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11.08.2023
A huge proliferation of cyberattacks from pro-Russian hackers on Switzerland’s IT infrastructure preceded Volodymyr Zelensky’s short address to the Swiss parliament. Photo: Keystone

Zelensky addresses Swiss parliament

On 15 June 2023, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky was allowed to address the Swiss parliament via direct video link. In his short speech, Zelensky asked Switzerland to hold a peace conference. In the days leading up to Zelensky’s address, pro-Russian hackers unleashed massive cyberattacks on Switzerland’s IT infrastructure. The hackers targeted the websites and applications of the Federal Administration and Swiss parliament as well as the official websites of numerous Swiss cities. Just before these attacks, hackers stole information belonging to the Federal Office of Police, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, various cantonal police forces, and the state-owned arms manufacturer RUAG. (MUL)

Swiss negotiator with the European Union is stepping down

Livia Leu, Switzerland’s chief negotiator with the European Union (EU), is stepping down at her own request to become Swiss ambassador to Germany this autumn. Leu’s departure after less than three years in office comes at a delicate moment, because exploratory talks between Switzerland and the EU on a new agreement have entered an important phase. Leu is reputed to be a tenacious diplomat who knows her brief. However, her dealings with Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis have been strained of late. The job of chief negotiator has changed hands numerous times. Roberto Balzaretti, Pascale Baeriswyl, Jacques de Watteville and Yves Rossier have preceded Leu in the post over just the last ten years. (MUL)

NASA research chief Thomas Zurbuchen has returned to Switzerland. Zurbuchen’s expatriate experience has been exemplary. After studying in Switzerland and then working abroad, he is now at the top of his game and bringing his expertise back home. Photo: Keystone

Thomas Zurbuchen joins ETH Zurich

Swiss Thomas Zurbuchen, 55, the former head of research at NASA, the US space agency, has returned to Switzerland to work for ETH Zurich. From August 2023, he will head the ETH Zurich Space initiative as Professor of Space Science and Technology. Considered one of the world’s most influential scientific researchers, Zurbuchen had a decisive influence on space science at NASA. According to the ETH Zurich President Joël Mesot, Zurbuchen “decided to join ETH Zurich despite numerous offers from top universities around the world”. (MUL)

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov holding a copy of “Novaya Gazeta”, the newspaper that he founded in 1993. The publication is now banned in Russia. Fellow Nobel laureate Mikhail Gorbachev also helped to establish the newspaper. Photo: Keystone

100 million from Russia for UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein

UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein has received a donation of 100 million Swiss francs – from dissident Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. Muratov’s independent Russian newspaper “Novaya Gazeta” has had to suspend its activities amid pressure from the Russian authorities. In 2022, Muratov decided to sell his golden Nobel Prize medal at an auction in New York. He has now donated the entire proceeds to UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, an organisation providing emergency relief in Ukraine. (MUL)

Downsized solar project in Valais

The solar farm in the Valais Alps near Grengiols was supposed to occupy five square kilometres of land and begin supplying electricity to some 100,000 households in record speed. This, at least, was what local SP politician Peter Bodenmann had in mind (see “Swiss Review” 1/2023). The backers of the project have since returned to the drawing board. The facility has now been downsized to one square kilometre, say project managers from the Valais electricity company FMW. It also remains to be seen whether voters in the municipality of Grengiols will agree to the installation in the mountain landscape. (MUL)

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