Cluster: Swiss Identity

Swiss banks reveal new guidelines for dormant accounts

This content was published on Feb 3, 2000 The Swiss Bankers Association has revealed details about its new guidelines for dormant accounts. Banks drew up the new rules, following a barrage of international criticism over the handling of accounts dating back to the Nazi era. Historically, Swiss banks have classified accounts as “dormant”, if there has been no activity in the account, or…

Culture

“The Alchemist” shares his secrets about changing life

This content was published on Feb 3, 2000 Not all the speakers at this year’s World Economic Forum summit in Davos were politician or business people. One of the world’s best-selling authors – the Brazilian novelist, Paulo Coelho -– stopped in to chair a conference on global change, during a tour of Switzerland. Paulo Coelho hardly needs any introduction. His books have been…

Demographics

Former director accused of insider trading

This content was published on Feb 2, 2000 The former financial director of the Zurich insurance group, Markus Rohrbasser, has appeared in court on charges of insider trading. He is accused of using knowledge of an impending merger with the British BAT group in 1997 to make SFr237,000 in a share deal. Speaking in the Zurich court at the start of the trial,…

Culture

Swiss writer, Dürrenmatt, gets Hollywood treatment

This content was published on Feb 2, 2000 A novel by Switzerland’s most famous author, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, is to be adapted into a major Hollywood movie, with Jack Nicholson and Aaron Eckhart in the main roles. “Das Versprechen” (The Promise) has been described as an existentialist detective story in which the Swiss detective, Commissioner Matthäi, has to solve a demanding murder case. The…

Demographics

Ronaldo makes poverty-eradication his goal

This content was published on Feb 1, 2000 Ronaldo, the Brazilian soccer star, is to spearhead the United Nations’ struggle against poverty as a goodwill ambassador. The 23 year-old Inter Milan striker kicked off his new part-time career before more than 1000 screaming school children at the UN in Geneva. The UN Development Programme aims to use leading figures from the entertainment, sporting…

Demographics

Iran protests to Swiss ambassador over Davos attack

This content was published on Feb 1, 2000 Iran has made public details of a protest to Switzerland over a weekend attack on its delegation attending the World Economic Forum summit in Davos. Switzerland has apologised for the incidents. The Swiss ambassador to Teheran, Tim Guldimann, was summoned to the Iranian foreign ministry to receive a “strong protest over the insult to the…

Culture

Zurich hopes Cézanne will pull the crowds

This content was published on Feb 1, 2000 Zurich’s museum of fine arts has unveiled plans for a major exhibition by the French painter, Paul Cézanne, which it hopes will attract crowds of visitors. More than 80 oil paintings, 40 aquarells and drawings will be on display from May 5 to July 30, in an exhibition entitled “Paul Cézanne: finished-unfinished”. The title is…

Demographics

Number of Swiss AIDS deaths dropping

This content was published on Jan 31, 2000 There’s been a significant drop in the number of people dying from AIDS in Switzerland. The number of people contracting HIV/AIDS is also falling. The Federal Health Office announced that a total of 42 people – 27 men and 15 women – died of AIDS in Switzerland in 1999, compared to 107 deaths the previous…

Demographics

Global vaccination campaign for children launched in Davos

This content was published on Jan 31, 2000 A new worldwide vaccination programme for children has been launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The head of the World Health Organisation, Gro Harlem Brundtland (picture) spoke of the dire need for vaccinations. The programme, called “The Children’s Challenge”, was launched at Monday’s session of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos. The…

Culture

Bourbaki Panorama unveiled in Lucerne

This content was published on Jan 31, 2000 The Bourbaki Panorama, a massive circular painting, has been unveiled in Lucerne, after major restoration work. The picture is housed in a new cultural centre which consists of a museum, gallery, library and three cinemas. The foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, and the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Jakob Kellenberger, were the…

Cluster: Swiss Identity

Popular Stories

Most Discussed