A recent study by Geneva-based Livewhat, asked people from nine european nations what they thought about living conditions in one another’s country on a scale of 0 to 10. A score of 6 or more was considered good. The countries included were: Italy, Greece, UK, Spain, Poland, Germany, France, Sweden and Switzerland. In addition, each group was asked […]
Muslim school pupils’ exemption from handshaking causes a stir in Switzerland
24 Heures. A secondary school in Therwil, not far from Basel, recently exempted two school pupils from the customary Swiss handshake between teachers and pupils. Their teacher is a woman and the pupils requested an exemption on religious grounds. The decision has triggered a wave of indignation. Two pupils of 14 and 15 requested they […]
New Swiss police cat
On 1 April, Vaud Police presented their new police cat. The cat dressed in a police harness had its pictures posted on the Vaud Police’s Facebook page. The point of the post was to use April fools day and a cat in uniform to remind people not to believe everything they see online and maintain […]
Swiss large caps among the world’s worst stock performers in 2016
1 April 2016 – Swiss and global market roundup. Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. The SMI is set to finish the week (-1.43%) lower, underperforming global equity markets (+1.50%), which were buoyed after US Fed Chair Janet Yellen said on Tuesday that slackening global growth called for a gradual approach to raising rates. With a negative performance […]
Despite risks a more negative Swiss interest rate possible says SNB’s Maechler
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. The Swiss National Bank won’t rule out another interest rate cut, though any measure must be weighed with a view to its potential side effects, Governing Board Member Andrea Maechler said. “We’re always looking into other options, if needed — we’re looking into all of them,” Maechler said at […]
If you saw the future would you try to change it?
Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s 17th century play Life is a dream is about a King who tries to alter fate by locking his son away. This harrowing, thought provoking tale about the conflict between free will and fate and a father and son will be performed by a group puppeteers at the Théâtre des […]
Man dies after kicking a train in Lausanne
According to Vaud Police, around 5pm on Saturday a man died in an accident at Lausanne train station in Switzerland. After kicking a departing train, he lost his balance and fell between the moving train and the platform dying immediately. The Police were advised around 5pm. Initial reports said that a man had kicked a train […]
Novartis says investigating Turkey bribery allegations: Reuters
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Reuters reports that an investigation is taking place after an anonymous whistle-blower accused Novartis of paying bribes through a consulting firm to secure business advantages in Turkey worth around $85 million, citing an email seen by a reporter. The benefits are reported to include getting medicines added to lists […]
Swiss police get tough on noisy motor cyclists, but will it work?
We have all heard them. Those big thundering noisy bikes that stop conversations and leave your ears ringing. Swiss police in Vaud started to crackdown on noise last year and continue to target noise polluters, especially motorcyclists. Why are these motorbikes allowed on Swiss roads? Some are and some are not. Switzerland has adopted EU […]
What’s in a name – most common Swiss surnames and their meaning
Like Smith, the most common name in England, the most frequent surnames in Geneva and Zurich come from professions. In some parts of Switzerland common names also relate to geography or places. An example of a well-known name with geographic origins in Switzerland is the royal Austrian name Habsburg, which has its home in the eponymous Swiss commune […]
