20 Minutes. Since the beginning of the year fraudsters armed with foreign coins have stolen CHF 38,000 francs from TPG, Geneva’s public transport operator, a problem that has been increasing this year. TPG ticket machines cannot tell the difference and think they are swallowing five franc coins. Instead, when converted, they are only receiving a […]
Grim numbers show dramatic changes required to Swiss pension system
The Swiss statistics office has just published some striking numbers. The number of retirees as a percentage of those of working age is expected to rise by 66% over the next 30 years across all of Switzerland. Known as the dependency ratio(1), this percentage will more than double in three Swiss cantons: Uri, Schwytz and Obwalden. In […]
When cartooning can land you in prison or worse
The granting last week of the shared 2016 Cartooning for Peace award in Geneva to Tanzanian caricaturist Gado and Malaysian artist Zunar is not just in recognition of their talent, but also their willingness to risk loss of employment, prison and other forms of persecution. Journalist and author Edward Girardet explores the role these artists […]
Should Swiss families get CHF 75,000 a year to do nothing?
A mixed group of intellectuals, artists and activists are behind the initiative to give an unconditional basic income to every Swiss resident, regardless of whether they work. Supporters say monthly payments of CHF 2,500 CHF for each adult and CHF 625 per child, would enable us to cover our basic living costs and allow us to live […]
Mercury passes in front of the sun today – timing in Switzerland
Today, planet Mercury will pass across the sun. Not everyone will be able to see it. Those in Australia, New Zealand and Japan will miss it. The event occurs 13 to 14 times a century. The last time our solar system’s smallest planet passed between the earth and the sun was in 2006. The next […]
Nestlé wants to sell you both sugary snacks and diabetes pills
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Nestlé is by far the largest food company in the world. Its 335,000 employees produce more than 2,000 brands, manufactured in 436 factories across 85 countries. It’s Europe’s most valuable corporation, worth $240 billion, comfortably more than oil giant Royal Dutch Shell. Among the world’s 195 nations, it sells […]
Stock markets tumble on growth concerns
6 May 2016 – Swiss and global market roundup. Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Swiss stocks fell significantly this week, underperforming global equities, amid renewed global growth worries and a poor performance from financial heavyweights. Stock markets across the world tumbled after weaker-than-expected manufacturing data out of China revived fears around global growth prospects. In the […]
Geneva gives away 1000 free hotel nights
Rather than taking the strong franc lying down, Geneva Tourism has decided to offer 1,000 free hotel nights to draw travelers to the city. Geneva has done well scooping up travel awards. In 2014 and 2015 the city was crowned Europe’s best weekend city break destination ahead of cities such as Paris, London, Rome, Istanbul, Madrid, Lisbon, […]
Price watchdog says intercity Swiss rail prices too high
24 Heures. According to Stefan Meierhans of Switzerland’s price watchdog Surveillant des prix, train journeys between Geneva and Lausanne, and between Bern and Zurich are too expensive when compared to prices abroad. The price watchdog Surveillant des prix operates under a law passed in 1985, updated in 2013, and designed to keep an eye on the prices of a […]
Crossing lake Geneva – a short film
The Tribune de Genève recently posted a 360 degree film of the journey across the city end of Lake Geneva. The camera is fixed to the top of the regular boat that crosses the lake between Eaux-Vives and Pâquis, a journey of around 4 minutes. This particular trip takes you past Geneva’s iconic jet d’eau […]
