Switzerland’s prison population has reached its highest level since records began in 1988, according to new figures from the Federal Statistical Office. Yet relative to the country’s growing population, the incarceration rate remains lower than it … [Read more...]
News and Features
Switzerland plans tougher penalties for bicycle theft
The Swiss government wants to crack down on bicycle theft by tightening penalties for offenders who claim they only intended to use stolen bikes temporarily, reported SRF. The Federal Council has backed a proposal by Lukas Reimann of the Swiss … [Read more...]
Swiss doctors accused of demanding cash payments before surgery
Some Swiss doctors are demanding thousands of francs in cash from patients before operations, sometimes without providing receipts or clearly explaining the charges, according to an investigation by SRF. Patient advocates say the practice is becoming … [Read more...]
Study calculates the high cost of 10 million population cap
A study has found that a “yes” vote on the Swiss People's Party (UDC/SVP) initiative would impose considerable costs on Switzerland. The study was conducted by Demgrafik, a research and consulting firm based in Basel. Its authors argue that … [Read more...]
FILM: PARALLEL TALES ***1/2 intense fluid multi-layered script
15 May 2026 HISTOIRES PARALLÈLES (Parallel Tales) **** (vo French, with English subtitles) What a relief - it seems three’s a charm. Meaning that Asghar Farhadi’s third film made outside Iran has finally recaptured his past brilliance, both in … [Read more...]
Guides
Language requirements for Swiss citizenship and visas – what you need to know
Brought to you by Swiss French School. On 1 January 2019, Switzerland’s federal government tightened and harmonised the rules on language requirements to qualify for some residence permits, B and C permits in particular, and … [Read More...]
8 things you must do if you’re running a Swiss business
Brought to you by Winbiz online accounting for Swiss businesses. Once a business is established, there are many ongoing administrative tasks required by law. The main ones are covered in this article. The first few relate to employees and … [Read More...]
Activities
Renowned artist EDWARD HOPPER in Basel
Solitary, pensive figures. Deserted streets or a luminous gas station in twilight. A night diner seen from outside. These are the static, atmospheric scenes we usually connect with Edward Hopper’s paintings. A uniquely American artist, who lived from … [Read more...]
Lake Geneva – tests show beaches with cleanest water
A map published recently by the Commission internationale pour la protection des eaux du Léman (CIPEL), a Swiss-French intergovernmental organisation, rates the water quality at most Lake Geneva beaches as excellent or of a medium to good quality. … [Read more...]
“Snow of May” – Swiss narcissus season in full bloom
The spring narcissus bloom in Switzerland's riviera region, a star tourist attraction of the Belle Epoque - the 30 to 40 years before the war in 1914 - was described as the "snow of May" by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms. The book … [Read more...]
