Internal: Archive

Preserving ancient tradition is cold comfort

This content was published on Jan 6, 2004 swissinfo discovered that bone-chilling temperatures can freeze an ancient Engadine courting ritual in its tracks. The young men and women of the villages of the Upper Engadine valley are praying for crisp but not extreme winter temperatures for this year’s “Schlitteda”. The horse-drawn sleigh processions take place each weekend in a different village in the…

Egyptian crash carrier’s fleet had “serious faults”

This content was published on Jan 5, 2004 But the Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) said it was drawing no conclusions about Saturday’s crash, which killed all 148 people on board. The agency said in a statement it had found a number of defects on both aircraft, including missing navigational documents, fuel calculations that didn’t match international standards and unsuitable emergency exit…

Welfare handouts put authorities under strain

This content was published on Jan 5, 2004 Local authorities across Switzerland warn they will not be able to cope if the trend continues. Welfare benefits are the last safety net in Switzerland for people without work after they can no longer claim unemployment benefit. In July the government slashed by a quarter the period during which benefit can be claimed – from…

Growth forecasts divide economists

This content was published on Jan 5, 2004 Estimates for GDP growth are modest, ranging from 0.9-1.9 per cent. In the latest forecast, Jean-Pierre Roth, chairman of the Swiss National Bank, said the economy would grow by 1.5 per cent as export demand began to rise. This contrasts with a more cautious prediction of 0.9 per cent by Switzerland’s leading economic barometer, issued…

Texas Instruments taps Swiss nanotech as future of computer chips

This content was published on Jan 5, 2004 It made the statement based on research it undertook with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. Texas Instruments (TI) presented the evidence behind the statement in a paper at the IEDM in Washington, a confab of the chip industry’s engineering crowd. It is possible to use single electron transistors (SET) in combination with…

Egyptian crash airline banned in Switzerland

This content was published on Jan 4, 2004 The Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) said it had banned Flash Airlines planes after detecting technical problems in one of their aircraft more than a year ago. “A series of safety shortcomings showed up in a plane of Flash Airlines during a routine security check at Zurich airport in October 2002,” said Celestine Perissinotto…

Chilling out in an igloo village

This content was published on Jan 2, 2004 swissinfo checked into the “igloo village” above the southeastern town of Scuol to find out why taking a room at an icy inn has become one of the coolest trends in the Alps. Scuol’s igloo village has to be Switzerland’s largest accommodation made entirely of snow and ice. On the night of our visit, the…

New law promises more rights for disabled

This content was published on Jan 1, 2004 Two offices dealing with disability have also opened to help implement the law and offer legal advice and information. The new law guarantees improved access to public buildings and transport – within limits. The legislation applies to all new public buildings in Switzerland, but existing structures do not have to comply with the law until…

Deiss seeks to expand global role for Switzerland

This content was published on Jan 1, 2004 In an interview with swissinfo, Joseph Deiss said he also wanted to encourage dialogue between members of government, as well as among the Swiss people. The economics minister, who is a Christian Democrat, takes on the country’s rotating presidency after one of the most eventful years in Swiss politics. December saw the first shake-up in…

Blocher gives up stake in EMS Chemie

This content was published on Dec 31, 2003 The announcement – made at an extraordinary meeting of the company’s shareholders – came one day before he officially took up the post of Swiss justice minister. On Wednesday, Blocher confirmed that he had transferred his 73 per cent stake in the company to his four children. “Although I wasn’t legally obliged to do so,…

Internal: Archive

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Internal: Archive

More

Preserving ancient tradition is cold comfort

More

Egyptian crash carrier’s fleet had “serious faults”

More

Welfare handouts put authorities under strain

More

Growth forecasts divide economists

More

Texas Instruments taps Swiss nanotech as future of computer chips

More

Egyptian crash airline banned in Switzerland

More

Chilling out in an igloo village

More

New law promises more rights for disabled

More

Deiss seeks to expand global role for Switzerland

More

Blocher gives up stake in EMS Chemie

Popular Stories

Most Discussed