Swiss Politics

Merz to return to work after heart operation

This content was published on Oct 17, 2008 Merz, aged 66 and this year’s vice-president, suffered a heart attack on September 20 in his hometown of Herisau in eastern Switzerland. Surgeons in Bern later performed a quintuple by-pass on the politician. The attack came at the end of a week in which Merz had been under particular stress, against the background of the…

Swiss Politics

Towns mark world anti-poverty day

This content was published on Oct 17, 2008 According to the World Bank, 1.4 billion people live in absolute poverty, surviving on less than $1.25 (SFr1.42) per day. Amnesty International, one of the organisers of the Swiss events, said that the global financial crisis would hit the poorest people of the world the hardest, condemning many millions more to poverty. A Swiss alliance…

Swiss Politics

Bailout poll

This content was published on Oct 17, 2008

Emergency shelter prepared for asylum seekers

This content was published on Oct 16, 2008 The Federal Migration Office announced on Thursday that an army shelter in central Switzerland would temporarily be made available to take up to 100 people in November. Since June there has been an upsurge in the number of people fleeing conflict areas like Somalia, Eritrea, Iraq and Sri Lanka, which has created a shortage of…

Swiss Politics

Russian-Georgian talks suspended in Geneva

This content was published on Oct 15, 2008 The European Union envoy to the meeting said that “procedural difficulties” had led to the suspension of the afternoon discussions and that it was hoped to resume them on November 18. The Russian and Georgian sides never met face to face. A Georgian delegate said the Russians had not turned up for the morning’s plenary…

Swiss Politics

Government ponders case of criminal foreigners

This content was published on Oct 15, 2008 The rightwing Swiss People’s Party gathered 211,000 signatures to trigger a nationwide vote on its initiative to expel foreigners who commit serious crimes or who abuse the social welfare system. The government has put forward an indirect counter-proposal to amend the existing law on foreigners. The justice ministry says this proposal reflects some of the…

Swiss Politics

Hope jumps at salmon’s return to Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 15, 2008 The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR), which has been working with the Swiss to improve water quality and remove barriers to spawning, said a milestone had been reached. The female Atlantic salmon was reeled in by an amateur fisherman from the Birs, a tributary of the River Rhine. It was photographed…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet confirms ICRC contribution

This content was published on Oct 15, 2008 The money will come from Switzerland’s humanitarian aid credit facility. The Swiss-run ICRC is Switzerland’s most important partner in the area of international humanitarian aid. In 2007 Switzerland was one of the four biggest donors to the organisation. The ICRC has a mandate under international law to help victims of conflicts and internal violence anywhere…

Swiss Politics

Russian-Georgian talks open in Geneva

This content was published on Oct 15, 2008 The talks are the first time representatives of the two sides have met face to face since the armed conflict between them, which broke out at the beginning of August. The meeting had remained in doubt until the last minute, and three members of the Russian delegation only arrived after it had officially started. Six…

Swiss Politics

Handwashing could save lives

This content was published on Oct 15, 2008 The United Nations has declared Wednesday to be the first international hand-washing day, as part of the current International Year of Sanitation. It says washing hands with soap and water is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal diseases and acute respiratory infections, which together are responsible for the majority of all child…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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Merz to return to work after heart operation

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Towns mark world anti-poverty day

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Bailout poll

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Emergency shelter prepared for asylum seekers

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Russian-Georgian talks suspended in Geneva

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Government ponders case of criminal foreigners

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Hope jumps at salmon’s return to Switzerland

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Cabinet confirms ICRC contribution

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Russian-Georgian talks open in Geneva

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Handwashing could save lives

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