Swiss Identity

Hodler painting “mysteriously” reappears

This content was published on Apr 21, 2008 Zurich police confirmed on Monday that the painting, known as Landscape in Ticino and worth an estimated SFr1.1 million ($1.09 million), had reappeared a few days after its disappearance was made public. Police spokesman Marco Cortesi said the circumstances around the work’s reappearance were “very mysterious” and would need to be further investigated. The work…

Culture

Ice comedian “Mr Frick” dies at 92

This content was published on Apr 21, 2008 One half of the “Frick and Frack” duo, Groebli was credited with making 15,000 appearances with the US-based Ice Follies from 1939 to 1981. He also appeared on US television’s variety Ed Sullivan Show. For many Americans half a century ago, Frick and Frack was a term meaning inseparable partners. Groebli, the Frick of the…

Culture

British team survives gruelling mountain race

This content was published on Apr 21, 2008 On Saturday his three-man British team completed the mythical long-distance ski-mountaineering race from Zermatt to Verbier, battling freezing temperatures, fog, high winds and 3,000-metre passes. Their team was one of 1,412 patrols from 22 countries taking part in the biennial competition organised by the Swiss army, said to be one of the most challenging in the…

Demographics

Federer claims first victory of year

This content was published on Apr 20, 2008 However, victory in the final was handed to the world number one early in the second set when Davydenko was forced to retire due to a leg injury. Federer won the first set 7-6 on the clay court in a tiebreak but was down 2-1 in the second, when the Russian decided not to continue.…

Demographics

The Napoleon of Lake Constance

This content was published on Apr 20, 2008 The Napoleon museum in Arenenberg Castle in northern Switzerland and the Cultural Centre in Konstanz just across the border in Germany, have mounted a double exhibition to illustrate the emperor’s life, particularly his youth in the region. Napoleon III, born Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, has generally had a bad press: he seized power in a bloody coup…

Demographics

Aid chief takes stock as he bows out

This content was published on Apr 20, 2008 In an interview with swissinfo, Fust rejects criticism that the SDC is in need of reform, and mismanaged projects to benefit tsunami victims in southeast Asia four years ago. Fust, who will step down at the end of the month, has led the SDC since 1993. He will become head of the Global Humanitarian Forum…

Demographics

Are human rights more than empty promises?

This content was published on Apr 19, 2008 Calmy-Rey was speaking at the annual meeting of the Swiss section of Amnesty International on Saturday, marking the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sanctions must be imposed on human rights violators “without ceding to economic considerations or those of political opportunism”, the foreign minister said, without being more…

Demographics

Swiss team win ski mountaineering race

This content was published on Apr 19, 2008 The victory by Florent Troillet, Alexander Hug and Didier Moret was the first by a Swiss team in eight years, and was only six minutes shy of the record set in 2006. For the first time, the winners were also awarded the title of Long Distance Team World Champions by the International Council for Ski…

Education

Swiss teenagers face steep learning curve

This content was published on Apr 19, 2008 Migrants and girls are particularly disadvantaged, according to the first ever Switzerland-wide research into the transition from school to work. The Transition from Education and Employment (TREE) study is an interdisciplinary project which has been running since 2000. Basel University has just announced that it is to take over the next phase. The lack of…

Demographics

Steck returns to deadly Annapurna South Face

This content was published on Apr 18, 2008 Ueli Steck is returning to Annapurna I – the tenth-highest mountain in the world – where he survived a 300-metre fall down a sheer ice cliff in May 2007. swissinfo spoke to him in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu as he prepared to head for the mountains. This year the soloist has teamed up with compatriot…

Swiss Identity

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