swissinfo

12/05/2026

Plans for a direct Switzerland–London train link moved a step closer after Swiss Federal Railways signed a memorandum of understanding with France’s SNCF and high-speed operator Eurostar. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/various/possible-direct-train-to-london-overcomes-next-hurdle/91396186?utm_source=multiple&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=news_en&utm_content=o&utm_term=wpblock_highlighted-compact-news-carousel

Swiss Federal Railways has signed a memorandum of understanding with France’s SNCF and high-speed operator Eurostar.

12/05/2026

The misuse of patents by some of the world’s biggest pharma companies to stifle competition is rarely discussed in global drug-pricing debates.

Patent protection is intended to incentivise innovation by granting exclusive rights to inventors to make or sell a medicine for a limited period, typically 20 years. But in the last few decades, some companies have been filing more secondary patents, often long after approval. Some of these patents are real inventive steps that benefit patients but some are only minor modifications that just create roadblocks for cheaper generics.

There are now drugs with hundreds of patents that are delaying the entry of cheaper medicine from getting to patients for several years. There have been some efforts to crack down on patent abuse in the US and Europe but progress has been slow.

Tap the link to learn more: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/drug-pricing/the-drug-pricing-problem-no-one-wants-to-talk-about/91339989

Do you have any questions about drug pricing? Let us know in the comments.

11/05/2026

“Direct democracy is of great interest to us in and of itself,” says Mara Labud of the Centre for Democracy Studies Aarau (ZDA), a research institute in the northern Swiss canton of Aargau. After all, it is “the most direct way for people to decide what rules they want to live by”.

Labud is one of the authors of the 2025 World of Referendums report. The ZDA plans to publish a yearly overview of the global state of direct democracy. While Switzerland features prominently in the report – many of the world’s referendums take place there – the text also highlights how popular votes have been held in other countries.

In Ecuador, for instance, a clear majority voted against United States military bases in the country; in Slovenia, a narrower majority rejected a law on assisted dying; and in the Cayman Islands, a majority of the population voted to decriminalise cannabis use. In Taiwan and Italy in 2025, referendums failed to reach the legal threshold of votes to be valid.

Read more 👉 https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/global-elections/swiss-report-sheds-light-on-state-of-direct-democracy-worldwide/91366238

11/05/2026

Sergio Ermotti says it would take a ‘very profound and painful crisis’ to pressure politicians to take action.

Sergio Ermotti says it would take a ‘very profound and painful crisis’ to pressure politicians to take action.

11/05/2026

Switzerland is the only country in Europe offering psychedelic treatments, but access remains extremely limited for patients. US support for novel treatments means things could change.

Switzerland is the only country in Europe offering treatments with psychedelics, but access remains extremely limited for patients. US support for novel treatments means things could change.

10/05/2026

🚽 When Zurich inventor Hans Maurer unveiled his toilet with an integrated bidet in the 1950s, he was met with rejection, judgement and ridicule. Many considered the idea offensive or absurd, and Maurer struggled with ridicule, technical setbacks and mounting debts.

🚽 But in the early 1960s, his “Closomat” finally found success. Over the next fifteen years, he sold around 10,000 units.

🚽 Nevertheless, the integrated bidet toilet remained a niche product in Switzerland. It was only abroad, where Maurer already had licences, that his idea became more popular – particularly in Japan.

Discover how a ridiculed Swiss invention became a global success in the article 👉 https://swiplus.ch/uhfXBWN

09/05/2026

France and Switzerland have sat down to discuss the organisation of the G7 Summit in Evian next June, following concerns that Switzerland will be shouldering an important chunk of security measures and potential protests planned in Geneva.

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis met his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot to discuss the G7 summit in Evian next June, among other things.

09/05/2026

You’d think most countries would be happy to have France and Italy as neighbours, but this week the Swiss government decided to (temporarily) re-introduce border checks owing to the G7 summit in France next month, and the Swiss president travelled to Rome to try to calm a diplomatic storm following the fatal Crans-Montana fire.

Download the SWIplus app and read our briefing. 👉 https://swiplus.ch/RHZSARh

09/05/2026

Big in Japan: Swiss inventor Hans Maurer had a brilliant idea: why bother with loo paper when you can conveniently clean yourself with a jet of water?

A Swiss invention can be found in almost every house and hotel in Japan.

08/05/2026

The conclusion of a trade agreement between Switzerland and the United States remains the Federal Council's top priority, regardless of Thursday's US court ruling that President Trump's tariffs are illegal.

The conclusion of a trade agreement between Switzerland and the United States remains the Federal Council's top priority, regardless of Thursday's US court ruling that President Trump's tariffs are…

08/05/2026

Most people in Switzerland are considered middle class, yet financial insecurity is common: roughly one in four people in the lower middle class could not meet an unexpected CHF2,500 bill ($3,200), according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Around one in four people in the lower middle class in Switzerland could not meet an unexpected CHF2,500 bill ($3,200), according to a report.