Latest Switzerland government News

Commodities firm Trafigura goes on Swiss trial over alleged bribes paid to win Angola oil contract

Dec. 02, 2024 03:49 AM EST

GENEVA (AP) — For the first time in Switzerland, a multinational company faces a criminal trial Monday on charges of bribing a foreign public official, with alleged payments totaling about $5 million, to win lucrative oil industry contracts in Angola. Commodities trader Trafigura...

Polish company denies that it broke the law in sending Swiss-made ammunition to Ukraine

Nov. 28, 2024 06:35 AM EST

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A Polish company strongly denied any laws were broken when it sent Swiss-made ammunition to Ukraine, after the Swiss government placed some export restrictions on the company over concerns that the ammunition ended up in Ukraine. Switzerland's government said...

Swatch wins Malaysian suit over watches the government said had LGBTQ+ elements

Nov. 25, 2024 06:03 AM EST

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Swiss watchmaker Swatch won a suit against the Malaysian government on Monday after a court ordered the return of 172 Swatch watches that were seized last year due to designs that authorities said bore LGBT elements. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution,...

Switzerland bars exports to Polish firm after Swiss-made ammunition ends up in Ukraine

Nov. 22, 2024 12:15 PM EST

GENEVA (AP) — The Swiss government said Friday it is barring exports to a Polish military hardware supplier after concluding that some 645,000 rounds of Swiss-made small-caliber ammunition ended up in Ukraine in violation of Swiss law. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs...

Swiss villagers pack up for evacuation over fears of another rockslide

Nov. 13, 2024 23:09 PM EST

GENEVA (AP) — Families in a tiny Swiss village were packing up Wednesday after authorities issued an evacuation order with a weekend deadline because of the threat of a possible rockslide from an Alpine mountainside overhead. Authorities in charge of the eastern village of Brienz...

Garrett Motion: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Oct. 24, 2024 07:05 AM EDT

ROLLE, Switzerland (AP) — ROLLE, Switzerland (AP) — Garrett Motion Inc. (GTX) on Thursday reported profit of $52 million in its third quarter. On a per-share basis, the Rolle, Switzerland-based company said it had profit of 24 cents. The maker of vehicle...

Switzerland to close 9 centers for asylum-seekers as fewer people arrive than expected

Oct. 22, 2024 07:08 AM EDT

GENEVA (AP) — Swiss authorities said Tuesday they will shut nine temporary centers for asylum-seekers because the number of people seeking asylum recently has been below expectations. Switzerland has been building up refugee accommodation since 2022, putting in place 36 centers for...

US laments 'disappointing' Swiss decision not to fully adopt latest EU sanctions against Russia

Oct. 18, 2024 12:46 PM EDT

GENEVA (AP) — The United States is expressing disappointment over a decision by the Swiss government not to adopt all measures in the latest round of European Union sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. Amb. Scott Miller, the top U.S. envoy in the Swiss capital,...

Bathroom break at work? Swiss court upholds watchmaker's rule to do it on your own time

Oct. 09, 2024 13:02 PM EDT

GENEVA (AP) — A court in Switzerland — where time is money for its famed watchmaking industry — has ruled that a dial manufacturer was justified in telling workers: If you need a bathroom break, clock out and take it on your own time. An investigative report by public...

Advocacy groups suspend use of 'suicide capsule' pending Swiss criminal probe of woman's death

Oct. 06, 2024 15:44 PM EDT

Advocacy groups behind a so-called suicide capsule said Sunday they have suspended the process of taking applications to use it — which numbered over 370 last month — as a criminal investigation into its first use in Switzerland is completed. The president of Switzerland-based...