Swiss Politics

Bern and Berlin take off again on flight noise

This content was published on Apr 29, 2008 The move was announced on Tuesday after talks near Bern between the Swiss President, Pascal Couchepin, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. A working group, which has been inactive for two years, is to meet again to try to work out an accord on noise levels caused by flights into and out of the airport passing…

Swiss Politics

World Jewish Congress in new attack on Bern

This content was published on Apr 29, 2008 Repeating earlier criticism, Ronald Lauder said the contract threatened both Israel and the United States. He was speaking in Bern on Wednesday ahead of talks with Swiss President Pascal Couchepin. “Maybe that money that Switzerland is paying to Iran will some day be used to either buy weapons to kill Israelis or buy weapons to…

Swiss Politics

Protection plan announced for threatened birds

This content was published on Apr 29, 2008 The Federal Environment Office in Bern said numbers of wood grouse and middle-spotted woodpecker were falling, and even disappearing altogether in some areas. The wood grouse, known for its elaborate courting display, has disappeared from the Vaud Alps and canton Ticino, and is now only found in the Jura mountains, the pre-Alps and canton Graubünden.…

Swiss Politics

Free trade deal with India makes progress

This content was published on Apr 29, 2008 Leuthhard, who is accompanied by representatives of 25 Swiss firms, made the announcement on Tuesday after meeting the Indian minister of trade and industry, Kamal Nath. She said such an accord was important for both countries, adding that a major delegation representing small and medium-sized business would be included in a follow-up visit next year.…

Swiss Politics

Flight noise harms relations with Germany

This content was published on Apr 28, 2008 The talks will also be an opportunity to discuss another issue that has been grabbing headlines for the past few months: Switzerland’s reputation as a haven for Germans hiding their money from the taxman. It’s Merkel’s first official visit to Switzerland and follows an invitation by Swiss President Pascal Couchepin in February. In 2003 Germany…

Swiss Politics

Global food crisis dominates talks in Bern

This content was published on Apr 28, 2008 He held talks behind closed doors on Monday with the UN Chief Executives Board, which brings together the heads of the UN funds, programmes and specialised agencies. He also held discussions on the food problem, development issues and climate change with this year’s Swiss president, Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin, and the Swiss foreign minister, Micheline…

Swiss Politics

UN rapporteur calls for action on food crisis

This content was published on Apr 28, 2008 Jean Ziegler made the appeal as 27 key UN agencies met in the Swiss capital, Bern, on Monday to come up with solutions to ease the escalating global food crisis. Ziegler referred to the situations in the Palestinian territories and Darfur, Sudan, where the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the…

Swiss Politics

Parliament reopens debate over EU labour deal

This content was published on Apr 28, 2008 The extension of a labour agreement – also known as the free movement of people accord – to the newest EU member states Bulgaria and Romania is linked to the continuation of a set of bilateral treaties with Brussels. A row over tax issues further complicates matters. Monday’s debate in the Senate marks the beginning…

Swiss Politics

Pro-Tibet rally gathers thousands

This content was published on Apr 26, 2008 The demonstrators, who included many exiled Tibetans living in Switzerland, demanded on Saturday that the government officially receive the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan leader will visit Bern in October following an invitation from the city authorities. Economics Minister Doris Leuthard was also asked to request from the Chinese government the authorisation for an international fact-finding…

Swiss Politics

Greens elect new president

This content was published on Apr 26, 2008 The new 56-year-old president has already stated that he wants to double the number of party members and garner more votes from rural areas at election time. Two women – fellow parliamentarian Franziska Teuscher and Aline Trede, a 25-year-old student representing the party’s youth movement – will second Leuenberger, who was the only candidate to…

Swiss Politics

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Bern and Berlin take off again on flight noise

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World Jewish Congress in new attack on Bern

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Protection plan announced for threatened birds

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Free trade deal with India makes progress

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Flight noise harms relations with Germany

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Global food crisis dominates talks in Bern

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UN rapporteur calls for action on food crisis

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Parliament reopens debate over EU labour deal

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Pro-Tibet rally gathers thousands

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Greens elect new president

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