Gemäss dem Performance-Index «BAK TOPINDEX» von BAKBASEL ist das Grossarltal (Salzburg) über das ganze Jahr betrachtet die erfolgreichste Destination im Alpenraum. Knapp dahinter folgen Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis (Tirol) und die Vorarlberger Destination Kleinwalsertal. Mit Luzern, Engelberg, Zermatt und Scuol befinden sich auch vier Schweizer Destinationen unter den fünfzehn erfolgreichsten Destinationen des Alpenraums. In der Wintersaison wird das Ranking von der österreichischen Destination Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis angeführt. In der Sommersaison liegt Luzern an der Spitze.

Heute haben die Schweiz und die Europäische Union (EU) das im Rahmen der Bilateralen I abgeschlossene Abkommen über die gegenseitige Anerkennung von Konformitätsbewertungen (Mutual Recognition Agreement, MRA CH-EU) angepasst: Es wurde um ein neues Kapitel über Seilbahnen erweitert und die rechtlichen Referenzen wurden auf den neusten Stand gebracht. Diese Änderung tritt am heutigen Tag in Kraft.

Water splitting in photo-electrochemical cells to yield hydrogen is a promising way to sustainable fuels. A team of Swiss and US scientists now made major progress in developing highly efficient electrodes - made of an algal protein, thus mimicking a central step in natural photosynthesis.

Das Eidgenössische Volkswirtschaftsdepartement EVD hat die Finanzhilfeverträge 2012 bis 2015 mit den vier Bürgschaftsgenossenschaften Coopérative romande de cautionnement - PME, BG Mitte, OBTG und Saffa abgeschlossen. Damit sind die Grundlagen für eine erfolgreiche Fortführung des Bürgschaftswesens geschaffen.

Federal Government's Expert Group on Economic Forecasts - Economic Outlook Winter 2011/2012* - Under the influence of an increasingly bleak economic outlook in the EU and the strong Swiss Franc, the Swiss economy has quickly lost momentum over the last months. An economic crisis similar to the one experienced in 2008/2009 seems unlikely however. Under the assumption that the euro debt crisis does not further escalate, the economic slowdown in Switzerland should be limited in depth and time. The Expert Group forecasts a weak GDP growth for 2012 (+0.5%), followed by a recovery in 2013 (+1.9%). Unemployment will noticeably rise in 2012 as a consequence of the faltering economy.

The Federal Council has appointed Professor Konrad Steffen as the new Director of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL. The 59-year-old Konrad Steffen is currently a professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado, USA, and Director of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences CIRES. He will take office as Professor James W. Kirchner's successor no later than 1 July 2012. With the appointment of Konrad Steffen, the Federal Council acceded to an application submitted by the ETH Board.

On 9 December 2011, the Federal Council granted its support to the import promotion program "Swiss Import Promotion Program" (SIPPO) for the period 2012-2015. The SIPPO program will foster impor¬ts from developing and transition countries and generate new business opportunities with these countries.

Arbeitslosigkeit im November 2011. Gemäss den Erhebungen des Staatssekretariats für Wirtschaft SECO waren Ende November 2011 121'109 Arbeitslose bei den Regionalen Arbeitsvermittlungszentren (RAV) eingeschrieben, 5'931 mehr als im Vormonat. Die Arbeitslosenquote stieg damit von 2,9% im Oktober 2011 auf 3,1% im Berichtsmonat. Gegenüber dem Vorjahresmonat verringerte sich die Arbeitslosigkeit um 20'559 Personen (-14,5%).

While elsewhere species extinction is proceeding at an ever-increasing rate, plankton biodiversity in Lake Zurich is apparently benefiting from rising temperatures and the successful measures against over-fertilization. Begun in the 1970s, this course of action may have a long-term positive effect on fish diversity, although it is too soon to tell. The new species are being watched closely by the water supply company, for some of them can produce harmful substances.

The real gross domestic product for Switzerland grew by 0.2% between the second and third quarters.* Positive growth impulses were generated by private and government consumption as well as by construction investments. By contrast, declining exports and fixed assets investments had a negative impact on GDP growth. On the production side, domestic oriented sectors contributed to growth, while the value added from industry shrank. GDP growth was 1.3% compared to the third quarter of the previous year.

Increasing the effectiveness of development cooperation is the theme of an international conference that convened today in the South Korean city of Busan. A delegation from Switzerland, led by SDC Director-General Martin Dahinden, is among the participants. Representatives from government, civil society, and private industry hailing from both donor and recipient countries will seek to form a new, stronger partnership to enhance the efficiency and the effectiveness of development cooperation.

For over 20 years Switzerland has been supporting the countries of South-Eastern Europe in building reliable water supply systems and developing an effective public service. At the Annual Conference on Cooperation with Eastern Europe and the CIS jointly held by the SDC and SECO, experts and officials discussed achievements and future challenges by looking at examples from Moldova and Albania. The President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey stressed that Switzerland would continue to work for a sustainable development which not only combats poverty but also protects natural resources.

For over 20 years, Switzerland has been supporting the countries of South-Eastern Europe in building reliable water-supply systems and in creating properly functioning public utility companies. The Annual Conference on Swiss Cooperation with Eastern Europe and the CIS to be held on 25 November 2011 in Neuchâtel, will bring together experts and government officials from both Switzerland and abroad for a discussion on what has been achieved to date and the challenges still to be met. The focus will be on projects being conducted in Moldova and Albania. Those persons interested as well as representatives of the media are cordially invited to attend.

Eine gemeinsame Studie des Staatssekretariates für Wirtschaft SECO und des Bundesamtes für Gesundheit BAG zeigt, dass Köchinnen und Köche beim Arbeiten an gewerblichen Induktionskochherden Magnetfeldbelastungen ausgesetzt sind, die teilweise über dem aktuellen Grenzwert liegen. Sie hat zudem gezeigt, dass mit geeigneten Massnahmen die Belastung durch Magnetfelder verringert werden kann.

Results from the last survey showed that consumer confidence in Switzerland fell once again between July and October 2011. The index calculated from the quarterly survey* reached a level of -24 points in October (after -17 in July). Consumers were more pessimistic about the future general economic situation and expressed higher unemployment expectations.