Elite universities at the click of a mouse
February 07, 2013 Coursera is currently the most advanced platform for the latest studying trend, MOOCs – or Massive Open Online Courses. It was created to unite the world’s most […]
Switzerland: Trade surplus reaches new heights
Swiss foreign trade registered a new record surplus of SFr24.4 billion ($26.8 billion) for 2012 despite the gloomy global economy and strong franc, relying largely just on the watchmaking, chemical […]
Red Cross seeks greater access to Syria
The head of the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross called on all sides of the Syrian conflict to help his organization access more of the war-ravaged country with […]
Tourists warned about rising baggage thefts on Swiss trains
Switzerland’s fast and efficient rail service may be the envy of the world but while the trains still run to time they are no longer as safe as they once […]
Swiss tax haven is over
Russian TV: Switzerland will now assist international tax authorities in disclosing information on bank accounts held by foreigners who avoid taxation at home. Joint efforts by the EU, the US […]
Switzerland: Obstacle race: Secret ballot for citizenship masked xenophobia
by Julia Slater, swissinfo.ch Jan 30, 2013 – 19:39 An analysis of naturalisation decisions taken in more than 1,400 Swiss communes between 1990 and 2010 has found a dramatic increase […]
A Swiss who Converted To Islam And Discovered An Ancient City
A Real-Life Indiana Jones Who Converted To Islam And Discovered An Ancient City BASEL – Johann Ludwig Burckhardt’s bust can be seen at the foot of the monumental staircase of […]
Switzerland: Good offices: Adjusting to the changing face of conflicts
by Thomas Stephens, swissinfo.ch Jan 25, 2013 – 11:00 Good offices continue to play a significant role in Swiss peace policy, according to the foreign ministry. However, the number of protecting power mandates is dwindling. Whether it’s acting as a messenger between two non-speaking states or trying to actively mediate […]
ICRC fears spread of Mali conflict
by Matthew Allen, in Davos, swissinfo.ch Jan 24, 2013 – 07:38 The current fighting in Mali could spark conflicts in neighbouring countries, as refugees flooding across the borders heighten existing […]
Bern (Switzerland) plans to ban mercenary companies
The Swiss government says it aims to ban any companies offering mercenary services in conflict areas, in a bid to preserve Switzerland’s cherished neutrality and ensure it respects international law. […]
Mea culpa: Nuns admit to past mistakes in children’s homes
by Clare O’Dea in Brunnen, swissinfo.ch An independent investigation into allegations of abuse at children’s homes run by the Swiss Ingenbohl Sisters of Mercy has found serious failings by the […]
Leaders without followers
Source: The Economist: AS THE movers and shakers head to the Swiss mountain resort of Davos this week for the annual World Economic Forum, their credentials as global leaders look anything but resilient. Their official theme will be “resilient dynamism”, whatever that means, but what they ought to be talking […]
Food for Thought: Swiss given poor marks for diet
Jan 22, 2013 – 20:42 The Swiss eat too much fatty food, too few vegetables and don’t move enough. These are the conclusions of the government’s sixth Swiss Nutrition Report, published on Tuesday. People aren’t adequately aware of the importance of a balanced diet, according to the report, which is […]
Mountain Summit: Inertia reigns as elite return to Davos
by Matthew Allen, swissinfo.ch Some of the world’s most influential leaders will be faced with a familiar set of unsolved problems during the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in […]
Refuge in Switzerland – Asylum applications and rejections rise in 2012
January 22, 2013 – 13:38 The number of overall asylum applications increased in 2012, reaching the highest number since 1999. At the same time, Switzerland rejected more requests as the country tries to speed up the evaluation process. In 2012, 28,631 applications were filed, most of them from Eritrea, followed […]
Swiss promise millions in aid to Egypt
21, 2013 – 17:17 Switzerland has pledged yearly aid of SFr30 million ($32.2 million) to Egypt under a three-year agreement to bring about democratic change in the post-Arab Spring era. The funding is primarily earmarked for infrastructure and job projects. According to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), some […]
Swiss diplomacy – Switzerland continues to support mediation in Mali
Switzerland continues to support mediation between the Mali government and rebel Tuareg groups despite an escalation of the conflict following the French military intervention, Swiss diplomats told Sunday newspapers. “The mediation continues. Switzerland is staying on the ground in Mali with its own people and supports mediation efforts,” said Yves […]
Measuring integration – Birthplace plays a role in success
Factors such as income, education and family structure vary greatly among Swiss people, Swiss-born foreigners and those born outside the country, according to new figures aimed at measuring the integration […]
One in ten Swiss lives abroad (and two in ten living in Switzerland are foreigners)
Jan 18, 2013 – 15:53 SWISSINFO.CH Almost 716,000 Swiss citizens live outside Switzerland. The trend observed for several years continued in 2012, according to figures released by the foreign ministry […]
Criminal complaint – Malaysia campaigners tackle Swiss banks
by Clare O’Dea, swissinfo.ch Jan 15, 2013 – 18:29 The rainforest advocacy group Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) has filed a complaint to the Swiss attorney general’s office against four banks […]