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Hermès golf bag among Sarkozy’s gifts to Obama

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave more than $41,000 worth of gifts to US President Barack Obama, in 2011 alone. The most expensive item? A $7,750 Hermès golf bag.

Hermès golf bag among Sarkozy's gifts to Obama
Photo: Philippe Wojazer/AFP

Former president Sarkozy appears to have offered US president Obama more than just kind words on his official visits to the United States during 2011, according to a list published by the US state department.

Lacoste shirts, Louis Vuitton bags, Dupont pens, and perhaps most remarkably, a “large, black Hermes golf accessory bag”, worth $7,750, were among the luxury goods lavished on the golf-mad US leader and his family.

For her part, former French First Lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy presented Baccarat crystal lamps to her American counterpart Michelle Obama, as well as clothes and cosmetics to Sasha and Malia Obama.

The total bill for these opulent displays of transatlantic affection? $41, 675.71, according to the report.

By contrast, other major world leaders appear not to have dug as deep to demonstrate their alliances with the American president.

Queen Elizabeth, for example, spent a total of just $4,400 on porcelain, chocolate, tea and historically-significant state papers for the Obamas, although she did distribute gifts among a wide range of other White House staff.

British Prime Minister David Cameron's gifts cost a total of just under $2,000, but he proved himself a best friend to the Obama family dog, 'Bo,' at least.

Along with a Union Jack chew toy, the Conservative leader presented the president and his wife a tapestry worth $1,400, and gave engraved bracelets to Sasha and Malia.

Former Chinese President Hu Jintao splashed out on a $9,800 statue of Abraham Lincoln, while Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev presented an enamel painting of the Kremlin.

IN PICTURES: CLICK HERE FOR OUR GALLERY OF SARKOZY'S GIFTS TO OBAMA

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TRAVEL

US reclassifies Switzerland: What does it mean for American travellers?

America’s public health agency eased travel alerts for dozens of countries this week, including Switzerland. But does it mean that people from the United States can now travel here?

US reclassifies Switzerland: What does it mean for American travellers?
Not yet, but hopefully soon. Photo by Jan Rosolino / Unsplash

Switzerland in early June announced vaccinated travellers would be able to come on June 28th. Therefore, this story is now out of date. Please click here for more information. 

Due to massive vaccination efforts around the world, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lowered travel warning levels  for more than 110 countries and destinations, including Switzerland.

From the highest level four previously, which means all travel is discouraged, Switzerland was ‘promoted’ to Level 3, allowing travel for fully vaccinated individuals.

In total, 14 countries, including Switzerland’s neighbours France and Italy, have been reclassified to a lower level.

Does this mean American tourists can now come to Switzerland?

Even though the CDC has cleared travel for vaccinated US residents, it doesn’t mean they are now allowed to enter Switzerland.

For the time being, travel ban is still in place for most third countries, including the United States. The only exceptions are Swiss citizens or permanent residents returning to Switzerland.

READ MORE: When will Americans be allowed to travel to Switzerland again —and vice-versa?

There are some other exemptions as well, including people whose presence in Switzerland is absolutely necessary to maintain the functioning of the healthcare system or public security and order, death of a close family member in Switzerland, and to continue essential medical treatment that began in Switzerland or abroad.

Each of these conditions must be proven with official documentation.

For other ‘special necessity’ rules, see SEM’s page.

Basically, this means that tourists or other random travellers can’t come to Switzerland at the moment.

There are, however, some promising signs that this restriction may be lifted.

Swiss president Guy Parmelin is scheduled to meet with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, on June 15th. Biden will be in Geneva for high-level talks with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin. 

It is not known what Switzerland and the United States will discuss at the meeting, beyond matters of importance to both nations, but there is a possibility that the subject of easing travel restrictions on both sides will be raised.

Also, under France’s new traffic light travel system, fully-vaccinated travellers can now enter France from non-EU countries, including the US.

This does not apply to Switzerland yet, but as the two countries share a border and both are part of the Schengen zone, Swiss entry regulations for US tourists might be relaxed in the near future — though not at this time.

Does this mean US residents can ‘slip’ into Switzerland through France?

Borders between the two countries are pretty porous and checks random at best, but if you attempt to get into Switzerland this way, you’d be breaking the law.

The only US citizens who can come into Switzerland legally right now are those residing in the EU/EFTA states, or one of the third nations deemed safe by public health officials:  Australia, New Zealand, Cyprus, Rwanda, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand.

In other words, it’s not the nationality of a traveller that counts but their place of residence.

What about Swiss citizens going on vacation to the United States?

The US still has a ban in place for tourists from the EU, including Switzerland. It also has similar exceptions — that is, US citizens and permanent residents returning from abroad.

The US is forming expert groups to decide when to lift global travel restrictions that have been in place since March 2020.

However, this will probably take time and, despite mounting pressure from the travel industry and airlines, US-bound travel may not be on the horizon for this summer.

READ MORE: How to get Switzerland’s Covid-19 health pass

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