Russia, US have been holding secret talks on Ukraine in Switzerland for months. — 21 February 2025 (LINK)
— Sources say the participants were not government officials but individuals with diplomatic or security backgrounds, without naming them. It is not known exactly what was discussed, whether Ukrainian representatives were involved, or when these meetings first started.
Paralyzed Idaho man stranded in Switzerland after skiing accident when U.S. insurance blocks action. — 21 February 2025 (LINK)
British tennis player Emma Raducanu hiding behind the umpire's chair after spotting a man who had "exhibited fixated behaviour" provided a stark reminder of the dangers faced by female athletes on a regular basis. — 21 February 2025 (LINK)
Swiss nomadic people, the Sinti and Yenish travellers in Switzerland, were victims of crimes against humanity in the 20th century, says government. — 20 February 2025 (LINK)
— Around 2,000 children of the Swiss Traveller community are believed to have been taken away from their families. Between 1926 and 1973, Pro Juventute's Hilfswerk für die Kinder der Landstrasse (Charity for the Children of the CountryRoads) took around 600 Yenish children away from their families. They were forcibly placed in homes or in foster families. "In disregard of the principles of the rule of law," the federal government wrote on Thursday.
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset will pay an official visit to Geneva, Switzerland, from 24 to 26 February as part of the process of stepping up co-operation between the Council of Europe and the international institutions based there. — 18 February 2025 (LINK)
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei denied entry to Switzerland from Britain due to lack of visa. — 11 February 2025 (LINK)
— Ai Weiwei, 67, was imprisoned in China in 2011 and banned from traveling after making statements critical of the government. He was eventually released and left the country.
UBS whistleblower verdict thrown out despite US Supreme Court win. — 10 February 2025 (LINK)
Audrey Hepburn's retreat where she enjoyed 'complete privacy' is now on the market for $20 million. — 8 February 2025 (LINK)
— The 18th-century farmhouse has 12 bedrooms, eight bathrooms, over 10,000 square feet, and 40 acres of land. It has a 50-foot heated pool, multiple fireplaces, a large library and even a renovated kitchen with navy drawers, marble countertops, and stainless steel appliances. Located near Geneva and the French border it is found in the small Francophone town of Tolochenaz. Hepburn passed away in 1993.
Switzerland unfreezes $15m in seized assets of three Russians implicated in corruption case uncovered by the late tax advisor Sergei Magnitsky. A Jan. 21 Swiss Supreme Court ruling withdrew Hermitage Capital's private claimant status in the money laundering case — 6 February 2025 (LINK)
— Dmitry Klyuev, Vladlen Stepanov and Olga Stepanova were all sanctioned by the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia over their roles in the $230 million tax refund fraud scheme uncovered by Magnitsky in 2008.
— Magnitsky was arrested and imprisoned in Moscow shortly after he testified in the 2008 case on accusations seen as retaliation for his work. He died in pre-trial detention in November 2009 after being denied medical treatment and subjected to harsh conditions.
— In a Feb. 4 letter to Swiss bank UBS shared with The Moscow Times, Hermitage Capital warned that releasing the previously frozen assets would violate U.S., British, Canadian and Australian sanctions. "Despite the Swiss prosecutor's decision to unfreeze certain funds, banks remain bound by international sanctions laws and must not release any funds to sanctioned individuals," it wrote.
Blackrock Plans to Launch a Bitcoin ETP in Switzerland: Bloomberg. Blackrock could start marketing it as soon as this month, according to the story. — 5 February 2025 (LINK)
The rapidly fading economics of solar panels in Switzerland. — 31 January 2025 (LINK)
— In the canton of Vaud, the price paid for injected electricity has already fallen from 17.6 cents per kWh to 10.15. The margin between what Romande Energie charges (32.78) and pays (10.15) is 22.63 cents per kWh, a gross margin of 69%. Romande Energie is the canton's monopoly electricity provider. Those with solar panels cannot sell their excess electricity to a competitor at a better price. Based on recent experience and with new laws coming into force in 2026 some fear the price could fall again.
Swiss tax authority forced to buy Bahamas domain name after URL typo. — 31 January 2025 (LINK)
Albinen in Valaisan Switzerland will pay you to 20,000 euros move here: residents enjoy easy access to outdoor activities throughout the year, from winter sports to summer hiking and climbing.. — 31 January 2025 (LINK)
Switzerland's publicly-owned central bank bought $1.8 million in Trump Media shares. — 31 January 2025 (LINK)
— This is according to an SEC filing from November obtained by CREW. The transaction marks the first known apparent instance of a foreign government-connected entity being invested in the president's public company.
Geneva's iconic Fairmont Grand Hotel Unveils Europe's largest hotel asset auction in February 2025. — 31 January 2025 (LINK)
Switzerland targets 65% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. — 29 January 2025 (LINK)
Six months into his tenure, Swiss vice-chancellor to step down in March: The government said Arcidiacono’s departure is voluntary and mainly due to personal reasons. — 29 January 2025 (LINK)
Super-Earth discovery at University of Geneva reveals an exoplanet potentially capable of sustaining life:super-Earth HD 20794 d. — 28 January 2025 (LINK)
— Fruit of 20 years of observations using the best telescopes in the world.
20 Top Companies in Geneva:Geneva is a storied destination for banking and watchmaking. Check out what else the city’s industries have to offer. — 28 January 2025 (LINK)
Swiss St Bernard foundation turns 20. — 28 January 2025 (LINK)
— Since its establishment, almost 500 puppies have been born at the foundation's breeding station in the Lower Valais.
Secretariat Building in Chandigarh by Le Corbusier: Monumentality and Modernism. — 28 January 2025 (LINK)
Infomaniak data centre in Geneva used to heat 6,000 homes. — 27 January 2025 (LINK)
UBS lays off 'hundreds' of staff in fresh wave of job cuts: UBS is looking to shed another $5.5 billion in costs. — 27 January 2025 (LINK)
New Swiss model improves epidemic predictions — in small countries. — 23 January 2025 (LINK)
GESDA: the future of conflict prevention with predictive peacebuilding. — 22 January 2025 (LINK)
Swiss state-owned PostFinance bank now offers ETH staking. — 18 January 2025 (LINK)
— This addition comes about a year after PostFinance first offered trading and custody of cryptocurrencies, in collaboration with Sygnum Bank.
Switzerland faces a monetary identity check, thanks to Bitcoin: a group of Bitcoin diehards wants to force the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to hold Bitcoin alongside gold, dollars, and euros as part of its official reserves. — 18 January 2025 (LINK)
Geneva Airport nearly matches pre-Covid passenger levels with fewer flights in 2024: 17.8 million passengers, just 0.73% below 2019 levels, with 3.73% fewer flights. — 17 January 2025 (LINK)
Switzerland's best art exhibitions to see in 2025. — 16 January 2025 (LINK)
Leaders congregate at the DavosWeb3 Roundtable to shape the future of decentralized technologies. — 16 January 2025 (LINK)
Swiss AMINA Bank removes custody fees for USDC to woo stablecoin holders. — 16 January 2025 (LINK)
World Economic Forum says Trump to take part virtually in Davos meeting, days after inauguration. — 14 January 2025 (LINK) — ground.news: 28 media reports (LINK)
— Trump has attended the forum in-person twice before, in 2018 and 2020. Trump will speak to Davos participants virtually on Thursday, Jan. 23, Børge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum, told reporters.
Three out of ten Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland have a job. — 14 January 2025 (LINK)
— According to the figures, 12,280 people with S status were employed on December 30, 2024. This results in an employment rate of 29.6%. The government had set a target of 40% in November 2023.
Coop washes its hands of The Body Shop in Switzerland. — 14 January 2025 (LINK)
Residential property prices in Switzerland continued their ascent last year, albeit at a slower pace towards the end of the period. Rents, on the other hand, stalled after two years of high inflation.. — 13 January 2025 (LINK)
Swiss households are increasingly turning away from meat. The proportion of households that consume animal products without restrictions has fallen from around 71% in 2022 to around 64%, according to a survey by the University of St Gallen. — 13 January 2025 (LINK)
Swiss scientists have taught fungi to generate electricity. — 11 January 2025 (LINK)
— Their fungal battery invention is 3D-printed - with fungal cells mixed into the printing ink - and has the unique advantage of being biodegradable. Once it's served its purpose, the battery digests itself from the inside.
Horizon Europe reopens to Swiss researchers after three-year hiatus. — 10 January 2025 (LINK)
UBS investigates undisclosed Nazi-linked accounts at Credit Suisse. — 4 January 2025 (LINK)
Lonely Planet: Where to eat and drink in Geneva right now: this city's food scene has become more daring and diverse. — 4 January 2025 (LINK)
— Le Restaurant opened last November on rue du Rhône and was awarded a Michelin star within a year. At Place Longemalle, Balila is serving up bold, family-style Lebanese feasts. Les Armures: fondue paysanne with mushrooms and bacon. Café des Négociants, Carouge: pan-fried frog thighs in garlic and fresh parsley and top it off with roast doe in chestnut sauce.
Swiss company bankruptcies rise to record high in 2024. — 3 January 2025 (LINK)
Swiss chancellery registers proposal to add Bitcoin to national reserves. — 1 January 2025 (LINK)
Crans-Montana has become a canvas for the world's street artists. — 30 December 2024 (LINK)