SWISS

Swiss voters have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to reinterpret the country's long-standing neutrality in a stricter, more isolationist way. Final government results showed more than 70% voted against the initiative, with a majority against in all 26 cantons. The plan was championed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party, and the decisive result is being read as a firm endorsement of Switzerland's current neutral stance.

Roche has outlined plans to move towards autonomous AI laboratories, according to a Reuters report. The Swiss pharmaceutical company intends to use artificial intelligence to run elements of its research operations with reduced human involvement, a step that would put it among the first major drugmakers to pursue fully automated, AI-driven labs.

Switzerland is signalling that it does not intend to adopt a stricter stance of 'neutrality' in response to the war in Ukraine, according to a report in The National Interest. Bern has faced ongoing debate over whether its traditional neutrality obliges it to distance itself from Western sanctions on Russia and support for Kyiv, and the country appears to be rejecting calls to move further toward strict non-alignment.

Switzerland is debating a vote on its longstanding policy of neutrality, a move with potential consequences for its relationship with NATO and Russia. Observers are weighing whether a shift could open the door to closer defence cooperation with Western allies, or prompt pushback from Moscow, which has long criticised Swiss moves toward the West. The debate touches on Switzerland's centuries-old tradition of staying out of military alliances, renewed by the war in Ukraine.

Swiss International Air Lines will fit its entire fleet with SpaceX's Starlink high-speed internet by 2029, according to Swissinfo. The deal means passengers on SWISS flights should get fast, gate-to-gate broadband in the coming years. It follows a broader aviation trend of airlines partnering with satellite providers to upgrade onboard connectivity, and travelers are weighing what free or faster Wi-Fi could mean for the in-flight experience.

Swiss luxury watchmaker H. Moser & Cie has released a new timepiece being described as a radical 'anti-smartwatch', a deliberate counterpoint to connected wearable technology. The release is drawing attention among watch enthusiasts and tech commentators, with coverage highlighting how the brand positions traditional mechanical watchmaking against the functionality of smartwatches. Details of the model's specifications and pricing remain limited in initial reports.

Italy's Fandango Distribution has acquired international sales rights to the documentary 'Rescue', directed by the president of this year's Zurich Film Festival documentary jury, with Swiss broadcaster RTS joining the project as a broadcaster. The deal was announced exclusively by The Hollywood Reporter, adding momentum to the film ahead of its festival exposure.