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Driver error suspected in train crash

This content was published on Jul 30, 2013 Jean-Christophe Sauterel, spokesperson for Vaud cantonal police, said “the current hypothesis is that the train coming from Payerne ignored a signal.” Further fatalities have not been ruled out as work continues on separating the two trains. The initial investigation has found that the 54-year-old conductor of the train from Payerne saw the oncoming train, activated the emergency brake and evacuated his…

Bringing back salmon along the Rhine

This content was published on Jul 30, 2013 The river has now been cleaned up and spawning grounds have been created for salmon. Most Rhine bordering countries, apart from France, have built fish passes around all their power plants to help migrating fish to swim upstream. The French are now coming under heavy pressure to comply.

“Flying is becoming safer and safer”

This content was published on Jul 30, 2013 Investigations are on ongoing into whether the accident on July 6 involving the Asiana airlines Boeing 777, which resulted in three deaths, was caused by pilot error on landing or by an instrument failure. But the incident has, once again, reignited the debate into aviation safety. swissinfo.ch spoke to Marc Baumgartner, from the International Federation…

Eyes to the skies

This content was published on Jul 30, 2013 Air traffic controllers now have the benefit of high-performance radars. But, just as they did 30years ago, they still put their trust in their most important instruments – their eyes. (Pictures: Reuters, Keystone, RDB and Ex-press)

Vote shows fear of epidemics and central power

This content was published on Jul 29, 2013 When a comfortable majority in both chambers of parliament approved the reform last year, a mixed group of opponents, led by a holistic therapist Daniel Trappitsch, was waiting to mount a new challenge. He and his conservative allies easily collected the necessary signatures to force a nationwide vote. Handing the cardboard boxes with the list…

Banks start controversial US data handover

This content was published on Jul 26, 2013 Credit Suisse and Zurich Cantonal Bank have admitted to being the first Swiss banks to get government approval to transfer the so-called “leaver lists” to the US under the terms of a recently brokered deal. Earlier this month, the Swiss government decided to grant banks special permission to release the names of their employees and…

Full moon could affect your sleep

This content was published on Jul 26, 2013 The scientists led by Christian Cajochen of the university’s psychiatric hospital looked back at the results of a study carried out a decade ago, focusing on the influence of the so-called circadian clock on people’s sleep patterns. The subjects were isolated at the time for three-and-a-half days in a chronobiology laboratory, where there are no…

Settlement confirmed for UBS

This content was published on Jul 26, 2013 The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which oversees the two companies known as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, announced the settlement Thursday. The agency had sued UBS and 17 other major banks over their sales to Fannie and Freddie of about $196 billion in mortgage securities that soured when the housing market collapsed in 2007.…

Swiss banks pay out millions to Austria, Britain

This content was published on Jul 25, 2013 The Finance Ministry said on Thursday that Britain had received CHF372 million (as opposed to the CHF500 million anticipated when the deal was signed) and Austria, CHF515 million. “Switzerland thereby fulfilled an obligation which is set out in the bilateral withholding tax agreements with the two countries,” a ministry statement said. More clients had opted to…

CEO of telecom operator found dead

This content was published on Jul 24, 2013 An inquest will determine the circumstances of his death, but police are currently treating the death as suicide. Further details were not given out of respect for the family. He was separated from his wife, with whom he had three children. Schloter, a German national, joined Swisscom in 2000 as the head of the firm’s…

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