Swiss Abroad

Merz believes Swiss will leave OECD tax list

This content was published on Jun 29, 2009 Merz, quoted in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper on Monday, said that more progress on the issue had been made than planned. Switzerland is trying to secure 12 new bilateral tax deals by the end of 2009 so that it can be removed from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s list of countries that…

Swiss Politics

Children have rights too

This content was published on Jun 28, 2009 Geiser, who specialises in labour and family law, has been giving a series of lectures on children’s rights at St Gallen’s annual Children’s University. The Children’s University is aimed at giving pupils, aged ten to 12 years, a taste of academia. This year’s topic elicited an excited response from the young people attending. Did parents…

Opponents warn tax hike will hit consumers

This content was published on Jun 25, 2009 A committee made up mainly of members of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party said the government plan to boost the value added tax (VAT) also failed to address the structural deficit of the insurance programme. “An increase is poison for the purchasing power of consumers,” said People’s Party parliamentarian and businessman Peter Spuhler on Thursday.…

Swiss Politics

Swiss agree with Russians on trade and security

This content was published on Jun 25, 2009 Sergey Lavrov met Calmy-Rey on Wednesday for the sixth time. The diplomats discussed bilateral ties, energy, taxation and security issues during the session in Bern. Given Switzerland’s role as a neutral state outside the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), Calmy-Rey said Bern could be a valuable partner for Moscow in its…

Swiss Politics

Foreign criminals to face tougher regime

This content was published on Jun 24, 2009 But on Wednesday the cabinet said a proposal by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party for the automatic deportation of foreign criminals went against international law and basic constitutional rights. Observers point out that the government tightened its initial proposals following a broad consultation procedure among political parties, organisations and civil society. The cabinet plan will…

Swiss Politics

Iranian expats stage protest in Zurich

This content was published on Jun 24, 2009 Police said about 200 people took part in a protest in Switzerland’s biggest city on Wednesday. Organisers said they wanted to support public campaigns in Iran for more democracy. They also called on the Swiss government to suspend relations with the authorities in Tehran. On Tuesday Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey reiterated that freedom of…

Swiss Politics

Policy pulls the plug on energy-sucking devices

This content was published on Jun 24, 2009 Moritz Leuenberger, the energy minister, said on Wednesday that increasing efficiency was one of the best ways the country’s power plants could meet domestic demand, although environmental groups say the proposed measures do not go far enough. Under a newly revised energy-regulation policy, electrical household appliances, motors and other devices starting next year can only…

Swiss Politics

Swiss to cooperate with Japan on taxes

This content was published on Jun 24, 2009 Merz, who also holds Switzerland’s rotating presidency, made the announcement in the capital, Bern. Japan is the seventh country with which Switzerland has agreed to loosen banking secrecy laws. On Tuesday, Merz said Switzerland would enter into discussions with Germany on the same type of agreement. It initialed an accord with the United States last…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey seeks Gaddafi meeting for Merz

This content was published on Jun 24, 2009 The aim is to clear the air between the two countries. Relations have been strained since Gaddafi’s son and his wife were arrested in Geneva last July and charged with assaulting two domestic employees. Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey revealed the behind the scenes efforts to set up a meeting in a meeting with journalists.…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland and Germany bury the hatchet

This content was published on Jun 23, 2009 Hans-Rudolf Merz, who in addition to holding the finance portfolio is also this year’s Swiss president, had talks and a private dinner with Peer Steinbrück in Berlin on Monday, at which he assured the German side that Switzerland was ready to provide assistance on tax evasion cases. The talks came on the eve of a…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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Merz believes Swiss will leave OECD tax list

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Children have rights too

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Opponents warn tax hike will hit consumers

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Swiss agree with Russians on trade and security

More

Foreign criminals to face tougher regime

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Iranian expats stage protest in Zurich

More

Policy pulls the plug on energy-sucking devices

More

Swiss to cooperate with Japan on taxes

More

Calmy-Rey seeks Gaddafi meeting for Merz

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Switzerland and Germany bury the hatchet

Popular Stories

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