Swiss Abroad

Politicians use US trip to defend tax laws

This content was published on Mar 1, 2009 The group, led by the centre-right Radical senator Peter Briner, spoke extensively with American congressional leaders urging them not to confuse UBS woes with the entire Swiss financial system. The trip to Washington was organised over a month ago, before the US authorities pressured the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma) and UBS to hand…

Swiss Politics

Industry warn aid package may be needed

This content was published on Mar 1, 2009 Gerold Bührer, head of the Swiss Business Federation, economiesuisse, told the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper that there was a 50 per cent chance that the government would have to launch another rescue package. Such measures would need to be timely and for a limited duration, he noted. The challenges ahead were greater than had been…

Swiss Politics

Political party merger becomes official

This content was published on Feb 28, 2009 Delegates from the two parties approved the creation of the Radicals-Liberals on Saturday in Bern. The merger was given the green light by the parties during their general assemblies in October in a bid to become a stronger political force in Switzerland and attract new voters. Fulvio Pelli, head of the Radicals, the third largest…

Swiss Politics

Clinton set to meet Lavrov in Switzerland

This content was published on Feb 27, 2009 The Bush administration had difficult relations with Moscow, clashing over a planned United States missile shield in Europe, the independence of Kosovo, last year’s Russian intervention in Georgia and how to persuade Iran to curb its nuclear programme. Clinton is scheduled to meet Lavrov after talks with Nato foreign ministers in Brussels. “This is a…

Swiss Politics

EU puts pressure on Swiss over tax policy

This content was published on Feb 27, 2009 EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said Brussels expected Switzerland to ensure that banking secrecy did not protect any form of tax scam. She was speaking after talks in the Belgian capital with Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey. Last week Switzerland gave Washington details of up to 300 clients of the country’s largest bank, UBS,…

Swiss Politics

ICRC says Gaza peace doomed without diplomacy

This content was published on Feb 26, 2009 “Humanitarian action can be no substitute for an honest and courageous peace process involving all states, political authorities and organized armed groups that can influence the situation,” Jakob Kellenberger said ahead of a conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. “[Reconstruction] is unlikely to succeed unless there is a prospect of a lasting peace.” Kellenberger called for…

Swiss Politics

Swiss call for efficient peacekeeping

This content was published on Feb 26, 2009 Speaking before a UN committee in New York, Peter Maurer said the international community saw such peacekeepers as a way for healing to begin, but the gap between those high expectations and the means to achieve them was too wide if all parties weren’t part of the peace process as well. Wednesday’s discussions were part…

Swiss Politics

Population increases at record rate

This content was published on Feb 26, 2009 The number stood at 7,700,200 at the end of 2008 – a rise of 106,700 inhabitants compared with 2007. “This increase of 1.4% in the population is considerably higher than that of previous years,” the Statistics Office said in a statement. This number includes Swiss citizens, as well as all foreign citizens with the exception…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet agrees to troops for anti-pirate force

This content was published on Feb 25, 2009 The decision, which is subject to approval by parliament, has prompted opposition by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party and the Greens, but the three other main parties indicated their approval. The mandate of the Swiss soldiers and experts is limited to the protection of vessels of the United Nations World Food Programme. It also includes…

Swiss Politics

Private donations to Swiss Red Cross increase

This content was published on Feb 25, 2009 But total private support for the organisation actually dropped on 2007, which was an exceptionally good year for donations, the agency said on Wednesday. Total private contributions in 2008 amounted to SFr20.8 million, SFr3.3 million less than in 2007. Fewer donations from inheritances were responsible for the decline. Early figures for 2009 seem positive so…

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Swiss Abroad

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Politicians use US trip to defend tax laws

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Industry warn aid package may be needed

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Political party merger becomes official

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Clinton set to meet Lavrov in Switzerland

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EU puts pressure on Swiss over tax policy

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ICRC says Gaza peace doomed without diplomacy

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Swiss call for efficient peacekeeping

More

Population increases at record rate

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Cabinet agrees to troops for anti-pirate force

More

Private donations to Swiss Red Cross increase

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