Swiss Identity

Oldest Swiss dies at 112

This content was published on Feb 15, 2010 A spokeswoman for the old people’s home near Italian-speaking Lugano where she lived said Rosa Rein had fallen asleep during the afternoon, and had not woken up. On her 112th birthday Rein had told journalists she was in good health, although her sight and hearing were not as good as they had been, and she…

The winning draw

This content was published on Feb 15, 2010 Handcrafted pencils and crayons have long been cult objects. Traditional know-how and high-precision, computer-assisted machines to produce pencils of graphite and Californian cedar: that’s daily business at the Caran d’Ache factory in Thônex, near Geneva. A careful look reveals different engravings and adornments. Photos by Luca Zanetti.

The winning draw

This content was published on Feb 15, 2010 Traditional know-how to make pens and high-precision, computer-assisted machine tools to produce pencils of graphite and Californian cedar: that’s the Caran d’Ache factory in Thônex, near Geneva. A careful look reveals different engravings and adornments. “We pay a lot of attention to detail,” says spokeswoman Renate Stern. Photos by Luca Zanetti.

Swiss sets record with 20 minutes underwater

This content was published on Feb 15, 2010 The Zurich-based Colat, aged 38, performed the feat in a water tank at a holiday fair in St Gallen, smashing the old record by 19 seconds. The previous record for oxygen assisted static apnea was held by the Italian Nicola Putignano. Colat, an experienced diver, said the first 12 minutes were no problem. “I felt…

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BMW Oracle sail to victory in America’s Cup

This content was published on Feb 14, 2010 The victory returns the oldest trophy in international sport to the United States for the first time since 1995. It was the second race won by the US team in a best-of-three series off Valencia, Spain. The Swiss catamaran, with Ernesto Bertarelli at the helm, was penalised before the start of each race. Larry Ellison,…

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Libyan source claims Swiss operate blacklist

This content was published on Feb 14, 2010 Bern has refused to comment on the report in Oea newspaper, which cites a “high level Libyan official” as its source. The Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi and his family, along with members of government, parliamentarians and military and security chiefs are said to feature on the alleged list. “The authorities of the Swiss entity have…

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Just Married…

This content was published on Feb 14, 2010 These are just some of the observations made by Zuza Speckert, the writer of the Just Married column in the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper. Every week the Sunday newspaper’s Society section outlines the stories of three recently wed couples. It’s a concept that’s familiar to the readers of the New York Times, for example. The…

Ammann soars to Games first gold

This content was published on Feb 13, 2010 After two jumps off the normal hill, the 28-year-old amassed 276.5 points, seven points more than Poland’s Adam Malysz who took second. Ammann shot his hands into the air and pumped his arms as the scoreboard lit up to show he’d won the event. “It’s unbelievable,” he told reporters moments afterward. “I have no words…

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First blood in America’s Cup goes to Oracle

This content was published on Feb 12, 2010 The original winning margin in what turned out to be a great anticlimax was ten minutes, five seconds, but Alinghi apparently bungled a 270-degree penalty turn at the finish and had to redo it. The official margin was 15 minutes, 28 seconds, with the finish coming just before dusk. The 27-metre boats – the trimaran…

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Polanski extradition on hold

This content was published on Feb 12, 2010 The Swiss justice office said on Friday that it would be pointless to extradite Polanski while he is still trying to get his case heard in absentia. The Franco-Polish director fled the US in 1978 after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. He was picked up by Swiss authorities in September at…

Swiss Identity

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Swiss Identity

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Oldest Swiss dies at 112

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The winning draw

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The winning draw

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Swiss sets record with 20 minutes underwater

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BMW Oracle sail to victory in America’s Cup

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Libyan source claims Swiss operate blacklist

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Just Married…

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Ammann soars to Games first gold

More

First blood in America’s Cup goes to Oracle

More

Polanski extradition on hold

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