Swiss Identity

Swiss through to final of Basel PreCon Open

This content was published on Aug 4, 2001 Mikaelian, who disposed of Smashnova in two sets 6-2, 6-2 on Saturday, has delighted home fans since the start of the event with a surprising run of wins. The 17-year-old Swiss player, ranked 175 in the WTA standings, breezed past top-seeded Silvia Farina in the opening round. The Italian was forced to abandon halfway through…

Culture

DJ Bobo succumbs to charms of singer

This content was published on Aug 4, 2001 The 33-year-old disc jockey from canton Aargau is expected to tie the knot next Thursday in an undisclosed location in Switzerland, according to a statement issued on Saturday by his management. DJ Bobo, who is very popular in the German-speaking part of Switzerland and Germany, met his future bride during a music festival in 1993,…

Demographics

Swiss plan special police deportation unit

This content was published on Aug 4, 2001 Under the proposal, a pool of “several dozen” officers from all 26 cantons would be trained to deal with forced deportations. They would be stationed with their respective cantonal police departments, but would be on call to deal with expulsions whenever they arise in Switzerland. Beat Hegg, secretary-general of Switzerland’s cantonal justice and police departments,…

Culture

Swiss language system offers insights – not model – for Macedonia

This content was published on Aug 3, 2001 Julien Hottinger, professor of political science at the University of Fribourg, says it is dangerous to conclude that one country’s model can work just as well elsewhere in the world. “Switzerland has a very rigid linguistic policy which is defined according to geographical areas, but the case of Macedonia does not throw up such a…

Demographics

Wankdorf stadium goes out with a bang

This content was published on Aug 3, 2001 The main stand and three floodlight pylons crashed to the ground in a cloud of dust seconds after experts set off 20 kilogrammes of explosives placed around the stadium. Officials said they did not know why the fourth 50-metre high pylon did not crumble immediately. About 4,000 onlookers, kept at a safe distance, watched the…

Demographics

Mikaelian flies Swiss flag at Basel WTA tournament

This content was published on Aug 3, 2001 At the $140,000 PreCon WTA tournament currently underway in the Swiss city of Basel, Mikaelian put in a sensational performance to defeat Daniela Hantuchova in straight sets, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4). Hantuchova, who is ranked over 100 places above the 17-year-old Swiss of Armenian extraction, failed to find the form in her quarter-final match against…

Demographics

Swiss triumph at Grand Masters chess tournament

This content was published on Aug 3, 2001 The former double vice-champion of the world picked up the trophy on Friday and with it handed Switzerland its first victory on the international chess circuit in 22 years. Kortchnoï, ranked 67th in the world, defeated the Russian player, Peter Svidler, in the final round of the tournament to take a decisive lead with a…

Demographics

Bucher upbeat ahead of Edmonton challenge

This content was published on Aug 3, 2001 More than 1,800 of the world’s elite athletes from over 200 countries, including American sprint stars Maurice Greene and Marion Jones, have arrived in the Canadian city for the 10-day premier track-and-field event. All eyes in Switzerland, however, will be focused on Bucher. The Lucerne-based player, who has run the world’s best time in the…

Culture

Films, video, bustle and a great popular spectacle

This content was published on Aug 3, 2001 The chief category of any film festival – the element likely to capture most headlines – is its official competition. The jury of the 54th Locarno festival, which opened on Thursday, will have to choose from among 19 films to decide which director will win the golden leopard for best film. A first honorary award…

Demographics

Laciga brothers stay on course in Austria

This content was published on Aug 3, 2001 The number three seeds dispatched Italy’s Ricardo Lione and “Eugio” Amore in three sets, 21-14, 17-21, 15-3. The brothers, who entered the tournament fresh from a second place finish at last week’s Portugal Open in Espinho, have high hopes of improving on the silver medal they won at the 1999 world championships in Marseille. Sadly…

Swiss Identity

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