it's that time of year again: the SBB timetable change is coming up Read the overview to find out exactly what this means for you and your public transport journey The SBB timetable change on 15 December will primarily bring improvements for commuters The Lausanne suburb of Renens and Bern Wankdorf station will become long-distance stops There will also be new night-time connections on long-distance and regional services there will be a practical change for everyone who commutes between Zurich and Bern Wankdorf At peak travel times in the morning and evening one IC connection will now also stop in Bern Wankdorf this means that the train will depart from Zurich main station at 7.49 a.m there is then the option of leaving Bern Wankdorf at 5.13 pm and arriving in Zurich HB at 6.10 pm During the Christmas bridge between December 23 and January 3 Gallen and Sargans will now run every half hour Gallen-Sargans-Chur will run as the Alpenrhein-Express operated by Schweizerische Südostbahn (SOB) and the existing IR13 Zurich-St Gallen-Sargans-Chur operated by SBB will only run as far as Sargans instead of Chur In Sargans there is a connection to the IC3 to Chur and Zurich ● From Monday to Friday and on Sunday afternoons there will be additional IC5 connections between Lausanne This will increase the frequency and provide more seats this creates an attractive alternative to the EC trains ● The IC2 trains (Zurich-Lugano) now stop in Altdorf instead of the IC21 trains (Basel-Lugano) This will give travelers from the canton of Uri more frequent and faster direct connections to and from Zurich The IC21 connections to Basel no longer stop in Altdorf North-western Switzerland remains accessible for the canton of Uri with the IR26 direct and the Tellbus with a change in Lucerne ● Commuters from the Ennetsee and Rontal valleys will benefit from additional connections during rush hour on the Ebikon-Rotkreuz-Cham-Zug route this will increase the number of available seats and relieve the heavily frequented S1 services ● Winterthur's accessibility will be improved by additional connections from Bülach and Bauma which will run around half an hour before the current earliest connections There are also additional connections on other lines in the Zurich area at off-peak times ● With the new timetable in western Switzerland the Lausanne suburb of Renens will also become a long-distance stop night services will run on the Bern-Olten-Zurich HB-Zurich Airport route on eight weekends and between Biel and Genève-Aéroport between Fribourg and Genève-Aéroport and between Sion and Genève-Aéroport on several weekends and public holidays There will also be various improvements to the regional night-time networks at weekends in the Basel area from Zurich and Lucerne to Olten and in eastern Switzerland ● 2025 will be a year with numerous events in all parts of the country With the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Basel the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival Glarnerland+ in Mollis and SwissSkills in Bern there will be a particularly large number of major events SBB is therefore planning numerous extra trains to the event locations there will be a direct IC train from Genève-Aéroport to Locarno The existing Sunday evening IC from Ticino to Lausanne will run at 7 pm from Locarno instead of the previous 7.20 pm from Bellinzona ● With the end of the total closure between Zurich main station and Zurich Wipkingen the majority of connections can be offered again as before the closure The additional change in Zurich HB is no longer necessary on most connections the journey time between Schaffhausen and Zurich will be reduced by a few minutes again ● On two weekends between November 30 and December 8 2024 and continuously from January 11 to March 2 direct trains will once again run from Zurich to Einsiedeln at weekends ● There will be an additional train on the Zurich-Munich route passengers will be able to travel directly to the Bavarian capital two hours earlier in the morning From Monday to Friday and on Sunday evenings travelers will have a new last connection from Munich to Zurich at 8.55 pm ● From the end of May and until mid-October (including Easter) a RegioExpress will run from Bern to Frasne at 6.23 a.m Sundays and public holidays and back at 10.30 p.m This gives travelers from Bern a connection to the TGV Lyria to and from Paris in Frasne ● The Saturday direct train Zurich-Lenzburg-Thun-Frutigen-Brig departing from Zurich main station at 7.38 a.m the biggest timetable change since the introduction of Rail 2000 in December 2004 is imminent The aim is to increase punctuality and at the same time enable the numerous construction works for the maintenance and expansion of the rail network to be carried out The new timetable in western Switzerland will lead to longer journey times in some areas This should enable trains to run more punctually in future Der Fahrplan 2025 bringt den grössten Fahrplanwechsel in der Westschweiz seit über 20 Jahren, neue Nachtverbindungen und ein Rekordjahr an Events in der ganzen Schweiz. Dank rund 1600 Extrazügen gelangen Reisende bequem an Grossanlässe in ganzen Land.➡️https://t.co/GJxHYnrqb6 ● It will not be possible to purchase international bike tickets and reservations from SBB until further notice. SBB recommends purchasing bicycle tickets from partner railroads. ● From the timetable change, international journeys booked with SBB will count as one journey, even if they consist of several individual tickets. If a train is delayed on a section of the journey, the delay at the destination of the entire journey will now count for any compensation. This compensation then relates to the entire journey, not just the affected section. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. © Alex Shoots BuildingsConstruction techniques and the principal materials used in the project. The house is constructed on pillars going into the bearing layer of the subsoil to a depth of 16-20 m. The lower structure is designed using waterproof concrete. Vertical load-bearing structures and ceiling slabs are from monolithic reinforced concrete. This solution meets the requirements for earthquake measures, as the proposed building is located in the 2nd security zone. © Alex Shoots BuildingsEnergy-efficient elements, sustainability. The mountain location, its relationship to nature, and ecological views meant, that the house is designed in the Swiss ecological standard “Minergie”. The ground source heat pump serves as the main energy source. The heat pump is attached to four ground probes and supported by solar electricity from the roof of the building. Gains from this energy source are used in the building or sold back to the public network. © Alex Shoots BuildingsIndividual apartments have controlled ventilation Fresh air is supplied from the roof level and is distributed to individual apartments via a heat exchanger in vertical shafts The interior of the building is protected against overheating by outdoor screen shades Installation boxes for exterior shading are hidden in thermally insulated facades and plastered Air conditioning distribution units are placed in the ceiling slabs of the building The supply and exhaust is realized by air ventilation grilles in the ceiling You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development Our Partners Donate Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information The Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona in the north-eastern part of the country covers a mountainous area of 32,850 ha which features seven peaks that rise above 3,000 m The area displays an exceptional example of mountain building through continental collision and features .excellent geological sections through tectonic thrust The site is distinguished by the clear three-dimensional exposure of the structures and processes that characterize this phenomenon and has been a key site for the geological sciences since the 18th century The Glarus Alps are glaciated mountains rising dramatically above narrow river valleys and are the site of the largest post-glacial landslide in the Central Alpine region est une zone montagneuse de 32 850 hectares où se trouvent sept sommets de plus de 3 000 m Le site constitue un exemple exceptionnel d’orogenèse par collision continentale et offre d’excellentes sections géologiques à travers un chevauchement tectonique un processus par lequel des roches plus anciennes et plus profondes remontent et passent par-dessus des roches plus jeunes et moins profondes Il se caractérise par une exposition tridimensionnelle claire des structures et des processus typiques de ce phénomène et il est reconnu comme un site capital pour la géologie depuis le XVIIIème siècle Les Alpes glaronnaises sont des montagnes glacées qui dominent de façon spectaculaire d’étroites vallées fluviales encaissées On y trouve le plus grand glissement de terrain de la fin de la période post-glaciaire dans les Alpes centrales منطقة جبلية تبلغ مساحتها 850 32 هكتاراً في شمال شرق سويسرا، تتلاقى فيها سبع قمم يتجاوز ارتفاعها 000 3 متر يشكل الموقع مثلاً استثنائياً عن نشوء الجبال على أثر التصادم القاري ويحوي قطعاً جيولوجية ممتازة نتجت عن التداخل التكتوني، وهي عملية تصعد فيها الصخور الأكثر قدماً وعمقاً ثانية وتمر فوق الصخور الأقل قدماً وعمقاً كما يتسم الموقع ببنى ثلاثية الأبعاد فاتحة اللون ويُعتبر موقعاً أساسياً في مجال الجيولوجية منذ القرن الثامن عشر جباله جليدية، وتشرف بشكل مذهل، يستحق المشاهدة، على الوديان النهرية الضيقة في الأراضي المنخفضة وفيه نجد أكبر انهيال أرضي في نهاية الفترة ما بعد الجليدية في الجزء الأوسط من جبال الألب включает горный район площадью в 32 850 га где возвышаются семь пиков высотой свыше 3 000 м Здесь можно увидеть уникальную картину формирования гор в процессе континентальных столкновений и хорошо сохранившихся геологических пластов образовавшихся в результате тектонического давления глубокие скальные породы покрывают собой более молодые и менее глубоко залегающие пласты Отличительной особенностью объекта является трехмерный вид структур и процессов это место стало важнейшей базой геологических наук резко возвышающиеся над узкими долинами рек Здесь в конце постледниковой эры произошел крупнейший в центрально-альпийском регионе оползень este sitio abarca una zona montañosa de 32.850 hectáreas en la que se alzan siete picos de más de 3.000 metros de altura Constituye un ejemplo excepcional de la orogénesis por colisión continental y presenta secciones geológicas excelentes debido al empuje tectónico es decir el fenómeno por el que las rocas más antiguas y profundas ascienden y pasan por encima de las más recientes y superficiales que se caracteriza también por una clara exposición tridimensional de las estructuras y procesos característicos de este fenómeno se considera de importancia capital para las ciencias geológicas desde el siglo XVIII Los Alpes del cantón de Glaris son montañas heladas que dominan un paisaje espectacular de angostos valles fluviales En ellos se encuentra el mayor corrimiento de tierras sobrevenido en la región de los Alpes centrales en el periodo posterior a la glaciación The Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona presents an exceptional and dramatic display of mountain building through continental collision The property is distinguished by the clear three-dimensional exposure of the structures and processes that characterise this phenomenon in a mountain setting and its ongoing contribution to geological sciences geological and geomorphic features and processes: The Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona provides an exceptional display of mountain building tectonics and has been recognised as a key site for geological sciences since the 18th century The clear exposure of the Glarus Overthrust is a key The exposures of the rocks below and above this feature are visible in three dimensions and have made substantial contributions to the understanding of mountain building tectonics Its geological features can be readily appreciated by all visitors The property can be differentiated from other similar sites by the combination of the clear exposure of the phenomenon in a mountain setting The property contains the full range of tectonic features necessary to display the phenomenon of mountain building Key attributes of the site include the Glarus Overthrust and the associated folded and faulted geological exposures above and below it Other key attributes of the property are the accessibility of the features in three dimensions and access to the thrust surface of the Glarus Overthrust Associated intangible values relate to the importance of the property as a formative site for the geological sciences; and the features that were part of these studies remain visible and in good condition in the present day The major exposures of the geological features are within protected areas and are substantially unthreatened The primary management issue is to allow the natural processes of slope erosion to continue Other key management issues relate to the continued provision of safe visitor and research access and protection of key features such as the exposures of the thrust surface The communication of the key values of the property is also an important priority and continued investment and enhancement of visitor interpretation and education strategies are required David Sargan (Department of Veterinary Medicine) discusses the health implications of breeding the perfect pets Short-faced dogs such as pugs, bulldogs (known as English bulldogs in the US) and French bulldogs are among the cutest pets out there – they’re the very reverse of the wolves they descended from. Over the last few years these breeds have become increasingly common, partly thanks to advertising and their popularity among celebrities In fact all three breeds are now in Britain’s top ten favourite dogs But these dogs are the result of an amazing transformation in appearance and temperament caused by selective breeding, which has come at quite a cost to the dogs' health Around half of them have breathing problems that sometimes lead to overheating Their large heads and narrow pelvises also cause problems in giving birth (forcing Caesarean sections for many if not most) and their skin folds can become infected Their exposed eyes are also vulnerable to damage with about 15% suffering prolapsed third eyelids and many having other types of eye damage Quite a number of dogs in several of the breeds also succumb to back or hip problems So research geneticists have started to look at ways to reduce the intrinsic health problems of these breeds. A recent investigation of genetic variation in bulldogs showed that all the individuals examined had little genetic diversity in either paternal or maternal lines The same was true for the diversity of some types of immune system genes so that the ability of these bulldogs to respond to pathogens may be reduced which may potentially also be connected to common allergies in this breed The authors argued that the breed’s health could only be restored by breeding dogs with other breeds rather than preserving the breed in its current closed state together with collection of DNA samples from the studied dogs opened the way for accurate genetic analyses of the respiratory disease we also gained information on the genetic health of the breeds we studied as a whole Our findings agree with those of the new study in suggesting that the best way of breeding back to a less extreme skull shape would be to introduce dogs from outside the current breed registers This is likely to be true of many other aspects of conformation and temperament And we would agree that the extreme changes in appearance (such as the excessive skin rolls in these breeds) do account for many of their disease problems Fortunately not all short-faced dogs suffer from the respiratory disorder and although our research is not yet complete we now have pretty strong evidence that there are still multiple genetic variations between those that do and those that don’t But we do not know whether this is also true for other aspects of conformation and appearance-related conditions We believe that the swiftest way to remove these diseases would be to outbreed to a dog type that does not have the features that cause the health problems typical of these breeds Over the last few years groups such as the (now disbanded) Advisory Council on the Welfare Aspects of Dog Breeding, the RSPCA, a number of dog welfare charities and the Associate Parliamentary Group on Animal Welfare have offered a lot of advice about the health problems of these dogs in an attempt to reduce their popularity Yet the kind of expensive advertising campaign that could really reach the public has been lacking An additional problem is that most breeders reject the introduction of genes from outside their breed They fear the breed will “be contaminated” that new diseases will be introduced and that the breed will lose its character or change in temperament There appears to be no likelihood of legislation to compel breeders to outbreed on welfare grounds But with the help of our research it may be possible to breed for healthier dogs using the existing genetic variation within the breed (in addition to contributions from crosses outside the breed if necessary and if they can be made acceptable to breeders) If within-breed crosses to reduce disease do prove practical this will probably be a slower route to reduce the disease burden for an individual offspring than an outcross-breed the advantage is that within-breed crosses are likely to be widely accepted by dog breeders and so it may prove a quicker way of moving the whole population forward towards better breed health David Sargan, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Pathology at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article The opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual author(s) and do not represent the views of the University of Cambridge I wish to receive a weekly Cambridge research news summary by email The University of Cambridge will use your email address to send you our weekly research news email. We are committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about what information we hold. Please read our email privacy notice for details This observation surprised me on a recent trip in which I traveled across Europe — from Istanbul to London — by train Here are some of the biggest differences I noticed an iron curtain has descended across the continent." the term "iron curtain" would become synonymous with Europe's separation Many of them seemed to be in poor condition Still others had large amounts of trash lying around them — again Part of this simply comes down to economics: while the average person in Sweden and Germany makes $53,442 and $44,470 per year respectively, according to the World Bank the average Bulgarian takes home only about $8,032 per year — about six times less Enormous plowed fields dotted with livestock and small bushes and trees as far the eye could see were what I noticed in eastern Europe having just come from the Arabian Desert, it was a welcome change There's really nothing else like the Alps — at least not in Europe rivers as blue as the toothpaste I use every day and the cute Swiss chalet houses dotting it all was almost overwhelming in its beauty I was truly mystified why some passengers on the trains were looking at their phones and laptops instead of out the windows I knew eastern Europe had undergone several turbulent decades with once-communist countries like Bulgaria now part of the EU I was surprised this did not seem to be the case in many places the number of seemingly abandoned buildings around train stations was eye-opening While numbers weren't huge in places like Liechtenstein (Europe's second least-visited country there were still people around — or at least every building seemed to be occupied by people or The trains in Eastern Europe were like moving works of art — every one was covered in intricate incredibly detailed graffiti that undoubtedly took the artists who designed them a long time to create Despite trains being cheaper than planes usually and incomes in eastern Europe typically lower than the west I was surprised by how empty many of the stations seemed and even public transportation options to and from many of the stations (like buses and local trams) seemed limited Whether it was Paris' Gare de Lyon or Gare du Nord or even stations in places such as Buchs and Sargans Switzerland or Schwarzach-St Veit in Austria busy stations and free WiFi seemed to be the rule When I needed to quickly move some money around in Zürich to make a deposit for my new London flat I was reminded of just how important free WiFi can be The five-star Sofia Hotel Balkan in Sofia it was literally next door to the presidential palace for staying in the marble-plastered palace (floors bits of ceiling — everything seemed to be marble) with an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast — that even had things like shrimp transport (including the trains — the leg from Sofia to Belgrade Serbia cost just $23 for a trip that took all day) it was the richness of people I really enjoyed — or but in eastern Europe I thought they took it to another level — despite the stone-faced stereotype Not only did everyone seem to say "hello" when walking past but more than a few people wanted to have genuine conversations to get to know me — and why I was traveling all the way across Europe dressed as someone might have 100 years ago Eastern Europe is not immune from terrorism: after all many of the countries (such as in the Balkans) suffered through wars as recently as the 1990s and in 2012 a bus carrying Israeli tourists was blown up in Bulgaria I hardly saw police anywhere — or if there were police the more uniformed police I saw — and the more equipment they seemed to be carrying While Austrian and Swiss police wore simple uniforms and didn't seem to have any other gear (apart from smartphones and a device to print out fines to give people who didn't have a train ticket) police in Paris and London appeared weighed down by all manner of heavy equipment from large walkie-talkies and bulky bulletproof vests were not openly displaying guns or other weapons — at least not the ones I saw but the breads in eastern Europe looked incredible — and tasted incredible They certainly made hotel buffet breakfasts interesting as well as semi-adventurous snacks I smuggled out of the hotels to eat later on the trains to save money when feeling peckish but there was still a sameness in pattern and style particularly among older generations that lived under communist rule This was most notable in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia where everyone over 40 appeared to be wearing the same puffy parka Places like Paris have long been among the world's great capitals of fashion so I wasn't surprised that I didn't see two people dressed exactly the same Having gone to schools where there were no uniforms never worked at a job that made me wear a suit or tie and personally believing in the importance of individuality I found it a relief to be back in places where many people appeared to be of a similar mindset There's a saying that we have much more in common with each other than we have differences That was seared into my mind on my journey The concept of holding doors open for someone who looks like they're struggling with heavy suitcases (like I was for the whole eight days since I was carrying all my earthly possessions which in total weighed more than 70 pounds) — or even helping them lift their suitcases on or off trains — appears to be universal regardless of the language they were speaking.  I truly couldn't understand why the trains were so empty for so many portions of my trip With deals as great as just €20.60 ($23) for a second-class ticket from Sofia to the Serbian capital of Belgrade — a distance of about 250 miles (400 kilometers) — I couldn't fathom why people wouldn't want to take the train especially if they lived far from an airport serviced by low-cost airlines I also couldn't understand why there weren't more tourists like me traveling across the continent Already places that were once considered off-limits are barely recognizable, thanks to tourism (Croatia which is famed for its beautiful beaches now suffered through a brutal war as recently as the 1990s) and integration with the rest of European society the two halves of a once-divided continent will become even more intertwined I'll take another train across Europe to find out — assuming people will still be able to take trains then I spent 8 days taking trains across Europe for under $500. Not only was it cheaper than some flights, it was the adventure of a lifetime I visited Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, and the lack of selfie-snappers gave me hope for the future of travel I stayed in the hotel room where 'Murder on the Orient Express' was written and searched for the secret notebook apparently hidden there I visited Istanbul's gigantic new airport, and I could hardly tell I was in Turkey Summer is finally here. With temperatures reaching over 30 degrees, the Swiss like to cool off from time to time in these five accessible mountain tunnels and caves. When the thermometer climbs to over 30 degrees, it can get too hot for some people. You can cool off at the lake, river or swimming pool. But if you don't just want to lie around on a bath towel, but want to do something instead, you'll find a pleasantly cool climate inside the mountains. We're talking about accessible tunnels, which can be found all over Switzerland. In the mines, you not only learn exciting things about the history of mining, but also keep a cool head during a fun activity for young and old. The tunnel inside the Gonzen was once the largest iron mine in Switzerland. However, since operations ceased there in 1966 - for economic reasons - iron has no longer been mined there. However, you can still visit the more than 90 kilometers of tunnels in the Gonzen mine. Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an Ein Beitrag geteilt von Bergwerk Gonzen (@bergwerk_gonzen) Visitors take the original mine train two kilometers into the mountain mining technology and economic significance of the mine in the Sarganserland region as it can be up to 13 degrees in the tunnels You can find more information here. The mine states on its website: "Registration is essential." Anyone walking through the tunnel system of the Landesplattenberg Engi - where it is between 11 and 13 degrees - will quickly realize what the main focus here once was: In the Glarus Sernftal valley, men used to mine slate. The black stone was once an important source of income for the state of Glarus and the village of Engi, but operations were discontinued in 1961 for economic reasons. Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an Ein Beitrag geteilt von Landesplattenberg Engi (@landesplattenberg_engi) Thanks to the Landesplattenberg Engi Foundation the labyrinthine system of tunnels has been preserved as a historical monument visitors can learn more about the tunnel's past and embark on a journey through time Landesplattenberg Engi was first mentioned in a document in 1565 You can find more information here Gold was already being mined in Gondo in the Middle Ages Where the ancient Romans once laboriously extracted gold-bearing ore from the mountain two thousand years ago visitors can now go in search of the precious metal themselves in the mines and in the river The gold mines in the Zwischenbergental valley have been converted into a visitor mine in recent years Rolf Gruber is a master gold panner and takes his guests on a journey into the history of Swiss gold A little tip: it's around ten degrees in the mine You can find more information here. Salt is mined in Switzerland. Something that perhaps not many people know, but has been happening in the canton of Vaud since the 15th century. Today, the salt mines of Bex are considered the oldest active mines in the country. Around 30,000 tons are extracted there every year. Visitors to the salt mine can explore a labyrinth of tunnels and shafts over 50 kilometers long. In the museum or on a tour of the mine, you can learn more about the various salt mining techniques and the history of the mine from its beginnings in 1684 to the present day. Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an Ein Beitrag geteilt von Schweizer Salinen (@schweizersalinen) The mine train takes visitors inside the mine and to the restaurant which is located 400 meters deep in the mountain you can discover impressive salt water reservoirs on foot The temperature in the mines of Bex is around 18 degrees all year round You can find more information here. It's really fresh in the mines near La Presta: the temperature there is eight degrees all year round. What was once mined there? From 1712 to 1986, asphalt was mined there in the Val-de-Travers by hand or industrially. Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an Ein Beitrag geteilt von Mines d'asphalte (@minesdasphalte) Of the 100 kilometers of tunnels on several levels around 22,000 people visit the asphalt mines A guided tour explains how the blasters used to carry out their work You can find more information here On myswiterland.com you will find numerous excursion tips for the whole year Receive our weekly Newsletterand set tailored daily news alerts Ernesto Maurer was elected as a new president who has been member of the board since 2002 and president since 2013 Industrial the members of the group elected Ernesto Maurer as his successor The connoisseur of the international textile machinery industry has held various management positions in leading companies over the last years he is CEO of SSM Schaerer Schweiter Mettler AG in Horgen vice president Urban Germann (Stäubli Sargans AG) and the new board members Norbert Klapper (Rieter AG) Robert Reimann (Jakob Müller AG) and Ralph von Arx (Retech AG) the Swiss textile machinery group will celebrate its 75th anniversary Since 1940 the group supports its member companies–over the years many of them gained international market leadership The planned activities for this year include participation in ITMA show that takes place from 12-19 November in Milan workshops on Innovation and Additive Manufacturing will be organized Swissmem unites the Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering industry and associated technology-oriented sectors Continuous basic work has made Swissmem into a centre of strategic commercial and employer skills This allows the association to represent the concerns of the sector to politicians representatives of employees and the public Swissmem offers numerous practice-oriented services to the companies which help them to maintain their ability to compete and to meet new challenges successfully.   The commitment of Swissmem has a long tradition and is based on the activities of the ASM and VSM associations The VSM was renamed as Swissmem and took over all the activities of the ASM apart from those in connection with the overall employment agreement of the sector www.swissmem.ch Ernesto Maurer appointed new President of Cematex Switzerland demonstrates spirit of innovation at ITMA Asia a brand new career retrospective from German thrash veterans SODOM compiled by bassist/vocalist has entered the German Medai Control chart at position No the "30 Years Sodomized: 1982-2012" box set features the single CD "Official Bootleg - The Witchhunter Decade" and double-CD "Thirty Years War" stickers and the 32-page book in CD format on the band's history "The Official Bootleg - The Witch Hunter Decade" was also made available on colored vinyl "30 Years Sodomized: 1982-2012" box set track listing: CD - Official Bootleg – The Witchhunter Decade: Obsessed By Cruelty (Recorded Live In Belgium After The Deluge (Recorded Live At Metallize Festival Proselytism Real (Recorded Live At Metallize Festival Outbreak Of Evil (Recorded Live In Germany Persecution Mania (Recorded Live In Switzerland Skinned Alive (Recorded Live At WDR Festival Double-LP: Official Bootleg – The Witchhunter Decade Skinned Alive (Recorded Live At Wdr Festival To order the box set, visit NuclearBlast.de Former SODOM drummer Chris "Witchhunter" Dudek died on September 8 SODOM in 2010 announced the addition of drummer Markus "Makka" Freiwald to the group's ranks Freiwald previously played for the German bands DESPAIR and FLAMING ANGER and was involved with the VOODOOCULT project he played percussion as a session musician on the MOONSPELL album "Irreligious" and is featured on the 1996 LP "Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers" by Greek extreme metallers ROTTING CHRIST SODOM in November 2010 parted ways with drummer Bobby Schottkowski due to "personal and private problems between Tom [bassist/vocalist Thomas 'Angelripper' Such] and Bobby," according to a statement released by the band entered the German Media Control chart at position No The CD was released in North America on January 11 AI insights CFO agenda EY Center for board matters EY webcasts Operations leaders Technology leaders EY helps clients create long-term value for all stakeholders our services and solutions provide trust through assurance and help clients transform EY.ai - A unifying platform Strategy, transaction and transformation consulting Technology transformation Tax function operations Climate change and sustainability services EY Ecosystems EY Nexus: business transformation platform Experienced professionals EY-Parthenon careers Student and entry level programs Talent community our purpose is building a better working world The insights and services we provide help to create long-term value for clients 3in3 - Change your perspective on... Different Eyes Magazine Digital Solution Store Startup solution store The recent adoption of the Pay Transparency Directive by the European Parliament represents an important step towards reducing the gender pay gap through increased transparency in pay This development also reflects the broader global conversation on transparency companies will need to adapt and prepare to embrace this transformative change EY Banking 2025 report indicates Swiss banks may see lower profits ahead but remain confident in their long-term business model The EU regulation for artificial intelligence is coming What does it mean for you and your business in Switzerland The future focus should be on developing consumer behavior François-Henry Bennahmias was born in Paris he decided to take on new challenges in the luxury industry before entering the world of fine watchmaking with Audemars Piguet in 1994 he was promoted to brand manager for Singapore and held responsibility for the markets of France he became managing director of Audemars Piguet Inc (North America) in New York in order to develop the brand across the Atlantic He has been the global CEO of Audemars Piguet since 2012 Head of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ | EY Switzerland As we emerge from the acute phase of the COVID-19 crisis EY asked various thought leaders and decision makers to take stock and share their insights into what’s next explains how the lockdown has changed the way he works and how he is coping with the new responsibility We were right in the middle of a workshop on… crisis communication we got a phone call about the first potential case of coronavirus in the company We stopped the workshop and 48 hours later on 21 January I had spoken to the entire workforce about the need to strengthen the company to make it “unbreakable” in the face of emerging difficulties There will inevitably be a pre and post COVID-19 world The situation afterwards will never look the same as it did before because I tend to be a glass-half-full kind of person I think the crisis will bring people together around healthier values and will stimulate creativity and innovation We managed to temporarily close our offices and production sites in Switzerland in just 48 hours we were regularly in contact with our strategic suppliers on the telephone We’ve since reopened but we’re not at full capacity yet We expect volumes to drop by 20-25% this year Sales trends have closely followed the curve of reopenings across the world I’m more concerned with philosophical questions than operational matters If production were to drop tomorrow to 25,000 watches instead of the 40,000 envisaged The fundamental question is: when and how will all this end I asked them to ask their children of all ages how they thought the world would be post-COVID They wanted to hug their family and their grandparents We are going back to the very essence of what it means to be a human being the idea popped up in my mind: what if we changed Audemars Piguet’s business model to focus even more on the human aspect All I can tell you is that the new watchword will be “B to L” which we plan to officially implement as “P to P” love and emotion are essential feelings for our customers the customer’s experience is at best reasonable We need to completely relearn the dynamics of the customer relationship I have a much more balanced lifestyle: gone are the air travel and the jet lag Doing sport and eating at regular hours is much healthier and ultimately more productive I came up with three big ideas during lockdown I’m horrified to see some people forgetting very quickly and wanting to go back to how things were beforehand We need to learn to focus more on what really matters I stopped emailing after 6pm or on weekends I then read Netflix’s policy on employee culture which states that you must trust your staff So we have introduced a remote working system We had an outstanding year in 2019 which allowed us to pay our employees a 14th month salary this year Every crisis brings its share of positives and negatives the importance of love for your own people because what you suspected might happen will happen We must ensure that fine watchmaking will still exist in Switzerland in 20 highly skilled craftspeople like us are protected by the government which funds certain trades so that knowledge can be passed on everyone immediately thinks of Switzerland It is absolutely vital to protect watchmaking We have redesigned our organisational set-up around health We were planning to construct a huge building so that our teams could be together on the same campus but we are now in the process of completely reviewing the project I spend a lot of time talking to young people it’s the captain’s attitude that makes the difference the crew will pick up on this and it will all be plain sailing Even though 2020 has been a difficult year We’ll have to adapt to things that we didn’t know about yesterday Humans don’t like change but our capacity to adapt is extraordinary The New Normal Magazine is open for thought leaders and decision makers of the member firms of Ernst & Young Limited Ernst & Young Limited is a Swiss company with registered seats in Switzerland providing services to clients in Switzerland nine-hour journey trundles through the Swiss and Austrian Alps and soars to more than 1,000 metres above sea level as it crosses the Rhine-Danube watershed Every great railway station needs a guardian angel swimsuit-clad woman with golden wings hovers over the main concourse at the city’s Hauptbahnhof L’ange protecteur by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle is as intriguing as the busy departure boards With direct trains to destinations across 10 countries Sculpture by Niki de Saint Phalle at Zurich’s Hauptbahnhof Photograph: eFesenko/AlamyFor lovers of fine scenery This EuroCity train includes an Austrian restaurant car and one of the rare panorama carriages owned by Swiss operator SBB There’s only one other international departure from Zurich which offers such panoramic delight: the EC8 at 10.59 to Hamburg There are some fine scenic stretches on that route to be sure most notably the hour-long cruise down the Rhine Gorge from Mainz to Koblenz But that cannot compete with the EC163 to Graz which offers over nine hours of first-class Alpine scenery on its journey of 325 miles (522km) to Austria’s second city The entire Arlberg railway is glorious and seen at its best from the comfort of the Swiss panorama carriageI am suddenly overwhelmed by gratitude to the population of Liechtenstein who, in a referendum three years ago, decided that trains should run slowly through their diminutive principality. Good for them! They turned down a proposal to improve the single-track railway that the Transalpin follows through Liechtenstein. Read moreThe two-hour run from Feldkirch to Innsbruck is magnificent after the Arlberg railway across the great divide separating waters which drain west via the Rhine to the North Sea and those flowing east via the Inn and the Danube Ten minutes of darkness in the Arlberg tunnel punctuate a stretch of 25 miles where the railway is always over 1,000 metres above sea level The entire Arlberg railway is glorious and seen at its best from the comfort of the Swiss panorama carriage (the dining car is adjacent too The crossing of such fierce terrain seems all too easy in a modern train My 1840 John Murray guide tells how early travellers perished in the snow on these mountains their frozen bodies left by the path for scavenging crows Graz, capital city of the southern Austrian province of Styria. Photograph: Yating Kuo/Getty ImagesFrom St Anton, it’s downhill all the way via Landeck and Innsbruck to Wörgl where we leave the Inn valley and climb east into the hills to reach Zell am See. We slip down the Salzach valley to Bischofshofen, leaving it there and cresting a gentle col to reach the valley of the River Enns. The challenging gradients of the Arlberg are far behind, replaced now by the quiet charm of single-track railway through rural Austria. A steady drizzle sets in by Selzthal where we stop for 10 minutes. Then it’s just another 90 minutes on to Graz, where we arrive on time at 18.14. Free weekly newsletterThe only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. Read moreIt’s interesting how these very special carriages venture so far from their homeland for from Graz there’s now a Swiss panorama carriage on the daily EuroCity train to Przemyśl in the far south-east corner of Poland close to the border with Ukraine but after over nine hours on a train from Zurich I need a day or two in one place before venturing further east And Graz is certainly worth a night or two offering a grace and style that rivals Vienna Graz has a fine range of onward international rail connections there are also direct daytime services to Berlin A Swiss panorama carriage Photograph: Hidden EuropeThe Swiss panorama carriage on the Transalpin is designated as first-class Elsewhere on the train there’s a choice of first and second-class open-plan carriages and old-style compartment coaches The Austrian restaurant car on the Transalpin is open for most of the journey (mains from about €10) One-way tickets on the Transalpin from Zurich to Graz start at €33.10 in second class and €70.70 in first or use an Interrail pass (from €258 for a four-day pass which also allows free travel for two accompanying children aged 11 and under) Nicky Gardner is a Berlin-based writer. The 17th edition of her book Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide has just been reprinted and can be ordered from the Guardian Bookshop The Pandora Papers, a massive leak of about 12 million documents from 14 offshore service providers, detail among others purported secret financial stakes of Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which examined the leaks, says the documents reveal that Ivanishvili established 12 companies in the British Virgin Islands, an offshore haven, between 1998 and 2016. The group says all the companies, at some point, listed Panama-based offshore service provider Alcogal as an agent the ICIJ says it identified Ivanishvili as a beneficial owner of Silverport Trading Limited the investigative journalists say Silverport Holdings Ltd was set up in 2016 to hold publicly listed companies through a brokerage account was supposedly linked to a trust Ivanishvili set up for his children Ivanishvili founded Brighton Corporate Ltd to finance debt-equity of certain projects of the Georgian Co-Investment Fund a group that has invested in some of the largest projects in Georgia including Paragraph Resort and Spa in seaside Shekvetili village of Guria region Axis Towers and Galleria Tbilisi in the capital Reports about Ivanishvili’s purported offshore dealings have emerged before – in the similar ICIJ investigation dubbed Panama Papers in 2017 and several reports published by Transparency International Georgia A June 2021 report by TI Georgia said Ivanishvili’s Brightsone Finance Ltd. established in 2015 according to the Pandora Papers is a controlling shareholder of Georgia-based Eurasian Invest LLC a company that through several other firms holds sizeable stakes in Poti Free Industrial Zone a tax haven near Georgia’s key port of Poti TI Georgia argued the profitability of the Poti Free Industrial Zone was directly related to cargo turnover in the Poti port “Ivanishvili’s total influence over the Georgian Dream government is known,” stressed the ADC claiming Ivanishvili had opposed the Anaklia Project since 2017 2020 marks the 80th anniversary date of the Swissmem Textile Machinery Division The section was established during very difficult times but has achieved success for both partners: Today the Swissmem Textile Machinery Division is celebrating its 80th anniversary as a founding member headquartered in Switzerland enjoys worldwide renown as an innovation driver in textile mechatronics Remaining forward-looking and optimistic – and continuing to innovate during the present time in which people and businesses everywhere are struggling with a global crisis – are values that have been intrinsic to the Stäubli Group since the very beginning Stäubli has always seen crisis and difficulty as a chance to think out of the box and to embrace new opportunities In 1940 the Stäubli family took part in the founding meeting of the Textile Machinery Division of the Swissmem association Goals of this Textile Machinery Division were to secure supplies of raw materials to approach markets in a united and effective way and to continue making high-quality products in Switzerland and selling them throughout Europe and the rest of the world The division has been globally promoting Swiss textile machinery in recent years with the slogan ‘Innovation: it’s in our DNA’ the innovation gene dates back to 1892 and is abundantly evident today in the 500-some R&D engineers working in the Group to invent redesign or improve Stäubli mecatronics solutions and thereby bring further benefits to Stäubli customers the various Stäubli teams bundle their expertise and the input of sales and technical teams who collaborate closely with customers and thus learn the real needs of the weaving mills and the markets This rich combination results in a diversified product portfolio that meets the requirements of any woven application and covers the needs of any weaving company Stäubli also goes a step further: The company’s solutions support market trends and provide the flexibility to adapt to future changes and challenges and spare parts availability even years after delivery make Stäubli solutions an essential part of modern weaving mill operations around the world Standard-setting technologies in weaving preparation and shed formation Stäubli sets worldwide standards in the weaving industry Prime examples are Active Warp Control (AWC) and Initial Condition Settings (ICS) applied in the company’s SAFIR automatic drawing-in machines AWC enables automatic supervision and management of yarn types and colors during automatic drawing in ICS represents state-of-the-art technology for efficient style and warp changes enabling easy startup after style change with specific yarns These and other leading-edge technologies help to optimize the process flow within the mill and greatly enhance operational performance The SAFIR range of automatic drawing-in systems offers two machinery concepts (one stationary and one mobile) and offers a choice of four machine models These systems efficiently process not only standard yarns filaments and effect yarns but also technical yarns such glass fibers for fine filter applications Stäubli is the leading provider of weaving equipment for airbag and large-format weaving The LX/LXL/LXXL Jacquard machines are available in many formats and formats of up to 51,200 hooks can be achieved by combining two machines a new-generation electronic control system that sets a new standard for reliability in high-speed weaving The electronics architecture of NOEMI boasts a reduced number of connectors for extremely stable data transmission Mills that use an LX Jacquard machine combined with individually adapted Stäubli Jacquard harnesses have a reliable and highly efficient solution with a single purpose: producing high volumes of first-quality fabric with minimum downtimes The Swissmem Textile Machinery Division will celebrate its next future milestone in 2030 at which time we will certainly look back on 2020 a year that will mark history books due to the pandemic which has devastated individuals and businesses around the world mankind has been called upon to adapt and remain flexible and businesses have been challenged to innovate The Stäubli Group is determined to meet this challenge by providing flexible and reliable solutions for long-term use and by driving innovation further always with one goal in mind: to provide modern and market-oriented solutions for the textile industry and thereby equip the industry for sustainable performance and achievement India’s growing demand for textiles and its expanding export market call for the most modern production means in order to produce economically and efficiently As a manufacturer and supplier of high performance textile machinery Stäubli has been familiar with the Indian and neighboring market for decades The Stäubli Group has its passion for innovation Quality is the company’s mission and driving force It has around 4,500 employees in 12 production sites and 25 business units worldwide About 500 R&D specialists and application engineers are caring about the constant development re-engineering and improvement of the Stäubli product range India-ITME has always been an important show for Stäubli says: “The response to our product portfolio and service offerings was quite encouraging Even after the ITMA in Milano in November 2015 or the ITMA Asia in Shanghai in October 2016 where more than 10 new products were introduced we still were able to show new products to the Indian weavers for the first time Brand new were for instance our latest generation of cam motions for high-speed weaving machines and our new warp tying machine At India-ITME Stäubli had on display a complete range of products and solutions India has been one of the most important markets for the Stäubli Textile activity The import of Stäubli textile machinery into India began in 1947 Stäubli established its own Indian subsidiary which became a private limited company in 2009 This strong national presence with a team of sales and after-sales personnel allows weaving mills to fully benefit from the company’s products today and for the long term Stäubli not only deliver machines but ensure their optimal availability by providing maintenance services and supply of original spare parts for an extended period of time Globally Stäubli has been steadily expanding its presence in all key markets In May 2016 it celebrated the opening of the new plant in Turkey where the adventure of Stäubli started mid of the 1980s with an estimated agent in order to introduce the extensive range of textile machinery in the promising Turkish market in 1995 it was decided to found Stäubli Turkey to fulfill a clear mission: serve the Turkish market even more intimately and steadily expand the Stäubli organization where we adapted over the years the company’s organization to the market needs in order to be constantly able to serve our customers with a premium service perfectly in line with our longlife machinery” he observed: “We are looking positively to the future In India it seems to be a bit more sluggish to get new investment plans off the ground to get them through all the processes We hope that things would get a bit easier for our customers to proceed with their investment plans” Stäubli is undoubtedly the market leader in most product segments that it is present in What then drives the next phase of product innovation “We have this passion for innovative products And when you are in this market leading position you are facing high expectations as well from the customer side so you have to steadily improve and continue doing your best to keep this position We want to stay at the forefront and our aim is to offer our customers the latest technological solutions that offer real advantages to improve their production process in the very demanding textile market” customer service becomes very important to ensure success of any organization “Stäubli guarantees to build into every one of our products high quality But helping customers meet the industry’s growing demand of high productivity takes even more We think that partnering with our customers worldwide to provide personal service and support are key to ensuring efficient production and minimal downtime The important team of sales and customer service engineers is supported for instance by the international spare parts department providing technical support and its online catalogue The Stäubli Group is always willing to invest and did always invest to adapt its resources to ensure excellent services” Stäubli will continue in line with its convictions and aims to stay at the forefront as a mechatronics solution provider renown for highest quality standards that offer reliability flexibility and productivity to its customers Staubli marked its leadership in the Indian weaving segment with a fine display of products and solutions including the SX Jacquards new generation Dobbies and the Delta 110 automatic drawing-in machines Staubli sees a trend in India to automate drawing-in operations Higher weaving machine efficiencies and fabric quality are convincing arguments to go into automatic drawing-in besides saving labour Staubli Sargans AG of his impression on the Indian market and how he forsees future growth for Staubli in this important market Question: How was the year 2012 been for Stäubli in India How was the response particularly at the India ITME show Answer: The Indian investment engine was not running at highest revs in weaving last year – this in comparison to some of the best years prior to the crisis Global consumer demands and export markets have been hampered FDIs in India on lower levels and agreements on e.g. The recently announced measures to deregulate the market will eventually ease some of the pressure believe that the downturn has bottomed out and that improvements will be seen this year India ITME proved to be a bumper exhibition all around Stäubli’s booth was one of the major points of interest Our booth capacity to welcome our existing and perspective customers was bursting at its seams Q: Stäubli commands a strong leadership position in the Indian market What is the current market share of the company with its complementary brands of Schönherr and Deimo has enjoyed a long and successful history of 120 years Our company believes in and lives up to traditional values such as providing our global customers with innovative products and services Our distribution strategy focuses on an immediate proximity Our customers in India speak with well-known Stäubli personnel in their own language during their working hours without having to wait until our production units in Europe start their daily work We have been operating our own company set up in India since 1993 and will be growing it according to market requirements in India has built a very strong local Stäubli team While our market share in India is probably not bad we still have ample potential to further grow it Our existing and prospective customers will merit our intention to grow only if we live up to their expectations Q: How important is the Indian market for Stäubli A: It goes without saying that Stäubli has very high aspirations and a strategic intent to excel in every market our company is in India is undoubtedly one of our key markets and plays a very important role now and in future if India is actually reaping its full potential in a global arena of competitive fabric manufacturing and trading There is still too much red tape in India compared to some of India’s competitors Q: With the Government’s push to increase India’s competitiveness in the weaving segment what is the kind of growth you feel we can witness in the Indian market for weaving machines Do you see this as a definite opportunity for Stäubli’s business in India Stäubli very much welcomes India’s intention to further strengthen its weaving industry This push should ultimately lead to a more positive investment climate What would also help and facilitate investments is if throughput times for financing and applications for subsidies could be shortened and “red tape” be reduced India has everything on its side – we believe though that growth and competitiveness can be had at even a faster pace compared to other textile nations While the country is evolving in those areas Stäubli will have to make sure to be ready for any kind of market improvements and to keep its innovative style to excel in providing active warp and weft control systems Q: What are Stäubli’s recent innovations in weaving systems A: It is probably fair to suggest that Stäubli (including its brands Schönherr and Deimo) is heavily involved when it comes to fostering innovative and cost-optimized improvements in weaving technology are important ingredients and drivers of higher weaving outputs at highest quality and lowest energy consumption possible the following innovations were part of discussions at the ITME show in Mumbai: – New dobby generation (S3000 series) with a new locking system offering enhanced security for the selection of heald frames on weaving machines and allowing higher running speeds and reliability This new generation is more compact and generates much less noise and vibration despite the higher speed – New cam motions (1671/1681/1781 series) with a new high-performance cam-and lever assembly offering a broad range of symmetrical and asymmetrical cams for increased flexibility and performance – New SX Jacquard machines for plain or velvet weaving – driven either with a mechanical link or with a direct and independent drive concept – or our new Univalette Jacquard solution for narrow fabric weaving – New Safir drawing-in machine – S80 and S30 series – for high-speed and complex drawing in solutions with its new concept for filament applications (S30) allowing more than 200’000 ends drawn in a day thus resulting in a production increase of up to 10 times compared to current manual operations – High performance Delta drawing-in machine – Delta 110 series – for shirting – Carpet weaving machines – ALPHA series offer new carpet design opportunities through active weft control systems with multi weft selection magic weft effect or high density designs or carpets with shadow effects our customers profit from lower production cost per unit produced at higher efficiency and quality levels The environmental impact is improved through a lower ecological footprint in their operations Q: Warp preparation is an area which Stäubli is putting a lot of focus on What are the technological developments in this area and what are the solutions that Stäubli offers A: It is correct – our warp preparation systems are also an important part of our textile machinery business – like our shed forming or weaving technologies Automatic drawing-in solutions have to make economical sense which is attained through high performance repetitive and guaranteed quality of any drawing in patterns in one operation of drawing in warp ends into drop wires Technological developments cover topics like high-speed electronics as well as reliable sensors and pneumatics reliable yarn detection is a key function in order to properly select different or mixed yarn types in same warp different color repeats or transparent yarns with very high densities in same warps It is inevitable that automatic drawing-in has to guarantee a proper and parallel yarn and color sequence without any double- or crossed ends High quality warps on weaving machines are even more important than simply properly prepared beams from direct beaming High investments are made for those pre-processes But too often process control steps are then interrupted going into manual instead of automatic drawing-in Efficient and effective weaving includes automatic drawing-in operations Solutions range from the bread and butter versions of our Delta Series to our Safir S80 covering two-beam applications or heald frame packages of up to 28 frames or our Safir S30 for filament applications exceeding 200’000 ends drawn in a day How would you summarise Stäubli’s contribution to the weaving industry A: Stäubli has indeed enjoyed a long history and has seen many changes over the years Traditional values such as providing our global customer base with innovative products and services continuity and high quality offerings have brought about some quantum leaps and major technological breakthroughs: * Offering mechanized and automated beam knotting and tying solutions for the first time some 80 years ago * Bringing out new shed forming solutions with the rotative mechanism of dobby machines some 30 years ago * Guaranteeing new design opportunities with electronically controlled Jacquard machines since the eighties of the +last century * Introducing process-controlled and fully automated drawing-in machines with our DELTA machines in 1991 * Offering single-end or hook control with individual stepper drives on Jacquard machines with our UNIVAL line in 1991 We intend to come along with many more innovative products and systems as we go along An abundance of fresh fish can be found at the specialized shops of the Krasnodar Central Market in Bourgas The fresh Black Sea feed /sargan/ is available for 12 Lev per kilogram is priced at 10 Lev per kilo but is expected to fall as its rich catch is forthcoming a lot of delicate fish can be found at a low price on the market The reason for the low price is the fact that they are small