Swiss Abroad

Taliban offer proof they have Swiss hostages

This content was published on Aug 12, 2011 According to the Geneva Center for Training and Analysis of Terrorism, pictures taken of the hostages’ passports and broadcast by the Al Arabyia television network earlier this week are formal proof. The Center said in a statement on its website that there were, however, errors in the information relayed by Al Arabyia. The television report…

Swiss Politics

Media hail tax deal with Germany

This content was published on Aug 11, 2011 But if the deal is seen as a step forward by the media, questions remain as to whether it would survive political change in Berlin and the effects it will have on the Swiss banking industry. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) called the accord a “big step forward”, even if concessions are made – referring…

Swiss Politics

Calling for Fair Play in election campaign

This content was published on Aug 10, 2011 An initiative of around 20 religious, unions and community groups, the ‘Fair Play’ campaign invites people to sign an online petition calling for messages of racism, defamation and exclusion to be absent from political campaign. The petition is also open to those people who are not eligible to vote in October’s national elections. The campaign…

Swiss Politics

Deal reached on Swiss-German tax treaty

This content was published on Aug 10, 2011 The accord, which includes an up-front payment to Germany of SFr2 billion ($2.76 billion) by Swiss banks, has been initialed and will be signed by both governments in the coming weeks. The banks’ advance payment will only be reimbursed if and when the German authorities recoup enough back-taxes from Swiss accounts owed to them. The…

Swiss Politics

Poll observer recalls lows and highs

This content was published on Aug 10, 2011 But no-one likes criticism, and there is a strict rule at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for all its election observer missions. “We are observers and gather information, but we must not intervene even if we see that people are lying and cheating,” Rudolf von Rohr explained. The reports are forwarded…

Swiss Politics

A day at the polls

This content was published on Aug 9, 2011 Impressions from election days in Madagascar, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine (pictures: Heinz Rudolf von Rohr)

“Things will get worse in Syria”

This content was published on Aug 8, 2011 The warning came as international pressure for an end to the violence intensified on Monday, with Bahrain and Kuwait joining Saudi Arabia in recalling their ambassadors to Syria. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by telephone on Saturday that he was alarmed by the escalating violence in Syria and demanded that…

Swiss Politics

Strong franc will cost jobs in the autumn

This content was published on Aug 7, 2011 “If the exchange rate stays at this level, we have to expect a large amount of production relocated abroad and redundancies, particularly in the machine industry,” said Serge Gaillard in an interview with the newspaper NZZ am Sonntag. “Negative effects will also be seen in tourism and the banks – in all sectors exposed to…

Swiss Politics

Confrontation puts consensus at risk

This content was published on Aug 5, 2011 Shifting from moderate pluralism over the past two decades Switzerland has now the most adversarial party political system in Europe, according to a comparative study of 30 countries. (See box: Resemblance and Differences) “Switzerland basks in the illusion of consensus, while in reality we find ourselves in a conflict-laden political system,” says Pascal Sciarini, professor…

Swiss Politics

Case over Gaddafi poster in Geneva abandoned

This content was published on Aug 5, 2011 The inquiry into Eric Stauffer, leader of the Mouvement Citoyens Genevois group was launched last November following a request by the cantonal and federal authorities. The rightwing group had used an image of Gaddafi in a campaign ahead of a nationwide on the deportation of foreign criminals. Stauffer claimed the poster is a matter of…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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Taliban offer proof they have Swiss hostages

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Media hail tax deal with Germany

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Calling for Fair Play in election campaign

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Deal reached on Swiss-German tax treaty

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Poll observer recalls lows and highs

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A day at the polls

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“Things will get worse in Syria”

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Strong franc will cost jobs in the autumn

More

Confrontation puts consensus at risk

More

Case over Gaddafi poster in Geneva abandoned

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