Swiss Identity

Cannabis grower released from custody

This content was published on Jan 25, 2002 Bernard Rappaz, 49, who had been on a hunger strike for more than 70 days, was jailed last November after police raided his cannabis farm in Charrat in the Valais and seized 50 tons of marijuana and other cannabis-based products. He was being held in the prison unit of a Geneva Hospital. The cantonal court…

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Euro draw good for Swiss

This content was published on Jan 25, 2002 But the team still face a series of tough matches in their qualifying group against the Republic of Ireland, Russia, Georgia and Albania. The Swiss lost out both at home and away against Russia in their recent failed attempt to qualify for next summer’s World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan. Friday’s draw took…

Cannabis grower released from custody

This content was published on Jan 25, 2002 Bernard Rappaz, 49, who has been on a hunger strike for more than 70 days, was jailed last November after police raided his cannabis farm in Charrat in the Valais and seized 50 tons of marijuana and other cannabis-based products. He has been in the prison unit of a Geneva hospital. The cantonal court in…

Demographics

Phone tapping on the increase in Switzerland

This content was published on Jan 25, 2002 The Swiss authorities ordered 2,430 telephone taps in 2000 compared with 2,046 the previous year. More than a third of them were ordered in connection with a suspected breach in drugs law. Cantonal authorities ordered 85 per cent of the phone taps, with the remaining 15 per cent coming from requests from the federal government.…

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Lausanne continue to struggle

This content was published on Jan 25, 2002 Lausanne narrowly lost to Fribourg 4-3 in Thursday night’s match at the Malley rink, Lausanne. After taking an early lead by scoring the only goal of the opening period, the men from the shores of Lake Geneva were then outscored four to one in the second. A final Lausanne goal in the third period brought…

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Peaking in the car park

This content was published on Jan 25, 2002 This weekend sees the canton Valais resort of Saas-Fee host its third ice climbing World Cup event in the depths of the village’s ten-storey car park. Originally built to keep the streets of Saas-Fee car-free, it took a few years for the park’s sporting potential to show. “One year we just happened to notice that…

Ancient patois lives on in Switzerland

This content was published on Jan 24, 2002 The Swiss patois is a remnant of bygone times and acts as a reminder of the people who once ruled Western Switzerland. It’s a hybrid language made up of Celtic, Latin and French and its development reads like a history of the area. Originally, residents spoke Celtic because Western Switzerland, like the rest of Europe,…

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Mountains get government spotlight

This content was published on Jan 24, 2002 At a press conference in Bern on Thursday the director of the Swiss agency, Walter Fust, outlined the key objectives for 2002. Development cooperation in mountain areas, the reconstruction of Afghanistan, the Congo and northern African countries were top priorities, he said. Peak performance Fust said the Swiss development role will be particularly important in…

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Bertarelli to navigate Swiss America’s Cup entry

This content was published on Jan 24, 2002 The 37-year-old Genevan, who along with Russell Coutts, founded the Swiss challenge to yachting’s most prestigious title, will take to the high seas as navigator during the six months of competition, although he will not take part in every regatta. He hopes to gain the trophy in 14 months. Coutts revealed the identity of his…

Demographics

Tradition of cures evolves in Chateau d’Oex

This content was published on Jan 24, 2002 Chateau d’Oex, the main alpine village in the Pays-d’Enhaut region north of Lake Geneva, is now better known for its annual hot-air balloon festival. Recently, the Minotel group of hotels acquired the Soldanelle and has refurbished it, but the hotel has retained many of its original features, particularly the Belle Epoque façade and the Impressionist…

Swiss Identity

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