Swiss Politics Archives - Page 992 of 1339

More

Swiss Politics

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…

More

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…

More

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…

More

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…

More

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…

More

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…

More

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…

More

Swiss Politics

Nuclear solution tops agenda in Iran talks

This content was published on Oct 15, 2008 Iranian parliament president Ali Larijani made the comments during a working lunch with Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey at a parliamentarians’ conference in Geneva on Tuesday. Switzerland is actively engaged in negotiations on the issue, Larijani confirmed. “We touched on different ideas, different actions,” he said, adding that the door to dialogue on the issue remained…

More

Swiss Politics

Rural tourism struggles to take root

This content was published on Oct 14, 2008 With its pastures dotted with cows and its scenic valleys, Switzerland is an ideal country for agrotourism, yet the industry lags well behind neighbouring countries that have less to offer. A Swiss Centre for Mountain Regions study presented on Tuesday suggested that the country could bolster its rural holiday market with focused marketing efforts, comprehensive…

More

Swiss Politics

EU immigrants top a million

This content was published on Oct 14, 2008 The foreign population from other countries increased by just 0.5 per cent in the same period – the end of August 2007 to the end of August 2008 – according to official statistics. The bilateral accord with the EU on the free movement of people appears to be having an effect on the breakdown of…

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed