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Researchers target chronic pain

This content was published on Jan 17, 2008 Their research shows that two receptors – specialised cells that detect changes in the environment and turn them into electrical impulses – in the spinal cords of mice act as a pain filter when they come into contact with a Valium-like substance. Zurich pharmacology Professor Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer, who led the study, says that it…

Fourth quarter drop dents Novartis profit

This content was published on Jan 17, 2008 Like most of the drug industry, the company suffered from declining sales in key units, a lack of new products and pressure in the generic sector. Novartis’ record result was only achieved in part from the sales of the Gerber baby-food business and its medical nutrition division to another Swiss multinational, Nestlé. These two sales…

Business upbeat despite US recession threat

This content was published on Jan 16, 2008 World share prices plummeted on Tuesday after the US Citigroup bank wrote off $18 billion (SFr19.6 billion) following the collapsed US subprime mortgage industry. There are fears the crisis could become widespread. The biggest Swiss casualty of US economic woes so far is Switzerland’s largest bank, UBS, which is turning to foreign investors to plug…

German speakers more active on climate change

This content was published on Jan 16, 2008 They are also more prepared to accept restrictive measures and to change their behaviour for the good of the climate. The vast majority of respondents – 98 per cent of German speakers and 91 per cent of French speakers – said they were aware that man-made climate change was underway. Some 88 per cent of…

Cabinet sets foreign trade priorities

This content was published on Jan 16, 2008 It has approved the foreign trade report for 2007, which emphasised international competitiveness and the World Trade Organization (WTO). This policy, in which the other main points are relations with the European Union and bilateral accords, will be continued into 2008, said a government statement. Despite little progress being made with the Doha round of…

Singles are wealthy, independent and happy

This content was published on Jan 16, 2008 More than half of single women surveyed indicated they were satisfied with their status and one-third were not actively seeking a partner. Only half as many men were single out of choice. Of those looking for a partner, both men and women valued qualities including honesty, faithfulness, optimism and sex appeal. A majority of respondents…

To be successful in India a firm has to offer more than just smooth-running machinery

This content was published on Jan 15, 2008 To be successful in India a firm has to offer more than just smooth-running machinery.

20 million passengers use Zurich airport

This content was published on Jan 15, 2008 The number of transit passengers increased by 14.3 per cent to seven million over the same period, consolidating Zurich’s position as a hub. Swiss International Air Lines notched up the largest passenger increase of 11.6 per cent, followed by Air Berlin, Emirates and Basel-based charter airline Hello. There was a total of 268,476 flight movements…

Swiss are champions in waste management

This content was published on Jan 15, 2008 Switzerland itself generally has a successful waste management policy. But although the Swiss are great recyclers, they are among the worse offenders in terms of the quantity of rubbish produced. Poor waste disposal infrastructure and the rubbish tax have been blamed for the situation in Naples, as has the low recycling rate. There has also…

Swiss count the cost of mental illness

This content was published on Jan 14, 2008 Zurich University researchers found that depression was the biggest burden, in what has been called the first-ever full assessment of neuropsychiatric illness costs in the country, made public on Monday. The report, published in the latest edition of the Swiss Medical Weekly journal, found that the country’s bill for brain disorders is SFr15 billion ($13.7…

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