Swiss Abroad

Speaking the language of elderly migrants

This content was published on Sep 8, 2008 The “National Forum Ageing and Migration” said older migrants suffer from more health problems than the average Swiss pensioner, are often socially disadvantaged and live below the poverty line. Foreigners account for one in five of Switzerland’s population, but according to the Federal Statistics Office, the country’s migrant workforce covers 25 per cent of the…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland raises its human rights presence

This content was published on Sep 8, 2008 For the first time the Swiss delegation is being headed by a specially appointed representative rather than the head of the Swiss mission to the UN in Geneva, as has been the case up to now. Also new is the UN high commissioner for human rights, the South African Navanethem Pillay, who replaced Louise Arbour…

Swiss Politics

New English version of constitution published

This content was published on Sep 8, 2008 It was made available to meet a growing demand for details of legislation to be accessible in English, the Federal Chancellery said on Monday. The translation was submitted to external experts and the justice ministry for review before publication and is part of an ongoing project to make selected Swiss legislation available to the public…

Swiss Politics

Woman diplomat to head Swiss embassy in Iran

This content was published on Sep 7, 2008 The appointment of Livia Leu Agosti comes amid controversy over a visit to Tehran by Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey earlier this year. The designated ambassador says she considers her appointment as a sign that women can play an important role in a world dominated by men. Leu said she would wear a headscarf for her…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland “could become a feudal state”

This content was published on Sep 7, 2008 Kissling tells swissinfo that the gap between the rich and everyone else is growing and that this could threaten traditional Swiss democracy and the economy. He makes a call for an inheritance tax for the wealthy. Statistics show that the 300 richest people have become 40 per cent wealthier in the past eight years, whereas…

Swiss Politics

Stunning show opens Paralympics in Beijing

This content was published on Sep 6, 2008 More than 4,000 disabled athletes from 148 countries, including Switzerland, will be competing for medals over the next ten days. The Games come just two weeks after the Summer Olympics ended. Chinese President Hu Jintao declared the Games open, as the Olympic flame was lit ending a three-hour ceremony in the Chinese capital, Beijing, on…

Swiss Politics

Asylum seekers put pressure on cantons

This content was published on Sep 5, 2008 Half the current influx comes from sub-Saharan Africa, Eduard Gnesa, head of the Federal Migration Office told Swiss radio on Friday, with the greatest numbers coming from Eritrea, Somalia and Nigeria. Others have fled Iraq. The reason for the influx is the worsening situation in the asylum seekers’ home countries, he said. In August the…

Swiss Politics

Defence minister defends himself

This content was published on Sep 5, 2008 Speaking on Swiss public television on Thursday evening, he confirmed he had been informed about the sexual harassment charges against Nef as early as November 2006. Schmid had earlier claimed he only became aware of the pending legal case in April 2007 during the selection process for the head of the armed forces. The fallout…

Swiss Politics

Dropped charges against Gaddafi “gift” to Libya

This content was published on Sep 4, 2008 Hasni Abidi, head of a research centre in Geneva, tells swissinfo why he thinks Wednesday’s announcement plays into the hands of the Libyan leader. The prosecutor, Daniel Zappelli said the case against Hannibal Gaddafi and his wife would be closed because the former servants had withdrawn their complaint. It came a day after the lawyer…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet speaks out on Georgia conflict

This content was published on Sep 3, 2008 A government spokesman also said on Wednesday that the terms of the August 12 ceasefire between Russia and Georgia must be implemented in their entirety. “Switzerland regrets that a solution has not yet been found that meets the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Accords and the Charter of Paris,” the spokesman said. He added that…

Swiss Abroad

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