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Harrods offers Swiss gold “off the shelf”

This content was published on Oct 16, 2009 The central London retailer announced on Thursday it had joined with Swiss refiner Produits Artistiques Metaux Precieux to offer gold bars weighing 27.5 pounds (12.5kg). Harrods, established in 1834, is the first London shop to offer gold in-store. The bars are being kept in a miniature vault on the lower ground floor. The move comes…

US tax amnesty nets thousands of cheats

This content was published on Oct 15, 2009 An investigation into UBS, that found that the Swiss bank had helped US citizens evade tax, helped fuel a crusade to weed out cheats who were using offshore accounts to hide undeclared assets. The amnesty, that ended on October 15, offered reduced punishments for those who voluntarily declared their guilt. Culprits will pay a fine…

Second generation foreigners well integrated

This content was published on Oct 15, 2009 A report issued by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on Thursday, which considered the integration of so-called “secondos” in 16 countries, described Switzerland as an “exception” among European states. The study says that whatever the level of education, there is very little difference in the employment quota between secondos and Swiss. This…

Swiss Unesco sites join forces

This content was published on Oct 14, 2009 They have founded the Unesco Destination Switzerland association which will support sustainable and high quality tourism both within the country and abroad. For this purpose, the new association is planning to work with Switzerland Tourism and the Swiss Unesco Commission. A first campaign is planned for 2010. “The Unesco label incarnates the values which we…

Tapping into Japan’s “silver market”

This content was published on Oct 14, 2009 But Japan’s over-65 “silver” consumers – who will grow from 20 to 40 per cent of the population by 2055 – could present a bonanza for Swiss and other foreign firms that learn to cater to their needs. Experts predict this segment could become avid consumers of a wide range of goods and services, from…

Labour reintegration poses a problem for Swiss

This content was published on Oct 13, 2009 The report, commissioned by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) in Bern, examined the cases of 1,529 people on social benefit between 2005 and 2006 in the cities of Lausanne, Biel, Basel, Lucerne and St Gallen. “One-third of the people are finding permanent jobs. A third find jobs on a temporary basis and one…

Clariant to cut 800 more jobs

This content was published on Oct 13, 2009 Mark Hengel, a company spokesman, said about 450 of the 800 jobs would come from European offices. Germany would be particularly hit, with 180 layoffs. Most of the Swiss jobs would go at the company’s headquarters in Muttenz, near Basel. The chemical company struck a total of 2,000 jobs from its payroll in February and…

Group proposes raising retirement age

This content was published on Oct 13, 2009 Avenir Suisse, an independent group that promotes social and economic development, said current demographic trends are destabilising Switzerland’s old-age pension fund. By 2026, the retirement age should be 67 years old, up from the current 65, Avenir Suisse said. The group has proposed making the jump gradual by bumping the retirement age back by one…

Swiss help developing nations combat fake drugs

This content was published on Oct 12, 2009 Fake drugs are a growing public health problem, especially for developing nations. The World Health Organization (WHO) says over 30 per cent of medicines sold in many African countries, as well as parts of Asia and Latin America, may be counterfeit. According to the US-based Centre for Medicines in the Public Interest, counterfeit drug sales…

Biologist is first woman to scoop top award

This content was published on Oct 12, 2009 Françoise Gisou van der Goot runs the university’s public health centre and has studied the production of proteins and toxins in cells. Her research has helped understanding of certain illnesses such as cystic fibrosis and plays a role in the fight against bioterrorism, the interior ministry said on Monday. The 45-year-old taught at Geneva University…

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Harrods offers Swiss gold “off the shelf”

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US tax amnesty nets thousands of cheats

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Second generation foreigners well integrated

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Swiss Unesco sites join forces

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Tapping into Japan’s “silver market”

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Labour reintegration poses a problem for Swiss

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Clariant to cut 800 more jobs

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Group proposes raising retirement age

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Swiss help developing nations combat fake drugs

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Biologist is first woman to scoop top award

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