Swiss Abroad

Asylum seekers bunk down in emergency shelters

This content was published on May 6, 2011 The issue came to a head this week with police in Neuchâtel forced to intervene when members of a group of 31 claimants refused to move from hostel housing to a bunker which had been opened to make way for new arrivals. “It’s true that it’s a civil protection measure which by definition does not…

Swiss Politics

Nuclear plants ordered to improve safety

This content was published on May 5, 2011 The Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate said on Wednesday that the emergency cooling water systems at both plants were “insufficiently protected against earthquakes and floods”. The inspectorate has told the plants in cantons Bern and Aargau to present measures to remedy the situation by August 31, 2011. By March 31, 2012, both plants must also…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet undecided on European policy

This content was published on May 5, 2011 After listening to the input of four federal government experts on Thursday, the ministers have decided to solicit the input of two external advisors. These two experts will look into the interpretation of the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU – as well as the monitoring of their implementation. Previous discussions plus these commissioned…

Swiss Politics

EU moots new Schengen rules

This content was published on May 5, 2011 The Commission has been pressed by Italy and France, who say reform is needed to “restore the faith of citizens in free movement”. The proposals, outlined on Wednesday, are being submitted to European Union interior ministers and to the three non-EU Schengen member states, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. The 25-member Schengen area has scrapped systematic…

Swiss freeze Gbagbo assets

This content was published on May 4, 2011 A foreign ministry spokesman confirmed a media report on Wednesday, saying that the assets had been blocked since January 19. “The government took the decision to avoid any possibility that public money could be misappropriated,” the spokesman told the Swiss News Agency. He said it is now up to the Ivory Coast justice authorities to…

Switzerland defines strategy in Arab revolution

This content was published on May 4, 2011 That is how Swiss foreign ministry spokesman Lars Knuchel summarised the situation, addressing the media in Tunis on Tuesday. Swiss ambassadors to the region had gathered in Tunis to further develop the basic strategy adopted by the Swiss cabinet in March in response to political turmoil in North Africa. “The strategy covers the whole North…

Swiss Politics

Libya denies Gaddafi has money in Swiss banks

This content was published on May 4, 2011 The comments come after Switzerland said on Monday that it had found SFr360 million ($418.4 million) of potentially illegal assets linked to Gaddafi and his circle in Swiss banks. Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said on Tuesday that Libyan government entities had closer to SFr25 million in bank accounts in Switzerland. “The money…

Swiss Politics

Swiss try to unblock Armenia–Turkey deal

This content was published on May 3, 2011 Sargsyan thanked Switzerland for its efforts but accused Turkey of blocking implementation of the 2009 landmark treaty. He said he had “interesting discussions” with Calmy-Rey to try to end the deadlock. The meeting in Bern also focused on boosting economic and development cooperation between Armenia and Switzerland, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday. It was…

Swiss Politics

Nuclear safety inspector resigns temporarily

This content was published on May 3, 2011 In a statement, the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate said president Peter Hufschmied had voluntarily quit his post in the wake of accusations which were published in the SonntagZeitung this week. The paper said Hufschmied maintained close ties with FMB BKW Energie, the company which operates the Mühleberg nuclear power station in canton Bern. Hufschmied…

Swiss Politics

Bin Laden death “won’t spark” Afghan retreat

This content was published on May 3, 2011 Baud, who is an author of several books on terrorism, told swissinfo.ch that the struggle among the loose allegiance of al-Qaeda affiliates will continue with the al-Qaeda name remaining a strong brand as long as the west still uses it. Bin Laden, accused of ordering the devastating attacks on New York and Washington on September…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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Asylum seekers bunk down in emergency shelters

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Nuclear plants ordered to improve safety

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Cabinet undecided on European policy

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EU moots new Schengen rules

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Swiss freeze Gbagbo assets

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Switzerland defines strategy in Arab revolution

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Libya denies Gaddafi has money in Swiss banks

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Swiss try to unblock Armenia–Turkey deal

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Nuclear safety inspector resigns temporarily

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Bin Laden death “won’t spark” Afghan retreat

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