Swiss Identity

When the state hides its criminal citizens

This content was published on Feb 20, 2013 Joseph Valachi died quietly in prison of a heart attack in 1971 at age 67. He had managed to avoid being killed despite a $100,000 bounty (up to $2.5 million – SFr2.3 million – in today’s currency) on his head for betraying the mafia. Valachi, the first member of the mafia to publicly acknowledge its…

Demographics

Retailers could face charges in horsemeat scandal

This content was published on Feb 18, 2013 The chairman of the Association of Cantonal Chemists and a spokesman for the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) told the Swiss News Agency on Monday that the chief chemists of the cantons where the companies are headquartered should draw up a file on the matter and submit it to the courts. It would then be…

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Syrian human rights violators ‘should face court’

This content was published on Feb 18, 2013 Del Ponte, a former Swiss federal prosecutor who also served as prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, was speaking at the presentation in Geneva on Monday of the latest report drawn up by the UN Syria CoI. “Of course we were able to identify high-level perpetrators,” she said, adding that these…

Culture

Basel Carnival kicks off in the dark

This content was published on Feb 18, 2013 Tens of thousands of people take part as the old town is plunged into darkness, with the only lighting coming from the lanterns, such as the one above caricaturing the Russian punk rock band Pussy Riot, and torches. The larger lanterns displayed during Switzerland’s biggest carnival often portray contemporary themes.

Culture

Building for the Winter Olympics

This content was published on Feb 18, 2013 On March 3, voters in the canton will decide whether to put forward a bid, which would commit Switzerland to a huge investment in infrastructure to host the games. swissinfo.ch takes a look back at the early Olympics in St Moritz and examines what facilities are needed today for a winter sporting event on this…

Demographics

Olympic bid: financial fairytale or nightmare?

This content was published on Feb 18, 2013 Opinion has become polarised in the build-up to a March 3 vote on whether canton Graubünden should bid for the 2022 edition. Optimists believe the Games would inject much needed economic impetus while pessimists dwell on who foots the bill if things go wrong. History shows that initial budgets have a habit of spiraling out…

Culture

Ferdinand Hodler at the Beyeler Foundation

This content was published on Feb 17, 2013 The exhibition “Ferdinand Hodler: View to Infinity” features about 80 works from the last five years of the artist’s life (1913–1918).(Pictures: Beyeler Foundation )

Culture

Hodler opens in Basel after New York triumph

This content was published on Feb 17, 2013 Ferdinand Hodler: View to Infinity, named after one of the major paintings in the exhibition, has come to the Beyeler Foundation in Basel after an encouraging reception by both public and critics at the Neue Galerie in New York. Hodler’s paintings are gaining in value on the art market, and the exhibition in New York…

Culture

Restoring Switzerland’s tallest cathedral

This content was published on Feb 16, 2013 The well-known silhouette of Bern’s Old Town, a Unesco World Heritage site, would be incomplete without the imposing accent of the cathedral. Although the foundation stone for the cathedral was laid in 1421, it wasn’t until the period 1889 to 1893 that the crown was placed atop the structure, ending the construction process. At the…

Demographics

A good winter for skiing – so far

This content was published on Feb 16, 2013 In terms of hotel overnights, the winter season is predicted to be slightly above or at least level with last year. (SRF/RSR/swissinfo.ch)

Swiss Identity

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Swiss Identity

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When the state hides its criminal citizens

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Retailers could face charges in horsemeat scandal

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Syrian human rights violators ‘should face court’

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Basel Carnival kicks off in the dark

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Building for the Winter Olympics

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Olympic bid: financial fairytale or nightmare?

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Ferdinand Hodler at the Beyeler Foundation

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Hodler opens in Basel after New York triumph

More

Restoring Switzerland’s tallest cathedral

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A good winter for skiing – so far

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