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Researchers see DNA as potential power source

This content was published on Sep 2, 2000 The aim is for the robots to be used to diagnose illnesses, read genes, or deliver drugs with pin-point precision. The researchers at IBM Research in Zurich and the University of Basel say they have discovered that DNA can be used to bend tiny silicon “fingers”, or cantilevers, with a thickness less than one-fifth of…

New campaign to eradicate illiteracy launched in Switzerland

This content was published on Sep 2, 2000 In canton Berne alone, an estimated 100,000 people are considered functionally illiterate: that is they have trouble writing or reading a simple text. Nationwide, up to 19 per cent of the adult population is affected. The figure compares to an adult illiteracy rate of about 20 per cent in western countries, according to a recent…

Swiss railways sets sights on share of British market

This content was published on Sep 1, 2000 The Federal Railways announced in London on Friday that it was teaming up with two British partners to bid for franchises for passenger train services south-west of London. Total Swiss investment could be up to SFr200 million ($114 million). The partners are John Laing Investments and the M40 Trains company. The three companies have already…

Swiss step out as world leaders in saving books

This content was published on Sep 1, 2000 The plant, inaugurated on Friday, will reverse the ageing process of some 3,000 tonnes of books and documents at the Federal Archive and the National Library, through a process known as “Papersave Swiss”. It involves neutralising the acidity in paper using an alkaline substance, and can be applied to any book or document manufactured using…

Fewer houses built in first quarter

This content was published on Sep 1, 2000 Between April and June 7,300 new houses were completed, 300 fewer than in the second quarter of 1999. But taken as a whole the first six months of the year showed a slight increase in new buildings. Between them Switzerland’s five biggest cities accounted for a third of all new housing over the period in…

Leonardo da Vinci as artist, scientist and engineer

This content was published on Sep 1, 2000 The 250 exhibits cover all the fields of science, engineering and the arts to which Leonardo (1452-1519) applied his vision. The exhibition, which has already been seen by three million visitors in 11 cities in Europe, the United States, Asia and South Africa since it began its tour in Germany in 1994, tries to acquaint…

Inflation falls to 10-month low

This content was published on Sep 1, 2000 The federal office for statistics said on Friday the drop was caused by lower transport costs, mainly due to a fall in oil prices, and lower prices for clothing and shoes during the cut-price “sales” period. The price of oil – a key factor in the inflation rate – is set to rise again but…

Basel raises ceiling with new building

This content was published on Sep 1, 2000 The contract for building the 30-story tower was signed on Friday. It will form part of the Basel exhibition site and will house a luxury hotel, and office premises. The cost of construction is estimated at SFr150 million ($86 million) and will be covered by the developing company, Swiss Prime Site. Building work is not…

Swiss see Mozambique as example for Africa

This content was published on Sep 1, 2000 Addressing the conference, the Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, warned against taking a pessimistic approach to Africa. “There are many different faces to Africa,” he said. “Sierra Leone and the Congo are no more representative of Africa than Northern Ireland or Kosovo are representative of Europe. We must not forget that Africa has success stories,…

Swiss diplomat replaces Icelander at helm of EFTA

This content was published on Aug 31, 2000 Rossier served recently as Switzerland’s envoy to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), EFTA and other international economic bodies in Geneva. EFTA comprises Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, as well as Switzerland, which is its major contributor. It was launched as a counterweight to the then European Economic Community in 1965. Over the last years similar free-trade…

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Researchers see DNA as potential power source

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New campaign to eradicate illiteracy launched in Switzerland

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Swiss step out as world leaders in saving books

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Fewer houses built in first quarter

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Leonardo da Vinci as artist, scientist and engineer

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Inflation falls to 10-month low

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Basel raises ceiling with new building

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Swiss see Mozambique as example for Africa

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Swiss diplomat replaces Icelander at helm of EFTA

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