Switzerland

Photo Story: Transhumance in Switzerland

A herdsman looks on during the annual cattle drive (Alpabzug) on the Saemtis Alps in Bruelisau, Switzerland, 26 August 2022. Cattle feed on alpine herbs in summer and are later…

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Giant megalodon shark could eat prey the size of killer whales

Megalodon, the largest shark that ever lived, is famous for its huge, human-hand-sized teeth. However, there is little fossil evidence of its whole body. International researchers in collaboration with UZH…

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Photo Story: The dried-out shore of the Lac des Brenets in Switzerland

Stranded boats are pictured on the dried-out shore of the Lac des Brenets 'or Lac de Chaillexon' part of the Doubs river, a natural border between eastern France and western…

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The WHO wants a new term for monkeypox

In a bid to do away with a name criticized for having problematic connotations, the World Health Organization (WHO) is asking the public to weigh in on what the virus…

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Switzerland could align with EU energy saving drive

Switzerland could prevent an energy shortage by aligning with a European Union plan to cut gas use by 15% this winter, Energy Minister Simonetta Sommaruga told newspaper SonntagsBlick. European Union…

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U.N. humanitarian agencies face record funding gap this year

GENEVA, Aug 12 (Reuters) - U.N. humanitarian projects face a record funding gap this year, with only a third of the required $48.7 billion secured so far as global needs…

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Swiss hotel sector shows signs of post-pandemic recovery

A total of 16.9 million overnight stays were made in Swiss hotels between January and June, an increase of 47.3% on the same period in 2021, when Covid health measures…

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Cash payments in Switzerland lose further ground, poll finds

Some 52% of respondents in a survey said either of the cards were absolutely indispensable for them, the independent online comparison service, moneyland.ch said. The share of respondents who prefer…

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Photo Story: Rhine Falls in Neuhausen, Switzerland

A tourist vessel sails in front of the Rhine Falls in Neuhausen, Switzerland. The weather forecast predicts warm temperatures for the coming days. Via EPA-EFE/MICHAEL BUHOLZER

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African monkeypox cases not concentrated among gay men, experts say

Monkeypox outbreaks in Africa are not concentrated among gay men, unlike in other parts of the world, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa CDC said. Outbreaks…

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Swiss adopt new EU sanctions on Russia, allow oil payments

The Swiss government imposed further sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, in line with the European Union's latest measures on gold and gold products, the cabinet said. The…

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Swiss inflation holds steady at 3.4% in July

ZURICH, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Swiss consumer price inflation held steady at 3.4% in July, slightly less than economists had expected after inflation touched a 29-year high in June. The reading -…

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Photo Story: Melting Sardona glacier in Switzerlands reveals a cave

A man stands in a glacier cave at the Sardona glacier in Vaettis, Switzerland. The melting glacier has revealed a cave. Via EPA-EFE/GIAN EHRENZELLER

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Swiss set to match EU sanctions if China invades Taiwan

ZURICH, July 30 (Reuters) - The head of the Swiss agency that implements economic sanctions expects the neutral country to adopt any punitive measures the European Union launches against China if it…

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Swiss leading economic indicator points to gloom ahead

ZURICH, July 29 (Reuters) - The forward-looking Swiss KOF economic barometer slipped to its lowest reading in two years in July, data published on Friday showed, indicating a sluggish development for one…

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WHO says majority of monkeypox cases are in Europe

There have been more than 18,000 cases of monkeypox reported globally from 78 countries, with the majority in Europe, the World Health Organization said. The WHO declared the outbreak a…

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Swiss brace for rolling four-hour blackouts in any energy crunch

ZURICH, (Reuters) - Switzerland could resort to rolling four-hour regional blackouts should Europe's energy crisis lead to winter power shortages, a senior utility sector official said this week. The country is bracing for…

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Photo Story: Angele at the 45th Paleo Festival in Nyon

Belgium's singer Angele Van Laeken, aka Angele, performs on the main stage, during the 45th edition of the Paleo Festival in Nyon, Switzerland, on Thursday evening. The Paleo is the…

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Swiss say energy supplies safe for now, winter shortages loom

ZURICH, July 20 (Reuters) - Swiss energy supplies are safe for now but power shortages may loom in winter due to the war in Ukraine, possible interruptions in gas supplies in Europe,…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland

A picture taken with a drone shows a giant biodegradable landart painting entitled 'Vers l'equilibre' (lit. Towards balance, in French) by French-Swiss artist Saype near the summit of the Grand…

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Swiss attorney general warns trading looted commodities could be war crime

ZURICH, July 14 (Reuters) - Switzerland's attorney general has warned Swiss-based commodities trading firms that dealing with stolen raw materials, notably from Ukraine, could trigger war crime charges. "Commercialising looted raw materials…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Corsier, Switzerland

Giant landart artwork representing Charlie Chaplin in costume of his character "The Tramp" "Charlot chez Chaplin" by French artist Franck Bonneau along the route of the 9th stage (Aigle -…

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Swiss inflation in June tops 3%, highest since 2008

ZURICH, July 4 (Reuters) - Swiss consumer prices rose 3.4% in June, more than economists had expected and the first time inflation in Switzerland has topped 3% since July 2008. The reading…

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Swiss gear up for hard times with bulked up food reserves

ZURICH, (Reuters) - Switzerland wants to expand its emergency food reserves to make sure the neutral country is not hit by shortages of coffee, grain and sugar caused by over-extended supply chains,…

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Swiss top court upholds ban on foreign online betting operators

Switzerland's supreme court has upheld a ban on accessing foreign online gambling sites, dashing the hopes of three betting outfits to tap the Swiss market. The Federal Court said in…

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Court convicts Credit Suisse in money-laundering case

BELLINZONA, Switzerland, June 27 (Reuters) - Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court convicted Credit Suisse CSGN.S and a former employee of failing to prevent money-laundering in Switzerland's first criminal trial of one of its major banks.…

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WHO says monkeypox is not yet a health emergency

LONDON, (Reuters) - Monkeypox is not yet a global health emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) ruled on Saturday, although WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was deeply concerned about the…

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Financial watchdogs should do more to protect crypto traders, top Swiss regulator says

ZURICH, June 22 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrency trading increasingly resembles the U.S. stock market of the late 1920s, Switzerland's top market regulator said on Wednesday, calling for regulators to take more action to…

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Food crisis will drive record displacement levels higher: UN refugee chief

GENEVA (Reuters) - A food security crisis stoked by the Ukraine war is set to push more people to flee their homes in poorer countries, driving record levels of global displacement even…

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Photo Story: Geraldine Fasnacht SolarStratos wingsuit jump

Swiss freeride snowboarder, base jumper and wingsuit pilot Geraldine Fasnacht jumps out of SolarStratos, a solar powered aircraft prototype. The aircraft was flown by Swiss adventurer Raphael Domjan and this…

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WTO strikes global trade deals deep into overtime

GENEVA, June 17 (Reuters) - The World Trade Organization's164 members approved a series of trade agreements early on Friday that included commitments on fish and pledges on health and food security after more than five gruelling days of negotiations. The deals…

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UPDATED: Swiss franc in biggest daily jump since 2015 after rate hike

LONDON, June 16 (Reuters) - Switzerland's franc soared on Thursday after the Swiss National Bank took markets by surprise with a large interest rate hike, putting the currency on track for its…

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Swiss cut economic growth forecasts, citing war and inflation

ZURICH, June 15 (Reuters) - The Swiss economy is expected to expand by 2.6% in 2022, the government said on Wednesday, becoming the latest region to downgrade its growth estimates due to…

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UPDATED: Swiss airspace re-opens after ‘technical malfunction’

A technical problem with the air traffic control system halted take-offs and landings at Swiss airports early on Wednesday morning. Flights resumed from Zurich and Geneva from 8:30am, the Skyguide…

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Moscow Exchange suspends Swiss franc trading after new sanctions

The Moscow Exchange said it would suspend trading of the Swiss franc against the rouble and the U.S. dollar from Tuesday after Switzerland adopted new EU sanctions against Russia. The…

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Switzerland adopts new EU sanctions against Russia, Belarus

BERLIN, June 10 (Reuters) - Switzerland has adopted new EU sanctions against Belarus and Russia, also imposing financial and travel sanctions on 100 additional individuals and entities, including oligarch Aleksandra Melnichenko, the…

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More than 1,000 monkeypox cases reported to WHO

There have been more than 1,000 monkeypox cases reported to the World Health Organization in the current outbreak outside the countries in Africa where it more commonly spreads. WHO Director-General…

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COVID vaccine rights waiver within reach, WTO chief says ahead of meeting

GENEVA, June 8 (Reuters) - An international agreement on waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines is within reach ahead of a global trade meeting next week, the head of the World…

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Letters from Hitler’s doctor show how he treated dictator’s voice – Swiss newspaper

ZURICH (Reuters) - The Swiss descendent of one of Adolf Hitler's doctors has released details of letters that show how he treated the Nazi dictator for voice problems, NZZ am…

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Neutral Swiss spell out rules for re-export of arms

Switzerland reiterated it would not as a neutral country allow the re-export of Swiss arms to conflict zones but this did not cover some Swiss-manufactured parts that other countries may…

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Swiss catch inflation bug, prices rise at fastest pace in 14 years

ZURICH, June 2 (Reuters) - Swiss prices increased by their highest level in 14 years during May, the government said on Thursday, as Switzerland became the latest country to be hit by…

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Swiss veto Danish request to send Ukraine armoured vehicles

ZURICH, June 1 (Reuters) - The Swiss government has vetoed Denmark's request to send Swiss-made armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine, citing its neutrality policy of not supplying arms to conflict zones, Swiss…

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WHO aims to contain monkeypox outbreak by minimizing human transmission

It is not clear yet whether the spread of monkeypox can be contained completely, the World Health Organization said, adding that its goal was to contain the outbreak by stopping…

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Swiss regulator weighing new COVID booster recommendation for children

Swiss drugs regulator Swissmedic said on Tuesday it is reviewing an application from pharmaceutical company Pfizer for a new dosage recommendation for a COVID-19 booster shot for children. The regulator…

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UPDATED: Unlikely monkeypox outbreak will lead to pandemic, says WHO

LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization does not believe the monkeypox outbreak outside of Africa will lead to a pandemic, an official said on Monday, adding that it remains…

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This Spring in Switzerland was one of the warmest on record

Spring 2022 in Switzerland was one of the warmest on record, with temperatures from March to May around 2.5 degrees above normal, public television weather service SRF Meteo said. Only…

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Swiss to destroy more than 620,000 expired Moderna COVID doses

ZURICH, May 27 (Reuters) - Switzerland will destroy more than 620,000 expired doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, health officials said on Friday, as demand for the shots drops dramatically. "It was consciously…

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Monkeypox can be contained if we act now, WHO says

GENEVA, May 27 (Reuters) - A World Health Organization senior official said on Friday that the priority needs to be containing monkeypox in non-endemic countries, saying that this can be achieved through…

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WHO chief says it must take central role in global health

GENEVA, May 23 (Reuters) - The head of the World Health Organization said on Monday that it must be "at the centre" of a global healthcare system, while also acknowledging the need…

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IEA warns against energy crisis deepening fossil fuel reliance

DAVOS, Switzerland, May 23 (Reuters) - The energy security crisis since Russia's invasion of Ukraine must not lead to a deeper dependence on fossil fuels, International Energy (IEA) chief Fatih Birol said…

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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy tells Davos that world faces a turning point

DAVOS, May 23 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday told a meeting of global business leaders at Davos that the world faced a turning point and had to ratchet up…

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More than 100 million people forcibly displaced in the world

GENEVA, May 23 (Reuters) - More than 100 million people have been driven from their homes around the world, the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Monday, citing new data…

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Switzerland confirms its first case of monkeypox

VIENNA (Reuters) - Switzerland has detected its first confirmed case of monkeypox, a person in the canton of Bern who contracted it through "close physical contact abroad", the canton said…

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Photo Story: Heatwave in Geneva

People enjoy the warm weather in the plage des Eaux-Vives on the shore of the Lake Geneva, during a heatwave in Geneva, Switzerland. Via EPA-EFE/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

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World in no better place to fight pandemics than before COVID – review panel

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) - The world is no better prepared for a new pandemic threat than it was when coronavirus emerged in 2019, and may actually be in a…

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Neutral Switzerland leans closer to NATO in response to Russia

Switzerland's fabled neutral status is about to face its biggest test in decades, with the defence ministry tilting closer to Western military powers in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The defence…

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Swiss voters approve ‘Lex Netflix’ TV streaming funding law

Swiss voters on Sunday backed proposals to make global TV streaming services such as Netflix Inc, Amazon and Disney invest some of their revenues generated in Switzerland into domestic film-making.…

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