No coffee beans grow in Switzerland. Yet the country is the world’s second-largest exporter of coffee. How is that possible?

Switzerland imports large quantities of green coffee beans and roasts them domestically. This process constitutes a “substantial transformation” of the product. Under international trade law, the coffee can therefore be classified as Swiss.

But the coffee business also has a darker side. Historically, it is closely tied to colonialism. While Switzerland never had colonies of its own, Swiss entrepreneurs were involved in plantations, trade networks and the transport of enslaved people.

Visit Swissinfo to read more.
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swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss

When a pharmaceutical company launches a new drug, they have an exclusive right to produce and sell it for a period of time. This gives them a lot of power to name their price. However, there are limits to this.⁠
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Visit Swissinfo to read more.
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#switzerland #swiss #pharma #drugprices
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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.

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The CERN particle physics research laboratory outside Geneva is pursuing its next chapter. ⚛️⁠
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The lab’s next-generation particle collider, the Future Circular Collider (FCC), has the backing of the scientific community and has passed a feasibility study conducted by 1,500 experts. ⁠
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What is rather less settled is how to pay for it.⁠
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Visit Swissinfo to read more. ⁠
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#switzerland #swiss #cern #geneva #fcc⁠
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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.

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In 2025, a record number of people were accepted into civilian service. The Swiss government and a majority in parliament believe that the high number of admissions to civilian service is problematic. The Swiss parliament wants to make it more difficult to switch from military to civilian service. There was a referendum against this proposal. Now the decision will be put to a vote on June 14.

Read more about the topic: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-politics/swiss-voters-to-decide-on-stricter-rules-for-conscientious-objection/91272953
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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

Helvetistan is an informal name that refers to a group of countries whose voice Switzerland represents at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), two of the world’s main multilateral financial institutions.

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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.

The three news stories from Switzerland you shouldn’t have missed this week:

1. The House of Representatives declared the Swiss persecution of Yenish and Sinti people to be a ‘crime against humanity’.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/various/treatment-of-sinti-and-yenish-is-a-crime-against-humanity/91326089

2. Researchers at the University of Bern will soon be able to test how medicines taken by pregnant women are transmitted to the unborn child, thanks to an artificial placenta made of fresh cells.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/new-treatments/artificial-placenta-clarifies-risks-of-medication-for-pregnant-women/91340839

3. A recent survey showed that a majority of people questioned support the ‘No to 10 million’ immigration initiative launched by the Swiss People’s Party, on which the

The latest weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro have changed the lives of many people with obesity. What will the next generation of obesity drugs look like?
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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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On June 14, Swiss voters will head to the polls to decide on the “No to ten million” initiative, which seeks to cap immigration. What impact would such a restriction have on the country?
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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.

Should the police disclose the nationalities of those arrested, suspect, perpetrators, and victims?
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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.

When spring is just around the corner, winter is driven away in many places around the world. In northwestern Switzerland a special custom is practised: the Eierläset. Eggs take centre stage, but every village celebrates this ancient fertility custom a little differently: from sporty to very boisterous.

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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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What do you think about this week’s stories? Let us know in the comments.
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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.

A 250-metre-long crack on a Valais mountainside has become a stark sign of the Alps’ growing vulnerability to extreme rainfall. The widening crack in the mountain has raised concerns of a potential landslide, and of extreme flooding in a nearby village.⁠
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Read more: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/climate-adaptation/swiss-mountain-crack-grows-after-extreme-rainfall/91194503

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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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Scandals featuring foreign despots hiding assets in Switzerland have prompted some of you to ask if it is true that anyone can place huge sums of money in the country’s financial institutions.⁠
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Visit Swissinfo to read more. ⁠
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#switzerland #swiss #swissbanks #banks #money⁠

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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.

In the latest episode of The Swiss Connection science podcast, we’re digging into the push to create a Swiss FabLab, a shared chip fabrication laboratory that brings public research and private industry together under the Swiss Chip Alliance.

Our host JO Fahy is joined by Swissinfo.ch’s business and tech specialist Matthew Allen to unpack what’s being proposed near Zurich, why it’s still at the conceptual phase, and what it could mean for Switzerland’s semiconductor industry as global investment surges.

Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.

#switzerland #swiss #semiconductors #lab #chips

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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

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In this episode of The Swiss Connection science podcast, we’re digging into the push to create a Swiss FabLab, a shared chip fabrication laboratory that brings public research and private industry together under the Swiss Chip Alliance. Our host Jo Fahy is joined by swissinfo.ch’s business and tech specialist Matthew Allen to unpack what’s being proposed near Zurich, why it’s still at the conceptual phase, and what it could mean for Switzerland’s semiconductor industry as global investment surges.

You can read more about the Swiss semiconductor industry here (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-ai/chip-making-factory-aims-to-boost-swiss-semiconductor-industry/89653363) .  

Journalist: Matthew Allen

After the Swiss parliament cut funding for a Basel to Malmö night train, Swissinfo journalist Kristian Brandt tried a similar route with his daughter. What followed was a day-long journey that shows the pluses, minuses and new opportunities for this alternative to flying.

Visit Swissinfo to read more.
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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.

As global trade rules fray, countries are scrambling to shore up export markets and diversify partners. For highly globalised, export-dependent Switzerland, there could be an added complication: the ballot box.⁠
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Visit Swissinfo to read more about this.
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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.

Popular votes are held not only in democracies such as Switzerland, but also in semi-democratic and authoritarian countries. Can such referendums ever be fair?⁠
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Visit Swissinfo to read the full article. ⁠
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#switzerlandshorts #swiss #referendum #vote #democracy⁠

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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.

Where do people go when the water takes their land? Guided by a three-year ETH Zurich study and first-hand voices, we trace a pattern that defies the headlines: most climate migration is short and local, driven by community ties, scarce resources, and the will to stay near what remains.⁠
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Listen to the full episode to find out more about the climate challenges in Bangladesh.
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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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A bin bag can tell you a lot about a country. We follow the trail of rubbish from Swiss kitchen cupboards and discover why one of Europe’s wealthiest nations still throws away so much edible food. With fresh data, on‑the‑ground auditing, and candid insights from practitioners, we break down the gap between lofty goals and everyday habits, and why households remain the biggest lever for climate impact.

If you would like to see a video and read about the topic of the food waste in Switzerland (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/climate-adaptation/why-the-swiss-waste-more-food-than-they-think/90658815) and read the collection on climate solutions (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/topic/climate-adaptation/) , and more

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What does a good life look like when you cap your energy use at 2,000 watts? We take you inside Zurich’s "Hunziker Areal", a car‑free, cooperative neighbourhood turning a bold climate target into liveable daily routines. From shared workshops and tool libraries to efficient buildings and smart mobility, we unpack how design and community can shrink environmental impact while expanding comfort, connection, and choice.

If you would like to see the a video of the Hunziker Areal (https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/klimaanpassung/wie-sieht-das-leben-im-2000-watt-experiment-aus-einblicke-in-das-hunziker-areal-in-z%C3%BCrich/90383911) and read the collection on climate solutions

We follow the 2,800-meter Antarctic ice core from Little Dome C to a -50°C lab in University of Bern, tracing how scientists extract ancient air to probe the Mid-Pleistocene transition and the limits of abrupt climate change. The story links field grit, laser sublimation, and CO2 records to the risks facing modern societies.

If you would like to see the Antarctic ice in a video and read the collection on this topic, and more stories, please visit Swissinfo Science.
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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:

Website: http://www.swissinfo.ch

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We follow the 2,800-meter Antarctic ice core from Little Dome C to a -50°C lab in University of Bern, tracing how scientists extract ancient air to probe the Mid-Pleistocene transition and the limits of abrupt climate change. The story links field grit, laser sublimation, and CO2 records to the risks facing modern societies.

If you would like to see the Antarctic ice in a video (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/glaciers-permafrost/frozen-clues-how-antarctic-ice-reveals-our-climate-past/90072703) and read the collection on this topic (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/glaciers-permafrost/predicting-the-climate-of-the-future-with-1-2-million-year-old-ice/88702396) , and more stories, please visit Swissinfo Science

Here are three stories from Switzerland you might have missed this week.

Visit Swissinfo to read the latest.
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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.

A reader asked whether Switzerland has particularly strict laws on naming children compared to other countries. The answer: it’s complicated.

Visit Swissinfo to read more.
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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.

Nearly 600 years old…and still playable! 🎶
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Built in the 1430s, the organ in Sion is considered the oldest functioning organ in the world. Thanks to careful preservation and modern protection techniques, it has survived over the centuries and continues to draw visitors from around the globe to canton Valais. ⁠
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Visit Swissinfo to read more about the history of this unique instrument.
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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.

In a special bonus episode of our podcast The Swiss Connection, our host, Jo Fahy, is joined in the studio by pharmaceuticals and healthcare reporter Jessica Davis Pluss.

We trace how Switzerland was uniquely positioned to become a global hub for healthier ageing. We also compare lifespan and health span, examine why access to clinics is so tightly guarded, and discuss why the pharmaceutical industry is moving cautiously in this growing field.

Search for The Swiss Connection wherever you get your podcasts.
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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

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/910414/open_sms)

How did longevity go from a social media trend to a focus of serious science?
In this special bonus episode our host, Jo Fahy, is joined in the studio by pharmaceuticals and healthcare reporter, Jessica Davis Pluss. We trace how Switzerland was uniquely positioned to become a global hub for healthier ageing. We also compare lifespan and health span, examine why access to clinics is so tightly guarded, and discuss why the pharmaceutical industry is moving cautiously in this growing field.

SWI swissinfo.ch (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/) is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.

Here are three stories from Switzerland this week.
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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:

Website: http://www.swissinfo.ch
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Around 40 people are dead and 115 seriously injured after a fire tore through the "Le Constellation" bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana in southern Switzerland on January 1.⁠
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In this video, Laeticia Plass describes how she escaped the blaze.⁠
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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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Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos
Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=swissinfovideos