Cluster: Swiss Identity

Red Cross hostage drama continues in Bogota

This content was published on Jan 5, 2000 Four members of the International Committee of the Red Cross are still being held hostage by disgruntled Colombian farmers at the ICRC offices in the capital, Bogota. The Geneva-based ICRC suspended its operations in Colombia after about 50 farmers armed with sticks stormed the building and took 37 of its personnel hostage. 33 of the…

Demographics

Swiss want no punishment for smoking pot

This content was published on Jan 5, 2000 A majority of Swiss cantons and most government parties have come out in support of legalising the purchase and consumption of marijuana, the authorities say. Most of the 26 cantons, and three out of four parties represented in the cabinet, said they also would like to stop prosecuting people who grow cannabis for personal consumption.…

Culture

Swiss art dealer wins case against Italian government

This content was published on Jan 5, 2000 A Swiss art dealer has won a long-running legal battle against the Italian government, forcing it to pay him compensation from a deal involving “The Gardener” by Van Gogh. The issue was finally decided by the European Court of Human Rights. The art dealer, Hans Beyeler, who owns a famous museum in Basel, won the…

History

Religious leaders take on politicians — at cards

This content was published on Jan 5, 2000 Secular authorities in Solothurn have taken revenge on the church — including Bishop Kurt Koch of Basel — in a sporting, if unusual, way. For more than 30 years, members of the city government in Solothurn have got together for an annual exchange of views with local bishops who are part of the country’s largest…

Demographics

Swiss help for CDU funding probe blocked

This content was published on Jan 5, 2000 The Swiss justice authorities have been prevented from giving any more legal assistance to German prosecutors investigating the funding scandal surrounding the opposition Christian Democrats and the former chancellor, Helmut Kohl. The German investigators have filed a number of requests with Swiss cantons asking for information that could shed light on the matter. But, a…

Culture

Biel museum reopens to stage portrait exhibition

This content was published on Jan 4, 2000 Following two years of costly construction work, the art museum “Centre PasquArt” in the city of Biel has reopened its doors to the public with an exhibition focussing on portrait painting. The exhibition lasts until February 27 and is called “Au centre, l’artiste” or “At the centre, the artist.” Most of the 150 artists featured…

Demographics

Hingis warns of tennis tour boycott by women

This content was published on Jan 4, 2000 Switzerland’s world number one women’s tennis player, Martina Hingis, has warned of a possible boycott by women of this year’s major tournaments. The disparity in prize money between the women’s and men’s tours is a source of major discontent among the women, Hingis said in an interview with the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post…

Demographics

Yeltsin immunity in question following resignation

This content was published on Jan 3, 2000 Boris Yeltsin’s dramatic resignation as Russian president last Friday has raised questions about whether he, and his family, will continue to enjoy immunity from prosecution over allegations of money laundering. Swiss prosecutors suspect Yeltsin and his relatives may be linked to an alleged multi-billion dollar Russian money laundering scheme. They are also investigating whether the…

Demographics

Revised constitution for new millennium

This content was published on Jan 1, 2000 Without much fanfare, Switzerland’s revised constitution formally took effect on January 1st. While most of the amendments will not overturn people’s everyday lives, a number of new laws, including new divorce regulations, will certainly have an impact. The updated constitutional framework had been undergoing a complete overhaul for the past 30 years. The idea was…

Demographics

Swiss government “relieved” by end to hijack crisis

This content was published on Dec 31, 1999 The Swiss government said it was “extremely relieved” by the fact that the hijack hostage crisis in Afghanistan had come to an end and that the hostages, including a number of Swiss, had been set free. The foreign ministry issued a statement in which the government again strongly condemned the hijacking. “For more than a…

Cluster: Swiss Identity

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Cluster: Swiss Identity

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Red Cross hostage drama continues in Bogota

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Swiss want no punishment for smoking pot

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Swiss art dealer wins case against Italian government

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Religious leaders take on politicians — at cards

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Swiss help for CDU funding probe blocked

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Biel museum reopens to stage portrait exhibition

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Hingis warns of tennis tour boycott by women

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Yeltsin immunity in question following resignation

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Revised constitution for new millennium

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Swiss government “relieved” by end to hijack crisis

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