Switzerland

Nine months after the historic referendum in which the UK population voted to leave the European Union, the UK government has at last served notice to quit.
Theresa May yesterday signed the letter that will formally begin the UK’s departure from the European Union, starting a process which will eventually make clear how the country will trade with the EU and the rest of the world.

Since the Brexit vote last summer, the UK life sciences sector have been seeking answers as how it can trade and collaborate with Europe, and continue to flourish as a centre for science and innovation.

Switzerland ranked 21th in the Tobacco Control Scale report, back from 18th in 2013. The report is published once every three years, the last one, which was referring to 2013, being made available in 2014.

The 2016 Tobacco Control Scale was launched on March 23 at the 7th European Conference on Tobacco or Health (ECToH). It presents the results of the development and implementation of tobacco control policies in 35 European countries, using a tool called Tobacco Control Policy Scale.

London may be on the cusp of falling down from its post as top financial center of the planet, finds a new report, although rival European cities still lag far behind.

The Z/Yen Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI), released last week, retained London’s top spot but uncovered widespread feelings of uncertainty among financial professionals, especially as concerns over potential fallouts from Brexit continue. The report’s ranking of 88 financial hubs placed London at the top, followed by New York City and three Asian cities: Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Switzerland has to deliver to Austria the information over billionaire Frank Stronach’s financial situation, as the Federal Court (TF) confirmed today, rejecting a lodged appeal by 84-year-old Austro-Canadian man.

The Austrian authorities sent Bern in November 2015 a request for administrative assistance. Vienna wants to determine whether the 84-year old billionaire has paid the taxes.

The UK could be a “serious competitor” to Switzerland as a low-tax business location in a post-Brexit world, Mr Mauer, the Swiss finance minister said: “That is perhaps the chance – that we have a partner in the same position, which on important issues is close to us.”

On Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Theresa May will kick off two years of formal negotiations with 27 EU governments. She still wants tariff-free, friction-less trade with Europe but prioritizes the right to impose immigration limits above all else.

Mr Maurer said: “The UK has lots of advantages and if they are used cleverly to decouple from the EU, as well as the new freedom in a good bilateral relationship, then the UK could develop very positively, I’m convinced of that.” If no favourable deal is struck, the tax rate could be dropped even lower to attract business, chancellor Philip Hammond has recently said.

Compass-AM recently announced it obtained from FINMA its license as Securities Dealers. Pietro Ugazzi, one of the founders and customer relationship manager, explains why this is important for the company. […]

The Swiss who live abroad will not denounce Postfinance that does not grant them the right to have a credit card. At the meeting in Bern today, the Council represents them (CSE) has decided to give priority to dialogue.

The association is still "acting against discrimination banking," it said in a statement. The banks "continue to put a spoke in the wheels of Swiss nationals who live abroad and wish to maintain a banking relationship with their country of origin." The CSE has instructed the Organization of the Swiss Abroad to propose solutions within the month of August.

Switzerland has extended a ban on Brazilian meat to 21 processing plants from four as part of Europe-wide safety measures, Swiss authorities said on Sunday. EU veterinary experts recommended reinforced checks on imports of meat from Brazil on Friday after an investigation began there into bribery of food inspectors.

The moves are in response to a scandal that emerged last weekend, in which authorities in Brazil suspended over 30 government following allegations that some of the country’s biggest meat processors have been “selling rotten beef and poultry for years”.