news flash
Resident permanent population in Switzerland
– Decline in immigration to Switzerland in 2009
According to final figures published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Switzerland's permanent resident population increased by 84,000 persons, i.e. 1.1%, in 2009 reaching 7,785,800 inhabitants by the end of the year. There was a decrease in net migration of 24% and a rise in natural increase of 2.3% compared with the previous year. Population growth was more marked in urban areas (+1.2%) than in rural areas (+0.9%).
Switzerland's permanent resident population reached 7,785,800 persons on 31 December 2009. It grew by 84,000 inhabitants, i.e. +1.1% compared with the previous year. This growth was lower than that observed in 2008 (1.4%), when particularly significant net migration was registered, largely due to the favourable economic situation as well as to the introduction of complete free movement of persons with the 17 countries of the European Union (EU) and the EFTA countries.
The European-wide emergency telephone number is 112.
This can be used in any country in the EU (and Switzerland), and dialled from any telephone (even a public pay phone - without the use of a phone card or coins). Make sure that your children also know this number and how to call it. Some people recommend teaching a child to remember by using the face: one mouth, one nose, two eyes.
The Hitler salute still not forbidden in Switzerland
– The reasons provided by the Federal Council for this decision are not substantive. The Federal Commission against Racism FCR and the GRA Foundation against Racism and Anti-Semitism are of the opinion that the Federal Government’s decision not to ban the Swastika and Hitler salute will have serious consequences. They criticise the reasoning of the Federal Government, which stated that a ban on racist symbols would be difficult to implement. The FCR and GRA will continue to fight for a ban, in order to ensure Switzerland does not turn into a European refuge for right-wing extremist material.
Amnesty International wants you to join to celebrate International refugee Day in zürich this Saturday 19th of June - 2010!
It’s a festival organized by Kantonale Fachstelle für Integrationsfrage. The festival’s main focus will be on the social and professional integration of recognized refugees and those temporarily admitted to Switzerland.
Amnesty International will on this occasion encourage you to:
* sign a petition to Eveline Widmer-Schlump to stop the forced return of asylum seekers from Switzerland to Greece
* Come visit Amnesty International’s booth at the festival and learn more about Amnesty International’s work on refugees and how you can get involved.
Where: Landesmuseum, Zürich
When: Saturday the 19th of June 2010
What time: 12:00-18:00
Hopp Schwiiz!
Switzerland have beaten European champions Spain 1-0 in the first of their three group matches of the 2010 football World Cup.
A messy goal by Gelson Fernandes in the 52nd minute gave the Swiss their first win in a World Cup opening match since 1954, when they beat Italy 2-1.
Foreign graduates allowed to job hunt
Foreigners who earn a degree in Switzerland will soon have a better chance of finding a job there too.
Both parliamentary chambers have decided to allow foreign graduates to stay on for six months after their studies.
Currently, foreigners attending Swiss universities must return home after the final bell rings.
"eBooks on Demand" at the National Library
The Swiss National Library (NL) now offers a digitisation on request service for out of copy-right books. This new paid service is known as "eBooks on Demand" (EOD). The NL already lists more than 100,000 books available for digitisation, which can be provided as a PDF to customers.
The FDFA calls for an end to the use of violence in Thailand
Switzerland expresses its sympathy and support to Thailand in the present difficult situation. The FDFA calls on all sides to resume dialogue.
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is worried about the renewed outbreak of violence in Bangkok and in the northern regions of Thailand in recent days. It deplores the circumstances that have led to numerous deaths and injuries and to serious damage to property. "The political and social conflict that divides the country can only find a lasting solution at the political level and in the framework of the rule of law", declared the head of the FDFA, Micheline Calmy-Rey, on Thursday.
The FDFA appeals to all sides to refrain from the use of violence and to resume political dialogue as soon as possible to calm the situation and to initiate a process of national reconciliation.
Switzerland expresses its sympathy and support to Thailand in the current difficult domestic political situation.
Thailand is not only home to the largest community of Swiss nationals in Asia but is also one of the most popular holiday destinations for the Swiss.
Election of Switzerland
to a second mandate in the Human Rights Council for the period 2010-2013.
Switzerland was today elected to a second three-year term in the Human Rights Council by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Switzerland is pleased about this election, which it regards as recognition of its commitment to human rights in general and of its active role as a member of the Council in the period 2006-2009. With a review of the Council's activities coming up 2011, Switzerland will continue to work to ensure that the Council is effective, equitable and capable of responding quickly to human rights violations, wherever they occur.
Switzerland demands an action plan on nuclear disarmament
Switzerland calls on the signatories of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to adopt an action plan on nuclear disarmament. Furthermore, nuclear weapons should generally no longer be considered legitimate.
Swiss Pavilion opens at Shanghai Expo
The Swiss Pavilion in at the Shanghai Expo – the largest Expo to date - opened its doors today. As part of its strategy of communication abroad, Switzerland will be presenting itself in an open and inter-active pavilion covering 4,000 square metres. The chosen topic – Rural-Urban Interaction – is dealt with in a playful manner. The organisers expect 2.5 million visitors in the coming months.
Appenzell elects woman again in government
Voters in Appenzell Inner Rhodes have unanimously chosen 41-year-old political scientist Antonia Fässler as director of the half-canton’s health and social department
Fässler, who was chosen at the traditional open-air gathering of the electorate (Landsgemeinde) is only the second woman to become a member of the seven-member Appenzell government since women were allowed the vote at local level 20 years ago.
Canton Bern agrees to e-voting for expats
Swiss abroad who are registered as voters from canton Bern will soon be able to cast their ballot electronically.
Under an agreement signed on Friday, canton Bern will from 2012 use canton Geneva’s electronic voting platform, which is already being shared by canton Basel City.
In Switzerland, cantons Geneva, Neuchâtel and Zurich have electronic systems of their own. The federal authorities have recommended other cantons use one of these three platforms as electronic voting develops in the country.
Statistics on tourist accommodation
– Youth hostels and campsites in 2009
According to the annual results for 2009 of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Switzerland's 56 registered youth hostels generated 946,000 overnight stays, i.e. a decline of 3.3% compared with 2008. The 279 campsites considered in this statistic registered 3.3 million overnight stays, representing an increase of 9.4% compared with 2008. In both types of accommodation, Swiss demand accounted for more than half of overnight stays, i.e. 58% in youth hostels and 54% in campsites.
Swiss Catholics are also calling for change.
In a recent statement issued by a progressive umbrella organisation (Verein Tagsatzung im Bistum Basel), half a dozen Catholic groups demanded that bishops pay more attention to victims of child abuse inflicted by priests.
They also urged the clergy to take a closer look at paedophile priests – in particular those who were protected by the Church.
In addition, they pushed for bishops to re-evaluate mandatory celibacy as well as the role of women in the Church.
Read more here
Controversial former Olympic head dies
Juan Antonio Samaranch, the former head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has died in hospital in Barcelona.
Samaranch, who was 89, died of heart failure, the hospital said on Wednesday.
Read more on swissinfo.ch
Swiss air space will be closed to all aircraft as a preventive measure as a cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland approaches the country.
The civil aviation office announced the ban on Friday afternoon. It will begin at midnight, when the ash is expected to arrive over Switzerland, and remain in force until at least 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Switzerland ratifies the United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property
Today, Switzerland has ratified the United Nations Convention of 2 December 2004 on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property. It is the ninth State to ratify the Convention which, once it enters into force, will contribute to enhancing legal certainty in the area of immunities both for foreign States in Switzerland and for Switzerland abroad.
Switzerland condemns the execution of two Palestinians in a Gaza prison
Switzerland strongly condemns the execution of two Palestinians accused of collaboration. The execution took place on 15 April 2010 in a prison in Gaza on the orders of the Gaza authorities.
UN reconstruction conference in New York: Switzerland to support Haiti with 90 million Swiss francs
Switzerland will enter into a long-term engagement in Haiti. At the UN Donors' Conference in New York on 31 March 2010, SDC Director-General Martin Dahinden expressed Switzerland's solidarity with the earthquake-ravaged Caribbean country. Until 2012, the Swiss Confederation will contribute a total of CHF 35.9 million to the rebuilding of Haiti, while an additional CHF 55 million will come from donations collected directly by Swiss Solidarity and its partner organisations.
Conference on child begging and trafficking in children
Swiss cities, such as Bern, Zurich, Geneva, and Basel, find themselves confronted with a surge in organised begging in the streets. There are also many children to be found among the groups of beggars originating primarily from Romania. The well-founded suspicion exists that there is a link between the begging scene and trafficking in children. With the objective of developing strategies to solve this problem, FDFA Political Affairs Division IV Human Security, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the Coordination Centre against Human Trafficking and Smuggling invited specialists from Switzerland and abroad to a meeting in Bern.
Uyghurs from Guantánamo in Canton Jura
The two Uyghurs with Chinese citizenship, who were granted admission for humanitarian reasons by Switzerland, have arrived in Canton Jura. They were brought from Guantánamo in their Canton of admission in collaboration with the US authorities. In this way Switzerland – as other countries too – contributes to the closing of the Guantánamo prison camp.
Switzerland supports the international reconstruction effort in Haiti
The Federal Council has decided to earmark the sum of CHF 36 million until the end of 2012 for the reconstruction effort in Haiti. In particular, Switzerland will be active in repairing and reconditioning basic infrastructure, in rural development and food security. These activities will be financed by framework credits already in place.
Child allowances agreed for all families
Parliament has agreed in principle to extend the system of child benefits to include families of self-employed people.
Allowances for about 1.7 million children are granted, but under existing law in force since January 2009 a total of 75,000 children are left out.
Read more on swissinfo.ch
Switzerland calls for a stop to Israeli settlements
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is deeply concerned about the announcement of the Government of Israel to authorise the construction of 1,600 new dwellings in a settlement in East Jerusalem in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It asks the Israeli government not to proceed with this building project and to halt all forms of colonisation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Unicef gets tougher against female mutilation
The Swiss section of the United Nations Children’s Fund has handed in almost 20,000 names calling for stronger measures against female genital mutilation.
The petitioners who filled in an online electronic card are calling on parliament to anchor criminal law provisions in the Swiss penal code against all forms of the practice.
Unicef Switzerland’s campaign was launched on February 6, the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, an annual United Nations awareness event.
Read more on this at swissinfo.ch >>
International Women's Day 2010
Theme
Each year around the world,
International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.
Organisations, governments and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.
Some years have seen global IWD themes honoured around the world, while in other years groups have preferred to 'localise' their own themes to make them more specific and relevant.
THEME: So while many people may think there is one global theme each year, this is not always correct. It is completely up to each country and group as to what appropriate theme they select.
United Nation theme for International Women's Day 2010:
Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all
Statistics on tourist accommodation
– Fewer overnight stays in January 2010
- (FSO) - According to provisional results from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the Swiss hotel industry registered 2.8 million overnight stays in January 2010. This result corresponds to a reduction of 2.6% (-76,000 overnight stays) compared with January 2009. Swiss guests registered 1.2 million overnight stays, i.e. a drop of 2.3% (-30,000). The number of overnight stays by foreign visitors was 1.6 million, i.e. a decline of 2.9% (-47,000).
Federal Statistical Office, Neuchâtel, 08.03.2010
House-building activity in 4th quarter 2009
– Again more dwellings with planning permission
- (FSO) - In the 4th quarter of 2009, 11,120 new dwellings were built in Switzerland. The number of new dwellings therefore remained unchanged from the same quarter a year earlier. The number of dwellings with planning permission rose by 19% to 13,250 units during the same period. At the end of December 2009, 63,540 dwellings were under construction, which corresponds to an increase of more than 12% year-on-year.
Federal Statistical Office, Neuchâtel, 08.03.2010
Federal Council plans to cut greenhouse gases
by at least 20 per cent
The Federal Council is joining the Copenhagen Accord negotiated at the World Climate Conference in Copenhagen. It has informed the UN Climate Convention Secretariat of Switzerland's aim to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020. In addition, the Federal Council has decided to increase its commitment to the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, Bern, 24.02.2010
Swiss anti-racism laws found lacking
Switzerland’s anti-racism laws are inadequate and need to be improved, the Federal Commission against Racism said in a report presented on Tuesday.
Private and administrative law do not explicitly ban discrimination and there are inefficiencies in the application of laws due to long court proceedings, high costs of legal action and lack of clarity about the issue, the body said.
The commission said people are being discriminated against every day because of their skin colour or ethnic origin when looking for jobs or homes.
It recommended modelling racism discrimination laws on existing Swiss laws that protect the equality of women and the disabled.
One Swiss heads to Libyan jail, one heads home
One of two Swiss nationals held in Libya for the past 18 months has left the Swiss embassy in Tripoli to start a four-month jail sentence.
Continued improvement in consumer confidence
Based on the latest consumer confidence survey (January 2010), Swiss consumer sentiment rose once again at the beginning of the year. The quarterly survey index* , which is calculated from questioning around 1’100 households, reached a level of -7 points in January (compared with -14 points in October 2009). Based on the January survey, consumers expect unemployment to rise more slowly and expect positive developments in their personal financial situation as well as an improvement in the general economic condition.
Hours worked in 2008
– Increase in total number of hours worked in 2008
According to results from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the total number of hours worked in Switzerland reached 7,382 billion in 2008, representing an increase of 1.8% compared with the previous year. The gross domestic product (GDP), expressed in terms of the previous year's prices, increased at the same rate, resulting in stagnation of labour productivity between 2007 and 2008. Compared with the previous year, the annual volume of actual hours worked by self-employed workers registered a decline, unlike that of salaried workers. Between 2003 and 2008, the actual length of the working week of full-time employees increased by 11 minutes, reaching 42 hours and 4 minutes.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which occurs on January 27, is the first universal commemoration in memory of the victims of The Holocaust. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/7 on 1 November 2005 during the 42nd plenary session. On 24 January 2005, during a special session (Special website for the session), the United Nations General Assembly had previously marked the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps and the end of the Holocaust which resulted in the annihilation of 6 million European Jews and millions of others by the Nazi German regime.
January 27 is the date, in 1945, when the largest Nazi death camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau (Poland) was liberated by Soviet troops.
Prior to the 60/7 resolution, there had been national days of commemoration such as the Der Tag des Gedenkens an die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus (The Day of remembrance for the victims of National Socialism) in Germany[1], established in a proclamation issued by Federal President Roman Herzog on 3 January 1996. Since 2001, January the 27th has been Holocaust memorial day.
Measuring rainfall with mobile phone antennas
As rain interferes with radio signals, Eawag researchers have been able to measure rainfall using data supplied by the mobile telecommunications company Orange. The new method offers greater spatial resolution than traditional point measurements provided by rain gauges. In the future, this could be combined with intelligent control systems for sewer networks so as to reduce water pollution in urban areas.
Imprisonment – Increase in number of prison inmates but marked regional differences.
On 2 September 2009, 6084 persons were detained in prison establishments in Switzerland. This is the second largest prison population since 1999. There were 31% of prisoners in pre-trial detention, 59% serving a prison sentence, 7% in detention for expulsion and extradition and 3% were in custody for other reasons. The occupancy rate reached 91%, an increase of 5 percentage points compared with 2008. This rate was particularly high in the cantons of French and Italian speaking Switzerland with an occupancy rate of 100%. The population of some prisons is actually above capacity. The number of prisoners in relation to the resident population has also increased from 76 to 80 prisoners per 100,000 persons of the resident population.
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Braun ruft alle Braun Satin Pro und Braun Satin Hair Colour Haartrockner zurück
In freiwilliger Zusammenarbeit mit Braun informiert das Eidgenössische Büro für Konsumentenfragen BFK über den Rückruf der Haartrockner Braun Satin Pro und Braun Satin Hair Colour.
Informationen zu weiteren Produkterpckrufen: www.produkterueckrufe.admin.ch
Wegen sauberer Luft Gemüse anders düngen
Dank Luftreinhalte-Verordnung hat der Ausstoss von Schwefel in die Atmosphäre seit den 1980er Jahren um mehr als 80% abgenommen. Parallel dazu ist auch die Schwefel-Menge zurückgegangen, die via Niederschläge in landwirtschaftlich genutzte Flächen gelangt. Experten der Forschungsanstalt Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW fanden heraus, dass viele Gemüsekulturen an Schwefel-Mangel leiden, wenn ihnen dieser essentielle Pflanzennährstoff nicht gezielt bei der Düngung verabreicht wird.
Vulkanausbruch: Passagiere werden gebeten, vorläufig nicht an den Flughafen Zürich zu kommen. Der Flugverkehr in Zürich bleibt voraussichtlich bis Sonntag, 14:00 Uhr eingestellt. Passagieren wird geraten, vorläufig nicht an den Flughafen Zürich zu kommen und sich mit der jeweiligen Fluggesellschaft in Verbindung zu setzen. Weitere Informationen folgen, sobald Details bekannt sind.
Inhaberinnen und Inhaber von Visa D dürfen neu im gesamten Schengen-Raum reisen.
Ab dem 5. April 2010 werden Ausländerinnen und Ausländer, die über ein nationales Visum für den längerfristigen Aufenthalt von mehr als drei Monaten (Visum D) in einem Schengen-Mitgliedstaat verfügen, im gesamten Schengen-Raum reisen können. Es handelt sich dabei um eine Weiterentwicklung des Schengen-Besitzstands. Deren Übernahme hat der Bundesrat heute gutgeheissen.
Bundesrat lehnt die Ferien-Initiative ab; EJPD wird bis Mitte 2010 Botschaft vorlegen
Längere Ferien können den Spielraum für Lohnerhöhungen oder Arbeitszeitverkürzungen einschränken und sich deshalb für die Arbeitnehmenden auch als nachteilig erweisen. Der Bundesrat ist zudem der Ansicht, dass der Anspruch auf Ferien nicht in der Bundesverfassung, sondern auf Gesetzesstufe zu regeln ist. Er wird deshalb die Volksinitiative "6 Wochen Ferien für alle" ohne Gegenentwurf zur Ablehnung empfehlen. Er hat am Mittwoch das Eidg. Justiz- und Polizeidepartement (EJPD) beauftragt, bis Mitte 2010 eine entsprechende Botschaft vorzulegen.
Die Lage auf dem Arbeitsmarkt im Februar 2010
Arbeitslosigkeit im Februar 2010. Gemäss den Erhebungen des Staatssekretariats für Wirtschaft SECO waren Ende Februar 2010 172’999 Arbeitslose bei den Regionalen Arbeitsvermittlungszentren (RAV) eingeschrieben, 2’766 weniger als im Vormonat. Die Arbeitslosenquote sank damit von 4,5% im Januar 2010 auf 4,4% im Berichtsmonat. Gegenüber dem Vorjahresmonat erhöhte sich die Arbeitslosigkeit um 40’597 Personen (+30,7%).
Analyse der SRG-SSR-Programme: Wenig Berichterstattung über andere Sprachregionen
Die Radio- und Fernsehprogramme der SRG SSR idée suisse sind sehr stark auf die eigene Sprachregion fixiert; eine Berichterstattung über andere Sprachregionen der Schweiz findet kaum statt. Dies geht aus den Schlussberichten zu den wissenschaftlichen Analysen der Radio- und Fernsehprogramme der SRG SSR hervor.
Änderung der Verordnung über Massnahmen gegenüber Liberia
Der Bundesrat hat am 17. Februar 2010 eine Änderung des Rüstungsgüterembargos gegenüber Liberia beschlossen.
Die Schweiz setzt damit die Resolution 1903 des UNO-Sicherheitsrats vom 17. Dezember 2009 um. Die Verordnungsänderung wurde am 23. Februar 2010 veröffentlicht und tritt am 1. März 2010 in Kraft.
Sirenentest am Mittwoch, 3. Februar 2010
Sirenen können Leben retten. Vorausgesetzt, sie funktionieren richtig und die Bevölkerung weiss, was zu tun ist. Am Mittwoch, 3. Februar 2010 findet deshalb in der ganzen Schweiz von 13.30 Uhr bis spätestens 15 Uhr der jährliche Sirenentest statt. Dabei wird die Funktionsbereitschaft der Sirenen des "Allgemeinen Alarms" und des "Wasseralarms" getestet. Es sind keine Schutzmassnahmen zu ergreifen.
Jelly Minicups: Erstickungsgefahr durch Geleezuckerwaren in Mini-Plastikbechern
as Bundesamt für Gesundheit (BAG) warnt vor dem Konsum von Geleezuckerwaren in Mini-Plastikbechern (Minicups). Weil von solchen Produkten aufgrund ihrer Form und Konsistenz eine Erstickungsgefahr ausgeht, hat das BAG die Jelly Minicups bereits 2002 verboten. Bei Stichproben der Kantonalen Lebensmittelbehörden hat sich herausgestellt, dass Jelly Minicups in der Schweiz erneut zum Verkauf angeboten wurden.
Autobahnvignette: Busse bleibt vorläufig bei 100 Franken
Einige Medien haben irrtümlicherweise berichtet, dass sich die Busse für ungültige oder fehlende Autobahnvignetten 2010 von 100 auf 200 Franken erhöhe. Die Busse bleibt jedoch für Vignettenvergehen vorläufig bei 100 Franken; eine Erhöhung tritt voraussichtlich erst ab 2011 in Kraft.
Die Lage auf dem Arbeitsmarkt im Dezember 2009 / Jahresdurchschnitt 2009
Arbeitslosigkeit im Dezember 2009. Gemäss den Erhebungen des Staatssekretariats für Wirtschaft SECO waren Ende Dezember 2009 172’740 Arbeitslose bei den Regionalen Arbeitsvermittlungszentren (RAV) eingeschrieben, 8’790 mehr als im Vormonat. Die Arbeitslosenquote stieg damit von 4,2% im November 2009 auf 4,4% im Berichtsmonat. Gegenüber dem Vorjahresmonat erhöhte sich die Arbeitslosigkeit um 53’978 Personen (+45,5%).
Einführung der Biometrie im Ausländerausweis: Botschaft verabschiedet
Der Bundesrat hat heute die Botschaft zur Einführung der Biometrie im Ausländerausweis verabschiedet. Die dafür notwendigen rechtlichen Änderungen betreffen das Bundesgesetz über die Ausländerinnen und Ausländer (AuG) sowie das Bundesgesetz über das Informationssystem für den Ausländer- und den Asylbereich (BGIAA).
Beruf und Familie: Erste nationale Internetplattform zu den kantonalen
und kommunalen Politiken
Am 9. Oktober 2009 lancieren das Staatssekretariat
für Wirtschaft SECO und das Bundesamt für Sozialversicherungen
BSV die Informationsplattform «Vereinbarkeit Beruf und Familie:
Massnahmen der Kantone und Gemeinden» auf www.berufundfamilie.admin.ch
Compaire your electricalbill:
www.strompreis.elcom.admin.ch
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