Swiss Abroad

More stringent asylum rules set to be confirmed

This content was published on Jun 8, 2013 Already in force since last autumn following a fast-track parliamentary procedure, the amendment to the asylum law gives the government increased powers over the country’s 26 cantonal authorities to house asylum seekers and to set up special centres for those considered troublemakers. The change scraps asylum requests at Swiss embassies abroad and rules out providing…

Swiss Politics

Swiss approve extra funds for Syria

This content was published on Jun 7, 2013 The additional funding will in part be used to support United Nations partners and the Swiss-run International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which reach many affected people throughout Syria and the region, according to a statement. Also benefitting are projects carried out by Swiss Humanitarian Aid supporting families and communities in northern Lebanon which…

Swiss Politics

Guatemala embassy saved, Chicago consulate shut

This content was published on Jun 6, 2013 Following a short debate on Thursday, the Senate unanimously decided to snub plans by the foreign ministry to close the Swiss representation to Guatemala City and move all its services to Costa Rica’s capital, San José. The other chamber, the House of Representatives, had voted on the issue in March. Committee speaker Anne Seydoux-Christe stressed…

Swiss Politics

House seals airport deal despite local buzz

This content was published on Jun 6, 2013 Despite concerns expressed at the local level, the deal passed with 110 votes in favour and 66 against. Critics complained that it was a bad deal that yielded too much to Germany. The agreement, hammered out last summer by Transport Minister Doris Leuthard and her German counterpart, now awaits ratification by Germany’s parliament. It passed…

Swiss Politics

Police chase Swiss diplomat through Paris

This content was published on Jun 5, 2013 When police tried to stop the Swiss representative at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) who was speeding through the streets of Paris’s fifth arrondissement in a Mercedes, the diplomat carried on driving, prompting officers to shoot out one of the car’s tyres. The man was eventually stopped driving the wrong way down the Boulevard St.Germain. The…

Swiss Politics

Swiss wine to flow freely in ambassador role

This content was published on Jun 4, 2013 Diplomats will be able to order from a wide selection of labels from all of Switzerland’s wine regions, with the ministry footing the bill in advance. The new wine supply procedure, which came into force this month, was developed in response to parliamentary motions dating back to December 2011 calling for clear guidelines to ensure…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland signs Arms Trade Treaty

This content was published on Jun 4, 2013 Paul Seger, Switzerland’s permanent representative to the United Nations, signed the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in New York on Monday on behalf of Switzerland. He described the treaty as “strong, robust, balanced … a basis for the responsible international trade of weapons”. Seger emphasised how important it is that the ATT enters into force and…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland ʻextremely concernedʼ about Syria

This content was published on Jun 3, 2013 Switzerland is also asking those involved in the fighting and the international community to do everything possible to find a political solution that meets the aspirations and needs of the Syrian citizenry, the ministry said in a statement on Monday. “The violence must end,” the ministry added. “The civilian population must immediately be allowed to…

Swiss Politics

Reminders of the Cold War

This content was published on Jun 3, 2013 In the 1970s and 1980s the Stalinist regime had hundreds of thousands of steel and concrete bunkers built, out of fear of foreign invasion. Today they have lost their military purpose. Some were dismantled and removed, others are slowly mouldering away or have been covered by vegetation; others have found a use as storerooms or…

Maurer takes a shot with diplomats

This content was published on May 31, 2013 The longstanding tradition, which has its origins in the Swiss military’s shooting practice, is the world’s largest marksmanship event. More than 120,000 participants took part in similar events across the country, competing in either the 300-metre rifle shoot or the 50 and 25-metre pistol shoot. On Friday, Maurer and the other shooters were forced to aim into the…

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