Cluster: Archive

Government comes under fire from anti-GM groups

This content was published on Sep 18, 2003 The group collected over 121,000 signatures supporting a five-year moratorium on GM crops, after parliament threw out the proposal in June. By law, if a citizen can collect over 100,000 signatures within 18 months of a parliamentary decision, they can force a nationwide vote on the issue. It took the “Stop GMO” (genetically modified organisms)…

News addicts get world newspaper fix at Swiss kiosks

This content was published on Sep 18, 2003 But now visitors to Zurich and the environs can pick up a copy of the latest edition of the “Atlantic Constitution” or the “Swedish Aftonbladet” at their local kiosk. The increased newspaper selection is thanks to a so-called Print-on-Demand system that uses satellite distribution and local printing to publish papers in A3 format for consumers.…

Bankers attack EU and OECD over tax

This content was published on Sep 18, 2003 They also criticised efforts by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to censure Switzerland for having “harmful tax practices”. The Swiss Bankers Association warned the government on Thursday against making banks comply with the withholding tax, if the EU misses its 2005 start date. “It is out of the question that Switzerland should…

Light at end of tunnel for subterranean station

This content was published on Sep 18, 2003 On Thursday, the authorities in canton Graubünden – where the station would be located – submitted a formal request for funding to the government. The “Porta Alpina” would be in the new trans-alpine Gotthard Base Tunnel linking Zurich and Milan, and provide a gateway to the Alps. The project was submitted by two entrepreneurs, and…

Unemployment set to rise in Switzerland

This content was published on Sep 17, 2003 Worst affected will be women, single parents, the disabled, and first-time job seekers. The OECD predicts an increase in the jobless rate over the whole year of 0.8 per cent, from 2.3 per cent to 3.1 per cent. The report says an improvement in the job market is unlikely before 2004. Werner Aeberhardt, head of…

Switzerland’s first nuclear plant decommissioned

This content was published on Sep 17, 2003 Over the next fortnight, some 300 tons of material will be transported 160 kilometres to a temporary site in the north of the country. “It’s the end of a historic chapter relating to the 1950s and 1960s, when nuclear stations were pioneered in our country,” the Swiss Association for Atomic Energy said in a statement…

Villiger looks back over a long career

This content was published on Sep 17, 2003 He had been expected to resign last year, but stayed on and saw through the conclusion of an important agreement with the European Union on the taxation of savings. Villiger told swissinfo he was satisfied with his achievements during his term in office, first as defence minister and later as finance minister. swissinfo: Do you…

Cows for hire – farmer milks global interest

This content was published on Sep 16, 2003 He put his cows up for hire on the Internet and was overwhelmed by requests from as far away as Japan, South Africa and the United States. Farmer Paul Wyler has been leasing cows to local restaurants for the past 20 years, but decided this year to advertise the scheme on the Internet. “Never in…

Rightwing attacks soaring invalidity claims

This content was published on Sep 15, 2003 The figures are providing ammunition for a campaign launched by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party against bogus claimants. According to statistics released by the Federal Social Insurance Office (SIO) on Monday, 465,000 people received invalidity benefit last year – 145,000 more than in 1992. During the same period, the SIO calculated that the probability of…

Swiss demand clear goals for Information Summit

This content was published on Sep 15, 2003 The Swiss communications minister, Moritz Leuenberger, said on Monday there were still too many differences between countries. At the opening of the third preparatory meeting for the summit in Geneva, Leuenberger set out his recommendations before more than 1,900 representatives from 143 nations, the private sector and non-governmental organisations. “We need more concrete proposals; however,…

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Government comes under fire from anti-GM groups

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News addicts get world newspaper fix at Swiss kiosks

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Bankers attack EU and OECD over tax

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Light at end of tunnel for subterranean station

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Unemployment set to rise in Switzerland

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Switzerland’s first nuclear plant decommissioned

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Villiger looks back over a long career

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Cows for hire – farmer milks global interest

More

Rightwing attacks soaring invalidity claims

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Swiss demand clear goals for Information Summit

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