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Swiss Politics

Switzerland and Turkey strive to improve ties

This content was published on Nov 19, 2008 The sea change since 2005 has been remarkable. Concerns about human rights have been replaced with warm words and close cooperation, a Swiss newspaper correspondent tells swissinfo. Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey visited Turkey at the end of October, followed by President Pascal Couchepin in mid November. This week Economics Minister Doris Leuthard takes her…

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“Street racers must pay for what they do”

This content was published on Nov 19, 2008 Roland Wiederkehr, head of RoadCross, says offenders should be made to visit victims in hospital and calls on the government to show more courage in confronting the car industry. Late on November 8, teenage drivers were racing along roads in canton Solothurn in heavy fog at speeds of up to 100km/h when, trying to overtake…

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Appeal for proper use of antibiotics

This content was published on Nov 18, 2008 The appeal came as Switzerland joined the first European Day of information on antibiotics on Tuesday. Although the Swiss are among the lowest consumers of antibiotics internationally, Switzerland is facing a growing number of bacterial diseases against which antibiotics are less effective. Health officials are particularly concerned that new infections from resistant bacteria are leading…

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Switzerland condemns Gaza blockade

This content was published on Nov 18, 2008 The foreign ministry insisted the two sides of the conflict stick to the present five-month ceasefire agreement and comply with humanitarian law. Switzerland is especially concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the tightened measures, enforced by Israel for the past two weeks, the ministry said, adding that relief workers had to have access to ensure…

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Blocher is back in running for cabinet post

This content was published on Nov 18, 2008 The party will choose a new cabinet representative to replace outgoing Defence Minister Samuel Schmid on November 27. The Zurich branch voted by 47 to one in favour of nominating Blocher for the post. The nomination of Blocher highlights the differences between the different regional party sections. The Bern branch put forward parliamentarians Adrian Amstutz…

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Swiss Politics

Family-friendly cantons end birth rate decline

This content was published on Nov 17, 2008 Giuliano Bonoli, of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Public Administration in Lausanne, reviewed changes in the birth rate in 26 cantons between 1980 to 2000, in a study published in the Journal of European Social Policy. The cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Basel City and Zurich managed to maintain the number of births at…

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Swiss Politics

Fight against child sex tourism stepped up

This content was published on Nov 17, 2008 It is the latest move in Switzerland aimed at fighting child sex tourism. Earlier this year the Federal Police Office set up a special internet link for the reporting of cases. The Code of Conduct is an international industry-driven initiative supported by children’s protection groups. Around 600 companies and organisations have joined worldwide. By signing…

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Swiss Politics

Libyan relations remain a challenge

This content was published on Nov 16, 2008 Tension was sparked between the two countries in July by the arrest in Geneva of Hannibal Gaddafi and his wife. Servants of the two had accused them of serious mistreatment. Couchepin said on Sunday that the situation was currently one of the “most difficult” the government faced abroad and a return to normal relations would…

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Swiss Politics

Safety group highlights road deaths

This content was published on Nov 16, 2008 Another 14 people are seriously injured daily, the Road Cross organisation announced, while marking the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Sunday. Road Cross organised a public demonstration in Fribourg to mark the day, with relatives of victims speaking about the violent nature of road accidents. “The suffering of road accident victims…

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“Schmid’s resignation should lead to a rethink”

This content was published on Nov 16, 2008 Ogi, who himself was often subject to attack as a cabinet minister, tells swissinfo Schmid’s resignation should lead to a rethink about the way politicians are treated. A former parliamentarian with the rightwing People’s Party, Ogi served as defence and sport minister from 1988 to 2000. He went on to become the first United Nations…

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