Swiss Identity

Altdorf discards clichéd image of folk music

This content was published on Aug 15, 2001 Alpine music covers a surprisingly wide spectrum and is the “most creative, playful, artistic and traditional coming out of the Alps,” organisers said. The critical success of the first two festivals inspired them to continue to challenge the clichéd image of folk music in the town in canton Uri. More than a dozen groups from…

History

Day One: Sunday August 26

This content was published on Aug 15, 2001 Announcing the relocation plan on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said all its diplomatic representatives would be moved to new offices in Ramallah. It added that its East Jerusalem office would remain open, but would not have any function other than humanitarian and aid work. The decision, taken by the Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, comes…

Interlaken welcomes home the Unspunnen stone

This content was published on Aug 15, 2001 At a ceremony on Tuesday, Shawne Fielding, the wife of the Swiss ambassador to Berlin, officially handed the stolen stone back to its rightful owners, the Interlaken Gymnastics Society. The stone, an ancient symbol of the Bernese Oberland, resurfaced last Sunday during an Expo reception in Saignelègier, when two strangers presented Fielding with it. Fielding,…

Demographics

Graubünden justice director stripped of police powers

This content was published on Aug 14, 2001 At a meeting on Tuesday, the Graunbünden government took the decision to strip Aliesch of his powers as head of the foreigners’ police, of the cantonal police and as head of security for the World Economic Forum in Davos, with immediate effect. These measures will remain in force until the judicial enquiry against Aliesch comes…

Demographics

French club lands best Swiss basketball player

This content was published on Aug 14, 2001 The player had extended his contract with Lugano for another two years. But the Ticino club agreed to release Mrazek so he could fulfil his ambition of playing for a foreign club. “This is the challenge I’ve been waiting for,” said Mrazek. “I’ve never had to compete with 10 other players to get a place…

Demographics

Swiss kick off European football bid

This content was published on Aug 14, 2001 If successful the Swiss-Austrian bid, with a budget of SFr 5 million, would see top level international football being held in Switzerland for the first time since the 1954 World Cup finals. New stadiums A major argument in Switzerland’s favour will be the number of new stadiums currently being built. Following last year’s completion of…

Demographics

Swiss police crack international drug ring

This content was published on Aug 14, 2001 Authorities also seized 450,000 Thai pills, which resemble the drug ecstasy, but are cheaper and have an effect that lasts longer – up to eight hours. Police said the high risk of dependence, and the damaging physical and psychological effects make the Thai pills extremely dangerous. The long-planned international enforcement operation began in 1999, and…

Demographics

Portraits of 19th century British climbers and Swiss guides

This content was published on Aug 14, 2001 Sir Leslie Stephen A leading thinker in his day and father of novelist Virginia Woolf, Stephen wrote “The Playground of Europe” – a classic account of 19th century mountaineering. He claimed many first ascents and traverses, including the Schreckhorn and the Eigerjoch, and waxed lyrical about these and other adventures in his book: “Our method…

Demographics

Spray flu vaccine examined for side effects

This content was published on Aug 14, 2001 “Nasalflu”, which is called the world’s first spray flu vaccine, had been clinically tested on 2,000 people before it was put on the market late last year. Despite the tests, some consumers suffered what seemed to be a variety of side effects, including partial – but reversible – facial paralysis. “The paralysis can last from…

Education

Zurich teachers bring the American way home to Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 14, 2001 The teachers ended their four-week training programme at the Swiss Teachers Summer Institute at Florida Gulf Coast University on Sunday. The course, concentrating on comparative education, English and computer work, had proved increasingly popular among Swiss teachers. The programme this year had twice as many participants as last year. The programme is a partnership between…

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