Swiss News
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Launching rockets never gets old
Guided tour and private talk by Swiss artist Raphael Hefti
Swiss Federal Council reshuffle
Switzerland has a new Foreign Minister in the person of Didier Burkhalter from the centre-right Radical Party. He succeeds Micheline Calmy-Rey from the centre-left Social Democrat Party who after nine years sitting on the Federal Council as Foreign Minister stepped down at the end of 2011.
Micheline Calmy-Rey from Geneva was elected to the Federal Council in December 2002. From 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2011, she was head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Micheline Calmy-Rey was president of the Swiss Confederation in 2007 and in 2011 and the fourth woman elected to the Federal Council in history.
Didier Burkhalter from Neuchâtel was elected to the Federal Council in September 2009. He was the Interior Minister until December 2011 heading the Federal Department of Home Affairs.
Following Micheline Calmy-Rey’s resignation, the Swiss parliament elected Alain Berset, also from the centre-left SDP, to the Federal Council in October last year. He is the fourth Fribourg cabinet minister and the 11th youngest in the history of the Swiss Confederation. He is the new Interior Minister.
Jetman
In November 2011, Yves Rossy set another world record after flying with just a jet-propelled wing in formation alongside two Albatros jet planes above Swiss Alps for 10 minutes.
This daring pilot has many world records like flying across the English Channel on 26 September 2008 in less than 10 minute, jumping from a hot-air balloon (altitude of 2400 meter) and completing two aerial loops with just a jet-propelled wing.
Yves Rossy aka as Jetman was born in Neuchâtel in 1959. He is a pilot for Swiss International Airlines, an inventor and an aviation enthusiast. He was a fighter pilot in the Swiss Air Force flying Mirage IIIs, Tiger IIs and Hawker Hunters.
Philipp Hildebrand, Chairman of the Swiss National Bank resigns
The embattled head of the Swiss National Bank, Philipp Hildebrand, has announced his resignation amid a controversy over private currency deals conducted by his wife. He stated that he could not provide conclusive evidence that his wife did initiate the transaction without his knowledge.
Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King said in a statement: "We all know that he is a man of total integrity, extraordinary ability and, most important of all, courage. Such people are rare. His country will miss him”.