Jordan to host World Economic Forum in 2013
AMMAN — Jordan will host the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for the seventh time at the Dead Sea, slated for May […]
Weapon stockpiles at a glance
Despite years of negotiations, so-called weapons of mass destruction are still stockpiled. While the amount of nuclear arms is down and chemical agents are being eliminated, biological weapons represent an […]
Can Switzerland export its democracy model?
by Jean-Michel Berthoud in Aarau, swissinfo.ch Switzerland has been experiencing a wave of political tourism of late, with foreign politicians, particularly from Germany and Austria, showing an interest in its […]
Switzerland: Thousands back fair trade for the public sector
Nearly 20,000 people want to see improved conditions for overseas workers who produce uniforms for Switzerland’s public enterprises. Their open letter, delivered to parliament on Monday, intends to influence upcoming […]
Swiss training planes conquer difficult market
by Olivier Pauchard, swissinfo.ch Swiss manufacturer Pilatus has little trouble selling its training aircraft to the world’s air forces despite operating in a shrinking market short on appeal for other […]
Protesters demonstrate at Swiss embassy in Iran
by Veronica DeVore, swissinfo.ch Crowds gathered outside the Swiss embassy in Tehran on Thursday to protest an American film that has sparked violence throughout the Muslim world. The embassy was evacuated as a precaution, but no one was injured. Switzerland has represented American interests in Iran since 1981, after the […]
Approved: Swiss aid budget for next 4 years
Source: DEVEX Switzerland has taken another step toward meeting its pledge to spend 0.5 percent of its gross national income on foreign aid by 2015: On Tuesday, the Senate moved to close the country’s foreign aid budget at $12.06 billion for the next four years. We break down the funding […]
Senate votes to increase aid spending
by Urs Geiser, swissinfo.ch and agencies Parliament has voted in favour of spending some SFr11.35 billion ($12.06 billion) on development aid over the next four years, as the government moves […]
Swiss still against fighter plane purchase
Switzerland does not need new fighter planes, according to results of a survey by the polling institute Isopublic. Just over 57 per cent of potential voters said they would be […]
Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan says Islam, democracy compatible
Speaking to an overflow crowd at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, noted Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan criticized extreme Islamists known as Salafis, saying that the Arab world needs to develop political systems that reject both theocracies and dictatorships. But he added that Arab countries should develop their societies […]
Casino growth leaves a bitter aftertaste
by Daniele Mariani, swissinfo.ch Switzerland has one of the world’s highest densities of casinos. Soon two more will be added to the 19 others that already exist, bringing in even […]
Sugar-coated terrorism: Swiss chocolate inspections by US leave sour taste
Chocolatiers in Switzerland are infuriated by US inspections on their universally-loved confectionary for bioterrorism or radioactive threats. Factories have no choice but allow checks; otherwise will they be banned from […]
Switzerland remains most competitive economy
Switzerland is the most economically competitive country in the world for the fourth year in a row, according to an annual World Economic Forum (WEF) report. The Global Competitiveness Report, […]
Swiss to send more support for Syrian civilians
Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter has pledged an additional SFr2 million ($2.1 million) to Syria. Governments and humanitarian organisations in various locations discussed Tuesday how best to help victims of […]
How Switzerland is weathering the storm
by Chantal Britt, swissinfo.ch Switzerland is mastering the current economic crisis better than its recession-hit European peers. To explain the discrepancy with prosperity and unique laws that foster money laundering […]
Swiss population continues rapid growth
Switzerland’s population jumped by nearly 85,000 people in 2011, according to the Federal Statistics Office, with the majority of cantons experiencing population growth. The highest growth rates were seen in […]
Swiss experts ready to help Arafat probe, but time running out
GENEVA — A Swiss institute has agreed to a request from the Palestinian Authority to exhume Yasser Arafat’s body and determine whether he was poisoned, but time is running out for a credible scientific examination of his remains, it said on Thursday. The Palestinian leader died in a Paris military […]
Red Cross halts most Pakistan aid after beheading.
Credit: Daily News via Wasim Arshad Butt/AP Pakistani security officials stand next to covered body of British Red Cross worker Khalil Rasjed Dale at the site in Quetta, Pakistan on Sunday, April 29, 2012. GENEVA – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday it was halting […]
Discovering Switzerland’s history on foot
by Daniele Mariani, swissinfo.ch Switzerland has always been the crossroads of Europe and today there are “cultural routes” commemorating the historic highways and byways through the country. It is becoming […]
Switzerland: Lausanne researchers to examine Arafat’s body
A team of Swiss scientists has been given the go-ahead to test the exhumed body of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for traces of radioactive polonium. Poisoning by this substance […]