As heatwaves become more frequent across Europe, Switzerland is confronting an unfamiliar question: whether rules around air conditioning should become less restrictive. The country does not prohibit air conditioning outright. But installing a permanent cooling system in Switzerland is often far more difficult than in neighbouring countries, especially in some of its most populated cantons. […]
Knife attack suspect active in the Islamic extremist scene in Winterthur
Swiss investigators believe the man suspected of injuring three people in a knife attack in Winterthur had longstanding links to the local Islamist extremist scene, reported SRF. The 31-year-old allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) during the attack. Mario Fehr, Zurich’s security director, later described the incident as a terrorist act at a press […]
What impact could a 10m population cap have on Swiss pensions and health premiums?
Switzerland’s referendum on June 14th is ostensibly about immigration and relations with the European Union. But the outcome could also have far-reaching consequences for the country’s welfare state. Supporters of the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) initiative argue that immigration must be curbed to limit population growth and pressure on infrastructure. Critics counter that restricting immigration […]
Switzerland may soon offer marriage-lite
Switzerland may soon offer couples a legal status somewhere between marriage and simple cohabitation. Lawmakers are considering the introduction of a civil partnership model known as a PACS (“Pacte civil de solidarité”), inspired by a system that has existed in France since 1999. The proposal would create a nationwide framework for both heterosexual and same-sex […]
Swiss voters will decide on two popular initiatives on September 27th
Swiss voters will decide on two popular initiatives on September 27th: one on neutrality and another on food policy. The government confirmed the ballot measures on Wednesday. The “Safeguarding Swiss Neutrality” initiative, backed by Pro Suisse and members of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), seeks to define Swiss neutrality in the constitution as both […]
Swiss premiums to rise next year, says health office
Swiss health-insurance premiums are likely to rise by around 5% in 2027, reflecting persistent growth in healthcare spending, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) warned on Tuesday. Officials nevertheless cautioned that forecasts remain uncertain. Premiums for 2026 do not fully cover expected costs, Philipp Muri, head of insurance supervision at the FOPH told RTS. […]
Drownings down in Switzerland
Forty-three people drowned in Switzerland last year, almost all of them in open water, according to the Swiss Lifesaving Society (SLS). Young adults and the elderly were the groups most affected. The death toll fell below 50 for the first time since 2021. There were 59 fatal drownings in 2024 and a record 66 in […]
Switzerland’s childhood-obesity problem stabilising for some
After decades of concern about rising childhood obesity, Switzerland may finally be bending the curve. A new nationwide body-mass-index survey suggests that the proportion of overweight children has declined modestly over the past 15 years, particularly among younger pupils. Yet the improvements are uneven and social inequalities remain stark. The study, published by Promotion Santé Suisse, […]
Sharp rise in Swiss bankruptcies not what it seems
Swiss corporate bankruptcies surged in 2025, but the country’s economy is not necessarily collapsing. Much of the increase stems instead from a legal reform that has made it easier to force insolvent firms into formal bankruptcy proceedings. According to figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), 13,612 bankruptcy proceedings were opened last year under […]
Geneva to vote on shopping hours and secularism
Voters in the canton of Geneva will head to the polls on June 14th to decide two distinctly Genevan questions: whether shops should open more often on Sundays and whether elected officials should be barred from wearing visible religious symbols in parliament. The first referendum concerns retail opening hours. At present, shops in Geneva may […]
