Cluster: Swiss Identity

Swiss vet gets 14 years for murdering his wife

This content was published on Feb 3, 2000 After a high publicity trial, a Swiss vet, Gabor Bilkei (pictured centre), has been jailed for 14 years for murdering his wife. Her body was never found. Bilkei, who originally came from Hungary, was accused of killing his wife, Heike, in April 1996. He denied the murder charge. The trial relied largely on circumstantial evidence.…

Demographics

Switzerland plans protections against forced sterilisation

This content was published on Feb 3, 2000 The Swiss parliament has taken a first step towards legislation to protect psychiatric patients from forcible sterilisation. The move follows demands that victims of what used to be accepted practice in this country should be awarded compensation. The move to outlaw forced sterilisation, recommended by the House of Representatives’ legal affairs commission, came in response…

Demographics

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…

Cluster: Swiss Identity

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