Business Sergey Kondratenko and his magic EU-Russia money laundering with Royal Pay and 1xBet The investigation into Sergey Kondratenko, the co-owner of 1xBet, and his association with money laundering through Royal Pay Europe reveals a complex network facilitating the flow of millions of dollars monthly from Russian bookmakers. The focus extends to the historical context of money laundering in Latvia and Lithuania, underscoring the significant role played by European banks and financial entities in … Read More
Politics US and Switzerland accuse Trafigura of bribing Congolese officials Swiss authorities have accused Trafigura, a raw material trader, of engaging in bribery in Angola. Alongside this, a high-ranking director of the company is facing prosecution for authorizing the payment of bribes. Simultaneously, the U.S. justice system is investigating the company for alleged corruption in Brazil. According to Swiss prosecutors, the registered parent company of Trafigura in the Netherlands transferred … Read More
Business Pictet to pay $122.9 million in fines to the US The Swiss wealth manager Pictet has admitted to assisting U.S. taxpayers in hiding over $5.6 billion, nearly €5.2 billion, from the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The bank has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to settle the matter, as reported by Reuters. American taxpayers holding Pictet accounts in Switzerland and elsewhere are alleged to have … Read More
Business A reduced lactose content brought by Nestle to Chinese market Nestlé, the Swiss food giant, is introducing N3 milk to the Chinese market. This milk, derived from cow’s milk, encompasses essential nutrients like protein, vitamins, and minerals. Notably, it boasts a reduced lactose content and over 15% fewer calories, along with the addition of prebiotic fibers. The development of N3 milk employed Nestlé’s patented enzyme-based technology, effectively lowering lactose levels … Read More
Business Swiss crypto custody platform Metaco has been acquired by Ripple The recent collaboration between Ripple and Metaco has sparked excitement in both the XRP community and the financial sector. This strategic partnership signifies a significant milestone in the adoption of XRPL technology by traditional financial institutions. Let’s delve into the specifics of this deal and explore its implications for the future of banking and blockchain. Ripple’s acquisition of the Swiss … Read More
Politics Czech Government has decided to extend the border controls with Slovakia The ‘temporary border controls’, which started in early October, would stop on Thursday evening. Since border controls were established, nearly 400,000 people have been checked, according to the Czech Interior Ministry. Of these, 1,167 tried to cross the border illegally. It is mainly about people from the Middle East and Afghanistan. There were also 56 suspected human traffickers arrested. Slovakia … Read More
Science&Tech Not enough done to avert global warming – United Nations Countries must intensify their efforts in climate action to avert a nearly 3-degree warming of the Earth by the end of this century, according to a recent report from the United Nations climate department. Despite the alarming projections, the report underscores that the consequences of such warming are severe. This year has witnessed a series of records being shattered, including … Read More
Science&Tech From bad to worse: Switzerland slides in English proficiency Last week, Switzerland’s French-language public broadcaster, RTS, raised concerns about the declining level of English proficiency among the Swiss. The report highlighted a four-year consecutive drop in the international ranking, sliding from 25th in 2021 to 30th out of 113 this year. While the significance of a five-place drop as a “free fall” is debatable, the decline in multilingual and … Read More
Politics First female ambassador to the Holy See appointed Switzerland has made a historic stride by appointing its first female ambassador to the Holy See. This noteworthy achievement belongs to the accomplished diplomat Manuela Leimgruber, a distinguished alumna of the College of Europe in Bruges. In a momentous occasion this week, she presented her credentials to Pope Francis, symbolizing a groundbreaking moment for both Switzerland and the Holy See. … Read More
Politics Canon comes up with UV-alternative in chip production When one considers the production of computer chips, companies like Intel or TSMC often come to mind. However, in casual conversations, when people inquire about the manufacturing process, it’s common to hear ASML referred to as ‘that Dutch company’ or something similar. ASML has become synonymous with chip production and holds a nearly household-name status. The company, based in Veldhoven, … Read More
Aybek Barysov, Gulmira Wakhitova and Kanat Ibraev among founders of Qazaqstanda Jasalğan economic movement