Swiss Identity

Balloon festival stays aloft despite snow

This content was published on Jan 29, 2004 And even when inclement weather grounds the balloons, the mood in the alpine village in canton Vaud is far from deflated. After clear skies at the beginning of the nine-day festival, heavy snowfall has grounded the balloons and dashed hopes of an improvement in the weather before the last couple of days. It’s not good…

Demographics

Scientists unveil fast test for fatal diseases

This content was published on Jan 28, 2004 The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne said the test, which can detect bacteria or viruses within minutes, could also accelerate drug development. “The new method enables us to quickly diagnose a virus or bacterium by comparing it with existing data,” Dimitrios Stamou, who took part in the research, told swissinfo. “Being able to…

Demographics

Victims group demands tough justice

This content was published on Jan 28, 2004 But the government says the proposals in the February 8 vote offer more than they can deliver and would be difficult to implement. The people’s initiative was launched by a group of victims and families of victims, and has the backing of the rightwing People’s Party. Those behind the people’s initiative want offenders found guilty…

Culture

Bern displays artistic creativity of the Inuits

This content was published on Jan 28, 2004 It reveals the high level of artistic creativity of indigenous people from the northern polar region who have had little or no formal art education. The collection was begun 15 years ago when Canadian-born Martha Cerny and her Swiss husband, Peter, bought over 120 undocumented pieces including stone and whalebone sculptures, stone prints and rare…

Demographics

Ten years of heroin handouts fixes drug crime

This content was published on Jan 27, 2004 The “harm reduction” policy has attracted criticism but its supporters say it has achieved its goals of keeping addicts off the streets and reducing crime. The scheme provides industrially-manufactured heroin to addicts under strict medical supervision. At the start of 2003, more than 1,200 addicts were registered in the programme, which prevents participants from taking…

Demographics

Swiss told to step up anti-racism efforts

This content was published on Jan 27, 2004 The report released by the Council of Europe on Tuesday also noted the hardening of political attitudes towards foreigners and police abuses. Responding to the findings, the Swiss authorities admitted that some of the criticisms were justified. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), which wrote the report, said Switzerland had made progress in…

Demographics

Swiss tennis serves warning over doping threat

This content was published on Jan 26, 2004 Earlier this month Britain’s Greg Rusedski joined the list, prompting Switzerland’s tennis federation to issue fresh warnings about the risks associated with banned substances. Speaking last week at the Australian Open, Switzerland’s Roger Federer was clearly irritated about the effect the scandals were having on players’ morale. “We can’t go on like this if, every…

Demographics

Braving skiing’s Inferno

This content was published on Jan 26, 2004 But just finishing the gruelling test of nerve, skill and endurance in Mürren, the very cradle of alpine ski racing, turned out to be a small victory in itself. Nearly 2,000 people of all ages and fitness levels travelled from around the world to the quaint alpine village on Saturday for the privilege of taking…

Swiss African Forum tackles Aids stigma

This content was published on Jan 26, 2004 Attention focused on controversial proposals by the Federal Health Office to introduce HIV tests on asylum seekers entering the country. The meeting – the second of its kind since the SAF was launched last August – came less than a week after details of the health office’s plans were made public. Roger Staub, head of…

Culture

Press welcomes cautious optimism in Davos

This content was published on Jan 26, 2004 The World Economic Forum summit ended on Sunday, with this year’s discussions having focused on security and ways of reviving the world economy. “Davos is a jewel”, announced the German-language “Tages-Anzeiger”, which lavished praise on the event. By bringing together heads of business and state, and a broad cross-section of civil society, the summit had…

Swiss Identity

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Swiss Identity

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Balloon festival stays aloft despite snow

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Scientists unveil fast test for fatal diseases

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Victims group demands tough justice

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Bern displays artistic creativity of the Inuits

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Ten years of heroin handouts fixes drug crime

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Swiss told to step up anti-racism efforts

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Swiss tennis serves warning over doping threat

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Braving skiing’s Inferno

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Swiss African Forum tackles Aids stigma

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Press welcomes cautious optimism in Davos

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