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Swiss Politics

Cabinet defends planned electronic passports

This content was published on Mar 23, 2009 She made the statement at the start of a campaign on Monday ahead of a nationwide vote on the issue on May 17. The biometric passports include a chip that stores two fingerprints and the holder’s facial image to be kept in a central database. Widmer-Schlumpf said such a register was reliable and efficient. She…

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Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey “confident” for WTO extension

This content was published on Mar 23, 2009 Opponents of the renovation and expansion project, which will enable the WTO to house over 1,100 staff in a single location, are threatening to launch a referendum. Calmy-Rey said a public debate over the WTO extension was a “positive” step, helping bring the local population closer to issues affecting International Geneva. “I am confident. The…

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Swiss Politics

New centre-right party holds first assembly

This content was published on Mar 21, 2009 The group was founded in November 2008 by members of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, unhappy with what they saw as the high-handed methods of the party leadership. Party president Hans Grunder said the party should aim to win ten seats in the next parliamentary elections in 2011, against the six it holds at present.…

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Swiss Politics

Tempers cool over blacklist threat

This content was published on Mar 20, 2009 Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said that no EU state would appear on such a list. Although Switzerland is not an EU member, the comments apply to the country as well since Switzerland has agreed to apply international standards to portions of its banking secrecy law. “These countries which have accepted these standards, they are…

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Swiss Politics

Long winter seeds high hopes for farmers

This content was published on Mar 20, 2009 Winter sports enthusiasts are not the only people in Switzerland to have delighted in the bountiful snow; the long cold period has also left most farmers smiling. “Basically cold winters are good for agriculture, because they kill pests and diseases,” Sandra Helfenstein, media spokeswoman of the Swiss Farmers Union, told swissinfo. That is not the…

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Swiss Politics

Baby found in fridge

This content was published on Mar 20, 2009 Cantonal police reported on Friday that the corpse was discovered by the owner of the apartment, located in the town centre, around a fortnight ago. They have since tracked down the mother and opened an investigation. A medical examination revealed that the baby died immediately after birth, the police said, adding that they had not…

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Swiss Politics

Couchepin kicks off “Extra Europa” festival

This content was published on Mar 20, 2009 Extra Europa, a six-week-long festival and symposium, started on Thursday and lasts until May 3. It includes exhibits and events intended to raise debate over European identity. To do that, organisers have invited Switzerland, Norway and Turkey – three non-European Union countries – to a symposium and cultural festival where leaders will discuss how Europe’s…

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Swiss Politics

Consensus emerges ahead of racism summit

This content was published on Mar 20, 2009 The Durban Review Conference has been under pressure with several countries and the European Union threatening to stay away over concerns the meeting could become an anti-Semitic forum. Its draft declaration aims to become a global blueprint for addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance. A new version was circulated on Tuesday with the most…

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Swiss Politics

Ski helmet poll

This content was published on Mar 20, 2009

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Swiss Politics

Swiss ready to talk taxes amid war of words

This content was published on Mar 19, 2009 The cabinet met on Thursday to discuss reaction to the country’s decision to soften sections of banking secrecy laws to avoid being blacklisted as an uncooperative tax haven. So far the United States, France and Japan have reacted warmly to promises to add some transparency to Swiss banking. Those countries have already asked to sit…

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