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Inside Geneva joins aid workers staying in Ukraine this December. 

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) supports tens of thousands of people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed.

Marcel van Maastrigt, UNHCR, Odessa: ‘At two in the afternoon you might have an air alert, and at three in the afternoon people in shops and restaurants are putting up Christmas decorations, because they want to continue their life. I think it’s understandable.’

MSF (Doctors without Borders) works in hospitals on the front line.

Robin Meldrum, MSF, Ukraine: ‘Today I had electricity in my flat a few hours in the afternoon when I was at work, not here at home. The electricity is going to be off until about 11:00 until 2:00 in

“I’m not the story of persecution. The story is the Russian people,” says Mariana Katzarova, the first United Nations Special Rapporteur on Russia.

We joined Katzarova on her journey from Geneva to Brussels as she met UN and EU stakeholders and collected testimonies from Ukrainian and Russian survivors of torture.

Watch our closeUp mini-documentary for a rare insight into one of the UN’s toughest jobs.

#humanrights #freedom #justice #socialjustice #activism #torture #Russia #Putin #politicalrepression #Ukraine #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

“I’m not the story of persecution. The story is the Russian people.” A new episode of Swissinfo’s mini-documentary series follows Mariana Katzarova, the first United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Russia, as she exposes the reality of torture, political repression and arbitrary detention in today’s Russia.

The film follows Katzarova from UN Human Rights Council sessions, meetings at the European parliament in Brussels where she gathers testimonies from Ukrainian and Russian survivors of torture. It offers a rare insight into how international accountability mechanisms work.

#MarianaKatzarova #Russia #HumanRights #UN #Ukraine #Torture #PoliticalPrisoners #SWIswissinfo #closeUp #Chechnya #WarCrimes #UkrainianPOWs #SpecialRapporteur #HumanRightsDocumentary

Directed by Elena

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Lost cells on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/ep-1-the-promise/id1792185750?i=1000693315401) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/37nPXV4q2p0BSiKyOeejIv) and any where (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2424338/episodes/16475379-ep-1-the-promise) you listen to your podcasts. 

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

The catastrophic collapse of the Birch Glacier that wiped out the Swiss mountain village of Blatten in May has triggered an unprecedented scientific effort to understand how a mountainside could break up so violently – and what might come next.
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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 Inside Geneva this week: what does international law mean to you?

“When your government is not there to uphold your rights, it’s that safety net – to think that there’s something else out there, other sets of rules that can help right wrongs and bring about some form of justice as well,” says Kasmira Jefford, editor at Geneva Solutions. 

The Geneva conventions, bans on torture and landmines: global rules that should protect us. And international courts to ensure accountability.

“I think there’s a different expectation, a different hope for international law today. We now have many rules that are far more ambitious than they used to be,” says Nico Krisch, professor of International Law at the

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.

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?

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
Channel:

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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. 💰️🪖⁠
⁠
Here’s what you need to know about the results of Sunday’s votes. 🗳️⁠

Visit Swissinfo for all the details.
⁠
#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.
⁠
#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! 🎙️ ⁠
⁠
Today’s episode is all about longevity and the booming market for anti-ageing treatments. ⁠
⁠
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.⁠
⁠
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?” 🗳️⁠
⁠
Watch this video to find out!⁠
⁠
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.

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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

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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.

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? 💰🌍
⁠
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.⁠
⁠
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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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.⁠
⁠
How do Japanese teenagers view nuclear weapons possession? ⁠
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Head over to Swissinfo to find out.
⁠
#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