Central Bank Chief Warns Against Gold Referendum; New .Swiss Domain for Switzerland; Embarrasing Defeat for Anti Transport Campaign; Sad Day at Basel Zoo

We've all seen the placards by roadsides and along tram lines, urging Swiss voters to approve a measure that would require the central bank to increase to 20% its reserves of gold relative to its total assets.  In addition, the referendum would require the gold to be hoarded within the borders of Switzerland.  On its surface, it seems the supporters of the measure believe the effort will shore up the stability of the franc.  However, most economists and politicians warn that the amount of gold held by the national bank hardly effects the monetary policy of the bank which is the final determinant of the value of the national currency.   In addition, with the current level of gold the bank holds, it stresses that it has done an effective job of maintaining price stability for the past 20 years.  They further warn that speculators would reap a windfall if the proposal passes, by purchasing gold ahead of the central banks permanent purchases.   *******************************************************************************   As part of a new Ordinance on Internet Domains The swiss federal government announced a few weeks ago the introduction of a new .Swiss domain address suffix.  The announcement also elaborated that the domain address is specifically designed to promote the interests of the swiss community.  Entities such as commercial and government enterprises based in Switzerland, or those that have a special connection with the country may request a domain name with the new suffix from the federal communications office, which will also serve as the registrar of the new domain names.  The new domain will become operational next year.   ***********************************************************************************

 

A new transportation project will get to continue as planned despite the efforts of a referendum to force the abandonment of the project.  Designed to connect the SBB and the Badischer Banhoff using an underground railway running through the center of basel and under the Rhein, opponents managed to gather 2031 signatures on a petition requiring only 2000 to force a referendum on the issue.  unfortunately for the organizers, according to the department charged with tallying the signatures, 44 were deemed invalid.  It appears, the bulk of the invalid votes were duplicates, bringing the total valid signatures below the 2000 required by an embarrassing shortage of 13 signatures.  While the organizers of the petition have 10 days to appeal the results, there is no word yet from the camp on their intentions.

 

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Just over a week ago, Eros a 52 year old male chimpanzee at the basel zoo died, apparently of old age.  Eros came to the basel zoo in 1969 and by the time of his death at age 52 managed to father 32 babies.  He was also the patriarch of a clan of chimps that included 4 generations of his offspring.  Amazingly, Eros managed to outlive some of his offspring, and is only survived by 3 of his direct children.  Zoo handlers report the chimp became increasingly lethargic the last few weeks of his life, until he simply refused to get up at all on his final days.  Eros will be remembered for his dazzling personality and being the patriarch of a highly successful zoo based chimpanzee family