Swiss Abroad

Calmy-Rey talks of year-end WTO entry for Russia

This content was published on Oct 30, 2011 “I hope our discussion today will be fruitful and the results will allow Russia to enter the WTO by the end of the year, in December,” Calmy-Rey told President Dmitri Medvedev in his residence just outside Moscow on Sunday. Medvedev responded by saying Russia “also very much wants that” and heaped praise on Swiss mediation…

Swiss Politics

Policy questions surround election winners

This content was published on Oct 30, 2011 The two relatively new parties at the centre of the political spectrum hold key cards in the December 14 cabinet election. Winning 18 seats more than in 2007 is no mean feat for the two groups, and comes mainly at the expense of all the five bigger parties. “Until now discontented voters had no alternative…

Swiss Politics

Ticino fights its corner with Bern “ambassador”

This content was published on Oct 29, 2011 In order to have its voice heard, the Ticino authorities appointed a delegate to represent the canton’s interests in the capital Bern earlier this year. The appointment of Jörg De Bernardi, whose function is similar to that of an ambassador to a foreign state, is a sign of how competition among the cantons within the…

Swiss Politics

Man sentenced to death over Moroccan bombing

This content was published on Oct 28, 2011 Two Swiss and a Portuguese resident in canton Ticino were among the mostly tourists who died after the attack at the Marrakesh cafe. Another Swiss was seriously injured. The April 28 blast also killed tourists from France, Britain and Portugal. Morocco’s anti-terrorist court in Sale heard how the chief suspect dressed up like a tourist and…

Swiss Politics

WTO deal for Russia closer to conclusion

This content was published on Oct 28, 2011 Russia needs to reach individual agreements with all 153 members of the WTO, and the lack of progress in negotiations with Georgia had been the last significant stumbling block. Georgia lost a brief war with Russia in 2008 over the control of two breakaway regions, leading to a breakdown in diplomatic relations with Moscow. Georgia…

Swiss Politics

Relief and questions swirl around euro deal

This content was published on Oct 28, 2011 With much of the fine print of the deal still to be worked out, several papers questioned whether the agreement went far enough to save both Greece, and the euro in the long term. “After the marathon, the test,” ran the headline in French-language daily Le Temps. “The world looked at the Brussels meeting…

Swiss Politics

Justice minister discusses migration issues

This content was published on Oct 27, 2011 Key talks were held at the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on better controlling people entering and leaving the “borderless” Schengen area. Sommaruga in particular welcomed measures against visa abuse. Switzerland is a Schengen state, although it is not a member of the European Union. The “smart borders” initiative involves an electronic entry and…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland and Greece talk tax

This content was published on Oct 27, 2011 Swiss State Secretary Michael Ambühl and Ilias Plaskovitis, from the Greek Finance Ministry, discussed whether a tax accord similar to those already agreed with Germany and Britain could be reached. According to a statement from the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters, the aim is to regularise long-standing assets held by Greek taxpayers in Swiss…

Swiss Politics

Crime is “main source” of armed violence

This content was published on Oct 27, 2011 According to the 2011 Global Burden of Armed Violence report, around 526,000 people die violently every year – more than 1,400 people a day. By comparison, 55,000 die a year as a result of war or terrorism. The study, which was released in Geneva on Thursday, also found that 396,000 people were murdered outside of…

Swiss Politics

Moderate Islamists set for Tunisian victory

This content was published on Oct 26, 2011 Sunday’s vote was hailed by electoral observers, which included a Swiss-led team from the Council of Europe. All eyes are on the transition in Tunisia, which remains the key test case for other Arab states. Election officials are still counting ballots from Sunday’s vote but partial results released seem to back claims by Ennahda that…

Swiss Abroad

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Swiss Abroad

More

Calmy-Rey talks of year-end WTO entry for Russia

More

Policy questions surround election winners

More

Ticino fights its corner with Bern “ambassador”

More

Man sentenced to death over Moroccan bombing

More

WTO deal for Russia closer to conclusion

More

Relief and questions swirl around euro deal

More

Justice minister discusses migration issues

More

Switzerland and Greece talk tax

More

Crime is “main source” of armed violence

More

Moderate Islamists set for Tunisian victory

Popular Stories

Most Discussed