Sunday, December 24, 2023
Published: Sunday, Dec 24th 2023, 05:50
Updated At: Sunday, Dec 24th 2023, 05:50
Volver a Live Feed
Suicidal teenagers, child labor for perfumes and Switzerland as a hub for Russian espionage: this and more can be found in the Sunday newspapers. The headlines in unverified reports:
"SonntagsBlick":
According to a study by the UN Children's Fund Unicef, one in eleven young people in Switzerland has attempted suicide. "That's two per school class," said Bettina Junker, Executive Director of Unicef Switzerland, in an interview with "Blick". She calls politicians to account. In Switzerland, there are hardly any low-threshold contact points that young people would like to turn to. Only three percent of those surveyed make use of public services. "If young people are looking for a place in therapy, they often have to wait six months," said Junker. In a rich country like Switzerland, this is unacceptable.
"NZZ am Sonntag":
The rose oil for perfumes sold worldwide is also produced by child labor in Turkey. "Small, nimble hands are best at plucking the flowers," a foreman in the Turkish province of Isparta told the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper. The Swiss company Givaudan, the world's largest manufacturer of flavors and fragrances, does not rule out child labor for its products. "There is no one hundred percent guarantee," said a spokeswoman. The harvest takes a few weeks. Migrant workers live in precarious conditions during this time, as the "NZZ am Sonntag" observed. Until last year, children from the age of six helped with the harvest. This has been prohibited by law since this year. Child labor has been illegal in Turkey for 50 years.
"NZZ am Sonntag":
According to an intelligence expert, Switzerland has become increasingly important to Russia as a spy hub since the start of the war. The satellite dishes on the Russian mission to the United Nations are used for intelligence activities, Adrian Hänni told the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper. Russian espionage is a main focus of the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS). The war in Ukraine has confirmed that this focus is correct, the FIS announced. With the exception of Austria and Switzerland, the newspaper reports that agents spying on embassies with satellite dishes have been deployed throughout Europe. There are 24 satellite dishes mounted on the Russian representation in Vienna. Seven dishes can be seen on the embassy in Geneva.
"NZZ am Sonntag":
Swiss officials arrested a suspected IS supporter in the spring of 2022 in the canton of Aargau. Due to ongoing investigations, the authorities have not yet communicated the case, as the NZZ am Sonntag wrote. The proceedings against the 51-year-old Algerian are nearing completion, according to the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland. He is said to have planned an attack in France. The suspected IS supporter is currently serving an early sentence in a Swiss prison. He was arrested as part of the international "Miya" operation. It led to 13 arrests within two and a half years. Twelve countries, including Algeria, were involved.
"SonntagsBlick":
The Swiss ambassador to Iran, Nadine Olivieri Lozano, has spoken out in favor of closer cooperation with a controversial mullah university. The university is considered an arm of the Revolutionary Guards and courts Hezbollah cadres, as SonntagsBlick wrote. The visit to the university took place back in February. At the time, it was not known that the university was the University of Religions and Denominations (URD), the newspaper wrote. "We are very interested in expanding cooperation between Swiss universities and the URD," said Olivieri Lozano, according to a portal close to the regime.
"SonntagsZeitung":
The Ukrainian army has called on all men between the ages of 25 and 60 who have fled to do military service. The appeal also went out to Ukrainians in Switzerland, as the SonntagsZeitung newspaper wrote. The country needs the commitment of all citizens who can join the army, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense told the newspaper. There are currently 9300 Ukrainian refugees registered in Switzerland. Military service is still voluntary. The Ukrainian parliament is currently working on a new law to recruit more men from abroad into the army.
"SonntagsBlick":
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has been competing with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) for partnerships from the private sector in development cooperation. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), which reports to Cassis, spent CHF 2.5 million on external consultants to become active in the private sector, as SonntagsBlick reported. This is despite the fact that the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) is officially responsible for private sector partnerships. The SDC also has six employees responsible for the competence center for engagement in the private sector. According to the newspaper, the center costs taxpayers around CHF 7.3 million a year. ahler, the center costs taxpayers around CHF 7.3 million a year.
"SonntagsZeitung" / "Le Matin Dimanche":
Defense Minister Viola Amherd has faced up to the criticism of personnel problems in her department. When she took office, there was a great need for reorganization in the department, as she said in an interview with the SonntagsZeitung newspaper. "It is not unusual for employees to change jobs during a transformation process," said Amherd. She sees a need for clarification regarding the appointment of the head of the new State Secretariat for Security Policy. "When I look at the controversy surrounding the appointment of this State Secretariat, I get the feeling that it's along the lines of 'How do I create a scandal? The appointment had gone according to plan.
"SonntagsZeitung" / "Le Matin Dimanche":
The dispute over the inheritance of Hermès heir Nicolas Puech is only the preliminary climax of a twenty-year power struggle. The battle between the two luxury giants Hermès and the LVMH Group, which includes Louis Vuitton, took place largely in Switzerland, as the SonntagsZeitung newspaper reported. Puech, who lives in Valais, is considered a traitor by the Hermès heirs. He is accused of having sold LVMH a large block of Hermès shares. Whether he is still in possession of the billion-dollar shares remains a secret. The individuals and companies involved remain silent. Puech wants to bequeath his inheritance of several billion Swiss francs to a domestic worker.
©Keystone/SDA
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Arabic