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Slow Info Summit progress frustrates Swiss

This content was published on Feb 26, 2005 The head of the Swiss delegation, Marc Furrer, told swissinfo that the process was being bogged down by unnecessary debate over issues already resolved. Over the past ten days, around 1,700 international experts have been meeting in Geneva to prepare for the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which will…

Swiss hail progress at environment conference

This content was published on Feb 25, 2005 Among the topics discussed were the link between poverty and the environment, as well as the protection of the world’s drinking-water reserves. More than 1,000 delegates – including around 100 ministers – from nearly 140 countries attended the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) meeting, which was held at its headquarters in the Kenyan capital. Officials…

Geneva honours Swiss stargazer

This content was published on Feb 25, 2005 Mayor, who identified the first planet outside our solar system in 1995, told swissinfo about the 21st century quest for other habitable planets in the universe. Each year, the Geneva Foundation honours a personality or institution that has helped raise Geneva’s profile in the area of culture, science, economics or humanitarian work. This year, they…

Tax breaks for rich foreigners under scrutiny

This content was published on Feb 25, 2005 Parliament is due to consider a proposal to scrap these breaks, although the authorities are happy to grant them to the rich and famous. There is more than one reason for wealthy foreigners, such as the Formula One racer, Michael Schumacher, or former tennis star, Boris Becker, to seek a Swiss residency permit. They can…

Consumers protest at high prices

This content was published on Feb 25, 2005 Delivering his annual report on Friday, price regulator Rudolf Strahm said Switzerland’s high prices were due mainly to over-expensive imports. In 2004, 953 complaints were filed about high prices, with health costs the most frequent cause for dissatisfaction. “We have noticed that the awareness of prices and price differences among the Swiss population is rising,”…

Nestlé profit rises despite slight drop in sales

This content was published on Feb 25, 2005 But sales revenue dropped 1.4 per cent to SFr86.77 billion, weighed down by factors including the low dollar, net divestments and flagging demand in Europe. Announcing the figures on Thursday, Nestlé said the profit hike was largely due to an increase in operating efficiency, despite higher costs for raw materials. The figure was also boosted…

Calida doubles profit as turnaround continues

This content was published on Feb 25, 2005 Announcing its results on Friday, the Swiss market leader said it would continue its relocation of production jobs to eastern Europe. The SFr6 million operating profit in 2004 was twice the previous year’s level, despite sales dropping to SFr138 million. The company had earlier said it expected sales to remain at the 2003 level of…

Swiss drugs market slows to ten-year low

This content was published on Feb 24, 2005 Experts blamed the result on low-cost generic drugs, plus the fact that people were generally buying fewer medicines. Interpharma, the umbrella organisation that represents the interests of the pharmaceutical industry, said sales of medications in Switzerland totalled SFr4.05 billion ($3.46 billion) in 2004 – up 4.5 per cent on 2003. This compares with a market…

Home building reaches new high

This content was published on Feb 24, 2005 But for the majority of Swiss who live in rented accommodation, that news will be irrelevant. Their rents will probably increase. The Credit Suisse real estate study shows that about 65 per cent of residents live in rented accommodation, while only 35 per cent are home owners. The figures might come as a surprise to…

Small circuses struggle to survive

This content was published on Feb 24, 2005 But the circus tradition is in danger. Strict regulations and rising costs could force some smaller companies to stop touring or even close their doors completely. A frequent complaint is that circus entertainment is not considered to have any cultural value and the Swiss authorities do not grant circuses concessions to help them operate. “The…

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