Latest Switzerland government News
Swiss parliament approves ban on full-face coverings like burqas, and sets fine for violators
GENEVA (AP) — The lower house of Switzerland's parliament voted Wednesday to give final legislative passage to a ban on face coverings, such as the burqas worn by some Muslim women. The National Council voted 151-29 for the legislation, which was already approved by the upper...
Southern Swiss region rejects a plan to fast-track big solar parks on Alpine mountainsides
GENEVA (AP) — Voters in a southern Swiss region on Sunday rejected a plan to allow large solar parks on their sun-baked Alpine mountainsides as part of the federal government’s push to develop renewable energy sources. The referendum in the Valais canton centered on economic and...
Swiss parliamentary panel urges expulsions of Russian, other spies who threaten national security
GENEVA (AP) — A Swiss parliamentary commission voted Tuesday to urge the government to systematically expel Russian and other spies who threaten Switzerland's security through illegal intelligence activities. The foreign affairs commission of the lower house of parliament passed...
Swiss national arrested in military-ruled Myanmar for allegedly insulting Buddhism in film
BANGKOK (AP) — A Swiss citizen was arrested in military-ruled Myanmar for creating a film that allegedly insulted Buddhism, state media reported Saturday. Didier Nusbaumer, 52, was arrested on Aug. 8 along with 13 Myanmar nationals, including a 12-year-old girl, Myanma Alinn...
Swiss government lines up behind EU's 11th round of sanctions against Russia
GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland's government has lined up with the European Union's 11th round of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. The Swiss executive branch decided Wednesday that the new measures adopted by the European bloc on June 23 would take effect later in the...
UBS ends billions in taxpayer-funded support that paved way for Credit Suisse takeover
GENEVA (AP) — Swiss taxpayers are off the hook from a government-engineered rescue plan that doled out billions to help UBS, the country's largest bank, take over its ailing rival Credit Suisse. UBS said Friday that it has shut down state support that had made available up to 200...
Malaysia makes owning an LGBTQ+ Swatch punishable by up to 3 years in jail
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's government said Thursday that all Swatch products that contain lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer elements — including watches, wrappers and boxes — were banned, warning that anyone found with one could be jailed for up to three years. ...
UBS fined nearly $400 million related to Credit Suisse's relationship with failed fund Archegos
NEW YORK (AP) — Swiss banking giant UBS will pay nearly $400 million in fines to U.S., Swiss and U.K. banking authorities for the management failures of Credit Suisse, which UBS bought in June, related to how Credit Suisse handled its relationship with collapsed hedge fund Archegos Capital...
Swiss order hang gliders to stay away, closing air space as firefighters battle forest inferno
GENEVA (AP) — Swiss authorities have temporarily shut the airspace over a small part of southwestern Switzerland because recreational gliders have endangered the work of emergency teams battling a persistent forest fire in the area. The Federal Office of Civil Aviation said Friday...
Scotland wants to decriminalize drugs. The UK government just says no
LONDON (AP) — The Scottish government has proposed decriminalizing possession of all drugs for personal use to tackle one of Europe’s highest overdose death rates. The suggestion was almost instantly blocked by the Conservative U.K. government in London, which said it had “no...
