Swiss International Air Lines is struggling with a shortage of pilots. The problem is not a lack of recruits—its European Flight Academy in Solothurn is full, with about 100 trainees per intake—but a training backlog caused by the covid-19 pandemic, when courses were halted and only resumed in mid-2022. Passenger demand has since surged, leaving […]
Swiss court drops appeal against Platini and Blatter acquittal
Switzerland’s federal prosecutor will not challenge the acquittal of Michel Platini and Joseph Blatter, the former heads of UEFA and FIFA, reported RTS. The ruling, which cleared them of fraud, breach of trust, mismanagement and forgery, is now final. By accepting the verdicts at both trial and appeal, the prosecutor has closed another chapter of […]
If we give in, Trump will demand more, says Swiss political scientist
Donald Trump’s tariffs threaten to dent Swiss exports. They have also sparked what Joseph de Weck, a Swiss historian and political scientist, calls an identity crisis in a country long used to navigating between great powers. Mr Trump treats trade deficits as the source of almost every American ill—debt, deindustrialisation, even the opioid crisis. Tariffs […]
The F-35 fiasco – price hikes, tariffs, and US intransigence
Washington has refused to guarantee a fixed price for Switzerland’s 36 F-35 fighter jets, reported RTS. The total bill will therefore exceed the CHF 6 billion approved by voters. After weeks of talks with senior White House officials—including a call between America’s defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, and Switzerland’s defence minister, Martin Pfister—the United States has […]
Most Swiss against making concessions to the US
Swiss voters expect pain from America’s new border taxes but do not want Bern to blink. In a YouGov Switzerland poll, two-thirds (66%) say the 39% tariff on Swiss exports to the United States—introduced on 7 August 2025—will significantly harm the economy. Only 5% foresee little or no impact. Despite that, just a quarter (25%) […]
High Swiss multilingualism driven by English
Multilingualism is widespread in Switzerland. Nearly two-thirds use more than one language regularly in daily life, and according to the Federal Statistical Office, 86% of residents believe speaking several national languages is important for national cohesion. Overall, 63% of Swiss residents are multilingual – 37% of the population speak one language, 37% speak two, and […]
Trump tariff u-turn triggered by Swiss gold refiner’s request for guidance
After 23 hours of pandemonium in bullion markets, the White House has hinted it may row back on a decision that sent gold traders scrambling. An executive order, to be issued “in the near future”, will clarify that imports of gold bars are not, in fact, subject to tariffs, according to an official statement, reported […]
Stolen boat engines – Switzerland’s growing theft problem
Switzerland is facing a sharp rise in stolen boat engines. A surge in thefts across the country points to the emergence of a low-profile but lucrative trade, driven by organised criminal networks—many of them originating in Eastern Europe. Once rare, the scourge of boat engine theft has prompted a growing number of boat owners to […]
The Swiss cantons hit hardest by Trump’s tariffs
Not all Swiss cantons are equally exposed to America’s new tariff regime. Some—particularly those with close industrial or economic ties to the United States—stand to lose far more than others, reported RTS. Nidwalden tops the list of those most affected. Nearly half of its exports cross the Atlantic, largely thanks to Pilatus, the aircraft manufacturer […]
Rising number of dangerous items removed from luggage at Zurich airport
Safety remains aviation’s paramount concern. Each year, tens of thousands of items deemed hazardous—ranging from lithium-ion power banks and e-cigarettes to spray cans and fireworks—are plucked from passengers’ bags at Zurich airport. The tally is growing steadily, as travellers carry ever more battery-powered gadgets and as inexperienced holidaymakers pack without following the rules, said the […]
