Switzerland

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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Photo Story: Floating solar panels unveiled in Swiss Alps

Floating barges with solar panels are pictured on the Lac des Toules, an alpine reservoir lake, in Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Switzerland. Upon completion the floating solar panel station will consist of 36…

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EU to remove Switzerland from tax haven lists

European Union finance ministers are set to remove Switzerland from the bloc’s lists of countries deemed to act as tax havens, an EU document said. On October 10 they are…

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Switzerland to introduce two-week paternity

Fathers in Switzerland are set to receive two weeks off work after the government proposed a compromise with family leave campaigners. Campaigners had sought a period of four week’s paternal…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Geneva, Switzerland

A picture taken with a drone shows a view of a giant biodegradable landart painting by French-Swiss artist Saype at the Parc de la Grange in Geneva, Switzerland and that…

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Concern in Switzerland after first vaping-related illness

Swiss lung doctors are calling for a register of suspected vaping-related illness after a first suspected case was reported in Switzerland. The issue has gained global attention in recent weeks as…

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Photo Story: Highlights from the Swiss Festival of Traditional Music in Crans-Montana

Highlight of some of the 1,500 participants during the closing parade of the Federal Festival of Traditional Music (Fete Federale de la Musique Populaire) in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, 22 September 2019.…

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Another Swiss bank enters into cryptoassets

Arab Bank Switzerland has teamed up with blockchain technology firm Taurus to offer its wealthy clients access to bitcoin and ethereum. The bank joins a growing list of established players…

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Photo Story: The final touch

A staff member cleans the red carpet prior to the arrival of Slovenian President Borut Pahor in Kehrsatz near Bern, Switzerland, 19 September 2019. Slovenian President Borut Pahor is on…

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Saype’s Beyond Walls Project land art in Geneva

A picture taken with a drone shows a view of a giant biodegradable landart painting by French-Swiss artist Saype at the Parc de la Grange in Geneva, Switzerland, 14 September…

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EPA’s eye in The Sky: Walenstadt, Switzerland

An aerial image taken with a drone shows people enjoying the evening on the shore of lake Walensee in Walenstadt, Switzerland. Photo: EPA-EFE/GIAN EHRENZELLER

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Swiss artist installs 300 trees in football stadium

Basel-based artist Klaus Littmann has transformed a 30,000-capacity stadium in southern Austria into a forest as part of an exhibit paying tribute to nature. It is Austria’s largest public art…

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Switzerland publishes first blacklist of foreign gambling websites

The Swiss Lottery and Betting Board has published its first blacklist of foreign gambling websites following a change to the law on online gambling. See the full list here Over…

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Switzerland’s first crypto banks receive licences

The Swiss financial regulator has awarded banking and securities dealer licences to two new “crypto banks”. SEBA and Sygnum have been cleared to operate, a major milestone for the fledging…

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British musicians and baby daughter killed in Swiss plane crash

Two leading British musicians and their baby daughter have been killed in a plane crash in the Swiss Alps. The award-winning composer Jonathan Goldstein, his wife, Hannah, a prominent saxophonist,…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Les Crosets, Switzerland

A picture taken with a drone shows a giant biodegradable landart painting by French-Swiss artist Saype, titled 'The Smugglers of Friendship!' ('Les contrebandiers de l'amitie!' in french) in front of…

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Switzerland adopts EU laws on drones and post-Brexit aviation

Switzerland has taken over a EU security framework laying out new rules for drones and guarantees the continuation of aviation activities between Bern and London after Brexit. The Swiss Federal…

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Restrictions in Switzerland on blood donations from persons who visited certain southern European countries

Travellers who spend at least 24 hours in certain southern European countries face restrictions when donating blood in Switzerland. The reason is the increase in cases of West Nile virus,…

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Liam and Emma most popular names for new-borns in Switzerland

Liam is the most popular name for male new-borns in Switzerland according to annual statistics published on Monday and Emma among females. For the 42,838 girls and 45,013 boys born…

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Switzerland introduces higher fees for Schengen visas

Switzerland has moved into line with European Union changes to Schengen visa applications that will raise the costs for adults and children aged between six and 12. Although Switzerland is…

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Six-year-old girl missing after violent storm in Switzerland

A six-year-old girl is among the two persons who are missing after their car was swept away by a torrent of mud triggered by a flash flood in southwestern Switzerland.…

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Photo Story: Red Bull Race Day

Raimund Riedmann (L) of Austria in the plane P38 Lightning and Philipp Haidbauer of Austria in the plane T28 Trojan perform during the Red Bull Race Day at Grenchen Airport…

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Legendary French actor Alain Delon recovered in hospital after stroke

Legendary French actor Alain Delon, 83, suffered a stroke a few weeks ago and is currently "resting" in Switzerland, his eldest son Anthony Delon revealed. His son said the actor's…

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Germany wants tougher checks on Swiss border

Germany's interior minister has told Der Spiegel magazine that he is planning to submit a concept for enhanced covert checks and brief searches of travellers along Germany's border with Switzerland. Horst Seehofer's…

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Man behind death of German child in Frankfurt station was wanted by Swiss police

A man suspected of pushing an eight-year-old boy and his mother in front of a train at Frankfurt’s main station in Germany, killing the boy, had been receiving psychiatric treatment,…

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Photo Story: Swiss Alphorn International Festival

Alphorn players play their instruments and a view of alphorns during the Alphorn International Festival in Nendaz, Switzerland, 28 July 2019. Alpenhorn blowers from the entire world descend on Nendaz for the…

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Photo Story: Paleo Festival in Nyon Switzerland

Festival goers rest by a fire under the rain during the 44th edition of the Paleo Festival, in Nyon, Switzerland on the night of the 27th July 2019. The Paleo…

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Switzerland ranked as most innovative country in new UN report

The World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO, named Switzerland as the world’s most innovative country on Wednesday, during the launch of its latest Global Innovation Index, (GII) in the Indian capital…

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Switzerland could lose billions in global corporate tax reform push

Switzerland stands to lose up to CHF10 billion ($10.2 billion) because of attempts by other countries to change how multinationals are taxed. Countries belonging to the G20 and OECD…

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Emergency in Mt Blanc Tunnel because of smoke

Some 67 people were evacuated from a coach in the Mt Blanc tunnel after it came to a halt because of a technical fault and started giving out smoke on…

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Zurich Airport’s hub status is “at risk”

Zurich Airport risks losing its hub status if flight time restrictions are rolled out, warns the CEO of Lufthansa, the German parent company of Swiss International Air Lines. Carsten Spohr…

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UK and Switzerland boost collaboration on security and migration

The UK and Switzerland have signed an agreement committing to continue their work in tackling cross-border crime and terrorism after Brexit. Home Secretary Sajid Javid signed a Memorandum of Understanding…

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Photo Story: Climate activists block Swiss bank Credit Suisse in Basel

A group of climate activists from the Collective Climate Justice organization block the entrance to the Swiss bank Credit Suisse, at the Aeschenplatz, in Basel, Switzerland, 08 July 2019.…

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Photo Story: Crop Circle in Switzerland

An aerial view taken with a drone shows a crop circle in a wheat field near Bueren an der Aare, Switzerland, 06 July 2019. According to local reports, the…

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Swiss women’s international footballer Florijana Ismaili confirmed dead

Switzerland women’s international Florijana Ismaili has been confirmed dead. Ismaili, a female football player with the Swiss national team, has been declared missing after a swimming accident on Lake Como…

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Swiss stock exchange loses EU access

The Swiss Market Index rose 1pc in early trading on the first day since EU-based traders lost the right to trade equities in the country as a result of a diplomatic…

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Swiss footballer Florijana Ismaili missing in Lake Como in Italy

Florijana Ismaili, a female football player with the Swiss national team, has been declared missing after a swimming accident on Lake Como in Italy. Ismaili, 24, has played for the…

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Switzerland-EU partnership deadline looms

The European Union is threatening that from Sunday midnight, to terminate its preferential treatment of Swiss stock exchanges. From July 1, the EU would no longer recognize Swiss stock-exchange regulations…

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E-voting suffers another setback in Switzerland

The Swiss government has decided to suspend efforts to enshrine electronic voting into the country's law, but it plans to continue trials using improved systems. A consultation among political…

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Photo Story: The Montreux Jazz Festival

British musician Elton John performs on the stage during his final 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour at the 53rd Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF), in Montreux, Switzerland on the evening of…

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Swiss to lose access to websites of foreign casinos

Swiss gamblers are going to lose access to the websites of foreign casinos. As of 1st July, the provision of the new Swiss gambling law which restricts online gambling to…

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Swiss women strike over inequality

Women are going on strike across Switzerland on Friday, demanding an end to an equality gap that is far wider than in many other western European countries. "Wages, time, respect," is the…

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Swiss nursery schools now rejecting unvaccinated children

A Swiss childcare group has decided to turn down applicants not vaccinated against measles and whooping cough. The “Bubble Bees” organisation, which operates eight nurseries across north-eastern Switzerland has started…

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Accident involving a cable car at the Swiss mountain of Titlis

An accident involving a cable car at the Swiss mountain of Titlis left several maintenance workers injured, police confirmed on Wednesday. The workers sustained injuries when one of the cables…

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Switzerland and Sweden the top in Europe for skilled foreign workers and students

Switzerland and Sweden are the most attractive locations for highly qualified foreign workers, according to a new study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In a ranking…

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Swiss voters approve tighter gun control

Swiss voters agreed on Sunday to adopt tighter gun controls in line with changes to European Union rules, heading off a clash with Brussels, projections for Swiss broadcaster SRF showed.…

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Head of Geneva airport security arrested

The head of security at Geneva airport in Switzerland has been arrested in a corruption investigation. The head of the security company, which employed him, was also arrested. The…

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Swiss to get medical certificates via WhatsApp

The German firm AU-Schein.de is offering German-speaking workers in Switzerland a medical certificate via WhatsApp for just €9. Getting a medical certificate in Switzerland generally means visiting a doctor’s…

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Photostory: Test day for the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet in Switzerland

A Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet takes off during a test and evaluation day at the Swiss Army airbase, in Payerne, Switzerland. Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet takes off in Payerne as…

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Woman risking jail for putting rubbish out on wrong day

A woman from Lutry on Lake Geneva in Switzerland was hit with the fine of around 166 euro after she put out her garbage on the wrong day. Her lawyer…

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Slideshow: Swiss police presented with electric police cars

New electric cars of the police of canton St. Gallen are presented in St. Gallen, Switzerland, 24 April 2019. Within the next one and a half years, the police of…

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Fire bombs thrown at Turkish consulate in Zurich

Swiss police said that three men have been arrested after two incendiary devices were thrown at the Turkish consulate general in Zurich. In the incident a hedge outside the building…

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Swiss village subsidises alarms for residents after spike in burglaries

The Swiss village of Boncourt, which counts just over 1,200 inhabitants, decided to subsidise the purchase of burglar alarms for the residents after a spike in break-ins. Lionel Maitre, the…

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