Swiss Abroad

New legislation creates dilemma for Mormons

This content was published on Dec 16, 2010 Swiss Mormons and many swissinfo readers reject the ban as unfair and incomprehensible. The problem has arisen because rules allowing the free movement of people between Switzerland and the European Union, which came into effect in 2002, were counterbalanced by severe restrictions on the numbers of third country nationals allowed to take up residence in…

Swiss Politics

Swiss accuses Kosovo leader of heading crime ring

This content was published on Dec 15, 2010 Swiss human rights investigator Dick Marty is scheduled to present the conclusions to European diplomats in Paris on Thursday. The report for Europe’s premier human rights watchdog alleges that civilians detained by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) were shot dead in northern Albania so their kidneys could be extracted and sold on the black market…

Swiss Politics

Dark days ahead for Italy after Berlusconi win

This content was published on Dec 15, 2010 Berlusconi survived by winning the vote in Italy’s lower house by a hair, 314-311. “Italy’s the loser”, was the title of the commentary published in both the Tages-Anzeiger and Bund newspapers. “Silvio Berlusconi will not be happy with this victory,” it said, explaining that Berlusconi now finds himself in the same situation as his predecessor,…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland urged to play active foreign role

This content was published on Dec 15, 2010 In a speech to the assembled members of the two chambers on Wednesday he called on Switzerland not merely to play the role of observer, but to express its opinions on the many challenges faced by the world today. No country can solve these problems by itself, he said. Speaking of the “impressive reputation” Switzerland…

Swiss Politics

Kosovo faces uncertain future after historic vote

This content was published on Dec 15, 2010 Election officials say Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) won 33.5 per cent based on preliminary results. But the ballot was marred by allegations of corruption and election fraud, and ethnic Serbs in Kosovo’s north boycotted the vote. On Tuesday allegations surfaced that Thaci had led a “mafia-like” network involved in trafficking in human organs. The accusations were…

Swiss Politics

EU reprimand will have little impact on Bern

This content was published on Dec 14, 2010 In Switzerland, experts are predicting there will be little fallout from the findings of the Council of the EU. The EU is showing signs of frustration with Switzerland and foreign ministers made this clear on Tuesday. “It is not surprising that the EU Council have raised the stakes. Voices have been loud for some time.…

Swiss Politics

US lawmakers criticise Swiss missionary ban

This content was published on Dec 13, 2010 US Senator Mike Crapo is leading an effort on behalf of 14 members of Congress who sent a letter to the Swiss embassy in Washington earlier this year urging the government to find a way forward for missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “We expect an ongoing dialogue with the Swiss…

Swiss Politics

Doctors, police call for stricter gun laws

This content was published on Dec 13, 2010 “We want to save lives, not do away with the army,” said Jacques de Haller, president of the Swiss Medical Association, in reference to a fear that the initiative to ban men from keeping military-issue guns at home could be seen as a pacifist smokescreen to weaken the army. Jean-Pierre Monti, the president of the…

Swiss Politics

Closing of Wikileaks account to be investigated

This content was published on Dec 13, 2010 President Doris Leuthard, who holds the communications portfolio, told parliament on Monday that her ministry would look into any possible wrongdoing. One week ago, the financial arm of Swiss Post closed Assange’s account because he did not meet PostFinance’s residency requirements. Leuthard said the company took a unilateral decision to close the account – which…

Swiss Politics

EU puts Bern back in the eye of the storm

This content was published on Dec 13, 2010 In particular, the report wants to see the abolition of Swiss cantonal tax systems and a rethink of the “bilateral path” – the system under which Switzerland, a non-member of the EU, has reached bilateral agreements with Brussels. On December 7, finance ministers of the EU “encouraged” the European Commission to continue discussions with Switzerland…

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Swiss Abroad

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New legislation creates dilemma for Mormons

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Swiss accuses Kosovo leader of heading crime ring

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Dark days ahead for Italy after Berlusconi win

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Switzerland urged to play active foreign role

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Kosovo faces uncertain future after historic vote

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EU reprimand will have little impact on Bern

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US lawmakers criticise Swiss missionary ban

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Doctors, police call for stricter gun laws

More

Closing of Wikileaks account to be investigated

More

EU puts Bern back in the eye of the storm

Popular Stories

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