Swiss Identity

A glimpse into Fehr’s interiors

This content was published on Dec 20, 2000 Many of Fehr’s work feature a mysterious woman called Ruth, who appears as a serene and meditative figure. Others depict sequences from an imaginary story – like “The Adventures of Arthur Gordon Pym”. The details of the paintings are often cloaked in semi-darkness – in one a family is depicted, another simply contains the shadows…

Demographics

Anti-Turkish protesters briefly occupy Swiss parliament

This content was published on Dec 20, 2000 About 100 people, mainly Kurds, battled with police in Zurich, after security forces tried to stop a demonstration in front of the Turkish consulate. The demonstrators threw stones at police, who responded by firing rubber bullets into the crowd. Officials said several people, including a policeman, were injured in the clashes in Zurich. There was…

Demographics

Snow cannons draw fire from environmentalists

This content was published on Dec 19, 2000 The battle over snow cannons is nowhere more fierce than in canton Valais, which is home to world famous ski resorts like Zermatt, Saas Fee, Verbier and Crans Montana. More than half of Switzerland’s snow canons are located here, and local interests are determined to keep it that way. “Skiing is an industry and this…

Demographics

Ukrainian opposition for Pfadi Winterthur

This content was published on Dec 19, 2000 Jae-Won Kang’s team are provisionally scheduled to play the first leg of the tie in Winterthur in late February. The Swiss side have also asked Yushni if they would like to play the second leg in Switzerland. This season is the Ukrainian team’s first ever in European competition. They reached the quarterfinals after beating Austria’s…

Demographics

Swiss reject Russian charge in corruption case

This content was published on Dec 19, 2000 The Federal Prosecutor, Valentin Roschacher, said on Tuesday that Russian investigators had been kept “constantly and thoroughly” informed and been given all the documents they had requested. His comments came as Switzerland announced it had terminated legal aid to Russia on all matters involving the case. The statement follows last week’s decision by Russian prosecutors…

Demographics

Nef triumphs in Sestrières

This content was published on Dec 19, 2000 After finishing her first run in second place, Nef used her second run to edge ahead of Sweden’s Anja Pärson, winning the race by less than three tenths of a second. The win was Nef’s second of the new season, and the sixth World Cup victory of her career. The 28-year-old Swiss skier has been…

Selling Swiss peaks from London office tower

This content was published on Dec 19, 2000 “Somebody actually called up once to ask how much a ‘Veggie burger’ at a McDonald’s in Switzerland cost, so we had to give him the information,” says representative Patricia Bassler. “He wouldn’t go to Switzerland if it was more expensive than here. Somebody went to Switzerland a couple of days later to find out for…

Demographics

Switzerland ends legal aid to Russia in corruption inquiry

This content was published on Dec 19, 2000 The move follows Russia’s decision to halt its investigation into the case – a move that Geneva prosecutor, Bernard Bertossa, last week described as politically motivated. Speaking in Bern on Tuesday, the federal prosecutor, Valetin Roschacher, said legal assistance to Russia would be stopped, and that all documentation provided by Switzerland must be returned. He…

History

Bernese Oberland drives out unwelcome spirits

This content was published on Dec 19, 2000 The characters are part of a pagan ritual – repeated on January 1 – called “Pelzmartiga” – and are meant to drive away evil spirits. Some of the figures wear fur (pelz = fur) and frightening masks, and wander through Kandersteg rattling chains and ringing bells. There are wild beasts, “rag men” and even a…

Culture

Russia’s saints come to Martigny

This content was published on Dec 19, 2000 The icons date from the 14th to the 20th century and all are images of saints from the Russian Orthodox church. Ekaterina Selezneva of the Tretiakov Gallery says “we thought it was time to take a look at spirituality, now that we are at the doorstep of the third millennium”. As well as celebrating the…

Swiss Identity

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