Rhine swimmer cuts short 'impossible' quest

Ernst Bromeis, the Swiss swimmer who set out to swim the length of the Rhine, has given up his quest after about 400 kilometres due to health concerns. READ »

Asian luxury market boosts Richemont profits

Swiss luxury goods group Richemont posted a steep rise in annual net profit on Wednesday as Asian demand for watches and jewellery showed no signs of abating. READ »

Photo credit: Andreas Fischler

Swiss bank Wegelin fights US summons

Swiss bank Wegelin, accused by US authorities of conspiring to help clients escape tax payments, has once again refused to appear before a US court claiming on Wednesday the summons was "invalid." READ (3 comments) »

Photo credit: Sotheby's

Historic diamond sells for $9.7 million in Geneva

A centuries-old diamond passed down through generations of European royalty fetched nine million francs ($9.7 million) at auction in Geneva on Tuesday. READ »

Vintage wine sells for $49,000 in Geneva

A bottle of French wine dating back to 1774 fetched 46,000 francs ($49,200) at auction in Geneva on Tuesday. READ (1 comments) »

Photo credit: Photo: Meritxell Mir

King of kitsch Jeff Koons brings 'empty' art to Basel

Dubbed the ‘king of kitsch,’ Jeff Koons is perhaps the world’s most famous living artist – or to quote the Fondation Beyeler in Basel that has dedicated its summer exhibition to his work, “one of the most influential artists of all time.” READ »

More money laundering after Arab Spring

Switzerland's Money Laundering Reporting Office has attributed a major increase in the number of reported cases in 2011 to the Arab Spring. READ »

Photo credit: o5com (File)

Speed hating: Zurich set to unleash the fury

Zurich residents with reservoirs of pent-up anger will soon be able to vent spleen in a controlled environment as speed hating, a variation on the popular dating events for singles, makes its debut in the city. READ »

Features

Introducing... Michelle Hunziker

Introducing... is The Local's new column giving the lowdown on a top Swiss personality. This week Lyssandra Sears looks at the woman whose bottom was once voted best in Italy and whose bosoms feature regularly in the Swiss media. READ »

1 MAN, 1 RIVER, 1 MONTH

Photo credit: PHOTOPRESS/Schweiz Tourismus/Andrea Badrutt

Why I'm swimming the length of the Rhine

Swiss extreme athlete Ernst Bromeis explains to Meritxell Mir what’s motivating him to become the first ever person to swim the entire 1,230-kilometres of the Rhine, from its source in the Swiss Alps to the North Sea. READ »

Photo credit: WTO

Introducing... Doris Leuthard

Introducing... is The Local's new column giving the lowdown on a top Swiss personality. This week Lyssandra Sears looks at the woman who was recently voted Switzerland’s favourite politician and once got wellied at the Mountain Cheese Olympics. READ »

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