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“Have nots” have stage in Davos

This content was published on Jan 25, 2013 No suprises then that the subject has been receiving a lot of air time in Davos. Inequality has been boiled down to two broad strands: unemployment and the distribution of wealth. “We have not paid enough attention to inequality,” International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde told delegates, adding that it was corrosive to economic growth and…

Does WEF need a crisis?

This content was published on Jan 25, 2013 The Arab Spring uprisings that were nearing the conclusion of their most dramatic phase in early 2011 created an atmosphere of both tension and hope. The breathless arrival in Davos of the newly created Tunisian cabinet was a truly dramatic moment. Roll forward 12 months and Greece was about to drop off the edge of…

Big guns go pop

This content was published on Jan 24, 2013 Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a mild dig at Britain’s aloofness towards the European Union. Britain, in response, accused the EU of being uncompetitive and getting it wrong on austerity measures. So far, so uneventful. Then the bombshell for Switzerland: a renewed crackdown on tax evaders from a new…

Emotional impact key to Olympic bid

This content was published on Jan 24, 2013 A debate at the Open Forum – a public WEF event – looked at the pros and cons of hosting a mega sporting event. Switzerland is poised to bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Maurer ducked questions on how the event could benefit – or burden – Switzerland financially. The government has pledged SFr30 million…

Shell and Goldman Sachs named and shamed

This content was published on Jan 24, 2013 On Thursday, as the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting took place in Davos, Greenpeace Switzerland and the Berne Declaration presented the Public Eye Awards, denouncing particularly glaring cases of companies’ greed and environmental sins. The public award – decided by 41,800 online voters – went by a large margin to the Dutch-British oil corporation Shell.…

“Britzerland” dream dashed

This content was published on Jan 24, 2013 Johnson’s idea was that “when” Britain pulls out of the EU, it would cosy up with that other notorious EU nay sayer, Switzerland, forming a new super power against the European bloc. All was well yesterday when British Prime Minister David Cameron announced an EU opt out referendum by the end of 2017. But Cameron…

Read more: “Britzerland” dream dashed

Daniel Vasella – superhero or fat cat?

This content was published on Jan 24, 2013 “Is Vasella fleeing from Minder?” was the headline on the front page of tabloid Blick, relegating a victorious Roger Federer (who earns considerably more than Vasella) to a side column. “Is he afraid of the fat-cat initiative being accepted?” Thomas Minder is a businessman-turned-politician who in 2008 launched an initiative against excessive salaries. Given the…

Bare knuckle fight

This content was published on Jan 23, 2013 British Prime Minister David Cameron addresses delegates the day after he promised a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU. Overlapping his speech will be a debate on the way forward out of the eurozone crisis and then Angela Merkel takes centre stage. I wonder if the German Chancellor will compliment Cameron on…

Mali conflict “set to spread”

This content was published on Jan 23, 2013 The fighting between Malian government troops and Islamic forces sucked in French forces earlier this month. A stream of refugees is escaping the violence across borders. The influx of thousands of refugees will add pressure on already tense situations in other countries and could signal a collapse of social order beyond Mali, ICRC President Peter Maurer told swissinfo.ch The…

Bad bank blues

This content was published on Jan 23, 2013 How can UBS change its ways and adopt a new, safer and more socially friendly strategy if it has to deal with a different set of criteria in each country it does business in, he argued. Rather than speeding bank reform, the increasingly diversified regulatory framework is bogging down change, is the gist of his…

Internal: Archive

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Internal: Archive

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“Have nots” have stage in Davos

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Does WEF need a crisis?

More

Big guns go pop

More

Emotional impact key to Olympic bid

More

Shell and Goldman Sachs named and shamed

More

“Britzerland” dream dashed

More

Daniel Vasella – superhero or fat cat?

More

Bare knuckle fight

More

Mali conflict “set to spread”

More

Bad bank blues

Popular Stories

Most Discussed