Yesterday the European Commission announced that EU residents should soon be able to make calls and use data without any additional charges while travelling in another EU country. Countries outside the EU, but within the European Economic Area (EEA), including Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland’s neighbour Liechtenstein, will be included in the deal. Günther H. Oettinger, […]
Swiss to vote on whether to give government snooping powers
On 25 September 2016, the Swiss electorate will vote on the Intelligence Service Act. If successful, the referendum will allow Switzerland’s Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) to monitor private communications, such as those by post, internet and telephone. The government says it needs these powers to protect the country from terrorism, cyber attacks and spying. Terrorist and cyber […]
Geneva waterfront closed to traffic on 25 September 2016
This coming Sunday, 25 September 2016, has been designated a car free day or “Journée sans ma voiture”. This means the main waterfront roads will be closed to traffic from 6am until 5pm. Closed streets include: L’avenue de France. Le quai Wilson. Le quai du Mont-Blanc. Le quai des Bergues. Le quai Besançon-Hugues. Le pont du Mont-Blanc. […]
Julius Baer CEO says Asia revenue may excede Europe’s in 5 years
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Julius Baer Group Ltd. said Asia may overtake Europe as its biggest revenue-generating region, as the Swiss wealth manager steps up hiring in Hong Kong and Singapore. “In the next five years, Asia could be the biggest region for us if we grow at double-digit” rates, Chief Executive Officer […]
Swiss still the world’s wealthiest, says report
Largely due to a flood of central bank liquidity, global private financial assets have grown by 61% over the seven years since the financial crisis, almost twice the growth rate of economic output, says a report from the German Insurance giant Allianz. This has boosted the wealth of those who own shares. Those relying on interest, […]
Swiss economy slowly gains momentum but risks remain
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. In a report published by SECO, a group of economy experts working for Switzerland’s federal government, says it anticipates an acceleration in economic growth in Switzerland from 0.8% in 2015 to 1.5% in 2016 and 1.9% in 2017. Along side this they expect unemployment to rise from 3.3% in 2015, […]
Swiss watch exports fall for fourteenth straight month
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Swiss watch exports fell in August as demand weakened from Japan to the U.S., extending the industry’s slump to fourteen months. Shipments dropped 8.8 percent to 1.4 billion francs ($1.4 billion), the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said in a statement Tuesday. The slowdown has spread from Asia […]
Juncker eyes Swiss-specific EU immigration deal despite Brexit
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he was aiming to solve a two-year-old dispute with Switzerland over immigration in a country-specific manner even in the wake of Brexit. The Swiss government has been at pains to implement restrictions on European Union newcomers decided upon in a 2014 referendum without […]
School authority confirms sanctions against pupils refusing to shake teacher’s hand
Le Matin. In April this year a secondary school in Therwil, not far from Basel, exempted two school pupils from the customary Swiss handshake between teachers and pupils. Because their teacher is a woman, the two male pupils requested an exemption on religious grounds. After triggering a wave of indignation, the decision was reversed. In response, the parents […]
Geneva airport false alert costs culprit 90,000 francs
20 Minutes. In July, sparked by jealousy, a woman living near Annecy in France, falsely warned that someone was carrying a bomb in the French sector of Geneva’s airport. Her motive? To prevent her husband’s mistress departing on holiday to Turkey. In response to the call, the airport was put on maximum alert, and police […]
