus (147 km/h), Chasseral (144 km/h), Saint-Chrischona (139 km/h) and La Dôle (132 km/h). These are all relatively high mountain peaks with the exception […]
