Switzerland - News and perspectives

Whatever happened to the world’s most expensive drug?

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 Zolgensma came to the market five years ago with a price tag of $2.1 million. What happened to it?

Who decides drug prices and how

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 Switzerland’s pharmaceutical sector supplies drugs worldwide, but not all countries receive them with the same price tag. Here’s why.

Can drugs be priced fairly?

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 As more multi-million-dollar drugs come on the market, there are growing calls for transparency on drug pricing.

Switzerland Today

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 Shining some light on the complicated world of tax reform for the Swiss Abroad in Thailand.

Planned cuts to education and research funding in Switzerland spark concerns

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 Critics fear the quality of Swiss research and competitiveness will suffer if the government’s proposed budget passes.

A speaker's desk in the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, in Strasbourg, France, on October

‘Governments need to address the climate crisis, not the courts’

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 Legislative bodies in Europe should pay close attention to the historic verdict of the ECHR against Switzerland, says an expert.

Guerreiro do Divino Amor poses in front of the "Fountain of Helvetia", part of the installation at the Swiss Pavilion in Venice.

An Alpine carnival: Switzerland stars as a superfiction at the Venice Biennale

This content was published on Apr 20, 2024 The Swiss-Brazilian artist Guerreiro do Divino Amor will represent Switzerland for the 60th edition of the Venice Art Biennale.

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SWI swissinfo.ch offers a selection of Swiss films in English chosen from the Swiss streaming platform Play Suisse.

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Check out our long format stories on topics like the Swiss pharma industry, Switzerland’s struggles with dirty gold, and living in the Alps.

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We’d love to hear what you think about what’s going on in the world. You can find all of our debate questions here.

Swiss franc strengthens amid Middle East tensions

This content was published on Apr 19, 2024 Large overnight gains against the dollar and euro were however partially reversed as markets calmed down somewhat.

Lufthansa suspends flights to Israel amid developing conflict

This content was published on Apr 19, 2024 Four flights have been affected thus far, as the situation between Israel and Iran continues to escalate.

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Switzerland abstains from vote to grant Palestine full UN membership

This content was published on Apr 19, 2024 Switzerland did not vote to grant Palestine full UN membership. The resolution ended up being blocked by a veto during the vote.

SWISS resumes flights to Tel Aviv

This content was published on Apr 16, 2024 Following a thorough analysis of the situation, it has been concluded that safe operations can be ensured, the airline said on Tuesday.

US and Iran had contact ‘through Swiss intermediaries’ ahead of attack

This content was published on Apr 15, 2024 The US had contact with Iran through Swiss intermediaries both before and after Tehran’s mass drone and missile attack on Israeli territory, a senior Biden administration official said.

Swiss authorities condemn Iranian attack on Israel

This content was published on Apr 14, 2024 Switzerland has condemned Iran’s night-time attack on Israel in no uncertain terms and called on all sides to show restraint and prudence.

SWISS flights to skirt Iranian airspace

This content was published on Apr 13, 2024 The airline has decided to temporarily avoid flying through Iranian airspace due to escalating tensions in the region.

Protesters in the Swiss capital city, Bern.

Swiss demonstrators demand Middle East peace

This content was published on Apr 7, 2024 Middle East peace demonstration draws 1,000 people to Swiss capital, Bern.

‘In Gaza, humanitarian workers are not heroes, but victims’

This content was published on Apr 5, 2024 Just back from Gaza, emergency coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières, Marie-Aure Perreaut Revial, condemns systematic attacks on humanitarian workers.

Israeli air strikes hit Deir Al Balah in Gaza.

Swiss foreign ministry warns of deterioration in Middle East

This content was published on Apr 5, 2024 In light of recent developments in the Israel-Hamas war, the Swiss foreign ministry has warned of the possibility of deterioration.

SWISS pilots concerned over safety of Israel flights

This content was published on Apr 4, 2024 Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) pilots and flight attendants are increasingly cancelling their flights to Israel due to safety concerns.

Eyewitness in a Gaza hospital and defending human rights defenders

This content was published on Apr 2, 2024 In Inside Geneva this week we get an eyewitness account of a mission to supply Gaza’s hospitals.

UNRWA head calls on Switzerland to resume financial support

This content was published on Mar 26, 2024 Some countries have resumed UNRWA funding, but Switzerland is awaiting clarification of allegations.

Israeli soldiers outside an UNRWA building in Gaza.

UNRWA chief denounces mistreatment and torture by Israel

This content was published on Mar 24, 2024 The head of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) has repeated his accusations of mistreatment by Israel against staff of the UN agency who have been arrested in Gaza.

Director of Swiss development agency denied access to Gaza Strip

This content was published on Mar 22, 2024 Patrizia Danzi is among various European diplomats who have been denied access to the war-torn enclave.

June 9 votes in Switzerland: how can healthcare costs be reined in?

On June 9, Swiss voters will decide on two initiatives aimed at capping the cost of healthcare in the country. Have your say on the issue here.

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Apr 19, 2024

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Who decides drug prices and how

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 Switzerland’s pharmaceutical sector supplies drugs worldwide, but not all countries receive them with the same price tag. Here’s why.

woman in black shirt pointing at camera with blue background and emojis

How you view the problem of low birth rates in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 Why do you think the Swiss birthrate has fallen so low. What impact will this have?

An Alpine carnival: Switzerland stars as a superfiction at the Venice Biennale

This content was published on Apr 20, 2024 The Swiss-Brazilian artist Guerreiro do Divino Amor will represent Switzerland for the 60th edition of the Venice Art Biennale.

Switzerland’s long-standing love of cartography

This content was published on Apr 17, 2024 Long world-renowned, Swiss maps have in recent years managed to reach a wider public.

Moon robots learn to walk – in Zurich

This content was published on Apr 13, 2024 Scientists in Switzerland are developing robots that will one day explore the Moon or Mars.

a customs officer looking through luggage

Drug-busting with customs officers at Zurich airport

This content was published on Apr 12, 2024 Watch: Gino the sniffer dog helps in the search for cocaine smuggled into Switzerland via Zurich airport.

Flexible retirement could help plug labour gaps in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 3, 2024 At a stretch, people of retirement age could be persuaded to stay at work longer.

Former CERN director Herwig Schopper – a centenarian on the impact of physics

This content was published on Mar 22, 2024 The German physicist and former director of CERN looks back at some of the highlights and encounters of his career.

Tandem jumps are even more dangerous than BASE jumping.

Should tandem BASE jumping be banned in the Swiss Alps?

This content was published on Mar 19, 2024 A new type of extreme sport is making people see red in the Alpine town of Lauterbrunnen: tandem BASE jumping.

How we work: comment moderation

This content was published on Mar 13, 2024 Are comments on SWI swissinfo.ch censored? How do we moderate your contributions? In this video we make our moderation transparent.

‘Yes’ to more state pension in Switzerland

This content was published on Mar 3, 2024 Watch the reaction to Sunday’s vote on raising Swiss state pensions.

A man looking at a vegan cheese wheel on a table.

Redefining what Swiss cheese can be

This content was published on Feb 29, 2024 New Roots has managed to grow from a market stall to a 4,000m2 factory in a span of eight years.

How we work: sources

This content was published on Feb 28, 2024 How does SWI swissinfo.ch track down and vet sources? Find out in the latest installment of our “how we work” series.

Swiss research uses VR to reduce pre-surgery anxiety

This content was published on Feb 25, 2024 The use of virtual reality (VR) in medicine is becoming increasingly popular. For example, to reduce preoperative anxiety.

A call for safer ski slopes in Switzerland

This content was published on Feb 22, 2024 Ski accidents are more serious and more expensive to treat.

External Content

Each day, SWI swissinfo.ch selects and presents content from our European public service media partners as part of a project of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Reuters International

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 08:51

Report: Staffer of Germany’s AfD arrested over China espionage suspicions

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 08:37

Russian drone attack injures nine in Ukraine’s Odesa, officials say

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 08:34

UK parliament passes Rwanda asylum law as Sunak vows flights will start in weeks

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 08:15

Russia warns Europe: if you take our assets, we have a response that will hurt

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 08:13

Iran’s Israel strike coincided with crackdown on dissent at home, activists say

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 08:09

UK public borrowing 11.9 billion pounds in March

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 07:53

Musk decries Australian court ‘censorship’ of X terror posts

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 07:44

US to take aim at Chinese banks aiding Russia war effort, WSJ reports

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 07:12

South Korea, Romania pledge defence cooperation amid reports of contract in works

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 07:07

Iran’s foreign minister calls EU sanctions ‘regrettable’

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 07:05

Ukraine launches military charm offensive as conscription flags

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 05:44

Exclusive-China acquired recently banned Nvidia chips in Super Micro, Dell servers, tenders show

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 01:21

Heads of anti-government bloc say they were delayed, harassed on return to Moldova

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 00:54

Ukraine says it controls village that Russia said it had captured

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 00:37

Papua New Guinea leader responds to Biden comment, saying nation undeserving of cannibalism label

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 00:25

EU ministers stop short of Patriot pledges for Ukraine

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 00:05

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy expresses gratitude to Biden, says deal on ATACMS in place

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 00:02

Soccer-Independent Regulator a big risk, warns Premier League chief Masters

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 – 23:34

Russian air strike took out TV tower in Ukraine’s Kharkiv, Zelenskiy says

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 – 23:33

UK’s Sunak to announce uplift in military support for Ukraine

Bloomberg Business

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 08:09

Europe Stock Futures Gain on Earnings, Gold Drops: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 07:43

Novartis Raises Forecast as Sales of New Blockbusters Climb

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 – 07:27

UBS Dials Back China Fund Plans on High Costs, Grim Outlook

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 – 22:18

Stocks Climb as US Earnings Kick Into High Gear: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 – 11:43

Swiss Banks Face $440 Million Hit on Higher SNB Reserve Rule

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 – 09:28

Rare Rolex Fetches Record $3.5 Million at Monaco Auction

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 – 07:37

Barclays, BNP, Deutsche Bank Earnings Hinge on Trading, Rates

This content was published on Apr 21, 2024 – 14:42

Fed’s Preferred Inflation Gauge Is Set to Back Rate-Cut Patience

This content was published on Apr 20, 2024 – 20:09

Europe Needs Reforms to Boost Productivity, SNB’s Jordan Says

This content was published on Apr 19, 2024 – 23:12

‘Mag Seven’ Get Crushed Before Next Week’s Results: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Apr 19, 2024 – 13:57

Slovakia Ventures Beyond Euro Bonds for First Time in Decade

This content was published on Apr 19, 2024 – 11:55

SoftwareOne Shares Rise After Board Ouster Spurs Bid Speculation

This content was published on Apr 19, 2024 – 05:23

It’s Taken 100 Scientists Two Years to Rename Airborne Viruses After Covid Mistakes

This content was published on Apr 18, 2024 – 23:06

Treasuries Hit as Hawkish Fed Views Keep Piling Up: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Apr 18, 2024 – 19:36

Swiss Chocolatier Invests in Cocoa Farming as Supply Crunch Bites

This content was published on Apr 18, 2024 – 19:23

SNB Acknowledges Market Expectations of Further Rate Cuts

This content was published on Apr 18, 2024 – 10:01

Swiss Watch Exports Plunge as China and Hong Kong Demand Dries Up

This content was published on Apr 17, 2024 – 22:46

S&P 500 Suffers Its Longest Slide Since January: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Apr 17, 2024 – 21:07

UBS Plans Next Round of Layoffs in Credit Suisse Integration

This content was published on Apr 17, 2024 – 20:13

SNB Can Continue to Ignore Climate Risks, Swiss Lawmakers Say

Swiss Abroad: fog clears on tax reform in Thailand

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 The tax reform affecting Swiss living in Thailand since January 1 contained a number of grey areas. It is now clear that pensions will be taxed.

Jia Zhang-ke, Chinese filmmaker and member of the Concorso internazionale Jury, poses during a photocall at the 71st Locarno International Film Festival, Wednesday, August 1, 2018, in Locarno, Switzerland. The Festival del film Locarno runs from 1 to 11 August. (KEYSTONE/Alexandra Wey)

An outsider at home, a master abroad: Jia Zhangke’s struggles to film the real China

This content was published on Apr 21, 2024 The Chinese director was a guest of honour at the Visions du Réel festival. He explained to SWI how he manages to avoid censorship.

Rolex: how the queen of the watch industry keeps its secrets

This content was published on Apr 20, 2024 How did Rolex conquer the world? A new book tells the story of a discreet company, skilful marketing – and a dark chapter.

Switzerland needs energy, but what kind?

This content was published on Apr 19, 2024 With the electricity law Switzerland wants to promote renewable energies. Voters will decide on this on June 9.

Swiss federal votes on June 9: what’s on the agenda?

Two initiatives aimed at stemming healthcare costs will take centre stage when voters go to the polls on June 9.

People dancing at Montreux Jazz Festival.

The Montreux Jazz Festival in numbers

This content was published on Apr 18, 2024 Here’s a look at some eye-catching facts and figures behind the Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland’s biggest annual music festival. The line-up for the July 5-20 event was announced on Thursday.

Zurich Zoo unveiled: animal life as you’ve never seen it

This content was published on Apr 14, 2024 The German film maker Romuald Karmakar premiered in Berlin his three-hour documentary about the inner life of one of the top zoos in the world.

Moon robots learn to walk – in Zurich

This content was published on Apr 13, 2024 Scientists in Switzerland are developing robots that will one day explore the Moon or Mars.

Libby Heaney’s quantum soup served in Basel

This content was published on Apr 6, 2024 Quantum Soup is the first solo exhibition of visual artist and quantum physicist Libby Heaney in Switzerland.

Mikhail Shishkin: ‘It pains me to be a Russian writer’

This content was published on Apr 4, 2024 In an in-depth interview Mikhail Shishkin discusses how he witnessed Switzerland welcome dirty money with open arms and whether Russia and Ukraine will ever be able to reconcile.

Electric dreams: the Swiss origins of the electric guitar

This content was published on Apr 1, 2024 The story of how two people from Basel helped invent the electric guitar.

How Swiss-designed wigs make their way from Bali to the big screen

This content was published on Mar 30, 2024 In Bali, Swiss expat Orlando Bassi makes handmade wigs for Hollywood and Broadway – so successfully that he can afford to pay two butlers.

Record-breaking Switzerland: from the world’s steepest railway to the largest igloo

This content was published on Apr 16, 2024 Some of the most impressive – and surprising – world records held by Swiss engineers, scientists and adventurers.

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