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Deiss says apprenticeship situation is “stable”

This content was published on Aug 25, 2003 With the season for handing out traineeships underway, the economics ministry counted around 5,000 open positions across the country – mainly in rural areas. On Monday Deiss announced that an extra SFr2.3 million ($1.6 million) would be pumped into a task force he had set up a few months ago to increase the number of…

Unique is unhappy with first-half performance

This content was published on Aug 25, 2003 Unique said the axing of flights by the national carrier Swiss, the Iraq conflict and the Sars pneumonia virus had all led to a decline in air traffic. The company said in a statement on Monday that it made a first-half net profit of SFr700,000 ($490,000) compared with a loss of SFr1.8 million for the…

Farmers’ Ferrari mows its way across Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 24, 2003 It’s affectionately known as the “farmers’ Ferrari” because it has sleek lines and its colour is a distinctive red. But these two-wheeled workhorses do anything but travel at high speed or attract thousands of spectators. In fact, very often they will be seen standing alone, with or without a cover over the engine. They are…

Circus comedian reveals comic side to the Swiss

This content was published on Aug 24, 2003 He told swissinfo it is a key element of his performance as guest of honour at the Swiss National Circus Knie, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. The Italian-born cabaret artist and comedian has been nicknamed “the poet of laughter” for his comical look at everyday life in Switzerland. swissinfo: What’s the difference…

A train ride through history

This content was published on Aug 23, 2003 Many died in the monumental struggle to take locomotives across the Alps. A glimpse into the public archives of the Swiss Federal Railways shows how many lives were lost in building the railways, and how pivotal trains have been for Switzerland’s political and economic survival. The Federal Railways Heritage Foundation, based in Bern city centre,…

Pesticides pollute 50% of Swiss groundwater

This content was published on Aug 23, 2003 A survey of 390 monitoring stations found traces of pesticides and weed killer at more than half of them. Priority was given to analysing data from farming areas, and pollution levels exceeding the permitted norms were recorded at several sites. Some 80 per cent of Switzerland’s drinking water is taken from the ground, but experts…

Old alpine trading route revived

This content was published on Aug 21, 2003 They spent a week doing what traders did for centuries – leading pack animals laden with salt and cheese over a series of mountain passes. Some of the party turned up in authentic costume, and one of them – Ludwig Degelo – even sported a pair of hobnail boots. He said they gave him a…

Heat saps Swiss forests

This content was published on Aug 21, 2003 The leaves on thousands of trees are already changing colour and dying, something which should not happen for another two months. Forestry workers say the early autumn is the trees’ way of coping with lack of water, and might help them survive the unusual heat. But the trees are left in a weakened condition, and…

Swiss lose taste for white wine

This content was published on Aug 21, 2003 They show consumption of foreign wine increasing, while the biggest loser in the changing market is traditional Swiss white wine. And for the first time, imports of Italian wine have overtaken imports of wine from France. In the 12 months between June 2002 and June 2003, the average Swiss drank around half a litre less…

Swatch Group is hit hard but optimistic

This content was published on Aug 21, 2003 Net profit for the first half fell to SFr186 million ($133.51 million), down 9.7 per cent on the same period last year Sales at the group, which includes the Breguet, Blancpain, Omega, Longines and Swatch brands, fell by 6.6 per cent to SFr1.82 billion. However, the group said in a statement from its headquarters in…

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Deiss says apprenticeship situation is “stable”

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Unique is unhappy with first-half performance

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Farmers’ Ferrari mows its way across Switzerland

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Circus comedian reveals comic side to the Swiss

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A train ride through history

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Pesticides pollute 50% of Swiss groundwater

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Old alpine trading route revived

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Heat saps Swiss forests

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Swiss lose taste for white wine

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Swatch Group is hit hard but optimistic

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