Swiss Politics

Congo faces “humanitarian catastrophe”

This content was published on Oct 30, 2008 Swiss aid workers on the ground say the situation has been deteriorating for some time and fears of a return to civil war have been realised. On Wednesday rebels loyal to General Laurent Nkunda advanced on the eastern city of Goma, scattering residents and threatening to overwhelm a 17,000-strong United Nations force, known as MONUC,…

Swiss Politics

“UBS could have curbed losses to $500 million”

This content was published on Oct 30, 2008 In an interview with swissinfo, she discusses bonuses, bailouts and how UBS could have saved itself $39.5 billion (SFr45.4 billion) in the United States subprime crisis. UBS has suffered losses and writedowns totalling some SFr45 billion ($40 billion) over the past year because of bad investments in the subprime market and other risky financial instruments.…

Swiss Politics

German minister renews his charge

This content was published on Oct 27, 2008 Less than a week after Peer Steinbrück provoked a row with Bern by saying Switzerland should be on the blacklist of “uncooperative” tax havens, he told journalists he was “astonished” by the reaction to his words. “No country should offer conditions which might encourage tax payers from a neighbouring state to indulge in tax evasion…

Swiss Politics

Debate over security and crime gets a new spin

This content was published on Oct 27, 2008 Their new position, adopted by party delegates at a meeting over the weekend, is in line with those of their counterparts in other European countries, says political scientist Georg Lutz from Lausanne University. The Social Democrats – Switzerland’s second largest political group after the rightwing People’s Party – came out in favour of expelling foreigners…

Swiss Politics

Progressing from taboo to superloo

This content was published on Oct 27, 2008 But for the forty per cent of the world’s population who still do not have access to toilets at all, the consequences can be fatal: 1.8 million people die annually as a result of poor sanitation facilities, says the Swiss aid agency Helvetas. Where there are no adequate toilet facilities and people are forced to…

Swiss Politics

US face-off has Swiss Americans ready to vote

This content was published on Oct 27, 2008 swissinfo spoke to a Republican, a Democrat and an undecided voter, and all three – despite different political views – believe the race is far from over and that much could happen before the November 4 vote. Most polls have placed Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate, ahead of John McCain, the Republican. But the tone…

Swiss Politics

EU backs Swiss over tax blacklist spat

This content was published on Oct 26, 2008 Michael Reiterer said that Switzerland could not be compared with Liechtenstein over tax issues. “Switzerland has concluded a taxation of savings agreement with the EU, an anti-fraud agreement is being ratified, and Switzerland cooperates over stopping money laundering,” Reiterer told the Sonntag newspaper. “This is a different situation to Liechtenstein.” German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück…

Swiss Politics

Zurich’s cycling mayor rides city to success

This content was published on Oct 26, 2008 Ledergerber tells swissinfo about the ups and downs of his job, the effect of the financial crisis on Zurich and his thoughts on winning second place in the World Mayor competition. The mayor, who has been in office since 2002, announced on Wednesday that he was stepping down to spend more time with his youngest…

Swiss Politics

Controversial housing opens for asylum seekers

This content was published on Oct 25, 2008 The eastern canton of Graubünden has adopted this solution and has set up three containers on a patch of waste ground in the industrial area of Waldau/Landquart, not far from the cantonal capital, Chur. The first eight occupants have already been in Switzerland for some time, and their request for asylum has been turned down.…

Swiss Politics

Fate of drug laws hazy but voters will decide

This content was published on Oct 24, 2008 A first opinion poll found that the prescription of heroin for addicts stands a good chance of passing on November 30. However, a proposal to decriminalise cannabis attracts neither a clear majority of supporters nor opponents six weeks before the ballot. “Both camps are equally strong and the debate focuses on whether hemp is a…

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Swiss Politics

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Congo faces “humanitarian catastrophe”

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“UBS could have curbed losses to $500 million”

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German minister renews his charge

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Debate over security and crime gets a new spin

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Progressing from taboo to superloo

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US face-off has Swiss Americans ready to vote

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EU backs Swiss over tax blacklist spat

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Zurich’s cycling mayor rides city to success

More

Controversial housing opens for asylum seekers

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Fate of drug laws hazy but voters will decide

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