Swiss Abroad

Light at the end of the tunnel

This content was published on Sep 10, 2010 In an interview with swissinfo.ch, the outgoing minister speaks proudly of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, a gigantic rail project through the Alps. The tunnel breakthrough will take place on October 15.

Swiss Politics

Town on alert as armed man escapes twice

This content was published on Sep 10, 2010 At a news conference held in Biel on Friday morning, regional police head François Gaudy admitted: “We do not know where he is. We understand residents’ concerns.” Biel police said the 67-year-old man was dangerous. He fired shots at police for the second time in the early hours of Friday morning, having wounded one officer…

Swiss Politics

EU court silences Swiss flights complaint

This content was published on Sep 9, 2010 The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg announced on Thursday it had rejected a request by the Swiss government to repeal a 2003 decision by the European Commission. The commission had backed Germany’s move to impose restrictions on inbound and night flights to Zurich after complaints from residents in nearby southern Germany. Switzerland’s main airport…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet defends controversial lump sum tax

This content was published on Sep 8, 2010 However, it proposes increasing the minimum tax rates in line with recommendations of the 26 cantons, which have wide-ranging fiscal autonomy. The amendment would make the system more transparent and less discriminatory, according to a finance ministry statement. The cabinet rules out the abolition of the lump sum tax, saying it helps boost Switzerland’s competitive…

Swiss Politics

Police cooperate to crack down on cocaine trade

This content was published on Sep 8, 2010 The Federal Police Office says joint efforts with the cantonal police, customs and border guards are focusing on networks of criminal drug dealers from western Africa. The aim is to make Switzerland unattractive for the trade in cocaine, a senior official told a news conference on Tuesday. He added that the exchange of information between…

Swiss Politics

Search continues for nuclear waste depots

This content was published on Sep 8, 2010 The search is on for suitable host sites. Not many sites were proposed but six candidates are currently under consideration. Just a few steps from the Gösgen nuclear power plant in canton Solothurn, some 250 people gathered on Monday night to learn more about the issue. The Jura-Südfuss region – which surrounds the Gösgen plant…

Swiss Politics

Swiss give helicopters to Pakistan

This content was published on Sep 8, 2010 The helicopters were due to be taken out of service at the end of the year, but the first will now be sent to Pakistan later this month, delivered by cargo planes of the Pakistan air force. The Swiss government decided in August to give Pakistan the three machines which were already out of operation,…

Swiss Politics

EU parliament demands greater transparency

This content was published on Sep 7, 2010 At the same time, parliamentarians called for a speedier conclusion of bilateral treaties and solutions to institutional issues in addition to greater transparency in the work of commissions. The report, passed on Tuesday by a large majority, is not legally binding and will now be passed to the European Commission and the Council of Europe.…

Swiss Politics

Aid accords signed for Bulgaria and Romania

This content was published on Sep 7, 2010 The funds, worth a total of SFr257 million ($254 million) over ten years, will go towards efforts to reduce social and economic disparities in the EU. The first projects in areas including security, infrastructure, integration and research, will likely be selected and implement by the end of the year, according to the economics ministry. Measures…

Swiss Politics

“To be Roma means to be a traveller and thief”

This content was published on Sep 7, 2010 While the government has no global figure for the number of this ethnic group in Switzerland, the Rroma foundation in Zurich estimates it to be around 50,000 to 60,000. As Cristina Kruck of the Rroma Foundation in Zurich explains, the Roma suffer from a poor image in Switzerland, as in France. “For the Swiss, to…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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Light at the end of the tunnel

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Town on alert as armed man escapes twice

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EU court silences Swiss flights complaint

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Cabinet defends controversial lump sum tax

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Police cooperate to crack down on cocaine trade

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Search continues for nuclear waste depots

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Swiss give helicopters to Pakistan

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EU parliament demands greater transparency

More

Aid accords signed for Bulgaria and Romania

More

“To be Roma means to be a traveller and thief”

Popular Stories

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