On 4 August 2015 the Swiss Federal Office of Statistics (OFS) published the most popular baby names in 2014. Last year saw the arrival of 85,287 newborns in Switzerland. 41,437 girls and 43,850 boys. The choice of names varied depending on the regional language, however in 2014 there was a name that made the top […]
Geneva Uber ban rejected
The Uber saga continues in Geneva. According to 24 Heures, registered Geneva taxi drivers called for a provisional ban on Uber and took their plea to the Federal Tribunal in Bern. They argued that Uber is engaging in unfair competition. The Tribunal however rejected their plea. Private drivers typically offer cheaper journeys than traditional taxis. […]
Bleak Swiss economic sentiment
A recent survey of Swiss finance bosses by the business services firm Deloitte shows bleak economic sentiment. 41% said they were pessimistic and around a quarter expect Switzerland to face a recession over the next two years. A majority foresee pressure on operating margins and cuts in discretionary spending, capital expenditure and staff numbers. Pessimism […]
The fashion trend banned in some Swiss swimming pools
24 Heures. A trend that started in the US in the 90s is now invading Swiss swimming pools, threatening to turn them into washing machines, requiring the addition of increased water treatment chemicals. Culprits are not easy to catch either according to those running public pools. The fashion called “sagging” involves wearing your pants below […]
Solar impulse lands in Hawaii
HAWAII, July 3rd, 2015. Solar impulse, the 100% solar powered Swiss plane and pilot, landed in Hawaii completing the longest and most difficult leg of the Round the World Solar Flight. Pilot André Borschberg landed safely in Hawaii after flying 117 hours and 52 minutes over the Pacific Ocean from Japan powered only by the […]
How to sleep in a heat wave
24Heures. The newspaper 24Heures offers advice on how to get to sleep with current high temperatures. Fortunately nighttime is cooler than daytime, however temperatures will still be well above 20 degrees Celsius at nights. Here is what you can do to make yourself more comfortable: 1. Dampen your curtains – before sleeping dampen your curtains […]
How Voltaire ended up in the town of Ferney-Voltaire
In 1755 the French writer, philosopher and playwright, François-Marie Arouet, known to most by his nom de plume Voltaire, was on the run from an angry Frederick the Great, the Prussian King, who he’d offended with some of his writing. He first headed to Paris only to find that King Louis XV of France had […]
Swiss TV-radio fee vote – out of control “tax“ or pragmatic step forward?
Some who move to Switzerland from abroad might not be aware that they are almost certainly required to pay one of the world’s highest broadcasting licence fees. An annual Swiss licence costs CHF 451.101 per household compared to a UK one, which costs CHF 210 (£145.50) – less than half. When you arrive in Switzerland […]
Bad weather forces Solar Impulse to land
The former Swiss fighter pilot Andre Borschberg has been forced to make an unscheduled landing in the Japanese city of Nagoya. The 100% solar powered plane was bound for Hawaii after taking off from Nanjing, China on Sunday morning. The five-day five-night trip from Nanjing to Hawaii was the longest and most difficult leg of […]
Solar impulse starts longest most dangerous leg
On the morning of May 31, 2015 Swiss Pilot André Borschberg took off in the single-seater solar powered aircraft from Nanjing, China bound for island state of Hawaii in the United States. This is the longest leg of Solar Impulse’s around the world journey. Reaching Hawaii will take six days and five nights (around 130 […]
