An international eye on Swiss news
collated by Peter Hulm for NuseReal
Tourism events in Switzerland — myswitzerland — (LINK)
News events in Switzerland — swissinfo — (LINK)
Loetschental, Valais: Blatten avalanche and aftermath summary (LINK)
Moving away? swissinfo's guide
November 2025
US agrees deal to slash Swiss tariffs to 15% after golden charm offensive: Switzerland will invest $200bn (£150bn) in the US (LINK) 14 November 2025
Swiss Gruyère crowned world's best cheese: the 18-month old cheese Vorderfultigen Spezial presented by Swiss cheese maker Hitz Pius from the Vorderfultigen cheese company, beat more than 5,000 rivals from 46 countries at the competition in Bern at the 37th edition of the World Cheese Awards (LINK) 13 November 2025
— AFP: The winning cheese came from a mountain dairy in the pre-Alps region of Gantrisch, just south of Bern. Grand final judge Perry Wakeman said it was the kind of cheese "that would make people get excited about cheese." "It's a big old cheese — there's a lot going on. The texture is beautiful: it's flinty as you break it apart; the crystalline in there are so delicate," he said. "It is massive. It makes an impact." It was the first time that the contest, created by the British-based Guild of Fine Food in 1988, has been staged in cheese-loving Switzerland — though Gruyère cheeses have scooped the top prize five times before.
Huge potential for Swiss 3D landslide simulation model: predicted Blatten but researchers couldn't believe it (LINK) 12 November 2025
Report on Geneva watches fall auctions 2025: the small pool of bidders seemed to have one thing in common: they were all focused on a "trophy" watch. (LINK) 12 November 2025
— The peaks ranged from multiple F.P. Journe watches to a diamond-set Patek Philippe ref. 3424/1 "Gilbert Albert" to the Breguet four-minute tourbillon pocket watch from 1809 to the Instagram-ready Patek Philippe ref. 3970 in "salmon" with Breguet numerals. The headline result was for a vintage watch: the Patek Philippe ref. 1518 in steel that sold for CHF14.2 million, or about US$17.6 million. The number was just shy of the reputed price that the other ref. 1518 in steel sold for a few days before at Monaco Legend.
Switzerland reported nearing deal to cut US tariffs to 15% after business push (LINK) 11 November 2025
— Matches the rate levied on the EU’s exports to the US. Exports account for more than 70 per cent of Switzerland's GDP. Switzerland itself has already abolished all industrial tariffs and the US is the country's top export market for goods including watches, chocolate and machinery.
Switzerland nears US trade deal after Trump receives engraved gold bar (LINK) 10 November 2025
— A group of Swiss business delegates last week presented Mr Trump with a Rolex watch for the presidential library and a customized gold bar.
2022 fire at Glacier 3000: restaurant owner acquitted (LINK) 11 November 2025
— The prosecution argued that the accused had not properly trained her staff to handle the new stoves and that, as a result, one employee had stacked a stove with a plastic tank on top of another stove that had not been turned off, causing the fire. It requested a 30-day suspended fine of CHF50 ($63). The fire destroyed the self-service restaurant on the third floor, the restaurant on the fourth floor and the lift machinery.
Hiker found a bamboo cart emerging from ice at Splügen Pass on 2 November: Swiss scientists are now asking the public for help to solve mystery (LINK) 9 November 2025
Swiss Greens' vote for compulsory solar panels clears signature hurdle (LINK) 7 November 2025
Blatten danger zones revised: half territory (14.3ha) can be used for settlement but only 6.8ha in village instead of previous 30ha. Ried completely unrecoverable. 2029 before Blatten inhabitants can return. (LINK in French) 7 November 2025
Switzerland lowers prices of 300 drugs by an average of 12% (LINK) 6 November 2025
Switzerland advances from crypto experimentation to adoption: from Crypto Valley to Institutional Centre (LINK) 6 November 2025
— Zürcher Kantonalbank, Julius Baer, PostFinance and several private banks now offer regulated crypto custody and execution services. SIX Digital Exchange (SDX), the digital arm of the Swiss stock exchange, has launched a fully regulated digital securities marketplace, with trading and settlement operating on blockchain rails but under established financial licence structures.
Swiss economic forecast for improvement despite tariffs (LINK) 5 November 2025
— The indicator has once again reached the level of July, i.e. the level prior to the US tariff increase on Swiss imports. "Overall, expectations have never been so positive since the beginning of the year. The Swiss economy is regaining momentum," said KOF. The recovery is particularly evident in the industrial sector.
Trump holds trade talks with Switzerland — (LINK)
— United States President Donald Trump has met with high-ranking representatives of Switzerland to discuss trade issues. Trump announced the talks on his Truth Social platform. It was initially unclear where and in what setting the meeting took place and who took part. The Swiss authorities did not initially provide any information on this either. At the beginning of August, Trump announced punitive tariffs of 39% on numerous Swiss products – one of the highest rates worldwide that the US has imposed on its trading partners.
IonQ and Swiss Consortium launch first citywide dedicated quantum network — in Geneva (LINK) 5 November 2025
— Landmark public-private initiative includes CERN, Rolex SA, Swiss government and academic institutions. Delivers world-class quantum infrastructure to support research, collaboration, and quantum tech awareness.
Swiss seeking UNESCO recognition for yodeling on list of intangible cultural heritage (LINK) 5 November 2025
— The Swiss government says at least 12,000 yodelers take part through about 780 groups of the Swiss Yodeling Association. Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), which became the first Swiss university to teach yodeling about seven years ago. Some 20 Swiss school teachers know how to yodel and are trying it with their classes. UNESCO is expected to deliver a decision by year-end.
PostBus Switzerland will be trialing self-driving cars around Altstätten in canton St Gallen in December as new public transport service (LINK) 5 November 2025
Switzerland more exposed to climate change than expected, compared with average global warming, says latest federal report (LINK) 4 November 2025
— While the global temperature has risen by 1.3°C, the warming compared with the pre-industrial era has already reached 2.9°C in Switzerland. According to the researchers’ calculations, in a world with a temperature rise of 1.5°C, Switzerland would experience a rise of 2.9°C. The rise in temperature will even reach 4.9°C if the planet warms up by 3°C. These figures represent an increase of 10-15% compared with previous climate scenarios for 2018. According to the report, this warming will mean more heatwaves, more droughts, heavier rainfall and less snow.
British mag names Valais resort Bruson near Verbier best in Europe (LINK in French) 4 November 2025
The magic of Switzerland in December — Xmas markets + top spots (LINK) 4 November 2025
Trump sculpture strapped to a cross, by British artist, displayed in Basel (LINK) 4 November 2025
Swiss precious metals trader MKS PAMP aims to help build Hong Kong as an international gold trading hub (LINK) 2 November 2025
Inside Roger Federer's legendary Rolex watch collection (including a super-rare new model) (LINK) 1 November 2025
October 2025
November 2025
US agrees deal to slash Swiss tariffs to 15% after golden charm offensive: Switzerland will invest $200bn (£150bn) in the US (LINK) 14 November 2025
Swiss Gruyère crowned world's best cheese: the 18-month old cheese Vorderfultigen Spezial presented by Swiss cheese maker Hitz Pius from the Vorderfultigen cheese company, beat more than 5,000 rivals from 46 countries at the competition in Bern at the 37th edition of the World Cheese Awards (LINK) 13 November 2025
— AFP: The winning cheese came from a mountain dairy in the pre-Alps region of Gantrisch, just south of Bern. Grand final judge Perry Wakeman said it was the kind of cheese "that would make people get excited about cheese." "It's a big old cheese — there's a lot going on. The texture is beautiful: it's flinty as you break it apart; the crystalline in there are so delicate," he said. "It is massive. It makes an impact." It was the first time that the contest, created by the British-based Guild of Fine Food in 1988, has been staged in cheese-loving Switzerland — though Gruyère cheeses have scooped the top prize five times before.
Huge potential for Swiss 3D landslide simulation model: predicted Blatten but researchers couldn't believe it (LINK) 12 November 2025
Report on Geneva watches fall auctions 2025: the small pool of bidders seemed to have one thing in common: they were all focused on a "trophy" watch. (LINK) 12 November 2025
— The peaks ranged from multiple F.P. Journe watches to a diamond-set Patek Philippe ref. 3424/1 "Gilbert Albert" to the Breguet four-minute tourbillon pocket watch from 1809 to the Instagram-ready Patek Philippe ref. 3970 in "salmon" with Breguet numerals. The headline result was for a vintage watch: the Patek Philippe ref. 1518 in steel that sold for CHF14.2 million, or about US$17.6 million. The number was just shy of the reputed price that the other ref. 1518 in steel sold for a few days before at Monaco Legend.
Switzerland reported nearing deal to cut US tariffs to 15% after business push (LINK) 11 November 2025
— Matches the rate levied on the EU’s exports to the US. Exports account for more than 70 per cent of Switzerland's GDP. Switzerland itself has already abolished all industrial tariffs and the US is the country's top export market for goods including watches, chocolate and machinery.
Switzerland nears US trade deal after Trump receives engraved gold bar (LINK) 10 November 2025
— A group of Swiss business delegates last week presented Mr Trump with a Rolex watch for the presidential library and a customized gold bar.
2022 fire at Glacier 3000: restaurant owner acquitted (LINK) 11 November 2025
— The prosecution argued that the accused had not properly trained her staff to handle the new stoves and that, as a result, one employee had stacked a stove with a plastic tank on top of another stove that had not been turned off, causing the fire. It requested a 30-day suspended fine of CHF50 ($63). The fire destroyed the self-service restaurant on the third floor, the restaurant on the fourth floor and the lift machinery.
Hiker found a bamboo cart emerging from ice at Splügen Pass on 2 November: Swiss scientists are now asking the public for help to solve mystery (LINK) 9 November 2025
Swiss Greens' vote for compulsory solar panels clears signature hurdle (LINK) 7 November 2025
Blatten danger zones revised: half territory (14.3ha) can be used for settlement but only 6.8ha in village instead of previous 30ha. Ried completely unrecoverable. 2029 before Blatten inhabitants can return. (LINK in French) 7 November 2025
Switzerland lowers prices of 300 drugs by an average of 12% (LINK) 6 November 2025
Switzerland advances from crypto experimentation to adoption: from Crypto Valley to Institutional Centre (LINK) 6 November 2025
— Zürcher Kantonalbank, Julius Baer, PostFinance and several private banks now offer regulated crypto custody and execution services. SIX Digital Exchange (SDX), the digital arm of the Swiss stock exchange, has launched a fully regulated digital securities marketplace, with trading and settlement operating on blockchain rails but under established financial licence structures.
Swiss economic forecast for improvement despite tariffs (LINK) 5 November 2025
— The indicator has once again reached the level of July, i.e. the level prior to the US tariff increase on Swiss imports. "Overall, expectations have never been so positive since the beginning of the year. The Swiss economy is regaining momentum," said KOF. The recovery is particularly evident in the industrial sector.
Trump holds trade talks with Switzerland — (LINK)
— United States President Donald Trump has met with high-ranking representatives of Switzerland to discuss trade issues. Trump announced the talks on his Truth Social platform. It was initially unclear where and in what setting the meeting took place and who took part. The Swiss authorities did not initially provide any information on this either. At the beginning of August, Trump announced punitive tariffs of 39% on numerous Swiss products – one of the highest rates worldwide that the US has imposed on its trading partners.
IonQ and Swiss Consortium launch first citywide dedicated quantum network — in Geneva (LINK) 5 November 2025
— Landmark public-private initiative includes CERN, Rolex SA, Swiss government and academic institutions. Delivers world-class quantum infrastructure to support research, collaboration, and quantum tech awareness.
Swiss seeking UNESCO recognition for yodeling on list of intangible cultural heritage (LINK) 5 November 2025
— The Swiss government says at least 12,000 yodelers take part through about 780 groups of the Swiss Yodeling Association. Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), which became the first Swiss university to teach yodeling about seven years ago. Some 20 Swiss school teachers know how to yodel and are trying it with their classes. UNESCO is expected to deliver a decision by year-end.
PostBus Switzerland will be trialing self-driving cars around Altstätten in canton St Gallen in December as new public transport service (LINK) 5 November 2025
Switzerland more exposed to climate change than expected, compared with average global warming, says latest federal report (LINK) 4 November 2025
— While the global temperature has risen by 1.3°C, the warming compared with the pre-industrial era has already reached 2.9°C in Switzerland. According to the researchers’ calculations, in a world with a temperature rise of 1.5°C, Switzerland would experience a rise of 2.9°C. The rise in temperature will even reach 4.9°C if the planet warms up by 3°C. These figures represent an increase of 10-15% compared with previous climate scenarios for 2018. According to the report, this warming will mean more heatwaves, more droughts, heavier rainfall and less snow.
British mag names Valais resort Bruson near Verbier best in Europe (LINK in French) 4 November 2025
The magic of Switzerland in December — Xmas markets + top spots (LINK) 4 November 2025
Trump sculpture strapped to a cross, by British artist, displayed in Basel (LINK) 4 November 2025
Swiss precious metals trader MKS PAMP aims to help build Hong Kong as an international gold trading hub (LINK) 2 November 2025
Inside Roger Federer's legendary Rolex watch collection (including a super-rare new model) (LINK) 1 November 2025
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