Swiss Abroad

Cybercrime reports on the rise

This content was published on Aug 19, 2010 Of the 7,541 internet-related instances reported in 2009, the majority dealt with pornography and spam. The number of complaints about hardcore pornography rose the most dramatically to 1,364 while those related to spam remained stable at 1,496. Fraud cases nearly doubled to 354 and mainly involved fake apartments and classified advertisements online. The Swiss Coordination…

Swiss Politics

Some Swiss abroad to cast electronic ballot

This content was published on Aug 19, 2010 The occasion will be a referendum on changes to Switzerland’s unemployment insurance law. Several cantons have taken advantage of a change in the law that came into force on January 1, 2008 which obliges cantons to introduce e-voting for Swiss living abroad. Expats registered in canton Neuchâtel were the first to be granted e-voting rights,…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet puts off decision on future EU policy

This content was published on Aug 19, 2010 President and Economics Minister Doris Leuthard and Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey announced that a working group would examine possible options to define a future strategy by the end of the year. The focus will be on adapting Swiss law to EU rules for the more than 120 bilateral accords with Brussels and the introduction of…

Swiss Politics

Swiss assured aid will reach flood victims

This content was published on Aug 18, 2010 By early Thursday morning, more than SFr13 million ($12.5 million) had been donated or pledged in one day, bringing the total to more than SFr16 million. Several cantonal governments donated lump sums, the largest being SFr500,000 from Zurich authorities. Swiss Solidarity, the charitable arm of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation behind the 18-hour-long event, took pains…

Swiss Politics

Bern adopts wider sanctions against Tehran

This content was published on Aug 18, 2010 The sanctions were approved in June after Iran failed to respond to calls to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme. The measures take effect on August 19. Under new elements of the sanctions adopted by Switzerland, heavy war materiel cannot be exported to Iran, nor is the financing of such equipment allowed. Switzerland has not exported…

Swiss Politics

Unions take top earners to task

This content was published on Aug 17, 2010 Paul Rechsteiner, president of the Swiss Trade Union Federation said top earners should contribute according to their income to shore up the insurance, which has run up debts of about SFr7 billion ($6.7 billion). He said the proposed reform, which comes to a nationwide vote on September 26, was unjust and its supporters, including the…

Swiss Politics

Uncertainties cloud future Swiss ties with EU

This content was published on Aug 17, 2010 It comes a month after President Doris Leuthard heard from EU leaders that the era of tailor-made bilateral treaties with the 27-member union was nearing an end after more than a decade. Both sides agreed to review relations within the next few months possibly with a view to negotiate a complete package. There have also…

Swiss Politics

Parties fight over reform of jobless scheme

This content was published on Aug 16, 2010 Representatives of the five groups said the revised law was balanced and the planned cuts in unemployment benefits were justified to secure the future of the scheme. Parliamentarians of the Radicals, the Christian Democrats, the Conservative Democrats, the Liberal Greens and the Swiss People’s Party warned a rejection of the reform would lead to a…

Swiss Politics

More than a Swiss facelift for Polish hospitals

This content was published on Aug 16, 2010 Old infrastructure often gets in the way of modernising Poland. Its city centres look not much different from those in western Europe, but behind the scenes Poland has a lot to catch up. Krakow, in southern Poland, is well known for its universities, the Jewish quarter, paprika sauerkraut and Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla).…

Swiss Politics

Swiss join in criticism of US entry fee

This content was published on Aug 15, 2010 As of September 8, travellers from countries in the US visa waiver programme will nevertheless have to hand over $14 (SFr14.6) to be allowed into the country. Switzerland is one of 36 countries to have qualified for the visa waiver programme, which allows visitors with biometric passports to stay up to 90 days without a…

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