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Limits put on visitors to “Top of Europe”

This content was published on May 29, 2009 The Jungfrau Railways said the passenger limit, effective immediately, was aimed at “improving quality”. There have been no limits in the past. On sunny days, many passengers have been unable to find a seat for the 50-minute journey that takes them from around 2,000 metres above sea level to the Jungfraujoch at 3,454m. On a…

Climate data offer clues to Dust Bowl drought

This content was published on May 29, 2009 The Midwest region of the US was devastated by drought and dust storms for nearly ten years, leaving around 400,000 square kilometres of farmland useless and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to leave their homes. For the first time, a team from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich have put together a three-dimensional…

British official makes plea for free trade

This content was published on May 28, 2009 Susan Haird, who is deputy chief executive of the government organisation UK Trade and Investment, said in Bern on Thursday that it was important for trade and investment to continue during “these challenging economic times”. “Otherwise the recession will get worse rather than better,” she said. “I’m here to emphasise the importance of trade links…

Georg Fischer cuts 2,300 jobs

This content was published on May 28, 2009 “In the wave of an unprecedented market slump,” the Schaffhausen-based company said on Thursday the cuts would amount to 16 per cent of its workforce. A quarter of the job losses will come from positions in Switzerland. The company said it “regrets” the cuts and the effects it will have on the people concerned. In…

Rail freight to get financial boost

This content was published on May 28, 2009 The Federal Transport Office said on Thursday that the aim is to ensure that transport of goods by rail remains competitive in the face of price dumping practised by some road freight operators. “The economic crisis has led to a sharp drop in the amount of goods being transported over the Alps,” the transport office…

Georg Fischer to slash 2,300 jobs

This content was published on May 28, 2009 The cuts amount to 16 per cent of the workforce. A quarter of job losses will affect positions in Switzerland, the Schaffhausen-based company announced on Thursday. The move comes after Georg Fischer reported a SFr46 million ($42.1 million) lost in operating revenue for the first months of 2009. Sales had slid 38 per cent against…

Decision on salary cap and bonuses put off

This content was published on May 27, 2009 The bank, which has benefited from a bail-out package by the government, made a loss of SFr21 billion ($19.4 billion) last year. Senators on Wednesday agreed to examine the proposals in detail, before resuming debate on the issue at a later stage. Supporters of salary restrictions, mainly from the centre-left, argued it was time to…

IMF urges Swiss to step up recession fight

This content was published on May 27, 2009 According to a yearly report the IMF released on Tuesday, researchers project that Switzerland’s economy will shrink three per cent on downturns in exports and troubles in the country’s financial sector. “Given Switzerland’s openness and the size of its financial sector, the economy is projected to experience a significant contraction in the near-term with sizable…

Labour figures show weakening job market

This content was published on May 26, 2009 Figures for the first quarter of 2009 show the number of employed people and the number of jobs increased by 0.6 and 0.8 per cent, respectively. But the rate of growth is slower than in the same period last year and employment figures are the weakest in four years. Manufacturing and other second-sector industries suffered…

Swiss and Saudis ink double-taxation accord

This content was published on May 26, 2009 During a state visit to the Middle East, Hans-Rudolf Merz, the Swiss finance minister, said the countries had also moved closer to concluding a free trade agreement and bilateral air-traffic accords. Earlier on Sunday the finance ministry confirmed reports that Switzerland was ready to sign two tax accords that met standards set by the Organisation…

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Limits put on visitors to “Top of Europe”

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Climate data offer clues to Dust Bowl drought

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British official makes plea for free trade

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Georg Fischer cuts 2,300 jobs

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Rail freight to get financial boost

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Georg Fischer to slash 2,300 jobs

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Decision on salary cap and bonuses put off

More

IMF urges Swiss to step up recession fight

More

Labour figures show weakening job market

More

Swiss and Saudis ink double-taxation accord

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