Switzerland

New Year’s Eve tragic Swiss bar’s service door was locked from inside

The charges against bar owner Jacques Moretti may become more complex. This could happen if the public prosecutor determines he bears partial responsibility for the locked fire exit. Moretti states…

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Swiss authotorities initiate criminal investigations into Crans-Montana tragedy

Swiss authorities announced on Saturday that they have initiated a criminal investigation. The investigation targets the two French owners of the Crans-Montana ski resort bar. A tragic fire at this…

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Army Chief Concedes Switzerland Lacks Means to Defend Against Major Invasion

Switzerland cannot defend itself against a full-scale attack and must boost military spending given rising risks from Russia, the head of its armed forces said. The country is prepared for…

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Switzerland facing 39% US tariff as president leaves Washington empty-handed

Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter left Washington empty-handed on Wednesday after a hastily arranged trip to avert a crippling 39% tariff on the country's exports to the United States, its biggest…

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Concerns for player safety as Women’s Euros kicks off in Switzerland

The Women's Euros begin in Switzerland today - with extreme heat warnings in place. Security measures have had to be relaxed by UEFA for the opening matches so fans can…

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Switzerland to explore defence procurement pact with EU

Switzerland will enter into exploratory talks with the European Union on a non-binding partnership to take part in arms procurement projects, the government said, as the neutral alpine nation seeks…

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Switzerland Proposes Immigration Control Measures Within EU Framework

The Swiss government said it wants the right to restrict free movement of people from the European Union if factors such as net immigration, commuter numbers or welfare dependency exceed…

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Switzerland leans closer to Europe after Trump tariff blow

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to hit Switzerland with steeper tariffs than most of Europe was a major shock to the export-oriented country, pushing it towards the European Union as…

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EU, Switzerland agree deal to strengthen trade ties in ‘turbulent’ times

Switzerland and the European Union unveiled a deal to carry out the biggest overhaul of their trade ties in years, overcoming Swiss concerns about immigration and setting the scene for…

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Switzerland plans revamp of Cold War-era nuclear bunker network

Switzerland wants to update its network of ageing nuclear shelters, which are increasingly seen as an asset at a time of greater global uncertainty, notably since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.…

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Job boom creates Swiss immigration headache for EU trade talks

Switzerland is scrambling to keep a lid on immigration from its top trade partner, the European Union, as a jobs boom powered by the country's low-tax business model turns population…

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Swiss ‘burqa ban’ to take effect from 2025

A contentious Swiss prohibition on facial coverings in public spaces widely known as the "burqa ban" will take effect on Jan. 1, the government said his week. Narrowly passed in…

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Neutral Switzerland signs declaration to join European Sky Shield initiative

Switzerland has signed up to the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), the government said, a project which seeks to build a unified air and missile defence system across Europe. The…

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Neutral Swiss to join European cyber security group

Switzerland will join the European Cyber Security Organization (ECSO) to strengthen the neutral country's defences against hackers and online attacks, the government said on Wednesday. Through membership, the government will…

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Swiss government adopts more EU sanctions against Russia

Switzerland has expanded its sanctions against Russia to include additional measures recently taken up by the European Union against Moscow over its ongoing aggression against Ukraine, the Swiss government said.…

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Severe Flooding and Storms Claim Lives in France, Switzerland, and Italy

Ferocious storms and torrential rains that lashed France, Switzerland and Italy this weekend have left seven people dead, local authorities said. Three people in their 70s and 80s died in…

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Ukraine summit strives for consensus, way forward uncertain

Western powers and their allies at a summit in Switzerland denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Sunday, but they failed to persuade major non-aligned states to join their final statement,…

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Swiss parliament snubs European court climate ruling

The lower house of the Swiss parliament voted on Wednesday to reject a ruling ordering Switzerland to do more to combat global warming in a move that could encourage others…

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Zelenskiy’s Peace Summit in Switzerland: What to Expect

Switzerland will host a summit on June 15-16 that aims to build broad international support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's peace proposals, which includes the full withdrawal of Russian troops…

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Switzerland’s Nemo wins Eurovision

Switzerland and its representative Nemo took the honours from the 25 songs selected for the final of this year's edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. This is the third victory…

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Switzerland says Russia not invited ‘at this stage’ to Ukraine peace talks

The Swiss government said on Thursday that "at this stage" Russia is not among the 160 delegations invited to talks to be held in Switzerland in mid-June aimed at helping…

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Switzerland green lights talks with Brussels to update EU relations

ZURICH, (Reuters) - The Swiss government approved a new negotiating mandate for talks with Brussels to modernize the country's relationship with the European Union after a previous bid unraveled in…

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Zurich steps up security at Jewish sites after possible antisemitic attack

Police have stepped up security measures at Jewish sites in Zurich following a serious knife attack on an orthodox Jewish man in the Swiss city overnight, local police said. Police…

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UPDATED: Swiss vote to back ’13th month’ pension payment increase

ZURICH, March 3 (Reuters) - Switzerland voted for increased pension payments for the elderly in a referendum on Sunday, as concern over living costs trumped government doubts about its affordability,…

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Swiss industry warns of ‘precarious’ 2024 as franc weighs

ZURICH, Feb 29 (Reuters) - The outlook for 2024 is uncertain, a group representing Switzerland's engineering and technology-linked sector warned on Thursday, as Swiss industrial companies wrestle with a strong…

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Swiss cracking down on attempts to evade Russian sanctions

Switzerland is increasing its efforts to crack down on companies and individuals who are using the neutral country to circumvent sanctions imposed on Russia. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs…

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Swiss still love physical cash despite rise of payment apps

ZURICH, (Reuters) - Switzerland is still in love with bank notes and coins, a survey by the central bank showed, despite the growth of mobile payment apps and predictions of…

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Swiss police kill axe-wielding hostage taker on train

Swiss authorities said a man armed with an axe and a knife held 15 hostages on a train for almost four hours, until police stormed the train and fatally wounded…

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Switzerland to host Ukraine peace summit at Zelenskiy’s request

Switzerland has agreed to host a global peace summit on Ukraine at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Neutral Switzerland has previously acted as a broker to resolve conflicts…

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Davos 2024: Ukraine to hold fourth peace formula talks on Sunday

Ukraine and Switzerland will host around 120 national security advisors on Sunday in the Swiss resort town of Davos, Switzerland's foreign affairs department said, the latest in a series of…

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Switzerland expects high numbers of asylum seekers in 2024

Switzerland expects to see 30,000 asylum seekers this year, around the same number of people as in 2023. The number of asylum applications increased again last year. Although conclusive statistics…

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No evidence of terrorist attacks in Switzerland

The Swiss Federal Intelligence Service has no indications of concrete plans for terrorist attacks in Switzerland. However, the FIS still considers the threat of terrorism in Switzerland to be heightened,…

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Switzerland to introduce minimum tax rate under OECD deal from Jan. 1

BERLIN, (Reuters) - Switzerland will introduce the minimum tax rate for large multinational companies agreed by the OECD and G20 member states from Jan. 1 to prevent the erosion of…

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UK and Switzerland strike ‘first of its kind’ financial services deal

The U.K. and Switzerland have signed a financial services deal described as the “first of its kind” by British Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. The mutual recognition agreement will allow British firms…

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Swiss capital Bern considers legal cocaine project

By John Revill Switzerland's capital is examining a pilot scheme to allow the sale of cocaine for recreational use - a radical approach to the war on drugs that is…

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Gunman kills two in Swiss alpine town, police launch manhunt

SION, Switzerland, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Police launched a manhunt after a shooter killed two people and wounded a third in the Swiss Alpine town of Sion early on Monday.…

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Swiss have frozen $8.8 bilion of Russian assets

By John Revill BERN, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Switzerland has frozen an estimated 7.7 billion Swiss francs ($8.81 billion) in financial assets belonging to Russians, the government said on Friday,…

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Gérard Wertheimer, Chanel owner, remains Switzerland’s richest person

Gérard Wertheimer remains at the top of the list of the 300 wealthiest people in Switzerland, who together with his brother Alain, the Frenchman owns Chanel. According to the 2023…

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French President Macron speaks up for Swiss neutrality

French President Emanuel Macron said he respects the tradition of Swiss neutrality, which is behind a refusal to allow war material re-exports to Ukraine. At the same time, he expressed his…

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Photo Story: Winter arrives to St. Margrethenberg in Switzerland

Cows trott trough the freshly fallen snow towards their barn in St. Margrethenberg, Switzerland. Via EPA-EFE/GIAN EHRENZELLER

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Swiss turn to right at election as immigration fears weigh

ZURICH, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Switzerland looked set to shift to the right after national elections on Sunday, as concerns about immigration trumped fears about climate change and melting glaciers,…

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Switzerland’s right set to gain at Green’s expense in Sunday vote

By Noele Illien and Cecile Mantovani ZURICH/GENEVA (Reuters) - The right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) is set to bolster its position as Switzerland's leading political force in Sunday's parliamentary elections,…

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Mont Blanc loses over two metres in height in two years

Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe, has shrunk by more than two metres in two years and now stands at 4,805.59 m, French expert surveyors…

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Swiss accuse daughter of ex-Uzbek president of running a criminal organisation

By John Revill ZURICH, (Reuters) - Switzerland's federal prosecutor said it has filed an indictment against the daughter of Uzbekistan's former president, accusing her of taking bribes and running an…

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Swiss glaciers lose 10% of volume in worst two years on record

By Cecile Mantovani and Denis Balibouse ZURICH, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Switzerland's glaciers suffered their second worst melt rate this year after record 2022 losses, shrinking their overall volume by…

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Swiss to sell back Leopard II tanks to help restock after Ukraine donations

ZURICH, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Germany has welcomed a decision by neutral Switzerland to open the way to sell back some of its German-made Leopard II tanks to help rebuild…

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Swiss economy stagnates during second quarter

ZURICH, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The Swiss economy stagnated during the second quarter of 2023, the government said on Monday, with zero growth reported as the slowdown abroad hit the…

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In wake of Credit Suisse, Switzerland told to better prepare for bank failure

By Noele Illien, Elisa Martinuzzi and John O'Donnell BERN, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Switzerland was urged to prepare properly for the failure of a big bank on Friday by a…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Bavois Castle, Bavois, Switzerland

The picture taken with a drone shows an aerial view of the Bavois Castle, in Bavois, Switzerland. The Chateau de Bavois was built in the 14th century. Photo: EPA-EFE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

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Birth rate in Switzerland hits all-time low

According to the latest figures from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the Swiss birth rate has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years, with 1.39 children per woman.…

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Switzerland fights to contain forest fire near Italy border as winds pick up

By Denis Balibouse BITSCH, Switzerland (Reuters) - Swiss firefighters were battling a forest fire that has forced more than 200 people to evacuate, and authorities warned winds were making the…

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Swiss inflation dips to 1.7% in June, but rate hike still expected

By John Revill ZURICH, July 3 (Reuters) - Swiss inflation dipped to 1.7% in June, the government said on Monday, although economists expect the Swiss National Bank to stay its…

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Geneva Airport staff end strike after dozens of flights hit

By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber and Cecile Mantovani GENEVA (Reuters) - Geneva Airport said it had reached a deal with public service staff to end a strike over pay which led to…

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Invasive Asian hornet rapidly spreading in Switzerland

The Asian hornet is spreading rapidly in Switzerland, with 66 sightings already reported in seven cantons this year, according to a bee health organisation. Favourable weather conditions are aiding the invasive…

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Russia says no to idea of Swiss peace summit on Ukraine

GENEVA (Reuters) - Russia's ambassador to Switzerland said Moscow could not accept any Swiss-hosted peace summit on Ukraine after it joined European Union sanctions against his country, adding Switzerland had…

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Switzerland adopts sanctions against people involved in undermining Moldova’s sovereignty

June 29 (Reuters) - Swiss financial regulator FINMA on Thursday said that the Federal Council yesterday adopted financial sanctions and travel restrictions against five people over actions to undermine the…

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Swiss central bank raises rates again, signals may need to do more

By John Revill ZURICH, June 22 (Reuters) - The Swiss National Bank raised its policy interest rate by 25 basis points on Thursday as the central bank pressed ahead with…

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