Happy Friday, everyone! Here’s your weekly news roundup from Swissinfo.
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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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Want a longer life that still feels like yours?

In the latest episode of our podcast The Swiss Connection, we sit down with psychologist Christina Röcke of the University of Zurich’s Healthy Longevity Center to unpack what actually fuels healthy aging and what’s just marketing noise.

Search for The Swiss Connection wherever you get your podcasts!

And if you enjoy it, please leave us a five-star review – it helps others discover the podcast.

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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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Want a longer life that still feels like yours? We sit down with psychologist Christina Röcke (https://www.hlc.uzh.ch/de/people/directors/croecke.html) of the University of Zurich’s Healthy Longevity Center to unpack what actually fuels healthy aging—and what’s just marketing noise. From blue-zone myths to AI-driven biohacking, we trace why the longevity boom exploded and where the evidence really points: consistent movement, quality relationships, realistic stress strategies, and communities that make healthy choices simple.

Join Swissinfo for a debate on this topic (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/healthcare-innovation/living-longer-what-do-you-think-about-the-longevity-trend/89097497) or read more of

Yesterday, Swiss citizens delivered a clear message at the polls and overwhelmingly rejected both national initiatives on the ballot.⁠
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🇨🇭 84.1% voted against introducing civic duty for all citizens.⁠
🇨🇭 78.3% voted against a new tax on large inheritances.⁠
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Voter turnout reached 43%, and every canton firmly opposed both proposals.⁠ We gathered reactions from both supporters and opponents of the proposal and asked how the clear result should be interpreted.
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👉 Find the details here: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-democracy/inheritance-tax-civic-duty-initiatives-headed-for-defeat-as-swiss-cast-ballots/90522356
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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

Swiss voters have overwhelmingly rejected both a proposal for a new tax on big inheritances and a call for all citizens to perform civic duty. 💰️🪖⁠
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Here’s what you need to know about the results of Sunday’s votes. 🗳️⁠

Visit Swissinfo for all the details.
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#ServiceCitoyen #Erbschaftssteue #AbstimmungSchweiz #ImpôtSurLesSuccessions #VotationSuisse #ServizioCivico #TassaDiSuccessione #VotazioneSvizzera #SwissVote #InheritanceTax #CivicDuty #Switzerland #Swiss⁠

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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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COP30 has ended without a firm commitment to phase out fossil fuels. Inside Geneva talks to some campaigners who remain surprisingly optimistic.

“I’m actually quite hopeful, and I think that the answer is probably coming from the countries and the communities that have the most to lose,” says Candy Ofime, from the Climate Justice Team at Amnesty International.

Indigenous peoples made their voices heard at COP30.

They have deep knowledge of land use and forest preservation, which can help us tackle global warming.

“The answer is us and that was part of the campaign that we had as indigenous peoples. [We said] ‘pay attention to the world.’ Basically the solution that many of us are looking for has

Because of an unusually strong solar storm, Northern Lights were visible in Switzerland.

A recent study showed the Swiss locations were sperm quality is the lowest.

Students at the University of Basel have voted in favour of exclusively vegan catering on campus.

Here are three stories from Switzerland this week.

Visit Swissinfo for 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:

Website: http://www.swissinfo.ch
Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos
Subscribe:

How do journalists report on the war in Gaza when they’re denied access?

In this episode of Inside Geneva, host Imogen Foulkes speaks with experts and reporters about press freedom, the risks faced by Palestinian journalists, and why foreign media have been shut out.

Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts to discover what this means for truth, accountability and the future of war reporting.
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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 new episode of our science podcast, The Swiss Connection, is out now! 🎙️

We explore how sex and gender influence drug development: from male-heavy mouse studies to the contrasting results in Lecanemab’s Alzheimer’s trial. Leading experts reveal why regulators should keep approvals moving while demanding smarter trial design, better reporting, and answers after approval.

Search for The Swiss Connection wherever you get your podcasts.

#SciencePodcast #DrugDevelopment #AlzheimersResearch #GenderInScience #MedicalInnovation #ClinicalTrials #HealthPodcast #PharmaNews #ScienceMatters #PodcastRecommendation #GenderMedicine #Swiss #Switzerland
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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

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How do journalists report on war when they’re denied access?

“For the first time I think since the Second World War, Israel has not allowed foreign journalists to come into Gaza. This is unprecedented,” says Israeli journalist Meron Rapoport.

Palestinian journalists, who live in Gaza, have paid a terrible price for their reporting.

“Gaza has been a horror story. The Committee to Protect Journalists estimates that around 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed in the past two years,” says Nick Cumming-Bruce, contributor for the New York Times.

Many appear to have been deliberately targeted.

Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion, says: “I’ve been told by

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.
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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.

Alzheimer’s disease is more than age-related memory loss—it’s a serious brain disorder. ⁠
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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. ⁠
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With billions invested and global regulatory decisions diverging, what do these treatments mean for patients and healthcare systems? ⁠
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Tune in now, wherever you get your podcasts.
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#AlzheimersAwareness #DementiaSupport #BrainHealth #AlzheimersResearch #MemoryCare #AlzheimersDisease #CaregiverSupport #MentalHealthMatters #Neuroscience #SciencePodcast #HealthPodcast #PodcastRecommendations #MedicalNews #PodcastLife #NewPodcastAlert #SwissScience #Switzerland #Swiss—

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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

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.
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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 new season of our Swiss Connection podcast is now live! 🎙️ ⁠
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Today’s episode is all about longevity and the booming market for anti-ageing treatments. ⁠
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The search for the elixir of life has been going on since time immemorial – and Switzerland has played a key role. Although scientists have yet to come up with a winning formula, the Alpine nation has a booming market for treatments, pills and gadgets that claim to slow ageing and help us live healthier, longer lives.⁠
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Listen to the full episode 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

After September’s vote on the electronic ID, many of you asked: “Why do the Swiss keep voting on the same issues?” 🗳️⁠
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Watch this video to find out!⁠
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And visit Swissinfo to learn more about how Swiss direct democracy works.⁠
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#SwissDemocracy #VoteSwitzerland #SwissPolitics #DirectDemocracy #SwissReferendum #SwitzerlandVotes #DemocracyInAction #SwissCitizens #Switzerland
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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.

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/915097/open_sms)

This week on Inside Geneva, we take the pulse of the United Nations as it turns 80.

“Someone celebrating their 80th birthday cannot be expected to be in tip-top shape. The UN is an old lady,” says Corinne Momal-Vanian, executive director at the Kofi Annan Foundation.

Some world leaders don’t have much time for the UN.

“All I got from the UN was an escalator that stopped halfway on the way up and a teleprompter that didn’t work,” said US President Donald Trump.

Others think it needs an injection of fresh ideas.

“We have to reimagine the UN, and reimagine multilateralism, from the point of confidence. And this confidence only comes once we account for the lived realities of people from the Global

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

The search for the elixir of life has been going on since time immemorial – and Switzerland has played a key role. Although scientists have yet to come up with a winning formula, the Alpine nation has a booming market for treatments, pills and gadgets that claim to slow ageing and help us live healthier, longer lives.

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 Switzerland (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/topic/science/) .

Jounalist: Jessica Davis Plüss

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

Should Inheritance Be Taxed to Fight Climate Change? 💰🌍
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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.⁠
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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.⁠
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But critics, including the Swiss federal government, warn it could push entrepreneurs and capital abroad, risking a loss in jobs and tax revenue.⁠
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What are your thoughts?
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#InheritanceTax #ClimateJustice #SwissPolitics #TaxTheRich #GreenTransition #Sustainability #SwissNews #ClimateAction #WealthTax #DirectDemocracy #EconomicPolicy

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On our Inside Geneva podcast this week, we ask: are other countries following Russia’s lead in cracking down on freedom of expression?

“I feel as though I’m monitoring a repression handbook used by the Russian government against its own civil society and, unfortunately, this handbook has been copied by other leaders in some democratic countries,” says Mariana Katzarova, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia.

Russian journalists warn us not to take our freedoms for granted.

“It’s been more than a year since I was released from prison. Every morning I open my eyes and I’m so thankful. I know ‘democracy’ and ‘press freedom’ can sound vague to people living ordinary lives but when it comes

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.⁠
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How do Japanese teenagers view nuclear weapons possession? ⁠
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Head over to Swissinfo to find out.
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#Hiroshima #Nagasaki #NuclearWeapons #NuclearDisarmament #History⁠
#JapaneseHistory #Japan #Peace #Switzerland #Swiss

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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.

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.
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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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Switzerland’s Weirdest Votes 🇨🇭

Switzerland holds more referendums than any other country in the world and some of them are truly unique.

Over the years, Swiss citizens have voted on everything from marriage laws that once restricted women’s rights, to whether farmers should be allowed to keep their cows’ horns, and even the maximum stake allowed in casinos.

In this video, we take a closer look at some of the most bizarre votes in Swiss history.

On September 28, the Swiss will head to the polls once again to decide on two major issues: the introduction of a digital identity (e-ID) and the abolition of the rental value tax for homeowners

Visit swissinfo to read more about these votes.

#Switzerland #SwissReferendum #SwissPolitics #DirectDemocracy #eID #PropertyTax #SwissNews

When Juliette found out her grandmother’s mother was Swiss, she started building her family tree to find out exactly where the Vosti came from. She then set out on a journey to visit the place where her great-great-grandfather emigrated from: Gerra Verzasca. There she met her 8th cousins Linda and Remo who kindly shared more insight into their common family tree.
Read all about their family reunion: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-abroad/swiss-genealogy-emigration-from-verzasca-to-australia/89853858
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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 United Nations General Assembly has officially opened and the organisation marked its 80th anniversary. Inside Geneva asks whether the body remains relevant. 

“If you’re a refugee in Bangladesh, or seeking protection in South Sudan, the UN may be imperfect but it’s still relevant,” says Richard Gowan from the International Crisis Group.

The UN is bigger than many of us think.

“We do sometimes forget that the UN still has 60,000 peacekeepers deployed around the world and that it continues to run vast humanitarian operations. So the UN isn’t dead, but I think it’s drifting,” he says.

But what about the UN’s original role – resolving conflicts and promoting peace?

“US President Donald Trump said

Fish in the national park are evacuated via helicopter, Swiss voters are in favour of closer ties with the European union and Fedpol issues a recommendation concerning skin colour notification in their database.

Catch up on this week’s top Swiss news stories in under 90 seconds. 🇨🇭 🚁 🐟

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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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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
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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:

Ever heard of Schwingen? 🤼🇨🇭⁠
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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?⁠
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We spoke to three Schwingers from North America about what it means to take part in the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival this weekend.⁠
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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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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.
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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
Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos
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