Lugano, Switzerland - The southern Swiss city of Lugano, on the shores of Lake Lugano in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, blends grandezza and la dolce vita with Swiss precision. In spring, snow-capped Alpine peaks and Mediterranean palms are mirrored side by side in the lake. So, too, do the city's languages, cultures and mentalities merge in a way that is truly unique.
"Signora" Lugano is, in short, a study in contrasts: modern and narrow-minded, industrious and indolent, effervescent and drowsy, and, despite some architectural eyesores, still beautiful.
Geneva - Somali pirates are in danger of again threatening food supplies for the war-ravaged East African country, the UN food agency warned on Tuesday. "Piracy is a constant concern for the World Food Programme," said spokeswoman Emilia Casella - noting that 
Chur, Switzerland - Icy Alpine streams, jagged peaks and lovely landscapes - all this and more awaits passengers on the Rhaetian Railway's Bernina Express. Beginning its journey in Chur, capital of the Swiss canton of Graubuenden, the train winds its way up the Alps to the Bernina Pass, more than 2,000 metres above sea level. While passengers are still admiring the 4,049-metre peak known as Piz Bernina, the train starts its steep descent into the mild climate of Italy's Valtellina, an Alpine valley.
Suven Life Sciences, a Drug Discovery and development company, has finished the phase I clinical trial for its new molecule, SUVN 502 in healthy volunteers.
Geneva - Warning of political unrest and social instability owing to the economic crisis, two economists said Thursday that some developing nations would need to built better regional cooperation regimes to ensure their futures.
Bern/Washington - The Swiss government Wednesday pledged 10 billion dollars to the International Monetary Fund Wednesday to boost its lending capacity to countries under threat from the global recession.
