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First Galileo satellite takes off

This content was published on Dec 28, 2005 Switzerland developed the clocks for Galileo, which is to be Europe’s alternative to the global positioning system (GPS) run by the United States military. Galileo should be operational by 2010. The Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element (Giove-A) – Giove is also Italian for Jupiter – blasted off on top of a Soyuz-Fregat rocket from the Baikonur…

A year of merging markets

This content was published on Dec 27, 2005 Several important names such as Swiss, Unaxis and Saia-Burgess found themselves in foreign hands, although Swiss firms also got out their chequebooks. Around the world, an average of 2,255 business transactions – totalling some SFr242 billion ($185 billion) – were made every month in 2005, according to a recent study by financial analysts KPMG. For…

Pilots face contract ultimatum

This content was published on Dec 26, 2005 Swiss Pilots, the union representing former Crossair pilots, said on Sunday that the pilots would be forced to accept “significantly worse working conditions”. Swiss European came into operation on November 1 and is the regional carrier of Swiss International Air Lines (Swiss). Swiss said it would dismiss around 300 pilots from its European fleet if…

Helping children to cope with the tsunami

This content was published on Dec 25, 2005 The play centre, which was set up by Swiss non-governmental organisation Terre des hommes, is trying to help children come to terms with the tsunami. Last December’s tidal wave caused widespread destruction in the coastal town of Batticaloa and its environs. In all, 3,000 people died and a further 56,000 were left homeless. The area…

European police clamp down on drink-driving

This content was published on Dec 23, 2005 On December 12, Swiss police joined forces with about 20 European countries and launched the continent’s biggest ever drink-driving screening programme. Since AD (Alcohol/Drugs) 2005 was put into action, about 700,000 drivers around Europe have been stopped and tested for drink and drugs. The police force of Basel Country, which was responsible for organising stop-checks…

Carnival approaches…

This content was published on Dec 23, 2005 It kicked off on February 23, which is the Thursday before Ash Wednesday – or “Dirty Thursday” as it’s known in parts of Switzerland. Dirty Thursday began in Lucerne and some other German-speaking towns at precisely 5am. In Lucerne, dozens of costumed brass bands take their signal from a pre-dawn gun salute on Dirty Thursday…

Swiss business enjoys bonanza year

This content was published on Dec 23, 2005 Switzerland’s stock market reacted very positively to the solid performance. The Swiss Market Index of blue chip companies shot up by 30 per cent on 2004. While the profits of the top companies beat the previous record of SFr57.4 billion in 2000, the bourse in Zurich looks set for the fourth best finish to the…

Rebuilding tsunami-shattered Sumatra

This content was published on Dec 23, 2005 In the northern city of Banda Aceh, the provincial capital of Aceh, more than 200,000 people are still living in tents and barracks, a year after the seaquake. Around 170 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the Swiss Red Cross, are working in the disaster zone, but for complex reasons, house- and school- building programmes are only…

Small change is creating big opposition

This content was published on Dec 23, 2005 Consumer groups are concerned about an impact on inflation. The coins are no longer considered very useful and they are hoarded or serve as “lucky charms”. The finance ministry in October put forward a plan to withdraw the two smallest coins of the Swiss currency in a bid to save SFr300,000 ($228,720). It said the…

NGOs ready to leave North Korea

This content was published on Dec 22, 2005 Their aid and development projects, which have benefited many thousands of North Koreans, fell victim to a ban on humanitarian aid announced in August. The communist regime told agencies that humanitarian assistance had to stop by the end of the year and that expatriate staff must leave. In principle the idea was to end food…

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First Galileo satellite takes off

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A year of merging markets

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Pilots face contract ultimatum

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Helping children to cope with the tsunami

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European police clamp down on drink-driving

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Carnival approaches…

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Swiss business enjoys bonanza year

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Rebuilding tsunami-shattered Sumatra

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Small change is creating big opposition

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NGOs ready to leave North Korea

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