GENEVA As the recent Inventions Fair in Geneva showed, the brave new world of robotic technology continues to astound with developments only previously imagined in science fiction. Robots can already run assembly lines, fly aircraft, control cranes, herd and feed farm animals, serve as waiters and cooks and even help with surgery. While this may […]
Let’s talk about sex
Sex education continues to be a delicate, if not difficult, issue in schools. At the same time, it is one that regularly appears on the political scene as it speaks to the public’s emotional, social, moral and religious mind-set. This year, it is Switzerland’s turn. Some of the conservative parties are seeking to make it […]
Buying in Geneva
If you are considering buying a place to live in Geneva or its environs, be aware that the purchase cost per square metre is expensive. Add to this the following requirements made of a purchaser and it becomes clear why, as we reported in a previous article, only 35% of Swiss residents own the property […]
Bern will fund research
BERN Switzerland’s scientific community heaved a collective sigh of relief following measures from Bern to temporarily fund some projects. The panic has not completely died down however, since the measures proposed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) are transitional, pending resolution of the problem posed by the cutoff of EU funding. After the 9 […]
Switzerland’s population increased by 1.2% in 2013
This week the Federal Statistical Office reported that Switzerland’s population grew by 97,600 to 8,136,700, an increase of 1.2% on 2012. This is equivalent to a conurbation the size of Vevey and Montreux. While natural growth accounted for 17,200, immigration brought 80,400 people into the country. The report stated that the average age of immigrants […]
Foreign businesses losing confidence
ZURICH Many foreign companies say they are limiting plans to invest in Switzerland as they await implementation of the February initiative against mass immigration. A survey by the Zurich-based Swiss Economic Institute (KOF) on 25 April revealed that 13% of the 2,700 firms surveyed reported reduced confidence in investing in Switzerland. Although few companies have […]
Banning paedophiles
After the referendum on immigration, the results of which are still raising questions and doubts, Switzerland is getting ready for an important new vote on 18 May – to ban convicted paedophiles from working with children for life. The so-called Marche Blanche (White March) initiative would prohibit paedo-criminals and those guilty of sexually abusing a […]
Lausanne celebrates its 140,000th inhabitant
On 24 April, Marc Vuilleumier, the director responsible for the integration and protection of the population presented a welcome gift to the 140,000th inhabitant of the commune to celebrate the city’s growth. Lausanne has seen a steady increase in its population from 124,800 in 2000. The rise is mainly due to the number of foreigners […]
“It’s not the end of the world!”
Geneva’s MP for the conservative Swiss People’s Party (UDC), which launched the 9 February referendum against mass immigration, tried to reassure a gathering of internationals organized by Le News on 3 April: “The end of the world has not come,” said Yves Nidegger. In his introductory remarks, Ed Girardet, the moderator and Le News’ Managing […]
Geneva housing – scarcity explained
Some statistics on Geneva housing may help explain the lack of accommodation in the area. A housing market is considered to be fluid when it has a vacancy rate between 1.5 and 2%, depending on who one speaks to. The vacancy rate column in the table below sets the stage. Geneva has been in a […]
