Archive – Science

National day leads to fresh search for Swiss identity

This content was published on Jul 31, 2000 On the 809th anniversary of the founding of the Swiss Confederation, the debate about Swiss identity is raging as vigorously as ever. The central question is how a place with four national languages and a population of only seven million – 20 per cent of whom are foreigners – can consider itself a “country” in…

Vitamin cartel: Roche faces penalties

This content was published on Jul 29, 2000 The two countries are investigating the companies in order to establish whether they are monopolising the vitamin market. Last year, Roche and BASF were condemned by the United States and Canada, and ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in fines. Rhone-Poulenc, the affiliate of the German-Swiss group Aventis, were also subject to stiff…

Interlaken: Swiss canyoning mecca

This content was published on Jul 26, 2000 Sandy Bolland, the manager of Balmer’s Herberge, a popular hostel for young foreign travellers, said the impact of last year’s accident had been minimal. “We personally haven’t found that it’s had that great an influence on bookings for extreme sports,” Bolland told swissinfo, adding that the continued interest was a result of young people not…

Storms wreak havoc in Swiss tourist regions

This content was published on Jul 25, 2000 Police in canton Graubünden temporarily closed off a bye-road around the mountain resort of Davos following Monday’s storms. In canton Valais, an access road to the resort of Zermatt and another one in a nearby valley were closed for several hours. A stream broke its banks sweeping away a bridge. One of the areas worst…

Plans for energy tax come under fire

This content was published on Jul 20, 2000 Opposition to the proposed tax on fossil fuels and nuclear energy has been growing since it was announced that the issue would go to a nationwide vote in September. Critics led by the business community argue that the tax will lead to higher energy costs and deliver little benefit to the environment. Now they have…

Biennial aims to bring ceramics to the people

This content was published on Jul 17, 2000 “Our aim is the participation of people not normally associated with this branch of the arts and crafts,” says one of the organisers, Brigitte Steinemann-Reis. “We are delighted that shopkeepers in Lucerne as well as cultural centres are providing space for ceramics.” The focal point of the biennial is an exhibition in the Löwengraben cultural…

Fears of damage to festival terrain

This content was published on Jul 17, 2000 Organisers say repair work is needed on part of the land surface, which was churned up by the combination of weather and crowds. The full extent of the damage will not be known until later in the week, but in the meantime sand is being used to stabilise the terrain. Festival director Philippe Cornu said…

Falling interest in Rhine Falls

This content was published on Jul 15, 2000 Up until the end of the 1960s, more than one and a half million people a year visited the Rhine Falls on the border between cantons Zurich and Schaffhausen. They were faced with an unparalleled natural spectacle: more than 700 cubic metres of water a second pitching over the wide limestone cliffs, which were formed…

Bergier commission dismisses criticism over wartime inquiry

This content was published on Jul 13, 2000 The commission, led by the historian Jean-Francois Bergier, defended the two interim reports published so far. At a news conference in Berne on Thursday, it said the research had been undertaken with the utmost care and without prejudice. Commission member, Harold James, said he was not surprised the interim reports had sparked controversy. He said…

Stosa sold to Italian group

This content was published on Jul 13, 2000 Arquati said in a statement that its acquisition of a majority stake in the group would still allow Stosa to continue its business in much the same way as it did before. Located in canton Argau, Stosa, will continue to work under the same name with the same management. The price of the deal was…

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National day leads to fresh search for Swiss identity

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Vitamin cartel: Roche faces penalties

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Interlaken: Swiss canyoning mecca

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Storms wreak havoc in Swiss tourist regions

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Plans for energy tax come under fire

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Biennial aims to bring ceramics to the people

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Fears of damage to festival terrain

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Falling interest in Rhine Falls

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Bergier commission dismisses criticism over wartime inquiry

More

Stosa sold to Italian group

Popular Stories

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