Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy

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Swiss parliament paves way for genome editing

2022-03-09

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2022-03-09

The Swiss parliament has decided to ease restrictions on genetic engineering in agriculture, while extending in principle a moratorium for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) until 2025.

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Russia sanctions list: What the West imposed over the Ukraine invasion

2022-03-08

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2022-03-08

The US, UK and EU have adopted sanctions aimed at freezing the assets of President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in response to the war in Ukraine.

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Swiss emergency relief supplies arrive in Ukraine

2022-03-08

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2022-03-08

Around 35 tonnes of emergency aid, including medical equipment and tents, sent from Switzerland to help victims of the war in Ukraine have arrived in the capital, Kyiv.

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Why Switzerland doesn’t want to join the European Union

2022-03-06

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2022-03-06

Switzerland and the European Union have a complicated relationship. The recent decision by the Alpine nation to definitively shut the door on a framework agreement with the EU reaffirms its attachment to its independence. It shows that 30 years after refusing to join the EU, Switzerland's stance has only been reinforced. We look at some of the main reasons why.

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Switzerland simplifies process of employing foreign workers

2022-03-04

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2022-03-04

Companies will no longer have to prove there are no Swiss job candidates in some sectors. Moves to cut red tape for non-EU foreign workers in Switzerland will not necessarily lead to more work visas being issued. On Friday, the government announced measuresExternal link to make it easier to hire skilled workers from such countries as India, Britain, China and the United States.By making it simpler to award B and L work permits, Switzerland hopes...

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Switzerland triggers wide range of sanctions against Russia

2022-03-04

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2022-03-04

More than a million Ukrainians have fled their country since the Russian invasion. Switzerland said it is activating sanctions against Russia on Friday, including a ban on many industrial exports and wide-ranging restrictions on financial activities, which includes cutting Russian banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system.

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Understanding ESG Bonds and Their Use Cases

2022-02-28

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Interest in ESG bonds has been steadily growing these past years, as investors seek to align their portfolios to climate and social goals like those featured in the Paris Agreement. There are different types of ESG bonds depending on their end goal: either directly support a project, or support a company in reaching general corporate targets. Green bonds, like social and sustainability ones, belong to the first type. Sustainability-linked bonds to...

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Ukraine: What Swiss sanctions-busters need to consider

2022-02-27

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2022-02-27

Legal expert Mark Pieth is amazed that Switzerland is taking its own problematic approach to international sanctions against Russia. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the US and the EU announced economic sanctions, whereas Switzerland announced that it would first have to analyse the new situation. The obvious question there is what has the Swiss Government been doing for the past few weeks, as tensions have been rising?

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Prosecutor calls for maximum fine for Credit Suisse

2022-02-24

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2022-02-24

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has demanded Credit Suisse be fined CHF5 million ($5.4 million) – the maximum provided for by law – for aggravated money laundering and subsidiary support of a criminal organisation.

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Empowering linguistic diversity in newsrooms

2022-02-22

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SWI swissinfo.ch is a team of journalists producing content in ten languages for an international audience. This multilingual work environment is inspiring and enriching but also comes with its special challenges. Take a look behind the scenes in our video and hear directly from our staff members about how they work. The employees of SWI swissinfo.ch come from many parts of the world. Around 15 languages are spoken across our departments. Our...

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Credit Suisse client data leak sparks political storm

2022-02-22

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2022-02-22

Switzerland is facing calls to clean up its financial sector in the wake of the so-called “Suisse Secrets” controversy, which drew on leaked data from banking giant Credit Suisse. Many see the scandal as evidence of systemic shortcoming in the Swiss banking sector, which has undergone major reforms over recent years in a bid to shake off its image as a financial haven for criminals.

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SWISS suspends flights to Ukraine

2022-02-19

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2022-02-19

Other airlines in the Lufthansa Group also announced plans to halt flights to the country. © Keystone / Christian Beutler Amid further escalations of the crisis in Ukraine, Swiss International Airlines has decided to temporarily suspend flights to Ukraine from next week. This affects flight connections in Kyiv. This content was published on February 19, 2022 - 17:22 February 19, 2022 - 17:22 Keystone-SDA/jdp All flights will be...

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Glencore sets aside $1.5bn to settle UK, US and Brazil probes

2022-02-16

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2022-02-16

Glencore expects to resolve bribery and corruption investigations in the UK, US and Brazil this year and has set aside $1.5 billion (CHF1.4 billion) to cover potential fines and costs.

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Swiss women in space

2022-02-11

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Far more men have been to space than women. The European Space Agency is recruiting and would be happy to hire females. To be considered, you need a master’s degree in a STEM subject (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), a medicine degree or a pilot’s license. The problem is that many girls in school consider STEM subjects to be a male domain.⁠ One Swiss woman who may have the right stuff is Deborah Müller, an engineer and manager at...

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Gaming influencer on Twitch

2022-02-02

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Millions of people watch others play games on live streaming portals. One of the biggest gaming platforms is Twitch. It's where you can find Stefanie "Stefy" Holenweg. Under the name "8bitblonde", she is one of the best-known Twitch users in Switzerland. She gives us a glimpse into her world, which is not just about games but also about social encounters. Private topics, such as heartbreak, are also discussed in her community....

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Swiss vote on animal testing ban

2022-01-31

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On February 13, the Swiss will vote for the fourth time on whether to ban animal testing in this country. The people’s initiative calls for a halt to all experiments on humans and animals and a ban on the import of new products developed using such methods. About 556,000 animals were used for experimental purposes in Switzerland last year, according to official statistics. That's a decrease of 18% relative to 2015, when the downhill trend started....

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What to do with abandoned stables? A thorny issue in Switzerland

2022-01-31

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2022-01-31

Many people dream of owning a mountain home, especially in Switzerland, where the Alps are within easy reach of major towns and cities. But few come on the market and, when they do, they can be quite expensive.

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After pandemic slump, Swiss exports boomed in 2021

2022-01-28

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2022-01-28

Swiss exports climbed to record levels in 2021, with chemicals and pharma driving much of the growth. Watches, especially luxury ones, also had a good year.

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The Swiss banker managing Senegal’s first private bank

2022-01-24

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2022-01-24

After working in finance in Geneva for 15 years, Olivier Santi emigrated to Dakar in 2017 to head a new bank founded by one of Senegal’s richest businessmen. His career to date demonstrates both the central role Switzerland plays in the finance and raw materials sectors, and the vitality of West Africa’s banking sector.

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The discreet charm of antiquarian booksellers

2022-01-23

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2022-01-23

Despite the demise of many antiquarian bookshops in Switzerland, the trade is alive and well in the Alpine country. Dealers in Geneva, Basel and Zurich give a glimpse into this exclusive business, where a gentleman’s code still rules.

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