20 Minutes. Coop launches takeaway stores hot on the tail of Migros, which launched one in Bern last week. According to Coop more and more people are eating neither in a restaurant nor at home, choosing instead to eat takeaways. The supermarket has decided to open stores under the brand “Coop to go” to cater […]
Government makes getting a Swiss passport harder
20 Minutes. In June 2014, Swiss citizenship requirements were tightened allowing only those with permanent residency permits (e.g. a C permit) to apply, excluding anyone on a different permit such as a B permit. Yesterday the federal council issued a proposed ordinance which tightens requirements further. People receiving social assistance and a wider range of […]
Unpaid UN intern in tent tells his story
David Hyde, the young man who lived in a tent while working unpaid for the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, published his story on the website The Intercept. He describes how he planned to make a documentary about the plight of unpaid UN interns. He talks about his shock at the scale of the media’s […]
The Swiss name that’s popular across all languages – 2014 baby names
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 […]
