Switzerland

Swiss take aid to Africa as part of Covid repatriation flights

Switzerland has delivered humanitarian supplies to the Democratic Republic of the Congo before repatriating tourists stranded in central Africa due to the coronavirus pandemic. On board the plane which flew…

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Photo Story: Swiss residents thanked for respecting the confinement

A chocolate Easter bunny pictured in a letterbox during the state of emergency of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Daillens, Switzerland, 09 April 2020. In order to thank its…

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Swiss hospitals reportedly running out of money

Cash-strapped Swiss hospitals, in the front line of the fight against coronavirus, are calling for financial help and an end to the ban on non-emergency procedures which has sapped revenue, reports…

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Swiss coronavirus cases top 21,000

Switzerland’s death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has risen by 19 to 559, the health ministry said on Sunday. The number of people testing positive increased to 21,100 from 20,278…

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Swiss death toll rises to 484

The death toll in Switzerland has risen to 484 while the number of positive cases stands at 19,903, the Swiss government has said. The country has closed schools, shuttered many…

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University of Zurich intervenes to relieve strain on family doctors

The University of Zurich has repurposed its Travel Clinic as a COVID-19 test center. Designed to complement the tests currently offered by family doctors in Canton Zurich, it is geared…

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Photo Story: Messages of hope on the Matterhorn mountain

The iconic Matterhorn mountain is illuminated by Swiss light artist Gerry Hofstetter aiming to send messages of hope, support and solidarity to the ones sufferings from the global coronavirus disease…

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Switzerland restrict exports of protective equipment

Switzerland has introduced temporary restrictions on the export of protective equipment to head off shortages among medical staff and others fighting the coronavirus outbreak. Licences will now be needed to…

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Swiss coronavirus cases rise to over 8,000

Swiss health authorities reported 956 more coronavirus infections, bringing the total number of people tested positive in Switzerland and Liechtenstein to 8,060 as of midday on Monday. The number…

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Swiss army prepares to deploy to help coronavirus response

Switzerland’s militia army is getting ready to increase its support in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected over 1,500 people nationwide. For the first time, the Swiss…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: La Tzoumaz, Switzerland

Skiers take part in the Skicolor event where they are sprayed with biodegradable colour powders as part of carnival celebrations in the alpine resort of La Tzoumaz, Switzerland. Photo:…

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Switzerland reports first coronavirus death, as Germany cases jump by 109

A 74-year-old woman in western Switzerland has died after contracting the new coronavirus, the country’s first death from the rapidly spreading disease outbreak, regional police said on Thursday. The woman…

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Swiss scientists claim coronavirus breakthrough, World Bank pledges $12bn coronavirus aid package

Researchers at the University of Bern have perfected a technique to produce synthetic clones of the new coronavirus strain much faster. The method should allow researchers to deactivate individual genes…

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Swiss army on effective quarantine

Switzerland's army has been put under effective quarantine after a soldier tested positive for COVID-19 coronavirus, Euronews reports. It announced [in French] personnel would be banned from leaving military bases…

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Photo story: Geneva Motor Show cancelled following coronavirus concerns

The 90th edition of the International Motor Show, which was scheduled to begin on 05 March 2020, has been cancelled due to the advancement of the (Covid-19) coronavirus disease in…

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Swiss police uncover people smuggling ring

Swiss police have charged five people in connection with extensive people smuggling operations. Three men living in canton Bern are accused of having illegally transported or organised the smuggling of…

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Photo Story: Traditional carnival in Switzerland

Masked revellers parade through the streets during the carnival season in Einsiedeln, Switzerland, 24 February 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/URS FLUEELER

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Cryptocurrency gaining popularity among Swiss as an investment

Cryptocurrencies as an investment class is becoming more popular among Swiss savers. Young people in particular are increasingly venturing into bitcoin and other digital money. A survey conducted by the market research institute Intervista on…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Sils, Switzerland

People enjoy themselves on the Silsersee (lake Sils), covered with so-called "black ice", in Sils, Switzerland. Black ice, sometimes called clear ice, is a thin coating of glazed ice on…

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Switzerland investigating CIA controlled global encryption company

The Swiss government has ordered an inquiry into a global encryption company based in Zug following revelations it was owned and controlled for decades by US and German intelligence. Encryption…

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Photo story: Storm Ciara hits Switzerland

A view of a house damaged by fallen trees after a storm, in Montmollin, Val-de-Ruz, Switzerland, 10 February 2020. Severe warnings have been issued for Western and Northern Europe as…

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Swiss ski resort accepts bitcoin for settling tax bills

The iconic ski resort of Zermatt has become the second local authority in Switzerland to allow residents to pay their tax bills using the cryptocurrency bitcoin. Zermatt, which lies in…

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Two people suspected of coronavirus infection in Switzerland as country tighten rules

Two suspected cases of coronavirus infection have been quarantined in a Zurich hospital, as Switzerland tightens reporting rules. Two people are in isolation in a Zurich hospital suspected of infection…

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EU and 16 WTO members agree to work together on an interim appeal arbitration arrangement

During the Davos meeting Switzerland, the EU and Ministers from 16 Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have agreed to develop a multi-party interim appeal arrangement that will allow the…

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Turkish foreign minister calls for enlarged NATO, Georgia membership

Turkey’s foreign minister called on Thursday for the enlargement of NATO and the addition of Georgia to the organization. “I don’t understand why we have not invited Georgia or we…

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Photo Story: Two died in light plane crash in Switzerland

A Swiss policeman investigates the site of a plane crash, a Piper Archer PA-28, in Saint-Legier, Switzerland, 23 January 2020. Two people are reported killed in the small aircraft crash,…

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Switzerland remains most attractive country for skilled workers

Switzerland continues to lead the world in talent competitiveness, having held the number one spot since the annual Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) was launched in 2013. According to the…

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Healthcare’s a human right, not ‘a privilege for the rich’ UNAIDS argues at Davos

The UN agency devoted to ending AIDS as a public health threat is calling on top politicians and governments across the world to ensure the right to quality healthcare is…

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Von der Leyen stresses Europe needs ‘credible military capabilities’

In order to respond to crises, the EU needs "credible military capabilities," the leader of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen said at the World Economic Forum in Davos…

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Photo Story: Trump in Davos

In the photo below (L-R) WEF co-founder Hilde Schwab, Senior Advisor to the US President Ivanka Trump, US President Donald J. Trump and WEF founder Klaus Schwab arrive during the…

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Oxfam reveals world’s richest 2,000 people hold more than poorest 4.6 billion combined

The world’s 2,153 billionaires have more wealth than the 4.6 billion people who make up 60 percent of the planet’s population, reveals a new report from Oxfam today ahead of…

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Davos braces for Trump-Thunberg showdown as climate change tops agenda

Some of the world's top business people and politicians - and some celebrities - will gather in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum (WEF) this week. US President Donald…

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Photo Story: ‘Patrouille Suisse’ and Airbus A321 fly-over on the Swiss Alps

F-5 Tiger jets of the 'Patrouille Suisse' and a commercial Airbus A321 plane of Swiss International Air Lines perform ahead of the Men's Downhill race run at the FIS Alpine…

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Swiss unions call for ‘social agenda’ in EU relations

Switzerland’s largest trade union group has repeated its warning that any framework deal reached with the European Union must respect measures to protect wages from cross-border competition. At the annual…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Villars-Sur-Ollon, Switzerland

A picture taken with a drone shows cyclists taking part in the 31st edition of the 'GP St-Sylvestre', a new-year snow mountain bike race, in the alpine resort of Villars-Sur-Ollon,…

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In 2019, for first time, Switzerland deported persons with Italian mafia links

Switzerland witnessed its first deportations over links to the Italian mafia in 2019. It also conducted extensive security screenings for nearly 2,000 asylum seekers, according to official figures cited by the…

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Swiss oppose plan to end free movement of citizens from EU – poll

Most of the Swiss seem to oppose a referendum campaign launched by the far right aimed at ending free movement of citizens from the European Union according to a poll…

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Swiss welcomed the New Year with environmentally-friendly fireworks

Several cities in Switzerland held more environmentally-friendly fireworks displays - or none at all - to see in the New Year. In Basel, the number of fireworks were reduced…

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Switzerland issued more entry bans in 2019 for potential criminals

Over the past year, the Swiss authorities have issued 118 entry bans - more than ever before. Those affected include radical Islamists, neo-Nazis, Mafia members and spies. The Federal Office…

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Photo Story: Luminous Sculpture at the Carouge Magique exhibition in Geneva

Luminous Bird Sculptures titled 'Le Desire et la Menace' realized by French artist Cedric Le Borgne is displayed on the Carouge Fountain during the Carouge Magique (Carouge Magic), in Carouge…

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US wants to buy ‘retired’ Swiss fighter jets for training purposes

The American navy is in talks with the Swiss army to purchase 22 decommissioned F5 Tiger fighter jets to help train its pilots in air warfare. According to the SonntagsZeitung…

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EU nationals to get quicker passport checks at the Geneva airport

Travellers holding biometric or electronic EU passports can now pass through the automated passport control gates, which are being tested at Geneva airport’s Arrivals terminal. The automated entry is also…

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HSBC Swiss unit to pay $192 million in US tax fine

The Swiss branch of HSBC's private bank has been fined almost CHF200 million by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) for having helped American clients evade tax between 2000 and 2010.…

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Switzerland grants 18 more countries access to bank details

The Swiss parliament has approved the automatic exchange of bank data with 18 additional countries from 2021. However, Turkey failed to make the cut. On Tuesday, the Senate followed the…

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Swiss school drops Christmas carols to respect other religions

A primary school in northeastern Switzerland has dropped three carols from its Christmas singing event out of respect to other cultures. The decision has been greeted with widespread surprise. “Go…

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Swiss lose faith in politicians

Confidence in politicians to deliver the best solutions has fallen dramatically, according to a survey of nearly 2,500 voters across Switzerland. The latest edition of the Credit Suisse Worry Barometer,…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Ecublens, Switzerland

An image taken with a drone shows an aerial view of several cars and trucks driving on highway A1 interchange Ecublens-Crissier, in Ecublens, Switzerland. EPA-EFE/LAURENT GILLIERON

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Import duty on cars, clothes and other products in Switzerland may be scrapped

Import duties on various products including cars, clothes, and household appliances are set to be removed in Switzerland. If parliament approves the plan, the measure will enter into force in…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Bellwald, Switzerland

A picture taken with a drone shows chalets covered with fresh snow in Bellwald, Switzerland. Photo: EPA-EFE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

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Launch of the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights

How can companies reconcile profits and economic growth with their commitment to human rights? To work with companies on the implementation of human rights in daily business processes, the University…

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Photo Story: Christmas decorations go up in Zurich

People admire the Christmas illumination nicknamed "Lucy" on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich, Switzerland, 21 November 2019. “Lucy”, as the new network of twinkling LED lights is called, was switched on early…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Tremola Pass, Switzerland

An aerial view taken with a drone on the Tremola pass road, on the Gotthard Pass, Switzerland. The Tremola is a historic pass road with serpentines leading to the Gotthard…

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Switzerland and UK sign social security agreement in the event of No-Deal Brexit

Switzerland and the United Kingdom have signed an agreement in London to maintain social security rights in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The text is in line with the…

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Lucerne city parliament declares climate emergency

Lucerne has become the latest Swiss city to approve proposals urging the government to implement climate-related regulations. On Thursday it adopted a petition by the Young Green Party and declared…

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Green parties make historic gains in Swiss election

Green parties have made historic gains at the expense of those to the right and the left in elections to the Swiss parliament. Final results show the left-wing Green Party winning…

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Greens set for gains as Swiss elect parliament

Swiss voters’ concerns about climate change look set to give the environmentalist Greens strong gains in a parliamentary election on Sunday that could dilute the centre-right’s grip on power. A…

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Geneva commuters fall out of love with cars

Commuters in the Geneva region are becoming increasingly disillusioned with private cars and are embracing “multimodal” forms of transport, a survey has found. An in-depth survey of commuter behaviour in…

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