Switzerland’s long-mooted trade negotiations with the United States can now proceed. On Wednesday the Federal Council approved the final negotiating mandate for a tariff agreement, clearing the way for formal talks with Washington, reported RTS. Parliamentary foreign-affairs committees and the cantons were consulted in advance. On the basis of their feedback, the government made modest […]
Taiwan becomes “super-aged”. Switzerland close behind
Taiwan has crossed a demographic threshold. For the first time, more than 20% of its population is aged 65 or over, officially classifying the island as a “super-aged” society under United Nations criteria, reported Focus Taiwan. According to government figures released on Friday, 4.67m people in Taiwan were aged 65 or above last year, accounting […]
Federal Council freezes any assets held in Switzerland by Maduro
Bern, 5 January 2026 — The Swiss Federal Council has ordered a precautionary freeze on any assets held in Switzerland by Nicolas Maduro and people associated with him, effective immediately. The move, intended to prevent a flight of capital amid political upheaval in Venezuela, does not apply to members of the current Venezuelan government. Should […]
Swiss citizen convicted for fighting in Ukraine
For the first time, a Swiss citizen who fought in Ukraine as a volunteer has been convicted by a military court, reported RTS. The ruling comes as around 15 similar cases are under investigation and has revived debate over the boundaries between law, morality and personal freedom. Last Thursday a military court near Zurich found […]
Trump announces drug price deal with Novartis and Roche subsidiary
Donald Trump has announced a deal with several large pharmaceutical firms, including Switzerland’s Novartis and Genentech, a subsidiary of Roche, reported SRF. The agreement, unveiled at the White House, is intended to lower the prices of selected medicines in the United States and to allow drugmakers to sell them directly to consumers online. In exchange, […]
Criminal network in France responsible for dozens of thefts in Switzerland dismantled
A cross-border criminal network responsible for dozens of thefts in Switzerland has been dismantled in neighbouring France, reported RTS. The investigation, led jointly by Swiss and French authorities with support from Europol, Eurojust and Fedpol, targeted an organised group involved in stealing luxury vehicles and burglarising gun shops across several Swiss cantons. The main criminal […]
Trump sets deadline to conclude binding trade agreement with Switzerland
Donald Trump has set Switzerland a deadline to conclude a binding trade agreement, reported RTS. Washington wants a legally enforceable deal in place by March 31st 2026. Failing that, the United States says it may review and reconsider the tariffs imposed on Swiss exports. According to several Swiss newspapers, the Trump administration is keen to […]
Man threatened to attack Jews at the Eurovision in Basel
Security officials in Switzerland quietly intervened ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel in May 2025 after a young man threatened violence against Jews, reported SRF. The 25-year-old was preventively detained and later deported before the event, a case that has only now been made public. Eurovision was meant to be a celebration of […]
Switzerland moves to tighten asylum policy
Parliament has approved two Liberal Democrat (PLR/FDP) motions aimed at tightening Switzerland’s asylum regime, reported RTS. The first seeks to encourage the voluntary departure of asylum seekers. The Council of States silently endorsed a National Council motion instructing the Federal Council to introduce a system of targeted incentives and clearly defined sanctions. One element would […]
Swiss parliament scraps funding for the Basel–Malmö night train
Switzerland’s parliament has pulled the plug on funding for a planned night train linking Basel with Malmö in southern Sweden, reported RTS. After the Council of States rejected the proposal, the National Council followed suit on Tuesday, striking the CHF 10m needed to launch the service from the 2026 budget. The margin was narrow: 99 […]
