On 15 June 2022, Switzerland’s public prosecutor requested Sepp Blatter (86) and Michel Platini (66) get 20-month suspended prison sentences in connection with accusations of fraud against the football organisation FIFA, reported RTS. The week before, the two defendants had rejected all of the accusations, which included the improper transfer of CHF 2 million from […]
Swiss government rejects automatic citizenship for those born in Switzerland
On 15 June 2022, a proposal put forward by Stefania Prezioso Batou, a federal parliamentarian from Geneva, to grant automatic citizenship to those born in Switzerland was rejected by 112 to 75 votes in Switzerland’s federal parliament, reported 20 Minutes. Batou would like to see the introduction of jus soli where a child born in […]
Swiss airspace closed after computer failure
On 15 June 2022, Swiss airspace was closed after a computer malfunction. At 6:30 am the Swiss air navigation service provider Skyguide reported a technical malfunction and announced the closure of Swiss airspace for safety reasons. Two hours later at 8:30 am Skyguide reported that the technical malfunction had been resolved. The outage affected several […]
Switzerland to join UN Security Council for the first time in its history
On 9 June 2022, Switzerland was elected to sit on the 15-member United Nations Security Council with 14 other nations from 2023 to 2024. The result was largely expected. Only one candidate stood for each of the five regional seats available this year. Switzerland received 187 favourable votes out of a possible 190. Votes are […]
Swiss medical association makes assisted suicide more difficult
This week, the Swiss Medical Association (SMA) tightened restrictions on assisted suicide, reported RTS. The new directives require greater involvement from doctors. At least two doctor-patient interviews must take place. In addition, patients must prove their suffering is unbearable. These procedures must also be well documented. The new guidelines effectively prevent healthy people from accessing […]
Switzerland wants closer military cooperation with the US
During a five-day visit to Washington, Viola Amherd, Switzerland’s defence minister, said that the war in Ukraine shows that Switzerland must strengthen its international cooperation including its cooperation with the US, reported RTS. Serious, brutal violations of international law such as the one committed by Russia must not be tolerated, said the minister after meetings […]
Less than 2% of Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland have found work
Only around 2% of the working-age Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland have found work, according to recent statistics published by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). The first challenge many of the refugees face is language. Recognition of qualifications is another. In addition, many are finding they cannot find positions at the same level as their […]
Switzerland releases 3 billion of frozen Russian funds
On 12 May 2022, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) announced the release of CHF 3.4 billion of funds that was initially frozen in relation to sanctions against specified Russian individuals and companies, reported RTS. The release of the funds follows highly comprehensive analysis to establish whether the funds belonged to any people or […]
Swiss minister defends special treatment of Ukrainian refugees
Certain asylum seekers have reported disbelief, frustration and a sense of injustice upon seeing the integration and fast track visa measures offered to Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland. In response, Karin Keller-Sutter, Switzerland’s minister of police and justice, explained the differences in treatment to RTS. Recently, rumours of discontent among non-Ukrainian asylum seekers in Switzerland have […]
Ukraine refugee day centre opened by English-speaking churches in Lausanne
A Day Centre for Ukrainian refugees will be opened on 28 April 2022 supported by three local English-speaking churches. Based at the Scots Kirk, Avenue de Rumine 26 in Lausanne, it will be open Thursday and Sunday afternoons (14h00 – 17h00). Gillean MacLean, Minister of the Scots Kirk explains why the Centre is being established: […]
