Swiss Identity

Pope faces criticism after five years in office

This content was published on Apr 18, 2010 Congregations are smaller, there are fewer priests and the Church is mired in a growing child abuse scandal. In an interview with swissinfo.ch, Lucerne University theology professor Edmund Arens says the Roman Catholic Church has lost much of its credibility during Benedict’s papacy. Arens is president of the Swiss branch of the European Society for…

Demographics

Swiss airspace remains closed until Sunday

This content was published on Apr 17, 2010 The Federal Civil Aviation Office said Swiss airspace would remain closed until Sunday 2pm for aircraft flying at an altitude below 6,000 metres. Thousands of air travellers were stranded as flights from and to Switzerland were cancelled for a second day and virtually all of Europe’s major airports remain closed. Swiss International Airlines announced its…

History

Muslim converts raise fears in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 17, 2010 Alard du Bois-Reymond was speaking about the Central Islamic Council (IZRS), founded by young converts in the western town of Biel. The group strongly denies his assertion. Du Bois-Reymond told the German-language newspaper NZZ am Sonntag that such converts include people who want a “radically different society” and pointed to examples in Britain and Germany…

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Crowded trains and air traffic blocked by ash

This content was published on Apr 17, 2010 Thousands of air travelers were stranded as flights were being cancelled for a second day. The Federal Civil Aviation Office has announced the Swiss airspace would remain closed until Sunday 2pm. A spokesman said the plume of volcanic ash had hardly moved all day Saturday and the weather conditions were set to remain unchanged for…

Culture

Volcano ash closes Swiss airspace

This content was published on Apr 17, 2010 The civil aviation office announced the ban on Friday afternoon. It began at midnight, when the ash was expected to arrive over Switzerland, and remains in force until at least 8pm on Saturday. The only planes still allowed to fly are those on search and rescue missions. The office said it was monitoring the situation…

Culture

Photographer Burkhard dies

This content was published on Apr 17, 2010 Burkhard, who worked mainly in black and white, was best known for his large format photographic series. Experts have described his work as that of a “hyperrealist dreamer” and said he was an admirer of the 19th century French painter Gustave Courbet. Burkhard died after a long illness, according to his relatives. He opened his…

Combating Aids in townships with World Cup bus

This content was published on Apr 17, 2010 The immune deficiency disease is hitting hard in the Eastern Cape province, as well as in the rest of the country. South Arica has 5.7 million people – or 12 per cent of the total population – infected with HIV/Aids according to official figures. The United Nations puts the figure considerably higher. Of the 1,006…

Demographics

Foreign ministry condemns Gaza executions

This content was published on Apr 16, 2010 A foreign ministry statement issued on Friday called on the Gazan authorities “to rescind any other death sentences immediately, and to refrain from further recourse to the death penalty”. The foreign ministry said all accused persons should be subject to investigation and trial that respects international standards. “The universal abolition of the death penalty is…

Demographics

Care workers sentenced over humiliations

This content was published on Apr 16, 2010 In addition, they were ordered to pay moral damages and compensation to their victims. Two of the women were found guilty of infringing the private sphere of the residents. In some cases the victims had been filmed naked on the women’s mobile phones. The other two were found guilty of aiding and abetting the main…

Demographics

Kidnapped Congo Red Cross workers released

This content was published on Apr 16, 2010 The eight, a Swiss citizen and seven Congolese, had been held by Mai Mai armed militia in South Kivu province since last Friday. “It was an unconditional release as we have wanted all along,” said an ICRC communications coordinator quoted by Reuters. “We are all very relieved that they are out without any harm.” The…

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Swiss Identity

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Pope faces criticism after five years in office

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Swiss airspace remains closed until Sunday

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Muslim converts raise fears in Switzerland

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Crowded trains and air traffic blocked by ash

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Volcano ash closes Swiss airspace

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Photographer Burkhard dies

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Combating Aids in townships with World Cup bus

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Foreign ministry condemns Gaza executions

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Care workers sentenced over humiliations

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Kidnapped Congo Red Cross workers released

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