Swiss Politics

Government supports army’s systematic drug tests

This content was published on May 16, 2016 According to a report in the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper, the Swiss cabinet plans to recommend that parliament accept a motion allowing regular military drug tests. In January, a dozen soldiers guarding the World Economic Forum were found to have been using cocaine and marijuana. The parliamentary motion was brought forward by parliamentarian Daniel Jositsch…

Swiss Politics

Teaching asylum-seekers a new language

This content was published on May 16, 2016 A new method has been developed to help foreigners – especially refugees – to learn German. Swiss Public Television, SRF, found out how the method was being applied in a class for asylum-seekers in Olten. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)

Swiss Politics

Digital revolution, direct democracy, blue diamond

This content was published on May 15, 2016 Here are the stories we will be watching in the week of May 16.

Swiss Politics

Basic income poster makes Guinness record

This content was published on May 14, 2016 On the poster was written in English the question: “What would you do if your income were taken care of?” On the edges of the poster, in smaller print, the question was repeated in 68 different languages. The poster boasts dimensions of 72 metres by 110 metres, and coveres an area of around 8,000 metres…

Swiss Politics

How do you cover the US election for Switzerland?

This content was published on May 13, 2016 When he started covering the election for a Swiss audience at the beginning at 2016, Batthyany was surprised by how well-informed the Swiss public already is. “They know everything, they’ve been following the US elections for years,” he says. “I get really detailed reader reactions.” When talking to Americans, he finds they are often surprised…

Swiss Politics

Trump tops Swiss president in media coverage

This content was published on May 13, 2016 Even in Switzerland, Donald Trump has been the media darling of this US presidential election, generating more headlines than any other candidate. A look at the number of articles referencing each candidate from the top Swiss papers by circulation shows a clear focus on Trump and Hillary Clinton, considered the respective Republican and Democratic frontrunners. And even Switzerland’s own president, Johann Schneider-Ammann, couldn’t top Trump in terms of media mentions. Meanwhile, coverage of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders – the winner of the Democrats Abroad primary in Switzerland – waned slightly after early primary contests. And John Kasich and Ted Cruz, the other Republican candidates who at one point tried to unite to beat Trump before exiting the race, got much less coverage in Switzerland than Clinton or Trump. The Trump question Deciding how to cover Trump has become a challenge for journalists after the media so grossly misjudged his potential. “The American press just underestimated him so much, and it’s strange how they were always so wrong,” says Sacha Batthyany, US correspondent for Zurich's Tages-Anzeiger newspaper. He also admits to writing a piece calling Trump a flash in the pan. The Tages-Anzeiger’s approach to Trump coverage has changed over the course of the primaries, according to Batthyany.“In the beginning, because his insults were new and his style was new, I wrote about them because I thought it was all he had to offer,” he says. “But after a while we said no, we won’t do it anymore.” “Now I ask myself, is it important enough, does it explain something bolder? Is it just rumors? It is a small detail that Trump said this or that to someone? If it shows a bigger picture, then I would consider it.” That’s not to say it isn’t still tempting to jump on every Trump twist and turn, like much of the American press. “It’s easy to do Trump stories, you know you have an audience,” Batthyany says. “Everything is there.” “We try to balance the coverage among the candidates, but with Trump it’s difficult [to hold back] because it is fascinating.”

Swiss Politics

Four reasons why the King of Bahrain is in Switzerland

This content was published on May 12, 2016 The King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s official visit to Switzerland on Thursday is the first ever by a Bahraini King.

Swiss Politics

Swiss firms have ‘little fear’ of Brexit

This content was published on May 11, 2016 Only 17% of finance bosses questioned by Deloitte forecast negative consequences of British voters opting for a Brexit on June 23. Some 4% of respondents to the survey released on Wednesday believed it could have a positive effect on their business while the overwhelming majority thought Britain’s possible exit from the EU would have no…

Swiss Politics

How much do our elected representatives earn?

This content was published on May 11, 2016 The issue of parliamentarians’ salaries and how they make a living is a regular talking point. Recently, Zug senator Joachim Eder suggested that parliamentarians should no longer be paid an accommodation allowance if they are not actually away from home when they are attending a legislative session. A few months earlier, parliamentarian Hans Grunder filed…

Swiss Politics

Suspected terrorist could lose Swiss passport

This content was published on May 11, 2016 The State Secretariat for Migration said the 19-year-old Swiss-Italian is alleged to have joined the Islamic State terror group in Syria. The announcement was published in the most recent version of their official information bulletin. According to the citizenship law, dual-citizens can have their Swiss nationality revoked if their behaviour has a considerably detrimental effect…

Page 534 of 1365

First … 532 533 534 535 536 … Last

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Sign in and personalize Swissinfo

Swiss Politics

More

Government supports army’s systematic drug tests

More

Teaching asylum-seekers a new language

More

Digital revolution, direct democracy, blue diamond

More

Basic income poster makes Guinness record

More

How do you cover the US election for Switzerland?

More

Trump tops Swiss president in media coverage

More

Four reasons why the King of Bahrain is in Switzerland

More

Swiss firms have ‘little fear’ of Brexit

More

How much do our elected representatives earn?

More

Suspected terrorist could lose Swiss passport

Popular Stories

Most Discussed