Swiss Identity

Woman jailed for Stern killing released early

This content was published on Nov 10, 2010 Cécile B. had been sentenced in June 2009 to eight and a half years for fatally shooting Edouard Stern during a sex game in 2005 in Geneva. She has been in jail since 2005. Cécile B.’s lawyer Alec Raymond told the AFP news agency that a Geneva judge was releasing her early for good behaviour.…

Demographics

Diamond expected to set auction record

This content was published on Nov 10, 2010 Sotheby’s auction house estimates the “fancy intense pink” 24.78 carat gem will fetch $27-38 million (SFr26-37 million) at its Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva on Tuesday. The previous record was set by rival auctioneers Christie’s when they sold the blue 35.56-carat Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond for $24.3 million in 2008. The head of Sotheby’s jewellery division, David…

Demographics

Swiss plan to splash out at Christmas

This content was published on Nov 10, 2010 Swiss consumers are set to spend around 1.2 per cent more than last year on gifts, food and going out at Christmas. The biggest spenders, however, are the Luxembourgers, who will fork out 2.4 per cent more than last year. According to a French study by accountancy firm Deloitte, their budget on end of year…

Demographics

Court decides to guard blogger’s anonymity

This content was published on Nov 10, 2010 It rejected an appeal by the prosecution for the identity of a user who had contributed to a feedback blog to be made public, according to a statement by the court on Wednesday. The case involves the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation’s (SBC) main television channel which refused to disclose the IP address of a user who…

Demographics

More Swiss treated for depression

This content was published on Nov 9, 2010 New figures from the Swiss Federal Health Office show that more and more people are seeking treatment. Around 345,000 people saw a doctor about depression in 2008 – or 13 in every 1,000. Two-thirds of those going for a first consultation about the illness and being diagnosed with a mild form were women. But among…

Demographics

Federer calls for shorter season

This content was published on Nov 9, 2010 Speaking at a news conference at the Paris Masters on Tuesday, Federer said that the schedule had improved since he started on the tour. However, the 16-time Grand Slam winner admitted that he would like a longer offseason. “Four weeks is just not an offseason, really. Six weeks is much better,” said Federer, “already at…

Culture

Heritage sites are not guaranteed protection

This content was published on Nov 9, 2010 Switzerland has ten Unesco world heritage sites, with two more applications in hand, but what happened in Pompeii might set people wondering what the point is. The collapse was blamed on recent heavy rain. Although a recognised world heritage building, the House of the Gladiators was clearly not safe from the ravages of time and…

Culture

Duo “May-Jo”. Best Of.

This content was published on Nov 9, 2010 La valse à Grand-papa Duo May-Jo

Swiss spend third most on health care

This content was published on Nov 9, 2010 According to the Federal Statistics Office, healthcare expenditure in 2008—the latest figures available—soared to SFr58.5 billion ($60.5 billion), or 10.7 per cent of gross domestic product. That is 5.9 per cent more than the previous five years. It puts Switzerland among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s biggest spenders, with only the United States…

Demographics

Burkhalter calls for joint efforts on poverty

This content was published on Nov 9, 2010 Speaking at a one-day national conference in Bern, Burkhalter said that to be poor meant a person suffered from a feeling of being marginalised by society. “Today we want to lay the foundation for a more efficient battle against poverty,” said Burkhalter at the start of Tuesday’s conference. He announced that the government had two…

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