Army barracks in Bernese Alps used to house Africans
The Arab Spring has contributed to an increase in asylum applications in Switzerland: in total there were 9,800 in the first six months of the year. Switzerland decided to open up a military bunker in the remote Jaunpass, in the Bernese Alps, to take pressure off the four reception centres on the country’s borders. Residents are free to come and go as they please. But many locals seem unhappy with the decision. (SF/swissinfo.ch)
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Arab refugees return home following revolutions
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Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said on Thursday that Switzerland wanted to hand over as soon as possible $420 million (SFr334 million) belonging to Libyan public entities “for the benefit of the Libyan people”. Speaking at an international conference on the future of Libya in Paris, she said the international community had the duty to hand…
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With its record of having launched several radio stations in war-torn countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Kosovo, the Lausanne-based Hirondelle Foundation has the expertise to assist the Tunisians in facing the challenge of providing fair political coverage. The foundation signed a convention with Tunisian public radio this week. The new head…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.