20 Minutes. On 12 February 2017, Swiss will vote on whether to make it easier for third generation residents to become Swiss. The Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) is firmly against the plan. Now UDC national councillor Erich Hess is voicing his annoyance at allowing naturalised foreigners to keep their other nationality. “We will never know […]
Archives for February 2017
Swiss petition to ban Trump visiting fails to take off like the one in the UK
A Swiss petition to ban Trump visiting fails to take off like the one in the UK. A parliamentary petition in the UK attracted over one million signatures in a few days. By Sunday, 4 February 2017, over 1.8 million had signed it. UK parliament must discuss the issue and has scheduled to do so […]
A recent purchase shows how hard it is to trust product packaging
Volkswagen shocked the world when it was revealed it was cheating on emissions tests on a grand scale. Now some television makers may be gaming the energy efficiency ratings of some of their televisions, according to the Economist. In their efforts to compete and sell more, some brands decide to cut corners. Sometime transgressions are major, […]
Fake posts on social media can lead to criminal proceedings in Switzerland
20 Minutes. Anyone who posts false information on Facebook that triggers a police investigation risks criminal proceedings. A recent case in Zug provides an example. Two young people recently attacked a 52 year old man in the city of Zug, slashing the corner of his mouth. Shortly after the attack, a woman posted a comment on […]
One in four Swiss military recruits is overweight
20 Minutes. In 2015, 19% of Swiss military recruits were overweight and 6% were obese, according to World Health Organisation measures. The University of Zurich was asked by the Swiss federal office of public health to analyse the BMI (Body Mass Indicator) data of 36,669 male recruits between the ages of 18 and 21. Swiss […]
Swiss-based Iranian researcher makes it to the US after third attempt
The last week has been difficult for Dr. Samira Asgari. She had packed her bags, moved out of her flat, said goodbye to her friends and was on her way to Harvard to continue her genomics research. At least that is what she thought. Last Saturday she arrived at Frankfort airport, ready to board a flight to Boston […]
Why what is on the lunch menu at sustainability events matters
Yesterday, Le News attended the 2017 Swiss Global Compact Dialogue on responsible business, in Wankdorf, near Bern. The subject was: corporate social responsibility and sustainability, a somewhat abstract word that means living in ways that leave future generations with a planet that supports human life. The event was free for media and included a free lunch, so […]
Swiss voters to decide whether to spend big on roads
On 12 February 2017, the Swiss electorate will vote on constitutional changes to spend large sums on roads. The Swiss government says the country has a good transport system, which has been pushed to its limits due to increasing mobility. On many national roads and in the cities, traffic congestion is the norm, it says. Aim of the proposal […]
Swiss fact: 96% of Swiss workers earn more than 3,000 francs a month
A report published by the Swiss Federal Office of statistics, shows that only 4.3% of full-time1 workers earn CHF 3,000 or less per month2. The monthly figure is net of social security deductions, but includes one twelfth of the 13th bonus month typically paid in Switzerland. CHF 3,000 per month is CHF 36,000 a year, […]
Swiss threatened over Iranian researcher
20 Minutes. After being turned away from a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Boston last Saturday by a person in front of the Lufthansa gate, who introduced himself as a representative from the consulate of the United States of America, the Iranian Swiss-based researcher Dr. Samira Asgari, tried again, on 31 January 2017, to fly […]