Switzerland News

January 21, 2019

World’s 26 richest own same as poorest half of humanity: Oxfam

The world’s 26 richest people own the same wealth as the poorest half of humanity, Oxfam said Monday, urging governments to hike taxes on the wealthy to fight soaring inequality. A new report from the charity, published ahead of the…

January 20, 2019

Blocher warns of ‘suicidal’ EU framework accord

Emblematic conservative figure Christoph Blocher told People’s Party members that accepting the EU framework accord would be tantamount to ‘suicide for Switzerland’. Current president Ueli Maurer struck a more nuanced note. Speaking to over 1,000 members of the right-wing People’s…

January 20, 2019

Big variations in rent costs of Swiss embassies abroad

Switzerland pays dearly for its representation abroad – some CHF1.2 million monthly is spent on rent across the world, according to a newspaper report. Officials reject claims of overspending and defend the need for propriety. Diplomacy doesn’t come cheap: according…

January 20, 2019

Two lives lost in weekend avalanches

Two people lost their lives in separate avalanches in south-eastern Switzerland on Saturday. The risk of further incidents remains marked, authorities warn. A snowy January in Switzerland has already brought several incidents and avalanches to the Alps; Saturday saw two…

January 20, 2019

The WEF in Davos, an Indian artist and Tezos blockchain

Here are some of the stories we’ll bring you the week of January 21: Monday The World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting kicks off on Tuesday in the Swiss mountain resort town of Davos with a powerful line-up of global leaders,…

January 20, 2019

What makes Germany different from Switzerland?

It was romance that enticed David Schaffner, 25, to leave Switzerland and move to Germany. But there’s more to like about Germany than just the love of his life. swissinfo.ch: When and why did you leave Switzerland? David Schaffner: For…

January 20, 2019

One killed, two injured in Swiss avalanche

An avalanche in southern Switzerland has killed one person and injured two others, police said Sunday, the latest deadly incident following heavy snowfall across the region. A group of seven French nationals in a skiing party were on a snow…

January 19, 2019

Deals, no deals and avalanche warnings

Almost every article published by swissinfo.ch contains a percentage, an age, an amount of money or some other figure. Here’s a round-up of the most interesting statistics to appear in the past week’s stories. Monday 5 Following several deaths and injuries, the highest…

January 19, 2019

Anti-WEF demonstrators march through Bern

Several hundred people marched in the centre of Swiss capital Bern on Saturday afternoon in a demonstration against the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos. The demonstration, called for by several autonomous left-wing groups, began in front of the city’s main…