Indian-made Pilatus and Swiss-trained Sherpas

Here are the stories we’re following the week of February 8:

This content was published on February 7, 2016 - 12:00

2 minutes

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Flying high in India

On Tuesday we take a look at how Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus is benefiting from Indian know-how. Anand Chandrasekhar visited Hyderabad where the wings and fuselage of the Pilatus PC-12 aircraft are being assembled and discovered how private Indian firms are helping the Swiss manufacture high-end products for the global market.

The limits of tolerance

Should religion be kept away from schools and classrooms? Two Lucerne schools recently set up prayer rooms for students on their premises. School officials defend what they view as a practical and tolerant solution, but the move has caused some controversy. On Wednesday Gaby Ochsenbein looks at how Swiss schools are coping with the mix of different cultures and religions.

Sherpas train on Swiss slopes

Thursday: last month a group of Nepalese guides, more experienced in taking clients up Mount Everest and other huge peaks, took special ski touring lessons in the Swiss Alps. They want to grab a piece of the fledgling ski tourism industry back home which is at present largely the domain of Western guides. John Heilprin caught up with them at Disentis in canton Graubünden to find out more.

What skiing used to be all about

Global warming and unpredictable weather has been playing havoc with the winter ski season and giving resort officials grey hairs. Our photo editors have dug up some historic postcards to remind us of what skiing used to be like in Switzerland.

What you may have missed:

In Europe, naturalised migrants are generally less likely to vote in national elections than natives. As the Swiss prepare to go to the polls on February 28, Zurich University student Blerta Salihi looks at how the cumbersome naturalisation process in Switzerland discourages naturalised migrants from taking part in Switzerland’s political life.

Opinion

Why not go to the polls – despite a Swiss passport?

This content was published on Feb 1, 2016 On average, every other person, who is eligible to vote, goes to the polls in Switzerland. Turnout is much higher in the rest of Europe with three out of four people with voting rights casting their ballots in our neighbouring countries. This is not true for naturalised citizens in these countries though. A study conducted…

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