Internal: Archive

Swiss put Sunday shopping on their list

This content was published on Nov 26, 2005 But voters are set to deal the trade unions, churches and consumer groups a blow at the ballot box on Sunday, according to opinion polls. Shops in Switzerland usually remain closed on Sundays and public holidays, leaving many foreign visitors and locals bemused. But numerous exceptions to the labour law have been granted in the…

Switzerland set to take on new EU air rights

This content was published on Nov 26, 2005 Regulations which came into force in EU member states in February give passengers more rights in the event of denied boarding, flight cancellation or long delays. The director of the Federal Civil Aviation Office, Raymond Cron, announced the move in Brussels on Friday, after a meeting of the joint EU-Swiss air transport committee. However, it…

Environmentalists dish up GM food for thought

This content was published on Nov 26, 2005 Environmentalists managed to force a nationwide ballot on the issue by collecting the necessary signatures for a people’s initiative. The idea for the moratorium dates back several years. At the height of the debate on a law governing GMOs, environmentalists and consumer groups launched their bid in an attempt to put pressure on parliament. But…

Government blocks foreign Swisscom deals

This content was published on Nov 25, 2005 This announcement comes a day after the government said it wished to sell its majority stake in the country’s leading telecoms group and privatise the company. A spokesman for the finance ministry told swissinfo it was blocking acquisitions because the risks of a foreign takeover by Swisscom were too high for the government. “Swisscom needs…

Young scientists sound alarm on climate change

This content was published on Nov 25, 2005 The meeting, organised by the British Council in Switzerland, brought 30 scientists together from around the world to look at the effects of rising temperatures on cities. The summit concluded with a call for immediate action to combat climate change, which, the manifesto said, was “a societal and political challenge as well as a scientific…

Plans to sell Swisscom split political parties

This content was published on Nov 24, 2005 Swisscom says the announcement by the cabinet on Thursday that it wants to sell its 66 per cent stake will have no direct impact on the company’s business. The political and financial stakes are high: the Swiss government’s majority share in Swisscom is currently worth more than SFr17 billion ($12.9 billion). The Social Democrats are…

Government faces fight to pull out of Swisscom

This content was published on Nov 24, 2005 The cabinet said on Thursday that its 66 per cent stake in Switzerland’s leading telecoms operator was restricting Swisscom’s ability to expand. The main union representing employees in the Swiss telecommunications sector, Communication, described the move as a “declaration of war” on the public-service sector. The union’s Christian Levrat, who is a Social Democratic parliamentarian,…

State to sell its majority share in Swisscom

This content was published on Nov 24, 2005 The move is intended to give Switzerland’s leading telecoms operator the flexibility to expand its business operations and seek out new alliances. The government considers that the current arrangement, where the state controls 66 per cent of Swisscom, representing a stock market value of SFr17 billion ($13 billion), is restricting the company’s strategic freedom of…

Switzerland sends formal complaint to Tunisia

This content was published on Nov 23, 2005 Swiss President Samuel Schmid was censored by Tunisian television at the opening of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The head of the Africa/Middle East division of the Swiss foreign ministry, Paul Fivat, communicated the Swiss protest orally, foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Philippe Jeannerat told swissinfo. Jeannerat added that the government had asked Marc…

Consumer lending on the increase

This content was published on Nov 23, 2005 Although borrowing for lifestyle spending has a negative image among the Swiss, more people than ever are taking out loans, while banks are eager to secure market share. The study, by consultancy firm Mercer Oliver Wyman, shows that the average debt per capita in Switzerland is 924 euro (SFr1,430), compared to 2,798 euro per head…

Internal: Archive

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Internal: Archive

More

Swiss put Sunday shopping on their list

More

Switzerland set to take on new EU air rights

More

Environmentalists dish up GM food for thought

More

Government blocks foreign Swisscom deals

More

Young scientists sound alarm on climate change

More

Plans to sell Swisscom split political parties

More

Government faces fight to pull out of Swisscom

More

State to sell its majority share in Swisscom

More

Switzerland sends formal complaint to Tunisia

More

Consumer lending on the increase

Popular Stories

Most Discussed