Horsemeat products at a horse butcheray in Dortmund. The Swiss-based food giant Nestle has been hit by a widespread horsemeat contamination scandal, forcing it to remove products from European stores. “Our tests have found traces of horse DNA in two products,” Nestle said in a statement on Monday, adding, “The mislabeling of products means they fail to meet the very high standards... 

Switzerland will now assist international tax authorities in disclosing information on bank accounts held by foreigners who avoid taxation at home. Joint efforts by the EU, the US and number of other countries have led to Switzerland introducing new banking laws on February 1. The new regulation now allows foreign tax services to send group requests for bank account information of their citizens.... 

An Iranian cancer patient who like millions of other patients with intractable diseases, is victim of anti-Iran sanctions imposed by US and EU to block financial transactions for the purchase of medications. Despite its claims of easing the restrictions on the sales of medicine to Iran, Washington has launched an investigation into the transactions of Switzerland’s biggest pharmaceutical company,... 

A sobering “Critical Alert” issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) this afternoon is warning all Russian diplomatic personal and civilian workers currently residing in the United States that an “imminent terror attack” should be expected to occur during the next fortnight, up to and including 12 February. The three-level alarm system of terrorism threats issued in this report was... 

Last year, the smallest wages in Europe were paid in Ukraine, Moldova and Albania. The most highly paid professionals live in Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. However, the “low-income” Ukraine lives on labor migration. The Ukrainian citizens working in other countries, send billions of dollars to their home country every year. In Ukraine, the State Statistics Committee reported a decline... 

Swiss banking giant UBS has announced plans to slash some 10,000 jobs worldwide. The largest bank in Switzerland, UBS AG, has announced plans to cut about 10,000 jobs worldwide, as the economic crisis in the European country continues to worsen. “This decision has been a difficult one, particularly in a business such as ours that is all about its people. Some reductions will result from natural... 

Switzerland’s Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter (L) and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, met in Moscow on October 25, 2012. Switzerland’s Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter says his country does not support any unilateral sanctions imposed against Iran over its nuclear energy program. Burkhalter told reporters after a Thursday meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in... 

Next-door neighbour: An artist’s impression of the recently found planet orbiting Alpha Centauri B, a member of the triple star system that is the closest to our own (click on the image to enlarge it) An Earth-sized planet has been found orbiting a star in Alpha Centauri, our nearest neighbouring solar system. The mystery world circling Alpha Centauri B is thought to be much too hot to support... 

The Swiss Army is preparing contingency plans for violent unrest across Europe. A nation mostly famous for its banks, watches and chocolate fears it may face a massive influx of European refugees in the near future. One of the world’s richest nations openly expressed concerns over the possible outcome of Europe’s continuing financial troubles, and is currently conducting army exercises against... 

IBM images shoe detailed molecular bonds. A team of international researchers from the IBM in Zurich has published the first detailed single-molecule images of atomic bonds in fullerene. According to the report published in Science, the new study has examined fullerene, which has linked rings of carbon atoms at its core, using an atomic force microscopy or AFM. Their images show the length of the atomic... 

Chocolate factories in Switzerland are infuriated by US inspections on their universally-loved confectionery for bioterrorism or radioactive threats. Factories have no choice but allow checks; otherwise will they be banned from the profitable US market. ­At least 21 Swiss chocolate factories and 18 dairies are obliged to allow inspections of their work until September 20, German business journal... 

Wealthy tax evaders, aided by private banks have exploited loopholes in tax legislation and stashed over $21 tn in offshore funds, says a report. The capital drained from some developing countries since 1970 would be enough to pay off national debts. ­The findings show the gap between the haves and the have-nots is much larger than previously thought. The document, entitled The Price of Offshore... 

Switzerland will continue to purchase Iranian oil in defiance of the European Union sanctions on the Islamic Republic that came into effect on July 1. The Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs stated that Switzerland will not join the oil embargo against Iran, despite pressure from the United States and the EU, IRNA reported on Friday. Switzerland says that any decision on the import, sale,... 

Switzerland suspends arms shipments to the UAE over a report that Swiss hand grenades have ended up in the hands of militants groups in Syria. Switzerland has decided to suspend arms shipments to the United Arab Emirates following a report that Swiss-made hand grenades are being used by armed gangs in Syria. The measure was taken on Wednesday after the Sonntagszeitung newspaper published a photograph... 

Palestinians hold candles and pictures of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during the seventh anniversary of his death in Gaza City, November 13, 2011. Scientists of a Swiss institute say they have evidence that former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat may have been poisoned with polonium. According to the findings of laboratory research conducted at the Institut de Radiophysique in Lausanne, Switzerland,...