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Coop makes gains in retail war

This content was published on Apr 15, 2003 Fierce competition is being intensified by a lack of consumer spending, a stagnating market worth SFr84 billion ($60 billion) and consolidation in the trade. The two players, which dominate the Swiss retail sector, are looking to expand their businesses with acquisitions, more surface space and other strategic measures. Both Migros and Coop have said they…

Swiss to review Iraq debt

This content was published on Apr 14, 2003 Last week the United States called on nations to write off Baghdad’s debts and ease the burden on a new Iraqi administration. Kurt Schaerer, head of export finance at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco), told swissinfo that Bern would review its position regarding some SFr300 million ($215 million) owed by Iraq. “It’ll certainly…

Swiss repeat backing for UN role in Iraq

This content was published on Apr 14, 2003 His comments came at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington at the weekend. “Switzerland thinks that the reconstruction of Iraq should happen within the framework of the UN institutions,” Deiss told swissinfo. Along with the French finance minister, Francis Mer, Deiss reminded the IMF and the World Bank…

Swiss scotches takeover talks

This content was published on Apr 14, 2003 The struggling carrier said on Monday that there was no truth in weekend newspaper reports, adding that it was not up for sale to either of its competitors. “We had no talks and we have no negotiations with either Lufthansa or British Airways at the moment,” said Swiss spokesman Jean-Claude Donzel, reacting to the article…

Locking horns in canton Valais

This content was published on Apr 13, 2003 The cow-fighting season is underway in canton Valais, and spectators are flocking from near and far to watch the Sunday bouts. The regional heats culminate in a grand finale with the winner crowned “queen”. Every Sunday, from now until mid-May, breeders of the feisty Eringer breed will be bringing their cows to competitions, in the…

Inventors bring their dreams to market

This content was published on Apr 12, 2003 Over 1,000 devices – from medical and military lifesavers to the downright bizarre – have been on show at the International Exhibition of Inventions. Among this year’s more noteworthy creations were the anti-mine shoe, a French invention which uses electro-stimulation to prevent the user from stepping on landmines, and a Russian system which allows open-heart…

Entrepreneur turns paging into mobile messaging biz

This content was published on Apr 11, 2003 The fact that the firm’s founder, Naveen Varshneya, was born in India and did not have a network of family and old school chums here to tap into did not deter him in his entrepreneurial endeavour. Presented with the opportunity in 2001 to acquire PageIt, a tiny Swiss paging service, from Distefora, an imploding dotcom…

The post rider of Lauenen

This content was published on Apr 11, 2003 In Lauenen, a small village of 700 residents near the ski resort of Gstaad, up to 15 houses are frequently cut off from the world by deep snow. For days on end, Willi Addor, the postman, and his trusty steed are their only visitors. Stallion-studded career Addor sits tall in the saddle, dressed in his…

Aid agencies demand access to Iraqi people

This content was published on Apr 11, 2003 Two agencies have even criticised the military for hampering aid efforts. “In the areas controlled by coalition forces, the victors must feed the people but military humanitarian aid is not independent,” Karl Schuler from the Swiss Red Cross told swissinfo. He said that aid had to be distributed fairly, so that the weakest were also…

Success in Iraq obscures reality of weak economy

This content was published on Apr 10, 2003 The Swiss economics minister, Joseph Deiss, on Thursday warned that Switzerland’s economic health is threatened by poor growth. “Our general [economic] fitness is not very good, and we need to work on growth issues,” Deiss told swissinfo. Deiss’s comments were underlined by a leading Swiss growth barometer, produced by the Zurich-based Swiss Business Cycle Research…

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Coop makes gains in retail war

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Swiss to review Iraq debt

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Swiss repeat backing for UN role in Iraq

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Swiss scotches takeover talks

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Locking horns in canton Valais

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Inventors bring their dreams to market

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Entrepreneur turns paging into mobile messaging biz

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The post rider of Lauenen

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Aid agencies demand access to Iraqi people

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Success in Iraq obscures reality of weak economy

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