Geneva Super-rich Rocked by Luxury Home Burglary Spree

Screenshot taken from this SWI article. | Montreux, on the shores of Lake Geneva in canton Vaud, is among Swiss areas that have a reputation as a haven for the ultra-rich. Keystone / Cyril Zingaro
SWI: The Lake Geneva region is fighting a growing number of violent home robberies of its wealthiest residents, which threaten the area’s reputation as a haven for the ultra-rich and have inflamed suspicions across the border with France.

Swiss authorities are turning to video footage, number-plate recognition and tougher border policing as they try to crack down on the “homejackings”, which have shocked the normally peaceful area.

The attacks typically involve intruders breaking into occupied homes and threatening residents – sometimes at gunpoint – before escaping with watches, jewellery and other valuables across the border to France.

Private bankers, commodities traders and other wealthy executives are among those who have been targeted, fuelling concern in a region that is home to some of the world’s biggest banks and trading houses. Companies including Pictet and Trafigura have raised concerns about the attacks with authorities, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The extreme violence of the attacks has prompted some politicians to call for targeted checks at the French border and prompted many wealthy communities to hire private security.

“This trend has recently become much more organised, targeted and common,” said Florence Bettschart-Narbel, a member of the legislature in the canton of Vaud, on the north side of Lake Geneva. “We are concerned about the impact on Switzerland’s attractiveness to foreigners and companies.” » | Mercedes Ruehl, Financial Times | Monday, August 17, 2026

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2026

ALSO READ:

Switzerland’s super-rich: essential contributors or a social threat?: Switzerland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. However, its wealth is distributed very unevenly: the richest 1% own 45% of total assets. At the same time, this elite group contributes a significant share of the country’s tax revenue. Swiss public broadcaster, SRF, takes a closer look. »

A Taste of Swiss Carrot Country: Rüeblitorte & Rösti | At Our Neighbour’s Table

July 26, 2026 | In Switzerland’s canton of Aargau, affectionately known as Rüebliland - carrot country - the humble carrot takes center stage in both sweet and savory cooking.

This episode explores the region’s deep connection to carrots, from the famous Aargauer Rüeblitorte, a moist carrot cake decorated with marzipan carrots, to creative farm-kitchen dishes that use every part of the vegetable.

At Haldenhof farm, organic farmer Kurt Brunner brings carrots into a Swiss classic by mixing them into golden, crispy rösti, while his daughter Carla turns carrot greens into a vibrant pesto served with grilled carrots. She also prepares a colorful carrot Wähe, a Swiss-style flat cake, and a fragrant carrot salad seasoned with cardamom.

Alongside these inspiring recipes, the episode offers a glimpse into the challenges of organic carrot farming in Aargau, where too much rain can make a successful harvest uncertain. A celebration of seasonal cooking, Swiss tradition, and root-to-leaf creativity, this is a delicious journey for anyone who loves simple ingredients transformed with care and imagination.


ALSO READ:

Carrots are the 10p vegetable that could save your life: Your grandparents weren’t wrong about the eye health benefits, but how else can this secret superfood boost your wellbeing? »

Swiss Divided over Restricting Real Estate Market for Foreigners

SWISSINFO.CH: The consultation on the planned tightening of the Lex Koller law has revealed a deep divide between the political camps. Whilst business organisations and estate agents warn of serious disadvantages, political parties on both the left and right welcome the proposal.

The Swiss government intends to respond to the tight situation on the housing market by tightening the rules. In future, people living abroad will no longer be allowed to buy shares in listed residential property companies. The consultation on the plans ended on Wednesday.

The left-wing Social Democrat Party and right-wing Swiss People’s Party supported the proposal. They argued that foreign capital was driving up property prices. » | SWI | Wednesday, July 15, 2026

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Swiss government to tighten foreign property ownership »

‘Swiss Elon Musk’ Jailed for Fraud

Screenshot from this SWI report. | "Swiss Elon Musk" Jaussi sentenced to five and a half years in prison | Keystone-SDA
SWI: Swiss businessman Pascal Jaussi has been jailed for five and a half years after being found guilty of embezzlement, fraud, forgery and arson.

The Freiburg Commercial Criminal Court handed down the sentence on Jaussi, who was once hailed as the “Swiss Elon Musk” after founding Swiss Space Systems (S3) and promising to revolutionise access to space.

Jaussi raised large sums of money with a plan to send mini-satellites into space and offer ‘zero-gravity’ flights. » | SWI | Tuesday, June 30, 2026

he space shuttle made in Switzerland: A company led by Swiss engineer Pascal Jaussi is building a space shuttle by combining technologies from all over the world. »

[Swiss] Govt Looks to Ban Nazi Symbols

WRS/SWISS RADIO IN ENGLISH: The government wants to ban the public display of Nazi symbols, including swastikas, Hitler salutes and SS insignia.

Under the proposals, offenders would face an on-the-spot fine of CHF 200, even if the symbols are displayed without any propaganda intent.

The Federal Council says current laws leave a gap by only punishing such symbols when used for propaganda. » | WRS | Monday, June 22, 2026

Swiss Ski Resort Closes because of Climate Change

This photo is from this SwissInfo article. | Braunwald is closing its ski resort | Keystone-SDA
SWISSINFO.CH: The Glarus mountain village of Braunwald needs to reinvent itself: skiing operations are being discontinued owing to climate change. A forward-looking initiative is now set to create new opportunities for tourism.

The Glarus mountain village of Braunwald needs to reinvent itself: skiing operations are being discontinued owing to climate change. A forward-looking initiative is now set to create new opportunities for tourism.

Sportbahnen Braunwald is adapting its services to changing climatic and economic conditions, the company announced on Friday in conjunction with Visit Glarnerland and other stakeholders. High costs and changing demand patterns had rendered the previous business model unsustainable.

The decision was preceded by a comprehensive review. The conclusion was clear: continuing “as before” was no longer possible. The key element of the strategic reorientation is the discontinuation of traditional ski operations from the 2026/27 winter season onwards. » | Keystone-SDA | Friday, June 19, 2026

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Great Progress' at US-Iran Says US Vice-President JD Vance | BBC News

Jun 21, 2026 | Switzerland has hosted a first round of talks on a long-term peace deal between the United States and Iran.

The US Vice President, JD Vance, called them 'historic' and said that great progress had been made.

Iranian media are reporting that the delegation from Tehran refused to share a photo opportunity ahead of the negotiations, and they've been angered by renewed threats from President Trump to bomb Iran if it fails to rein in Hezbollah, its proxy in Lebanon.

Israel is insisting its troops will continue to occupy southern Lebanon to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah attack.


When it comes to peace deals, the Trump regime seem to be such amateurs. — © Mark Alexander

Swiss Officials Say Iran Talks Are Off, for Now

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The announcement raised immediate questions over the fate of the agreement President Trump signed this week, with key details left to be worked out.

Officials in Switzerland said on Friday morning that the next stage of peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, focused on issues including Iran’s nuclear program and meant to begin on the shores of Lake Lucerne, had been postponed.

The announcement did not include any information about when the negotiations might now begin, raising immediate questions about the memorandum of understanding that President Trump and Iran’s president had signed earlier this week. That agreement left crucial terms unsettled and called for an immediate 60-day negotiating window to hash them out.

Vice President JD Vance had been scheduled to fly to Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, about an hour outside of Zurich, for a meeting on Friday that was originally meant to be a signing ceremony. He abruptly canceled his trip late Thursday night, in Washington. » | Jim Tankersley | Reporting from Zurich | Friday, June 19, 2026

Almost 55% Oppose Proposal to Limit Swiss Population to 10 Million | DW News

June 14, 2026 | After an intense campaign, Swiss voters have rejected a proposal by the right-wing Swiss People's Party to cap the country's population at 10 million. Critics said the measure threatened economic growth and relations with the EU, while supporters argued migration levels were putting pressure on housing and resources.

Should Switzerland Cap Its Population at 10 Million? Voters Will Decide.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: One of the world’s richest countries is about to hold a referendum on a measure that would curb migration and most likely the economy. It is being sold in warm tones.

This screenshot is from this NYT article. | Campaign posters ahead of the population cap vote. President Trump’s face is on a no poster, with the slogan, “Now, of all times, a break with Europe?” The yes slogan shown is “Protect Switzerland.” | Sebastien Bozon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
For 50 years, Walter Nef has carved toys and cheese boards from maple trees that grow near his quiet village outside Zurich, which seems louder to him by the day. There are more cars, more construction cranes, more people, and not just in this valley. Switzerland, Mr. Nef says, seems just about full.

That is why Mr. Nef says he supports a nationwide initiative, in an election this Sunday, to cap the resident population at 10 million. The measure aims to drastically reduce immigration as the country approaches that level, which it could reach in the next decade. But Mr. Nef, like many supporters, describes the measure less in terms of migrants than in terms of infrastructure, ecology and density.

“It is simply not good when an organism grows so fast,” Mr. Nef, 79, told me at his workshop this week.

The election on Sunday is a product of Switzerland’s form of direct democracy, which allows groups that can gather 100,000 signatures to send major policy questions to voters with relative ease, in a way that echoes states like California. Polls suggest a tight contest that could go either way.

It is the latest chapter in Europe’s backlash against migration, which has helped right-wing parties surge across the continent, including in Switzerland, a country with four official languages that has been shaped by migrants for nearly two and a half centuries.

But this chapter comes with several twists, starting with its sales pitch.

The measure was put to voters by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, which has sent other anti-migration measures to the ballot in the past, including a successful effort to ban the construction of mosque minarets. This time, it has spent much of the campaign appealing to centrist voters’ concerns about traffic jams, crowded trains and high housing costs. It calls the measure a “sustainability initiative.” » | Jim Tankersley | Reporting from Zurich, Bern, Basel and Bauma, Switzerland | Saturday, June 13, 2026

How Capping Its Population at 10 Million Could Reshape Switzerland »

Swiss wait to hear result of ballot on capping population at 10 million: The far-right proposal would require the government to put restrictions in place to limit the population by 2050 »

LESEN SIE AUCH:

Macht die Schweiz den Deckel zu?: Die Abstimmung über eine Obergrenze der Bevölkerung von zehn Millionen lässt die Schweizer Wirtschaft zittern. Sie ist auf Arbeitskräfte aus dem Ausland angewiesen und fürchtet um den Zugang zum europäischen Binnenmarkt. » [€]

À LIRE AUSSI :

« Pas de Suisse à 10 millions d’habitants » : avant le référendum sur l’immigration, que disent les sondages ? : Attachés à la démocratie directe, les Suisses sont appelés aux urnes pour se prononcer sur une initiative visant à limiter l’expansion de la population. La démographie helvète a été bouleversée par l’immigration depuis 2002. »

Switzerland in Summer

Visit Switzerland in summer! Put it on your bucket list! It’s the only paradise we can be sure ever of visiting! 😊

Crans-Montana Fire Bereaved Ask for Murder Charges against Bar Owners

THE GUARDIAN: Lawyers ask prosecutors to upgrade charges from manslaughter in light of text messages discussing fire risk

Lawyers for victims of the deadly New Year’s Eve fire in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana have formally asked prosecutors to upgrade the charges against the bar’s owners after text messages emerged discussing the danger.

Forty-one people were killed and 115 injured in the blaze at Le Constellation bar, which investigators believe started in the basement when sparklers attached to champagne bottles were held too close to sound-insulating foam on the ceiling.

The bar’s owners, Jessica and Jacques Moretti, face charges including manslaughter by negligence and arson by negligence over the blaze. Another 12 suspects, including several current and former local officials, are under criminal investigation.

Lawyers for some of the victims, most of whom were teenagers, told the Swiss public broadcaster RTS on Wednesday they had asked investigators to upgrade the charges against the Morettis from manslaughter by negligence to murder with possible intent. » | Jon Henley | Europe correspondent | Thursday, June 11, 2026

Four Stabbed ‘by Man Shouting Allahu Akbar’ at Swiss Station

THE TELEGRAPH: 31-year-old arrested after three people taken to hospital in Winterthur, near Zurich

Several people have been stabbed by a man wielding a knife at a Swiss railway station.

Police arrested the suspected attacker, a 31-year-old Swiss national, outside the station in Winterthur, about 12 miles from Zurich.

At least four people were stabbed by the man. Witnesses said he was shouting “Allahu Akbar”, according to local reports.

Three people were taken to hospital, one with serious injuries and two with moderate injuries. One man waiting for a train was stabbed in the thigh, the Swiss SRF news agency reported. » | Robert White | Thursday, May 28, 2026

The Lure of St. Moritz - From Sleepy Mountain Village to Luxury Resort | DW Documentary

May 9, 2026 | St. Moritz is the birthplace of alpine winter tourism, as well of many winter sports. The village, with its magnificent location in the Swiss Engadin mountains, was already attracting celebrities in the last century.

St. Moritz is one of the most exclusive winter sports resorts in the world, with a burnished history. Located in the picturesque Swiss Engadin mountains, the village attracted many celebrities in the last century: including Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, Gunter Sachs, Andy Warhol and Herbert von Karajan. Coco Chanel sought refuge here, during the war. Alfred Hitchcock was inspired to write his first classic in one of St. Moritz’s grand hotels, and returned many times over the decades. The Shah of Persia temporarily ruled his empire from a chalet on the Suvretta slope.

Just 150 years ago, St. Moritz was still a simple mountain village. Then, adventurous Englishmen arrived, invented new winter sports and laid the foundation for the town's fame.

Five-star hotels sprang up in the village of 5,000 inhabitants, which suddenly became a winter hotspot for the rich and famous.

Numerous winter sports originated here, some of which are unique to this location: in Cresta, participants race headfirst down into the valley on low sleds - on the longest natural ice track in the world. The Cresta Club, founded over 100 years ago by Englishmen, is still one of the most exclusive clubs in the world.

In skijoring, skiers are pulled across the frozen Lake St. Moritz by horses. Winter sports, tradition and sophisticated lifestyle, luxury and cosmopolitanism characterize the history of St. Moritz.

Switzerland’s New Deal with the EU Explained

March 21, 2026

Sarah Ferguson Checked into Mental Health Clinic after Epstein Emails Surfaced

THE TELEGRAPH: Ex-wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stayed at £13,000-a-day wellness centre in Zurich, say reports

Sarah Ferguson checked into one of the world’s most expensive wellness clinics after the Epstein scandal broke, it has been reported. Ms Ferguson, the former wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is understood to have booked a stay at the £13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland.

She was last seen in public on Dec 12, after the christening of her granddaughter Athena at St James’s Palace in London. Reports of her stay at a clinic follow the arrest of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor in Norfolk on his 66th birthday.

A Swiss source told the Daily Mail: “Sarah left for Zurich just after Christmas, and stayed until the end of January. She always feels at home at Paracelsus, and knows she’ll get love and attention there, as well as expert health treatment when she’s feeling at her most vulnerable.”

Another said she was “absolutely crushed” when email exchanges between her and Jeffrey Epstein were made public, adding: “Sarah has built up a strong relationship with Paracelsus, so it was the obvious place for her to get away from everything.” » | Liz Perkins | Saturday, February 21, 2026

Switzerland to Vote on Capping Population at 10 Million

THE NEW YORK TIMES: After a campaign by a right-wing opposition party, the government will hold a referendum in June that would require measures to limit immigration.

Switzerland will hold a referendum in June on whether to cap its population at 10 million until 2050 by limiting immigration, sharply illustrating how anti-foreigner sentiment in Europe has hardened since the continent’s migration crisis a decade ago.

If successful, the vote on June 14 would oblige the government to take measures over the next quarter-century to limit immigration to Switzerland, where the population currently stands at roughly 9 million.

Supporters of the initiative say those measures should include making it harder for foreigners to gain permanent residency, once the population passes 9.5 million, and revising the country’s agreement with the European Union that allows for free movement between Switzerland and the rest of the continent. (Switzerland is not part of the E.U.)

Both the government and Parliament voted to oppose the initiative but the referendum has been triggered automatically because more than 100,000 citizens have signed a petition in support of a vote. » | Tatiana Firsova | Reporting from Berlin | Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Owner of Swiss Bar Detained in Fire Investigation

January 9, 2026 | Prosecutors in Switzerland ordered Jacques Moretti to be detained after investigators questioned him and his wife, Jessica Moretti. Officials are looking into whether negligence played a role in last week’s deadly fire at their bar, Le Constellation.
Watch the NYT video here. | By Meg Felling

Managers of Swiss Bar Are Suspected of Negligence in Deadly Fire, Police Say

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Swiss authorities say the fire was probably sparked by small fireworks on champagne bottles that ignited foam insulation on the bar’s basement ceiling.

The two managers of a bar in the Swiss Alps where at least 40 people died in a sudden fire this week have been placed under criminal investigation because of allegations of negligence, Swiss police said on Saturday[.]

The investigation was opened on Friday night over suspicions of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and causing a fire by negligence, according to a statement from the police in the Valais canton, the area of Switzerland where the bar is located.

The police statement did not detail what evidence had led to the criminal investigation, nor did it name the managers of the bar, an establishment called Le Constellation in the center of Crans-Montana, a popular ski resort town in southern Switzerland.

Public business records identify the owners of the bar as a French couple, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who opened it in 2015. As of Saturday, the Morettis had not responded to earlier requests for comment from The New York Times. In brief interviews with the Swiss media this week, they said they were fully cooperating with investigators and denied any wrongdoing. » | Aurelien Breeden | Reporting from Crans-Montana, Switzerland | Saturday, January 3, 2026

Swiss Ski Resort Fire: Champagne Sparklers Likely Caused Deadly Tragedy, Officials Say

Jan 2, 2026 | Sparklers on champagne bottles that came too close to the ceiling likely caused the Swiss ski resort bar fire that killed at least 40 people during a New Year’s party, officials said today. This appeared to lead to a flashover, in which everything in a room ignites almost simultaneously. Swiss prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible criminal responsibility