Switzerland (German: die Schweiz, French: la Suisse, Italian: Svizzera and Romansh: Svizra), officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked Alpine country in Central Europe with a strong economy in finance and banking. Switzerland borders Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Historically a confederation, Switzerland has been a federation since 1848, and has a long and strong tradition of political and military neutrality. This background allows Switzerland various international co-operations and organisations. A male living in this country is said to be a Schweizer and a female is a Schweizerin in German; Suisse (male) or Suissesse (female) in Swiss French and svizzero (male) or svizzera (female) in Swiss Italian.

Confœderatio Helvetica, the country's official Latin name, means Helvetic Confederation. The use of Latin avoids having to favour one of the four national languages. The abbreviation (CH) is used for the same reason. The titles commonly used in French (Confédération suisse), Italian (Confederazione Svizzera) and Romansh (Confederaziun svizra) translate as "Swiss Confederation", while the German name of Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft translates literally as "Swiss Oath Fellowship" or "Swiss Commonwealth of the Covenant".

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BBC News | Europe | World Edition

Betancourt reunited with family
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:46:53 -0000
French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt holds an emotional reunion with her children after six years as a hostage.
Five to face Concorde crash trial
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:31:37 -0000
A US airline and five people are to be tried for manslaughter over the 2000 Concorde crash.
Turkish party fights for survival
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:37:45 -0000
Turkey's ruling AK Party defends itself in court against charges that could see it closed down.

NYT > Europe

U.S. Is in No Shape to Give Advice, Medvedev Says
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:40:37 -0000
Russia’s president said that America was in “essentially a depression,” and that Russia had a right to a larger role in the world economy.
Trial Ordered in Concorde Crash That Killed 113
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:38:44 -0000
Continental Airlines and two of its employees face involuntary manslaughter charges related to the crash.
2nd Terror Suspect Released in Britain
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:24:16 -0000
The release of the unnamed Algerian was the second time in a little more than two weeks that a suspect named by prosecutors as having close ties to Osama bin Laden has been freed on bail in Britain.

L.A. Times - Europe

No decision yet on missile defense
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Two nations rejoice over Ingrid Betancourt's rescue
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
World Briefing
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

UN News Centre - Europe

UN team heads to region to assess Georgian-Abkhaz peace process
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
A United Nations team tasked with assessing the Georgian-Abkhaz peace process will be heading to the region this weekend to consult with key actors, a spokesperson for the world body announced today.
Former commander of Bosnian Muslim forces acquitted by UN tribunal
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to deal with war crimes committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s has overturned the conviction of a former commander of Bosnian Muslim forces who was found guilty two years ago of failing to prevent the murder and torture of Serb captives in Srebrenica.
Global cooperation key to solving food crisis, says Assembly President
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Tackling the current food crisis requires a unified global response, United Nations General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim said today in Rome.

Europe - International Herald Tribune

5 face trial in Concorde crash that killed 113 in France
By ALAN COWELL Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:50:45 -0000
Continental Airlines and two of its employees have been ordered to stand trial on involuntary manslaughter charges related to the crash of a Concorde airliner in 2000 near Paris in which 113 people died.
U.K. releases 2nd suspect linked to bin Laden
By JOHN F. BURNS Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:50:45 -0000
The 45-year-old Algerian, identified by U.S. prosecutors as the mastermind of an abortive plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport in December 1999, was freed Thursday on tight bail conditions, two weeks after a Jordanian suspected of strong influence in the ranks of Al Qaeda was released.
Sarkozy wasn't told of Betancourt rescue plan
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:50:45 -0000
That was extraordinary because Betancourt is a dual French-Colombian national, her captivity was a cause célèbre in France and Sarkozy had maintained a drumbeat of diplomatic pressure to try to spring her from the hands of Colombian rebels.
'Paradise' for 15 hostages after their rescue from Colombian guerrillas
By Simon Romero and Anahad O'Connor Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:10:34 -0000
Fifteen hostages were spirited away to freedom Wednesday after a group of Colombian commandos disguised themselves as rebels and tricked the guerrillas into turning the captives over.
UN appeals court overturns conviction of Bosnian Muslim
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:50:45 -0000
A UN appeals court Thursday overturned the war crimes conviction of Naser Oric, a Bosnian Muslim considered a war hero by many in his country for fighting Serbs in the Srebrenica enclave during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia.
Russian billionaire steps down as governor of Siberian region
By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:50:45 -0000
Roman Abramovich, a billionaire Russian investor, officially resigned as governor of the Chukotka region in the Russian Far East, but not before largely succeeding in pulling it out of decrepitude.

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