A 19th century map of Geneva looks like an expanding puzzle. 200 years ago, on 16 March 1816, a big piece making up nearly 40 percent of present-day Geneva, was added. 19th century Geneva is marked by four important dates. The first is 31 December 1813, the date it gained independence from Napoleonic France. The second is 19 May 1815, […]
Around 30 Geneva airport staff banned from the tarmac for security reasons
Tribune de Genève. Around 30 people have been banned from the tarmac at Geneva airport. Just before Christmas a number of airport staff had their access passes revoked for security reasons. Angry, some have called on the SSP union and a lawyer. Bag handlers were among the employees affected. Removing tarmac access means these staff have […]
Geneva lifts terrorist alert
Tribune de Genève. On Monday 28 December, Geneva lifted the terrorist alert it put in place on 10 December 2015 when foreign intelligence services warned there could be four suspected terrorists with links to Islamic State in the Swiss canton. Geneva’s department of security and economy triggered a level three alert. The maximum is five. […]
Geneva’s heavy 2016 tax burden
Every year the Swiss federal department of finance calculates the percentage of the tax base each canton will collect in tax in the coming year. Calculations for 2016 put Geneva in the lead with a tax burden of 34.2%, well above the Swiss average of 25.5%. The canton of Schwyz has the lowest percentage of 10.5%, sitting […]
French police search homes of Geneva mosque imams
Tribune de Genève. Last night the French authorities searched the french homes of two imams associated with the mosque in Petit-Saconnex in Geneva, who live in the french town of Ferney-Voltaire not far from Geneva. The wave of searches across France, since the country declared a state of emergency following the attacks in Paris, has now […]
Geneva’s fines for excessive noise and driving in bus lanes more than triple
Tribune de Genève. On 1 October 2015, fines in Geneva went up massively. According to Tribune Genéve, the increases are expected to put an extra CHF 3 to 4 million per year into Geneva’s public purse. The increases impact a myriad of things including driving and parking infringements and excessive noise. For example the fine […]
Is Geneva airport really one of the world’s worst five?
On 28 July 2015, the British newspaper the Independent, posted a thirteen-line article listing the worst five airports in the world written by senior travel writer Simon Calder. Geneva’s Cointrin was listed number four. No methodology or data were presented to support the author’s conclusions. For example, it is not clear which airports were included […]
Geneva should stop paying tax to France says the MCG
Tribune de Genève. The Geneva Citizens Movement (MCG), a political party known mainly for its outspoken views on workers who live in France but work in Geneva, is calling for a stop to transfers of tax money from Geneva to France. The initiative is part of their campaign for the Federal elections to be held […]
Geneva to fine homeowners without double glazing
GHI. According to an article in the newspaper GHI, all homeowners in Geneva that still have single glazing in their homes at the end of January 2016 will be fined. Double glazing incorporating non-insulated aluminium frames will also attract fines. Housing consumes half of Geneva’s energy and generates two thirds of its carbon emission. The […]
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. […]
