Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin meet in Geneva

Guy Parmelin meets Joe Biden

While Biden was in Geneva, he also met the president of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin. Above all, Parmelin used the rendezvous to push for talks on a free trade agreement, while Biden was mainly interested in urging Switzerland to buy US fighter jets. Rumours grew in the ensuing weeks that Switzerland had indeed picked US company Lockheed Martin’s F-35 as its new fighter jet.

Sobering news for the Swiss crypto market

The prospects of Switzerland soon becoming a safe haven for cryptocurrencies have been dealt a blow. Firstly, the Diem Association – a consortium with ties to Facebook – is moving its headquarters from Geneva to the USA. Diem has been targeting the launch of a global digital currency. Secondly, the Swiss financial regulator FINMA has informed the company Bitcoin Suisse that its application for a banking licence is ineligible for approval. This is sobering news for the Swiss bitcoin and crypto market.

Parliament wants to raise the retirement age for women

In June, the National Council followed the lead of the Council of States by approving an increase in the female retirement age from 64 to 65. Women born between 1959 and 1964 would receive small offsetting payments for six years as a result of this change. The higher retirement age for women – a key element in the restructuring of the ailing voluntary old-age and survivors’ insurance scheme (OASI) – could come into force in 2022, although the electorate is more likely to have a say first. Left-leaning parties, in particular, want to force a popular vote.

Stricter rules on arms exports

Put under pressure by the “Stop arms exports to countries engaged in civil war” popular initiative, parliament is now pushing for stricter rules on arms exports. The Council of States has come out in favour of tightening the restrictions in order to curtail the Federal Council’s authority to approve arms exports. The National Council still has to decide on the matter.

Picture  At least they smiled briefly for the cameras – Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin in Geneva. Photo: Keystone