Swiss Identity

Inquiry reveals extent of Swiss-apartheid links

This content was published on Dec 20, 2002 Investigators said they had been sympathetic to the views of their South African counterparts and had never questioned the consequences of apartheid. The report, commissioned by the defence minister, Samuel Schmid, cleared the Swiss secret service, and its former chief, Peter Regli, of allegations of illegal dealings, but criticised the closeness of their relations with…

Demographics

Swiss Tropical Institute commemorates founder

This content was published on Dec 20, 2002 Geigy, who was born in Basel on December 20, 1902, made significant contributions to biology, medicine and development cooperation. His legacy includes pioneering work on tropical diseases like sleeping sickness and malaria, as well as his method of combining field and laboratory research. He inspired a generation of students to investigate tick-borne diseases, and built…

Demographics

Swiss back down over Holocaust book

This content was published on Dec 19, 2002 The government was outraged at the book’s cover, which depicted a Swiss flag covered with a swastika made of gold bars. The foreign ministry said it was abandoning plans to try and prevent publication of “Imperfect Justice”, by former US under secretary of state, Stuart Eizenstat, after legal experts advised that it had virtually no…

Culture

English is first foreign language

This content was published on Dec 19, 2002 Some 40 languages are spoken in Switzerland, but of the four national languages only French has seen the number of speakers rise in the past decade. The 2000 census shows that one per cent of the population speaks English as their main language, with most speakers based in the cities of Zurich, Basel and Geneva.…

History

Muslim teacher fired for violating Geneva laws

This content was published on Dec 19, 2002 Geneva has strict laws separating church and state which restrict cantonal employees’ freedom of expression. Ramadan told swissinfo he would be appealing against the ruling. Geneva officials said their decision to fire Ramadan was based on the “anti-democratic” nature of his remarks. In the article, which was published in September, Ramadan defended death by stoning…

Culture

Classic from A to Z

This content was published on Dec 19, 2002 The Concerto takes up the old tradition of virtuoso hammered dulcimer playing wich was fashionable during the 18th century. The Concerto takes up during the folk songs have often served in the 18th century. Melchior Ulrich (born 1945): Ethnophonie for Ländler Ensemble and Orchestra (1997) The musical connection of two stylistical independent ensembles was the…

Switzerland winds up Holocaust fund

This content was published on Dec 18, 2002 The remaining SFr12 million ($8 million) will be split between the World Jewish Restitution Organisation (WJRO) and the Swiss Red Cross. The fund was set up in February 1997 at the height of the controversy over Switzerland’s role in the Second World War. It was charged with distributing contributions from the Swiss banks and industry…

Demographics

Teststory Ländlerkapelle Thomas Marthaler: Us em sertig i’d March

This content was published on Dec 18, 2002 The Swiss foreign ministry says it will not seek to stop the publication of an American book about Holocaust victims? struggle to win reparations.

Demographics

“Undesirables” banned from city centres

This content was published on Dec 18, 2002 Police have been ordered to keep offenders away from town centres in a bid to crack down on crime. Designated zones in the cantons of Bern, Geneva, Solothurn, Vaud and Zurich are off-limits to all “undesirables”, not just asylum seekers. However, the authorities are finding it hard to say whether the preventive measures are having…

Demographics

Landmines: the indiscriminate killer

This content was published on Dec 17, 2002 They target indiscriminately, killing and maiming soldiers and civilians alike even decades after fighting has ended. In 1995, the United Nations estimated there were 120 million landmines worldwide. Data collected by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) indicates that men aged 20 to 45 are most at risk, as they are more likely…

Swiss Identity

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Swiss Identity

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Inquiry reveals extent of Swiss-apartheid links

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Swiss Tropical Institute commemorates founder

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Swiss back down over Holocaust book

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English is first foreign language

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Muslim teacher fired for violating Geneva laws

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Classic from A to Z

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Switzerland winds up Holocaust fund

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Teststory Ländlerkapelle Thomas Marthaler: Us em sertig i’d March

More

“Undesirables” banned from city centres

More

Landmines: the indiscriminate killer

Popular Stories

Most Discussed