On 12 May 2015 the OECD released its report on OECD alcohol consumption. Over the last 20 years alcohol consumption has declined slightly in the OECD, however this total masks growth trends among women and young people. It appears that men are on average consuming less. Wealthier, better educated people also drink more than average […]
The United Nations is too old and afraid to solve the world’s problems
The United Nations (UN) will turn 70 in October 2015. It has surely delivered enormously to humanity since it began in 1915. However, is it well positioned to take on the world’s current and future challenges? In an article published on 12 May 2015, Ian Richards, President of the Coordination Committee of International Staff Unions […]
How costly Switzerland leverages business brain power to help society
Establishing a new business in Switzerland is fairly expensive, with it’s formalities and high legal costs. Yet, once underway, Swiss businesses benefit from a coherent and uncomplicated operating environment. Many new businesses are also eligible for a range of subsidies and incentives that are offered at national, cantonal and even communal level. Last week, a […]
Unique summer opportunity at EPFL for undergrad students
Every year at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), the School of Life Sciences offers 25 high-potential international undergraduate students full access to its top researchers and labs through its Summer Research Program (SRP). The selection is tough; 25 selected out of nearly 600 applications makes the programme’s acceptance rate even more […]
Push “The Button” now! Society and your status depend on it.
Reddit has a truly bizarre, totally fascinating and absorbing new subreddit called “The Button” that started on 1 April 2015. Comprising a timer counting down from 60 seconds and a button – It allegedly serves no purpose. All users see the same button and every time someone pushes it, it resets to 60 seconds. Your […]
UK election analysis: possible downside for Switzerland
That the Conservative party has won a majority in the UK’s elections is just one of several surprises from a contest that confounded pundits and party strategists alike. So what does the Conservative’s slim majority mean for Switzerland? The key points to haul on board are: The inglorious defeat suffered by the Liberal Democrats, the […]
Swiss Rail “doesn’t like its customers”
Feeling Unloved by Swiss Railways? It’s been a week of shattered illusions in Happy Valley. As if the Swiss National Bank‘s unexpected, abrupt ending of the Swiss franc 1.2 floor in January 2015 was not enough to disillusion your correspondent, now comes the humbling of yet another pillar of Swiss predictability and reliability. I am […]
Conservative victory in UK election
According to the BBC, David Cameron‘s Conservative party has won the largest share of the votes and a controlling majority. The Tories (Conservatives) won 331 seats compared to Labour’s 232, giving David Cameron’s party a clear majority in the UK’s 650 seat parliament. The Liberal Democrats took 8, the Scottish National Party (SNP) 56, UKIP […]
Swiss German response to Geneva: “We like you but there’s no need to come.”
This year, 200-years after Geneva joined the Swiss confederation, the Fondation pour Genève decided that Geneva should try to seduce the rest of Switzerland. To do this it created a mission called “Geneva meets Switzerland”. Then it created a bus. A large articulated bus, colourfully decorated by Zep1, the creator of Titeuf, a cheeky cartoon […]
Swiss lakes starting to overflow
According to 24Heures some Swiss lakes are starting to overflow. Lake Bienne and Lake Neuchatel are being watched closely. The water level of Lake Bienne appears to have stabilised, however Lake Neuchatel’s is expected to continue rising. The alert level is at 4 out of 5 and several camping areas have been flooded. According to […]
