Switzerland

Swiss President Alain Berset to step down at end of the year

ZURICH, June 21 (Reuters) - Swiss President Alain Berset is to step down at the end of the year and leave the country's multi-party cabinet after 11 years, he said…

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Swiss voters approve global minimum corporate tax, climate goals

Swiss back 15% minimum business tax Minimum tax backed by business groups Climate law, rejected in 2021, passes Extension to COVID-19 law wins approval By Noele Illien ZURICH, (Reuters) -…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Lausanne, Switzerland

A photo taken with a drone shows a landart painting representing a trashed plastic bottle near the shoreline of Lake Geneva in the Parc Louis-Bourget, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Painted by…

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Climate law divides Swiss voters ahead of referendum

By Emma Farge and Cecile Mantovani GENEVA (Reuters) - The Swiss government hopes voters will support a draft climate law aiming to cut emissions to net zero by 2050 as…

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Swiss inflation dips in May but remains above central bank target

ZURICH, June 5 (Reuters) - Swiss annual inflation dipped to 2.2% as expected in May, government data showed on Monday, although the Swiss National Bank is still expected to hike…

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Cash still king in Switzerland despite rising mobile app use

ZURICH, June 1 (Reuters) - Cash still remains the most commonly used method of payment in Switzerland, the Swiss National Bank said on Thursday, despite increasing use of mobile payment…

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Swiss gold exports fall to 10-month low amid sky-high prices

LONDON, June 1 (Reuters) - Swiss gold exports fell to their lowest in ten months in April as shipments to India, China and Turkey shrank, Swiss customs data showed. The…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Kuesnacht, Switzerland

An aerial view shows the villa (C) of singer and stage performer Tina Turner in Kuesnacht, Switzerland. Turner died on 24 May at the age of 83 near Zurich, Switzerland,…

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Tina Turner honoured at lakeside Swiss home where she died

By Cecile Mantovani Singer made Switzerland her home since 1995 'Everyone loved her,' says Kuesnacht neighbour Candles, flowers and cards laid outside her house KUESNACHT, Switzerland (Reuters) - Well-wishers gathered…

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UK targets services boost as Swiss trade talks begin

LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) - Britain and Switzerland will begin talks on an upgraded free trade agreement on Monday, with British trade secretary Kemi Badenoch flying to Bern aiming to boost financial…

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Switzerland holds military drills, its role in European defence in focus

By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber and Denis Balibouse LES PRADIERES, Switzerland, (Reuters) - In one of Switzerland's largest military exercises in more than three decades, soldiers rehearsed repelling a fictional enemy, tossed…

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Swiss govt, parliament favour minimum tax for large corporations

BERLIN, April 24 (Reuters) - Switzerland's federal council and parliament recommend that voters accept a push to implement minimum taxation on large multinational enterprises ahead of a referendum on the…

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Swiss parliament meets for a second day over Credit Suisse rescue

By Noele Illien ZURICH, April 12 (Reuters) - Swiss lawmakers resumed their debate over the rescue of Credit Suisse on Wednesday, after parliament's two chambers failed to reach an agreement…

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Swiss parliament’s lower house rejects Credit Suisse rescue package

BERN, April 12 (Reuters) - The lower house of Switzerland's parliament voted late on Tuesday to retrospectively reject the 109 billion Swiss francs of financial guarantees the government gave to…

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Climate change activists glue themselves to road to Alpine tunnel

ZURICH, April 7 (Reuters) - Climate change activists brought holiday traffic to a halt in Switzerland on Friday when they blocked the main route beneath the Alps to demand urgent…

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Swiss inflation eases in March as fuel costs fall

ZURICH, April 3(Reuters) - Swiss inflation edged below forecasts in March as fuel costs fell sharply, data showed on Monday, but it remains well above the central bank's target level…

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Swiss finance minister defends rushed banking takeover

ZURICH, March 25 (Reuters) - Switzerland's finance minister defended the shotgun merger between the country's two largest banks in an interview with Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung on Saturday, saying…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Zurich, Switzerland

An aerial view shows the headquarters of the Swiss banks Credit Suisse (C) and UBS (L), at Paradeplatz in Zurich, Switzerland. The bank UBS took over Credit Suisse for 2…

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Switzerland wakes to new era after historic bank merger; employees ‘shocked’

ZURICH, March 20 (Reuters) - Switzerland awoke to a new era on Monday after UBS swept up Credit Suisse in a government-brokered rescue that dented the country's long-held pride in…

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Swiss government expects economy to grow by weaker than average 1.1% in 2023

ZURICH, March 16 (Reuters) - The Swiss government expects the country's economic growth to cool to a below average rate of 1.1% in 2023, before growth accelerates to 1.5% next…

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Switzerland detects case of atypical mad cow disease

Switzerland reported a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the eastern region of Grisons, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Tuesday, citing Swiss authorities. The 12-year-old…

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Swiss inflation rises to higher than expected 3.4% in February

ZURICH, March 6 (Reuters) - Swiss inflation increased at a higher than expected rate in February, data showed on Monday, increasing the probability the Swiss National Bank will raise interest…

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UPDATED: Germany guarantees Swiss Leopard 2 tanks wouldn’t go to Ukraine – Berlin

BERLIN, March 3 (Reuters) - Germany would not send Leopard 2 tanks onwards to Ukraine if Switzerland agreed to send them as requested by Berlin, a German defence ministry spokesperson…

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Swiss seek to confiscate $140 million linked to ex-Ukraine President Yanukovich

ZURICH, (Reuters) - Switzerland has launched proceedings to confiscate more than 130 million Swiss francs ($140.89 million) linked to the entourage of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich who was deposed…

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Swiss gov’t rejects request from Spain to allow it to re-export anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine

ZURICH, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Switzerland has rejected a request from Spain to allow it to re-export Swiss-made anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine, the Bern government said on Friday. Madrid had…

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Switzerland’s solar dam: Sun and snow the perfect mix for green energy drive

A snaking wall of solar panels has been attached to Switzerland's longest dam as the landlocked nation looks to maximise its green energy production in the winter months. The Lake…

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Swiss neutrality on the line as arms-for-Ukraine debate heats up

Switzerland is close to breaking with centuries of tradition as a neutral state, as a pro-Ukraine shift in the public and political mood puts pressure on the government to end…

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Switzerland rethinking ‘neutrality’ amid Russia’s war in Ukraine

POLITICO reports that Switzerland's politicians are rethinking what it means to be neutral amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Switzerland has been neutral for close to five centuries, while being…

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Photo Story: The Lilu Light Festival presentation in Lucerne

The light project 'Ornament' by Immersive Light Factory Luzern is projected on the Jesuit's church during the Lilu Light Festival Lucerne, Switzerland. Around 16 light art projects will be presented…

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Ethics group urges tougher Swiss action over money-laundering

ZURICH, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Swiss prosecutors should enforce laws against money-laundering more effectively as the country remains a soft touch for corporate financial corruption, an ethics group said on…

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Photo Story: Viva Frida Kahlo Immersive Exhibition opens in Lausanne

A person watches the exhibition 'Viva Frida Kahlo - Immersive Exhibition' combining video projections, first-person narration and an original musical score, during a press preview, at Beaulieu in Lausanne, Switzerland.…

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Photo Story: First snowfall of the season in Geneva

Two people are seen in a park on Friday morning during the first snowfall of the season, in Geneva, Switzerland. Via EPA-EFE/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

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Swiss seek mandatory reporting of cyberattacks on key infrastructure

ZURICH, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The Swiss government proposed on Friday making it mandatory to report cyberattacks on critical infrastructure as a way to help shed light on hackers and…

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Switzerland experiencing medicine shortages says pharmacists association

ZURICH, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Switzerland is experiencing medicine shortages due to supply chain issues linked to COVID lockdowns in China and war in Europe, the country's pharmacists association said.…

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Swiss striker Embolo refuses to celebrate goal against Cameroon

AL WAKRAH, Qatar (Reuters) - Switzerland striker Breel Embolo scored against the land of his birth Cameroon in their World Cup Group G clash at the Al Janoub Stadium on…

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UPDATE UK eurosceptics warn British government against Swiss-style ties with EU

By Andrew MacAskill LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The British government said it has no plans to move to a Swiss-style relationship with the European Union after some of Prime Minister Rishi…

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Swiss gold exports to China and Turkey stay strong, shipments to India fall

LONDON,(Reuters) - Swiss gold exports to China and Turkey remained strong in October while shipments to India fell, Swiss customs data showed. Switzerland is the world's biggest refining and transit…

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Chinese ambassador warns Swiss: Sanction us and ties will suffer

ZURICH, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Switzerland should avoid following the European Union by imposing sanctions on China if it cares about Swiss-Sino relations, the Chinese ambassador to Bern told the NZZ am…

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Swiss minister: economic situation means difficult years ahead

ZURICH, Nov 5 (Reuters) - The threat of recession in the euro zone and beyond, an energy supply squeeze and the eroding effect of inflation on purchasing power mean Switzerland…

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Swiss inflation slows more than expected in October

ZURICH, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Swiss consumer price inflation slowed to 3.0% in October but still overshot the Swiss National Bank's 0-2% target range for the ninth month in a…

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Month of October was warmest one in Swiss history

The month just ending was the warmest ever October in Switzerland. The weather watchers from MeteoSwiss, said that the month of October had surpassed everything recorded since 1864. The situation…

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Photo Story: Celestial Sphere at UN in Geneva returns after renovation

The big sculpture 'Celestial Sphere' by Paul Manship after its renovation has returned to its place in front of the Palais des Nations at the European headquarters of the United…

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Switzerland to examine new German request to allow weapon re-exports to Ukraine

ZURICH, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Germany has made another request to neutral Switzerland to allow it to re-export Swiss-made ammunition to Ukraine to be used in its war against Russia,…

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Photo Story: Annual air show of the Swiss Army in the Axalp area

Five Tiger F5 airplanes from the Patrouille Suisse drop flares during the annual airshow of the Swiss Army in the Axalp area near Meiringen, Canton of Berne, Switzerland. Via EPA-EFE/ANTHONY…

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Swiss to destroy 9 million expired Moderna COVID-19 jabs

ZURICH, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Switzerland will destroy 9 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine that have reached their expiry date, with another 5.1 million vaccine jabs set to meet…

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Swiss considering wider EU sanctions on Iran over Amini death

ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland is considering whether to adopt the strengthened European Union sanctions against Iran following Teheran's crackdown against demonstrators outraged by the death in police custody of 22-year-old…

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Swiss state pensions to rise 2.5% to help offset inflation

ZURICH (Reuters) - The Swiss state pension will rise by 2.5% next year, the government said this week, to help offset the highest inflation the country has seen in nearly…

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Swiss govt to track corporate ownership in bid to curb money laundering

ZURICH, Oct 12 (Reuters) - The Swiss government plans to create a central registry to track who actually owns legal entities in a move to fight money-laundering via shell companies,…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Saillon, Switzerland

Swiss conceptual artists Patrik and Frank Riklin pose in their 'idyllic' suite located in the vineyards, part of the project 'Null Stern Hotel', in Saillon, Switzerland. The Swiss conceptual artists…

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Gazprombank to discontinue Swiss operations

ZURICH, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Russia's Gazprombank has decided to cease operating in Switzerland after "a strategic review of various options", it said on Monday. The bank had been one…

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Swiss voters support increase in women’s retirement age

Swiss voters accepted the government's pension reform plan by a narrow margin on Sunday. The plan would raise the retirement age for women from 64 to 65, bringing it in…

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Swiss to vote on Sunday on banning factory farming

GENEVA (Reuters) - Swiss voters decide on Sunday whether to ban factory farming in a referendum on whether the wealthy country's strict animal welfare laws need to be tightened yet…

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Photo Story: The Castello CUBE, artwork worth 10 million euro displayed in downtown Zurich

A security guard rushes by as an elderly man on Thursday tried to measure The Castello CUBE, an artwork made by German artist Niclas Castello, in Zurich, Switzerland. According to…

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Swiss to dial down thermostats in government buildings

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss bureaucrats will need to dress warmly this winter after the government decided public buildings would be heated to no more than 20 degrees Celsius (68°F) to…

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Swiss cut off tax data, make visas harder for Russians

ZURICH, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Switzerland will temporarily halt the exchange of tax information with Russia and make it harder for Russian citizens to get visas, the government said on…

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Swiss seek closer defence ties to EU, NATO; to stay neutral

Switzerland will seek closer defence and security ties to the European Union and NATO while preserving its traditional neutrality in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the government said.…

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Women’s pay in Switzerland lags that of men by 43%

ZURICH, (Reuters) - Women in Switzerland earn more than 40% less than men and draw less pension money, a gender pay gap report the government adopted this week showed, citing…

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