According to the European Patents Office (EPO), once again Switzerland topped the per capita patents ranking in 2016, with 892 applications per million inhabitants. Second and third places went to the Netherlands (405) and Sweden (360), followed by Denmark (334) and Finland (331). The first non-European country was Japan in ninth place (166), well above […]
46% of Swiss industrial companies considering relocating operations abroad
After a very difficult year in 2015, the Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering industries (MEM) started to recover in 2016, with new orders rising by 9.5%. At the same time 23% of the industry made a loss on the back of high costs and a 1.8% drop in sales, says the industry association Swiss MEM. […]
Why you should visit the Gianadda gallery in Martigny
Gianadda, that spectacular cultural centre in Martigny, specializes in exhibitions you want to wander round more than once. Its latest show – Hodler, Monet, Munch: painting the impossible (3 February to 11 June 2017) – also lives up to the Foundation’s knack of finding original themes to group masterpieces of modern painting. The Fondation Pierre […]
Film: a true story about a small boy accidentally separated from his family
24 February 2017. LION **** India, a small village, a very poor but loving family, and an incident that overturns all their lives. For the younger boy, around 4 or 5 – with the sweetest face and biggest eyes you’ll ever see – follows his brother to work, they become separated, and he ends up […]
Uncertainty and concern follow voter rejection of Switzerland’s company tax reform
Speaking to Tribune de Genève, Serge Dal Busco, Geneva’s minister of finance, voiced his concerns about last Sunday’s rejection of Switzerland’s planned company tax reform. At the same time he remains optimistic about the chances of a new federal corporate tax reform project. His biggest concern is that Bern might backtrack on its promise to […]
Swiss might drop daylight savings
20 Minutes. Switzerland could drop daylight savings. Currently, Switzerland’s Federal Council sees no reason to abandon it, however if Switzerland’s neighbours did it would follow, mainly for economic reasons said the Federal council. National councilor Yvette Estermann (UDC/SVP), who is fiercely opposed to daylight saving, took the opportunity to point out the negative health consequences […]
How could Trump’s presidency damage the United Nations?
On 3 January 2017, a bill known as the American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2017 was introduced to U.S. Congress. The bill aims to repeal the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 and other related laws. More specifically, it requires the President to terminate U.S. membership in the United Nations (U.N.), including any organ, specialised […]
Swiss fact: Switzerland’s president has no Twitter account
Political Twitter habits vary enormously across cultures and personalities. The US is at one end of the spectrum and Switzerland at the other. A look at some other European nations throws up a few surprises. US President elect Donald Trump seems to have decided he can govern in 140 characters. He currently has more than […]
Chinese president visits Lausanne
On his way from Davos to Geneva, Chinese President Xi Jinping, stopped in Lausanne where he visited the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters and its president Thomas Bach. It is the first time a Chinese leader has visited the Olympic city. He arrived yesterday evening and visited the IOC today. The two leaders chatted about […]
Forest fires in Ticino and Graubunden now under control
20 Minutes. Only one army helicopter is now covering Val Mesolcina in the canton of Graubunden, now that forest fires there have been brought under control, according to 20 Minutes. A no fly zone imposed on the region has also been lifted. At the same time the Swiss air force says it is ready to spring […]
