Geopolitics

Swiss work to tighten anti-terrorism law

This content was published on Aug 8, 2016 At present, Switzerland has only one federal anti-terrorism law, which bans the al-Qaeda and Islamic State terror groups in Switzerland. It prohibits participating in or supplying the banned organisations as well as distributing related propaganda. Recruitment for the organisations is also illegal. The punishment for breaking the law is up to five years in prison.…

Foreign Affairs

Ban Ki-moon asks for cease-fire during Olympic Games

This content was published on Jul 29, 2016 “I call on the world to observe the Olympic Truce by ceasing all hostilities during the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro,” he said on Friday. Ban acknowledged that “such an ambitious goal might seem unattainable” but challenged the world to make it possible. “I call on the warring parties…

Foreign Affairs

Yverdon remembers Nice attack victims

This content was published on Jul 22, 2016 The six-year-old girl was confirmed dead on July 15 and her 31-year-old mother three days later. A 54-year-old woman from canton Ticino also died in the attack. Between 150 and 200 people gathered in Yverdon, a lakeside town in central Switzerland. Mourners proceeded in silence to the Protestant church, where they laid flowers, stuffed animals and…

Foreign Affairs

Gülen supporters under threat in Switzerland

This content was published on Jul 22, 2016 President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been searching for those responsible for the July 15 coup attempt. At a press conference on Friday morning, the Turkish Ambassador ad interim, Volkan Karagöz, referred to Gülen’s movement as a terrorist organisation. Gülen – a former Erdogan supporter who now lives in exile in the United States – has…

Foreign Affairs

Soldiers prefer to keep guns at home than in barracks

This content was published on Jul 21, 2016 The vast majority of Swiss militia soldiers prefer to store their weapons at home rather than at a local military base. The government introduced this option in 2010 to improve firearm safety. As of the end of June 2016, only 789 army guns out of a total of 170,000 in circulation (0.5%) had been handed…

Foreign Affairs

Switzerland increases humanitarian aid to Iraq

This content was published on Jul 20, 2016 “The people of Iraq are paying a very heavy price, caught between clashing pro-government forces and the self-proclaimed Islamic State group,” the government said in a statement. “The more than 85,000 people who have fled since May are unable to meet even their most basic needs. These internally displaced persons are in addition to some…

Foreign Affairs

Swiss provide ambulances for Syrian conflict victims

This content was published on Jul 19, 2016 Seven of the ambulances will be based in SARC’s Aleppo branch and five at its headquarters in Damascus, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) said in a statement on Monday. The Aleppo Governorate has been seriously affected by the conflict and has no functioning ambulance system for the two million residents in the…

Foreign Affairs

Third Swiss resident dies in Nice attack

This content was published on Jul 18, 2016 The 31-year-old Brazilian woman, who held a residence permit to live in the Swiss town of Yverdon, was the mother of a six-year-old Swiss girl confirmed dead on Friday, according to authorities in canton Vaud. The second Swiss citizen to have died was a 54-year-old woman from canton Ticino. At least 84 people, including 10 children,…

Foreign Affairs

“Traditional” Turkish coup far from divine

This content was published on Jul 18, 2016 “No, the attempted coup in Turkey was not a ‘gift from God’, as declared by the president,” stated the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper on Monday. “Nothing could be more cynical, and revealing, given the 265 deaths [at the time of going to press] and the chaos at the weekend.” “The only hopeful news from the…

Foreign Affairs

Foreign ministry updates travel advice to Turkey

This content was published on Jul 16, 2016 It advises tourists to strictly observe curfews and to stay away from any kind of demonstration or other mass event. They were urged to take great care, especially in Ankara and Istanbul. On its special travel advice website, the ministry also recommends that tourists stay in contact with their travel agencies. A special telephone line…

Geopolitics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Sign in and personalize Swissinfo

Geopolitics

More

Swiss work to tighten anti-terrorism law

More

Ban Ki-moon asks for cease-fire during Olympic Games

More

Yverdon remembers Nice attack victims

More

Gülen supporters under threat in Switzerland

More

Soldiers prefer to keep guns at home than in barracks

More

Switzerland increases humanitarian aid to Iraq

More

Swiss provide ambulances for Syrian conflict victims

More

Third Swiss resident dies in Nice attack

More

“Traditional” Turkish coup far from divine

More

Foreign ministry updates travel advice to Turkey

Popular Stories

Most Discussed