20 Minutes. Switzerland’s population rose by 90’600 in 2016, more than the population of the city of Luzern or the combined populations of the cities of Nyon, Neuchâtel and Yverdon. The 1.1% increase brings the number of permanent residents at the end of 2016 to 8,417,700. If this growth rate of 1.1% were extrapolated forward […]
Archives for April 2017
Geneva is marching for science. Here’s why it matters.
On Saturday 22 April 2017, Geneva marches for science, one of hundreds of marches taking place around the world. But why would anyone march for science? Thank you science! There is a children’s book that encourages kids to say thank you for houses, the clean water that flows from the taps, cars, telephones, planes, radios, electricity and […]
The Swiss municipalities with too many second homes – latest figures
On 11 March 2012, Swiss voted to accept a law restricting the construction of secondary residences, homes that are only used occasionally by owners living somewhere else. Under the law no more than 20% of a municipality’s housing can be second homes. Those with percentages above 20% run into building restrictions. The initiative was nick […]
Swiss highways already overloaded with Easter traffic
20 Minutes. School holiday dates overlap in several european countries this Easter. Many holiday makers try to head south at this time of year where the weather is starting to feel summery. Those who can depart early have an edge on those leaving on Friday. At least they hoped they would. According to the Swiss Federal […]
A war on vegetarian sausages has started in Switzerland
20 Minutes. A member of the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) from Bern has proposed a ban on the use of terms associated with meat products when describing vegetable equivalents. Saveloys, sausages and schnitzel would become terms reserved exclusively for meat products. The number of vegetarian products in Swiss supermarkets designed to substitute meat has taken off. […]
Women can now swim topless in Geneva
Le Matin. From now on women in Geneva will be allowed to swim topless in the lake and any of the canton’s rivers, including the Rhône. According to Meteo News, the water in Lake Geneva is a chilly 12 degrees, so it may be a while before the new rule has any practical value. A rule […]
A tiny Swiss group of lawyers takes on war crimes and crimes against humanity
The International Criminal Court at the Hague was created in 2002 to hold individuals responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The concept was good, but the international tribunal was almost immediately paralyzed by politics. As William Dowell writes, Alain Werner, who created Civitas Maxima has a different idea: represent the victims and fight […]
Paris says no to sand from Swiss company that bid for Trump wall
Le Matin. The French-Swiss group, described as “disreputable” by the Ville de Paris, will not be supplying sand to the city of Paris this summer. Paris Plages (Beaches), a project that creates temporary beaches of sand along the banks of the river Seine every summer, said it would take no more sand from LafargeHolcim because […]
Some UN consultants thought their income was tax free. They were wrong.
20 Minutes. Some United Nations consultants haven’t paid taxes on their income, thinking it was exempt. When the tax authorities catch up with them they’ll risk paying back taxes and fines. As a general rule, foreign UN functionaries are not required to pay local taxes on their income. On the other hand UN consultants must. Over the […]
Birch pollen season has started early
Le Matin. A mild March has meant early pollen. Regula Gehrig from Swiss Meteo told aha!, a Swiss allergy specialist, that birch pollen will arrive a week earlier this year and last until May. “Birch pollen contains proteins which trigger strong allergies” said Georg Schäppi, a director at aha! And because the pollen particles are relatively […]
