What makes one city more expensive than another? To a large extent surveys do. What you put in the cost of living basket can make all the difference and every survey has a different basket. The recent Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report places Singapore at the top and Hong Kong third. Another, based on price information contributed […]
Some Geneva NGOs have committed to paying interns. Most haven’t.
This week 27 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Geneva pledged to pay their interns. After various campaigns pushing for change like the “Pay your interns” initiative, or the media stunt by New Zealand intern David Hyde, who camped on the shore of Lake Geneva to highlight the issue, NGOs in Geneva have heard these calls and are now […]
Switzerland ranked less happy in 2016. Does it matter?
The quest for happiness has been in the news a bit lately. Earlier this month Switzerland’s president recommended laughter in a televised speech to commemorate the Swiss day of the sick. On Sunday 20 March 2016, happiness is back on the agenda. This time in Rome where UN world happiness day celebrations will take place. Ahead of […]
On this day 200 years ago Geneva nearly doubled in size
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, […]
Swiss army rocks to the music of Queen
Freddie Mercury, front man for the British rock band Queen, spent much of his final years in Switzerland. Mercury recorded his last music in 1991 in Mountain Studios, a recording studio in Montreux the band bought in 1978. David Bowie’s life in Switzerland (Le News) The band continues, but with only two of its original members: […]
New tax to pay for new minimum Swiss income?
20 Minutes. According to 20 Minutes, those behind this June’s vote proposing a minimum income, have come up with a new way to fund it. They want a tax on electronic transactions. The initiative calls for an unconditional minimum monthly income of CHF 2,500 for each adult and CHF 625 for each child. The projected annual cost […]
What would you do if you found 144,000 francs?
One week ago, a couple left CHF 144,000 in a bag on a tram in Basel. The bag was found and handed to the police by a public transport employee. The couple were on their way to visit their daughter when they left a bag containing 144,000 francs in a tram. Once returned to the […]
Are you a struggling writer? The Geneva writers conference could help.
The conference is for people who not only wish to take their writing seriously, but who also have a stake in eventually publishing their work, either through traditional outlets, or as independently published authors. In today’s publishing climate authors are making less money than ever. Higher percentages and more control pertain where authors have the […]
Franc surge temporary after ECB sends mixed signals
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. The SMI is set to finish flat this week (-0.12%), outperforming global equity market (MSCI World -0.68% ) with European stocks losing value after the long awaited ECB policy meeting. Stock markets around the world were mixed with risk appetite increasing ahead of Thursday’s European Central Bank (ECB) policy […]
Vaud moves ahead with phase out of controversial Swiss tax deals
After nearly ten years of European Union (EU). OECD and G20 opposition to certain controversial Swiss tax structures, Switzerland’s government agreed a deal in 2014 to do away with such arrangements. Under current rules Swiss cantons can offer preferential tax rates to certain companies, mostly multinationals with most of their activity abroad. This is now changing. What […]
