Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy

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Major Swiss retailers face tampons shortage amid price negotiations

2026-05-09

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2026-05-09

In recent weeks, feminine hygiene products have been disappearing from Swiss supermarket shelves, as several retailers negotiate prices with American giant Procter & Gamble (P&G), the manufacturer of brands including Tampax, Always and Gillette. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox According to reports on online portal 20Minuten, Tampax products have been …

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The Closomat: how a Swiss loo (almost) conquered the world

2026-05-09

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2026-05-09

Hans Maurer had a brilliant idea: why bother with loo paper when you can conveniently clean yourself with a jet of water? However, he would never have dreamed that his invention, the Closomat, would come to dominate the Japanese market as a high-tech variant. Have you ever been to Japan? In any case, you’ve probably … Continue...

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Swiss, French ministers meet in Geneva to discuss G7 summit

2026-05-09

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2026-05-09

A bilateral Franco-Swiss working meeting was held in Geneva on Friday evening. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis met his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot. Discussions included the organisation of the G7 summit in Evian next June. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox "The G7 in Evian, which will take place in a few …

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SWISS flight diverted to Kazakhstan over co-pilot illness

2026-05-08

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2026-05-08

A Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) plane that made an unscheduled stop in Kazakhstan last Wednesday arrived back in Zurich on Friday morning with 221 passengers on board. The aircraft was forced to land in the central Asian country because of a medical emergency involving the co‑pilot. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in …

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Bern sticks with Swiss‑US trade talks despite court ruling on tariffs

2026-05-08

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2026-05-08

The conclusion of a trade agreement between Switzerland and the United States remains the Federal Council's top priority, regardless of Thursday's US court ruling that President Trump's tariffs are illegal. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox A US trade court has dealt another blow to President Donald Trump's tariff strategy, ruling …

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Growing financial strain hits Swiss middle class

2026-05-08

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2026-05-08

Most people in Switzerland are considered middle class, yet financial insecurity is common: roughly one in four people in the lower middle class could not meet an unexpected CHF2,500 bill ($3,200), according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The findings are based on the FSO’s …

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Solar Impulse aircraft destroyed in Gulf of Mexico crash

2026-05-08

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2026-05-08

Solar Impulse 2, a solar‑powered aircraft built in Switzerland that completed a landmark round‑the‑world flight in 2016, has been destroyed after crashing in the Gulf of Mexico. No one was on board. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Sold in 2019 to a Spanish‑American company and later tested by the US …

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Swiss consumer confidence edges up but remains weak

2026-05-08

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2026-05-08

Swiss consumer confidence edged up in April, but economic expectations remain cautious and job insecurity elevated amid persistently high prices. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In April, the overall consumer confidence index calculated by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) stood at -40.0 points, up 2.9 points from -42.9 …

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Why Switzerland stopped short of formally sanctioning Ukraine

2026-05-08

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2026-05-08

Swiss neutrality is often misunderstood. An analysis shows how Switzerland’s response to the war against Ukraine divides the Swiss and puzzles outsiders. Laws reveal much about how a nation sees itself. So too can the laws that do not get passed. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU and …

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Iran war expected to negatively impact Swiss tourism

2026-05-07

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2026-05-07

The war in the Middle East will lead to a "moderate decline" in overnight hotel stays this year, warns Switzerland Tourism. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox However, the industry's promotional organisation is expecting stable demand during the summer period. The marked slowdown recorded by the Swiss hotel industry in March …

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Swiss pharma firm Roche acquires AI specialist PathAI

2026-05-07

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2026-05-07

Swiss pharmaceutica giant Roche is expanding in the field of digital pathology with an agreement to acquire United States firm PathAI. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox With this acquisition, Roche aims to expand its position in AI-based diagnostic solutions. The purchase price is $750 million plus potential milestone payments of …

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Monaco slaps UBS with €6 million money laundering fine

2026-05-07

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2026-05-07

Monaco's financial markets watchdog has fined UBS €6 million for "numerous serious breaches" in money laundering and terrorist financing controls. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox "The number and repetition of these shortcomings demonstrate an overall failure in the institution's compliance and internal control system", reads the decision published on the …

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Iran war squeezes Swiss gas imports

2026-05-07

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2026-05-07

The war in Iran and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz pose a risk to the security of Switzerland's electricity supply over the winter. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The trend in electricity and gas prices is also uncertain, warned the Swiss Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom). Gas-fired power stations …

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Swiss media adopts AI code of conduct

2026-05-07

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2026-05-07

The Swiss media industry is adopting a code of conduct for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI). +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This instrument, which is based on a Council of Europe convention, aims to strengthen public confidence in the technology. "Trust is the media's most precious asset," stated …

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Midterm storm clouds, praise for Jerome Powell, and a mysterious golden blob

2026-05-06

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2026-05-06

US scientists have been examining a strange golden blob, found 3,000 metres underwater, and recently revealed their conclusions. Also this week, more on Donald Trump. Welcome to our press review of events in the United States. Every Wednesday we look at how the Swiss media have reported and reacted to three major stories in the …

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Swiss luxury property prices continue to rise

2026-05-06

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2026-05-06

Luxury properties became more expensive in Switzerland last year, although the trend is slowing down. According to the Swiss bank UBS, the prices are likely to plateau soon. According to the "UBS Luxury Property Focus 2026" report published on Thursday, prices for luxury properties have risen by 3% on average. However, growth was lower than …

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Food waste still too high in Switzerland, says government

2026-05-06

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2026-05-06

Food waste in Switzerland remains too high, the government said on Wednesday, drawing mixed conclusions four years after launching an action plan to halve food waste by 2030. While progress has been made in retail and catering, households continue to lag behind. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox According to …

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Nestlé will keep Nespresso capsule production in Switzerland

2026-05-06

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2026-05-06

Nestlé has no intention of relocating its Nespresso capsule production outside Switzerland, despite US tariffs, Chief Executive Officer Philipp Navratil told CH Media in an interview on Wednesday. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The food group, which has its headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland, is currently examining the possibility of the …

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Middle East conflict boosts SWISS Q1 figures

2026-05-06

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2026-05-06

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has posted a solid first quarter, with higher revenues and profits driven by surging demand linked to the Middle East conflict, especially on Asian routes. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Between January and March, SWISS turnover rose by 0.3% to CHF1.22 billion ($1.56 billion), the …

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Novartis to close site in Germany and cut 220 jobs

2026-05-06

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2026-05-06

Swiss drugmaker Novartis says it will cut around 220 jobs in Germany as part of the planned closure of a production site in Wehr ⁠by the end of 2028. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Novartis says the production site in Wehr, Germany, which manufactures tablets and capsules, is no longer … Continue...

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