Swiss city set to launch elderly care “bank”
by Alexander Thoele, swissinfo.ch St Gallen may become the first Swiss city to introduce a novel banking scheme in which retired care volunteers “deposit” hours worked looking after elderly people. […]
Mummy discovery reveals ancient secrets
by Fatiha Temmouri, Valley of the Kings, swissinfo.ch A Swiss team has uncovered a mummy in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings – the first of its kind since the exhumation […]
How the UN “Swiss paradox” was resolved
by Armando Mombelli, swissinfo.ch On March 3, 2002, the Swiss population narrowly voted to join the United Nations – a historic decision. It came after more than half a century of refusing to be part of the body, out of fears linked above all to safeguarding Switzerland’s cherished neutrality. “The […]
Sweet triangle
Toblerone, Switzerland’s most famous chocolate, turns 100. In 1908 Theodor Tobler invented a nougat-cocoa speciality, which became Switzerland’s most successful chocolate. Last year Toblerone produced about as many individual Toblerone […]
United Nations urges FIFA to allow hijab headscarf
PST GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) — The United Nations has urged FIFA to allow Islamic women to wear a hijab headscarf while playing soccer. The U.N. says Wilfried Lemke, sports adviser […]
Switzerland: Ministry offers 5,000 beds for asylum seekers
The defence ministry has defended itself against accusations that it has not provided enough accommodation for asylum seekers. Many places were inadequate for the purpose, the ministry said in a […]
Why does God keep us in suspense?
by hugo born NZZ Neue Zuercher Zeitung on Wednesday the 22th February 2012 The following text was written by Ruedi Schmid. (please bear with us: It is a Google translation from German). The phenomenon is a concern people have always had: If God would reveal himself, the eternal dispute would […]
Switzerland: Commissioner urges new law amid “rising racism”
The Council of Europe’s human rights chief has called for an overhaul of Swiss anti-discrimination law and policy. Intolerance and racism are “dangerously on the rise”, the commissioner for human […]
“Swiss umma” project takes shape
by Simon Bradley, swissinfo.ch An initiative to create a democratically elected body representing Switzerland’s 400,000 Muslims, a so-called “Swiss umma”, is steadily gaining ground. The organisers say the parliament could […]
Cleaning Up the Cosmos – Swiss Develop Satellite to Dispose of Space Junk
Source:Spiegel International Scientists warn that the amount of space debris orbiting the planet has reached a dangerously high level. But a new miniature satellite has been designed to clean up […]
Switzerland: Joint aid cooperation package published
The cabinet has earmarked SFr11.35 billion ($12.4 billion) for international cooperation and development aid for the next four years. At a joint presentation with the foreign ministry on Wednesday, Economics […]
Roma travel in search of winter asylum
by Isabelle Eichenberger, swissinfo.ch The number of Serbian asylum seekers, generally Roma, has peaked in Switzerland in recent months. This “winter tourism” can be explained by the worsening quality of […]
Oceans could run out of oxygen
by Isobel Leybold-Johnson, swissinfo.ch Global warming could lead to more of the world’s oceans becoming “dead zones” – where a lack of oxygen leads to marine life dying out. This […]
Breaking the law to provide sanctuary
by Luigi Jorio, swissinfo.ch The number of asylum seekers who “disappear” before their cases are processed is growing. Some are given shelter by concerned citizens, who risk prosecution to help. It is a double flight for those who have left their own country and made it to Switzerland, only to […]
Switzerland: Language edict found tricky for foreign managers
by Jessica Dacey, swissinfo.ch Foreign executives in Switzerland are being urged to learn a national language to help them integrate. For some expatriates, it’s an unrealistic expectation. It’s not the first time language has been raised in the same breath as integration in Switzerland, but it’s rare for the comment […]
OSCE calls for Muslim umbrella organisation
Experts from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have recommended the establishment of an umbrella organisation for all Swiss Muslims. In their report, seen by the Swiss […]
Rash of house fires in freezing weather
At least three people have died in house fires over the weekend, and 50 animals were killed in a fire at a farm on Sunday. Several other non-fatal fires have been reported in different parts of the country, some of them resulting in serious damage to buildings. Although in every […]
Should we or should we not learn a foreign language?
A Swiss guy, looking for directions, pulls up at a bus stop where two Americans are waiting. “Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?” he asks. The two Americans just stare at him. “Excusez-moi, parlez vous Francais?” he tries. The two continue to stare. “Parlare Italiano?” No response. “Hablan ustedes Espanol?” Still […]
Switzerland: Call for quicker turnaround of asylum seekers
Asylum seeker requests could be reduced if Switzerland handled applications more quickly, the Swiss Refugee Council says. The rapid treatment of cases that don’t meet requirements could deter other refugees […]
Insight: Davos elite see euro surviving, for now
(Reuters) – At a discreet farewell dinner in Davos for Swiss National Bank chief Philipp Hildebrand, a handful of guests including central bankers past and present were handed blank sheets of paper. […]