Swiss Identity

“Ghost” chalet scam targets rich Verbier skiers

This content was published on Feb 8, 2010 This was the bad news that greeted the tourist victims of a recent internet letting scam in the popular Swiss ski resort. Police warn visitors to check carefully when booking via the net but say little can be done to prevent such incidents. “The site was very well done, very professional with pictures of a…

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Alinghi face wait as Cup start delayed

This content was published on Feb 8, 2010 Officials said the competition between the hi-tech, multi-hull boats had been rescheduled for Wednesday. Alinghi and BMW Oracle had an almost four-hour wait off the coast of Valencia, Spain, before the race was called off on Monday morning as a result of shifting wind conditions. The unique boats had finally taken to the water after…

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Man’s avalanche survival astounds rescuers

This content was published on Feb 7, 2010 The 21-year-old man was pulled from beneath the snow on Sunday, suffering only from mild hypothermia, the police said. He had been trapped at a depth of about 50 centimetres, and managed to survive thanks to a pocket of air, but the snow above was too heavy to enable him to free himself. The skier…

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Swiss businessman acquitted in Libya

This content was published on Feb 7, 2010 The verdict was announced by Hamdani’s lawyer, Salah Zahaf. Hamdani, who worked for a construction company, is one of two Swiss businessmen who have been prevented from leaving Libya since July 2008. The other, Max Göldi, the head of Libyan operations for the Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB, was sentenced on Saturday on the same charge…

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Switzerland face tough Euro football challenge

This content was published on Feb 7, 2010 The draw, made in Warsaw on Sunday, put Switzerland in Group G, where the other teams are Bulgaria, Montenegro and Wales. Although on paper Bulgaria is slightly weaker than Switzerland, the Swiss only managed a draw against them in Geneva last year. Montenegro and Wales are regarded as outsiders in the group. The host nations,…

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Success started in Zermatt for Olympic designer

This content was published on Feb 6, 2010 The 62-year-old American-Canadian is the founder of Ecosign, an environmentally friendly planning firm commissioned to create the Olympic Nordic centre and ski jumps where Swiss Simon Ammann could be a favourite to win. But even recreational skiers should know Mathews’ work well. His firm has left its mark on more than a dozen high-profile winter…

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Swiss businessman fined in Libya

This content was published on Feb 6, 2010 The decision was communicated to Göldi’s lawyer, Salah Zahaf, on Saturday. The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed the sentence, but had no comment to make. Göldi, the head of Libyan operations for the Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB, is one of two Swiss nationals who have been prevented from leaving Libya since July 2008. The other man,…

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Valencia prepares for a unique regatta

This content was published on Feb 6, 2010 But the 33rd edition is likely to bear little relation to the previous event in 2007, in which Swiss syndicate Alinghi successfully defended the trophy in a breathtaking photo finish. Three years ago, 12 teams from five continents sailing monohull boats took part in what was considered to be one of the most successful regattas…

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Swine flu pandemic said to be on its last breath

This content was published on Feb 5, 2010 Patrick Mathys, head of the Health Office’s pandemic preparation unit, said on Friday that the H1N1 virus is still active but that the wave of illness is ebbing. About 1.1 million people in Switzerland have come in contact with the virus. Some 1.3 million in the country were vaccinated against it. That’s about the same…

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Few foreign criminals being sent home

This content was published on Feb 5, 2010 Justice Office spokesman Folco Galli confirmed a report on Friday that since 2004 only four foreigners who committed crimes in Switzerland have been sent against their will to serve time in their home countries. Switzerland is allowed to take such measures as a signatory of a protocol ratified by 34 other states. About 70 per…

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“Ghost” chalet scam targets rich Verbier skiers

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Alinghi face wait as Cup start delayed

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Man’s avalanche survival astounds rescuers

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Swiss businessman acquitted in Libya

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Switzerland face tough Euro football challenge

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Success started in Zermatt for Olympic designer

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Swiss businessman fined in Libya

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Valencia prepares for a unique regatta

More

Swine flu pandemic said to be on its last breath

More

Few foreign criminals being sent home

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