Recently introduced rules in Geneva prevent people in public office wearing religious symbols at work. This week, during a parliamentary session, Sabine Tiguemounine, a parliamentarian from the Green party, decided to sit in the area of Geneva’s parliament building open to the public, rather than sit in the main area where parliamentary members normally sit. […]
Bern bans jet skis on Lake Geneva
Switzerland’s Federal Council recently banned boat-based parasailing along with the use of jet skis and other jet propelled vessels on Lake Geneva. Rules in place since 1979 covering what can be used on the lake did not specifically mention such activities or vessels. After France specifically banned them the baton was the Swiss Federal government […]
Why there is so much egg pasta in Switzerland
Strolling through the pasta aisle of a Swiss supermarket, someone new to Switzerland might conclude that the locals prefer egg pasta over the eggless variety. And, while that might to some extent be true, there is another reason. Every year, Swiss egg producers produce too many eggs and turn to the government for help. The […]
Most Swiss unhappy with the nation’s politics, according to survey
A recently published survey shows only 38% of Swiss were happy with the country’s politics in 2018. The online survey by Vimentis, shows a small improvement on 2017 when the same figure was 36%. Results varied significantly by political party membership. In 2018, most members (60%) of the PLR (FDP) were satisfied, compared to members […]
International Women’s Day – discontent with Switzerland’s childcare system
Since 1911, when people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland came out in support of equal rights, 8 March has been International Women’s Day. A survey by Ispos on the event’s website gives insights into attitudes towards gender equality around the world. Some areas, like whether it’s easier to be a man, are controversial and show […]
Percentage of men in workforce declines in Switzerland
Recently published figures show a 7% decline in the percentage of men in Switzerland’s workforce between 1991 and 2018. The workforce figures, which include the unemployed, show a fall in male workforce participation from 81% to 74%, a 7% decline over 27 years. At the same time, the percentage of women working rose 6% from […]
Geneva Motor Show 2019 – the list of absent car makers
Car technology is transforming. So is the way people find out about new cars. Buyers are increasingly preferring the internet to find out about new models. In addition, presenting at car shows is expensive. Jaguar Land Rover, the maker of the Jaguar I-Pace, 2019’s Car of the Year, seems to have recognised these shifts and […]
Poor air quality in two thirds of Swiss classrooms
A recent study by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) estimates that the air quality in two thirds of Swiss classrooms is inadequate. The main problem is the build up of CO2. High CO2 concentration affects the concentration of those in the room. It can also provoke head aches and lethargy. The study, which […]
How a young computer scientist at CERN changed the world 30 years ago
Thirty years ago, in March 1989, a young computer expert working at CERN came up with a proposal for an internet-based hypertext system to link and access information across different computers. In the interview below, Tim Berners-Lee describes how his early requests to experiment with his idea were ignored. CERN was set up for physics […]
Brexit deal with Switzerland now signed
On 25 February, representatives of Switzerland and the United Kingdom signed an agreement preserving the rights already acquired by citizens residing in the other’s territory after the UK leaves the EU. Any rights already acquired by a citizen of either country under current EU rules will be preserved for life. The agreement was signed by […]
