While currently draped in November fog, Geneva might not seem to be the most liveable city in the world. When my wife first came here some years back in mid-winter, she did not even realise that Geneva was surrounded by mountains until one of those heavenly days suddenly lifted the grey from the end of […]
Timeless value: The world’s most expensive and most complicated watch fetches CHF 23 million
The Henry Graves Supercomplication re-established its status as the most valuable timepiece in auction history, selling for CHF 23.2 million and beating expected sale price of CHF 15 million. The previous record price of $11 million was set by the same piece in 1999. Five bidders competed for this masterpiece of horology which went to […]
Where to commemorate Armistice Day in Suisse romande
Roughly 20 million Europeans perished between the years 1914 and 1918. Various commemoration services are being held throughout the region on Tuesday. A service of commemoration will be held on Tuesday, 11 November 2014 at 11:00 at the British & Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, St. Martin’s Church in Vevey. And afterwards, HE the British Ambassador […]
Remember our veterans with a poppy
Why are all those people wearing poppies? Everyone on British television – newscasters, weather forecasters, programme presenters – they’re all wearing poppies! This question and accompanying exclamation one often hears in Switzerland (and other, non-UK countries) when the November page is turned on our calendars. So, why this modest little wildflower and what its deep […]
Switzerland’s Ecopop: Environmental sustainability in wolf’s clothing
GENEVA The proposed Ecopop referendum on 30 November ostensibly claims to be an effort to limit Switzerland’s rising population and to preserve its natural resources by restricting foreign immigration to 0.2 per cent a year over three years. Backed by a bizarre mix of individual greens, socialists and right-wingers, it also seeks to appeal to […]
Cancer – No need to be alone!
Fighting a battle against cancer is a heavy burden – a trusim but nevertheless it needs to be said – dealing with the illness while living in a foreign country, estranged from your closest support structure and trying to communicate in a language that is not your own, seems almost beyond manageable. For over 15 […]
Mail from America
Netflix, a company that established its online streaming service in 2003, has officially arrived in Switzerland. Yes, it took a full 11 years for Switzerland to realize that unlimited, on demand TV and movies was the way to go. Netflix is a way of life here in the United States. You don’t say “I’m going […]
UDC seeks to block Islamic Centre
The right-wing Swiss People’s Party (UDC) of Fribourg is gathering signatures for a referendum to oppose an Islamic studies center at the University of Fribourg. The move comes at a time when reaching out to Muslim communities seems more important than ever. That is certainly the opinion of Antonio Loprieno of the University of Basel, […]
