Swiss Identity

Fewer people affected by poverty

This content was published on Mar 30, 2012 The Federal Statistics Office said about 586,000 people – or 7.8 per cent of the total population – did not have enough money to buy food and take part in social life in 2010. This compares with 9.1 per cent of the Swiss population in 2008. The office says the drop is a result of the…

Demographics

Cambodian tribunal puts justice in the spotlight

This content was published on Mar 30, 2012 Laurent Kasper-Ansermet announced on March 19 that he was stepping down from the tribunal investigating crimes committed by the former Pol Pot regime, because of political interference from the Cambodian government. Conflict has arisen over whether or not further investigations should be launched into officials of the former Pol Pot regime, which was responsible for…

History

Easter customs have deep roots

This content was published on Mar 30, 2012 Some of the old celebrations have disappeared, some have adapted, some have been revived, and some have doubtless been recently invented. It is not always easy to know which is which. Easter has today become highly commercialised, with chocolate rabbits and eggs appearing in the shops weeks ahead of the festival itself. Paul Hugger, retired…

Education

Young Greeks driven out by lack of prospects

This content was published on Mar 30, 2012 Twenty-four-year-old Glampedakis from the sunny island of Crete is studying at Bern University. Enrolled since last autumn, he had never experienced such a cold winter but he is glad to be here. “The university in Athens is good but with a masters in my field [theoretical mathematics] I would have had hardly any chance of…

Culture

Record hoard of celtic coins found

This content was published on Mar 29, 2012 Announcing the find on Thursday, the cantonal archaeological department said it consisted of 293 silver coins, found scattered over an area of about 50 square metres only a few centimetres below the surface. However, cantonal archaeologist Reto Marti said they had probably originally been buried together. The coins are small: about a centimetre across and…

Demographics

Deadly practice still rife in fashion industry

This content was published on Mar 29, 2012 A report entitled “Deadly Denim”, published on Thursday by the Swiss non-governmental organisation, the Berne Declaration, and the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), says that on-site inspections show that suppliers of some major clothes brands are carrying on with the practice despite undertakings from the companies to put an end to it. The procedure can cause…

Demographics

Road safety statistics tell a mixed story

This content was published on Mar 29, 2012 A report published on Thursday by the Federal Roads Office said there had been 18,990 accidents involving personal injury, with 320 people killed, seven fewer than in the previous year. However, a total of 28 people died on pedestrian crossings, eight up on the year before, and five more on the average of the past…

Demographics

Refugee commissioner urges asylum cooperation

This content was published on Mar 29, 2012 Antonio Guterres tells swissinfo.ch Switzerland and Europe as a whole should welcome and help displaced people. Speaking at a Swiss humanitarian aid event on Friday, Guterres said the growing number of crises and conflicts around the world has heightened the refugee problem. The situation showed no signs of abating in the years to come. In…

Demographics

Child beggars “should be seen as victims”

This content was published on Mar 28, 2012 Putting these recommendations into practice, Bern has rid its streets of underage foreign beggars and now other Swiss cities are looking into following the capital’s example. Some people are irritated by beggars, others have sympathy for them – both are the wrong reaction when it comes to organised begging, according to Reto Nause, responsible for…

Demographics

Migration agreements initialled with Tunisia

This content was published on Mar 28, 2012 The new partnership between the two countries will cover entry, stay and readmission, and will also lay out the basis for encouraging migrants to return home voluntarily, as well as the procedures for forced repatriation. It also provides for an agreement on an exchange of young professionals to take up further training. The partnership will…

Swiss Identity

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Swiss Identity

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Fewer people affected by poverty

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Cambodian tribunal puts justice in the spotlight

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Easter customs have deep roots

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Young Greeks driven out by lack of prospects

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Record hoard of celtic coins found

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Deadly practice still rife in fashion industry

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Road safety statistics tell a mixed story

More

Refugee commissioner urges asylum cooperation

More

Child beggars “should be seen as victims”

More

Migration agreements initialled with Tunisia

Popular Stories

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