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Roche to expand biotech business

This content was published on Jul 19, 2004 The company plans to build a new facility at its headquarters in Basel and an additional centre in Germany over the next three years. The company, which is the world’s leading maker of cancer drugs, said the new research centres would be used to make ingredients for two anti-cancer medicines, Avastin and Herceptin. Avastin –…

Swiss cautiously optimistic about WTO talks

This content was published on Jul 19, 2004 World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations collapsed last September amid disagreement over agricultural subsidies. Developing countries want Europe and the United States to drop subsidies worth some $350 billion (SFr435 billion) a year to farmers, so they can compete on a level playing field. But Switzerland’s farmers have called on the government to defend their interests…

Swiss to pilot European aviation authority

This content was published on Jul 18, 2004 André Auer stepped down last August as head of Switzerland’s civil aviation office amid accusations that he had failed to arrest a decline in air safety standards. Auer said he would take up his new position as JAA chief executive at the beginning of November. His main task will be to ensure the smooth transition…

Sunglasses put dogs in the shade

This content was published on Jul 18, 2004 A Swiss optician claims his shop in Geneva is the first in the country to offer eyewear designed exclusively for man’s best friend. Raphaël Barber says dog owners have been rushing to kit their pets out in the designer wraparound shades. “It’s just gone mad. I’ve been doing phone orders from all corners of Switzerland,”…

Swiss help Syrians revive ancient water system

This content was published on Jul 17, 2004 The restoration of “qanats” – underground tunnels that tap groundwater and direct it to towns and agricultural land – offers a sustainable way of managing scarce water resources. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is backing a project to restore the tunnels in Qara, a town of 20,000 people about an hour outside…

Cyclists rise to alpine challenge

This content was published on Jul 16, 2004 Riders covered a total of 200 million kilometres in 2002 – roughly equivalent to cycling 5,000 times round the Earth. Switzerland is criss-crossed by nine national cycle paths, which wend their way over a distance of 3,300km. They run from Montreux to Lake Constance, Chiasso to Basel; along the banks of the Rhone, the Rhine…

Swiss farmers fear lower prices as EU expands

This content was published on Jul 16, 2004 But the biggest challenge facing Swiss farmers is the lifting of export subsidies and the dismantling of trade barriers, which will have far-reaching consequences. “EU enlargement will have no immediate impact on Swiss agriculture,” Christian Häberli of the Federal Office for Agriculture told swissinfo. “Far more significant will be the impact of the agriculture accord…

EU calls time on sweeteners for sugar producers

This content was published on Jul 16, 2004 The European Commission on Wednesday endorsed a proposal to slash sugar production and cut prices by a third. The move comes as pressure mounts on the EU to reform its agricultural support programmes. Critics say the EU’s policy of providing subsidies to sugar producers distorts world markets and harms the interests of farmers in the…

Swiss pessimistic about world trade talks

This content was published on Jul 16, 2004 Joseph Deiss made the comment after hosting a meeting of 19 trade ministers and officials from around the world at the World Economic Forum summit. “It’s not a question of being negative or not – it’s about being realistic,” said Deiss. “There is too much to be done in order to get it through.” Despite…

Swiss insurer faces major claims in the US

This content was published on Jul 15, 2004 A Zurich subsidiary, ZC Specialty Insurance, had issued a bond in favour of a creditor of Senior Living Properties (SLP), which went bust in 2002. The insurer confirmed a report published in Thursday’s “Financial Times”. SLP creditors are seeking damages of $528 million plus costs and legal fees. After the failure of the venture, Zurich…

Internal: Archive

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Roche to expand biotech business

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Swiss cautiously optimistic about WTO talks

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Swiss to pilot European aviation authority

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Sunglasses put dogs in the shade

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Swiss help Syrians revive ancient water system

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Cyclists rise to alpine challenge

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Swiss farmers fear lower prices as EU expands

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EU calls time on sweeteners for sugar producers

More

Swiss pessimistic about world trade talks

More

Swiss insurer faces major claims in the US

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