Swiss Identity

Long road to glory

This content was published on Jun 15, 2001 Day One: Rust-Rust. Individual time trial (7.9 km) For the first time ever the Tour de Suisse gets underway on foreign soil, as the riders compete in a time trial around the Europapark fairground in Rust, Germany. “Europapark is one of the biggest amusement parks close to the Swiss border,” explains Tour director Marc Biver,…

Cleaning up

This content was published on Jun 15, 2001 “The raid in Italy had no effect at all on our own preparations,” Tour de Suisse organiser told swissinfo. “We didn’t get any negative comments from either our partners or our sponsors. The only negative effect was that Italy’s Dario Frigo was one of the riders due to take part this week and now he’s…

Piccard touches down after Latin American tour

This content was published on Jun 15, 2001 Piccard visited seven countries as an ambassador for “Presence Switzerland”, which is charged with promoting the country abroad. The government’s aim is to persuade people that Switzerland is a modern and innovative nation. Johannes Matyassy, the head of Presence Switzerland, told swissinfo that Piccard’s role was to show that his country is a home for…

Demographics

Dog owner sentenced after woman dies in attack

This content was published on Jun 14, 2001 The dog owner was not prosecuted for negligible homicide, however the victim’s lawyer is claiming SFr70,000 in compensation, a claim that has been transferred to a civil tribunal. Last November, the 41-year-old woman and her dog were walking along the Limmat River when the Dobermann, which was not on a leash, chased another pedestrian. In…

Demographics

Federer makes mark on grass

This content was published on Jun 14, 2001 Federer beat his German opponent and defending champion, David Prinosil, in straight sets. Both sets were hard won by Federer, the first going to a tie break after 13 games, ending 10-8. The Swiss, who is seeded sixth for the tournament, took the second set 7-5. Federer is next up against the Australian, Patrick Rafter,…

Ogi announces plans to hold major UN sports summit in Geneva

This content was published on Jun 14, 2001 Announcing plans for the meeting, which will be held in Geneva, the former Swiss president said he hoped to bring together senior UN figures and the heads of the world’s sports federations. Referring to a recent UN report, Ogi stated that the two most common requests of the agency were for food and sports equipment.…

Demographics

Swiss NGOs present ideas to tackle Aids epidemic

This content was published on Jun 14, 2001 Mark Bächer, press officer for the Swiss Aids Federation, said the effective cooperation between the Swiss government and NGOs could serve as a role model for other countries. “We will bring this example to the UN assembly and encourage NGOs to collaborate with local government,” he said. Nearly 22 million people have died of Aids…

Demographics

New treaty promises better protection for adopted children

This content was published on Jun 14, 2001 The House of Representatives on Thursday followed the Senate’s lead, paving the way for Switzerland to ratify the treaty. It is aimed at combating abuse of adopted children and promoting cooperation between the child’s country of origin and the country where its adoptive parents live. Under a compromise agreed in the Swiss parliament, intermediaries who…

Demographics

Switzerland joins UN efforts to fight financing of terrorism

This content was published on Jun 14, 2001 The treaty was signed by the Swiss ambassador to the UN, Jenö Staehlin, in New York. It provides for greater international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and also aims to prevent terrorists from getting access to funding for their activities. The Swiss penal code will be revised to accommodate the convention. The government said…

Demographics

Researchers find way to improve BSE testing

This content was published on Jun 14, 2001 Mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and a related disease in humans, variant-Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (vCJD), are caused by prions. Prions are abnormally shaped proteins which prompt brain proteins to assume their shape. The prions form sponge-like holes in the brain, eventually killing the animal or the person infected. Scientists at the Serono Pharmaceutical…

Swiss Identity

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Sign in and personalize Swissinfo

Swiss Identity

More

Long road to glory

More

Cleaning up

More

Piccard touches down after Latin American tour

More

Dog owner sentenced after woman dies in attack

More

Federer makes mark on grass

More

Ogi announces plans to hold major UN sports summit in Geneva

More

Swiss NGOs present ideas to tackle Aids epidemic

More

New treaty promises better protection for adopted children

More

Switzerland joins UN efforts to fight financing of terrorism

More

Researchers find way to improve BSE testing

Popular Stories

Most Discussed