Swiss Politics

No invite to next OECD tax meeting

This content was published on Apr 18, 2009 The states invited to the June 23 meeting will be the same ones who attended the previous gathering of the 30-member body, in Paris. “It is not about excluding Switzerland,” said Jeanette Schwamberger, a finance ministry spokeswoman, on Saturday. Schwamberger said it was not clear whether there would be a possibility of Switzerland attending. On…

Swiss Politics

Success of UN racism summit up in the air

This content was published on Apr 17, 2009 The Durban Review Conference, or Durban II, continues to divide opinions and raise passions. The run-up has been bumpy, with states threatening to stay away and a behind-the-scenes race against the clock to reach consensus over a draft declaration. Earlier this week UN spokeswoman Marie Heuzé set the tone for the Durban II meeting, which…

Swiss Politics

Hunger for organic foods proves hard to satisfy

This content was published on Apr 17, 2009 At the same time, not all organic farmers are benefiting from the “bio” boom. 2008 was the organic food industry’s strongest ever year in Switzerland, with an 11.2 per cent increase in turnover to SFr1.44 billion ($1.24 billion), according to the organic farmers umbrella group, Bio Suisse. In particular, organic fruit, meat and dairy products…

Swiss Politics

Warning of alternative therapy “side-effects”

This content was published on Apr 17, 2009 Ahead of a nationwide vote on May 17, campaigners on Friday said enshrining complementary therapies in the constitution would amount to an unfair treatment of conventional medicine. The committee, supported by the youth wing of the centre-right Radical Party, has the backing of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party. However, opinion polls predict an overwhelming majority…

Swiss Politics

Poor Nicaragua and rich Switzerland swap ideas

This content was published on Apr 17, 2009 The eastern half of Nicaragua which faces the Atlantic – and which includes the area familiar to film buffs as the Mosquito Coast – is a patchwork of different peoples. Six different languages are spoken there, and the mix of languages reflects a mix of culture too. The area is a world away from the…

Swiss Politics

Red Cross hostages in phone contact

This content was published on Apr 15, 2009 An ICRC spokeswoman said on Wednesday that the two men, Swiss Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni, had spoken to their families by telephone on Sunday and with ICRC officials in the Philippines on Tuesday. “We are glad to have been able to speak to them, but are still worried,” Krimitsas told the Swiss news…

Swiss Politics

Foreign minister begins Africa trip

This content was published on Apr 15, 2009 On Wednesday evening she had talks in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, with her Nigerian counterpart, Ojo Maduekwe, finance minister Mansur Muhtar and the governor of the central bank, Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Ahead of the meetings, the foreign ministry said they would focus on bilateral relations, migration and Switzerland’s role as a financial centre. Calmy-Rey will…

Swiss Politics

Leading Swiss Tamil in protest fast

This content was published on Apr 14, 2009 The coordinator of Tamil organisations in Switzerland, Krishna Ambalavanar, has written an open letter to the Swiss foreign minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, warning that he will fast to the death unless their demands are met. The demonstrators gathered outside the offices of the foreign ministry to back their demands that Switzerland should intervene “to stop the…

Swiss Politics

Drinking among youth remains a big problem

This content was published on Apr 14, 2009 Drinking alcohol is still at a high level, with 14 per cent of 13-year-olds getting drunk at least once a month, the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems reported on Tuesday. The Lausanne-based organisation called for stricter control measures, arguing that alcohol was too easy to obtain in Switzerland and too…

Swiss Politics

Immigration accord with Bosnia planned

This content was published on Apr 14, 2009 Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf and the visiting Bosnian security minister, Tarik Sadović, signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at increasing cooperation on immigration and easing visa regulations. They also discussed the implementation of an accord agreed last November on police cooperation and the return of rejected asylum seekers. Sadović’s visit to Switzerland on Monday came…

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No invite to next OECD tax meeting

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Success of UN racism summit up in the air

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Hunger for organic foods proves hard to satisfy

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Warning of alternative therapy “side-effects”

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Poor Nicaragua and rich Switzerland swap ideas

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Red Cross hostages in phone contact

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Foreign minister begins Africa trip

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Leading Swiss Tamil in protest fast

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Drinking among youth remains a big problem

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Immigration accord with Bosnia planned

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