Were the votes held at the start of October, Switzerland’s proposed inheritance tax would have failed. Support and opposition to compulsory community service, meanwhile, remain neck and neck, according to a recent poll. On November 30th 2025, Swiss voters will decide on two federal initiatives. The first, the Inheritance Tax Initiative, would introduce a levy […]
More than 25,000 animals abandoned in Switzerland in 2024
More than 25,000 animals were abandoned in Switzerland in 2024, according to the Swiss Animal Protection Society (PSA), which warns of a worrying rise in the number of pets left behind. The charity recorded 32,079 animals taken in by shelters last year, 572 more than in 2023. Of these, 25,403 were abandoned, 5,449 were found, […]
Swiss insurers overwhelmed by weight-loss drug demand
Switzerland’s health insurers are hiring extra staff—not to process claims for surgery or cancer care, but to handle a surge in requests for weight-loss injections, reported SRF. A survey by SRF’s consumer programme Espresso found that such requests now account for up to a third of all reimbursement applications at several major insurers. At CSS, […]
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. […]
Bern’s parliament condemns violence but quarrels over policing
Bern’s municipal parliament unanimously condemned the violence that erupted during last Saturday’s pro-Palestinian protest, but disagreed sharply over how the authorities handled it, reported SRF. The demonstration, held without authorisation, degenerated into clashes that left 18 police officers injured. Pro-Palestinian groups said several hundred demonstrators and bystanders were also hurt. Property damage is estimated in […]
Swiss government warns of tax losses from socialist inheritance-tax initiative
Switzerland’s Federal Council has warned that a proposal by the Young Socialists could lead to substantial tax losses and drive wealthy residents abroad, reported RTS. On Monday, it launched its campaign against the “For the Future” initiative, which will go to a vote on 30 November 2025. The initiative, officially titled “For a socially just […]
Switzerland relaxes limits on construction
Switzerland’s Federal Council has agreed to loosen restrictions on building outside designated zones, reported RTS. From 2026, the permitted volume of such construction will rise by 2%, a move that has angered environmental groups. Pro Natura, which championed earlier efforts to curb urban sprawl, accused the government of “torpedoing” the latest revision of the Spatial […]
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 […]
Swiss Rail denies plans to scrap half-fare travelcard
Reports in the German-speaking press on Wednesday morning claimed that Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF) would abolish its half-fare travelcard in 2027. Several French-speaking outlets repeated the story. A few hours later, Alliance SwissPass, which oversees national transport passes, denied it. The confusion began with an article in K-Tipp, a German-language consumer magazine, which said that […]
18-year old arrested before planned terrorist attack in Switzerland
Switzerland’s federal prosecutors say they thwarted a suspected terrorist attack this spring, arresting a radicalised 18-year-old man, according to federal prosecutor, Stefan Blättler, in an interview with SonntagsBlick, that was reported by RTS. The young Swiss-German is being held in pre-trial detention. Motivated by Islamist ideology, his alleged goal was to carry out a knife […]
