Qadaffi affair cools as two domestic servants withdraw charges

Geneva, Switzerland (Le Temps/ats, Fre) - The two domestic servants who pressed charges in Geneva against the son of Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, Hannibal, and his wife Aline, have dropped their charges and their lawyer confirmed to ATS that they have been "correctly compensated." The two have been given temporary residence in the canton on humanitarian grounds. Their complaint followed an incident at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva that led to hotel staff calling the police to report abuse. The former servants had refused to drop charges as long as the brother of one of them, who disappeared after his arrest in Libya 27 July, is still missing, but he has now agreed to turn over his brother's case to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.

George Clooney sells Barack Obama in Geneva

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - They may swoon for George, as in Clooney, but he's going to try to sway them for Barack, as in Obama: a small number of US citizens will pay anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 Tuesday evening to rub elbows with the American actor, in town on a fundraising mission at the invitation of Geneva lawyer Charles Adams, a partner in the international law firm of Hogan & Hartson.

Clooney fans, even those willing to pay that much to see him, can attend the $1,000 reception and the $10,000 dinner for 75 people at the Adams home only if they hold valid US passports: as Cookie Parker of the National Finance Committee of the Democrats wrote when she announced the evening, it's a fundraiser and "only American citizens with US passport numbers can contribute to the campaign."

Swiss retailers pressure Bern for cheaper imports

Bern, Switzerland (TSR, Fre) - A group of Switzerland's largest retailers is putting pressure on Bern to relax laws to allow them to import several products more cheaply, pointing out that the Swiss still pay far more for many goods than their neighbours in the European Union. The Dijon Principle accepted by Switzerland, that should allow any product approved for sale in the European Union to be sold in the country without  import barriers is a good step, the group noted in a message made public Thursday. But it is not enough, the retailers insist, and the government must allow them more freedom to buy competitively.

150 years of Swiss trains linking Geneva, Lausanne

Lake Geneva region, Switzerland (Le Temps, Fre) - A third rail line to ease traffic between Lausanne and Geneva was on all minds during festivities Wednesday to celebrate 150 years of rail service between the two cities. Politicians and CFF rail company officials visited a 1947 locomotive and enjoyed a ride in rail cars dating to 1952 but it was the future that kept them talking. Andreas Mayer, CFF director, said that with a 10% increase in passenger traffic in the first seven months of the year, well above the national average increase of 6%, he understands the interest of people in the region for expanded rail service. He noted that he was also impressed by the growing number of large international companies moving to the region.

The CFF handles 48,000 passengers a day between Geneva and Lausanne.

Swiss government refuses votes on minarets and arms bans

Updated 15:00  Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The Swiss Federal Council has made it clear that the popular referendum on banning minarets in Switzerland should be voted down by the people, saying it contravenes international law that protects human rights and it "goes against basic Swiss constitutional values." The council also noted in its official recomnmendation to Parliament that such a ban would imperil religious freedom and would do nothing to help stop the spread of religious fundamentalists' ideas. If the idea behind such a ban is to stop the spread of Islam in Switzerland it would fail even to meet its backers' goals, the council message added.

The proposal to ban minarets comes from the right-wing UDC People's Party and has provoked heated discussion in Switzerland for several months. The council has recommended to Parliament that it refuse the initiative without a counter-proposal and it is expected that Parliament will agree. In any event, Swiss voters will have to declare themselves on the issues, for once the necessary 100,000 valid signatures are gathered for a referendum it goes ahead. (official government statement)

In another decision, as the council begins to work through its agenda following its summer break, the seven-member ruling body also refused to accept a ban on Swiss arms shipments, saying the initiative is designed to kill the Swiss arms manufacturing business, which employs more than 5,000 people and is necessary for self-defense.

UDC's Oskar Freysinger tested following post-run coma

Sion, Valais, Switzerland (20 Minutes, Fre) - Oskar Freysinger, the outspoken and publicity-loving parliamentarian from the right-wing UDC People's Party, collapsed Sunday after running a popular race and spent four hours in a coma. The cause of his collapse is not yet known and he has remained in hospital to have an MRI brain scan and cardiac tests. The 48-year-old school teacher is a frequent participant in runs as well as VTT (mountain bike) races.

Vaud council debates tax cuts

Lausanne, Switzerland (24 Heures, Fre) - The Vaud cantonal council Tuesday afternoon is debating tax cuts, mainly for families and wealthy entrepreneurs. There is widespread agreement, it appears, for larger family reductions for  child care and for each child born, but the debate promises to be tough and to fall along party lines for the reductions for wealthy owners of companies.

Vaud is finally being forced to consider lowering taxes for this group in order to keep them in the canton, after several years of watching German-speaking cantons in particular hold out tax carrots. Ernesto Bertarelli, former owner of Serono and Switzerland's wealthiest citizen, left Vaud for canton Bern in 2007, presumably because he was offered a more attractive tax  package.

Geneva buries Bhutto mate money laundering case

Geneva, Switzerland  (GenevaLunch) - Geneva Monday closed its 10-year-old money laundering case against the widower of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, romandie/ats reports. The chief prosecutor for the canton had opened an investigation after being asked for help by Pakistan's chief prosecutor in 1997, but Pakistan later dropped the charges against the couple.

Background: "Swiss investigation against Bhutto for alleged money laundering closed," IHT (Associated Press), 28 December 2007.

Military gives golden handshake

Bern, Switzerland (TSR, Fre) - Roland Nef, who Wednesday lost his job as the Swiss military boss, will receive CHF275,000 in compensation and his salary of CHF25,000 a month until February 2009. Nef's resignation, offered in July when a scandal surfaced over the way in which he was hired, was accepted yesterday by the Federal Council.

Switzerland approves visa information sharing

Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The Swiss Federal Council Wednesday approved plans to share visa information with European Union countries, and vise versa, as part of anti-fraud measures. This is the latest in a series of Schengen Accord steps which the country is gradually taking. Switzerland has two years to put in place the technical programme needed to implement the change.