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Switzerland

Switzerland
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Switzerland. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Capital
Bern
Head of State
President Viola Amherd
Head of Government
President Viola Amherd
Richard Mille’s RM 74-02 has a case made with Gold Quartz TPT or Gold Carbon TPT for a unique and eye-catching striated effect – both seen here with their predecessor, the RM 74-01. Photo: Handout
Style Edit

Style Edit: Richard Mille’s latest RM 74-02 Automatic Tourbillon

Richard Mille worked with Swiss composite expert North Thin Ply Technology on the material for the case, while inside lies the CRMT5 calibre, also produced in house.

Science

Star scientist Pan Linfeng picks cutting-edge China post over fading Oxbridge

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Hong Kong stock market

Ebbing demand for Maotai, China’s favourite baijiu, adds to debt concerns

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Banking & finance

Former HSBC CEO Quinn to join Julius Baer as chairman in May

Quinn’s experience at HSBC could help Julius Baer tap the fast-growing Asian market, one analyst says.

Former HSBC CEO Noel Quinn is joining Julius Baer as chairman. Photo: AP
Gold in Hong Kong

China’s nod for insurers to buy gold may drive prices above US$3,000: analysts

Goldman raised its forecast to between US$3,100 and US$3,300 per ounce for 2025, citing higher demand from global central banks.

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Science

China-US chip war takes a quantum leap with breakthroughs declared on same day

Peking University and Microsoft research teams’ papers reveal very different approaches to achieving stable, error-free qubits.

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Business of climate change

Overcapacity, trade curbs eat into China’s cleantech dominance: S&P Global

China’s share of solar-module and battery manufacturing to drop by up to 19 percentage points by 2030, rating company says.

An employee inspects a solar panel at a workshop of a photovoltaic enterprise on December 25, 2024 in Lianyungang in China’s Jiangsu province. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
China stock market

China’s DeepSeek-led AI story to draw US$200 billion into stocks: Goldman Sachs

The bank raises its 12-month targets for the MSCI China and CSI 300 indexes, implying a 16 to 19 per cent upside from current levels.

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American cinema

Audrey Hepburn lived here: Swiss villa on market for US$21 million

Hollywood actress spent her last 30 years at 18th century farmhouse near Lake Geneva with extensive gardens, 8 bathrooms and 12 bedrooms.

Food and Drinks

Coffee and cheese go together. Yes, really. Why they work, and pairing tips

Need a cheese pairing? Ask a barista. Coffee is a better choice than many wines, experts say. They reveal which beans are best for the job.

Coffee goes just as well as wine with cheese, say experts, who offer pairing tips. Photo: Shutterstock
Armenia

Most Asia-Pacific entrepreneurs see major potential in AI: UBS

Globally, about 67 per cent of respondents said they would use AI to improve productivity, while 46 per cent would use it to cut headcount.

People gathered on The Bund in Shanghai with the city’s financial district in the background. Photo: Reuters
Biomedicine: Companies

Chinese biotech firms cash in on promising drug discoveries via licensing

China has 4,804 new drug candidates under development, second only to the US at 5,268, according to data provider PharmCube.

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Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks rise as UBS sees big fund inflows amid state support plans

UBS estimates US$236 billion of fund inflows in 2025 as a result of Beijing’s directive to funds to shore up the capital markets.

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World Economic Forum

Trump tells Davos he wants Xi to help stop Ukraine war – as it happened

The returning US leader also wants more money from Nato members, threatened Canada tariffs and talked about the AI race with China.

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Trump is shown on screens as he addresses the WEF via remote connection. Photo: EPA-EFE
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s Paul Chan defends city’s currency peg to US dollar in Davos

Finance chief says important to offer stability for the business environment, as volatility expected in capital markets during Trump presidency.

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Hong Kong’s finance chief Paul Chan speaks at a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Photo: World Economic Forum
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese electronics recycler GEM plans Hong Kong share listing

Specialist in recycling batteries, electronic waste, scrapped cars and waste plastics seeks funds to speed global expansion.

Climate change

Davos climate activists paint Amazon base green, disrupt helicopters

Greenpeace, which briefly blocked heliport in the Swiss town, said it was calling for ‘a fair tax on the richest people’.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s WeRide starts third European self-driving trial in Switzerland

Company is stepping up efforts in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Japan and South Korea, CEO Tony Han says.

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WeRide-powered autonomous vehicles have found use at Zurich airport and the French Open. Photo: Weibo/ Xauto报告
European Union

Switzerland: UBS size worries former finance minister, must reduce risk

Following its takeover of Credit Suisse, some fear UBS is too large and may seek a new home outside Switzerland.

Hong Kong economy

Swiss stance on Russia may boost family office business in Hong Kong: minister

Switzerland’s neutral image affected by Russia-Ukraine war, treasury secretary Christopher Hui says.

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Banking & finance

More records found linking Credit Suisse bank to Nazi accounts: US panel

Tens of thousands of documents are new proof of existence of account holders linked to the Nazis, Senate Budget Committee said on Saturday.

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Logos of Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse in Zurich, Switzerland. Photo: Reuters
Timepieces

Meet the woman behind ‘the Oscars of watchmaking’, Carine Maillard

She was originally more invested in the art world, having studied Chinese art and medicine, but working in museums led her to the world of watchmaking.

Carine Maillard, director of Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Photo: Handout
New medical drugs

Novel drug awaits Hong Kong diabetics suffering from debilitating eye disease

Oculis’ OCS-01 eye drops, currently in phase 3 trials for diabetic macular edema, can be an alternative to injection, CEO says.

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Racism and other prejudice

Switzerland seeks to ban Nazi symbols amid surge in antisemitism

Use of the swastika, Hitler salute and other such signs in public would be punished with a US$224 fine under the proposed law.

Ukraine war

Topless women protesting Ukraine war detained for vandalism near UN building

The women are with the group Femen, which is known for its provocative protests.

Activists of the feminist group Femen protest to support Ukraine and to demand Russia’s expulsion from the UN, in front of the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva. Photo: AP
Art

‘It’s too much,’ say some visitors to Marina Abramovic retrospective

The exhibition in Zürich, which includes photos from the artist’s infamous Rhythm 0 performance, warns that it contains disturbing scenes.

Visitors to the Marina Abramovic retrospective at the art museum in Switzerland enter the exhibition by passing between a man and a woman who are both naked. Photo: Instagram/abramovicinstitute
Food and Drinks

Japanese bento box meals going global, starting in Switzerland

Travellers using Zurich Central Station will get a chance to try ekiben, or bento box meals, as their Japanese makers eye global expansion.

Auctions

Rare Roman coin sells for US$2.09 million at Geneva auction

Historic item was minted in 43-42 BC and features a portrait of Brutus, the assassin of Julius Caesar. It was originally priced at US$843,000.

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