GENEVA An idea is circulating in Geneva to create a round of disarmament talks for a new type of arms control: waging war in cyberspace. This time, however, the talks would encompass more than UN member countries and include what’s known in UN-speak as multi-stakeholders such as private companies and civil society. Geneva is under […]
Suisse romande recovering fastest
According to the Crea Institute of the University of Lausanne, the six cantons of the largely French-speaking Suisse romande did far better economically in 2013 than expected. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the region, which represents one quarter of the Swiss economy, or almost CHF 150 billion, grew by 2.1% rather than the 1.3% […]
Fighting STDs through remorse
BERN Last year saw 575 new HIV infections in Switzerland, an 8% decrease compared to 2012. Though encouraging, the numbers are still too high for Swiss authorities, whose aim is to reduce the figure to 350 annually by 2017. A new campaign tackling sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), seeks to curb detrimental sexual behaviour through remorse: […]
Geneva observers to monitor Egyptian elections
Falling in with a more assertive “Geneva International” approach as a hub for planetary concerns, a 50-strong team from the Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD) leaves for Egypt this week as part of a broader observer mission to monitor the country’s presidential elections on 26–27 May. The GNRD, one of six invited international […]
Gripen: Whose truth?
BERN With the planned 18 May referendum to decide whether Switzerland should purchase 22 Swedish Gripen fighter aircraft, how transparent is Bern with regard to cost and feasibility? Both the Swiss Federal Council and the Department of Defence are pushing a plane that the Norwegian government rejected five years ago based on two studies because […]
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 […]
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 […]
Vevey pushes back on invasive parking
Vevey market is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque markets in the region. Popular with residents and tourists alike, it has for hundreds of years served as the fulcrum of trade in the Riviera. Centred in the Grand Place and spreading out through the adjacent side streets, stall-holders offer an abundance of local produce, crafts […]
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 […]
Geneva: in the red but under control
The city has announced an annual deficit of CHF 35 million for 2013, although in a statement it said the deficit was due to an extraordinary payment of CHF 120 million made to the city’s new inter-communal pension fund to cover underpayment in previous years. Without this exceptional item, officials report that the city would […]
