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Unions call for salary increase

This content was published on Aug 13, 2003 The federation also criticised the economics minister, Joseph Deiss, for not doing enough to stimulate economic growth. Union leaders said salaries had to increase by a minimum of two per cent if consumer spending and investment were to increase. “Next year will see a drop in employees’ disposable cash, while health insurance and pension fund…

Pontresina becomes village of the dammed

This content was published on Aug 13, 2003 Since the 19th century, they have erected dry stonewalls and an elaborate network of fences to protect their homes and their lives. Anchored to the slopes above the village are 16 kilometres of steel fences costing at least SFr1,500 ($1,102) per metre. On August 13, when the community officially takes possession of an SFr7 million…

Swiss trains buckle under the heat

This content was published on Aug 13, 2003 The Swiss Federal Railways also said it hoped to improve working conditions in future heatwaves by installing air conditioning in drivers’ cabins on its new trains. The Federal Railways says that around 350 rail repairs are being made each week, compared to the usual average of 250. Certain models of train have handled the heat…

Activists fear WTO investment accord

This content was published on Aug 13, 2003 Swiss NGOs have demanded that the accord be discussed in the United Nations and not the World Trade Organization. Trade ministers from all 146 WTO member countries are due to gather in Cancun, Mexico, on September 10 for a four-day summit. The meeting is a crucial staging post in talks to create a global treaty…

UBS sails further into profit

This content was published on Aug 13, 2003 UBS said in a statement on Wednesday that positive market developments had boosted revenues and profitability in all its businesses. It reported second-quarter income of SFr1.639 billion, up by 29 per cent over the first. It added that the second quarter saw “near perfect” fixed income trading conditions and a relatively rapid rise in equity…

Heat becomes a burning issue for the Swiss

This content was published on Aug 13, 2003 The move comes after temperatures in Locarno, canton Ticino, reached a record-breaking high of 37.9°C on Monday. The normal speed limit on Swiss motorways is 120kmh. The authorities said the speed limit would remain in place for a maximum of eight days and urged residents to leave their cars at home and either use public…

Swiss “gratified” at speed of job cuts

This content was published on Aug 12, 2003 The carrier has also denied widely publicised claims that it is considering the possibility of bankruptcy protection. Swiss is in the middle of a restructuring plan that includes the sacking of a third of its 9,000-strong workforce as well as a drastic reduction in its fleet. “The implementation of the measures which Swiss announced on…

Couples face fight for fertility treatments

This content was published on Aug 12, 2003 The current system means doctors are restricted as to what treatments they can offer patients who have difficulty conceiving naturally. The study by the Swiss National Science Foundation analysed how policy has been shaped in a number of countries over the past two decades. Eleven countries in total were considered, including France, Spain, Italy, Belgium,…

Swiss software helps clear landmines

This content was published on Aug 11, 2003 The product, developed by scientists at the Federal Institute of Technology, helps demining experts use their resources to maximum benefit. It also leads to the rapid printing of maps, which inform civilians which areas they should avoid. The Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) is approved by the United Nations and has been adopted…

Venture-backed start-ups in Switzerland ripe for the picking

This content was published on Aug 11, 2003 According to Peter Ohnemus of The eFirm, a Zug-based consultancy that works with emerging high tech firms and investors, the value of these firms has gone “straight through the bottom”. Typical of the trend is the recent sale of key assets of the start-up company, Fastcom Technology, a venture-backed spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute…

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Unions call for salary increase

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Pontresina becomes village of the dammed

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Swiss trains buckle under the heat

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Activists fear WTO investment accord

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UBS sails further into profit

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Heat becomes a burning issue for the Swiss

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Swiss “gratified” at speed of job cuts

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Couples face fight for fertility treatments

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Swiss software helps clear landmines

More

Venture-backed start-ups in Switzerland ripe for the picking

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