Switzerland

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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German millionaires rush assets to Switzerland ahead of election

A potential lurch to the left in Germany's election on Sunday is scaring millionaires into moving assets into Switzerland, bankers and tax lawyers say. If the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD),…

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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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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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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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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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EU, Switzerland to accept each others’ COVID-19 travel certificates

The European Union and Switzerland have agreed to recognise each others’ COVID-19 digital certificates from July 9 to allow travel for Swiss citizens within the EU, and between the EU…

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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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Spain conquer penalty demons to reach semis against gallant Swiss

ST PETERSBURG (Reuters) -Spain suffered more penalty jitters but squeezed past Switzerland 3-1 in an error-strewn shootout to reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals on Friday after their battling opponents clung…

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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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France, Sweden, England, the Czech Republic and Switzerland reach knock-out stage

Five teams advanced to the round of 16 at Euro 2020 on Monday without playing a match of their own. Thanks to the combination of results in Groups B and…

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Switzerland beat Turkey 3-1 to keep Euro 2020 hopes alive

Xherdan Shaqiri scored twice to lead Switzerland to a 3-1 win against Turkey on Sunday in their Euro 2020 Group A match that kept their hopes of reaching the knockouts…

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Swiss to start inoculating youngsters against COVID-19 as early as next week

Switzerland plans to allow 12- to 15-year olds to receive vaccinations against COVID-19 as soon as next week, government vaccine chief Christoph Berger told Swiss newspaper NZZ in an interview…

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Switzerland’s under-fire coach seeks support in open letter

Beleaguered Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic has asked for support from the Swiss public after days of recriminations following a heavy defeat to Italy in the European Championship. He made his…

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Swiss government proposes making new renewable energy targets binding

The Swiss government on Friday proposed binding rules to boost energy production from hydropower and other renewable sources and limit energy consumption through 2035 and 2050. It wants to add…

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In pictures – Impressive Italy first team to qualify for next round

Italy are the first team to book their place in the Round of 16 after another scintillating display. Locatelli's superb brace set them on the way, and Immobile grabbed a…

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UPDATED: Russian President Putin says hopes meeting with U.S. Biden will be productive

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday he hoped a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Geneva would be productive. "Mr President, I'd like to thank you for your…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Geneva, Switzerland

Sail boats line up for the start of the 82nd 'Bol d'Or' sailing race on Lake Geneva, in Geneva, Switzerland, 12 June 2021. Over 450 boats participate in this weekend's…

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Swiss reject law to help country meet Paris carbon emissions goal

Swiss voters rejected a trio of environmental proposals on Sunday, including a new law intended to help the country meet its goal for cutting carbon emissions under the Paris Agreement…

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UPDATED: Swiss voters look set to reject law to help cut carbon emissions

Swiss voters look set to reject a new law which would help the country meet its goals under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, according to early indications by national…

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UPDATE – Moore snatches point for Wales against Switzerland

Striker Kieffer Moore scored a headed equaliser from a rare chance as surprise 2016 semi-finalists Wales snatched a 1-1 draw against wasteful Switzerland in their European Championship Group A clash…

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Putin to arrive in Geneva on June 16 for Biden summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in Geneva on June 16, the same day he is set to meet U.S. President Joe Biden there, Russia's TASS news agency quoted his…

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Swiss stepping up checks over suspicious pay support scheme claims

Swiss authorities are intensifying checks regarding possible abuse of a short working hours scheme introduced last year to help soften the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the job market.…

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Swiss government says will remain business friendly after G7 tax deal

Switzerland will make sure it remains attractive to business, the government said, after Group of Seven (G7) nations reached a landmark deal to reduce the incentive of multinational companies to…

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Photo Story: Anything to Say? art installation in Geneva

People walk past the sculpture 'AnythingtoSay?' by Italian artist Davide Dormino representing the whistleblowers (L-R) Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange as the artwork is installed on the Paquis…

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Swiss repeat backing for political solution in Libya

Switzerland co-hosted on Wednesday the latest meeting of an international follow-up committee on Libya. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis stressed the importance of elections to be held in the country in…

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Lonza plans new production line to make Moderna COVID-19 vaccine ingredients

Swiss contract drug manufacturer Lonza said on Wednesday that a new production line in the Netherlands will produce ingredients for Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, part of the U.S. drugmaker's plan to…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Bavois, Switzerland

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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Swiss to pay economic price for ditching EU treaty

Switzerland will pay the price in lost exports, higher costs and diminished attractiveness as a business centre after deciding this week to pull the plug on a draft treaty binding…

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Credit Suisse scandals prompt Switzerland to think unthinkable: punish bankers

Exasperation with Credit Suisse following a string of scandals is prompting Switzerland to rethink a system in which top bankers have been largely untouchable. Credit Suisse's heavy losses from the…

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UPDATED: Email bomb threat sent after blogger’s plane was diverted over Belarus -Swiss email provider

Privacy-focused email provider Proton Technologies AG said on Thursday that a bomb threat cited by Belarusian authorities as the reason for diverting a Ryanair jet carrying a journalist and blogger…

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Swiss abandon EU talks and reject treaty

Years of talks to bind Switzerland more closely to the European Union’s single market collapsed on Wednesday when the Swiss government ditched a draft 2018 treaty cementing ties with its…

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UPDATED: Stalled EU treaty close to collapse as Swiss cabinet meets

A framework to simplify and strengthen ties between Switzerland and the European Union was close to collapsing on Wednesday as the Bern government met to consider breaking off talks over…

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Swiss engineering sector optimistic that pandemic gloom is receding

More than half of Swiss engineering firms expect orders from abroad to rise over the next 12 months and the sector could see revenue return to pre-pandemic levels in the…

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Swiss parliament to look into Credit Suisse fiasco

A Swiss parliamentary committee will discuss the fallout from billions of dollars worth of losses at Credit Suisse amid risk-management failures, bringing political scrutiny to bear on the financial sector,…

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UPDATED: Swisscom resolves internet access problem in Switzerland

Swisscom has restored normal service after reporting a large outage issue affecting internet access for some customers in Switzerland on Friday. The "major malfuntion" reported at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT)…

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Most Swiss still back treaty deal with EU, poll shows

Most Swiss voters are still in favour of striking a bilateral treaty deal with the European Union, a poll for newspaper NZZ am Sonntag showed, despite years of fraught negotiation…

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Pfizer asks Swiss OK for COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15

ZURICH, May 7 (Reuters) - Pfizer has sought Swiss regulatory approval for its COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 12 to 15, regulator Swissmedic said on Friday. It is currently authorised…

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