Swiss Politics

More cantons support strict smoking ban

This content was published on May 18, 2009 Smoking will only be allowed in specially designated rooms not served by restaurant staff. Only in canton Thurgau did a majority of the electorate fail to approve strict restrictions. In future, restaurants or bars measuring less than 80 square metres in Thurgau can declare themselves open to smokers. Strict smoking restrictions are in place in…

Swiss Politics

“Lady luck” helps government win vote

This content was published on May 18, 2009 Many commentators say the margin of only 5,504 votes or 50.1 per cent supporting the introduction of passports with an electronic chip also serves as a warning that people are sceptical about the creation of a central database with fingerprints. “It is a slap in the face for the political establishment that includes the government…

Swiss Politics

Ballot boosts culture centre in Bern

This content was published on May 17, 2009 Two out of three voters came out in favour of the project on Sunday, while a minority favoured a plan by a corporate developer to turn an old school into a health centre, including offices and a concert venue. Emotions were running high in the run up because the city parliament included the artist project…

Swiss Politics

Swiss vote on introduction of biometric passports

This content was published on May 17, 2009 The controversial new travel document would include the holder’s electronic photograph and two fingerprints. Polls have predicted the result will be close, and first trends on Sunday confirmed that. The vote came about after a broad political coalition challenged parliament’s decision to adopt the new passport – in line with the European Union – and…

Swiss Politics

Controversial e-passports face voters’ verdict

This content was published on May 16, 2009 Challenging a parliamentary decision, a broad political coalition argues that the travel documents containing biometric data pose a threat to the individual’s security and privacy. The younger generation was the driving force behind the referendum, collecting signatures through its cross-party online movement. Meanwhile supporters claimed the new passports would be forgery proof, ease freedom of…

Swiss Politics

Al Qaeda sets ransom for Swiss/British hostages

This content was published on May 16, 2009 An Algerian newspaper reported on Saturday that Al Qaeda would free the Swiss hostage first if it received the money. The Briton would go free one week later. The extremists had threatened to kill the Briton, who has not been named, on May 15 if Britain did not free Abu Qatada, a Jordanian fundamentalist being…

Swiss Politics

Swiss want Myanmar prisoners released

This content was published on May 16, 2009 The foreign ministry said it had appealed to the government of Myanmar to respect human rights and release prisoners like Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the Nobel Peace prize. Suu Kyi is the leader of an opposition party that the military has stripped of power. She has been under house arrest for nearly six…

Swiss Politics

UBS says top workers leaving for better pay

This content was published on May 16, 2009 In an interview published in a Bern newspaper on Saturday, Kaspar Villiger said political pressure to change the way the bank pays employees has made it difficult to retain them, especially in the United States. “We’ve noticed that we’re systematically losing employees we need in certain important sectors,” he said, pointing to UBS’s “big steps…

Swiss Politics

Officials want Ukraine trade deal by 2010

This content was published on May 15, 2009 In talks on Friday, both sides said they were hoping Ukraine would sign an agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) by 2010. The four-country group comprises Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. Bern also wants to cement a trade deal with Russia. Russia and Ukraine are Switzerland’s largest partners in the former Soviet Union.…

Swiss Politics

Kälin calls for respect in Sri Lanka conflict

This content was published on May 15, 2009 Swiss diplomat Walter Kälin, the UN’s representative on the human rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs), also highlighted the continued confinement of people to camps. In a statement from his office in Geneva, Kälin noted that at least 50,000 people remained trapped in the conflict zone, “with their lives exposed to great danger and without…

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