Swiss Abroad

Americans in Switzerland react to US elections

This content was published on Nov 3, 2010 As predicted, Republicans have taken control of the US House of Representatives, while Democrats have maintained a slim majority in the Senate. Tuesday’s elections provided a topic of conversation around the world – and also among American voters living in Switzerland. Reactions varied from satisfaction to disappointment, but few were surprised by the results. “I…

Swiss Politics

Swiss end sanctions against Sierra Leone

This content was published on Nov 3, 2010 The decision was taken by the Swiss cabinet in its first meeting with newly elected members Johann Schneider-Ammann and Simonetta Sommaruga. The partial sanctions were imposed after a coup d’état in 1997 ousting the democratically elected president. They involved an arms embargo and a ban on the six leaders of the ruling military junta entering…

Swiss Politics

Fake art trafficking ring dismantled

This content was published on Nov 3, 2010 According to Vaud cantonal police, it is the biggest case of fake paintings ever discovered in Switzerland. The paintings seized were signed by painters including Rodolphe-Théophile Bosshard, George Braque, Edouard Vallet, Maurice de Vlaminck or Kees van Dongen. Between 2005 and 2008, the four alleged forgers, who worked in the art industry, introduced around 80…

Swiss Politics

Swiss bite into cocoa accord

This content was published on Nov 3, 2010 Announcing the move on Wednesday, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) said that that accord also foresaw the improvement of cocoa quality and productivity. The deal between the world’s leading cocoa-producing and consuming countries was reached earlier this year at the United Nations Cocoa Conference in Geneva. Members of the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO)…

Showdown on criminal foreigners brings no answers

This content was published on Nov 3, 2010 Senior representatives of the initiative by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party; Christoph Blocher, and of parliament’s counter-proposal, Fulvio Pelli, were preaching to a 450-strong audience of the converted at Geneva University on Tuesday. Strangely enough, there was no-one taking part in the panel standing for those who reject both projects, notably the political centre-left. “Why…

Swiss Politics

Device explodes at Swiss embassy in Athens

This content was published on Nov 2, 2010 Police spokesman Athanassios Kokalakis said an object was thrown into the Swiss embassy courtyard and a “deafening blast” was heard. The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed that a package left at the Swiss embassy in Athens was the cause of a “problem”. A spokesman said the package burst into flames when it was unwrapped by local…

Swiss Politics

Swiss portals not exempt from cyber attacks

This content was published on Nov 2, 2010 The Reporting and Analysis Centre for Information Assurance (Melani) can now block .ch domains if they are being misused. Between June and August 2010, Melani identified 145 cases of misuse in more than 237,000 websites checked. With the number of cases of espionage and stolen data rising worldwide in the first half of 2010, espionage…

Swiss Politics

Political fault line shifts to boost extremes

This content was published on Nov 2, 2010 This could help explain the recent polarisation of the political climate in Switzerland and the relative weakness of the centre-right, according to an extensive study which is based on findings on the last parliamentary elections of 2007. The new pattern appears to override the customary conflict pitting voters for and those against more social equality…

Swiss Politics

Swiss celebrate an office which really counts

This content was published on Nov 1, 2010 By the time the next census came round in 1860, the minister, Stefano Franscini, was dead – some say of overwork – but statistics were being taken much more seriously. Parliament had passed a law setting up a statistics office, and had ordered a census to be held every ten years. The Statistics Office, which…

Swiss Politics

American voters in Switzerland eye US election

This content was published on Nov 1, 2010 Count American Ed Flaherty among the former. The chairman of the Swiss branch of Republicans Abroad says his group is confident enough of big wins at the polls that a victory party is in order. “This election is in some ways quite a surprise,” he told swissinfo.ch. “I didn’t expect Republicans could bounce back to…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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Americans in Switzerland react to US elections

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Swiss end sanctions against Sierra Leone

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Fake art trafficking ring dismantled

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Swiss bite into cocoa accord

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Showdown on criminal foreigners brings no answers

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Device explodes at Swiss embassy in Athens

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Swiss portals not exempt from cyber attacks

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Political fault line shifts to boost extremes

More

Swiss celebrate an office which really counts

More

American voters in Switzerland eye US election

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