Swiss Identity

Swiss under EU pressure to clamp down on cigarette smuggling

This content was published on Jun 22, 2001 A spokesman for the EU’s budget commissioner, Luc Véron, summed up Brussels’ concerns in an interview with swissinfo. “The Cuomo case is a sign that not everything is fine in terms of cooperation between the EU and Switzerland,” said Véron. “When Cuomo’s extradition does take place, he can only be prosecuted in Italy for some…

Culture

A summer celebration in Lausanne

This content was published on Jun 22, 2001 The festival kicks off at midnight on June 29 with a firework display lighting up the cathedral – the city’s most impressive landmark. Over the following two days, thousands of local residents and visitors will be taking part in the events created for the occasion in the streets around the cathedral. In keeping with the…

Demographics

Hostage drama ends peacefully

This content was published on Jun 22, 2001 The man then shot himself in the head and was rushed to hospital, although Police said he was not seriously injured. Police chased the unidentified gunman across northern Switzerland on Friday after he shot and wounded a 31-year-old Turkish man at a factory in canton Solothurn. Police said the gunman had opened negotiations with them…

Demographics

Abacha son wins legal victory in Switzerland

This content was published on Jun 22, 2001 On Friday, the Federal Court upheld a complaint by Sani Abacha junior and a second Nigerian against a Geneva magistrate. The two men had challenged the magistrate’s decision to pass on information to Nigeria before a ruling by the federal authorities on legal assistance to the central African country. Nigeria is trying to recover $4…

Culture

A world of sound comes to Basel

This content was published on Jun 22, 2001 Lebanon’s best-known singer, Fairuz, kicked off the event on Wednesday, with her first ever appearance in Switzerland. “Fairuz is not only one of the most popular singers in Lebanon, she is just appreciated in the rest of the Arab world”, says Mahmoud Turkmani, a Lebanese musician at the festival. Fairuz – along with the Rahbani…

Demographics

Swiss seek worldwide ban on the death penalty

This content was published on Jun 22, 2001 A Swiss foreign ministry delegation joined 18 heads of state from Europe, Asia, South America and Africa, plus innocent people who were once condemned to death, at the congress which has been organised by the campaign group “Together Against the Death Penalty”. According to the human rights organisation, Amnesty International, at least 1,457 prisoners were…

History

Swiss Robin Hood shows path to true happiness

This content was published on Jun 22, 2001 Joseph-Samuel Farinet spent many of his 35 years on the run, wanted by the authorities for producing counterfeit coins, which he distributed among the poor. A traditional ballad says that Farinet’s money was worth more than that made by the state, because he gave it away. In 1880, he was found dead at the bottom…

Culture

Swiss appointed to helm of French drama conservatory

This content was published on Jun 21, 2001 The French culture minister, Catherine Tasca, said Stratz would take up his position on September 1 and lead the conservatory for the next three years. Stratz is filling the shoes of the French comedian, Marcel Bozonnet, who left the conservatory after two years as director to head up the Comédie-Francaise. The Zurich-born Stratz studied psychology…

Demographics

Federer flies, Kratochvil crumbles

This content was published on Jun 21, 2001 The Basel teenager is being widely tipped to do well at Wimbledon and on Thursday showed his potential once more with a devastating performance against local favourite Van Lottum. The Dutch world number 193 managed to take just a single game off Federer, as the Swiss star triumphed 6-0, 6-1. In the tournament’s quarter-finals, Federer…

Demographics

Parliament paves way for Swiss to join world court

This content was published on Jun 21, 2001 The court will be expected to intervene in cases where individual countries do not have the means or are not willing to pursue such criminals and punish them. The issue of the world court has caused controversy in Switzerland with some parliamentarians questioning whether handing over a Swiss national to an international court would contravene…

Swiss Identity

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Swiss under EU pressure to clamp down on cigarette smuggling

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A summer celebration in Lausanne

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Hostage drama ends peacefully

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Abacha son wins legal victory in Switzerland

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A world of sound comes to Basel

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Swiss seek worldwide ban on the death penalty

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Swiss Robin Hood shows path to true happiness

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Swiss appointed to helm of French drama conservatory

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Federer flies, Kratochvil crumbles

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Parliament paves way for Swiss to join world court

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