Swiss Politics

Iranians detained in money laundering probe

This content was published on Sep 30, 2008 The group of about ten detainees has connections to the People’s Mujahideen Organisation of Iran (PMOI), which is listed as a terrorist group in the European Union and United States. They were arrested last week and are still in custody, judicial sources and the group’s lawyer said. The police swoop was coordinated between French and…

Swiss Politics

Federal Court reverses Geneva smoking ban

This content was published on Sep 30, 2008 The judgement puts a dent in the nationwide anti-smoking trend with voters in Zurich and Basel voting on Sunday in favour of more restrictive smoking regulations in line with existing practice in several other cantons. The Federal Court annulled the ruling by the Geneva cantonal government on the grounds that the legal basis for the…

Swiss Politics

Artificial reproduction on the rise

This content was published on Sep 29, 2008 According to the Federal Statistics Office, around 5,400 couples last year made use of one form or another of assisted reproductive technology – a 13 per cent rise on 2006. The Statistics Office said on Monday that around 1.6 of every 1,000 women in Switzerland of child bearing age undergoes treatment. About one in every…

Swiss Politics

Trend to ban smoking in public continues

This content was published on Sep 28, 2008 Smoking in the country’s most populated canton will be allowed in separate rooms that are well ventilated but where guests will not be served. Canton Basel City voted the same way. In the central canton of Nidwalden, the electorate decided it would be up to the restaurateurs themselves to decide if they wanted to designate…

Swiss Politics

Bern seeks more business with Caracas

This content was published on Sep 28, 2008 A spokeswoman at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs confirmed a report in the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper that Bern would receive a delegation from the South American country at the end of October. Giuseppina Iampietro said a framework agreement was due to be signed during the visit, aimed at creating a joint commission to…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey wants greater army presence abroad

This content was published on Sep 28, 2008 In an interview in the Zentralschweiz am Sonntag newspaper, she said that several scenarios had been developed to pursue the idea. “But the foreign policy committee [of the House of Representatives] has some reservations,” she said. Calmy-Rey said Switzerland as a neutral country was “predestined” to carry out such missions. She cited the case of…

Swiss Politics

Pressure on Swiss cabinet intensifies

This content was published on Sep 28, 2008 It has been a turbulent week, with Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz recovering from a heart attack and Defence Minister Samuel Schmid under fire. Political scientist Hans Hirter tells swissinfo that cabinet members face ever increasing attacks on their person, rather than being judged solely on their policies. He also considers how recent events may affect…

Swiss Politics

Housing market feels strain of labour accord

This content was published on Sep 27, 2008 Speaking on Saturday in St Gallen at the annual meeting of the Swiss Housing Association, she noted that the urban areas of Zurich, Basel, Geneva and Lausanne had been particularly affected by above average rent increases. Leuthard said these areas were also suffering from a lack of apartments with low rents. She also pointed out…

Swiss Politics

Schengen arrangements for Liechtenstein agreed

This content was published on Sep 26, 2008 The fact that the principality is not yet part of the Schengen area will cost Switzerland millions of francs. There is currently no border control on the 41 kilometres that separate the two countries. The Swiss justice ministry announced that personnel for extra border controls would cost SFr2.5 million ($2.3 million). Infrastructure, mainly video surveillance,…

Swiss Politics

Sanctions on Myanmar rulers tightened

This content was published on Sep 26, 2008 Import of timber, wood products, coal, some metals and precious stones are banned in line with similar measures taken by the European Union earlier this year. At the same time financial sanctions were extended to people working in the timber and metal industries. The economics ministry said the move is aimed at forcing the Myanmar…

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Iranians detained in money laundering probe

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Federal Court reverses Geneva smoking ban

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Artificial reproduction on the rise

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Trend to ban smoking in public continues

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Bern seeks more business with Caracas

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Calmy-Rey wants greater army presence abroad

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Pressure on Swiss cabinet intensifies

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Housing market feels strain of labour accord

More

Schengen arrangements for Liechtenstein agreed

More

Sanctions on Myanmar rulers tightened

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