Switzerland News in English - Expat Guide to Switzerland

February 14, 2020

Swiss health officials give coronavirus quarantine update

Those affected by coronavirus quarantine measures – which includes a boy in Switzerland and seven Swiss citizens abroad – are doing fine, Swiss health officials said on Friday. Some of them will be let out of quarantine soon. The ten-year-old boy…

February 14, 2020

WHO defends China after US criticism over outbreak

The World Health Organization on Friday defended China following US claims of a lack of transparency in Beijing’s response to the new coronavirus outbreak. Larry Kudlow, head of the US National Economic Council, had said on Thursday: “We’re a little…

February 14, 2020

WHO says not advising on whether to hold Tokyo Olympics

The World Health Organisation on Friday said it was not advising on whether or not to go ahead with the Tokyo Olympics this year amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. But Michael Ryan, head of WHO’s health emergencies programme, said the…

February 14, 2020

How can Switzerland get answers on the Crypto affair? 

Revelations that a Swiss company was at the heart of a vast CIA spying operation has shaken Switzerland to the core. To shed light on the Crypto scandal, the country may set up a parliamentary commission of inquiry, something it has only done four times…

February 14, 2020

Disabled refugee’s child benefit can be paid abroad, court rules

A recognised refugee receiving disability insurance in Switzerland is entitled to claim disabled people’s child benefit, even if their children do not live in Switzerland, the Federal Court has ruled. The Geneva Convention on refugees, ratified by Switzerland, states that…

February 14, 2020

SWISS suspends all flights to China until end of March

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has now suspended all flights to and from China until March 28 due to the coronavirus, COVID-19. It will use smaller planes to fly to and from Hong Kong. The company, which is part of Lufthansa,…

February 14, 2020

Swiss upgrade diplomatic representation in Belarus

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has opened a Swiss embassy in the Belarusian capital Minsk. The government decided to upgrade the existing office last May. The decision was “testament to the deepening of cooperation between the two countries”, the foreign ministry…

February 14, 2020

Government urged to save turtledoves

Valentine’s Day is a special occasion for lovebirds, but real lovebirds – turtledoves – are struggling, according to BirdLife Switzerland. Their numbers have plummeted by 80% in Europe since 1980. “Save the turtledoves,” BirdLife urged in a statement on Friday….

February 14, 2020

Has ‘Crypto Leaks’ exposed Swiss neutrality as a sham?

The spying affair surrounding the Swiss company Crypto has also touched the heart of Swiss identity: neutrality. Swiss politicians, historians and the media are debating the possible consequences of the manipulated cipher devices for the country’s credibility. It is still…