Swiss Abroad

Surviving underground

This content was published on Sep 9, 2011 The Swiss prepared for the worst with this Cold War monument. Built in the 1970s as part of the Sonnenberg motorway tunnel near Lucerne, the giant bunker was designed to accommodate 20,000 people. An exercise in 1987 known as Ameise (ant) revealed serious material flaws as well as problems with transport and organisation. In 2000,…

Cabinet rules out any return to nuclear power

This content was published on Sep 8, 2011 At the end of August the Senate Energy Committee recommended that Switzerland restrict itself to banning the construction of nuclear power stations “of the current generation”, leaving the door open for the construction of new generation reactors in the future. “This would leave the nuclear option on the table and create a lot of confusion,”…

Swiss Politics

Papers mull departure of “headstrong” minister

This content was published on Sep 8, 2011 And the assessments of her and her performance are divided – perhaps unsurprisingly given what the German-language Neue Zürcher Zeitung calls her “polarising personality”. On the one hand, many note her achievements in making Swiss foreign policy more visible in the world. The French-language Le Temps recalls how when she took up office she said…

Swiss Politics

Understanding freedom post-September 11

This content was published on Sep 7, 2011 Ten years after the attacks in the United States, swissinfo.ch asked three experts what they saw as the main consequences. Afghanistan was the first target after the 2001 attacks, in an immediate reaction by a wounded America and its allies. Then it was the turn of Iraq, for reasons that are still being debated. Officially,…

Swiss Politics

Swiss refuse to hand over bank data to US

This content was published on Sep 7, 2011 Any potential exchange can only take place within the legal framework of the double taxation agreement between the two countries, she said in Bern on Wednesday. Calmy-Rey, who also holds the rotating post as Swiss president this year, said she wanted to put an end to speculation concerning the possible handover of names of American…

Swiss Politics

What kind of foreign policy should Switzerland pursue?

This content was published on Sep 7, 2011

Swiss Politics

Swiss drinking less alcohol every year

This content was published on Sep 7, 2011 Based on this trend, the government has decided against raising alcohol prices as part of the revision of the law on alcohol, the finance ministry announced on Wednesday. From 2009 to 2010, consumption of alcohol dropped from 8.6 to 8.5 litres per head. The 1990 level was 10.8 litres. “The vast majority of the Swiss…

Swiss Politics

Sawiris Egyptian jail sentence lifted

This content was published on Sep 7, 2011 Orascom said it had been able to reach an agreement with Egypt’s finance authorities. It told the Swiss News Agency on Wednesday that it was pleased that both the jail sentence and the related fine had been dropped. The company declined to comment on the details of the settlement. In late August, Sawiris was sentenced…

Swiss Politics

Long-standing Swiss foreign minister resigns

This content was published on Sep 7, 2011 During her nine years in government, Calmy-Rey’s style and actions have often drawn criticism, but Swiss diplomacy has gained in international visibility. The 66-year-old, who also holds the rotating post as Swiss president this year, said she would not put herself up for re-election in December. Wednesday’s move had been subject to intense media speculation. “I…

Swiss Politics

Animals come under government spotlight

This content was published on Sep 7, 2011 First and foremost it wants to strengthen measures against animal disease, a communiqué said. But there are also moves to stop the trade in cat and dog fur. The cabinet intends to introduce the ban through a change to the animal protection law. Until now only the import has been banned in Switzerland. Parliament had…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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Surviving underground

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Cabinet rules out any return to nuclear power

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Papers mull departure of “headstrong” minister

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Understanding freedom post-September 11

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Swiss refuse to hand over bank data to US

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What kind of foreign policy should Switzerland pursue?

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Swiss drinking less alcohol every year

More

Sawiris Egyptian jail sentence lifted

More

Long-standing Swiss foreign minister resigns

More

Animals come under government spotlight

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