Swiss Identity

Meningitis reaches record levels in Switzerland

This content was published on Jan 24, 2000 The number of meningitis cases in Switzerland reached record levels in 1999, but the health ministry says the rise is no cause for alarm. Last year, there were 168 recorded cases of the deadly brain disease, an increase of 40 per cent over 1998. The Swiss Ministry of Health says the reason for the sudden…

Culture

Solothurn film festival is a real crowd puller

This content was published on Jan 23, 2000 The cream of the Swiss movie industry has been feted at the Solothurn film festival, in Canton Berne. Some 30 000 spectators attended the 35th annual event which took place over the past week. At a glittering prize giving ceremony the top films were recognised. The prize for best film was given for “Emporte-Moi” directed…

Demographics

Six officials to face questioning over Bellasi scandal

This content was published on Jan 23, 2000 One of the biggest defence ministry fraud scandals to hit Switzerland is to widen, with another six people facing a disciplinary investigation. The SonntagsZeitung reports that six government officials from the defence ministry are to be questioned in connection with the Bellasi affair. They face losing their jobs if found guilty of violating their professional…

Demographics

Over 100 extreme right-wing demonstrators held in Berne

This content was published on Jan 23, 2000 102 extreme right-wing demonstrators were briefly detained in Berne on Saturday night when they attempted to disrupt an organised left-wing, anti-facist demonstration. According to the police, some 250 right-wingers came to interrupt the demonstration. Over half of those arrested came from Zurich and western Switzerland. The municipal police said they arrested around 60 people at…

Demographics

Mabetex boss admits providing Yeltsin family with credit cards

This content was published on Jan 21, 2000 Bexhet Pacolli, the Swiss businessman at the centre of a Kremlin corruption scandal, has admitted providing the family of former President Yeltsin with credit cards. Pacolli is pictured here meeting Yeltsin in 1996. But, according to the New York Times, Pacolli, boss of the construction firm, Mabetex, denied he had paid their bills. “I only…

Demographics

Federal Court rules against Jewish refugee Spring

This content was published on Jan 21, 2000 The Swiss federal court has rejected a claim for compensation lodged against the government by a Jewish refugee who was refused entry into the country during the Second World War, but agreed to give him SFr 100,000 to cover legal costs. The court rejected the case brought by Joseph Spring, a Polish Jew now living…

Demographics

Federal Court to rule on Jewish compensation claim

This content was published on Jan 20, 2000 The Swiss federal court is today expected to rule on a compensation claim against the Swiss government by a Jewish refugee who was refused entry into the country during the Second World War. Joseph Spring, now in his seventies and living in Australia, is suing the government for SFr100,000 as compensation for having been handed…

Demographics

Dreifuss says modern “slavery” of women is threatening society

This content was published on Jan 20, 2000 The Swiss interior minister, Ruth Dreifuss, has warned a United Nations conference that more than 300,000 women are victims of slavery every year in Europe. She said the growth of the “trade” in women will undermine society unless urgent action is taken. “The trade of human beings is one of the most flagrant and widespread…

Demographics

Liechtenstein freezes bank accounts in Leuna case

This content was published on Jan 20, 2000 The principality of Liechtenstein has frozen bank accounts in connection with a Swiss investigation into alleged bribery in the privatisation of a German oil refinery. The move follows a request by the justice authorities in Geneva. The Liechtenstein government says it has blocked several bank accounts and confiscated documents in connection with an inquiry into…

Culture

Locarno takes centre stage at Solothurn film festival

This content was published on Jan 20, 2000 Switzerland’s best-known film festival briefly took centre-stage at Solothurn when the organisers of the Locarno film festival, including Guiseppe Buffi, announced plans for a radical overhaul. Switzerland’s biggest film festival has announced ambitious plans to raise its profile in Switzerland and Europe. The festival’s president and director, Giuseppe Buffi and Marco Müller, outlined their plans…

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Meningitis reaches record levels in Switzerland

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Solothurn film festival is a real crowd puller

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Six officials to face questioning over Bellasi scandal

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Over 100 extreme right-wing demonstrators held in Berne

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Mabetex boss admits providing Yeltsin family with credit cards

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Federal Court rules against Jewish refugee Spring

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Federal Court to rule on Jewish compensation claim

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Dreifuss says modern “slavery” of women is threatening society

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Liechtenstein freezes bank accounts in Leuna case

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Locarno takes centre stage at Solothurn film festival

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