Swiss Abroad

Hostage’s family calls for Swiss intervention

This content was published on Mar 24, 2009 Andreas Notter is one of three workers of the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) held since January in the Philippines island of Jolo by Abu Sayyaf militants. In an open letter published on Tuesday in the Aargauer Zeitung newspaper, Notter’s family said Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey should call Philippines President Gloria Arroyo…

Swiss Politics

Bank secrecy row claims minister’s limousine

This content was published on Mar 24, 2009 Maurer, a member of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, is sacrificing the German-made S500 sedan as a “temporary protest” in favour of a less luxurious French-built Renault or Peugeot people carrier. Maurer’s move, announced on Sunday, was the latest salvo in an exchange between Swiss politicians and Peer Steinbrück, the German finance minister, who compared…

Swiss Politics

Italy proposes mediator role in Libya conflict

This content was published on Mar 24, 2009 Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told his Swiss counterpart, Micheline Calmy-Rey, that the country was “ready to take on the role” of mediator based on its relationship with the oil-producing North African state. Calmy-Rey on Monday rejected the idea of paying compensation to Libya for the arrest of Hannibal Gaddafi last July and insisted that…

Swiss Politics

Secrecy and Libya discussed with Italians

This content was published on Mar 23, 2009 Switzerland has not been invited to attend a meeting of the world’s biggest economies, the G20, in April. In the lead up, Calmy-Rey has been meeting foreign leaders to convey Switzerland’s position on tax treaties and the exchange of bank data. Italy will likely be one of the first countries Switzerland will sit with to…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet defends planned electronic passports

This content was published on Mar 23, 2009 She made the statement at the start of a campaign on Monday ahead of a nationwide vote on the issue on May 17. The biometric passports include a chip that stores two fingerprints and the holder’s facial image to be kept in a central database. Widmer-Schlumpf said such a register was reliable and efficient. She…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey “confident” for WTO extension

This content was published on Mar 23, 2009 Opponents of the renovation and expansion project, which will enable the WTO to house over 1,100 staff in a single location, are threatening to launch a referendum. Calmy-Rey said a public debate over the WTO extension was a “positive” step, helping bring the local population closer to issues affecting International Geneva. “I am confident. The…

Swiss Politics

New centre-right party holds first assembly

This content was published on Mar 21, 2009 The group was founded in November 2008 by members of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, unhappy with what they saw as the high-handed methods of the party leadership. Party president Hans Grunder said the party should aim to win ten seats in the next parliamentary elections in 2011, against the six it holds at present.…

Swiss Politics

Tempers cool over blacklist threat

This content was published on Mar 20, 2009 Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said that no EU state would appear on such a list. Although Switzerland is not an EU member, the comments apply to the country as well since Switzerland has agreed to apply international standards to portions of its banking secrecy law. “These countries which have accepted these standards, they are…

Swiss Politics

Long winter seeds high hopes for farmers

This content was published on Mar 20, 2009 Winter sports enthusiasts are not the only people in Switzerland to have delighted in the bountiful snow; the long cold period has also left most farmers smiling. “Basically cold winters are good for agriculture, because they kill pests and diseases,” Sandra Helfenstein, media spokeswoman of the Swiss Farmers Union, told swissinfo. That is not the…

Swiss Politics

Baby found in fridge

This content was published on Mar 20, 2009 Cantonal police reported on Friday that the corpse was discovered by the owner of the apartment, located in the town centre, around a fortnight ago. They have since tracked down the mother and opened an investigation. A medical examination revealed that the baby died immediately after birth, the police said, adding that they had not…

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Hostage’s family calls for Swiss intervention

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Bank secrecy row claims minister’s limousine

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Italy proposes mediator role in Libya conflict

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Secrecy and Libya discussed with Italians

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Cabinet defends planned electronic passports

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Calmy-Rey “confident” for WTO extension

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New centre-right party holds first assembly

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Tempers cool over blacklist threat

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Long winter seeds high hopes for farmers

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Baby found in fridge

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