Switzerland

Online gambling sites lose bid to access Swiss market – court

A Swiss court has blocked requests by foreign online gambling operators to access the Swiss market, which gaming officials have limited since 2019 to Swiss-approved games of chance. That means…

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Swiss drop money-laundering case involving Spain’s former king

Geneva's chief prosecutor said on Monday he had closed a criminal investigation into allegations Spain's former king Juan Carlos laundered "illegal commission" payments from Saudi Arabia, due to insufficient evidence.…

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Swiss propose boosting minimum internet speed

The Swiss government proposed increasing by a factor of eight the minimum internet speeds that providers of basic service need to ensure. At present Swisscom has the concession to provide…

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Swiss group lights 11,288 candles for COVID-19 victims

More than 11,000 candles - one for each Swiss victim of the coronavirus pandemic - lit up the December darkness outside the Swiss parliament in Bern on Tuesday evening. "We…

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Photo Story: Playmobil model of L’Escalade of Geneva

Visitors look at a model of the Escalade built with 13,000 pieces of Playmobil, realized by a father and his two children, on display at the department store Manor in…

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UPDATED: Swiss tighten COVID-19 restrictions as cases rise

Switzerland announced stronger anti-Covid-19 measures on Friday, as its government battles to contain a surge in coronavirus infections and the arrival of the Omicron variant in the country. The country…

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Geneva places 2,000 people in quarantine after two Omicron cases

ZURICH, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The Swiss cantons of Geneva and Vaud have placed 2,000 people, most of them children, into quarantine after two cases of the Omicron variant were…

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Swiss voters back government’s COVID-19 response plan

ZURICH, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Swiss voters on Sunday backed the government's pandemic response plan by a bigger than expected majority in a referendum, paving the way for the continuation…

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Swiss voters trend towards backing government’s COVID-19 response plan

ZURICH, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Swiss voters on Sunday trended towards backing the government's pandemic response plan, paving the way for the government to continue exceptional measures to stem the…

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Switzerland adds Britain, Netherlands, three others to quarantine list

Switzerland widened quarantine requirements to stem the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant to travellers arriving from Britain, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Egypt and Malawi, where cases have…

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Swiss expect slower economic growth as pandemic returns

ZURICH, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The Swiss economy grew by a weaker-than-expected 1.7% during the third quarter, the government said on Friday, as it braces for a further downturn from…

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Swiss wind park ordered to scale back to protect birds

A new wind park in Switzerland must scale back its plans to deliver renewable energy in order to protect vulnerable bird species, the country's supreme court ruled this week. Plans…

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Switzerland reports H5N1 bird flu at animal sanctuary, OIE says

PARIS, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Switzerland has reported an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus among poultry at an animal sanctuary, the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal…

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Switzerland holds off on new measures despite “critical” COVID situation

Switzerland will hold off from new national restrictions to curb coronavirus infections, the government said, as it appealed to common sense and local measures to stem the rising tide of…

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Photo Story: The Lausanne Light Festival

People view the light projection of painting of Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh realized by MP Studio in the Saint-Francois Place ahead of the Lausanne Light Festival (Festival Lausanne…

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Swiss watchdog faults two more banks in Venezuela money-laundering probe

ZURICH, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Switzerland's financial regulator reprimanded two more Swiss banks for breaching their obligations to combat money laundering as it wrapped up a five-year investigation into banks'…

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Swiss to allow same-sex weddings from July 2022

ZURICH, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Same-sex couples can wed in Switzerland from July 1 next year, the government said on Wednesday, enacting the results of a ground-breaking referendum on the…

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Swiss pursue ‘special path’ with big trade partner China -minister

Switzerland's foreign minister played down prospects for his neutral country to embrace Western sanctions against China over its human rights record as Bern pursues a "special path" with Beijing, a major trade…

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Spies, lies and losses: Credit Suisse’s scandals

Credit Suisse will pare back its investment bank and focus on building its wealthy client base, the Swiss bank said this week, as it regroups following a string of scandals.…

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Photo Story: First snow in Switzerland

A snow-covered tree in St. Margrethenberg, Switzerland, 04 November 2021. The east of Switzerland received the first snow this winter. Photo - EPA-EFE/GIAN EHRENZELLER

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UN warns world ‘way off track’ as greenhouse gases soar

GENEVA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Greenhouse gas concentrations hit a new record in 2020, the U.N. weather agency said on Monday, warning that the world was "way off track" to…

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Spies and lies: regulators round on Credit Suisse

Credit Suisse misled authorities over spying on its staff and lied to investors about a corrupt loan to Mozambique, regulators said, painting a bleak picture of the cultural decay at…

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Kuehne & Nagel doubles core profit, expects no change in market situation

Swiss logistics group Kuehne & Nagel International reported on Wednesday third-quarter core earnings growth by 113% year-on-year, citing robust global demand, but said it does not expect any significant change…

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Swiss warn of blackout danger in worst-case scenario for 2025

Switzerland would be without power for nearly two days in a worst-case scenario of what might happen in 2025 without a sweeping electricity deal with the surrounding European Union, the…

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Puppet makes cross-Europe trek to support child refugees

A 3.5-metre (11.5 ft)-tall puppet depicting a Syrian refugee girl arrived in Geneva this week as part of an 8,000-km (4,970-mile) walk across Europe to raise awareness of the plight…

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Swiss leading indicator points to slowing economic growth

The KOF economic barometer declined for the fourth time in a row in September, pointing to a slowing Swiss recovery from the pandemic-related drop. The barometer slipped to 110.6 points…

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Swiss start freeing up blocked EU payment to help thaw frosty ties

Switzerland's upper house of parliament on Thursday approved unblocking 1.3 billion Swiss francs ($1.41 billion) in payments to poorer European Union members in a bid to thaw frosty ties with…

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Swiss markets watchdog approves first crypto assets fund

Switzerland's financial markets supervisor said on Wednesday it had approved the country's first fund that invests primarily in crypto assets. The Crypto Market Index Fund is restricted to qualified investors…

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Update – Swiss back same-sex marriage

Update Swiss voters overwhelmingly backed same-sex marriage in a referendum on Sunday, according to preliminary results. Euronews reports that pollster gfs.bern predicted that the motion to allow same-sex marriage was…

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Divided Swiss to vote on same-sex marriage

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss voters decide on Sunday whether to allow same-sex couples to wed and adopt children after a highly charged campaign pitted gay rights activists against conservative opponents…

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WHO’s Tedros looks set to run unopposed for a second term

The World Health Organization's chief looks set to run unopposed for a second term at the helm as tries to guide the world through its biggest health crisis in a…

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Swiss govt seeking to iron out research funding shortfalls over EU ties

The Swiss government said on Friday it is seeking to implement transitional measures to make up for research funding shortfalls, as souring ties with the European Union put billions of…

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Swiss cabinet tightens coronavirus curbs to protect hospitals

ZURICH, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Switzerland will tighten curbs on public life from Monday by requiring people to show a COVID-status certificate to access indoor spaces like restaurants, the government…

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Swiss economy rebounds to near pre-pandemic levels

The Swiss economy grew by 1.8% in the second quarter versus the first three months of 2020 as easing COVID-19 restrictions helped reverse two consecutive quarters of declines, official data…

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Number of people with dementia set to jump 40% to 78 mln by 2030 -WHO

More than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, a neurological disorder that robs them of their memory and costs the world $1.3 trillion a year, the World Health…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Flaesch, Switzerland

A flock of sheep crosses alpine terrain under the 'Falknis' peak (2562 meters above sea level), in Flaesch, Switzerland. During the so-called 'Schafuebergang', 1400 sheep wander from one meadow to…

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Swiss mull more restrictions

Switzerland ordered millions more doses of COVID-19 vaccine as it braced for a resurgent wave of coronavirus that could require more restrictions on public life. The order of 14 million…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Valais, Switzerland

The highest wind park in Europe at the Griessee, Nufenenpass, Valais, Switzerland. Photo: EPA/OLIVIER MAIRE

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Swiss doctors sound alarm over sharp rise in Covid patients

A Swiss doctors’ association has warned of a “very steep” rise in the number of seriously ill Covid-19 patients - mostly unvaccinated - in intensive care in the past few…

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Photo Story: The Lugano Cliff Diving

Alain Lobet of France in action at the Lugano Cliff Diving competition in Carona, Switzerland. This year the event was smaller due to the Corona virus pandemic. Via EPA-EFE/Massimo Piccoli

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Swiss won’t accept large groups of Afghan refugees directly

Switzerland won't accept large groups of Afghan refugees arriving directly from the country, the government said on Wednesday, but instead will review asylum applications on a case-by-case basis. Humanitarian visas…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Laax, Switzerland

View of the world's longest treetop walk in Laax, Switzerland. The 'Senda dil Dragun' (Way of the Dragon) is 1.56 kilometres long and was opened to the public on 11…

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No jab? No free COVID testing, Swiss propose

The Swiss government plans to halt most free COVID-19 testing for people who are not vaccinated now that nearly half the population has got the jabs. "For the government, protecting…

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Police clear climate activists from Zurich financial zone

Police cleared climate activists from the heart of Zurich's financial district on Monday after dozens blocked entrances to offices of Switzerland's two biggest banks to protest against their financing of fossil fuel projects,…

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Lindt chocolate bunny hops towards victory in trademark battle

Lindt & Spruengli's gold foil-wrapped chocolate Easter bunny scored a legal win on Thursday as Germany's federal court ruled its gold tone had trademark protection. The Swiss premium chocolate maker…

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Consumers’ sweet tooth helps Lindt & Spruengli shine

Strong demand for Lindor and Excellence chocolates boosted sales and profit at Switzerland’s Lindt & Spruengli in the first half, allowing it to raise its full-year guidance as the impact…

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COVID keeps Swiss gold exports to India subdued in June

Swiss exports of gold to India edged higher in June, although they remained far below levels earlier this year, and shipments to mainland China fell, Swiss customs data showed on…

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Photo Story: Floods in Switzerland

A view of tents in the flooded VD8 camping in Cheseaux-Noreaz near Yverdon-les-Bains on the eastern shore of lake Neuchatel, Switzerland, on Monday morning, after heavy rains. Water levels across…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Laax, Switzerland

A view of the world's longest treetop walk in Laax, Switzerland. The 'Senda dil Dragun' (Way of the Dragon) is 1.56 kilometres long and was opened to the public on…

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Swiss widen sanctions list against Belarus

Switzerland has widened its sanctions against Belarus, the government said on Wednesday, joining other countries in acting after Belarusian authorities triggered outrage by intercepting a Ryanair flight in May and…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Veytaux, Switzerland

Chateau de Chillon on Lake Geneva in Veytaux, Switzerland. For almost four centuries Chillon Castle, which is situated on a small island in the lake, was the residence and toll…

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Swiss hope for holidaymakers from Europe as Asian tourists stay away

It's a quiet day at Jungfraujoch, the Swiss tourist attraction dubbed "Top of Europe", a mountain saddle connecting two 4,000-metre peaks in the majestic Bernese Alps. Before the COVID-19 pandemic,…

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Switzerland orders son of Gaddafi’s oil chief to pay $1.5 million in bribery case

A Swiss court ordered the son of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's oil minister to pay $1.5 million in a corruption case on Friday, a decision that his lawyer said he…

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Scandal-hit Credit Suisse considers creating single private bank

Credit Suisse is considering centralising the management of its bankers to the world's wealthy, replacing a regional structure, three sources said, as part of efforts to fast-track an overhaul after…

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Swiss pick Lockheed Martin’s F-35A as next fighter jet

Switzerland has chosen Lockheed Martin's F-35A Lightning II as its next-generation fighter plane, the government said on Wednesday, a move that will likely trigger another hotly-disputed referendum over the plan.…

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Swiss data shows vaccinated people seldom hit by COVID-19

Switzerland's move to allow large public events with 10,000-plus people from Saturday comes as government data appears to show vaccines are helping control new infections that are mostly hitting people…

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Swiss accelerate reopening, allow large events with ‘COVID certificates’

Switzerland will allow large concerts or sporting events topping 10,000 people starting on Saturday, provided attendees can produce so-called COVID certificates showing they are vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19 or…

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