Swiss Identity

Liberalisation plans leave cannabis in legal limbo

This content was published on Jul 29, 2002 The proposed liberalisation is intended to bring the law into line with reality: around half a million people in Switzerland are thought to be regular users of cannabis. Under the new legislation, possession and production of cannabis for personal use would be allowed, as well as limited trade in the drug. But it would remain…

Demographics

The dark side of the Matterhorn

This content was published on Jul 29, 2002 Skiers, climbers and walkers flock to the mountain’s home in the alpine resort of Zermatt and all year round the streets throng with tourists from all over the world. Japanese, English, Italians, German and Swiss rub shoulders happily along the town’s main street. Day in, day out, they take advantage of Zermatt’s full range of…

Demographics

Von Roll chief executive arrested

This content was published on Jul 29, 2002 In a statement on Sunday, Von Roll said Lüthy had been taken into custody on July 6 at Amsterdam’s Schipol airport during a routine business trip and was being held in Germany’s Rheinbach bei Bonn prison. German authorities issued a warrant for his arrest on March 27. The public prosecutor’s office in Bonn said Lüthy…

Culture

Switzerland or Swaziland?

This content was published on Jul 28, 2002 The information campaign – which is costing around SFr450,000 ($310,000) – takes the form of a comic book printed in 13 different languages and destined for distribution to Swiss embassies all over the world. “We communicate basic information about Switzerland and our target group for this comic is young people worldwide. We want to attract…

Fahd visit unsettles Geneva’s orderly way of life

This content was published on Jul 27, 2002 King Fahd, who flew into the city in May, has his own palatial mansion – the Dawn Villa in the exclusive suburb of Collonge-Bellerive – in which he and many of his servants are staying. But politicians and members of the public have expressed concern at the way in which Fahd and his entourage have…

Culture

Merzbacher collection makes European debut

This content was published on Jul 27, 2002 The exhibition, “Masters of Colour: Derain to Kandinsky, 80 Masterpieces from the Merzbacher Collection”, opened at London’s Royal Academy of Art at the end of July. It features works by many modern masters, including paintings by Klee, Kandinsky, Matisse and Picasso, and sculptures by Modigliani and Calder. The Merzbachers have been collecting art for more…

Demographics

New hope for kidney transplant patients

This content was published on Jul 25, 2002 Faced with a severe worldwide shortage of kidney donors, doctors in Zurich have been seeking new sources of the organ. Currently, most kidneys are harvested from people who are brain dead but whose heart is still functioning, pumping life-giving blood through the body’s organs. Many doctors believe that if they wait until a person’s heart…

Demographics

Luxembourg ambassador remains in custody

This content was published on Jul 24, 2002 The Federal Court said on Tuesday it had agreed to a request by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office to extend Friederich’s detention until August 15 because of the risk of collusion. On Wednesday, Friederich’s lawyer said his client would refuse to cooperate with investigators because the court’s decision not to release him from custody. Jean-René Mermoud…

Demographics

Hard drugs use on the rise

This content was published on Jul 24, 2002 “We have to make a distinction between the 30,000 heroin addicts in Switzerland and those who take drugs recreationally, especially the new synthetic drugs,” Richard Müller, director of the Swiss Institute for the prevention of drug and alcohol addiction told swissinfo. Although Müller says there are no figures available to indicate the extent of synthetic…

Switzerland fails to make the grade in life quality survey

This content was published on Jul 24, 2002 For the second year running, Switzerland ranked 11th in the survey, a slip of six places since 1990. Norway came top, closely followed by Sweden, Canada, Belgium and outranking the United States. Iceland, the Netherlands, Japan and Finland also made it into the top ten. Switzerland came ahead of France, Britain, Austria, Luxembourg and Germany.…

Swiss Identity

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Swiss Identity

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Liberalisation plans leave cannabis in legal limbo

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The dark side of the Matterhorn

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Von Roll chief executive arrested

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Switzerland or Swaziland?

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Fahd visit unsettles Geneva’s orderly way of life

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Merzbacher collection makes European debut

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New hope for kidney transplant patients

More

Luxembourg ambassador remains in custody

More

Hard drugs use on the rise

More

Switzerland fails to make the grade in life quality survey

Popular Stories

Most Discussed