Swiss Identity

ICRC forced to close field offices in Myanmar

This content was published on Nov 27, 2006 The Geneva-based organisation said on Monday the decision made it impossible to carry out assistance and protection work for civilians, especially in border areas. According to the ICRC, Myanmar’s regime demanded it close its field offices in Mandalay, Mawlamyine, Hpa-an, Taunggyi and Kyaing Tong. The organisation’s visits to detainees, halted in December 2005, will not…

Culture

Swiss Guard

This content was published on Nov 25, 2006

Swiss Papal Guard preserves its tradition

This content was published on Nov 25, 2006 The one-day event in the Italian capital marked the end of celebrations for the 500th anniversary of what is popularly known as the oldest army in the world. “The Swiss Papal Guard is one of the rare institutions in Europe that has remained intact over the centuries,” commented Gerhard Schuwey, former director of the Swiss…

Demographics

Violence against women is close to home

This content was published on Nov 25, 2006 A number of events are being held across the country to help raise awareness of the issue, including distributing more information on advice centres and women’s refuges. “The annual campaign is organised on a local level,” Monique Aeschbacher of the Federal Equality Office told swissinfo. She singled out a poster campaign by women’s shelters and…

Demographics

Calmy-Rey defends African aid policy

This content was published on Nov 24, 2006 She said there was no “miracle remedy” for the continent but stressed that despite its huge problems, Africa had made progress. Calmy-Rey, from the centre-left Social Democrats, noted that Africa had doubled agricultural production over the past 30 years, more children were going to school and access to drinking water had improved. Her comments are…

History

Expert says no need for Swiss to fear Muslims

This content was published on Nov 24, 2006 The veteran journalist dismissed recent “relatively harmless” attempts by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party to ban minarets in Zurich, but warned against stereotyping Muslims as aggressors. Hottinger believes the recent assassination of Lebanese industry minister Pierre Gemayel was perpetrated by disaffected former secret service agents rather than by Syria. And he doubts there will be…

Education

Experts to boost special training scheme

This content was published on Nov 24, 2006 The scheme, Speranza 2000, is to hire experts on a regional level to promote the creation of short training opportunities in different sectors. The aim is to set up about 3,000 short apprenticeship positions over the next two years, the organisers announced on Friday. Since its launch earlier this year Speranza 2000 has created about…

Culture

Photo journalist

This content was published on Nov 24, 2006

Going cuckoo about real Swiss cuckoo clocks

This content was published on Nov 24, 2006 What could come as a surprise however is learning that Switzerland is not in fact the home of the cuckoo clock and that many of the cheap quartz clocks on sale are made in China, South Korea and Japan. The Black Forest region of southern Germany is where cuckoo clocks – mostly depicting a hunting…

Demographics

Switzerland optimistic about Nepal peace deal

This content was published on Nov 24, 2006 The agreement, which puts a formal end to the ten-year rebel insurgency in Nepal, is the fruit of a six-month peace process, which received support from Switzerland. “Switzerland assisted both conflicting parties in framing the peace agreement,” Jörg Frieden, the country director of the Swiss Development Agency (SDC) in Nepal, told swissinfo. “The work of…

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ICRC forced to close field offices in Myanmar

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Swiss Papal Guard preserves its tradition

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Violence against women is close to home

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Calmy-Rey defends African aid policy

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Expert says no need for Swiss to fear Muslims

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Experts to boost special training scheme

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Photo journalist

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Going cuckoo about real Swiss cuckoo clocks

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Switzerland optimistic about Nepal peace deal

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