Switzerland has developed an emergency plan in the event of an energy crisis if natural gas and electricity supplies run short, the Basler Zeitung newspaper reported this week. According to the paper, the Swiss government has been working in tandem with industrial companies for several months on the plan. It …
Read More »Switzerland turns down NATO request on Ukrainians
The Swiss federal government has turned down a request to treat wounded Ukrainians, arguing that the move would violate the Alpine nation’s neutral status, the country’s Tages Anzeiger newspaper has learned. The request was made by a NATO department. The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre – a NATO structure that …
Read More »Switzerland closes airspace
Switzerland closed its airspace for several hours on Wednesday for safety reasons, after a computer glitch. The air traffic control service Skyguide grounded all planes early in the morning, and later announced: “the technical malfunction… has been resolved,” without clarifying what the initial problem was. The move paralyzed the country’s major airports in …
Read More »Switzerland clarifies rules on arms shipments to Ukraine
Switzerland ruled on Friday that shipping weapons with Swiss-made components to Ukraine does not violate the country’s centuries-old neutrality, if certain conditions are met. “The delivery of war material in the form of assembly elements or spare parts to European armament companies will… remain possible, even if the manufactured war …
Read More »Switzerland bans NATO member from sending its arms to Ukraine
The Swiss government has vetoed Denmark’s request to supply Ukraine with Swiss-made armored vehicles, citing its neutrality policy, broadcaster SRF reported on Wednesday. Copenhagen planned to donate Piranha III armored personnel carriers to Ukraine for use in the conflict with Russia. The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, however, rejected …
Read More »Switzerland changes organ donation rules
In Switzerland, those who did not explicitly ‘opt out’ during their lifetimes would now be assumed to have consented to have their organs taken for transplant upon their deaths, following a referendum on Sunday. The government-backed measure was upheld by roughly 60 percent of Swiss, with a turnout of just …
Read More »Switzerland releases some frozen Russian assets
The Swiss government on Thursday reported that 6.3 billion Swiss francs ($6.33 billion) worth of Russian assets have been frozen under the country’s sanctions. The report said the figure indicates a decrease from the roughly 7.5 billion Swiss francs (over $7 billion) in funds the government reported frozen on April …
Read More »Switzerland comments on possible Russian asset freeze
Swiss President Ignazio Cassis did not rule out freezing of Russian assets by financial institutions in the country amid Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine. The politician said such a scenario was likely despite Switzerland’s long-standing neutral status. Cassis told Swiss television station RTS on Sunday that “it is very probable” the …
Read More »Switzerland likely to hold vote on compulsory vaccination
The group, called the Swiss Freedom Movement (MLS), formally submitted the proposal to protect people’s “freedom and physical integrity” to the Federal Chancellery in Bern on Thursday. MLS said they collected 125,000 signatures, which is 25,000 more than what is required by law to put issues to a nationwide vote. …
Read More »Bring a friend and get a present! Switzerland incentivizes citizens to convince acquaintances to get Covid jab
Switzerland has, so far, fully vaccinated over 58% of its population, giving it one of the lowest inoculation rates in Western Europe, pushing the government to seek ways of boosting take-up among those who have not yet received a Covid jab. Announcing the new scheme on Friday, the Swiss government …
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