Archive – Banking & Fintech

Swiss economy “suffocated” by complexity

This content was published on May 14, 2003 In a damning assessment of the country’s ability to compete around the world, the Lausanne-based business school IMD, warned that Switzerland faces an uphill battle to reform. “The economy is increasingly being suffocated by complex legislation, rules and practices that are blocking society’s ability to reform itself,” Stéphane Garelli, director of the World Competitiveness Report…

Italian president visits at time of tension

This content was published on May 13, 2003 Disputes over banking secrecy and the arrest last week of two Italian parliamentarians have caused relations to sour. Ciampi was received with full diplomatic honours in the capital, Bern, on Wednesday before meeting Swiss government ministers. On Thursday the president travelled to canton Ticino where he gave a speech at the Italian-language university in Lugano,…

Bikers rev up to throttle speed limit

This content was published on May 13, 2003 Pro Moto has presented the federal authorities with a petition bearing more than 200,000 signatures urging the government to rethink its “Vision Zero” blueprint. The motorcyclist association said on Tuesday it would challenge a transport ministry proposal to technically prevent motorcycles exceeding 80kmh. Touring Club Switzerland, the Swiss motoring association, said research showed that such…

Negotiating Zurich city centre in a wheelchair

This content was published on May 13, 2003 Ahead of the vote, Isobel Johnson spent a day with Rudolf Weiler – who is wheelchair-bound – to learn what challenges the disabled currently face in Switzerland. Rudolf Weiler is 37 years old and paralysed from the waist down, following an accident 20 years ago. The part-time metal worker agreed to come to Zurich for…

Zurich faces uncertain future as financial hub

This content was published on May 12, 2003 On Monday, a survey of 105 European private banks said Switzerland’s private banking system was threatened by an industry slump. The IBM Business Consulting survey said the traditional European “offshore” banking model – which hinges on banking secrecy – was dying. Report author, Ian Woodhouse, estimates that between 55 and 60 per cent of overseas…

A car-free day is nothing new

This content was published on May 11, 2003 In 1973, due to a petrol crisis, the government imposed a car ban for several Sundays. Campaigners for the current car-free proposal claim there were no problems or complaints by the public 30 years ago. They also point to similar car-free proposals in Switzerland’s neighbouring countries which, they say, have been well received. France, Germany…

Voters urged to reclaim the streets

This content was published on May 11, 2003 Opponents say a traffic ban would be economic suicide and could have a catastrophic effect on the ailing tourism industry. The group behind one of next Sunday’s more light-hearted votes insists its main goal is to give people a sense of freedom on car-free streets rather than reduce pollution. Alec von Graffenried, one of the…

Sound firm takes top award for easy listening

This content was published on May 9, 2003 The firm won the annual Swiss Economic Award for its ground breaking sound technology, which is found in everything from hearing aids to CD players. Dspfactory specialises in technology which can filter out background noise using digital signal processing (DSP). The technology converts sound into a numerical form so that it can be sent through…

Lynx thriving in Switzerland

This content was published on May 9, 2003 Other alpine nations such as Austria, Italy and France have also made attempts to reintroduce animal, but with less success. The decline of the lynx in western Europe occurred in the 19th century, when the habitat of its natural prey, roe deer, was destroyed by farmers clearing forest for agriculture. The few remaining lynx were…

Milking it on an alpine farm

This content was published on May 9, 2003 The writer was among a group of greenhorns who learned how to milk cows and make cheese at a school in the Bernese Oberland, before taking the farm reins into her own hands. The Berlin scriptwriter, Tamara Staudt, worked on a Swiss alpine farm for the first time in 2002, and the call of the…

Archive – Banking & Fintech

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Archive – Banking & Fintech

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Swiss economy “suffocated” by complexity

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Italian president visits at time of tension

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Bikers rev up to throttle speed limit

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Negotiating Zurich city centre in a wheelchair

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Zurich faces uncertain future as financial hub

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A car-free day is nothing new

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Voters urged to reclaim the streets

More

Sound firm takes top award for easy listening

More

Lynx thriving in Switzerland

More

Milking it on an alpine farm

Popular Stories

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