Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Parliament moves on civilian service

This content was published on Mar 16, 2010 In 2009, more than 7,200 men – nearly four times up on previous years – asked instead of military service to be allowed to do some form of community duty, which is 50 per cent longer. Less than a year ago parliament suspended personal vetting procedures for conscientious objectors. The Senate on Tuesday approved a…

Swiss Politics

Swiss “must act now” on banking secrecy

This content was published on Mar 15, 2010 The Swiss government has vowed to maintain its position against the automatic exchange of bank information between countries in suspected tax fraud cases. Such an exchange would signal the end of Swiss banking secrecy, which has been demanded by the European Union, among others, and international tax lawyer Philippe Kenel says there is no way…

Swiss Abroad

Swiss abroad told to make their voices heard

This content was published on Mar 14, 2010 For the past few months Swiss citizens living in Britain have been encouraged to express their thoughts on the title of the forum, “What does Switzerland do for the Swiss abroad – could it do more?” The three most pressing topics discussed at the weekend by the Federation of Swiss Societies in Britain (FOSSUK) and…

Swiss Politics

Women descend on Bern

This content was published on Mar 13, 2010 They responded to calls from more than 50 women’s groups, unions and associations, and marched against poverty and violence towards women. In Parliament Square on Saturday women gave speeches on domestic violence, equality at work and in education, peace and demilitarisation, protection of the environment and the rights of female immigrants. Local action had already…

Student senator climbs the political ladder

This content was published on Mar 12, 2010 Ahead of his first parliamentary session in Bern, which began earlier this month, the media pointed out that Comte is still a student who lives with his parents and does not yet have a driver’s licence. His looks are typical of the new generation of the centre-right Radical Party: pastel shirt, striped tie and scarf,…

Swiss Politics

Long-serving North Korean to leave post?

This content was published on Mar 11, 2010 Ri Tcheul, his country’s ambassador to the United Nations agencies in Geneva, is a close associate of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, and is thought to have managed illicit funds belonging to Kim in secret Swiss bank accounts, the Yonhap agency said. The South Korean media claims Kim has stashed away billions of dollars in…

Swiss Politics

Top manager salaries lambasted in parliament

This content was published on Mar 11, 2010 It rejected a proposal by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party for a legal reform and voted instead to pursue plans for a constitutional amendment to come to a nationwide vote. Thursday’s initial debate was marked by mutual accusations between the People’s Party and the centre-right Radical Party against the centre-left Social Democrats, the Greens and…

Swiss Politics

NewsDigest_1269526419681

This content was published on Mar 11, 2010 The Geneva-based Human Rights Council on Thursday approved a resolution, sponsored by Pakistan, to denounce the vote as Islamophobic. Twenty countries voted in favour of the resolution, 17 against, while eight abstained. Nearly 58 per cent of Swiss voters approved an initiative in November banning the construction of minarets. Earlier this year Switzerland was criticised…

Torture expert blasts Human Rights Council

This content was published on Mar 10, 2010 According to Austrian human rights lawyer Manfred Nowak, there is a growing gap between the high aspirations of human rights law and the sobering reality on the ground. The UN special rapporteur on torture was in Geneva this week for the council’s 13th regular session, which runs from March 1-26. On Monday Nowak, who has…

Swiss Politics

GMO moratorium extended for three years

This content was published on Mar 10, 2010 The Senate on Wednesday agreed – in line with the House of Representatives – the final details of an amended law which will be valid up to November 2013. The law was initially approved in 2005 for a limited period of time to allow a national research programme to examine the possible risks and benefits…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Parliament moves on civilian service

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Swiss “must act now” on banking secrecy

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Swiss abroad told to make their voices heard

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Women descend on Bern

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Student senator climbs the political ladder

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Long-serving North Korean to leave post?

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Top manager salaries lambasted in parliament

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NewsDigest_1269526419681

More

Torture expert blasts Human Rights Council

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GMO moratorium extended for three years

Popular Stories

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