Latest Switzerland government News

Swiss refer Syrian president's uncle to trial for alleged war crimes over 4 decades ago

Mar. 12, 2024 08:16 AM EDT

GENEVA (AP) — Swiss federal prosecutors said Tuesday they have indicted former Syrian Vice President Rifaat Assad, the uncle of the war-battered country's current president, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for allegedly ordering murder and torture more than four decades ago. ...

Geneva oil trader reaches $661M settlement with US, Swiss authorities over bribery in Ecuador

Mar. 02, 2024 06:16 AM EST

GENEVA (AP) — Geneva-based commodities trading firm Gunvor said Friday that it has reached a $661 million settlement with U.S. and Swiss prosecutors after convictions for bribery of foreign officials in connection with the petroleum industry in Ecuador. The Swiss attorney general's...

Swisscom confirms talks to buy Vodafone's Italian unit for 8B euros

Feb. 28, 2024 04:14 AM EST

GENEVA (AP) — Telecoms operator Swisscom confirmed Wednesday it's in talks with Vodafone Group toward a possible purchase of its Italian subsidiary for 8 billion euros ($8.65 billion). The Swiss company, which is majority owned by the Swiss government, said in a statement it's in...

'Neutral' Swiss plan to boost defense spending in a world destabilized by Ukraine, Mideast wars

Feb. 15, 2024 06:18 AM EST

GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland's government plans to boost its defense spending by up to 19% over the next four years, citing a rise in global instability, including wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and gaps created when Swiss authorities cashed in on a peace dividend from the fall of the Berlin...

Swiss financial regulator gets a new leader as UBS-Credit Suisse merger sparks calls for reform

Jan. 24, 2024 09:01 AM EST

GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland's financial markets authority is getting a new chief executive as the rich Alpine country looks at ways to strengthen regulations after UBS hurriedly took over ailing rival Credit Suisse last year partly to prevent a global banking meltdown. The Swiss...

Remains of fireworks explosion victims taken to Thai temple where families give DNA to identify them

Jan. 18, 2024 20:36 PM EST

MUEANG SUPHAN BURI, Thailand (AP) — Rescue workers carried out the grim task Thursday of recovering the remains of the 23 apparent victims of a fireworks factory explosion in central Thailand. Only part of the building frame stood at the site of the devastated factory in an...

In Davos, Israel's president calls ties with Saudi Arabia key to ending war in Gaza

Jan. 18, 2024 11:28 AM EST

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Normalizing ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia would be a key element of ending the war with Hamas and a game-changer for the entire Middle East, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Thursday at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in the Swiss town of Davos. ...

An explosion at a fireworks factory in rural Thailand kills about 20 people

Jan. 17, 2024 23:55 PM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — An explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand killed about 20 people on Wednesday, according to provincial officials, though the devastation at the scene has made the death toll uncertain. The information office of the Suphan Buri provincial government...

At Davos, Zelenskyy lashes out at Putin and presses allies to boost Ukraine's fight

Jan. 16, 2024 17:25 PM EST

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came out swinging Tuesday against Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, while urging political and business leaders facing war fatigue in the West to enforce sanctions, help rebuild...

Georgia economist warns of recession as governor says his budget will spur growth

Jan. 16, 2024 17:10 PM EST

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's state economist is warning lawmakers that a recession could drive down state tax collections in coming months, while Gov. Brian Kemp is again portraying his budget as a way to spur further economic growth. Speaking to lawmakers by video from Davos,...