Swiss Identity

Controversial deportation decision postponed

This content was published on Dec 10, 2009 Instead, the Senate has voted to seek further clarifications at committee level to examine whether the initiative is compatible with international law and the constitution. Thursday’s debate took place against the backdrop of Swiss voters’ controversial approval on November 29 of a rightwing initiative to ban the construction of minarets. The surprise acceptance of the…

Demographics

Asbestos trial begins in Turin

This content was published on Dec 10, 2009 Neither Stephan Schmidheiny nor his fellow accused, the Belgian Jean Louis Marie Ghislaine De Cartier, were present in Turin. The two men were the majority shareholders in the Italian Eternit Genova company, which owned four asbestos factories in Italy. Around 1,400 people have died from the consequences of asbestos dust in the factories, and about…

Culture

Davos in the 1930s-40s

This content was published on Dec 10, 2009 Photographs from Swiss filmmaker Danielle Jaeggi’s intimate political documentary, “A l’ombre de la montagne”, which explores the mythical alpine resort, its sanatoriums and this obscure period of Swiss history.

HSBC confirms theft of accounts data

This content was published on Dec 9, 2009 The information is said to have been passed on by the information technology employee to French authorities. In a statement on Wednesday, HSBC said the theft was reported to the company after police surveillance in 2008, adding that “to the best of the bank’s knowledge, the number of names potentially involved was fewer than ten”.…

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Arab press say Swiss neutrality is failing

This content was published on Dec 9, 2009 “Shame”, “Holocaust”, “Islamophobia”, “humiliation” – words that have appeared regularly in Arab press since 57.5 per cent of Swiss voters said yes on November 29 to a ban on the construction of minarets. Most commentators wondered what could have pushed the Swiss to vote as they did, and what the consequences would be for a…

Demographics

FC Zurich draws final Champions League match

This content was published on Dec 9, 2009 Zurich were first to score with a free kick by Milan Gajic after 30 minutes, leading the game until Ronaldinho equalised with a penalty kick in the 65th minute. The Italians are now through to the Champions League knock out stages, along with Real Madrid from the same group, who beat Olympique Marseille 3-1. Speaking…

Culture

Bern’s bankers, businessmen and property barons

This content was published on Dec 7, 2009 Family members have always known how to ride the crest of the economic wave of their day. There were those who held the purse strings of the medieval city of Bern as treasurer, and others who were in charge of the very important salt monopoly. In the 18th century, many lent their services as mercenaries…

Culture

Old Bern, new perspectives

This content was published on Dec 7, 2009 Bern has managed to preserve its historical buildings while keeping up with the times. All images from book on Bern’s contemporary architecture (Bern baut. Ein Führer zur zeitgenössischen Architektur 1990–2010. Edition Hochparterre)

Red-hot “Iceman” shines with skiing hat-trick

This content was published on Dec 7, 2009 The 23-year-old, now a firm favourite for Olympic gold, wrapped up an astonishing weekend after victories in the super combined, downhill and giant slalom in Beaver Creek, Colorado. World Cup overall leader Janka won Sunday’s giant slalom with a combined total time of 2 minutes, 29.44 seconds to defeat Austrian Benjamin Raich by 0.47 seconds.…

Demographics

Gross takes over at Stuttgart

This content was published on Dec 7, 2009 Gross, 55, previously led Basel to the Champions League second round six years ago. His first game in charge will be on Wednesday in the Champions League when Stuttgart can advance to the knockout stage if they beat Romanian club Unirea Urziceni. Gross, who once played for Bochum in the German Bundesliga, also coached Tottenham…

Swiss Identity

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Swiss Identity

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Controversial deportation decision postponed

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Asbestos trial begins in Turin

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Davos in the 1930s-40s

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HSBC confirms theft of accounts data

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Arab press say Swiss neutrality is failing

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FC Zurich draws final Champions League match

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Bern’s bankers, businessmen and property barons

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Old Bern, new perspectives

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Red-hot “Iceman” shines with skiing hat-trick

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Gross takes over at Stuttgart

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