Swiss Politics

Violence in Xinjiang worries foreign ministry

This content was published on Jul 8, 2009 On Wednesday, it called on all sides to exercise restraint in order to prevent an escalation of violence. It urged the Chinese authorities to respect democratic rights, especially freedom of expression and freedom of the media, and to ensure the rule of law in all respects. Switzerland expressed its condolences to the families of the…

Swiss Politics

Preparing for the worst

This content was published on Jul 8, 2009 At the Ecogia training centre just outside Geneva, new delegates put into practice what they had learned with intensive simulation exercises. Passing military checkpoints, comforting refugees or responding to the media are just a few of the situations they could find themselves in.

Sects warning as new religious groups boom

This content was published on Jul 8, 2009 While globalisation is a factor in the change, the economic crisis may also be playing a role as people look for a system of beliefs to help them deal with the problems they face. And whereas many people in Switzerland are apparently concerned about the rise of Islam, researchers are warning that the danger posed…

Swiss Politics

Financial losers send complaints flooding in

This content was published on Jul 8, 2009 The Ombudsman has been nearly overrun with gripes that increased 250 per cent last year from 2007, and will keep coming for another two years. One observer accused professionals of “ripping off” layman investors. The number of complaints rose to a record 4,144 in 2008 from 1,609 the previous year, according to figures updated since…

Swiss Politics

Gaza fact-finding mission ends hearings

This content was published on Jul 7, 2009 Israeli and Palestinian witnesses and experts gave accounts of psychological trauma and violence endured by rocket attacks launched from Gaza, and the effects of alleged crackdowns by Israeli security forces against demonstrators. A first set of hearings held in the Gaza Strip late last month was dominated by Palestinian testimony of death and destruction in…

Swiss Politics

Ilisu pullout hits Swiss firms

This content was published on Jul 7, 2009 A consortium of German, Austrian and Swiss engineering and consulting companies involved in the Ilisu project said they were withdrawing because of Turkish non-compliance with conditions. Any further engagement depended on the Turkish government. “The Turkish authorities were not able to meet the conditions on the environment, cultural heritage and the relocation of people, despite…

Swiss Politics

Spies target banks for the secrets they hold

This content was published on Jul 7, 2009 Jürg Bühler, acting director of Switzerland’s counter-intelligence agency, says foreign services are increasingly interested in the financial data locked in Swiss banks, especially as the global hunt for undeclared assets stiffens. “It’s not just about collecting intelligence on military or political or industrial data of Swiss enterprises but, more specifically today, financial data,” Bühler told…

Swiss Politics

Mass executions in Iran condemned

This content was published on Jul 7, 2009 “In the framework of its human rights dialogue with Iran, the foreign ministry has regularly protested against the use of the death penalty in Iran,” it said in a statement. The government called on the Iranians to abolish the death penalty and all forms of corporal punishment. Iranian media reported that the condemned were all…

Swiss Politics

Magic formula, secret police stories go online

This content was published on Jul 6, 2009 Everything you have always wanted to know about Swiss parliamentary history is now online in four languages – including English. The Parliamentary Services has made available to the public details from the key historical moments since the founding of the modern Swiss state in 1848. The user-friendly website (see link) is chock full of bite-sized…

Swiss Politics

Husband and wife team form a diplomatic duo

This content was published on Jul 4, 2009 Christine Schraner Burgener and Christoph Burgener are poised to become the first Swiss to job-share the role of ambassador in a four-year posting to Bangkok. Each will be responsible for different countries in order to keep the lines of diplomacy straight, but they will be sharing in all other aspects – office, salary and staff.…

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Violence in Xinjiang worries foreign ministry

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Preparing for the worst

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Sects warning as new religious groups boom

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Financial losers send complaints flooding in

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Gaza fact-finding mission ends hearings

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Ilisu pullout hits Swiss firms

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Spies target banks for the secrets they hold

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Mass executions in Iran condemned

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Magic formula, secret police stories go online

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Husband and wife team form a diplomatic duo

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