Swiss Identity

Zurich pins Olympic hopes on youngsters

This content was published on Mar 29, 2005 Talent Eye gives exceptionally gifted six-to-seven-year olds the chance to develop skills across a broad range of sports. For a period of 18 months, 60 participants will attend training sessions twice a week. The idea is to introduce one sport a month, exposing children to everything from badminton, swimming and tennis to handball and football.…

Demographics

Tsunami death toll rises

This content was published on Mar 28, 2005 Victim identification teams in the region say progress is being hampered by the different methods being used to build DNA profiles of the dead. Hansjörg Ritter, who is leading a team of Swiss experts in the region, told Le Matin Dimanche newspaper that 58 victims had been identified in Thailand and two in Sri Lanka.…

Asylum centres close as applications fall

This content was published on Mar 28, 2005 Justice Minister Christoph Blocher says he expects new asylum applications to fall even further in 2005, down from 14,000 last year to 10,000. According to the Federal Migration Office, the number of people requesting asylum dropped by almost a third in 2004, reaching its lowest level for 17 years. The implementation of tougher policies against…

Demographics

Charity orders inquiry into disaster aid

This content was published on Mar 28, 2005 It follows the revelation that one commune in canton Valais wrongly received SFr860,000 ($715,000). Swiss Solidarity, the fundraising arm of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, raised more than SFr74 million after heavy rains triggered floods and mudslides in October 2000. Towns and villages in cantons Valais, Ticino and the Italian region of Val d’Aosta were devastated.…

History

Heading east in search of enlightenment

This content was published on Mar 28, 2005 Today the temple town is the home of Kurt Kübli, a Swiss monk who left his homeland three decades ago in search of spiritual enlightenment. Koyasan was founded 1,200 years ago and is the headquarters of the Shingon Buddhist order. Hundreds of monks live and work in the town, the streets of which are lined…

Demographics

Ambassadors face the chop over visa scandals

This content was published on Mar 27, 2005 The authorities are examining at least four cases where Swiss visas are reported to have been exchanged for bribes. In an interview with the SonntagsZeitung, Martin Dahinden, a senior official at the Swiss foreign ministry, said ambassadors would be called to account if it was found that they had failed to ensure adequate checks and…

Demographics

Swiss keep World Cup dream alive

This content was published on Mar 27, 2005 The French tried almost everything for 90 minutes but failed to unlock a compact Swiss defence. Switzerland now lie fourth in Group Four, three points behind joint leaders Ireland, France and Israel, but with a game in hand. The Swiss play Cyprus in Zurich on Wednesday. Manager Köbi Kuhn said he was delighted with the…

Demographics

Swiss appeal for stability in Kyrgyzstan

This content was published on Mar 26, 2005 The foreign ministry said it had no plans to repatriate Swiss nationals, but added that it was monitoring the situation closely. A second night of unrest in the capital Bishkek saw at least three people killed. But correspondents said there was no repeat of the widespread looting on Thursday night after the opposition seized power.…

Demographics

SDC deplores humanitarian crisis in East Africa

This content was published on Mar 24, 2005 Hansjürg Ambühl, head of the SDC’s Africa humanitarian aid division, has just returned from a trip to the region to assess its needs and decide how Switzerland can help. Ambühl spent a week in the provinces of Kitgum and Gulu in northern Uganda, before travelling on to Bunia in the Ituri district of the Democratic…

Demographics

Lugano synagogue attack was not anti-Jewish

This content was published on Mar 24, 2005 Police say the Italian arrested on March 20 and who set fire to the house of worship as well as a Jewish-owned fabric shop, was mentally disturbed. The man quickly confessed to the attacks shortly after being taken into custody. But the prosecutor investigating the case had some doubts about his confession, and ordered extra…

Swiss Identity

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Sign in and personalize Swissinfo

Swiss Identity

More

Zurich pins Olympic hopes on youngsters

More

Tsunami death toll rises

More

Asylum centres close as applications fall

More

Charity orders inquiry into disaster aid

More

Heading east in search of enlightenment

More

Ambassadors face the chop over visa scandals

More

Swiss keep World Cup dream alive

More

Swiss appeal for stability in Kyrgyzstan

More

SDC deplores humanitarian crisis in East Africa

More

Lugano synagogue attack was not anti-Jewish

Popular Stories

Most Discussed