Swiss Politics Archives - Page 1039 of 1339

More

Swiss Politics

Swiss proposal rejected at Bali conference

This content was published on Feb 1, 2008 The foreign ministry said it regretted that the meeting could not agree on a mechanism for reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The conference on the Indonesian island of Bali was also presented a plan by Switzerland to tackle the controversial issue of asset recovery. Switzerland has played a pioneering role…

More

Swiss Politics

ICRC calls for detainee rights amid “progress”

This content was published on Jan 30, 2008 The Geneva-based organisation’s president, Jakob Kellenberger, was in Washington, where he held talks with US officials. The group said that while it remains critical of US policies, it added that “noticeable progress” had been made. An ICRC spokesperson cited as an example monthly videoconferences which have recently started with detainees at Bagram Air Force Base…

More

Swiss Politics

Debt collectors want defaulters to pay price

This content was published on Jan 30, 2008 In 2006 there were 883,112 collection orders filed, amounting to SFr728.1 million ($667 million), according to the Swiss collection association. Reforms bringing Switzerland closer to the European Union late-payment model were needed to avoid prompt-paying businesses and customers being unfairly punished, politicians and debt collectors said on Tuesday. Thomas Kast, president of the Swiss collection…

More

Swiss Politics

Government moves to protect Swiss orchards

This content was published on Jan 29, 2008 In a statement on Tuesday, it said the use of streptomycin would be strictly controlled. The antibiotic is only authorised for use during the main period of infection, the spring. Streptomycin, which is sprayed on trees, is opposed by environmentalists. The Agriculture Office said that application may only take place in approved areas and that…

More

Swiss Politics

Brussels approves accords on closer ties

This content was published on Jan 28, 2008 The formal approval at EU minister level paves the way for the bilateral agreements to come into force later this year, once legal and other technicalities about Swiss participation in the Schengen Area have been ironed out. Bern is aiming for November, a date that Brussels feels is feasible. “We as the European Commission are…

More

Swiss Politics

Swiss help keep Korean peace

This content was published on Jan 28, 2008 swissinfo visits the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea to learn what it’s like to be one of five Swiss army officers keeping watch on one of the world’s political hotspots. “We are entering the Joint Security Area (JSA). From now on, please follow my instructions scrupulously. Shooting can start at any time,”…

More

Swiss Politics

Big Brother will be watching during Euro 2008

This content was published on Jan 28, 2008 While still at a small level compared with other European countries, the use of video surveillance is a growing phenomenon in Switzerland. Yet it is not properly discussed in the public sphere or monitored, says a Swiss expert. The Geneva city government agreed on Thursday to provide local police with eight cameras worth SFr4.7 million…

More

Swiss Politics

Next US president “should not ignore poverty”

This content was published on Jan 26, 2008 Bob Edgar, president of Common Cause, a “good government” lobby group in Washington that works for politicians to be more attuned to the public interest, gave his views to swissinfo at a forum in Davos open to the public. swissinfo: Whom would you like to see as next president of the United States in the…

More

Swiss Politics

Leuthard signs trade accord with Canada

This content was published on Jan 26, 2008 At the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, the ministers of the four European Free Trade Association (Efta) states also launched free trade negotiations with India. The economics ministry said on Saturday that the agreement with Canada would eliminate or reduce duties on industrial goods and processed agricultural products. The Efta ministers also…

More

Swiss Politics

Foreigners step up calls for more rights

This content was published on Jan 25, 2008 Currently foreigners born in Switzerland are not automatically eligible for naturalisation, a situation which the new organisation, Second@s Plus, says must change. And it says it will fight moves to make the process even harder. Around one fifth of Switzerland’s seven million population are foreigners, with an estimated 500,000 of them being second or third…

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed