GENEVA Over the past several years, Geneva has been re-asserting itself as a neutral mediation centre, either formal or informal, for conflicts such as Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and the Iranian nuclear issue. Back in 2003, it also hosted an Israeli-Palestinian peace effort known as the Geneva Initiative, which outlined possible venues for genuine reconciliation. The […]
Bitcoins: on the way out?
GENEVA As a crypto-currency bypassing banking regulations, bitcoin’s merit as an alternative to traditional transactions is compounded by a versatility second to none. By facilitating virtual payment for goods and services, bitcoins enable decentralized exchanges by avoiding third-party involvement. The 2007-08 financial crisis prompted bitcoin’s introduction in 2009. Though not illegal in Switzerland, the judicial […]
EPFL’s cement discovery
LAUSANNE Ten per cent of the earth’s CO2 emissions are emitted by industrial processes related to the creation of cement. The widely used construction material negatively impacts on the environment at all stages of its production. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has now granted more than CHF 4 million to a project instigated […]
Solar Impulse 2 test success
PAYERNE Bertrand Piccard’s and André Borschberg’s second solar-powered plane, Solar Impulse 2, successfully completed a two-hour maiden flight above La Broye on 2 June. This remarkable feat of engineering and ingenuity has captivated enthusiasts across the world — a suitable global acclaim considering the plane’s ability to reach far-off destinations without having to land. In […]
Games for Change: Another option
NEW YORK In last week’s edition of Le News, we featured the problems arising from excessive “screen” use among young people. Here is a more positive “gaming” approach. Entertaining millions around the world, online games are part of an industry worth billions of dollars drawing both young and old into ever-more virtual realities. Many families, […]
Games for Change: Another option
NEW YORK Speaking to Asi Burak, the NY-based president of Games for Change, an organization that “catalyzes social impact through digital games”, it is clear that alternatives to mainstream gaming do exist. “The beauty of games is that they are interactive and certain games have the potential to make people think critically about themselves and […]
Paedophile ban vote
BERN The Swiss National Council recently supported an initiative seeking to ban convicted paedophiles from ever working with children again. The so-called Marche Blanche proposal, which passed by 82 votes to79, aims to prevent repeat offences by prohibiting access to potential victims through professional pathways. The referendum is set for18May. The Federal Council, however, deems […]
French elections: Round one, right wing won
GEX The first round of the French municipal elections confirmed the growing force of the right. With record breaking abstentions (38.7% failed to vote), towns such as Perpignan, Avignon, Forbach, Fréjus and Tarascon saw the Front National (FN) take the lead. More locally, the conservative parties (UMP, DVD and FN) have done well, especially in […]
More time to shop
BERN The Federal Council’s proposal to homogenize the opening hours of retail businesses throughout Switzerland will rescind existing cantonal and municipal laws. Given growing cross-border competition, where prices can be 20–30% less, and the strong Swiss Franc, the project seeks to address strident economic realities hindering the country’s retail market. If the plan passes, communes […]
CHF 4000 minimum wage proposal
GENEVA The proposal by Swiss unions to raise the minimum wage has sparked debate as to whether the initiative offers a durable option for the country. By increasing it to CHF 4,000 a month, Switzerland will have to adapt its fiscal policies accordingly. This in turn will affect Swiss businesses. They will have to contend […]
