Swiss Abroad

Schengen is no major upset for border guards

This content was published on Dec 1, 2008 While land borders will no longer have passport control points, goods traffic will still be subject to regular customs searches. And checks at airports in Switzerland – which is not a European Union member – are likely to be lifted only next March. EU interior ministers meeting in Brussels last week unanimously approved the treaty…

Swiss Politics

Swiss Aids Federation combats discrimination

This content was published on Dec 1, 2008 The Swiss Aids Federation on Monday called for solidarity with those people suffering from Aids or infected with the HIV virus. It noted that negative reaction often came from employers, work colleagues, friends and even members of the family. According to the federation, about 25,000 people in Switzerland are HIV positive or have Aids. Additionally,…

Swiss Politics

UBS and cabinet election top parliament agenda

This content was published on Dec 1, 2008 Another major event during the three-week winter session, which opens on Monday, will be the election of a replacement for Defence Minister Samuel Schmid. In a special session, parliamentarians will consider a $60 billion (SFr68 billion) government bailout given to the country’s largest bank, UBS, in October, after it racked up $44 billion of subprime…

Swiss Politics

Justice minister gets tough on street racers

This content was published on Nov 30, 2008 In an interview published in the Zentralschweiz am Sonntag newspaper on Sunday, Widmer-Schlumpf said this was already possible under law, but was rarely implemented. The law should be applied more consistently, she said. The justice minister also suggested that driving instructors should be able to require aggressive pupils to undergo a psychological examination. Only if…

Swiss Politics

Voters have final say on drugs and pension

This content was published on Nov 30, 2008 Also on the agenda were plans aimed at easing early retirement, tougher legal provisions against paedophiles and moves to curb the powers of environmental organisations. Polls closed at midday and results are expected shortly. Of the five issues at stake only the vote on enshrining the government’s four-pillar drugs policy has a realistic chance of…

Swiss Politics

People’s Party opposes EU labour treaty

This content was published on Nov 29, 2008 Delegates on Saturday overwhelmingly came out against a parliamentary decision which will go to a nationwide vote next February. They also rejected the option of a boycott of the ballot. The youth wing of the People’s Party and small far-right groups collected enough signatures for a referendum. They argued it was undemocratic to lump into…

Swiss Politics

Inquiry advises better screening for top posts

This content was published on Nov 28, 2008 The inquiry into the selection process behind former head of the Armed Forces, Roland Nef, found the issue could have been better addressed in his recruitment process. The cabinet has been recommended to study the findings by the Control Committee of the House of Representatives, presented on Friday, by next April in order to ensure…

Swiss Politics

French support for Swiss over tax row

This content was published on Nov 28, 2008 But Fillon, currently on an official visit to Switzerland, said that the country should work towards more transparency in fiscal matters. “Switzerland is not a tax paradise. It is not considered as such by the Organisation for Cooperation and Economic Development and it is not considered as such by France,” said Fillon at a joint…

Swiss Politics

Congo atrocities test UN human rights body

This content was published on Nov 28, 2008 Diplomats at the Geneva-based council on Friday held an emergency meeting to examine allegations of mass killings, rape and torture committed by DRC government soldiers and rebels, as described in a new UN report. The report, published last week by the office of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said members of the Congolese army and national…

Swiss Politics

Free heroin scheme faces nationwide vote

This content was published on Nov 28, 2008 As the trial period comes to end, psychiatrist Christoph Bürki – who has worked for 14 years in the Bern heroin-dispensing centre (Koda) and is now the senior doctor there – gives swissinfo his perspective on the practice. The temporary legal provisions that allow this form of therapy are set to become enshrined in a…

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Swiss Abroad

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Schengen is no major upset for border guards

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Swiss Aids Federation combats discrimination

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UBS and cabinet election top parliament agenda

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Justice minister gets tough on street racers

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Voters have final say on drugs and pension

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People’s Party opposes EU labour treaty

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Inquiry advises better screening for top posts

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French support for Swiss over tax row

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Congo atrocities test UN human rights body

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Free heroin scheme faces nationwide vote

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