Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Switzerland loses ground on women in politics

This content was published on Jan 31, 2006 The country fell from 22nd to 27th place in the annual survey, compiled by the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). This year’s results showed that, despite an increasing proportion of women politicians, Switzerland is losing ground internationally. Rwanda – where 49 per cent of politicians are women – tops the IPU list of women’s representation in…

Swiss Politics

More women power in male-dominated Davos

This content was published on Jan 29, 2006 She was one of the keynote speakers at a public panel discussion on the theme of “More Women in Top Positions” at the Open Forum in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos. “Women in positions of power often meet subtle resistance, they are considered to be neither proper women nor real men,” Calmy-Rey said. The…

Swiss Politics

Nestlé unfazed by change in South America

This content was published on Jan 27, 2006 Peter Brabeck, who is co-chairing the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, says the Vevey-based group is currently enjoying a golden period in the region. Galvanised by the rise to power of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, the political left has been making important gains across South America. Former coca farmer Evo Morales…

Swiss Politics

Swiss satisfied with Euro 2008 progress

This content was published on Jan 27, 2006 Christian Mutschler says he is confident that disagreements over who should foot the bill for the football championships, hosted jointly by Switzerland and neighbouring Austria, will be ironed out. It was revealed last month that the cost of staging the championships in Switzerland had mushroomed from an initial estimate of SFr10.5 million ($8.3 million) to…

Swiss Politics

Leuenberger continues diplomatic marathon

This content was published on Jan 26, 2006 Economics Minister Joseph Deiss hardly had a quiet day – he resumed the search for a free-trade accord between the United States and Switzerland with US trade representative Rob Portman. The day after discussions with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Pakistan’s president Pervez Musharraf, Leuenberger pushed the Swiss case with the Chinese deputy prime minister,…

Swiss Politics

Hamas victory comes as little surprise

This content was published on Jan 26, 2006 Both sides said Hamas’s strong showing over the ruling Fatah movement presented an opportunity for change, but could also complicate efforts towards peace. Unofficial results showed that Hamas was the clear winner in Wednesday’s parliamentary elections – the first to be held in ten years. Admitting electoral defeat, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei of Fatah tendered…

Swiss Politics

Swiss support Palestinian election

This content was published on Jan 25, 2006 Voting on Wednesday was said to be proceeding smoothly. The militant group Hamas is expected to pose a stiff challenge to the ruling Fatah Party. The Swiss foreign ministry says it is important the Palestinian Authority receives new democratic legitimacy through the ballot box. Speaking after casting his vote in the West Bank town of…

Swiss Politics

WEF takes stock of new world order

This content was published on Jan 25, 2006 High on the agenda at the five-day forum are the risks and opportunities posed by the emergence of China and India and the revolution in new technologies. For its 36th annual meeting the Geneva-based WEF has rounded up 2,340 participants to chew over a list of concerns ranging from Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Iraq through…

Swiss Politics

Swiss army out in full force in Davos

This content was published on Jan 24, 2006 Criticised in past years, the army’s deployment in Davos is less controversial this time around. The lion’s share of the militia force has been in place since mid-January, taking part in mandatory military “refresher courses”. These soldiers are being called up to provide security for the Davos meeting. They are responsible for securing the roads…

Swiss Politics

UN disarmament conference “in crisis”

This content was published on Jan 24, 2006 The annual conference, which gets underway in Geneva this week, aims to rid the world of weapons – both nuclear and conventional – through peaceful negotiation. But in recent years the talks have become bogged down by infighting between member states. “The conference is in a crisis and has been for many years. So our…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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