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Five thoughts on democracy from Ai Weiwei

This content was published on Apr 28, 2016 On the lack of democracy in China: “China is a society where every decision is made by officials. It is not a democratic society. There is no discussion at any level. That’s my impression. How profit is made, what is sacrificed to achieve that, where money is invested for the future, in education, or in society…

Universities drive ahead with corporate tie-ups

This content was published on Apr 28, 2016 A recent webinar hosted by Zurich’s Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and the economic promotion body Greater Zurich Area is evidence that the business of marrying the academic and corporate worlds is a growing reality. The webinar was a sales pitch aimed at international firms, particularly in the United States, highlighting the benefits of teaming…

Gotthard opening celebrations attract big names

This content was published on Apr 28, 2016 Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel, the French president François Hollande and the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, will all attend the celebrations to inaugurate the 57km long tunnel that will slice through the Swiss Alps. In an interview published in the Swiss newspaper Blick on Thursday, Transport Minister Doris Leuthard, said that 1100 guests and around…

Breaking the rules is part of the political ad game

This content was published on Apr 28, 2016 Ad designer Parvez Sheik Fareed has no regrets about a controversial image he made and doesn’t believe in boundaries for political advertising.

‘Voting rights in Switzerland can’t be free’

This content was published on Apr 27, 2016 “Swiss living abroad are also foreigners in their countries of residency. They often have a firm view of what’s happening in Switzerland, and at the same time they take part in political life in their adopted countries,” Walter Leimgruber, President of the Federal Migration Commission, pointed out at a recent event. Leimgruber’s conclusion is that…

How a German state grapples with direct democracy

This content was published on Apr 27, 2016 “We want to turn Baden-Württemberg into a model of democratic participation.” This ambitious pledge by the Green Party was made in a coalition agreement with the Social Democrats in 2011. Germany’s third-largest state shares its southern border with Switzerland and its western border with France. It was shaken by a political earthquake four years ago.…

Iron Age man was a fan of Swiss cheese

This content was published on Apr 26, 2016 An international research team led by York and Newcastle universities studied residues found on small pieces of pottery dating from the Neolithic times to the Iron Age. They found that the residue on shards from the 1st Millennium BC – the Iron Age – had the same chemical signatures associated with heating milk from animals…

Public services in voter spotlight

This content was published on Apr 26, 2016 Four Swiss consumer magazines launched the people’s initiative, “In support of public sector services”External link, citing complaints by their readers. But so far, the initiative has won few supporters. The initiative calls for three changes. “Firstly, that the government not set profit-making goals for basic services; secondly, that the profits from public companies are not used…

Are motorists the cash cows of Switzerland?

This content was published on Apr 26, 2016 The proposal calls for the revenue from the mineral oil tax to be exclusively used for financing road construction. Up until now, around CHF1.5 billion ($1.57 billion) of this revenue has gone towards the overall state budget. Car owners pay around CHF7.2 billion in taxes and duties into the treasury each year. Automobile associations even…

Political right tries to block asylum reform

This content was published on Apr 26, 2016 The right to asylum in Switzerland will shortly be the topic of another referendum. This time rightwingers are fighting an amendment of the legislation which aims to speed up the procedure for evaluating applications and to reduce costs.

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Five thoughts on democracy from Ai Weiwei

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Universities drive ahead with corporate tie-ups

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Gotthard opening celebrations attract big names

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Breaking the rules is part of the political ad game

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‘Voting rights in Switzerland can’t be free’

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How a German state grapples with direct democracy

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Iron Age man was a fan of Swiss cheese

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Public services in voter spotlight

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Are motorists the cash cows of Switzerland?

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Political right tries to block asylum reform

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