Internal: Archive

Swiss technology key to future of European trains

This content was published on Sep 8, 2003 Following successful trials, the Swiss Federal Railways is introducing a high-speed link between Bern and Olten which is to be running by 2005. The new line, which uses a new type of signalling system, will cut train times between Bern and Zurich to less than an hour. More significantly, it has brought the technology to…

Swiss unearth giant dinosaur bone

This content was published on Sep 8, 2003 The 1.75-metre-long shoulder blade, which was found in the American state of Wyoming, is believed to be part of the 35-metre-long skeleton of a seismosaurus. The seismosaurus was a 30-ton plant-eater which lived during the Jurassic period around 150 million years ago. The “earth-shaking lizard” could grow up to 50 metres in length. The team…

Gay fathers club together

This content was published on Sep 7, 2003 That was the question that led to the setting up in Zurich of a “Gay Fathers” group. Now in its eighth year, the organisation was founded by three gay fathers who found that their specific problems were largely overlooked by the homosexual community. The group provides support, counselling and practical advice for men who have…

Economy on recovery course but slow ahead

This content was published on Sep 5, 2003 The blue-chip Swiss Market Index reached its highest point of the year this week, fuelling hopes that the economy will pull out of recession soon. At the close of trading on Friday, the SMI had reached 5310.60 points, more than eight per cent up on the 4,899.50 recorded at the end of the first day’s…

Birds “divorce” to boost social status

This content was published on Sep 5, 2003 They say that eight per cent of oystercatchers – mainly females – dump a mate in order to move up in the world. “Females try to improve their social status,” ornithologist Dik Heg told swissinfo. Researchers found that females living in poor nesting spots were particularly likely to initiate a split and snap up a…

Bark beetles ravage Swiss forests

This content was published on Sep 5, 2003 This summer’s record temperatures and lack of rain has meant tree defences are down, leaving the country’s spruces particularly vulnerable to the destructive bark beetle. The ips typographus or bark beetle has a soft spot for spruce trees, which is bad news for cantons like Bern where spruces account for about 50 per cent of…

Ascom losses trimmed by almost a half

This content was published on Sep 4, 2003 Ascom, which has been struggling to repair its balance sheet, said that its accumulated losses largely resulted from areas that had been sold or extensively restructured or were in a restructuring phase. The news sent the share price rising by more than 11 per cent on the Zurich stock exchange in late Thursday morning trading…

Zurich firm takes off with flight simulators

This content was published on Sep 3, 2003 Zurich-based Elite supplies more than 20,000 flight schools, pilots and airlines with simulators for light aircraft, jets and even a helicopter. Unlike popular computer programmes used by amateur aviation buffs, Elite builds realistic virtual cockpits for trainee pilots. “It’s very realistic. If a pilot goes down, you’d think you’re flying in an aircraft,” Gerhard Thamm,…

More Swiss seek professional careers advice

This content was published on Sep 3, 2003 Last year in Switzerland around 125,000 people sought advice – almost a five per cent increase over the previous year. This week the Swiss capital is playing host to an international conference on careers guidance, with the focus on how professional counselling can help people find work in an ever-changing job market. More than 750…

Sell-offs could net $500 million for ABB

This content was published on Sep 3, 2003 Experts say the sale could raise $500 million (SFr709 million) and help the company reduce its $8.3 billion debt burden. ABB spokesman Thomas Schmidt said the sell-off – which was announced last year – would include the Moroccan power station, Jorf Lasfar Energy Co and South Africa’s Kruger Mpumelanga international airport. The company has already…

Internal: Archive

Popular Stories

Most Discussed