Swiss Politics

Widmer-Schlumpf steps in for Merz

This content was published on Sep 22, 2008 Merz is in stable condition at Bern University hospital following a quintuple bypass operation on Sunday evening. President Pascal Couchepin made the announcement about Merz’s replacement after an extraordinary meeting of the cabinet on Monday morning. Widmer-Schlumpf, who was responsible for the finance portfolio of canton Graubünden before she was elected to the government last…

Swiss Politics

Finance Minister Merz stable following surgery

This content was published on Sep 22, 2008 Heart specialist Thierry Carrel told a news conference at Bern University hospital on Sunday evening that the quintuple bypass operation had gone well but it was too early to say whether Merz’s brain would be affected. Carrel described the two-and-a-half hour operation as routine and noted that the attack had not been severe. Merz, aged…

Swiss Politics

Electricity boss reveals shock price increases

This content was published on Sep 21, 2008 Hans Schweickardt, who is chief executive of the EOS electricity company in western Switzerland, told the Sonntag newspaper that prices would increase again after 2014 when households were free to choose their electricity supplier. Schweickardt blamed administrative costs in a liberalised Swiss electricity market for the increases. The market is due to be opened for…

Swiss Politics

Aid groups hail boost for development funds

This content was published on Sep 18, 2008 A coalition of aid agencies and church groups, which had campaigned for the United Nations Millennium goal of 0.7 per cent, welcomed the decision. It is confident that the other parliamentary chamber, the House of Representatives will follow suit. It took the Senate more than one session this week to discuss the government’s development budget.…

Swiss Politics

Refugee apprenticeship programme successful

This content was published on Sep 18, 2008 The programme, which involved language acquisition, education and networking in the labour market, had benefitted more than 50 people since it began in 2006. Participants worked at sites in the hotel and catering sectors, in the logistics industry, in construction and in sales. The Migration Office said it was satisfied with the programme’s 50 per…

Swiss Politics

End is nigh for cat-skin trade

This content was published on Sep 18, 2008 The House of Representatives had already approved the bill, and the government must now draft legislation to bring Switzerland into line with the European Union. In March the Swiss association SOS Chats handed in a petition with almost 120,000 signatures, including those of Brigitte Bardot, Michael Schumacher and former Miss Switzerland Lauriane Gilliéron. Switzerland has…

Swiss Politics

Rules of war clarified for private contractors

This content was published on Sep 17, 2008 Experts from 17 countries approved the recommendations at the end of a three-day meeting in the resort of Montreux, organised by the Swiss foreign ministry and the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The document brings together and clarifies the current laws and obligations affecting private military and security companies, known collectively as…

Swiss Politics

Trans-alpine traffic to be cut – but not yet

This content was published on Sep 17, 2008 However, the target date for obliging freight companies to reserve slots for their trans-alpine trucks was delayed by about ten years to 2019 at the earliest. When the reservation system is in place, the annual number of transiting heavy-goods trucks will be limited to 650,000. On Wednesday the House of Representatives followed the Senate in…

Swiss Politics

Senate sends no-smoke signal to restaurants

This content was published on Sep 17, 2008 Both the Senate and House of Representatives favour such a ban but disagree on whether smaller establishments should nevertheless be allowed to permit smoking on their premises. The proposal, voted down 25 to 18 by the senators, would allow restaurants and bars measuring less than 100 square metres to be designated as smoking establishments. Both…

Swiss Politics

Bird flu risk low this winter, authorities say

This content was published on Sep 16, 2008 In a statement on Tuesday, it said there would be no designated risk areas with heightened security measures in response to the virus commonly known as bird flu. It said it had based the decision on a current risk analysis and new scientific findings, but did not rule out taking further measures. The Veterinary Office…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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Widmer-Schlumpf steps in for Merz

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Finance Minister Merz stable following surgery

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Electricity boss reveals shock price increases

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Aid groups hail boost for development funds

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Refugee apprenticeship programme successful

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End is nigh for cat-skin trade

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Rules of war clarified for private contractors

More

Trans-alpine traffic to be cut – but not yet

More

Senate sends no-smoke signal to restaurants

More

Bird flu risk low this winter, authorities say

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