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Drug firms expected to abandon case over cut-price medicines

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 A lawyer representing the 39 drug companies, which include Switzerland’s Novartis and Roche, said the delay had been requested “so common ground can be found for a settlement”. Aid agencies suggested that the firms had finally caved in pressure amid charges that they were putting profits ahead of lives. A senior policy adviser at the…

Internet “freaks” are normal after all

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 The results of the survey, published in Bern on Wednesday, appear to contradict the notion that “Internet freaks” are lonely people who shy away from direct face-to-face contact with others. The study by Bettina Heintz and Christoph Müller reveals that people who frequent online chat rooms or news groups are as socially adept as their…

SAirGroup’s French airlines go out on strike

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 Unions called on all staff to stop work and demonstrate in the centre of Paris over their concerns about the future of the two loss-making airlines. Management of the two airlines have said the strike would leave the airlines’ national network grounded on Wednesday. However, long-haul flights will not be affected by the action and…

Zurich to cut 460 jobs in Britain

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 The company, which was formed from the merger of Switzerland’s Zurich Group and British American Tobacco’s financial services arm, said most of the cuts would be achieved through natural wastage. Zurich Financial will have to bear a one-off restructuring charge of about SFr36 million, but the move is still expected to save the business SFr123.5…

Drug firms expected to drop case over cut-price medicines

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 The legal battle between 39 pharmaceutical firms and the South African government resumed in the courts on Wednesday, and was immediately postponed at the firms’ request. A lawyer representing the companies, Fanie Cilliers, said the delay had been requested “so common ground can be found for a settlement”. A spokesman representing the South African government…

Helsana’s profits suffer

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 Over the same period the number of people insured by the company increased by 0.5 per cent to 1.5 million. According to figures published on Wednesday, the group received 0.8 per cent more in premium income from its clients over 2000, coming in at SFr3.5 billion. Payouts increased by 8.8 per cent over the same…

Court case over cut-price drugs continues in South Africa

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 The case has led the United Nations programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) to call on pharmaceutical companies to consider new ways of doing business. The hearing, which is taking place in the capital, Pretoria, was postponed last month. It centres on a South African law adopted in 1997 – but never implemented – which gives the…

Lower aluminium prices undermine numbers at Alcan

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 Montreal-based Alcan, now the world’s second largest aluminium maker, said it had a net income of $137 million in the first quarter, down from $178 million in the same period last year. Results also included a $70 million after-tax charge related to the sale of bauxite and alumina operations in Jamaica. Alcan is in advanced…

Unexpected rise in Valora’s profit

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 The company has three main activities: its Swiss-based Kiosk chain of convenience stores, its European photo development business Fotolabo, and its food distribution business Alimarca. Valora, based in Bern, said that costs tied to the sale of its Slumberland bedding business were lower than expected, leading to an extraordinary charge of SFr46 million last year,…

Swissair wins prestigious quality award

This content was published on Apr 17, 2001 The national flag carrier was presented with the World Travel Award for Europe’s leading airline, an honour it has enjoyed for the past five years. It also won the World’s leading Economy Class award at a prize-giving ceremony in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. “These important awards reflect the first-rate standard of quality that our…

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Drug firms expected to abandon case over cut-price medicines

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Internet “freaks” are normal after all

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SAirGroup’s French airlines go out on strike

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Zurich to cut 460 jobs in Britain

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Drug firms expected to drop case over cut-price medicines

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Helsana’s profits suffer

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Court case over cut-price drugs continues in South Africa

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Lower aluminium prices undermine numbers at Alcan

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Unexpected rise in Valora’s profit

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Swissair wins prestigious quality award

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