SWI swissinfo.ch

At SWI swissinfo.ch, we believe in trusted and quality journalism. 🗞️ If you’re new here, let us introduce ourselves. We’re the international public service media company of Switzerland, reporting in ten languages on a variety of topics including foreign affairs, climate change, democracy, artificial intelligence, politics, multinational companies, and much more. As part of our public service mandate, we provide independent and in-depth reporting for an international audience interested in Switzerland. We also help Swiss citizens living abroad form their own opinions, enabling them to exercise their political rights during elections and popular votes, and strengthening their ties to their homeland. With conflicts raging around the world, polarisation growing globally, and the ever-present threat of online disinformation, free, fair, and balanced reporting is more important than ever. This is why we place a special focus on democracy: seeing things from a Swiss perspective is key to ensuring that stories and discussions about and from Switzerland can be understood abroad, even in places where press freedom is under threat. Expert analyses of important international events and adapting our stories for our international audience are significant parts of our coverage. SWI swissinfo.ch: your connection to Switzerland. #switzerland #journalism #independentjournalism #reporters #pressfreedom #swiss #swissnews

Could Switzerland be moving towards a driverless future? Or perhaps introducing a digital platform law to tackle disinformation and deepfakes? Or maybe even developing a “Swiss ChatGPT”? 🤖⁠ ⁠ Read our article to see what 2025 has in store for Switzerland in AI and tech.⁠ 👉 https://lnkd.in/dacFDYMv ⁠ #ai #artificialintelligence #machinelearning #chatbot #deeplearning #automation #tech #digitaltransformation #aitechnology Michael Wade Antoine Bosselut Angela Müller Estelle Pannatier

The United States is threatening to choke the supply of artificial intelligence chips to Switzerland just as the more efficient DeepSeek models boost innovation. If the export squeeze goes ahead from May, Switzerland would be restricted to around 16,500 best-of-class AI chips between 2025 and 2027. “Switzerland cannot afford to be compute constrained in the age of explosive AI growth,” says Marcel Salathé, co-director of the AI Center at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). https://lnkd.in/dHcaX5Dv

Swiss medicines regulator Swissmedic has taken legal action against media outlets in Switzerland, arguing that they have engaged in unauthorised advertising for weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Swiss media claim this amounts to censorship. 💊 Last Tuesday, Swiss daily 20 Minuten reported that Swissmedic had ordered three Swiss media groups – Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), Ringier and 20 Minuten – “to, under threat of punishment, delete online articles about Ozempic and Co”. Swiss law on pharmaceutical advertising to the public is strict compared to countries like the US or New Zealand, where advertisements for prescription drugs are allowed on television if benefits and risks are mentioned. Most of Europe has similar laws to Switzerland, banning pharmaceutical advertising to the public. The law is intended to protect people from false or misleading information that could lead to excessive or inappropriate use of products, explains Swissmedic spokesperson Lukas Jaggi. It isn’t always clear-cut though when editorial content constitutes advertising. Sylvia Schüpbach, a Swiss lawyer specialising in pharmaceutical law at the Bern-based law firm PharmaLex, says reporting that “aims to change people’s behaviour to the effect that they want to buy or be prescribed a medicinal product or medical device” would be considered advertising. However, most media don’t intend or aim to advertise products. “It is always the way in which it is formulated that can cross the line between permissible information and advertising,” she said. The frustration of media organisations also stems from the fact that people in Switzerland can access information about weight-loss drugs from all over the world, including in countries that do not have the same restrictions on advertising. In the US, drugmakers, online pharmacies, and health clinics have flooded the internet with advertisements for weight-loss drugs. Read the full article to see what the experts had to say about the wild world of social media. 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6k5FDaF

On the third day of the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, we're releasing a brand new episode of our Inside Geneva podcast, exploring the challenges of achieving sustainable peace in conflict-ridden areas. Host Imogen Foulkes speaks with Laurent Goetschel from swisspeace and Katia Papagianni from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) about the intricate politics of peacebuilding. Is simply ending the conflict enough? And why do peace agreements often face setbacks? Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e9r4Pyqa 🎧Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eYDqMfVa

Functioning democracies need functioning media.  🗞️   As we navigate the uncertainties of 2025, how will the international media landscape evolve? And why will media organisations like SWI swissinfo.ch become even more essential in helping audiences make sense of the news?     As an international media company from neutral Switzerland, we take a critical look at different positions on issues, make international comparisons - and bring in Swiss perspectives. In this way, we do not cater to existing opinions but enrich them with new points of view. This task will become more important with Trump 2.0.     Read the newsletter from our Editor-in-Chief, Mark Livingston. 👉 https://lnkd.in/ezuB7WuX

Why are international media gaining in importance? My editorial on SWI swissinfo.ch with a few reflections on opinions and facts on the occasion of Donald Trump's inauguration. https://lnkd.in/eNihKYmz

For our planet, each year brings new climate records, and they’re not good ones. 🌱🔥 In the latest episode of our Inside Geneva podcast, host Imogen Foulkes speaks with Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, about the damages caused by climate change. “Climate change, or climate chaos as we call it, is exacerbating human rights challenges across the board. Displacement, conflicts, inequalities, and injustice – those who are impacted are the least responsible for what is going on,” she said. Are we doing enough? And how are aid agencies trying to reduce their own carbon footprints? Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts. 👇 🎧Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e4sqH-SJ 🎧Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eHHf4TWW World Meteorological Organization Celeste Saulo Maria Neira World Health Organization Andrew Harper UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency Matthew Wilson United Nations Human Rights

We spent months investigating a significant increase in gold imports from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Switzerland. 📈 But what impact has our work had?🔍️⁠ ⁠ In this video, our reporters Dominique Soguel and Pauline TURUBAN reveal how they were the first to uncover that Switzerland and the United Kingdom might still be importing Russian gold through third countries.⁠ ⁠ Our investigation was not only picked up by several international media but also sparked interest among local journalists in the region, who reached out to us for further investigation. It even led to a parliamentary discussion in Switzerland. ⁠ Watch the full video here 👉 https://lnkd.in/et_6kDBC Mark Pieth University of Basel Marc Ummel Federal Office for Customs and Border Security FOCBS SWISSAID Christoph Wild LBMA #gold #Russia #Russiangold #Ukraine #sanctions #goldtrade #investigation #investigativejournalism

Switzerland's controversial "burqa ban," along with new laws to combat child marriages, boost renewable energy, and stop big banks from going bankrupt, all came into force on January 1, 2025. Here’s a selection for you: 😷Swiss ‘burqa ban’ A Swiss ban on facial coverings in public places, widely known as the “burqa’ ban”, took effect on January 1. Violations can be punished with a fine of up to CHF1,000 (about $1,143). Switzerland joins five other European countries, including neighbouring France and Austria, in imposing such a ban. 🏠Easier inheritance planning On January 1, new rules came into force that bring the Swiss international inheritance law more in line with the European Succession Regulation. It is a big deal for the Swiss Abroad since 61% of Swiss nationals abroad live in a member state of the European Union or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). 💰State pensions and other benefits topped up Many Swiss, both at home and abroad, will be pleased to hear that state pensions have been increased by 2.9% from January 1 to keep pace with rising prices and salary trends. 🏦Strengthening bank solvency and liquidity Following the financial crisis of 2007-2009, new banking rules were drawn up in Switzerland. The final stage of the reforms is a package of measures that require banks to build up capital reserves during good times that they can draw upon during economic and financial stress periods. What do you think about these changes? Let us know in the comments. And read the full article here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eiWxyPxi