GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – A selection of Swiss news highlights, from local media:
Tetrapak to close factory
Tetrapak is closing its factory in Romont and laying off 123 employees; the state of the economy is leading the manufacturer of packaging, notably milk and juice containers, to move some of its Swiss operations to Hungary, where costs are lower. Le Temps, Fr
Rive pedestrian project, Renens high-rise unveiled
The 35-story highrise scheduled to go up in Chavannes-près-Renens by 2020 will be a “vertical forest” reports RTS. The plans for the apartment and office block, presented by architect Stefano Boeri, include 80 trees and 3,000m2 of bushes.
Geneva also saw a project unveiled Tuesday, for a pedestrian mall at the Rive junction. Cars will be banned and the TPG public transport company will need to review its bus and tram lines. Details, Tribune de Genève.
Kempinski presses charges against ex-boss
The Kempinski Group is pressing charges against the former boss, Reto Wittwer, who was let go in October 2014 after nine years as CEO and chairman of the board of the Geneva-based luxury hotel group. Wittwer is accused of fraud and embezzling funds, reports the Tribune de Genève. The company’s press release when he left didn’t hint at what was to come.
More border guards
Parliament voted at the end of last week to provide more funds to the country’s border guards, to beef up security. Basel’s border is considered particularly short on security but measures proposed to improve the situation were turned as inappropriate, while the situation was acknowledged and MPs agreed more guards are needed.
Zurich airport, new check-in opens
Zurich airport’s Terminal 2 has a new check-in area this week, part of the overall renovation of the busy terminal. The rest of the work will be completed by the second half of 2016, reports Switzerland Global Enterprise.
Witnesses to busy roundabout accident sought
A 38-year-old Swiss man from Yverdon-les-bains was seriously injured Monday at 06:30 when he was hit by a car while crossing a busy roundabout on foot, in the same city. The 25-year-old driver was heading for an autoroute entrance. Police are seeking information and witnesses. Tel: 021/644.44.44 or stop by the nearest police station.