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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

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

United States

Trump’s ‘racist hate speech’ fuelling rights violations in US, UN panel says

UN watchdog is ‘deeply disturbed’ by dehumanising language and condemns the use of lethal force in recent immigration and protest crackdowns.

12 Mar 2026 - 2:45PM

United States

US launches trade probe into China and EU in bid to revive Trump tariffs

12 Mar 2026 - 7:46AM

Crime

Deadly Swiss bus fire started by ‘disturbed’ man who set himself alight

11 Mar 2026 - 10:02PM

China-Africa relations

Why China and South Africa have a US$17 billion gap on trade data

Statistical discrepancy reflects different reporting practices and ‘opaque’ global commodity chains, according to observers.

10 Mar 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

China’s data shows US$30.58 billion of imports from South Africa last year, but South African data suggests US$13.5 billion of goods were shipped. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong economy

As Iran war closes Middle East skies, how high can Cathay Pacific fares fly?

Cathay fares to Hong Kong surge 93 per cent on average for Saturday departures compared with typical prices over past 12 months.

9 Mar 2026 - 8:15PM

US, Israel war on Iran

US seen as likely responsible for Iran school strike that killed scores

A girls’ school in Minab, in southern Iran, was hit on Saturday during the first day of US and Israeli attacks on the country.

6 Mar 2026 - 3:32PMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong unveils incentives to attract gold refiners and boost global hub plan

Targeted measures, tax incentives and cross-border partnerships aim to bolster city’s role as a global gold trading and refining hub.

5 Mar 2026 - 10:00AM

With new incentives and a 2,000‑tonne storage target, Hong Kong is positioning itself as a trusted global vault and bullion trading centre. Photo: Edmond So

Timepieces

5 watch moments in February 2026: the Baftas, Jungkook’s new role and more

Breitling partners with Aston Martin, Louis Vuitton collaborates with De Bethune, and Swiss jump-hour watch brand Niton is revived.

2 Mar 2026 - 4:47PM

United States

Opinion | Trump’s State of the Union report underlines shift to ‘world minus one’

In his address to Congress, Trump emphasised that America ‘is back’. However, the US’ financial position tells a different story, one with global implications.

27 Feb 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

US-China relations

Is this maritime court case a model of China’s anti-sanctions law in action?

Sanctioned Chinese company takes on Swiss firm in ‘landmark’ action against foreign ‘bullying’ and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’.

27 Feb 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

China’s Supreme People’s Court says a Nanjing Maritime Court case is a milestone in China’s legal response to foreign “bullying” and “long-arm jurisdiction”. Photo: Google

China stock market

China stocks shield investors from AI turbulence ahead of key meeting

Investors are turning to Chinese equities as they trim exposure to AI trades in the US, betting that policy support could underpin gains.

27 Feb 2026 - 3:45PM

A Chinese trader looks at an electronic trading board at the Shanghai stock exchange. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

US and Iran wrap up talks without a deal as war risks persist

Oman’s mediator cites ‘significant progress’ in Geneva, but a massive US naval build-up keeps the Middle East on edge.

27 Feb 2026 - 4:24PM

United States

Macroscope | Normalisation of Trump’s chaos can only go so far

Markets assuming Trump will chicken out and downplaying risks contribute to the normalisation of the US president’s chaotic behaviour.

26 Feb 2026 - 7:45PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Zelensky speaks with Trump, says Russia talks should lead to leaders’ meeting

The leader says Russian claims that Kyiv was trying to obtain nuclear arms were an attempt to exert political pressure on Ukraine.

26 Feb 2026 - 5:51AM

The call between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and US President Donald Trump took place on the eve of a US-Ukraine meeting on postwar reconstruction. File photos: AFP

Middle East

Iran dismisses ‘big lies’ after Trump lays out case for possible attack

US president accused Iran of restarting its nuclear programme, while working to build missiles that soon would be capable of reaching the US.

25 Feb 2026 - 6:08PM

Iranian missiles on display in Tehran earlier this month. Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters

Ukraine war

Where Ukraine and Russia stand as war enters fifth year

Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

24 Feb 2026 - 3:19PM

Hong Kong economy

Panama’s port takeover ‘culmination of a campaign’ against CK Hutchison

Company says officials entered terminals ‘without invitation’, told staff concession had ended and ordered immediate halt to operations.

25 Feb 2026 - 1:18AM

US-China relations

China has ‘massively expanded’ its nuclear arsenal, claims US State Department

Beijing’s UN ambassador Shen Jian said China opposes the smearing of its nuclear policy and ‘would not engage in any nuclear arms race’.

24 Feb 2026 - 4:48AM

China’s UN ambassador Shen Jian at the annual United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday. Photo: AFP

Artificial intelligence

Opinion | Who will save the world from a US-China AI arms race?

Unrestrained military AI could doom us all. The window for a global middle-power alliance to rein in the superpowers is closing fast.

21 Feb 2026 - 1:00PMvideocam

Middle East

Trump weighs limited strike on Iran, as Tehran says draft deal coming soon

The US president has warned that ‘bad things’ will happen if an agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear programme is not reached soon.

21 Feb 2026 - 7:58PMvideocam

Thailand

Wall and words: Thailand and Cambodia fight for the world’s ear over border row

While Cambodia takes its border grievances to Trump’s Board of Peace, Thailand rejects its ‘false’ claims and threatens a border wall.

19 Feb 2026 - 4:16PMvideocam

Thailand’s national flag flutters on a hillside in northeastern Sisaket province, as viewed from Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province on February 12. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

Ukraine war talks in Geneva wrap up in 2 hours with no sign of breakthrough

Neither side revealed what they discussed or whether any agreement had been reached, but both said the discussions had been ‘difficult’.

18 Feb 2026 - 7:45PMvideocam

Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky (centre) leaves after the second round of US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday. Photo:AFP

Iran

Speaking Trump’s language: Iran frames nuclear deal as ‘trillion-dollar’ US win

Tehran is dangling access to its vast oil, gas and mineral reserves, but analysts warn that even this may fail to ‘move the needle’ in talks.

18 Feb 2026 - 1:17PMvideocam

Jewellery

The story behind colourful Swiss jewellery brand Aglagla

Blending creativity with sustainability, the company offers sparkling pieces handcrafted from vintage glass beads from Paris.

18 Feb 2026 - 6:00AM

Ukraine war

Ukraine and Russia meet in Geneva as Trump piles new pressure on Kyiv

Zelensky urged allies to press Russia for a ‘real and just’ ⁠peace deal via tougher sanctions and weapons supplies to his country.

18 Feb 2026 - 2:30AM

A woman poses underneath a downed Shaded drone at an exhibition of Russian military equipment in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Iran

Iran fires missiles, Khamenei threatens to sink US warship amid nuclear talks

As the talks began, local media announced that Iran had fired live missiles towards the Strait of Hormuz.

17 Feb 2026 - 10:54PMvideocam

Iran’s supreme eader Ali Khamenei waves during a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday. Photo: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/Reuters

Cambodia

Battered Cambodia seeks economic reset after Thailand border war

Shuttered borders have choked trade and sent migrant workers home, forcing Phnom Penh to seek new partners and markets.

17 Feb 2026 - 3:23PMvideocam

United States

Trump predicts Iran nuclear deal, warns of ‘consequences’ ahead of talks

After a summer of military strikes and stalled diplomacy, indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran are set to resume on Tuesday.

17 Feb 2026 - 9:27AMvideocam

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Switzerland

Trump’s ‘racist hate speech’ fuelling rights violations in US, UN panel says

UN watchdog is ‘deeply disturbed’ by dehumanising language and condemns the use of lethal force in recent immigration and protest crackdowns.

US launches trade probe into China and EU in bid to revive Trump tariffs

Deadly Swiss bus fire started by ‘disturbed’ man who set himself alight

Why China and South Africa have a US$17 billion gap on trade data

Statistical discrepancy reflects different reporting practices and ‘opaque’ global commodity chains, according to observers.

As Iran war closes Middle East skies, how high can Cathay Pacific fares fly?

Cathay fares to Hong Kong surge 93 per cent on average for Saturday departures compared with typical prices over past 12 months.

US seen as likely responsible for Iran school strike that killed scores

A girls’ school in Minab, in southern Iran, was hit on Saturday during the first day of US and Israeli attacks on the country.

Hong Kong unveils incentives to attract gold refiners and boost global hub plan

Targeted measures, tax incentives and cross-border partnerships aim to bolster city’s role as a global gold trading and refining hub.

5 watch moments in February 2026: the Baftas, Jungkook’s new role and more

Breitling partners with Aston Martin, Louis Vuitton collaborates with De Bethune, and Swiss jump-hour watch brand Niton is revived.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Trump’s State of the Union report underlines shift to ‘world minus one’

In his address to Congress, Trump emphasised that America ‘is back’. However, the US’ financial position tells a different story, one with global implications.

Is this maritime court case a model of China’s anti-sanctions law in action?

Sanctioned Chinese company takes on Swiss firm in ‘landmark’ action against foreign ‘bullying’ and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’.

China stocks shield investors from AI turbulence ahead of key meeting

Investors are turning to Chinese equities as they trim exposure to AI trades in the US, betting that policy support could underpin gains.

US and Iran wrap up talks without a deal as war risks persist

Oman’s mediator cites ‘significant progress’ in Geneva, but a massive US naval build-up keeps the Middle East on edge.

Macroscope | Normalisation of Trump’s chaos can only go so far

Markets assuming Trump will chicken out and downplaying risks contribute to the normalisation of the US president’s chaotic behaviour.

Zelensky speaks with Trump, says Russia talks should lead to leaders’ meeting

The leader says Russian claims that Kyiv was trying to obtain nuclear arms were an attempt to exert political pressure on Ukraine.

Iran dismisses ‘big lies’ after Trump lays out case for possible attack

US president accused Iran of restarting its nuclear programme, while working to build missiles that soon would be capable of reaching the US.

Where Ukraine and Russia stand as war enters fifth year

Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

Panama’s port takeover ‘culmination of a campaign’ against CK Hutchison

Company says officials entered terminals ‘without invitation’, told staff concession had ended and ordered immediate halt to operations.

China has ‘massively expanded’ its nuclear arsenal, claims US State Department

Beijing’s UN ambassador Shen Jian said China opposes the smearing of its nuclear policy and ‘would not engage in any nuclear arms race’.

Opinion | Who will save the world from a US-China AI arms race?

Unrestrained military AI could doom us all. The window for a global middle-power alliance to rein in the superpowers is closing fast.

Trump weighs limited strike on Iran, as Tehran says draft deal coming soon

The US president has warned that ‘bad things’ will happen if an agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear programme is not reached soon.

Wall and words: Thailand and Cambodia fight for the world’s ear over border row

While Cambodia takes its border grievances to Trump’s Board of Peace, Thailand rejects its ‘false’ claims and threatens a border wall.

Ukraine war talks in Geneva wrap up in 2 hours with no sign of breakthrough

Neither side revealed what they discussed or whether any agreement had been reached, but both said the discussions had been ‘difficult’.

Speaking Trump’s language: Iran frames nuclear deal as ‘trillion-dollar’ US win

Tehran is dangling access to its vast oil, gas and mineral reserves, but analysts warn that even this may fail to ‘move the needle’ in talks.

The story behind colourful Swiss jewellery brand Aglagla

Blending creativity with sustainability, the company offers sparkling pieces handcrafted from vintage glass beads from Paris.

Ukraine and Russia meet in Geneva as Trump piles new pressure on Kyiv

Zelensky urged allies to press Russia for a ‘real and just’ ⁠peace deal via tougher sanctions and weapons supplies to his country.

Iran fires missiles, Khamenei threatens to sink US warship amid nuclear talks

As the talks began, local media announced that Iran had fired live missiles towards the Strait of Hormuz.

Battered Cambodia seeks economic reset after Thailand border war

Shuttered borders have choked trade and sent migrant workers home, forcing Phnom Penh to seek new partners and markets.

Trump predicts Iran nuclear deal, warns of ‘consequences’ ahead of talks

After a summer of military strikes and stalled diplomacy, indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran are set to resume on Tuesday.

Opinion | Trump’s State of the Union report underlines shift to ‘world minus one’