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Luxury watches boost Swatch turnover

This content was published on May 3, 2000 The figures come on the back of excellent results for 1999. In March, the group announced it had made net profits last year of SFr441, an increase of 23.5 per cent on 1998. Sales rose 11 per cent to SFr3.6 billion. The head of the Swatch group, Nicolas Hayek, says that 1999 can only be…

Winterthur boosts position in UK

This content was published on May 2, 2000 Winterthur is currently among the world’s ten biggest insurers, and employs 26,000 staff. It made a net profit of just over SFr1 billion in 1999, an increase of 22 per cent on the previous year. Its latest acquisition, Colonial UK, has 400,000 clients in Britain. It collected the equivalent of SFr645 million in insurance premiums…

Swiss foreign minister to raise issue of human rights during Tunisia visit

This content was published on May 2, 2000 Switzerland had wanted the visit to focus on trade and economic questions, as well as the Middle East peace process, but human rights has moved to the forefront as media attention has highlighted the case of Taoufik Ben Brick, a journalist who has been on hunger strike to protest against restrictions on press freedom in…

Switzerland starts sale of gold reserves

This content was published on May 2, 2000 The bank said it had commissioned the Basel-based Bank for International Settlements with the sale of the first tranche. The SNB plans to divest itself of 1,300 tonnes of gold over the next five years. The decision to formally abandon the gold standard means that the SNB will sell off a maximum of 400 tonnes…

Union leader calls for more action

This content was published on May 2, 2000 Writing in the “Bund” newspaper of Berne, Daguet, from the Swiss Metalworkers and Watchmakers Union, says that unions have to be more prepared for conflicts and for closer co-operation. “Switzerland is the richest country in the world if you read the Swiss economic press. But the reality in which we live shows the other side…

Food for thought from Geneva Internet band

This content was published on May 2, 2000 The Bliss comprises Scottish vocalist Angela Higney and Italian keyboard player and computer programmer, Piero Calvi. Angela works for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, while Piero’s day job is at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Over the past couple of years they have enjoyed worldwide success…

The fruits of our ancestors labour

This content was published on May 2, 2000 The unassuming apple-peeler is part of a new concept that Ballenberg, Switzerland’s largest open air museum, has launched this year. Of the many reassembled historic farmhouses, one large building from canton Aargau has become the ‘hands-on’ house. Visitors are not only allowed to see exhibits, but to use them, play or work with them. In…

Swiss contribution to car industry goes on show

This content was published on May 2, 2000 The exhibition looks at the work of the coach-building yards which were such an important industry in Switzerland in the 1930s and 1940s. Their names – Beugler, Gangloff, Worblaufen, Reinbold and Christe – are well known to aficionados of vintage cars. But why did they achieve such fame? “From the very start of the automobile…

Government gives green light to killing of protected predator

This content was published on May 2, 2000 The Federal Environment Agency has given the go-ahead to kill a wolf in canton Valais, following a request from the cantonal authorities. The species is protected under Swiss law, but an exception has been made because this wolf has been preying on livestock. The Federal Environment Agency approved a request by canton Valais to kill…

Most Swiss people want a professional army

This content was published on Apr 30, 2000 A majority of Swiss people would like to see the army scaled down to a professional service. According to a “SonntagsBlick” newspaper survey, the Swiss are calling for a leaner and cheaper military than the defence minister, Adolf Ogi, has in mind. Overall, 53 per cent of Swiss people want to see the professionalisation of…

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Luxury watches boost Swatch turnover

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Winterthur boosts position in UK

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Swiss foreign minister to raise issue of human rights during Tunisia visit

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Switzerland starts sale of gold reserves

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Union leader calls for more action

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Food for thought from Geneva Internet band

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The fruits of our ancestors labour

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Swiss contribution to car industry goes on show

More

Government gives green light to killing of protected predator

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Most Swiss people want a professional army

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