Internal: Archive

Settlement reached in Swiss Life scandal

This content was published on Dec 14, 2005 The men made a combined profit of SFr11.5 million by investing money in Long Term Strategy (LTS), a firm closely linked to Swiss Life. An inquiry into the secretive fund found serious shortcomings concerning control mechanisms. The settlement announced by Swiss Life on Wednesday is based on the proposal of the Zurich commercial court. In…

Embryo screening needs tight controls

This content was published on Dec 14, 2005 Luc Recordon, who is himself disabled, welcomed this week’s vote in the Senate which calls on the government to allow such screening under strict conditions. The House of Representatives, the country’s other parliamentary chamber, has already voted in favour of allowing genetic screening – also known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. During an emotional speech to…

Growing economy needs higher interest rates

This content was published on Dec 13, 2005 The announcement comes two days before the Swiss National Bank (SNB) is expected to raise its key interest rate target range to between 0.5 and 1.5 per cent. This is a response to predictions that the country’s gross national product in 2005 would grow by 1.7 per cent. Higher interest rates are essential to combat…

Senate votes in favour of embryo screening

This content was published on Dec 13, 2005 Senators voted on Tuesday by 24 to 18 to permit pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) under strict conditions. The cabinet will now have to draw up new legislation to be submitted to parliament. The vote comes a week after Switzerland’s National Advisory Commission on Biomedical Ethics issued a report recommending that the wholesale ban be replaced…

Funding approval elevates world’s longest lift

This content was published on Dec 13, 2005 If completed, there will be nothing like “Porta Alpina” worldwide – the deepest underground station in the middle of the longest railway tunnel, connected to the surface by the longest lift. The opening of the 57km Gotthard base tunnel is still ten years away, but locals in the Surselva, one of the valleys under which…

New air pollution limits introduced

This content was published on Dec 13, 2005 The environment ministry says current legislation should allow targets set out in the international accord to be met by 2012. Switzerland has agreed to cut sulphur emissions by 40 per cent compared with 1990 levels, nitrous oxide (NOx) output by 52 per cent, ammonia emissions by 13 per cent and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by…

Tough talks on trade expected in Hong Kong

This content was published on Dec 12, 2005 The goal of the 149 nations represented at the meeting, including Switzerland, is to pave the way for the conclusion of the Doha round of trade negotiations by the end of 2006. Analysts say the accord has to be finalised by mid-2007 at the latest, which is when President Bush’s “trade promotion authority” expires. After…

Swiss seek to move beyond agriculture at WTO

This content was published on Dec 12, 2005 But Wasescha refused to make any predictions about the outcome of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) sixth ministerial conference, which begins on Tuesday. The six-day meeting in Hong Kong is intended to wrap up the so-called “Doha round” of WTO negotiations. These were launched in 2001 in the capital of Qatar to address poor nations’…

Civil servants do not cash in despite benefits

This content was published on Dec 12, 2005 The same surveys found employees received basic salaries comparable to their private counterparts but did not enjoy the same level of bonuses and paid more towards pensions. Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz commissioned the studies in response to public concern that civil servants were earning too much. The difference was most pronounced when it came to…

Lego parts to stay in Switzerland

This content was published on Dec 12, 2005 The factory in Willisau with 239 employees will be shut down in mid-2006 as planned, but the Steinhausen plant – with 62 jobs – will remain in business. A newly-established investor group Wisi’on Tool will take over the reins at Steinhausen in canton Zug, continuing to produce moulds for the toy-making giant for the next…

Internal: Archive

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Internal: Archive

More

Settlement reached in Swiss Life scandal

More

Embryo screening needs tight controls

More

Growing economy needs higher interest rates

More

Senate votes in favour of embryo screening

More

Funding approval elevates world’s longest lift

More

New air pollution limits introduced

More

Tough talks on trade expected in Hong Kong

More

Swiss seek to move beyond agriculture at WTO

More

Civil servants do not cash in despite benefits

More

Lego parts to stay in Switzerland

Popular Stories

Most Discussed