Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy

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Cement firm Lafarge found guilty of financing terrorism in Syria

2026-04-13

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2026-04-13

French cement manufacturer Lafarge and eight former executives were found guilty on Monday of financing terrorism in 2013 and 2014, for paying jihadist groups to keep a factory running in the midst of the war in Syria. The company, which has since been merged with Swiss cement manufacturer Holcim group, made payments to three jihadist …

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Geneva-based shipping giant MSC handed over to next generation

2026-04-13

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2026-04-13

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world's leading Italian-Swiss container shipping group, announced the transfer of ownership from its founder Gianluigi Aponte to his children Diego and Alexa Aponte. The transition, which took place during the last quarter of 2025, represents a significant milestone in the history of the Geneva-based company, a note explained. MSC will …

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Switzerland wants a global roadmap to phase out fossil fuels 

2026-04-13

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2026-04-13

With oil and gas at the center of global tensions, a first-of-its kind international conference in Colombia aims to revive the transition away from fossil fuels. Switzerland supports establishing a clear plan for phasing them out. The Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels – scheduled April 24 to 29 in Santa Marta, Colombia – …

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‘The transition away from fossil fuels is a prerequisite for global peace’

2026-04-13

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2026-04-13

The Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, taking place in Santa Marta, Colombia, is the first international summit dedicated to ending the production of coal, oil and gas. Alex Rafalowicz of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative shares his views on the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on the phase‑out of fossil …

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Switzerland’s Zug becomes bolt-hole for Gulf-based wealth

2026-04-12

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2026-04-12

In search of a haven from conflict in the Gulf, Dubai’s expatriates are homing in on Zug – a picturesque Swiss canton of just 135,000 people better known for commodity traders and cryptocurrency firms. The influx includes wealthy individuals, family offices and companies, according to Heinz Tännler, Zug’s finance director, who said interest had picked …

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Cervelat, the ‘Swiss national sausage’

2026-04-11

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2026-04-11

What is the Swiss national dish? It’s a tricky question, as culinary specialities are usually linked to a specific canton or region. But the cervelat is a serious contender. This small, plump, pink sausage – unpretentious yet steeped in history – has been a fixture on plates, in rucksacks, on barbecues and in surprisingly passionate …

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Swiss entrepreneurs are staying put in Dubai

2026-04-11

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2026-04-11

Despite the conflict in the region and its impact on investments, Swiss entrepreneurs based in Dubai are determined not to leave the Emirati city that has become their home. They also reject criticism regarding the tax benefits they enjoy. Dubai is a city of glitz and tax breaks for some and a land of endless … Continue reading...

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Israel’s death penalty, domestic violence hotline and a wealthy family’s donation plans

2026-04-10

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What do you think about this week's stories? Let us know in the comments. --- swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international events. For more articles, interviews and videos visit swissinfo.ch or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Swiss mountain top revolving restaurant to be replaced

2026-04-10

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2026-04-10

The revolving panorama restaurant at the top of the Stanserhorn mountain in Switzerland is to make way for a new building. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The revolving restaurant at 1,898 metres, which opened in 2001, will be replaced with a CHF34 million new project. The new building, designed …

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Lufthansa strike leads to flight cancellations in Switzerland

2026-04-10

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2026-04-10

A strike by Lufthansa flight attendants also impacted air traffic in Switzerland. There were eight flight cancellations in Basel, four in Geneva and six in Zurich on Friday. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox At the end of the Easter travel wave, Lufthansa cabin crew went on strike, leading to …

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Trio to stand trial for attempted extortion of Swiss bank

2026-04-10

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2026-04-10

Three men are to stand trial for attempted extortion of the Zurich Cantonal Bank. The trio are said to have stolen customer data and demanded CHF3 million worth of bitcoin. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The accused are alleged to have made their blackmail attempt in September 2024, demanding …

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Swiss consumer sentiment slumps amid Iran war

2026-04-10

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2026-04-10

Consumer sentiment in Switzerland deteriorated significantly in March, falling to its lowest level since the beginning of 2024. The war with Iran is likely to have played a significant role. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The consumer sentiment index calculated by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) fell …

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UBS shakes off ‘tuna bond’ money laundering liability

2026-04-10

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2026-04-10

The Swiss Federal Criminal Court has dropped a money laundering case against UBS bank connected to the so-called ‘tuna bond’ loan scandal in Mozambique. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox UBS inherited the legal trouble from its former rival, Credit Suisse, which UBS took over in 2024. The court has …

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Swiss home prices continue rise in first quarter

2026-04-10

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2026-04-10

Prices for Swiss condominiums and single-family homes continued to rise at a high level in the first three months of 2026. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Houses in western Switzerland and Bern were particularly popular. + The impossibility of buying a house in Switzerland Single-family homes were 1.4% more …

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Swiss women company board quotas shows results

2026-04-09

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2026-04-09

The effects of 2021 Swiss legislation to accelerate more women onto company boards are beginning to be felt. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Only five of the 30 largest companies listed on the Swiss stock exchange are yet yet to meet the 30% quota of women on their boards … Continue reading »

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Switzerland wants to join EU port alliance

2026-04-09

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2026-04-09

Switzerland wants to add the river Rhine port of Basel to the European Ports Alliance. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans said the move would be an "important building block" in the fight against organised crime. He met the relevant authorities in Belgium on Wednesday …

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OECD moots Swiss competition and social reforms

2026-04-09

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2026-04-09

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recommends a series of reforms for Switzerland to strengthen competition, growth and social participation. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The focus is particularly on state intervention in markets, digitalisation and structural improvements in the labour and social sectors. The OECD is …

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Swiss commercial vehicle market sees early year growth

2026-04-09

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2026-04-09

The Swiss market for new commercial vehicles experienced growth again in the first quarter of 2026, following a fallow 2025. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The share of all-electric vehicles in sales has continued to rise. From January to March 2026, a total of 9,406 commercial vehicles were put …

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Iran war: Switzerland expects bumper tax from oil traders

2026-04-09

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2026-04-09

The Swiss canton of Geneva and the federal government expect a tax windfall from commodity traders as the Iran war drives up oil prices. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Oil traders in Geneva, who handle a third of global oil trade, often book increased profits during periods of turbulence, …

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How the war in Iran is affecting the Swiss food industry

2026-04-09

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2026-04-09

From chocolate sales at airports to fertiliser trade bottlenecks – the Swiss food and commodity industry is already feeling the impact of the war in the Middle East. Consumers will be next. The conflict in the Persian Gulf and the subsequent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has disrupted the flow of essential … Continue...

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