20 Minutes. Elected member of the Green Party, Alfonso Gomez, would like to see some of Geneva’s streets closed to cars on Wednesdays and Sundays to give children more space to run around. Gomez, cites a study by Pro Juventute, which calculates that an average city kid spent 3 to 4 hours running around outside […]
Swiss unemployment rises. French-speaking cantons worst affected.
Le Matin. The unemployment rate across Switzerland climbed by 0.2% to 3.7% in January, and regional differences were clear. Across French and Italian-speaking cantons the rate averaged 5%, while across the German-speaking cantons it was 3.1%. The unemployment rate climbed across Switzerland’s French-speaking cantons with Neuchâtel remaining the worst affected. There the rate climbed 0.3% to […]
Unauthorised Bible distribution causes outrage in Geneva
Tribune de Genève. According to the newspaper, parents of children at the Collège de Drize, in Carouge, Geneva, were outraged when their children, aged between 12 and 15, arrived home last week with copies of the New Testament. It turns out the Bibles were distributed by Gideons International, an American evangelical organisation, without authorisation. The organisation has […]
Language defines national identity, says survey. What this means in multilingual Switzerland.
A recent Pew survey on national identity shows that speaking a nation’s language is by far the most important defining attribute. The Pew Research Center asked people from fourteen nations how important religion, following customs and tradition, being born in a country, and speaking the national language, were for defining national identity. The survey looked […]
Swiss vote results 12 February 2017
Today, Swiss voted on whether to make it easier for third generation residents to become Swiss nationals. This plan was accepted by 60.4% of voters. The vote to overhaul the company tax system was rejected by 59.1% of voters, and the vote to spend more federal funds on roads was accepted by 62% of voters. […]
Trump, International Geneva and the world
The election of any American president, whether by popular mandate or not, is a matter that does not just concern the United States but the entire planet. Global Geneva America’s editor William Dowell explores the possible impact of Donald Trump and his still vague new policies may have on the United Nations as well as […]
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 […]
A message from Switzerland to the President. It’s terrific, it’s that good it’s ridiculous.
If anyone says the Swiss don’t have a sense of humour, send them this video. Aired on the Deville Late Night Show, a comedy show produced by Swiss broadcaster SRF, it is a message from the “Swiss government” to US President Donald Trump. It’s terrific, it’s that good it’s ridiculous. Nearly 10 million have viewed it on YouTube. […]
Dual nationals should give up one passport, says Swiss politician
20 Minutes. On 12 February 2017, Swiss will vote on whether to make it easier for third generation residents to become Swiss. The Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) is firmly against the plan. Now UDC national councillor Erich Hess is voicing his annoyance at allowing naturalised foreigners to keep their other nationality. “We will never know […]
Swiss petition to ban Trump visiting fails to take off like the one in the UK
A Swiss petition to ban Trump visiting fails to take off like the one in the UK. A parliamentary petition in the UK attracted over one million signatures in a few days. By Sunday, 4 February 2017, over 1.8 million had signed it. UK parliament must discuss the issue and has scheduled to do so […]
