Swiss Abroad

Cabinet issues executive pay counterproposal

This content was published on Dec 5, 2008 In a statement released on Friday, the government said that revisions of company and accounting laws reflected the need for improved corporate governance, but said that its actions went further. “Compared with the initiative, the proposed revision is more comprehensive and essentially covers all joint-stock companies under Swiss law – not just those whose equities…

Swiss Politics

ICRC boosts aid for Zimbabwean cholera victims

This content was published on Dec 5, 2008 Humanitarian agencies say that the disease has claimed more than 560 lives, and more than 12,500 cases have been reported. The Swiss-led ICRC, which is based in Geneva, says more than 13 tonnes of medical supplies have arrived at Harare airport from its regional logistics centre in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. They include a complete…

Swiss Politics

Swiss sign treaty banning cluster bombs

This content was published on Dec 4, 2008 The Convention on Cluster Munitions, signed at a ceremony in Oslo on Wednesday, lacks the support of the world’s big users and producers including the United States, China and Russia, who have so far refused to endorse the agreement. Switzerland was one of 93 countries to sign the convention prohibiting the weapons, which are often…

Swiss Politics

Practising the science of diplomacy

This content was published on Dec 4, 2008 The Swiss Diplomatic Documents (SDD), which documents the records of the foreign service, on Thursday concludes a two-day international symposium looking at the historical role of the science counsellors. The conference, held in partnership with the foreign ministry and other government agencies, has attracted officials and academics from Switzerland, the United States and Britain, including…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet signs border deal with Liechtenstein

This content was published on Dec 3, 2008 Switzerland will become a part of the Schengen zone on December 12 while the principality still has to ratify the treaty with the European Union. There are currently no controls on the 41 kilometres that separate the two countries, yet the border will effectively become a Schengen frontier as of December 12 since Liechtenstein will…

Swiss Politics

Cluster bomb convention signed

This content was published on Dec 3, 2008 In a statement, the foreign ministry described the Convention on Cluster Munitions as an important milestone in the history of international humanitarian law. The convention was approved in May by 111 states but not by the world’s largest military powers – the United States, China and Russia. Each signatory has agreed to destroy their stocks…

Swiss Politics

Disabled still face barriers in Switzerland

This content was published on Dec 3, 2008 As the country marks the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Wednesday, groups are urging people to give those with disabilities a chance, not only at work but in society as a whole. Switzerland’s first set of indicators on equality for disabled people, released by the Federal Statistics Office just ahead of…

Swiss Politics

Campaign launched ahead of EU labour vote

This content was published on Dec 2, 2008 They appealed to voters to back a parliamentary decision to continue the accord and extend it to the latest EU member states, Bulgaria and Romania, in a nationwide referendum scheduled for next February. It is the third time since 2000 that the electorate will vote on the labour treaty, also known as the free movement…

Swiss Politics

Human Rights Council condemns Congo violence

This content was published on Dec 2, 2008 In an emergency session on Monday the Geneva-based body also backed a stronger mandate for the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC “to increase its ability to address the dire security and humanitarian situation in the region”. More than 250,000 people have been driven from their homes since fighting erupted between Congolese forces and Tutsi…

Swiss Politics

Zurich court jails banker on fraud charges

This content was published on Dec 1, 2008 The district court in Zurich said 57-year-old Ernst Imfeld was guilty of mismanaging and embezzling customer funds as well as falsifying documents. Prosecutors said Imfeld lost about SFr 150 million ($124.6 million) over the course of a decade while he was the head of Bank Leumi’s branch in Switzerland. He was fired when the fraud…

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