THE IMITATION GAME **** How is it that the Brits excel so at dialogue and drama? It must be their inherent bit of Shakespeare. Here is a brilliant example of their forte – a great story based on historical facts (by Andrew Hodges and Graham Moore), tight direction by, of all people, Norwegian director Morten […]
The Swiss introduce their version of a 35-hour week
On 27 January 2015 the Swiss government announced that Swiss companies could reduce their wage bills by cutting staff working hours and compensate them for the lost pay with partial unemployment benefits. The objective of the measure is to limit layoffs brought about by the rapid rise of the Swiss franc. Companies are required to […]
Swiss adds new destination from Geneva
Swiss adds Biarritz as a destination from Geneva. The new route will commence in June 2015. This brings its total Geneva destinations to 40. In November last year it added eight new destinations to the Geneva-based network. Four all year round destinations: Florence (with four weekly frequencies), Valencia (with two weekly services), Sarajevo (with two […]
Where the top 1% live – Switzerland leads
There was much talk of inequality at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos. It is ironic then that the host country Switzerland has the greatest percentage of residents in the top 1% of the world’s wealthiest. Over 13% of Swiss are in this group, the highest proportion in the world according to the Credit […]
Who is the man behind the World Economic Forum in Davos?
The World Economic Forum in Davos, which opens on 23 January 2018, has been running since 1971 but who started it? It is the brainchild of German-born Klaus Schwab. Schwab, born in Ravensburg Germany in 1938, trained as an engineer at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, before training as an economist […]
Basel airport might be saved from French taxes
Last week in Davos, French foreign minister Laurent Fabius and Swiss Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter agreed a way forward on discussions over the taxing of Swiss businesses at Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg airport. The airport is a French-Swiss public sector body based on French soil and governed by a convention agreed in 1949. Over the years France has […]
Anti-austerity party Syriza set to win Greek election
The latest exit polls show the radical leftist party Syriza in the lead with over 35% of the votes. Syriza has talked of halting austerity and renegotiating the country’s debt which stands at 175% of GDP. In addition, the right-wing Golden Dawn party could possibly take third place. Some market commentators have said that if Syriza […]
Switzerland ranked the world’s most affordable country
In a survey of 119 countries, Switzerland ranked at the top of the Local Purchasing Power Index with a score of 147. The 2015 index was calculated recently by Numbeo the world’s largest database of user-contributed data about cities and countries. Someone in Switzerland on an average wage can buy 47% more typical goods and […]
Solar Impulse 2 announces around world flight path
The Swiss pilots of Solar Impulse 2 unveiled the flight path they plan to take on their 35,000 kilometre around the world journey ahead of take-off from Abu Dhabi. Solar Impulse 2 will take-off from Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, in late February or early March and return by late July or early […]
Big losses for the Swiss National Bank
After the recent increase in value of the Swiss franc, foreign currencies held by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) will now be worth less in Swiss franc terms. In the case of Euros around 17% less than before. This decline in value will drive a loss. It is not possible to calculate the actual figure, however […]
