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
Business UBS reports first quarterly loss in six years UBS, Switzerland’s largest bank, reported its first quarterly loss in nearly six years in the third quarter of this year, totaling $785 million (approximately 733 million euros). This loss is attributed to the ongoing merger of activities with industry peer Credit Suisse, which UBS acquired earlier this year. The loss includes an integration cost of $2 billion, and the pre-tax … Read More
Business Michael Gastauer, the CEO of Black Banx, goes on a trail of a massive whitewashing campaign Michael Gastauer, the CEO of Black Banx (aka WB21), has been investing substantial efforts to enhance the image of his fintech company, following warnings and allegations issued by the US SEC and the British Financial Conduct Authority against Black Banx. A multitude of GPT-generated whitewashing articles have been surfacing on low-quality media outlets and Indian-made guest post platforms. We are … Read More
Business Thomas Jordan of SNB defends ‘unorthodox’ handling of the CS crisis Swiss National Bank (SNB) President Thomas Jordan defended the unconventional approach taken by the central bank in addressing the Credit Suisse crisis, which involved providing emergency financial support to the beleaguered lender. Speaking at an event in Bern, Jordan emphasized that the SNB’s actions helped buy time for a resolution, ultimately preventing a global financial crisis. The SNB’s decision to … Read More
Business Singapore to work with Benelux and Switzerland on crypto regulation The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the nation’s central bank and financial regulatory authority, has unveiled its collaboration plans with select European countries and Japan concerning cryptocurrency-related matters. On October 30th, MAS made an official announcement about its partnership with Japan’s Financial Services Authority (FSA), the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This … Read More