22 October 2013: THE COMING OF MARTIAL LAW; THE ANNUAL HERBSTMESSE BECKONS; BASEL’S 1st FORMULA 1 CHAMPION

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ARE THE COUNTRY’S ROADS COMING UNDER MARTIAL LAW?

In a bid to stem the spiralling incidents of criminal tourists, police in Basel-Land have taken the controversial step of drafting in help from the Swiss army.

The first battalion of the country’s military police has come to the region and are getting up to speed on a three-week refresher course. Among other duties during this period, the soldiers will be undertaking traffic control exercises on the canton’s roads.

Despite a number of the canton’s politicians seeking to make capital by criticising the constitutional right to deploy the army to undertake civilian duties, a survey by one local newspaper claims that the initiative has the support of the large majority of locals. The survey of nearly 6000 people revealed that no less than 88 percent support military measures in the fight against foreign criminals who come into the country solely to burgle property and steal from residents.

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GEARING UP FOR THE ANNUAL HERBSTMESSE

Mark your calendars for noon the 26th of October – that’s this coming Saturday - for the kick-offof the 2013 Basel Herbstmesse. If the turnout is anything like last year, up to a million visitors are expected to take to the streets for Basel’s annual knees-up, which is also the largest and oldest amusement fair in Switzerland. In fact, this is the 543rd time that the city has celebrated the event.

In addition to old favourites, thrill seekers will find 7 new rides throughout the city's eight Herbstmesse locations. A total of over 500 kiosks, stallholders, fairground rides and cafes will be available for fun seekers of all ages. A unique treat awaits this year’s visitors, who will be the first to see the unveiling of a special series of exhibits celebrating the 1980s, filling Hall 3 in the Basel Messe, and that’s in addition to all of the attractions jockeying for position outside in the Messeplatz. All that’s now needed is for the weather to cooperate.

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BASEL GETS ITS FIRST FORMULA 1 CHAMPION

A pilot from Basel-Land has taken first place in the legendary Reno Air Race in the US state of Nevada. In order to win the 50th "National Championship Air Races" in the Formula One category, Vito Wyprächtiger had to negotiate a series of obstacles at speeds of up to 500 kilometres an hour.

The victory comes at the fourth attempt for the 32 year-old. Wyprächtiger, who comes from Anwil, between Liestal and Aarau, has been a pilot for the past 15 years. And the event takes nerves of steel, since up to eight hopefuls all start at the same time to make a total of eight circuits of 5 kilometres each – just metres from the ground.

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CRITICISM OVER OCEANARIUM PLANS

The Basel zoo has plans to complete an oceanarium by 2019 at a cost of eighty million francs. However, even before any ground has been broken, controversy is bedevilling the project. It seems the plans called for sharks to be captured in the wild and put in the oceanarium's display tanks as a centrepiece of the new fish hall. However, animal rights activists are outraged, claiming that it is no longer appropriate to catch animals in the wild just to display in zoos. In addition, the same activists are also keen to point out that the public's attitudes have changed and no longer see wild animals as entertainment. Zoo officials and marine biologists counter by saying that animal welfare is always paramount and that zoos present a safer environment for the animals in captivity. In an effort to work with environmental activists, the zoo has placed Thomas Jermann in charge of the oceanarium project. Previously, Mr Jermann served as President of the Swiss Federal Commission for the Protection of Species.

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BURGLAR GETS MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR

The authorities in Birsfelden have issued an asbestos warning after a burglar broke into the Gemeindehaus and torches open a safe that used the poisonous substance as a fire insulator.

The break-in took place last Thursday night. When the authorities discovered the incident the next day, they closed down operations in the community’s tax and finance department.

Yesterday, specialists took new readings that revealed that even after clean-up operations, the air still contained twice the normal density of asbestos particles small enough to be breathed in.

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