Swissinfo

Swissinfo

SWI swissinfo.ch – the international service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Since 1999, swissinfo.ch has fulfilled the federal government’s mandate to distribute information about Switzerland internationally, supplementing the online offerings of the radio and television stations of the SBC. Today, the international service is directed above all at an international audience interested in Switzerland, as well as at Swiss citizens living abroad.

Videos by Swissinfo

Disposable income, Zurich’s conversion therapy ban and gold coins stolen from a Swiss museum

Most Swiss households have a disposable income below the national average, Zurich considers a ban on conversion therapies, and has Switzerland just had its own Louvre-style heist? Here are three stories from Switzerland this week.

Visit Swissinfo to read the latest.

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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Big Pharma steps up race for AI-discovered drugs

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

What if the most valuable drug candidates aren’t found but designed on demand? We follow a chemist’s journey from a pencil-and-paper notebook to generative algorithms that propose novel, IP-free molecules tailored to specific targets, and we open the door to how Swiss pharma is rebuilding discovery around AI.

To read more about this topic (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/multinational-companies/big-pharma-steps-up-race-for-ai-discovered-drugs/79014204) and for more science stories (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/research-frontiers/) , visit our website swisinfo.ch (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/health-systems/switzerland-charts-new-course-on-gender-medicine-despite-headwinds/90213951) . You can help other

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Should Switzerland replace compulsory military service with ‘citizen service’?

On November 30, the Swiss will vote on an initiative to reform military service.

The idea is to introduce compulsory civic service for all Swiss nationals residing in the country.

Visit Swissinfo to read more about what’s at stake in the vote.⁠

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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Young Ukrainians seek Swiss protection, road deaths, Chefs lose residency over language test

A rise in young Ukrainian men applying for protection in Switzerland, a spike in road deaths and Michelin-starred Thai chefs expelled over a failed German test. Here are three stories from Switzerland this week.

Visit Swissinfo for more.

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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Swiss investigation finds Israel used misleading 3D images in military videos

Israel introduced a new form of propaganda in its war in Gaza that relied heavily on 3D images combined with real drone footage. ⁠

An international investigation, involving Switzerland’s public broadcaster SRF found that some of the images used to illustrate hospitals and buildings in Gaza – allegedly hiding command centres of the Palestinian militant group Hamas – are intended to look real but key elements were entirely fabricated.⁠

Visit Swissinfo to read more. ⁠

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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Can New Alzheimer’s Drugs Really Make a Difference? Listen to The Swiss Connection Science Podcast

Alzheimer’s disease is more than age-related memory loss—it’s a serious brain disorder. ⁠

In the latest episode of the Swiss Connection Science podcast, Swissinfo healthcare reporter Jessica Davis Pluess explores the science, hope, and controversy surrounding new Alzheimer’s drugs like Leqembi and Kisunla. ⁠

With billions invested and global regulatory decisions diverging, what do these treatments mean for patients and healthcare systems? ⁠

Tune in now, wherever you get your podcasts.

#AlzheimersAwareness #DementiaSupport #BrainHealth #AlzheimersResearch #MemoryCare #AlzheimersDisease #CaregiverSupport #MentalHealthMatters #Neuroscience #SciencePodcast #HealthPodcast #PodcastRecommendations #MedicalNews #PodcastLife #NewPodcastAlert #SwissScience #Switzerland #Swiss—

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Cracking the Alzheimer’s Code

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Alzheimer’s disease is more than age-related memory loss—it’s a serious brain disorder. In this episode of the Swiss Connection Science podcast, Swissinfo healthcare reporter Jessica Davis Pluess explores the science, hope, and controversy surrounding new Alzheimer’s drugs like Leqembi and Kisunla. With billions invested and global regulatory decisions diverging, what do these treatments mean for patients and healthcare systems? 

Visit SWI swissinfo.ch for more on this topic and a video on this story. (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/healthcare-innovation/longevity-clinics-modern-day-snake-oil-or-the-key-to-healthy-ageing/89101132) Please come to SWI swissinfo.ch for more of our science stories from

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All aboard? Let the yodelling begin with ‘Sämi the singing driver’

Bus driver and yodeller Sämi Zumbrunn turns every ride into an unforgettable experience.

Who better to act as ambassador for a Swiss tradition that could soon be on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list? We meet him in the Bernese Oberland.

Visit Swissinfo to read more.

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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Storm Benjamin, Swiss village relocation and festive lights curfew

Storm Benjamin batters Switzerland, Brienz villagers seek permanent relocation and a curfew on Christmas lights sparks debate. Here are three stories from Switzerland this week.

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
Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos
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Swiss vote: taxing the rich to save the planet?

Should Inheritance Be Taxed to Fight Climate Change? 💰🌍

A new initiative in Switzerland proposes a 50% inheritance tax on fortunes over CHF 50million, aiming to fund the country’s green transition and tackle the climate crisis.⁠

Supporters say it’s about climate justice, arguing that the wealthiest individuals, with their larger carbon footprints, should contribute more to sustainable solutions. The tax could generate billions for climate action.⁠

But critics, including the Swiss federal government, warn it could push entrepreneurs and capital abroad, risking a loss in jobs and tax revenue.⁠

What are your thoughts?

#InheritanceTax #ClimateJustice #SwissPolitics #TaxTheRich #GreenTransition #Sustainability #SwissNews #ClimateAction #WealthTax #DirectDemocracy #EconomicPolicy

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Swiss Gaza flotilla activists return, Ukrainian protection status, social media ban for minors

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

Number one: all 19 Swiss members of the Gaza flotilla have returned home this week after being expelled from Israel.

Number two: starting in November, Ukrainian refugees from seven western regions of the country will no longer be eligible for S protection status in Switzerland.

Number three: the head of the Association of School Principals in German-speaking Switzerland says social media should be banned for minors.

Visit Swissinfo for more.


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

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The three most discussed debates this September #switzerland

What were the three topics our users discussed most in September?⁠

✈️ Alleged Russian drones and fighter jets in NATO airspace: do you see Vladimir Putin’s Russia as a threat to Europe?⁠

💸 Swiss health insurance premiums are set to rise again. Should they be based on income?⁠

🗣️ Some German-speaking cantons have decided to delay teaching French until secondary school. Is it important to learn a second national language early?⁠

Join “dialogue”: https://dialogue.swissinfo.ch/en/talk/


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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Locarno Pact Turns 100: What Can Modern Diplomacy Learn? #switzerland #peace

What the Locarno Pact Can Teach Us 100 Years On 🕊️

This week marks 100 years since the signing of the Locarno Pact, which brought a brief moment of peace after the First World War.

Take a look at this video to find out how Locarno became the ‘city of peace’.

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
Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos
Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=swissinfovideos

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Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 Years Later: What Do Japanese Teenagers Think About Nuclear Arms?

Eighty years have passed since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In Japan, the post-war generation now makes up the majority of the population, raising the challenge of how to pass wartime memories on.⁠

How do Japanese teenagers view nuclear weapons possession? ⁠

Head over to Swissinfo to find out.

#Hiroshima #Nagasaki #NuclearWeapons #NuclearDisarmament #History⁠
#JapaneseHistory #Japan #Peace #Switzerland #Swiss

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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Unlocking climate secrets frozen for 1.2 million years #switzerland #climatechange

Swiss scientists are drilling deep into Antarctic ice that is more than 1.2 million years old to reveal how Earth’s climate has changed over time. By analysing ancient air bubbles, the team at the University of Bern is uncovering greenhouse gas levels and glacial cycles from long before human influence.

These discoveries could help us understand natural climate shifts and offer powerful insight into today’s accelerating change and where our planet may be heading next.

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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Is Swiss Neutrality Still a Thing? | Your Questions Answered

Neutrality in Switzerland: still relevant today? 🇨🇭🧀

And what does Swiss cheese have to do with it? Watch this video to find out and head over to SWI swissinfo.ch for more answers to your questions.

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
Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos
Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=swissinfovideos

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How Neutrality Shapes the Swiss Franc | Your Questions Answered

What impact does Swiss neutrality have on the strength of its currency? And where does this unique policy come from? We break it all down in this video.

Got a question about Swiss neutrality? Drop it in the comments!

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
Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos
Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=swissinfovideos

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Juliette finds out where her Grandma really came from!

Juliette’s grandmother grew up a foster child in Australia… and didn’t know she had Swiss ancestry. Her granddaughter Juliette started digging into birth indexes and other public records to find out who her relatives are. She ended up visiting a tiny village in southern Switzerland, where her great-great-grandfather emigrated from, in 1859.
Read their full family history here: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-abroad/swiss-genealogy-emigration-from-verzasca-to-australia/89853858

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 Happens If Switzerland Is Attacked? | Swiss Neutrality Explained

Swiss neutrality isn’t always easy to understand. You sent us your questions, and we’ve answered a selection of them.

Stay tuned for part two.

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
Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos
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Swiss vote on e-ID: will digital identity finally go public? | Swissinfo explains

Is Switzerland ready to go digital with its identity cards? 📱

On September 28, Swiss citizens will vote on the introduction of a state-run digital identity (e-ID).

This is important for the diaspora, as it would give them easier access to government services. Swissinfo explains what is at stake in the vote.

We break down what’s at stake in this crucial referendum. Why was the first version rejected in 2021? What’s changed? And why are some groups still opposed?

Visit SWI swissinfo.ch to read more about the benefits for Swiss citizens abroad, the privacy concerns raised by opponents and what the e-ID could mean for the future of online voting and digital democracy in Switzerland.

swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to

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Indonesians Sue Holcim, Swiss Dies in Lisbon Crash, Abortions to Be Free in Switzerland

Indonesians sue Holcim over climate damage, Swiss woman dies in Lisbon funicular crash and abortions are set to become free in Switzerland.

Catch up on this week’s top Swiss news stories in under 90 seconds. 🌍🚡🧑‍⚕️

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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Schwingen Abroad: What It Means for a Swiss Abroad to Compete at the Swiss Wrestling Festival

Ever heard of Schwingen? 🤼🇨🇭⁠

Schwingen, or Swiss wrestling, is a traditional and much-loved sport in Switzerland. But beyond its borders, it’s a different story. So what does it mean to be a Swiss wrestler abroad?⁠

We spoke to three Schwingers from North America about what it means to take part in the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival this weekend.⁠
⁠—
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
Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos
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Riots in Lausanne, Swiss wrestlers and baby names | 3 stories from 🇨🇭

Violent protests broke out against the police in Lausanne following the death of a teenager on Sunday. In Glarus, Swiss wrestlers are getting ready to compete for the podium at the National wrestling and alpine games festival. The Federal statistical office has revealed which names were the most used for babies born in 2024.

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
Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos
Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=swissinfovideos

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Swiss-Canadian Wrestler Keeps Schwingen Alive in Quebec 🤼🇨🇭🇨🇦

🇨🇭 Meet Thomas Badat, a Swiss-Canadian wrestler who’s travelled from Quebec to compete at the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival—the biggest event in traditional Swiss sport, Schwingen. 🤼‍♂️

Thomas started Schwingen at just five years old, but in Canada, the sport is barely known and hard to practise. With only one club serving a vast region, keeping the tradition alive isn’t easy.

So what’s it like being a Swiss Abroad Schwinger? Thomas shares his story, challenges and pride in staying connected to his roots.

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

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Hiroshima Survivor Speaks Out: A Lifelong Voice for Peace

80 years after the atomic bomb, a leading advocate shares her testimony — from surviving unimaginable horror to speaking at the UN for a world free of nuclear weapons.

On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Three days later, a second bomb fell on Nagasaki. The bombings forced Japan’s surrender, ending World War II, but at a devastating cost: an estimated 210,000 lives.

Michiko Kodama was seven years old and inside a school building on the outskirts of the Hiroshima city, some 4 km from the hypocentre when the bomb exploded.

Kodama survived the explosion and its aftermath, becoming one of the last hibakusha – the Japanese term for atomic bomb survivors. Today, the number of hibakusha still alive has fallen below 100,000, with an average age of over

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Grande Dixence Dam: Europe’s Tallest Hydropower Marvel Turns 75 | #switzerland #engineering

Discover the Grande Dixence, the tallest gravity dam in Europe and a symbol of Swiss engineering excellence. 🇨🇭

At 75 years old, this hydropower giant in the heart of the Swiss Alps remains a cornerstone of Switzerland’s renewable energy strategy.

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
Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos
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Why Is Switzerland Sitting Out The Race To Attract US Scientists? | #US #switzerland #science

Why Switzerland isn’t competing for America’s scientists

As the United States slashes funding for scientific research and places increasing pressure on universities, many top researchers are seeking opportunities abroad. While much of Europe is actively welcoming this talent with open arms, Switzerland is taking a different approach – choosing not to join the race to attract them.

Visit Swissinfo to read more about why Switzerland is standing apart, and what this means for the future of global science and innovation.

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

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How semiconductors are made: inside the chip manufacturing process | #switzerland #semiconductor

Making semiconductor chips for computers, machinery, transport and many other devices is a costly, time-consuming process.

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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Why Are So Many People Leaving Switzerland? | #switzerland #migration

The high immigration figures for Switzerland make it easy to forget that not everyone who arrives is going to stay.

In fact, the Alpine country has a comparatively high ratio of emigrants to immigrants.

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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Switzerland hit by highest US tariffs in Europe, hereditary citizenship and anti-slavery statue

How did Switzerland go from trying to negotiate a 10% tariff deal with the US to ending up with the highest tariffs in Europe? Why was an Austrian denied “hereditary citizenship”? And who stole an anti-slavery statue?

Here are three stories from Switzerland this week.

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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