Swiss Abroad

Entering the closed world of North Korea

This content was published on Nov 16, 2011 Although the population is no longer dying of hunger, there is still a significant degree of malnourishment and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is helping out. “They managed to leave their country, I don’t know why they want to return here,” a Western traveller remarked as we got off the plane from…

Swiss Politics

Russian nuclear site fuels controversy

This content was published on Nov 16, 2011 The Mayak plant in the Urals – on the border between Europe and Asia – has long been in the sights of environmentalists such as Greenpeace. A devastating explosion in the 1950s was hushed up for decades, but Greenpeace says nuclear contamination continues. The reprocessed uranium is the fuel used for the Beznau nuclear power…

Swiss Politics

Zurich protestors move to church grounds

This content was published on Nov 15, 2011 Demonstrators had been in the area as part of the global Occupy movement which is protesting against the excesses of the financial sector and austerity measures. Representatives of the Protestant church of St Jakob offered sanctuary to the group of some 100 people until January 5, as long as they agreed to respect certain rules.…

Swiss Politics

Massive bill for UN building renovations

This content was published on Nov 15, 2011 A technical study found that the Palais des Nations repairs were urgent as failings posed health and safety risks to delegates, staff, civil society and the tens of thousands of visitors each year. The buildings do not meet fire protection, earthquake and explosion standards. Added to that are corrosive problems, asbestos, an aging electricity system,…

Swiss Politics

Mercenary trade paid for peace and prosperity

This content was published on Nov 15, 2011 Jost Auf der Maur, author of a book on the history of the mercenary system, says Switzerland owes its peaceful existence and prosperity to a large extent to the export of soldiers. Their services were vital for medieval royals and warlords. At the same time, they provided a guaranteed flow of cash and wealth for…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey builds on relationship with Croatia

This content was published on Nov 14, 2011 There she met Croatian President Ivo Josipovic to discuss increased cooperation between the two countries. This was the first meeting between the two countries at the presidential level. According to the Swiss foreign ministry, Croatia is Switzerland’s second most important trading partner in south-eastern Europe. “There is still a lot of potential for the further…

Swiss Politics

Bern opposes revisions on German tax accord

This content was published on Nov 14, 2011 The ratification process was underway, said a spokesman at the state secretariat for international financial matters, responding to a report in the German news magazine Der Spiegel. “From our point of view there’s no need to alter the signed treaty,” said Mario Tuor, adding that the two sides were in constant contact. A spokesman for…

Swiss Politics

Leuthard discusses energy in Azerbaijan

This content was published on Nov 14, 2011 The focus was on implementing the memorandum of understanding signed between the two nations in 2007. Leuthard, accompanied by a variety of Swiss business and science leaders, met Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev as well as energy and industry minister Natig Aliyev and environment minister Huseyn Bagirov in Baku. The delegates examined ways of boosting cooperation…

Swiss Politics

Critic of high manager salaries enters Senate

This content was published on Nov 14, 2011 One seat went to the centre-right Christian Democrats in canton Thurgau, while the other was clinched by a prominent independent candidate, Thomas Minder, in canton Schaffhausen. The businessman is well-known for launching an initiative opposing high manager salaries. In canton Vaud, the incumbent representatives from the centre-left Social Democrats and the Greens were re-elected as…

Swiss Politics

Authorities reopen army-issue gun debate

This content was published on Nov 13, 2011 A spokesman told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper that army chief, André Blattmann, wants the cantonal justice departments to inform the army of any criminal investigations involving men still on active service. Due to the set-up of Switzerland’s militia army, men on active service are allowed to keep their army-issue firearms at home. Currently, Swiss law does…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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Entering the closed world of North Korea

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Russian nuclear site fuels controversy

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Zurich protestors move to church grounds

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Massive bill for UN building renovations

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Mercenary trade paid for peace and prosperity

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Calmy-Rey builds on relationship with Croatia

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Bern opposes revisions on German tax accord

More

Leuthard discusses energy in Azerbaijan

More

Critic of high manager salaries enters Senate

More

Authorities reopen army-issue gun debate

Popular Stories

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