The nearly 30-year debate for and against a way to drive across Lake Geneva took a tentative step forward recently. The Geneva bypass, which would alleviate bumper-to-bumper traffic creeping through the city’s highway system, will probably be a bridge, not a tunnel, according to a preliminary cantonal report. Or maybe it will be a bridge […]
Switzerland’s welfare spending jumps 53 percent
A recent report shows welfare spending increased 53% over ten years. From 2005 to 2015 it rose from CHF 1.7 billion to CHF 2.6 billion. These figures only include cash payments. The sum is even more significant when other elements are included. Once added the bill rises to around CHF 8 billion. In 2005, the same […]
How bees add 350 million francs to the Swiss economy
While they are buzzing around Switzerland gathering and spreading pollen, bees are also contributing CHF 350 million to the economy, according to a recent report by Swiss agriculture agency, Agroscope. Without these industrious bees, Switzerland’s (and the world’s) agriculture would wither. Though in Switzerland only 14 percent of cropland directly depends upon bee pollination, that […]
The Pope’s confusing message on climate change
Pope Francis sends diametrically opposed messages when it comes to climate change. This week, as he flew over the storm-ravaged Caribbean on his way back from Colombia, Pope Francis called on the world to save the planet. According to the NY Times, on the subject of climate change, he quoted from the Bible: “Man is […]
Swiss mobile roaming charges – a glimmer of hope
Switzerland’s federal council, the country’s seven-person executive or cabinet, has come up with a plan to cut those exorbitant mobile roaming phone bills that many of us return home to after trips abroad, an experience which hurts even more now roaming charges have been eliminated for EU residents. The roaming proposal is part of a […]
Geneva school staff to be trained to spot radicalised pupils
Tribune de Genève. Geneva school staff will be trained to spot high risk pupils by looking for social clues and highly ritualised religious behaviour. Geneva’s schools and culture department (DIP) plans to launch the training next year, according to the newspaper Tribune de Genève. The programme is the first of its kind in Switzerland. According […]
Switzerland’s biggest airshow set for take off
By Bill Harby Aviation nerds and even otherwise normal people who just love watching airplanes and helicopters crisscross the sky, will want to land at the Breitling Sion Airshow, 15 – 17 September 2017. That weekend the skies over Sion (Valais Canton) will be filled with jet fighters, huge helicopters, wingwalkers, historic warbirds and even […]
Start-up airline plans flights between Zurich and Sion
The ski-focused airline Powdair, launching in December 2017, recently announced plans to add direct flights between Zurich and Sion. Starting on 11 December 2017, the airline will offer 21 flights a week between Zurich and Sion, the closest airport to the Swiss resorts of Verbier, Zermatt and Crans Montana. Flights from Zurich are planned seven […]
Switzerland’s home ownership illusion
When 10-year mortgage interest rates fall to 1%, home ownership becomes a very attractive alternative to renting. A recent report on home ownership shows why home ownership remains out of reach of the average Swiss household despite very low interest rates. The report, by Credit Suisse, says that despite the strong desire for people to […]
Two Swiss universities make top 50 of global ranking
Two Swiss universities made the top 50 in the times higher education 2018 world university ranking of 1,000 universities. The ranking is described as the only global university performance table to judge research-intensive universities across all of their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, […]
