Swiss Politics

Parliament tackles labour accord and aid

This content was published on May 28, 2008 The session opened a week earlier than usual owing to the Euro 2008 football championship being co-hosted by Switzerland and neighbours Austria from June 7. Only the third and final week of the session will fall inside the championship but the agenda of meetings has been so arranged that football fans inside parliament will not…

Swiss Politics

Petition aims to raise development funds

This content was published on May 26, 2008 Around 201,000 people signed the Together Against Poverty petition, presented to the federal chancellery on Monday. The NGOs behind the move say Switzerland needs to increase development aid from 0.4 to 0.7 per cent of its gross national product by 2015 if it wants to follow objectives set by the United Nations in 2000 to…

Swiss Politics

ICRC chief blasts Myanmar junta

This content was published on May 25, 2008 Jakob Kellenberger, the president of the Swiss-run ICRC, was interviewed in the Sonntag newspaper on Sunday. “The government makes it impossible for us to fulfil our mission – to bring aid to the people in the conflict area on the Thai border,” he said. Apart from the devastating cyclone that hit in early May, the…

Swiss Politics

Blackwater probe concludes

This content was published on May 24, 2008 A military court will now decide whether the person in question, referred to by Swiss television only as “Mike”, acted as a mercenary. A conviction for any person serving in a foreign military can result in up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine. The case is regarded as precedent setting within the Swiss military…

Myanmar aid decision draws muted response

This content was published on May 23, 2008 Myanmar’s ruling junta leader Senior General Than Shwe agreed to allow all humanitarian workers into the country after meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday. The Swiss Red Cross told swissinfo it was “good news in principle” and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) said it would wait for more…

Swiss Politics

Government confirms nuclear papers destroyed

This content was published on May 23, 2008 Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin said on Friday that detailed plans for the construction of an atomic bomb were among the papers seized after federal prosecutors began investigating a family of Swiss engineers in 2004. The father and sons – Friedrich, Marco and Urs Tinner – were suspected of helping to supply parts for Libya’s nuclear…

Swiss Politics

Citizenship figures fuel debate ahead of vote

This content was published on May 23, 2008 Rightwingers argue no country in Europe approves more citizenship applications than Switzerland. But officials say the comparisons are misleading. Over the past few weeks the rightwing Swiss People’s Party has been recycling arguments that proved successful four years ago when it challenged a proposal to facilitate the naturalisation of second- and third-generation foreigners in Switzerland.…

Swiss Politics

“Experts must be ready to fight for the law”

This content was published on May 22, 2008 Thomas Fleiner, who founded the Federalism Institute at Fribourg University in 1984, is stepping down as director to start up a similar institution in Budapest. But Fleiner, who will be 70 in July, says going for walks and gardening are not on the cards. “I’m not going to stop – teaching is my passion,” he…

Swiss Politics

Swiss may have to swallow bitter Doha pill

This content was published on May 22, 2008 Swiss negotiator Remigi Winzap said new documents on farming and industry were a “positive step” forward but warned the picture was not very rosy for Switzerland, which would have to make tough concessions on agriculture. On Monday the WTO issued new agriculture and industrial goods proposals for a global trade agreement to be discussed at…

Swiss Politics

Good news for rail travellers

This content was published on May 22, 2008 It is increasing the number of trains between the main cities at peak times, and also making them longer to carry more passengers. There will be more frequent services in the evening on some main lines. Weekend trips to the southern holiday canton of Valais will become easier with the introduction of more and longer…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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Parliament tackles labour accord and aid

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Petition aims to raise development funds

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ICRC chief blasts Myanmar junta

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Blackwater probe concludes

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Myanmar aid decision draws muted response

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Government confirms nuclear papers destroyed

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Citizenship figures fuel debate ahead of vote

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“Experts must be ready to fight for the law”

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Swiss may have to swallow bitter Doha pill

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Good news for rail travellers

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