Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Army chief objects to objectors

This content was published on Sep 11, 2009 André Blattmann told the Mittelland Zeitung newspaper that some recruits are giving up after only a few days of basic training, choosing to do civilian service instead. The army chief blamed the situation on a new law – in force since April 1 – which no longer requires young men to give a reason for…

Swiss Politics

Life in transit

This content was published on Sep 11, 2009 “They” are the asylum seekers who arrive in Switzerland by plane in search of a new life. swissinfo.ch visited their temporary home – the new Schengen-compliant reception centre for asylum seekers at Geneva airport. Léonie* sat huddled up on the bottom bunk looking slightly anxious as the group of strangers bounded into her dormitory. “This…

Revelations about Libya fail to shed light

This content was published on Sep 10, 2009 The Swiss foreign ministry has confirmed media reports that one of the two businessmen barred from leaving Libya for over a year has close ties with the family of the Libyan prime minister. It also said that it had held discussions last year with Edwin Bollier, a Swiss businessman with ties to Libya and a…

Swiss Politics

Court dates announced for army accidents

This content was published on Sep 10, 2009 In July 2007, six soldiers died in an avalanche while climbing the Jungfrau mountain. Less than a year later, five died while rafting on the Kander river in the Bernese Oberland. The military justice authorities levelled multiple involuntary manslaughter charges in both cases, as well as disregard for army regulations. The officer involved in the…

Swiss Politics

Senate opposes weapons database

This content was published on Sep 10, 2009 It voted 25 to seven against the creation of a database to keep tabs on all weapons purchased by the Swiss, as called for by the Green party and centre-left Social Democrats. During Thursday’s debate Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf argued that Switzerland did not need to change its current system tracking weapons to fulfil its…

Swiss Politics

Health cost savings move a step further

This content was published on Sep 10, 2009 But after a six-hour debate, it came out against the introduction of a standard fee to be paid by patients for doctor’s consultations, with which the government had hoped to make savings. The package is slated to come into force at the beginning of 2010 and last two years. The Senate is due to debate…

Swiss Politics

Libyan “promises” lost in translation?

This content was published on Sep 8, 2009 But Geri Müller, president of the Swiss foreign affairs committee, which discussed the letter and the Swiss-Libyan diplomatic crisis on Tuesday, voiced his support for Merz and said signs from Libya were “not that bad”. The letter sent by Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi to the Swiss president on August 26, published in Tuesday’s…

Swiss Politics

Christian Democrats nominate cabinet contender

This content was published on Sep 8, 2009 The 56-year-old lawyer was chosen in a secret ballot on Tuesday after rivals Dominique de Buman and Luigi Pedrazzini pulled out. The Christian Democrats are challenging the seat of Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin, one of two centre-right Radical Party representatives in the seven-member cabinet. He is to step down next month. The Radicals have put…

Swiss Politics

UN terrorism blacklists targeted by Senate

This content was published on Sep 8, 2009 It unanimously agreed a motion by Dick Marty, who has complained that United Nations blacklists of suspected terrorists violate the principles of the Swiss rule of law, notably the right of defendants to appeal and the presumption of innocence. There is a risk that people are unjustly deprived of fundamental rights and freedoms for years,…

Swiss Politics

Russia and Switzerland

This content was published on Sep 8, 2009 War and peace, work and leisure, rich and poor, expected and unexpected: regular contacts between Switzerland and Russia go back to the 18th century.

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Army chief objects to objectors

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Life in transit

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Revelations about Libya fail to shed light

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Court dates announced for army accidents

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Senate opposes weapons database

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Health cost savings move a step further

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Libyan “promises” lost in translation?

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Christian Democrats nominate cabinet contender

More

UN terrorism blacklists targeted by Senate

More

Russia and Switzerland

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