Switzerland
Olivia Pedroli: 'Icelanders are lucky to come from a country so far from everything'
From her beginnings in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Olivia’s talent led her to Reykjavik where she has bloomed under the mentorship of Bjôrk’s producer. Coming out of her trance, Olivia guides us through the mélange of folk, classical and experimental influences that make up her new album 'The Den'. Will you come in?
switzerland, iceland, concert, music, björk, folk music, classical music
Aids: the HIV carrier criminals in Europe
In Scotland and Guyana Mark Devereaux and Alain Prosper respectively get ten years imprisonment. In France another man gets a five-year sentence, spending at least eighteen months behind bars. What do these criminals have in common?
switzerland, aids, health, public health, justice, society, united kingdom
Why the Swiss call Italian workers ‘baliaratt’
What’s the problem when three rats devour a Swiss cheese? Nothing, except when the rats represent the 45,000 Italian workers ‘stealing jobs’ in an Italian canton of Switzerland. That's according to 60 billboards splattered over the mainly Italian-speaking canton of Tessin or Ticino. Term of the week
switzerland, islam, italy, discrimination, society, tower of babel
'Shooting galleries' in Europe: political jab or social cure-all?
Supervising the use of hard drugs or not is an issue that's cropping up across Europe, with some countries tackling it with a different intensity than others; the UK has three injecting clinics. While eight progressive governments have already established the centres, others wish to silence such crazy calls for change. All in the name of morality. Obviously...
switzerland, health, norway, civil society, drugs, rome, barcelona
Swiss singer Sophie Hunger: former jazz 'fascist'
It's promo promo promo in Paris for the folk singer-songwriter, who's finishing up a tour of Europe via Glastonbury to shows in the Czech Republic and Austria. The mellow 27-year-old from Zurich is on the French festival circuit to continue the escape from the 'sad' studio
switzerland, concert, music, media, sophie hunger, rock, european tour
Cornershop: 'musicians might as well hand their credit cards over to the man on the street'
Northern English indie band Cornershop give us a talking to about Swiss minarets, metal music and releasing their comeback album - it's been seven years! - cheaply via their website
switzerland, bands, religion, downloads, best of cafebabel.com, music, referendum
In a country of 400, 000 muslims, the Swiss vote to ban minarets
On 29 November, the people of Switzerland voted to ban the construction of new minarets. The referendum initiated by the Swiss people's party and the conservative federal democratic union has dealt a severe blow to religious peace in the country, write the Estonian, Swiss, Portuguese and Austrian press
switzerland, integration, religion, secularity, religion and democracy, euweek, vote
Western states boycott UN anti-racism conference in Geneva
Durban II began on 20 April with a boycott. For fear of an anti-Israel mood and anti-semitic incidents the US, Israel and other states including Italy, Germany and the Netherlands have cancelled their attendance at the so-called Durban II conference. Press reactions from Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Belgium
switzerland, geneva, racism, eurotopics, mahmoud ahmadinejad, eudebate2009, iran islamic republic of
Music in March: Killed by 9V Batteries and Extraperlo
Paris-Berlin machine rock, continental breakfast from Barcelona and Austrian pot-washers –spring is blossoming in many ways on the music scene! Café Babel’s music diary for March
switzerland, bands, music, barcelona, sophie hunger, cd, culture calendar
Third day of violence in Athens after 15-year-old rioter dies
Alexandros Grigoropoulos was allegedly hurling stones at a police car when officials shot him on 6 December. The incident has sparked riots, with protests held in Corfu and Germany. Ahead of a strike on 10 December, Greek, Italian, Swiss and German newspapers analyse the causes and the consequences for the government
switzerland, right-wing, scandal, police, greece, violence, press review
Italy favourites to win Euro 2008
FIFA class the current world champions as favourites in the 2008 instalment of the European football championships. Some predictions on the first round challengers
switzerland, sport, michael ballack, em 2008, european football championships, austria, football
Liechtenstein: a paradise’s light is dimming
Liechtenstein, the geographical heart of the EU, has 35,000 inhabitants, 70,000 foundations and 110,000 million euros deposited in bank accounts whose owners are anonymous. All this leaves a bad taste in the European mouth
switzerland, malta, cyprus, euro, peer steinbrück, liechtenstein, united states
Exhibition brings Israel and Palestine 'face to face'
Face2Face is a unique and edgy photography show by French and Swiss friends JR and Marco, They stick the Israeli-Palestinian conflict right under European noses
switzerland, italy, photogallery, contemporary art, middle east, berlin, discrimination
Switzerland and Europe: the story of an old couple
1 August is the Swiss national holiday – an occasion to reflect back on Swiss moves towards joining the EU
switzerland, european union, europe, candidate countries, fiscal paradise, politics
'It is our right to organise our fiscal system as we please'
Switzerland’s stubborn neutrality and the fact that the country is considered a tax haven by many, these are the issues we want to discuss with the Swiss ambassador to the EU
switzerland, brussels, traditions, neutrality, european union, europe, candidate countries
'Switzerland copies and pastes EU legislation’
In Switzerland, some are urging accession to the EU to recuperate the country’s sovereignty.We talked to the General Secretary of the New European Movement Switzerland (NEMS)
switzerland, interview, candidate countries, fiscal paradise, politics
The satellite country
Switzerland cultivates the myth of a paradisiacal country that neutrality will protect from all the worlds torments
switzerland, enlargement, neutrality, candidate countries, fiscal paradise, politics
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