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Environment Minister Sommaruga acknowledged that many citizens share the conces of the Green Party to curb urbanisation but they reli, ...ادامه مطلب

Here is a selection of stories we're looking ahead to in the week of January 15, 2018. (Keystone) Tuesday The Swiss national football team has been doing well of late, but not much is known about the country’s Super League. We look at why, and consider whether the team is punching below or above its weight in Europe, relative to its national success and the finances of its clubs. (Keystone) Wednesday Why are the Swiss such experts at predicting avalanches? What makes their approach so special? All will be revealed in our in-depth article. (Keystone) Thursday On March 4, the Swiss could vote to get rid of the radio and television licence fee. We look at the arguments on both sides, the facts and figures, and the potential consequences if Switzerland becomes the first country in Europe to abolish the bulk of its public service broadcasting. (Keystone) Thursday Also on Thursday, we’ll be comparing how Switzerland and the United States approach disease prevention in health care – an aspect that does not always get the attention or resources it needs. The story continues our series of articles on health care in the two countries. (Keystone) Saturda, ...ادامه مطلب

... Print comment Reuse article  See in other languages: 3 See in other languages: 3  Languages: 3 Keeping animals in small cages for fur production is banned in Switzerland.(Sylvain Cordier/Biosphoto/AFP) In Switzerland, if something fails in parliament, all is not lost because there is still direct democracy. A No from parliament does not mean a No from the people. By launching a popular initiative, you can thumb your nose at parliament with support from the electorate.That is what happened recently with the proposed import ban on products involving cruelty to animals, which are banned from production in Switzerland:+ Animal rights groups seek to ban foie gras, other impo, ...ادامه مطلب

... Print comment Reuse article  See in another language: 1 See in another language: 1  Languages: 1 laura g 1 Laura Gibilras swissinfo.ch: You were bo in Italy as a Swiss abroad. Does someone in your family come from Switzerland?Laura Gibilras: I was a Swiss abroad because my mother was bo and grew up in Switzerland. She met my father on a trip to Italy and they fell in love. I know – very romantic!swissinfo.ch: What relationship do you have with Switzerland?L.G.: I’ve always had a special relationship with Switzerland. When I was still living in Italy, I used to spend two holidays a year at my grandparents’ home in Switzerland. From the age of 12, I visited the youth camps for, ...ادامه مطلب

Around 2.2% of Bosnia and Herzegovina is still covered with mines(zVg)  The barking of dogs produces such noise that it’s impossible to hear your own voice. We are at the Global Training Centre for Mine Detection Dogs in Blagovac, in rural Bosnia, about 10 kilometres north of the capital Sarajevo. + Read about the Ottawa Convention, banning landminesFourteen people are currently looking after 60 dogs on these vast premises. The dogs have names like Panzer, Amor, Luna, Irony, Jala or Brick. They are all Belgian Shepherds. “This breed is healthy, active and not as lazy as, say, a Labrador,” says Goran Šehić, the deputy programme manag, ...ادامه مطلب

The constitution calls for every effort to be made to care for and integrate people with disabilities into society, like this group of girls.(Keystone) People with disabilities and placed under f, ...ادامه مطلب

Honorary consuls are local personalities who represent foreign states in Switzerland, and they are not paid for their work. What motivates them? (RTS/swissinfo.chexteal link)There are about 130 honorary consuls them in Switzerland. They are not professional diplomats, but people who work on a voluntary basis until their appointments are revoked. For instance, François de Coulonexteal link, who, ...ادامه مطلب

There is always plenty of debate in Switzerland, with sometimes surprising results. (Keystone) In Switzerland, voters determine how much should be paid in taxes, and how those taxes should be used. Isn’t this asking for trouble? Switzerland is a strange nation. The people are handed the chance to increase their annual leave to six weeks on a silver platter, and what do they do? They decline!, ...ادامه مطلب

Inteational Alert works with young people in neighbourhoods near Tunis to promote local govement participation and workforce development (swissinfo.ch) Urban working-class areas around the Tunisian capital, Tunis, have a reputation as breeding grounds for crime and religious extremism. Swi, ...ادامه مطلب

A family member of missing persons waits for body bags in Merdare, 40 km (25 miles) north of the Kosovo's capital Pristina , on June 30, 2006 (Keystone) A two-day conference this week in Geneva aims to relaunch the process of identifying 1,658 people who disappeared during the war in Kosovo (1, ...ادامه مطلب

Hungary has witnessed a wave of recent protests against various policies that are seen as a rollback of liberal democray (Keystone) The spread of democracy has tued into a crisis of democracy. Historical amnesia is partly to blame for a growing disenchantment, but this phenomenon, which vari, ...ادامه مطلب

Swiss Parliament has just increased the retirement age for women to 65 years, up from 64. This may be just a first step, since parliament has for several years mentioned the possibility of raising retirement age to 67 years for both sexes. For some, the increase in life expectancy justifies these in, ...ادامه مطلب

Workers lay reinforcement steel in a tunnel between Bellinzona and Lugano.(Keystone)From baker to banker, Swiss workers ea salaries that must be put into perspective.Like anywhere in the world, salaries in Switzerland vary depending on factors like education, experience and location. Each year, ca, ...ادامه مطلب

The proportion of under-25s getting their licence in Geneva has fallen from 75% 15 years ago to 65%, according to mobility specialist Vincent Kaufmann(Keystone)Geneva attracts global attention for its motor show currently underway, but fewer and fewer young adults in Geneva itself are showing an int, ...ادامه مطلب

Campaigners celebrate the rejection in 2016 of a controversial initiative to deport foreigners who commit certain crimes(Keystone)The more options people are given to participate politically, the happier they are, according to scientific research. So shouldn’t every country introduce Swiss-style dir, ...ادامه مطلب