Swiss Abroad

People’s Party rules out opposition option

This content was published on Jan 28, 2012 Delegates at a party conference on Saturday voted in favour of keeping Defence Minister Ueli Maurer in his post in the cabinet, with 442 for and 25 against. It was mainly members from canton Valais who backed going into opposition. Among them, Jean-Luc Addor who said: “We should dare to leave the government. It’s a…

Swiss Politics

Davos Open Forum gives lessons in leadership

This content was published on Jan 27, 2012 But while participants in the meeting – which takes place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum – agreed on the need to think out of the box, they gave few details on which path was the best to follow. The school hall in Davos was full of young people from all over the…

Swiss Politics

Commandos ready to secure Tripoli embassy

This content was published on Jan 26, 2012 The government’s decision to hire Aegis for over three months was widely criticised in Swiss political circles. Although the company is headquartered in Basel since 2010, it also employs 20,000 mercenaries who are deployed mainly in Iraq and Afghanistan, making it one of the world’s biggest private armies. The government had justified its choice to…

Swiss Politics

More peacekeepers for Kosovo

This content was published on Jan 25, 2012 The defence ministry said the 220-member Swisscoy force can be extended by up to 40 staff for a period of four months. Stationed in Kosovo since 1999, Swisscoy has run the Casablanca camp at Suva Reka jointly with Austrian troops. The Swiss forces at Suva Reka, which are part of the international Kfor mission, will…

Rubik deals run into trouble

This content was published on Jan 22, 2012 The agreements use the so-called “Rubik” model for dealing with the undeclared billions held by foreign customers in Swiss banks. It is quick and easy: the countries whose taxpayers have tried to hide their assets get an inflow of money straight away, and Swiss banks remain relatively attractive to the super-rich who prefer to keep…

Hamas visit to Switzerland sparks outcry

This content was published on Jan 19, 2012 The Swiss-Israeli Association and Israeli officials had slammed the visit. The Swiss authorities meanwhile continue to talk to Hamas as part of a policy of dialogue with all parties to the Middle East conflict. On Wednesday evening around 100 people, some waving Swiss and Israeli flags as well as placards with slogans such as “No…

Swiss Politics

Swiss professor appointed to UN rights council

This content was published on Jan 18, 2012 Kälin, professor of constitutional and international law at Bern University, is a specialist in the area of international human rights protection. He has been a member of the 18-member committee before, from 2003 to 2008. His new term will run until 2014. From 2004 to 2010 he was special representative of the UN Secretary-General on…

Swiss Politics

Price hikes to pay for motorway extension

This content was published on Jan 18, 2012 Transport Minister Doris Leuthard on Wednesday said the increase to SFr100 ($106) from SFr40 for an annual permit sticker was necessary to contribute to an upgrade of 387km of roads at a cost of SFr305 million a year. The Swiss motorway network, begun in 1960, currently covers 1,801km. Leuthard also announced a series of measures…

Swiss Politics

Swiss-based Algerian dissident detained

This content was published on Jan 17, 2012 The Alkarama group, which campaigns for human rights in Arab countries, says its executive director Mourad Dhina was arrested on Monday at Paris-Orly airport. Alkarama spokesman Michael Romig said Dhina appeared before a French magistrate on Tuesday to hear Algeria’s extradition request and was then returned to custody. Romig said the terrorism charges against Dhina…

Swiss Politics

Conservative Muslims seek funds in Gulf states

This content was published on Jan 15, 2012 The Islamic Central Council of Switzerland says it is also seeking financial support to launch an initiative aimed at repealing a ban on the construction of minarets approved by voters in2009. The council president, Nicolas Blancho, on Sunday confirmed newspaper reports about his fundraising activities and exploratory talks in Kuwait and Qatar, but he said…

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