Still in his 30s, Yonathan Parienti is a straggle-haired ex-banker in blue jeans. Now his mission is to bring social activists together via the Internet. For under-35s there’s no paradox. As Essential Edge contributing editor Peter Hulm writes, they don’t have their parents’ hangups about the public vs private sector. The Occupy Me generation also […]
The Lausanne Church that was targeted by thieves posing as beggars
Begging gangs in Lausanne are operating with increasing audacity and focusing evermore tightly on exploiting soft targets. “We’re used to having beggars pushing for money at the church door and even coming into the church hall to steal money, hats and coats.” A Swiss member of the congregation told Le News. “This episode, however, was […]
Swiss Re expects big loss from Chinese explosion
Swiss company news brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Swiss Re AG, the world’s second-largest reinsurer, posted a 13 percent increase in third quarter profit after allowing for US$250 million in losses from the chemical warehouse explosions in the Chinese city of Tianjin in mid-August. Net income climbed to US$1.4 billion from US$1.2 billion a […]
After a delay Paris pays Swiss cross-border-worker tax
Tribune de Genève. Last Wednesday, Bern received nearly CHF 320 million from Paris. This money relates to taxes paid by French residents working in Switzerland. Every year, France deducts taxes from cross-border workers and forwards an agreed amount to Switzerland. The payment was late and should have been made by 30 June 2015. When Eveline […]
UN Geneva’s open day a huge success
Last weekend the UN in Geneva opened its doors to celebrate its 70th anniversary. There were an impressive 19,000 visitors according to the UN Facebook page. In a Tribune de Genève article, UN spokesperson Rhéal LeBlanc said “it has been a phenomenal success”. Director-General Michael Moller and former Secretary-General Kofi Annan were present along with […]
Have you ever seen 6,000 tons of rock fall off the side of a mountain?
Late last week around 6,000 tons of rock fell off the side of a mountain in the commune of Evolène in the Swiss canton of Valais. According to SRF, the canton’s geologist Raphael Mayoraz had been expecting the rock to fall for some time and had taken the required precautions to ensure no one was […]
Bad news for savers. Swiss pension rates cut.
This morning the Swiss federal council, the 7-member executive branch of Switzerland’s government, decided to reduce the minimum interest rate pension funds must pay savers. Starting on 1 January 2016, the minimum rate will be 1.25% instead of the current minimum of 1.75%. On 30 August 2015, the federal pensions commission decided by a large […]
Burglary season starts now. Why break-ins rise dramatically in winter.
24 Heures. A Vaud study shows home break-ins in November and December are 44% higher than those in July and August, according to the Swiss newspaper 24 Heures. Most break-ins during winter months occur at the end of the afternoon while shops and offices are still open. Why? According to the local police, criminals like […]
Switzerland’s skills shortage worsens
The recent 2015 talent shortage survey by Manpower found that 41% of employers in Switzerland were having difficulty filling jobs. This is 3% higher than the global average of 38%. Neighbouring countries such and France (29%) and Italy (28%) fared better while Germany on 46% had a worse skills shortage than Switzerland. 41,700 employers across […]
Processed meats cause cancer says World Health Organisation
A study released today classifies processed meats as carcinogenic. The study, done by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organization, looked at the carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat. Processed meats are those that have been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, […]
