Cluster: Swiss Abroad

“Rescue package” named Word of the Year

This content was published on Dec 19, 2008 It beat off competition from other terms linked to the financial crisis such as Boni (bonuses), Finanzspritze (cash injection) and Liquiditätsengpass (liquidity squeeze). Rettungspaket underwent a significant change in meaning during 2008, explained the jury of journalists. Before the crisis it referred to famines and natural catastrophes, whereas now people think of state intervention to…

Swiss Politics

Swiss re-elected to UN child rights committee

This content was published on Dec 18, 2008 The extension of Zermatten’s position on the 18-member committee, which oversees the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, is an affirmation of Switzerland’s position on human rights and development, the country’s ambassador to the UN in New York says. Peter Maurer expressed satisfaction at his colleague’s appointment and told swissinfo…

Swiss Politics

Looming recession raises debt question

This content was published on Dec 17, 2008 But a leading UBS economist has warned that the public might have to accept extraordinary measures, including expensive economic stimulus packages, as the world slips into a recession many fear will last a long time. The results of the “financial monitor” survey, published on Wednesday, showed overwhelming support for tax cuts, government frugality and an…

Swiss Politics

Rejected asylum seekers struggle to survive

This content was published on Dec 17, 2008 The level of “haphazard” assistance, which varies from canton to canton, is in breach of the constitution in some areas, according to the non-governmental Swiss Refugee Council, which has published a report on the issue. All rejected asylum seekers in Switzerland lost the right to social welfare payments at the beginning of 2008. However they…

Swiss Politics

Child rights activist to serve second UN term

This content was published on Dec 17, 2008 The 60-year-old from canton Valais is currently vice-chair of the committee and was approved in a first round of voting by signatory states with 125 votes, the best result of the 18 membership posts being reviewed. Zermatten said he was pleased to be re-elected and noted that it was one of the best signs of…

Swiss Politics

Budget cuts eat into Swiss abroad magazine

This content was published on Dec 16, 2008 The move comes despite opposition by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), which represents more than 750 expatriate associations around the world. The magazine is presently published six times a year in the national languages – German, French and Italian – as well as in English and Spanish. It has a print run of…

Swiss Politics

Government defence spending approved

This content was published on Dec 16, 2008 Tuesday’s vote in the House of Representatives reversed the house’s earlier position, when the rightwing People’s Party joined the centre-left Socialist Party and the Greens in rejecting the programme. Under the programme, SFr404 million will be spent on modernising the F/A-18 fighter aircraft, and 396 million on troop transporters. Another 70 million is earmarked for…

Swiss Politics

Swiss still vacationing abroad despite downturn

This content was published on Dec 16, 2008 The Maldives, the Caribbean and Egypt are still popular choices for winter sunseekers, despite the global economic crisis. The most popular destinations would record growth in double-digit figures, said operator M-Travel Switzerland. But not everyone is heading to far-off destinations. The Hungarian capital, Budapest, regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful cities, is proving…

Swiss Politics

Federal budget to help environmental schemes

This content was published on Dec 16, 2008 The 2009 budget foresees a surplus of SFr948 billion ($819 million). The House of Representatives on Tuesday followed the Senate in approving extra spending of about 120 million compared with the government draft budget, including a SFR340-million package to stave off the looming recession. Total expenditure for 2009 is set at SFr59.02 billion against SFr59.97…

Swiss Politics

Europe welcoming but wary of Swiss tax reform

This content was published on Dec 15, 2008 Nevertheless, he made it clear at a media conference after a meeting in Brussels with three Swiss government ministers that more needs to be done to satisfy the European Union over tax reform. The Swiss delegation to the talks was headed by Swiss president Pascal Couchepin, who was accompanied by Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz and…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

More

“Rescue package” named Word of the Year

More

Swiss re-elected to UN child rights committee

More

Looming recession raises debt question

More

Rejected asylum seekers struggle to survive

More

Child rights activist to serve second UN term

More

Budget cuts eat into Swiss abroad magazine

More

Government defence spending approved

More

Swiss still vacationing abroad despite downturn

More

Federal budget to help environmental schemes

More

Europe welcoming but wary of Swiss tax reform

Popular Stories

Most Discussed