Swiss Identity

Returned art works fill missing gap

This content was published on Mar 14, 2002 “They were very much missed,” says Bernhard Mendes Bürgi, director of Basel’s fine arts museum, the Kunstmuseum. “We have a wonderful collection of 20th century art, but where the late 19th century was concerned there were some gaps. “These paintings, by such heroes of modern art as Gauguin, Cézanne and van Gogh, have refilled the…

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Return to Everest

This content was published on Mar 14, 2002 Jean-Jacques Asper was only 26 when he became the first man to enter the daunting Western Cwm. The huge basin, which is only accessible via Everest’s heavily crevassed Khumbu icefall, was considered impassable at the time. However, the harsh conditions on the climb left the Swiss Alpine Club team too exhausted to actually continue to…

New laws to compensate victims of forced sterilisation

This content was published on Mar 13, 2002 Switzerland is only now coming to terms with its treatment of thousands of women – usually handicapped or mentally disabled – who were sterilised or forced to have abortions under the threat of being institutionalised. A new study of Zurich city and cantonal records, as well as those from psychiatrists and gynaecologists, has found that…

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More medals for Swiss paralympians

This content was published on Mar 13, 2002 On Tuesday, Switzerland’s Ruedi Weber secured his second podium finish of the games when he took bronze in the ten-kilometre sitting cross-country skiing event. The Swiss paralympian, who has already bagged a gold medal for himself in the sitting biathlon, was competing in the LW11 category, which is open to athletes with disabilities in their…

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Surprise victory for Kratochvil

This content was published on Mar 13, 2002 The 22-year-old only needed two sets to overcome the defending champion, who had returned to Indian Wells after having claimed his 50th ATP title in Scottsdale. Kratochvil, who has now defeated a top-ten player for the first time in his career, was delighted with the result. “That’s one of those matches you’re looking forward to,…

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Jewish leader says Sharon must go

This content was published on Mar 12, 2002 As the violence reaches new heights in the Occupied Territories, Sigi Feigel told swissinfo the Israelis needed a new head of government to lead talks with the Palestinians. “Ariel Sharon is a general, and generals are never good politicians,” he said. “They should choose younger people to negotiate, people who know a brighter future means…

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Season over for Hugentoblers

This content was published on Mar 12, 2002 The pair said they had been forced to pull out because Eliane was suffering from a persistent viral infection. With the Nagano championships marking the end of the figure skating year, Tuesday’s announcement means the Hugentoblers are putting an early end to their season. Despite its disappointing climax, the season has certainly been a memorable…

Gagliardi and Hingis into last eight

This content was published on Mar 12, 2002 World number four Martina Hingis booked her place in the last eight by beating Zimbabwe’s Cara Black 6-0, 6-3. The Swiss star got off to a great start, winning the first seven games, before going on to wrap up a comfortable victory in just 56 minutes. Hingis, who is now due to face South Africa’s…

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Swiss pay last respects to marathon star

This content was published on Mar 12, 2002 Many personalities from the worlds of sport and politics came to express their sympathy to the athlete’s family and her husband, celebrity restaurateur Philippe Rochat, who lives in Crissier in canton Vaud. The state and local authorities, as well as representatives of the cantonal parliament, also attended the ceremony. Magdalena Eggimann, Crissier’s pastor, evoked the…

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Suspected Red Brigades member arrested in Zurich

This content was published on Mar 11, 2002 The police arrested Nicole Bortone, alias Vincenzo, on Sunday. Considered to be one the founding members of the latest version of Italy’s most famous left-wing activist group, the 45-year-old put up no resistance. The Swiss justice ministry confirmed the arrest on Monday. According to a ministry spokesman, Bortone was apprehended on the basis of an…

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