Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Stamp of approval for new passports

This content was published on Mar 12, 2008 The passports – which have been in a trial phase since September 2006 – will include a chip that stores two fingerprints and the holder’s facial image. Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said on Wednesday that the cost of obtaining a biometric passport – currently SFr250 ($243) – would be lowered. Citizens not wanting to travel…

Swiss Politics

National register to simplify police inquiry

This content was published on Mar 11, 2008 The move also aims to provide the legal basis for the use of the European security system from July. The Senate on Tuesday unanimously followed the House of Representatives in endorsing the measures. The speaker of the legal affairs committee said the cantonal authorities – which are largely autonomous in police matters – called for…

Swiss Politics

Cargo workers continue action over job cuts

This content was published on Mar 10, 2008 Strikers at the Bellinzona facility on Monday won the support of the regional authorities and the church as they pledged to continue their action in protest at the planned job losses. The 400 workers at the state-run locomotive repair facility in the southern Ticino region vowed to press on with the industrial action which they…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet rejects gag on official information

This content was published on Mar 10, 2008 Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin said it was in the interests of voters and democracy to learn all the facts about an issue at stake. He added that acceptance of the proposal, to come to a nationwide vote on June 1, would mean a reversal of current practice. However, the government approved a plan to grant…

Swiss Politics

Forced marriages are also a Swiss problem

This content was published on Mar 10, 2008 According to Lathan Suntharalingam, a local politician campaigning against such marriages, it is an integration problem which can’t be solved through “multicultural do-gooding”. Forced marriages are those taking place under community or parental pressure, normally among immigrants. In some cases, violence and emotional blackmail is employed both before and after the wedding. There is evidence…

Swiss Politics

Thousands of army guns are lost

This content was published on Mar 9, 2008 The statistics come as calls mount for a ban on military weapons being stored at home by members of Switzerland’s 120,000-member conscript army. Defence ministry spokesman Felix Endrich has confirmed a report that appeared in Sunday’s Le Matin Dimanche newspaper that the guns had been stolen or lost outside military service. In addition, around 260…

Swiss Politics

Swiss and South Africans boost relations

This content was published on Mar 8, 2008 The move followed a meeting between Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey and her South African counterpart Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in Geneva, said the Swiss Foreign Ministry. It will set the framework for a regular political dialogue and a first meeting is expected to take place in May, said a foreign ministry statement. The ministers also…

Swiss Politics

Group calls for action over female trafficking

This content was published on Mar 8, 2008 Supporters want to use the Euro 08 football championships, being co-hosted by Switzerland and Austria this summer, to draw attention to the issue – with male fans being a target. “Euro 08 against Trafficking in Women”, a coalition of around 23 non-governmental organisations, has been holding demonstrations in four Swiss cities on Saturday and has…

Swiss Politics

Army may send soldiers abroad for training

This content was published on Mar 7, 2008 The defence ministry said if the objectives of army courses in Switzerland cannot be met, they could exceptionally take place outside the country. The government initially wanted to introduce six-week courses abroad but was forced to water down its plans after opposition during the consultation procedure with all interested parties. In a related development, the…

Swiss Politics

Israel under pressure over Palestinian issue

This content was published on Mar 7, 2008 Geneva-based Middle East expert Pascal de Crousaz tells swissinfo that with no agreement in sight, Israel could end up trying to offload its Palestinian problem onto neighbouring states. Israel was placed on a state of general alert on Friday after a gunman killed eight Israeli students in a religious college in Jerusalem on Thursday. The…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

More

Stamp of approval for new passports

More

National register to simplify police inquiry

More

Cargo workers continue action over job cuts

More

Cabinet rejects gag on official information

More

Forced marriages are also a Swiss problem

More

Thousands of army guns are lost

More

Swiss and South Africans boost relations

More

Group calls for action over female trafficking

More

Army may send soldiers abroad for training

More

Israel under pressure over Palestinian issue

Popular Stories

Most Discussed