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Politics Parliamentary elections 2019

Voters elect the members of the Swiss parliament for the next four-year term on October 20.

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Vote May 19, 2019

Swiss voters decided on reforms of the gun law and an overhaul of the corporate tax system.

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Made in Switzerland

Switzerland has maintained its manufacturing base by focusing on high-end products. Discover the country's niche exports.

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Brexit and Switzerland

How will the UK's upcoming exit from the European Union affect Switzerland and UK citizens?

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World Economic Forum 2019

From CEOs to activists, we bring you perspectives and analysis on the future of global business from the 49th World Economic Forum annual meeting.

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Vote February 10, 2019

Swiss voters will decide on a proposal aimed at limiting urban sprawl by imposing a freeze on new construction zones.

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big business Eye on the Multinationals

From pharmaceuticals to agribusiness, tobacco, and commodity trading, we look behind the glossy façade of the largest multinational companies.

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Innovation: Switzerland discovers

From basic scientific research to industrial R&D, we bring you stories of how knowledge born in Switzerland has informed and inspired the world.

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Fintech Switzerland

A new wave of digital financial technology (fintech) innovations are springing up in Switzerland that could either transform traditional financial ...

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Nouvo

Nouvo brings you short videos about Switzerland, Swiss current affairs and the wider world. Keep up to date and watch the videos wherever you are, ...

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Indian intersection

Switzerland and India may seem like poles apart but they have more in common than you think.

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Educating Switzerland

How does Switzerland turn out enough skilled workers? How do Swiss universities fare globally? Which languages are taught in schools? Answers here.

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The Swiss media landscape

From media habits and press freedom to public broadcasting and its role in a democratic society, learn about how Swiss news is made – and used ...

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Switzerland the #DroneFrontier

swissinfo.ch's series with swissnex Boston aimed at exploring the changes to policy and society that accompany innovations in drone technology.

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Making Switzerland home

Expat, immigrant, foreigner: Whatever you call yourself, you’re in good company. One in four people living in Switzerland is not Swiss.

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Fact checks by swissinfo.ch

Our goal is to verify factual statements public figures make about Switzerland or Swiss current affairs.

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Points of view

swissinfo.ch publishes op-ed articles by contributors writing on a wide range of topics – Swiss issues or those that impact Switzerland. Over ...

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Swiss-EU relations Surrounded by Europe

A vote approving the re-introduction of immigration quotas for EU citizens has placed Swiss-EU relations in question.

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WEF Davos 2018

The biggest names from politics, business and civil society at Davos for the 48th WEF annual congress

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500 years of the Reformation

Events to mark 500 years of the Protestant Reformation will have particular significance in Switzerland, thanks to the reformers Calvin and Zwingli.

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Getting the job done

The Swiss apprentice system is admired the world over, as are the high wages and low unemployment rates. The job market can be tough though.

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International Geneva The ‘capital of peace’

Geneva is known as a hub for dozens of international organisations, the United Nations and over 380 non-governmental agencies.

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Asylum in Switzerland A safe haven

For some, asylum seekers are a drain on the economy and a threat to social stability; for others, helping them is a cornerstone of Switzerland’s ...

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Vote November 25, 2018

Three issues were before Swiss voters on November 25: cow horns, social welfare detectives and international law.

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Vote September 23, 2018

What was at stake in the nationwide votes about food production and bicycle promotion in Switzerland?

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Vote June 10, 2018

A look at two national votes - on the monetary system and online gambling - and Switzerland's latest bid to host the Olympic Games.

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Vote March 4, 2018

Swiss voters had the final say on two issues at the ballot box on March 4: A people's initiative aimed at scrapping the licence fee for the public ...

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Vote November 27, 2016 Phasing out nuclear power

Voters have rejected plans for a 45-year limit to Switzerland's nuclear power plants.

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All vote results: November 30 2014

On November 30th 2014 voters rejected all three proposals in question: One from a group of ecologists to limit population growth by capping ...

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High costs: healthcare and eating out

Voters clearly rejected initiatives to create a single health insurance scheme and a level VAT playing field for restaurants and takeaways in a ...

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Vote May 18, 2014 Minimum wage and fighter jets make noise

Voters on May 18, 2014 clearly threw out a proposal to introduce what would have been the world's highest minimum wage. In a much closer result, ...

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February 9, 2014 vote Immigration quotas approved by voters

A controversial anti-immigration initiative won the Swiss electorate’s backing on February 9, 2014. On the same day, voters rejected a proposal ...

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First World War

Although neutral Switzerland stayed in the background during the First World War, it was surrounded by warring nations and couldn’t avoid being ...

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Past wrongs Child victims of the system

Despite Switzerland's current reputation as a wealthy country, as recently as the 1970s children from poor families were routinely sent by the ...

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Looted art’s legacy Handling masterpieces with a troubled past

Switzerland has been at the centre of many key controversies and decisions over how to handle stolen and looted art from the Nazi era.

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Reforming FIFA

Having football's governing body headquartered in Zurich has been both a benefit and bane to Switzerland. With Swiss president Sepp Blatter ...

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Soaring with Solar Impulse

Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) was the first aircraft of its kind to circle the globe – flown by two Swiss pilots and making several stops along the way.

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Extraordinary expats

Switzerland has been home to a number of international writers, actors, musicians, intellectuals and other notable people.

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‘We shall not stay long’

During the 19th century people left Switzerland’s Italian-speaking canton of Ticino for a better life abroad. Large numbers went to Australia, the ...

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The Short Wave Service during WWII

The Second World War broke out 76 years ago. Switzerland’s neutrality meant it stayed out of the conflict, but its conduct during this period was ...

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Gun violence The Swiss and their guns

Switzerland has one of the highest gun ownership rates in the world because of its militia army. The defence ministry estimates that some two ...

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Development MDGs and beyond

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), established in 2000 to tackle the world's biggest problems, expired in 2015. How successful have they been?

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UNESCO heritage Cultural and natural jewels in Switzerland

The country has no fewer than 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites – places of historical importance which should be preserved for future generations.

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Purchasing power The cost of living in Switzerland

What does a franc really get you in a country considered one of the world's most expensive places to live? Our collection of stories on the topic.

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The Swiss music scene

There’s a lot more to the Swiss music scene than yodelling and accordions.

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Portrait series Faces of Switzerland

To offer a glimpse of Swiss society and its diversity, this series tells the stories of “ordinary” people of all ages, regions and walks of life.

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From Solferino to the Red Cross 150 years of the Geneva Convention

The first Geneva Convention, signed over 150 years ago, lay the cornerstone for the work of the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red ...

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September 22 vote Militia army system under public scrutiny

Swiss voters went to the polls to decide on a proposal to scrap conscription and replace the militia system with a professional army. As part of ...