Mid-sized Swiss communities performed best in a cost of living assessment. In addition to low rents and purchase prices for real estate, these communities also offer advantages in terms of taxes, health insurance premiums and local infrastructure, writes the ‘NZZ am Sonntag’ based on an evaluation by consultancy Wüest and Partner. The best-placed communities were in the conurbation or on the central plateau along the A1 motorway between Freiburg and eastern Switzerland. In German-speaking Switzerland, Ried was at the top at Kerzers FR. The evaluation also took into account the accessibility of the place of residence. At the bottom of the ranking were remote communities in the cantons of Graubünden, Valais and Ticino.
Switzerland has refused to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for the death of opposition activist Alexai Navalny. All other EFTA states, EU states and the US joined a corresponding resolution of the UN Human Rights Council, as “SonntagsBlick” wrote. The text was formulated too sharply for the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EDA). “We could live with the words of the Russian authorities,” an internal newspaper said. The FDFA said Switzerland had called on Russian authorities to conduct a transparent investigation into the death in their statements, including at the UN Human Rights Council.
High patient demands have led to healthcare cost increases, according to three hospital bosses. According to the “SonntagsZeitung”, the heads of hospitals in Baden, Biel and Chur said in unison that the premiums were still too low for what was consumed. “We can hardly meet the demand during all our consultation hours,” says Hugo Keune of the Cantonal Hospital Graubünden. “We had headache patients in an emergency situation who threatened to file a lawsuit if they did not get an MRI immediately,” says Adrian Schmitter from the Baden Cantonal Hospital. High electricity and food costs have also gotten out of hand. The different cantonal handling of hospital shortages would also lead to inequality: “In one canton the government is helping, in another hospitals are closed,” says Kristian Schneider of the Biel Center Hospital.
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The cantons want to give priority to cantonally applicable minimum wages over collective labor agreements. In doing so, they oppose Parliament’s plan, which gives priority to collective labor agreements, as “Le Matin Dimanche” wrote. The draft law “significantly interferes with the autonomy of the cantons” and “nullifies certain decisions of the people,” according to statements from the Cantonal Conference of Ministers of Economic Affairs and the Conference of Social Directorates. The design is available for consultation until Monday. The state government has already called on parliament to reject the draft because it violates several basic principles of the Swiss legal system.
The Ministry of Defense has set aside eight million francs for external lawyers over the next eight years. The cost cap includes the department’s legal support for upcoming procurement projects, as a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDBS) told SonntagsBlick. The amount does not have to be exhausted. By comparison, the federal government spent a total of 699 million francs on external advice and services last year. Major projects require the rapid involvement of specialized lawyers with an independent outside perspective, the VBS spokeswoman said. The contract was made public. According to “SonntagsBlick”, several specialized large law firms are participating.
Swisscom plans to open 3,200 kilometers of roads due to a legal dispute. Under pressure from the Federal Competition Commission (Weko), the telecom provider adjusted its planning for fiber optic connections before a final decision was made, the “SonntagsZeitung” writes. The Comco demanded that every Swiss household have a separate fiber optic connection instead of supplying the entire neighborhood. This must not disrupt competition. According to the newspaper, 3,200 kilometers corresponds to four times the straight line between Bern and Hamburg. Experts expect additional costs of two billion francs. According to Swisscom, this has no additional benefit for end customers. According to the “SonntagsZeitung”, the legal dispute between ComCo and Swisscom will probably last for years.
Junge SVP strategy chief Sarah Regez took part in a secret meeting with Austrian right-wing radical Martin Sellner. The meeting took place in a small group in May 2023, as “SonntagsBlick” wrote. Members of the right-wing extremist group ‘Junge Tat’ were mainly present at the scene. Shortly before the secret meeting, the SVP Baselland placed Regez on the main list for the National Council elections. Regez was successful in the elections: she would advance if someone from the current SVP representation left the National Council. Regez did not respond to multiple contacts from the editors.
The marina project of Egyptian investor Samih Sawiris in Isleten UR violates nature and heritage protection. The area is located in a protected landscape, as the “SonntagsZeitung” wrote. The legal situation is so clear that the project will never happen. The federal government and the cantons must ensure that the natural and cultural landscape character of these areas is preserved. Interventions are only permitted if there are at least equivalent interests of national interest. Neither Sawiris nor the Uri cantonal government, which supports the project, had previously commissioned an environmental and construction law report. Two legal experts contacted by the newspaper assumed that Sawiris would not be able to carry out his project.
The project for a Holocaust memorial in Switzerland will be put out to tender at the end of this year. In the coming months, a steering committee will define the main points of the project, as a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EDA) told “SonntagsBlick”. The performance committee consists of two representatives each from the federal government, the city of Bern and civil society. The monument is intended as an example against genocide, anti-Semitism and racism, but also for democracy and the rule of law. The planned memorial must be combined with an educational offer, for example for school classes, as “SonntagsBlick” wrote. (sda)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
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