Internal: Archive

Unlocking the mystery of out-of-body experiences

This content was published on Aug 24, 2007 They say the technique offers a scientific explanation for sensations that are often thought to be figments of the imagination. Out-of-body experiences, when a person sees themselves from a location outside their body, have been known to occur when normal brain functioning is disturbed, such as through drug use, epileptic seizures and strokes. But scientists…

Swiss face up to infectious disease threat

This content was published on Aug 23, 2007 The Geneva-based organisation is calling for increased cooperation to combat these threats, an area in which Switzerland has long been active. In all, 39 new diseases have developed since 1967, including HIV, Ebola and Sars, said the WHO in its report entitled “A safer future: global public safety in the 21st century”. A major factor…

First-half figures firm at cement maker

This content was published on Aug 23, 2007 The Swiss company said on Thursday that net profit rose to SFr2.4 billion ($1.99 billion), beating analysts expectations. It also announced that it would bid for another 20 per cent in India’s Ambuja Cements. “Factors which contributed to [the results] were the favorable market environment, the successful integration of acquisitions and a further improvement in…

Experts say market turmoil won’t slow economy

This content was published on Aug 22, 2007 The conclusion of a survey of Swiss companies published on Wednesday by the institute was that the economy was likely to keep on growing strongly in the second half of the year. “The economy is so robust it should weather the effects,” said KOF head Jan-Egbert Sturm at a media conference in Zurich. “I would…

Clouds loom despite Swiss-US trade boom

This content was published on Aug 22, 2007 Too little investment by Swiss companies in the US and stifling controls at US borders were threatening commerce, said the chamber. A free trade agreement between the two countries remains on ice. According to figures released by the chamber, exports of Swiss goods to the US rose in 2006 by 13 per cent to SFr18…

Coop profits as Carrefour flees Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 21, 2007 The SFr470 million ($390 million) deal further consolidates the market in Switzerland. But experts believe consumers will not be hard done by with German discounters Aldi and Lidl enhancing competition. Carrefour and partner company Maus Frères both sold their 50 per cent stakes in Swiss hypermarket operator Distributis to Coop on Tuesday. The enterprise has…

Russian billionaire increases slice of Sulzer

This content was published on Aug 21, 2007 Renova gained sole ownership of the 31.4 per cent majority Sulzer stake after Austrian private equity firm Victory pulled out of their jointly owned consortium Everest. Sulzer responded by calling for constructive talks with Renova owner, the Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. “Sulzer would like to remain independent,” said spokeswomen Verena Gölkel. Renova’s stake in Sulzer…

Do Swiss taxpayers get a fair deal?

This content was published on Aug 20, 2007 A detailed study claims businesses and rich individuals shoulder nearly 60 per cent of the tax and social security burden, but critics say the calculations are misleading and unrealistic. Taxation is one of the key issues as campaigning for the parliamentary elections in October heats up. The centre-right Radicals want a simplified tax scheme with…

Government rapped over recycled paper

This content was published on Aug 20, 2007 The news has raised eyebrows in a country which normally prides itself on being a champion of recycling. The Swiss association for the promotion of ecological paper and ecology in the workplace (FUPS) and the “foretsanciennes.ch” initiative, launched by Greenpeace and the Fonds Bruno Manser, criticised the federal authorities on Monday for using less and…

“Peak oil” becomes burning issue

This content was published on Aug 20, 2007 Researchers at Basel University warn that although climate change is grabbing more headlines than the possible exhaustion of fossil fuels, a conflict is brewing over crude oil. “The question is not for how long we will have crude oil reserves, but for how long output can grow,” warned Daniele Ganser, a historian and peace researcher…

Internal: Archive

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Internal: Archive

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Unlocking the mystery of out-of-body experiences

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Swiss face up to infectious disease threat

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First-half figures firm at cement maker

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Experts say market turmoil won’t slow economy

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Clouds loom despite Swiss-US trade boom

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Coop profits as Carrefour flees Switzerland

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Russian billionaire increases slice of Sulzer

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Do Swiss taxpayers get a fair deal?

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Government rapped over recycled paper

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“Peak oil” becomes burning issue

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