http://www.thelocal.ch/ Switzerland's news in English en-us TheLocal TheLocal TheLocal RSS Feed Generator Tibetan exiles in Bern on Friday urged Swiss authorities to take China to task for its human rights record during a landmark visit by Premier Li Keqiang focused squarely on a trade deal. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130524/tibetan-exiles-berate-chinese-rights-record 2013-05-24 22:45:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130524/tibetan-exiles-berate-chinese-rights-record Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday hailed a free trade deal with Switzerland as a landmark achievement, saying it had "huge meaning" for global trade and underscored Beijing's growing openness to the world. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130524/china-moves-toward-trade-deal-with-swiss 2013-05-24 21:33:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130524/china-moves-toward-trade-deal-with-swiss Steffan Millius grips his sword and makes his way through the throngs of people crowding into Appenzell's central square to take part in Switzerland's famous direct democracy in perhaps its purest form. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130524/appenzell-practices-democracy-in-its-purest-form 2013-05-24 11:25:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130524/appenzell-practices-democracy-in-its-purest-form A University of Neuchâtel professor under fire for alleged plagiarism is now facing accusations of falsifying his CV. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130524/university-professor-faces-false-cv-charges 2013-05-24 11:01:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130524/university-professor-faces-false-cv-charges The sailboat of Swiss explorer and adventurer Mike Horn was ordered seized by a Marseille court in a southern French port over a dispute involving a naval architect, according to a media report. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130524/french-court-seizes-swiss-explorers-sailboat 2013-05-24 09:30:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130524/french-court-seizes-swiss-explorers-sailboat Geneva cantonal police raided eight erotic massage parlours on Tuesday for an investigation into tax fraud allegedly amounting to several million francs. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/geneva-police-raid-sex-parlours-over-tax-fraud 2013-05-23 21:37:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/geneva-police-raid-sex-parlours-over-tax-fraud A diamond necklace from Geneva jeweller De Grisogono worth 2.5 million francs was reported stolen from Cannes on Thursday, just days after thieves made off with 1.4 million francs' worth of bling from Chopard, another jeweller from the Swiss city. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/swiss-diamond-necklace-stolen-at-cannes 2013-05-23 19:05:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/swiss-diamond-necklace-stolen-at-cannes Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sees a looming free-trade deal with Switzerland as a touchstone for Beijing's growing ties with foreign nations, he told a Swiss newspaper on Thursday ahead of a landmark visit to Europe. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/chinese-premier-touts-trade-deal-with-swiss 2013-05-23 14:31:25 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/chinese-premier-touts-trade-deal-with-swiss Whether you have ever or never visited the Netherlands, the country that crowned a new monarch this year is also celebrating a wealth of special jubilees in its popular capital. Here’s the lowdown on why Amsterdam is the place to be in 2013. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/top-ten-reasons-to-be-amazed-by-amsterdam 2013-05-23 14:24:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/top-ten-reasons-to-be-amazed-by-amsterdam After a wetter than usual start to spring, Switzerland is bracing for a return to wintry conditions and snow in some locations over the next few days. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/switzerland-braces-for-wet-and-wintry-conditions 2013-05-23 10:04:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/switzerland-braces-for-wet-and-wintry-conditions Switzerland, currently in the process of restituting assets to several former autocratic countries, is working on a new law aimed at simplifying the process of freezing and unblocking such funds, the government said on Wednesday. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/bern-seeks-new-frozen-dictator-funds-law 2013-05-23 09:07:56 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/bern-seeks-new-frozen-dictator-funds-law A project backed by two of Switzerland’s wealthiest men to create a Geneva biotech centre is back on track after German pharma company Merck agreed to sell its sprawling complex in the Swiss city. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/biotech-centre-launches-in-former-merck-serono-complex 2013-05-23 08:03:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130523/biotech-centre-launches-in-former-merck-serono-complex A ruling from Switzerland’s top court made public on Wednesday threw thousands of Alpine holiday home development projects into disarray. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/court-ruling-upholds-appeals-against-holiday-homes 2013-05-22 22:30:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/court-ruling-upholds-appeals-against-holiday-homes Swiss researchers say they have taken a step closer to unlocking the mystery of ageing after discovering the impact of a longevity gene in mice and then managing to extend the life-span of worms by 60 percent thanks to a basic antibiotic treatment. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/lausanne-scientists-unlock-genetic-clues-to-ageing 2013-05-22 20:10:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/lausanne-scientists-unlock-genetic-clues-to-ageing Puerto Rican banker Richard Carrion added his name on Wednesday to the list of candidates vying to take over as head of the Olympic movement. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/puerto-rican-banker-vies-for-top-ioc-job 2013-05-22 18:51:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/puerto-rican-banker-vies-for-top-ioc-job Swiss banks holding US citizens' funds that are not declared to American tax authorities face massive fines under a deal between Switzerland and Washington, a newspaper reported on Wednesday. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/swiss-banks-face-huge-us-fines-report 2013-05-22 15:26:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/swiss-banks-face-huge-us-fines-report Swiss-based global food giant Nestle says its has expanded its research and development operations in Singapore, amid robust Asian market growth. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/nestle-invests-heavily-in-singapore-r-and-d-centre 2013-05-22 14:23:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/nestle-invests-heavily-in-singapore-r-and-d-centre Finding a place to rent in Switzerland is hard enough. Adhering to the thicket of tenant rules governing everything from running baths to pet ownership can be even tougher, although misconceptions linger over when toilets can be flushed. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/rules-and-regulations-that-dog-tenants-in-switzerland 2013-05-22 13:15:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/rules-and-regulations-that-dog-tenants-in-switzerland The website of the French embassy in Switzerland removed a link that allowed users to open a Swiss bank account online after the government in Paris came under fire from an opposition critic. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/french-embassy-rapped-for-online-swiss-bank-link 2013-05-22 10:17:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130522/french-embassy-rapped-for-online-swiss-bank-link Swiss discount supermarket chain Denner can resume selling its brand of Nespresso-compatible coffee capsules across Switzerland following a ruling by a trade tribunal in the canton of Saint Gallen. http://www.thelocal.ch/20130521/denner-wins-coffee-capsule-ruling-over-nespresso 2013-05-21 22:20:00 http://www.thelocal.ch/20130521/denner-wins-coffee-capsule-ruling-over-nespresso