Swiss Abroad

Swiss economy continued to slow in Q3

This content was published on Nov 23, 2011 But the robust domestic economy and continued demand from developing countries should prevent the Swiss economy from sliding into recession in 2012. The UBS Business Cycle Indicator is based on a survey of industrial companies. Released on Wednesday, the latest indicator results found gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed to 1.4 per cent in the…

Swiss Politics

Student contest spotlights human trafficking

This content was published on Nov 22, 2011 Launched on Monday night at Geneva University, the contest with cash prizes invites students to write papers on how companies can tackle what is now the third-largest criminal activity in the world after arms and drugs trading. Often hidden, human trafficking includes child labour and the forced employment of men and women against their will.…

Swiss Politics

Geneva initiative given a second wind

This content was published on Nov 22, 2011 “Eight years have not been enough to convince leaders that peace is not only desirable but also achievable. We are counting today on a new generation to drive the peace effort forward,” Swiss foreign minister Micheline Calmy-Rey told delegates at a conference in Geneva. The conference was arranged to review the achievements of the Geneva Initiative and…

Swiss Politics

Syrian regime defiant under pressure

This content was published on Nov 22, 2011 More than 3,500 people have been killed by Syrian security forces, according to the United Nations. Assad’s response to the ultimatum issued by the Arab League (the deadline of which passed on Saturday evening) to stop the repression, was true to form. He declared on Sunday that he was ready to fight to the death in…

Swiss Politics

Ex-UBS trader accused of fraud remanded again

This content was published on Nov 22, 2011 The 31-year-old man, whose actions the Swiss bank says cost it some $2.3 billion (SFr2.1 billion), faces two charges of fraud and two of false accounting in a case that has shaken the investment banking world. The British-educated son of a retired United Nations official from Ghana worked as a director of exchange traded funds…

Swiss Politics

Tibetan prime minister deplores self-immolations

This content was published on Nov 22, 2011 In Bern for an official visit, Lobsang Sangay said he regretted that the international community had not paid the same attention to self-immolations in Tibet as it had to those which happened in the context of the Arab Spring. At least 11 monks, nuns, and former monks in Tibet have self-immolated this year. Sangay met…

Swiss Politics

Global experts eye nuclear safety watchdog

This content was published on Nov 21, 2011 On Monday the Inspectorate announced that it was undergoing an inspection by the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) – an IAEA expert group. The purpose is to check that Switzerland is doing all that it can to ensure a maximum level of safety in terms of its nuclear energy production. Internationally, it is typical for…

Swiss Politics

Voters create upset in Senate run-off ballot

This content was published on Nov 21, 2011 The incumbent representative of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party finished only third in the race for the two canton Bern seats. Adrian Amstutz had been in the lead after the first vote last month. The centre-right Conservative Democrats retained their seat. In canton Ticino, the centre-right Christian Democrats and the Radicals – the two strongest…

Swiss Politics

“One in two” Swiss is overweight

This content was published on Nov 20, 2011 In all, 53 per cent of the 1,445 people surveyed showed a waist circumference that revealed them to be overweight – with more women affected than men. Around 30 per cent of the people deemed to be too heavy were revealed to be severely so, with the other 23 per cent classified as overweight, according…

Swiss Politics

Child custody plan to ease bitter divorce battle

This content was published on Nov 18, 2011 However, the controversial issue of child support payments has been excluded and will be dealt with next year. It is now up to parliament to discuss the necessary legal amendments as part of an overhaul of the civil code. “A first important step has been taken,” said Kathie Wiederkehr of the Foundation for the Protection…

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