Swiss hearing aid manufacturer Sonova is launching new devices powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that are designed to better filter out speech from background noise. This is made possible by a new, specially developed AI chip, according to the ...

The death toll from a house fire in southeast Switzerland has risen to four with the discovery of two further bodies. Canton Graubünden police reported two further fatalities on Sunday following the blaze in the town of Thusis. All other people in t...

Rhythmic jingling, the clatter of whips or the solemn sounds of the alphorn: since Friday, the town of Schüpfen in canton Bern has been showcasing the full range of sounds and noises that Swiss folklore has to offer. Over 3,000 active Trychler, Trei...

The federal government and the cantons are planning to introduce a mandatory reporting requirement for any indications of organised crime. An employee at a land registry office who notices suspicious real estate purchases, or a food inspector who fin...

Even before James Bond was created, Ian Fleming had a passionate romance in Switzerland with a young woman from the canton of Vaud. A new travel guide now traces the writer’s connections to French-speaking Switzerland and Lake Geneva. In the Footst...

There have been several resignations from the board of the Beloved Foundation, which provides support to victims of the Crans-Montana fire tragedy. In total, between late June and mid-August, four out of nine members stepped down from their posts. Re...

In many regions, the grape harvest is set to begin as early as August this year. The yield is likely to be lower than in other years, but the quality of the 2026 vintage is "promising". Several winegrowers, such as the Obrecht family in the Jenins wi...

In an open letter, a number of prominent Israelis are calling on the Swiss government to halt trade in products from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. They cite an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice in The Hague, ...

In Switzerland, an average of 5.5% of registered passenger cars are fully electric. This is shown by the latest data from the online platform Energie Reporter, as well as from Energie Schweiz and Geoimpact. There are significant differences between t...

Canton Vaud’s population office (SPOP) has decided to stop providing emergency assistance to around 40 Ukrainians whose applications for S permits have been rejected. As a result, they could be required to leave Switzerland and return to the countr...

After more than three years, Zurich city government has set out the framework for a 35-hour working week. However, it has yet to decide which department will host the pilot scheme. Same pay for fewer hours: Zurich should lead the way by launching a p...

Construction activity in canton Basel Country reached a record high in 2025. Despite a slowdown in residential construction, the total value of construction work rose to an all-time high of CHF2.5 billion ($3.1 billion), according to the cantonal sta...

Swiss building materials giant Holcim is set to acquire German wall and flooring specialist Fermacell from James Hardie for €840 million (CHF784 million), as the Chicago-based building materials group divests its European fibre cement business. Bas...

The Swiss armed forces are making progress in tackling discrimination and sexual violence. Half of the planned measures have already been implemented, with the remainder under way. Only one of the 16 measures is behind schedule. In 2025, the Swiss ar...

Switzerland is stepping up efforts to tackle radicalisation, which has been on the rise since 2023. On Friday, the government, cantonal authorities and local councils launched a national charter. The charter sets out a political commitment to tacklin...

Zurich’s first queer memorial was unveiled on Thursday by members of the LGBT+ community. Situated in Sihlfeld Cemetery, it stands as a symbol against hatred. The new memorial commemorates people who have lost their lives because of anti-queer viol...

Building a new nuclear power station in Switzerland would cost between CHF14 billion ($17 billion) and CHF43 billion, according to a new report by the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. Such a project would probably only be financially viable with...

Five people are missing after a major fire broke out in a building housing a restaurant and several flats in canton Graubünden, in eastern Switzerland, police said on Friday. Eight people were injured, including two who were seriously hurt. Police s...

Sofia was Switzerland’s most popular girls’ name last year, while Noah remained the top choice for boys, according to figures published on Friday by the Federal Statistical Office. Having ranked third the previous year, Sofia has now overtaken Em...

A flat fire in Schaffhausen, northern Switzerland, left 11 people injured on Thursday night. Police said nine were taken to hospital. A female police officer from Schaffhausen police was also among those injured, police said in a statement issued in ...

China and Switzerland have concluded negotiations on further development of their free trade agreement. In future, there will be virtually no customs duties on Swiss exports to China. Federal President and Minister for Economic Affairs Guy Parmelin a...

The Australian pharmaceutical group CSL Behring has cut just under 10% of the workforce in Bern, the company announced on Thursday. In February, it emerged that the company was planning job cuts. Tamedia’s Bern-based publications cited a figure of ...

A court in Bali, Indonesia has sentenced a Swiss tourist to one year in prison for insulting the Bali sacred Day of Silence. The 26-year-old tourist was found guilty of violating Indonesia’s new criminal code by posting social media messages about ...

The financial situation of the Swiss insurance sector is “generally sound”, according to a report by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published on Thursday. Insurers significantly increased their capital last year. Accordi...

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is still courting Christine Lagarde to take over as its next chair, according to people familiar with the matter. The issue was reportedly discussed at a meeting of the organisation’s board this week. The European Cen...

Carry traders are increasingly turning to the Swiss franc in the near term for their source of funding as the threat of intervention and higher interest rates saps the appeal of borrowing in the yen. Hedge funds boosted their net short position in th...

From this Thursday, artists can submit their songs to represent Switzerland at the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Bulgaria. The application period runs until September 7. Entries can be submitted via an online platform. The selec...

The Kunstmuseum Basel is staging an exhibition dedicated to the print work of the American pop art pioneer, Roy Lichtenstein. Numerous prints donated by the artist’s foundation are on display for the first time. The exhibition “Sweet Dreams, Baby...

Switzerland’s foreign trade rebounded in July, with exports showing strong growth following a decline the previous month. The growth was once again driven by the chemicals and pharmaceuticals sector, as well as a recovery in sales to the European U...

The increasing summer heat is changing the way Swiss people travel. According to a survey, more than half of the population has already adjusted their travel plans because of the heat, or intends to do so in future. According to a representative surv...