All posts tagged: Swiss

Solar gets RAILED in new Swiss pilot that puts PV panels on track

Solar gets RAILED in new Swiss pilot that puts PV panels on track

Published by skeptic

Finding places to deploy new solar panels is often just as challenging as the construction project itself – with productive farmland, open parking lots, and rooftops all offering their own sets of pros and cons, but a recent pilot project suggests that thousands of acres of viable, low-cost land have been hiding in plain sight all along: the space between railroad tracks. Developed by solar startup Sun-Ways, the new, rail-based solar panel systems can be quickly placed on existing standard rails, sending power either back to the grid or to stations, terminals, or even the train itself as it moves along the track itself. The best part? The PV panels don’t interfere with conventional railway traffic. “We have achieved our objectives, both in terms of railway safety and electricity production,” Joseph Scuderi, founder of the start-up Sun-Ways, told Swissinfo. “More than 11,000 trains have circulated over the solar panels, and the installation has proven to be perfectly stable and safe during their passage.” Rapid deployment Installing the panels; via Sun-Ways. Sun-Ways’ patented interlocking panels are installed …

Three Swiss Museums Return Trove of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

Three Swiss Museums Return Trove of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

Published by Jenni Sidey

Three Swiss museums have returned 18 royal and religious artifacts from the Kingdom of Benin to Nigeria, marking another significant repatriation of the so-called Benin Bronzes. A handover ceremony took place today at the University of Zurich between Swiss Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider and Nigeria’s Minister of Culture, Hannatu Musa Musawa. The university returned 14 objects from its Ethnographic Museum, while two additional Benin Bronzes came from Museum Rietberg Zurich and another two from the Musée d’Ethnographie de Genève.  Related Articles The Benin Bronzes refer to the approximately 5,000 bronze sculptures, ceremonial objects, and ivory carvings looted by British forces from the Kingdom of Benin, in what is now Nigeria, during the 1897 punitive expedition. Scattered across museums and private collections worldwide via illicit channels, the bronzes have become emblematic of efforts by formerly colonized countries to reclaim cultural heritage, as well as the broader—and often contentious—debate over the ethics of ethnographic collections.  Among the artifacts returned by Switzerland is a Benin Eroro, a four-sided ceremonial bell that played a central role in royal rites, …

Swiss Institute to Move to Permanent Home on the Bowery Next Spring

Swiss Institute to Move to Permanent Home on the Bowery Next Spring

Published by Jenni Sidey

The New York–based Swiss Institute has acquired the ground floor and lower level of 250 Bowery, which will become its permanent home when it opens in spring 2027. In an interview, Swiss Institute director Stefanie Hessler described the move as a “new chapter” in the institution’s history as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. The organization had been looking for about 2.5 years for a new home while also securing the funds needed to purchase the space. “We wanted to find a space that matches the profile of Swiss Institute,” Hessler said, noting that it was important that the new location “has that downtown feel and character to it that will allow us to show forward-looking exhibitions and invite artists for their first solos and to really bring those international as well as New York perspectives to the Institute.” Related Articles The Swiss Institute’s new location once housed the International Center of Photography and is a few minutes’ walk to the New Museum. “We’re excited to take that space over and, with the remodel, to turn …

Swiss Government Discusses Revoking Protections, Benefits For Military-Aged Ukrainians

Swiss Government Discusses Revoking Protections, Benefits For Military-Aged Ukrainians

Published by Jenni Sidey

During the opening years of the Russia-Ukraine war European states were quite welcoming to Ukrainian refugees and anyone fleeing the carnage and chaos, but now in the conflict’s fifth year the general sentiment among EU populations and governments is changing. Switzerland, once hailed as Europe’s most neutral state – and among the most ‘welcoming’ countries for asylum seekers – is mulling a policy change which would exclude Ukrainian men of military age from protections granted to refugees. The Swiss Federal Council announced in a statement Friday that it has begun consultations over the legal status of some 66,000 Ukrainian nationals who fled to Switzerland after the conflict erupted. Image: Keystone-SDA Welfare assistance and refugee protections are quite good in Switzerland, given individuals receive basic living items as well as government payouts, and can even freely travel in and out of the country. For now, protections are expected to extend to Ukrainians in the country, but there’s new talk of revoking this status for men of military age at a moment the Ukrainian military continues to face a severe …

Iran says closed Strait of Hormuz as US deal hits obstacle ahead of Swiss talks

Iran says closed Strait of Hormuz as US deal hits obstacle ahead of Swiss talks

Published by Sam Flores

Iran on Saturday said that it closed the Strait of Hormuz because of Israel’s attacks in Lebanon and warned that while negotiators were going to Switzerland for talks with the United States on their interim agreement, not much likely will happen if the fighting doesn’t stop. US President Donald Trump, in response, threatened to impose American tolls in the crucial waterway if a final deal with Iran isn’t reached in 60 days, saying the money would be for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East.” His social media post underscored that the agreement calls for toll-free travel for 60 days. The announcements indicated a rough start to technical-level US-Iran talks that key mediator Pakistan said will begin Sunday, with Qatari mediators also participating. Iran’s joint military command said the strait was closed because of the US “clear breach of its commitments” by failing to end the war. The interim deal is meant to stop fighting on all fronts. Control of Hormuz strait Iranian state media said the negotiating team …

Swiss Voters Reject Proposal To Cap Population At 10 Million

Swiss Voters Reject Proposal To Cap Population At 10 Million

Published by Jenni Sidey

Summary: Swiss Voters Reject Population Cap of Ten Million Propsal  The initiative “No 10 Million Switzerland” (population cap of 10 million) is being voted on by the Swiss and is likely to be rejected at the ballot box New Projection by research institute GFS Bern, commissioned by SRG SSR, 1 pm local time Final Vote In a national vote, Swiss voters rejected the proposed 10-million-person cap, with 54% voting against the measure and 46% backing the initiative. Public broadcaster SRF wrote: Some had expected a close vote on the “No 10-Million-Switzerland” initiative. But shortly after noon – with the first projection showing 55 percent voting against – it became increasingly clear: the initiative would not find a majority among the Swiss electorate. The relief among the broad political opposition was correspondingly great. The Social Democratic Party (SP) wrote in a statement: “The clear result sends a signal to the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and right-wing populist forces: The population no longer wants any new Schwarzenbach initiatives.” Furthermore, the population supports stable relations with the EU. “This gives momentum …

Swiss misses give them World Cup headache after Qatar slipup

Swiss misses give them World Cup headache after Qatar slipup

Published by Sam Flores

SANTA CLARA, California, June 13 : Switzerland were confident of having their best-ever World Cup run, but their journey became a whole lot more complex after an unfathomable bout of misfiring opened the door for unheralded Qatar to snatch a point in their Group B opener. The Swiss swagger was abundant in the blazing sunshine on Saturday, as a side playing in their sixth successive World Cup delivered a California crowd-pleaser by laying siege to the Qatar goal for almost the entire match, with a whopping 26 attempts.  They went ahead early through a Breel Embolo penalty but couldn’t build on that, paying dearly for a stoppage-time defensive lapse that allowed Qatar to level, with Boualem Khoukhi’s header going in off defender Miro Muheim, sparking jubilant scenes and leaving the Swiss shell-shocked. While the match was historic for Qatar, who won their first-ever World Cup point, it was yet another one for the Swiss to forget in a tournament in which they’re seemingly cursed after round-of-16 exits in five of their last six appearances. No …

Resurgent Swiss seek new story to break World Cup hoodoo

Resurgent Swiss seek new story to break World Cup hoodoo

Published by Sam Flores

June 1 : After having a stellar Euro 24 run and going unbeaten in qualifying, Switzerland have reason to believe 2026 can be their breakthrough World Cup – if they can banish a hoodoo hanging over them for three decades.  Contesting their sixth successive World Cup, Switzerland’s consistency in qualifying is matched only by the predictability of their exits, vexed by the hex of round-of-16 eliminations in five of their past six tournaments.  Their second-round curse set lasting World Cup records in 2006, as the only team eliminated without conceding a goal in open play, and the ignominy of being the only side not to convert a single penalty in a shootout.  But 72 years after their last quarter-final appearance, the Nati approach this World Cup oozing confidence, unbeaten in competitive matches since November 2024 and riding momentum from a standout Euro 2024, where a shootout miss against England denied them an historic semi-final place.  Coach Murat Yakin said that with expectations rising, Switzerland were keen to finally make their mark on the tournament. “We …