Swiss Abroad

Education to be moved to economics ministry

This content was published on Jun 29, 2011 However, it rejected calls for a further reorganisation, including the creation of a security ministry. The decision is a response to parliamentary demands that all educational matters be aligned within the same ministry. It will see responsibility for federal institutes of technology, as well as education and research transferred from the interior ministry and integrated…

Swiss Politics

Nuclear plant shut down for safety check

This content was published on Jun 29, 2011 The BKW electricity company, which runs the plant, said that the move, five weeks before the scheduled annual inspection, was to implement measures to safeguard the cooling water extraction. After the measures have been completed in September, the plant should be reconnected, a statement said. The cost of the work is estimated at around SFr20…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland “not facing asylum crisis”

This content was published on Jun 29, 2011 So far, more than 8,000 people have come in 2011. In May there were 2,254 applications, many of them from North Africa, according to the Federal Migration Office. The Swiss authorities are looking for ways to cope with the influx of people desperate for a better life. Last week, the justice and police directors of…

Swiss Politics

“Sober” Swiss franc strategy praised

This content was published on Jun 28, 2011 Resorting to a proactive strategy would be counter-productive, he tells swissinfo.ch. The Swiss franc has gained 25 per cent in value against the euro and the dollar over the past four years. The cabinet is currently considering measures to offset the negative impact of the continuing strong Swiss franc on the country’s industry. swissinfo.ch: The…

Swiss Politics

State support for the arts to be overhauled

This content was published on Jun 28, 2011 Traditionally focused on art and design, the Federal Culture Office is gearing up ahead of the new law on encouraging culture which is expected to come into force at the beginning of next year. The law defines the strategic priorities in support of the arts based on a budget of SFr637.9 million ($765.6 million) for…

Swiss Politics

Row over foreign criminals goes into new round

This content was published on Jun 28, 2011 The report, published on Tuesday, serves as blueprint for the government’s bill to parliament, but the rightwing Swiss People’s Party is adamant that only its proposal is true to the intentions of the initiative. Of the four proposals drafted by the seven-member group of experts, only three won a majority, while the hardline proposal was…

Swiss Politics

US faults Swiss human trafficking record

This content was published on Jun 28, 2011 In its annual review of international efforts to eliminate sexual slavery and the trade of humans, the State Department also pointed out on Monday that Swiss law does not prohibit prostitution by 16- and 17-year-olds. Last year’s report ranked Switzerland as a “Tier 2” country for that reason. This year it gave it the same…

Swiss Politics

Swiss move towards “privacy by default”

This content was published on Jun 27, 2011 “In view of the rapid pace of development in the area of communication technologies, there is a need for greater transparency in the processing of personal data,” according to a statement released on Monday summing up the annual report of the Swiss data protection commissioner. “Data protection principles must be included in all projects and…

Swiss Politics

Binational looks back on Croatian independence

This content was published on Jun 27, 2011 In the same year, 14-year-old Croat Ivica Petrusic came to Switzerland with his family, shortly before the outbreak of war in Croatia. Now a naturalised Swiss and Social Democrat local politician, Petrusic is standing for election to the Swiss federal parliament in October. Petrusic’s father had been working in Switzerland as a builder since the…

Swiss Politics

Trial begins into child abuse after DNA arrest

This content was published on Jun 27, 2011 The accused appeared in court in Brig to answer charges on Monday. The offences, which include rape, took place over 11 years, notably in cantons Vaud and Valais. Many of the victims were under 16. In the most high profile cases in 2000, three girls were drugged with a chloroform-like substance and assaulted in a dormitory…

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Education to be moved to economics ministry

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Nuclear plant shut down for safety check

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Switzerland “not facing asylum crisis”

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“Sober” Swiss franc strategy praised

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State support for the arts to be overhauled

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Row over foreign criminals goes into new round

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US faults Swiss human trafficking record

More

Swiss move towards “privacy by default”

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Binational looks back on Croatian independence

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Trial begins into child abuse after DNA arrest

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