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Glaciers head towards meltdown

This content was published on Aug 10, 2001 The Aletsch, the longest glacier in the Alps, isn’t what it used to be. Measuring nearly 27 kilometres in length about 150 years ago, it has since receded about three kilometres and lost about 20 per cent of its surface area. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Lower Grindelwald Glacier attracted scholars, painters and…

Wealth and woe in Grindelwald, Aletsch

This content was published on Aug 10, 2001 Tourists travelled to Grindelwald early in the century to view the sea of glaciers dividing the Bernese Oberland from upper canton Valais. The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks looming over Grindelwald also enthralled them. The best route to climb the peaks though was through the back door from Valais, crossing the Aletsch Glacier. Inns and…

Glacier experiments helped define ice age theory

This content was published on Aug 10, 2001 In 1827, Franz Joseph Hugi of Solothurn built a primitive hut on the glacier, then pounded in a series of stakes and chiselled marks onto the rocks, becoming the first to measure glacial movement. It was an important development, supporting theories of some European scholars and confirming what mountain dwellers already knew — that glaciers…

Garaventa and Doppelmayr merge

This content was published on Aug 10, 2001 A statement on Friday said the two companies wanted to build a powerful organisation with the aim of continuing to develop and improve ropeway technolgies. The contract was signed on Wednesday. The majority shareholder of the new group, which will have its headquarters in Goldau, is Doppelmayr Holding of Wolfurt in Austria. Garaventa’s chief executive…

Clothes made the climber

This content was published on Aug 10, 2001 In the late 18th century, one climber reached the top of Western Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, wearing little more than pyjamas. In 1854, Alfred Wills ascended the 3,700 metre high Wetterhorn in flannel cricketing trousers, and one of his contemporaries did the same on the nearby Kleine Schreckhorn. They had ignored advice from guidebooks…

Blue chips set to report results

This content was published on Aug 10, 2001 On Tuesday, Switzerland’s biggest bank, UBS, will reveal its interim figures. Early analyst estimates forecast a downturn in profit of nearly 40 per cent over the second quarter after write-downs on its private equity portfolio. UBS, the world’s largest private wealth manager, was cheered after its first quarter results in May showed it reversed outflows…

Government launches psychological support offensive

This content was published on Aug 10, 2001 The Federal Department for Civil Protection decided to run the training programme to deal with the problems faced by hundreds of Swiss citizens who have been involved in serious accidents and disasters, such as the Swissair commuter plane which crashed outside Zurich in early 2000. The courses are run with the help of the Federation…

Rail 2000 on track to ensure quicker travel

This content was published on Aug 10, 2001 When the line opens at the end of 2004, the speeds reached will be the fastest on the Swiss rail network. Rail 2000 is the concept approved by the Swiss in 1987, with the aim of making services more frequent, faster, more direct and more comfortable. And unlike most major projects, Rail 2000 is more…

Swiss economy slowing

This content was published on Aug 10, 2001 On Thursday the beverages group, Feldschlösschen, announced it was to cut 150 jobs by early next year as part of a major restructuring programme. A company statement said the cuts would mainly affect managerial positions. This news followed on from unemployment figures for July released on Wednesday. In another sign that the country’s economic fortunes…

Neuchâtel research centre to focus on plant interaction

This content was published on Aug 10, 2001 The new centre will focus its research during its 10-year franchise on three domains, with laboratory and field studies. Scientists will look at plant physiology, interactions between plants and ecosystems, and applied projects. The aim is to provide as wide a view as possible of plant interaction with the environment. “Looking at the interactions surrounding…

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Glaciers head towards meltdown

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Wealth and woe in Grindelwald, Aletsch

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Glacier experiments helped define ice age theory

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Garaventa and Doppelmayr merge

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Clothes made the climber

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Blue chips set to report results

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Government launches psychological support offensive

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Rail 2000 on track to ensure quicker travel

More

Swiss economy slowing

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Neuchâtel research centre to focus on plant interaction

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