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New Lötschberg rail tunnel opens to passengers

This content was published on Dec 9, 2007 The opening of the 34.6km tunnel and the introduction of a new timetable will reduce journey times considerably from many parts of the country to the southwest. Former cabinet minister Adolf Ogi, the driving force behind the New Railway Links through the Alps (NRLA) project that also includes the Gotthard base tunnel, was among the…

Swiss flip the switch to save the climate

This content was published on Dec 9, 2007 The action, which also took place in Germany and Austria, was intended to send a signal to leaders participating at the two-week international climate change conference in Bali. The organisers in Switzerland said they were satisfied with the action, which was followed by numerous households and companies in Swiss-German regions, particular in Bern, Zurich, Winterthur,…

Transport timetable awakens great expectations

This content was published on Dec 8, 2007 While travellers outside the country might shake their heads in disbelief at the impact of a timetable, there is a fascination for the Swiss as to what exactly is going to change in their lives. The opening of the new 34.6-kilometre Lötschberg base tunnel is unquestionably the highlight of this year’s schedule, which came into…

Artificial snow might not save resorts

This content was published on Dec 8, 2007 A study it presented on Friday points out that one in five ski slopes in the country needs artificial snow to remain open during the winter season. This number is set to increase as the presence of snow is considered a condition for the economic viability of a ski resort. In Austria, this figure rises…

Swiss economy “can weather credit crisis”

This content was published on Dec 7, 2007 But the Swiss Business Federation, economiesuisse, has repeated calls for economic reforms, in particular a reduction of tax on share dividends, to improve Switzerland’s competitiveness. Announcing its 2008 forecast in Zurich on Friday, economiesuisse said strong exports and consumer spending would drive economic growth to 2.7 per cent by the end of the year –…

Hotels report a sunny summer

This content was published on Dec 7, 2007 The 726,000 extra beds were filled largely by foreign guests, whose numbers rose by 5.6 per cent, according to the Federal Statistics Office. Swiss visitors made up only 114,000 of the overnight stays for that period, the office revealed on Friday. And the upturn showed no sign of slowing down in October: hotels reported 2.77…

More rubbish burnt, more power generated

This content was published on Dec 6, 2007 The increase was due in part to larger amounts of Swiss rubbish, on the rise because of a more robust economy, but also to over 400,000 tons of imported rubbish, mostly from Germany. The Federal Environment Office said these imports meant the country’s 29 incinerators were able to put available capacity to good use and…

Study confirms Switzerland as tax paradise

This content was published on Dec 6, 2007 The country was highly rated for its favourable rates and ease of paying taxes. The results come at a time of tension between Switzerland and the European Union over the Swiss corporate fiscal system. “Paying Taxes 2008 – the global picture”, a study by the World Bank and professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), rated countries…

Swiss unemployment stable at five-year low

This content was published on Dec 6, 2007 The unemployment rate stood at 2.6 per cent when adjusted for seasonal factors, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) revealed on Thursday. The rate was unchanged from October, when it reached a level previously seen in August 2002. The unadjusted rate stood at 2.7 per cent, up from 2.6 per cent in October. The…

Swiss scientists join in climate alarm call

This content was published on Dec 6, 2007 They called on participants in the United Nations Climate Conference in Indonesia to reduce levels by at least 50 per cent from their 1990 levels, by the year 2050. Among the signatories are ten researchers from Switzerland, including eight who helped compile this year’s report by the Intergovernmental Climate Change Panel. The researchers are urging…

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