Swiss residents may soon face another jump in health insurance premiums. Comparis, a consumer price comparison service, forecasts an average increase of 4% for 2026. This would reflect a projected 3.7% rise in healthcare costs for the same period. According to Felix Schneuwly, health insurance expert at Comparis, the projected increase would mark a return […]
Swiss court challenges strict naturalisation policy
Switzerland’s naturalisation policy may change after a court ruling this week, reported SRF. On Wednesday, the Federal Supreme Court sided with a Turkish man whose citizenship application had been left in limbo for five years by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) over a traffic offence committed during his application process. SEM had treated the […]
Over 600,000 vehicles on Swiss roads beyond testing deadline
Switzerland’s cantonal vehicle inspection authorities are struggling to keep up with the country’s growing vehicle fleet. As a result, more than 600,000 vehicles currently on Swiss roads have missed their mandatory roadworthiness tests by over a year, according to data from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO), reported RTS. Under Swiss regulations, new vehicles must undergo […]
Gender inequalities in Swiss health
Men and women in Switzerland are far from equal when it comes to health. On average, men die nearly four years before women and are more likely to be overweight. And women are more likely to suffer from chronic illness and depression, according to the 2022 Swiss Health Survey published by the Federal Statistical Office […]
The revolving-door between Swiss health authorities and Big Pharma
A new report from Public Eye, a Swiss NGO, has drawn attention to the scale of personnel flows between the pharmaceutical industry and the country’s public health institutions. The investigation, published on Thursday, raises concerns over potential conflicts of interest and urges stronger safeguards to prevent corruption. The cushy transition between public office and private-sector […]
Switzerland approves Palestinian aid, but bypasses UNRWA in Gaza
This week, Switzerland’s Federal Council has approved a CHF 20 million ($24 million) aid package for Palestinians, while signalling mounting dissatisfaction with the UN’s embattled Palestinian relief agency, UNRWA, reported SRF. Of the total, CHF 9 million will be directed to humanitarian operations in Gaza and the West Bank. These funds will be channelled through […]
No compensation for Credit Suisse shareholders, Swiss court rules
A Swiss court has ruled that Credit Suisse shareholders will not be compensated for losses incurred during the bank’s forced sale to UBS in March 2023, reported RTS. The Federal Supreme Court dismissed a claim brought by two small investors who had purchased nearly CHF 85,000 ($100,000) worth of Credit Suisse shares just days before […]
The rapid decline of Swiss farms
Roughly 800 farms vanish every year in Switzerland, the equivalent of two per day, reported RTS. In the canton of Vaud alone, an average of one farm disappears each week. Behind these figures lies a more complex truth: the difficulty of intergenerational farm succession in a country where agriculture is still shaped by small, often […]
Eurovision – Israel rehearsal disrupted by political protest
Rehearsals for the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest were disrupted on Thursday afternoon by a small group of demonstrators targeting the performance of Yuval Raphael, the Israeli contestant, reported RTS. Six individuals, including members of a family, unfurled large Palestinian flags and used whistles during the performance. Security personnel swiftly removed them from […]
Swiss tenants’ association launches initiative to cap rent hikes
Switzerland’s tenants’ association (Asloca) has launched a popular initiative aimed at curbing what it sees as excessive rent increases, reported RTS. The move reflects growing discontent over housing affordability, particularly in urban centres, and comes amid record-low vacancy rates and sluggish construction activity. The proposal, entitled Yes to protection against abusive rents, seeks to require […]
