Swiss Politics

Switzerland “deplores” political moves in Niger

This content was published on Jul 3, 2009 In a statement issued on Friday the ministry said it was deeply concerned over President Mamadou Tandja’s decision to hold a constitutional referendum on the establishment of a new constitution for Niger. “The foreign ministry considers the dissolution of the Constitutional Court and the decision to govern by decrees and ordinances as acts that imperil…

Swiss Politics

Talks aim to stub out illicit tobacco trade

This content was published on Jul 3, 2009 The claims were made as 130 countries resumed talks in Geneva this week on expanding an international anti-smoking treaty to clamp down on the trade in black market cigarettes. According to a report published this week by the International Union against Tobacco and Lung Disease, one in nine cigarettes – or 657 billion cigarettes a…

Swiss Politics

Swastika poll

This content was published on Jul 3, 2009

Red Cross youth highlight challenges ahead

This content was published on Jul 2, 2009 The youngsters had travelled by foot and by bus from Solferino in northern Italy to Geneva to present leaders with a message outlining solutions for today’s humanitarian challenges. The declaration covers a wide range of issues including HIV and climate change. The aim is to encourage leaders to better recognise the potential of young people…

Swiss Politics

Crime largely continues to fall

This content was published on Jul 2, 2009 In a report released on Thursday by the Federal Police Office (Fedpol), the total number of reported crimes dropped to 275,645 cases in 2008, a 1.3 per cent decrease compared with the previous year. Authorities say a decrease in theft is namely responsible for the drop. Cases involving blackmail dropped almost 38 per cent and…

Swiss Politics

Transparency law unknown and underused

This content was published on Jul 2, 2009 Speaking this week they said there have been just 565 requests for access to unreleased official information since the law on transparency was introduced in 2006. The figure pales in comparison to Britain, which has around 100,000 requests a year using similar legislation, and the United States, where there are millions. Use is even low…

Swiss Politics

New abduction law reinforces children’s rights

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 Each year, Swiss authorities handle up to 200 cases of international child abduction, where children are caught in a tug-of-love wrangle between separated parents, usually of different nationalities. In 2008, 73 per cent of the time it was the mother who carried out the abduction. On Wednesday, a new Swiss law concerning the international abduction…

Swiss Politics

Geneva hosts new round of Georgia-Russia talks

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 The talks, aimed at finding an accord on security arrangements, were the sixth since armed forces from the two sides clashed over the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia last August. Pierre Morel, one of the co-chairman of the meeting, told a media conference afterwards that the talks had sometimes been “difficult, without being dramatic,”…

Swiss Politics

More cost cutting to reduce health spending

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 They include a new price structure for generics as well as lowering rebates for excess payments of insurance takers, and are due to come into force gradually by the beginning of next year. The measures aim to cut spending by about SFr400 million ($370.3 million) and to help health insurance companies to calculate premiums for…

Swiss Politics

Iranian ambassador summoned

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 A foreign ministry spokesman said Switzerland reminded Iran that it should respect freedom of expression and assembly, and said it was concerned about acts of violence. The spokesman said Bern was considering suspending its human rights dialogue with Tehran. Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey called on the Iranian government last week to act with restraint when…

Swiss Politics

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