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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

A CATL Shenxing Pro vehicle battery is shown before the opening of the International Motor Show IAA on September 7, 2025, in Munich. Photo: AFP

Electric & new energy vehicles

CATL bets on tailor-made batteries to win in Europe’s EV market

CATL is doubling down on its technology to supply European carmakers such as BMW and Volkswagen to compete with BYD’s proprietary blade batteries.

8 Sep 2025 - 4:18PM

Donald Trump

Trump’s US Open visit sparks boos and long security lines

8 Sep 2025 - 9:40AM

United States

Mail on hold: 88 postal operators suspend services to US over tariffs

6 Sep 2025 - 11:54PM

Portugal

2 Koreans and a Swiss national among 16 dead in Lisbon tram crash

A cable on the popular tourist attraction appears to have snapped, causing it to hurtle down a hill and crash into a building.

5 Sep 2025 - 2:47AMvideocam

Police officers inspect the site where a tourist streetcar derailed and crashed in Lisbon, Portugal on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Tourism

Want to go hiking in Switzerland? How hiker huts offer a unique experience

Hiker huts let hikers immerse themselves in the mountains and connect with like-minded others, and are cheaper than most hotels.

3 Sep 2025 - 7:45PM

Crime in Hong Kong

2 arrested for alleged theft of HK$40,000 in cash on Hong Kong-bound flights

Force makes arrests at airport after receiving reports from three passengers on two Hong Kong-bound flights from Malaysia and Switzerland.

3 Sep 2025 - 2:28PM

Sex and relationships

Nestle dismisses CEO over office relationship with subordinate

Laurent Freixe’s abrupt departure as CEO came after a probe found he violated company policy over the undisclosed romantic relationship.

2 Sep 2025 - 2:12PM

Laurent Freixe had been with Nestle since 1986, holding roles around the world. File photo: AFP

Timepieces

Taylor Swift, Rolex and Louis Vuitton: what’s ticking in the watch world

Taylor Swift and Christopher Briney favour vintage timepieces for important moments, Louis Vuitton releases a shortlist, and Rolex goes atomic.

1 Sep 2025 - 2:47PM

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Lifestyle fixes can curb doubling of liver cancer cases by 2050: Hong Kong experts

Lancet Commission study also says measures such as raising alcohol prices and calorie labelling can reverse projected number of cases.

27 Aug 2025 - 9:53PM

China stock market

Time to balance China shares as Hong Kong discount narrows: HSBC

Price gap between A shares and H shares narrows to a five-year low, and both markets have upside potential, analysts say.

27 Aug 2025 - 8:34AM

Screens display financial information at the new building of the Shanghai Stock Exchange in Shanghai on April 25. Photo: AFP

Protests around the world

Police in Swiss city face new crisis after teen’s death sparks unrest

Unrest in Lausanne, sparked by a teen’s death during a police pursuit, is compounded by revelations of what mayor calls a ‘systemic discrimination problem’.

27 Aug 2025 - 12:36PM

A police officer in riot gear walks past a fire in a street in Lausanne, on Monday, during a second night of rioting following the death of a teenager who tried to escape local police while driving a stolen scooter. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong culture

Opinion | How Hong Kong can become a cauldron of culinary ingenuity once again

Instead of relying on imported labour, the city must take a proactive approach to reclaim its status as a food and drink industry pioneer.

25 Aug 2025 - 7:20AMvideocam

Banking & finance

HSBC’s Swiss bank said to exit 1,000 Mideast clients amid revamp

Move seeks to reduce exposure to people deemed high-risk, many with more than US$100 million in assets, sources say.

24 Aug 2025 - 2:47PM

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong student in app creation saga to voluntarily return awards: parents

Parents break silence over MediSafe app saga, which they say has left 16-year-old daughter ‘on brink of breakdown’ due to ‘relentless’ cyberbullying.

22 Aug 2025 - 9:30PM

The MediSafe app won a silver medal in the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions, Geneva, in 2025, as well as four prizes at the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2024, organised by the Digital Policy Office. Photo: Handout

Malaysia 1MDB scandal

JPMorgan settles 1MDB scandal claims with Malaysia for US$330 million

The settlement resolves Malaysia’s civil lawsuit, while Swiss prosecutors found the bank negligent in preventing aggravated money laundering.

22 Aug 2025 - 8:05PMvideocam

A sign outside the headquarters of JPMorgan Chase & Co in New York. Photo: Reuters

Science

Study reveals how corn has evolved to sense and respond to environment

International research team discovers plant mechanism that could help to combat pests and increase yield.

22 Aug 2025 - 12:00PMvideocam

Ukraine war

First security guarantees, then Putin summit, Ukraine’s Zelensky says

The Ukrainian president said a group of allies is working to establish a military coalition to support the guarantees, ideally within 10 days.

21 Aug 2025 - 10:04PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Switzerland offers Putin ‘immunity’ for Ukraine peace summit

As an ICC member, Switzerland would be required to arrest Putin due to his warrant, but would allow him to enter the country for peace talks.

19 Aug 2025 - 8:35PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin watches a concert at the Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam last year. Photo: EPA-EFE/Sputnik/Kremlin

Nepal

Nepal eliminates rubella as public health problem, WHO says

World Health Organization cites the success of Nepal’s immunisation campaigns and disease-surveillance programme.

19 Aug 2025 - 12:06AM

Malaysia

Malaysia accused of ‘blocking progress’ on plastics as it sides with oil giants

Critics decried Malaysia’s decision to join major oil producers in resisting calls to phase out toxic additives and cap plastic production.

16 Aug 2025 - 2:07PM

Open Questions series

Open Questions | Trump-Xi summit would be ‘political theatre’, Jing says

A potential meeting between the presidents of China and the US could create ‘temporary political space’ to stabilise relations between the two nations, even if it is unlikely to lead to lasting trust, according to Jing Qian.

15 Aug 2025 - 2:10PM

China’s private sector

China’s Ganfeng to develop major lithium project in Argentina with Swiss partner

Move follows closure of China’s Jianxiawo mine.

14 Aug 2025 - 3:08AM

Argentina’s former economy minister, Sergio Massa, left, meets with director of Ganfeng Lithium Li Liangbin in Shanghai in May 2023. Photo: DPA

United Nations

Plastic pollution talks in disarray as nations reject draft treaty

Some countries blasted the lack of legally binding action, while oil-producing states say the text goes too far.

14 Aug 2025 - 5:17AMvideocam

China Evergrande Group

Liquidators hire UBS and Citic to sell Evergrande’s property services unit

Court-appointed liquidators are working with UBS Group and Citic Securities to seek potential buyers for the subsidiary, Evergrande Property Services Group.

13 Aug 2025 - 2:31PM

US-China relations

US and Chinese trade teams to meet in 2 to 3 months: Trump’s Treasury chief

Scott Bessent added that China’s Xi Jinping had invited the US president to a meeting, but Trump had not accepted yet.

13 Aug 2025 - 5:40AMvideocam

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is seen on August 6. Photo: EPA

China trade

China launches anti-dumping investigation into imports of Canadian pea starch

The latest tit-for-tat trade move comes after Canada imposed tariffs targeting Chinese steel last month.

12 Aug 2025 - 8:30PM

China has launched an anti-dumping investigation into pea starch imported from Canada. Photo: Shutterstock

China trade

Despite US-China tariff truce, the turning tide keeps reshaping shipping routes

Analysts do not expect tariffs to be eliminated, regardless of what happens in the coming three months, and this could continue weighing on US import volumes.

12 Aug 2025 - 8:00PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Trump says gold ‘will not be tariffed’ after customs confusion

US president’s statement follows a letter from US customs authorities suggesting that gold bars of certain weights should be subject to new duties.

12 Aug 2025 - 12:02PM

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