Swiss Politics

Inertia reigns as elite return to Davos

This content was published on Jan 22, 2013 Derided by some as being little more than a millionaire’s cocktail party indulging in empty rhetoric, the 43rd gathering of international movers and shakers will again talk about debt crises, rampant unemployment, environmental time bombs and irresponsible finance. The lack of progress from last January even has WEF founder Klaus Schwab tearing his hair out…

Swiss Politics

Swiss promise millions in aid to Egypt

This content was published on Jan 21, 2013 According to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco), some of the funds will also be used to bolster the Egyptian financial sector and work toward a more “inclusive, accountable and transparent” system of governance in the Arab nation. The agreement, which was signed Sunday in Cairo, further focuses on strengthening human rights and providing…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland continues to support mediation in Mali

This content was published on Jan 20, 2013 “The mediation continues. Switzerland is staying on the ground in Mali with its own people and supports mediation efforts,” said Yves Rossier, State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, in an interview with “Der Sonntag”. The country supports the mediation, led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), between the Mali government and the…

Swiss Politics

Gunman from Biel to appeal court decision

This content was published on Jan 19, 2013 The regional prosecutor’s office in Biel decided on Friday not to press charges because the man was not criminally liable and needed psychiatric treatment. Based on a psychiatric evaluation, he was deemed to be suffering from severe delusions of persecution. Defence counsel Philippe Kunz said that his client was “not happy” with the decision and…

Swiss Politics

One in ten Swiss lives abroad

This content was published on Jan 18, 2013 “The number of Swiss abroad has increased by 1.72 per cent, going from 703,640 in 2011 to 715,710 in 2012,” it said in a statement. More than half of these live in Europe (442,620), with the most popular countries being neighbouring France (186,615), Germany (80,715) and Italy (50,091). Outside Europe, the United States is the…

Swiss Politics

Mandatory military service in Europe

This content was published on Jan 18, 2013

Swiss Politics

Votes forced on asylum and vaccinations

This content was published on Jan 17, 2013 The law’s opponents are especially critical of revisions stipulating that people can no longer apply for asylum at Swiss embassies abroad and that conscientious objectors and deserters will no longer be considered for asylum status. However, left-wing parties – in particular the Social Democrats – were divided over whether to support the collection of signatures.…

Swiss Politics

ICRC to resume Myanmar prison visits

This content was published on Jan 17, 2013 The Swiss, who heads the Geneva-based humanitarian organisation, made the announcement in Yangon on Thursday after meeting Myanmar President Thein Sein and other top officials in the southeast Asian nation this week. “We warmly welcome this declaration,” the ICRC president said. The ICRC had been prevented from visiting prisoners in December 2005 after restrictions were…

Swiss Politics

Which way out of the crisis?

This content was published on Jan 17, 2013 For years, the Swiss financial sector has been under pressure from abroad. Banking secrecy and Swiss banks’ role in tax evasion have been at the heart of that pressure, especially from the US. Switzerland would like to solve the problem with a withholding tax, but it’s been unable to broadly implement such a model. Demands…

Banking data debate offers no easy answers

This content was published on Jan 17, 2013 So far, the answer has lain in taxing Swiss bank account holders at a fixed rate to preserve banking secrecy while ensuring they don’t evade taxes. But, Germany has officially rejected that model, and France calls it “amnesty for tax evaders”. Only Austria and Britain have signed withholding tax agreements with the Swiss. For years,…

Page 683 of 1365

First … 681 682 683 684 685 … Last

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Sign in and personalize Swissinfo