A Swiss stuck for 36 hours in the Sea Story: “The floor had become the ceiling”

blue News and Keystone-ATS give you a first overview of the news, with the latest news unearthed in the press. Without forgetting birthdays and the saying of the day!

Today’s highlights

FEDERAL FINANCES: The National Council kicks off debates on the Confederation’s 2025 budget on Tuesday, which are expected to occupy it for three days. The right wants to increase the funds allocated to the army by some 500 million francs for arms purchases compared to the Federal Council’s version. This must be compensated by cuts in international cooperation (-250 million), asylum (-100 million) or even expenses for Confederation personnel (-70 million). The left and NGOs have already sounded the alarm against “massive”, “inhumane” and “thoughtless” cuts.

WILDLIFE: The wolf will occupy the minds of the Council of States on Tuesday. Three motions want to relax the predator’s shooting conditions. One calls for wolf-free zones. Another wants to downgrade the protection status of the canine in the Berne Convention and a third wants to speed up genetic analyzes. In view of the deliberations in committee, there is a likelihood that some, or even all three, will pass.

Football: The Swiss women’s football team plays its last match of 2024 on Tuesday at 8:45 p.m. in Sheffield, against England, the reigning European champion. The task promises to be difficult for the players of coach Pia Sundhage, beaten 6-0 by Germany on Friday in Zurich. For this friendly match, the Swiss will once again be without their captain Lia Wälti and other key players, including young YB striker Naomi Luyet.

ICE HOCKEY: Genève-Servette plays its quarter-final first leg of the Ice Hockey Champions League against Bremerhaven on Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. The Eagles, who won their four National League matches scheduled last week, were beaten by this team from northern Germany during the league phase (3-2).

TODAY IS…: Like every December 3, today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It is estimated that 1.3 billion people, or one in six across the world, have a significant disability. Some disabled people die up to 20 years earlier than non-disabled people. All information on the UN website.

Seen in the press

EGYPT: “I spent 36 hours in my cabin submerged at a depth of 12 meters,” explains Tuesday in 24 Heures and the Tribune de Genève Michael Miles, one of the two Swiss survivors after the sinking of a tourist boat in the Red Sea . After a huge wave hit the “Sea Story” off the coast of Egypt on the night of Sunday to Monday, November 27, “the boat overturned. The floor had become the ceiling and vice versa,” adds the 71-year-old Vaudois.

The water rising in the corridor, with the other passenger in his cabin, a Finn, they “quickly gave up trying to go out by freediving. We were more likely to get away with staying in our room.” Even if the emergency beacons fitted to the life jackets did not work, because “no one had put batteries in them”, the Vaudois says he was never afraid.

Of the 31 tourists and thirteen crew members, 33 were rescued. Four bodies were extracted lifeless from the cabins and seven people are missing.

CRIME: The quantity of anabolic drugs seized in Switzerland has more than doubled in five years, writes the Neue Zürcher Zeitung on Tuesday. The majority of preparations intended to improve performance arrive by post. In 2019, 649 shipments of anabolic steroids were seized, compared to 1,462 last year, according to the Swiss Sports Integrity foundation, cited by the newspaper.

If the order is for personal consumption, the substance is destroyed at the buyer’s expense. The authorities only intervene if there is suspicion of trade in the illegal substance. Most shipments come from Eastern Europe, Asia and the United States of America.

FOOTBALL: An Aargau lawyer has filed a complaint against the Zurich municipal police after their intervention against fans of the Grasshopper Club of Zurich on Saturday during the Zurich Football Super League derby against FC Zurich, the Aargauer Zeitung and the Blick reported on Tuesday. He accuses the police and the competent authority of multiple confinement, multiple coercion and multiple abuse of authority.

The lawyer, who is an avowed supporter of GC, has also filed an administrative surveillance complaint with the Zurich prefecture. The police had interrupted a march of GC supporters to prevent any excess and had checked 591 people. Three of them were briefly arrested.

Birthdays and jubilees

– One year ago (2023): death of Valais entrepreneur and patron Léonard Gianadda, at the age of 88. He created the Pierre Gianadda Foundation, which includes a sculpture park and exhibitions renewed every year, one of the most important cultural institutions in Europe.

– 20 years ago (2004): death of the French actor, director and theater man Robert Dhéry. With his wife Colette Brosset, in 1948 he founded the “Branquignols” troupe (among which we find Louis de Funès, Jean Lefebvre, Jean Carmet, Jacqueline Maillan, Michel Serrault). In the cinema, he notably directed “La Belle Americaine” (1961), “Le Petit Baigneur” (1968) with Louis de Funès or “Vos gules, les mouettes!” (1974). He was born in 1921.

– 25 years ago (1999): death of American musician John Scatman, famous for his hit “Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)”. He has sold more than 20 million records. He was born in 1942.

– 30 years ago (1994): launch of the first Playstation by the Sony company.

– 40 years ago (1984): Bhopal disaster in India. Several tons of toxic substances are released into the atmosphere due to human error. The accident caused up to 25,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries.

– 90 years ago (1934): foundation of the ice hockey club EHC Kloten.

– 90 years ago (1934): birth of the Swiss philosopher Hans Saner. Known for never mincing his words, he often made political comments. He died on December 26, 2017.

– 130 years ago (1894): death of British writer Robert Louis Stevenson (“Treasure Island”, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”). He was born in 1850.

– 140 years ago (1884): birth of the radical Solothurn federal councilor Walther Stampfli. He headed the Department of Public Economy from 1940 to 1947. He is the “father” of old age and survivors insurance (AVS), adopted by Parliament in 1946 and endorsed by the people in 1947.

Saying of the day

“December takes, it does not give back”.

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