Swiss Identity

ICRC staff kidnapped in Afghanistan

This content was published on Sep 27, 2007 Local police said Taliban militants had abducted two international and two Afghan ICRC employees on Wednesday and a search had been launched for the missing group. The ICRC confirmed on Thursday that four of its staff members, including two expatriates, had been kidnapped by the “armed opposition” in Afghanistan. Earlier, a spokesman for Taliban insurgents…

Demographics

Straw house

This content was published on Sep 26, 2007

Hundreds attend funeral of abducted girl

This content was published on Sep 26, 2007 Among the people paying their respects at the Protestant church in Appenzell were many parents with young children and entire school classes. There was also a strong media presence, although no recording was permitted within the church grounds. So many people turned up that the service was broadcast from the church, which can only seat…

Culture

Zurich film festival shoots for the stars

This content was published on Sep 26, 2007 Organisers want to expand further to develop a European version of the famous American Sundance festival for independent filmmakers and carve new inroads into the German-speaking market. The Zurich film festival premiered to sceptical reviews in 2005 with many movie buffs predicting it would sink under the weight of the established Locarno event before it…

Culture

English makes inroads at Swiss universities

This content was published on Sep 26, 2007 Experts say the country has long welcomed foreign scholars and sent its own students abroad. But the rise of English reflects Swiss universities’ more global outlook, as well as the effects of the Bologna reforms. Switzerland’s neighbours, and Germany in particular, still provide the bulk of non-Swiss students and staff. However, the intake from other…

Culture

English teaching divides Swiss parliament

This content was published on Sep 25, 2007 The country’s cantons traditionally have far-reaching autonomy over language and education, which has led to some choosing English over one of Switzerland’s national languages. The Senate on Tuesday decided against a clause in a new language law forcing schools to teach a second national language – German, French, Italian, Romansh – before English. This goes…

Demographics

Data security helped Alinghi retain America’s Cup

This content was published on Sep 24, 2007 Alinghi employed Swiss electronic security firm Wisekey to stop vital data getting into the wrong hands as the team prepared for the America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain. “The America’s Cup is a design contest and a technology race. That’s the way the Cup’s always been and we’re going to keep it that way,” Alinghi skipper…

Demographics

Swiss artist loses US court case over exhibit

This content was published on Sep 24, 2007 The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art fell out with Büchel after his project allegedly went over budget and behind schedule, leading to a dispute over who held the right to control the artist’s work. The federal judge decided that displaying the work, Training Ground for Democracy, would not violate the Visual Artists Rights Act of…

Culture

Putting old skills and tools to work again

This content was published on Sep 24, 2007 Simon Meyer has set up a database in the heart of rural Switzerland to link craftsmen, researchers and producers. He believes old skills have an important role to play in our automated and virtual age. Meyer’s goal at Werkzeitraum, the Swiss Centre of Competency for Historical Craftsmanship, is to revive traditional techniques before they disappear…

Demographics

European torture watchdog inspects Swiss jails

This content was published on Sep 24, 2007 Members of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) plan to visit a number of undisclosed secure units to see whether detainees are being ill-treated. Folco Galli, spokesman for the Federal Justice Office, told swissinfo that the five-strong inspection team had submitted a preliminary list of institutions it wants to visit. This includes…

Swiss Identity

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Swiss Identity

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ICRC staff kidnapped in Afghanistan

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Straw house

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Hundreds attend funeral of abducted girl

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Zurich film festival shoots for the stars

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English makes inroads at Swiss universities

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English teaching divides Swiss parliament

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Data security helped Alinghi retain America’s Cup

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Swiss artist loses US court case over exhibit

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Putting old skills and tools to work again

More

European torture watchdog inspects Swiss jails

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