Teachers in the Swiss canton of St Gallen will soon be barred from wearing religious symbols in the classroom, after the cantonal parliament approved a motion introducing a canton-wide ban, reported SRF. The proposal passed by 70 votes to 46 after a lengthy and emotionally charged debate. Lawmakers also voted narrowly, by 59 to 54, […]
The Geneva-based journalist using stories to save the Mediteranean
Veteran foreign correspondent Edward Girardet believes the Mediterranean can be saved not only through science and diplomacy, but through storytelling. As a co-founder of the Help Save The Med initiative, Girardet is helping lead a three-year voyage across the Mediterranean aimed at raising awareness of environmental decline and cultural loss. WIKI, or the World Initiative […]
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, […]
Swiss politicians launch initiative to curb big tech
A cross-party committee has launched a popular initiative aimed at holding technology companies legally accountable if they fail in their duty of care, reported RTS. Among other measures, the proposal would require large digital platforms to appoint a legal representative in Switzerland. The initiative, presented on Tuesday by the Guido Fluri Foundation, seeks to make […]
How some Swiss struggle to integrate in Switzerland
Internal migration across Switzerland’s linguistic borders sometimes tests local integration. In the canton of Fribourg, growing numbers of French-speakers are settling in German-speaking municipalities, drawn by cheaper housing and proximity to the canton’s capital. The shift is quietly reshaping local administration, schools and civic life, reports SRF. In villages such as Giffers and Tentlingen, construction […]
Swiss party seeks cap on primary school pupils not speaking language of instruction
Switzerland’s largest party, the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), wants to curb the number of pupils in primary school classes who do not speak the language of instruction, arguing that rising immigration is undermining primary education, reported SRF. Meeting in Näfels in the canton of Glarus, party delegates approved a set of demands billed as an […]
Switzerland to tighten rules on military service for dual nationals
Switzerland’s parliament has voted to make it harder for dual nationals to sidestep the country’s military obligations, reported RTS. On Wednesday the National Council adopted, in amended form, a motion already approved by the upper house. It will now return to the Council of States, Switzerland’s parliament, for further consideration. The original proposal, put forward […]
Zurich court convicts pro-Palestinian activists of trespass
This week, five of the seven of the pro-Palestinian activists accused of taking part in an unauthorised demonstration after they occupied the main hall of ETH Zurich on May 31st, 2024 were convicted of trespassing by the Zurich District Court, reported SRF. Two others, in a separate trial, were cleared after judges found that no […]
15% of Switzerland’s population struggles with literacy
Around 15% of Switzerland’s population aged between 16 and 65—some 844,000 people—struggle with reading, writing, numeracy and basic problem-solving. According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), drawing on OECD data, these adults tend to earn less, participate less in the workforce and report lower levels of well-being and social engagement than those with stronger skills. […]
Swiss young adults are leaving home later
Young adults in Switzerland are staying longer in the family home. Half of the population now leaves their parents’ household at an average age of 23.7, almost two years later than previous generations, according to figures published on Monday by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). The study compared people born between 1988 and 2007 with […]
