Author: switzerlandtimes.ch

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. Geneva is widely regarded as the strictest canton. Homeowners seeking permission for fixed air-conditioning systems have in some cases been required to demonstrate a legitimate need, even requiring medical justification. Environmental concerns also play a role. The canton has long viewed air conditioning as energy-intensive…

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 conference, effectively confirming earlier reporting by SRF. According to SRF, the suspect first attracted the attention of investigators in 2018 during inquiries into a group associated with the An’Nur mosque in Winterthur, which was later closed. Several members of the group were subsequently prosecuted and,…

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 would weaken the financing of Switzerland’s two most important social-insurance systems: the state pension scheme (AVS) and compulsory health insurance (LAMal). A 2023 study by the Federal Social Insurance Office found that immigration benefits both the AVS and disability insurance systems. Foreign residents, on average,…

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 “permanent” and “armed”. It would also bar Switzerland from joining military or defence alliances except in the event of a direct attack on the country. The proposal further demands that Switzerland refrain from participating in foreign wars or imposing economic and diplomatic sanctions on belligerent…

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, analysed data from more than 30,000 pupils across 11 cantons and four cities. Overall, 17.2% of Swiss schoolchildren were classified as overweight or obese in 2025. Of these, 12.7% were overweight and 4.5% obese.  The encouraging news lies among the youngest children. In the first…

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 Switzerland’s debt-enforcement law. Of these, 12,485 concerned companies and 1,127 private individuals. The rise was dramatic. Overall bankruptcies increased by 48.5% compared with the previous year, while corporate bankruptcies jumped by more than 61%. Personal bankruptcies, by contrast, fell by roughly one-fifth. At first glance…

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 open on Sundays only under strict conditions, including the existence of a collective bargaining agreement covering employees. Although the law already allows several exceptional openings each year, the absence of a new agreement since 2017 has effectively frozen the system. The proposed reform would permit…

Swiss Rail is betting that Swiss travellers want more access to neighbouring Europe. Its proposed 2027 timetable, due to take effect on December 13th, places greater emphasis on international routes, with improved services to Paris and northern Italy, reported RTS. The most notable improvement concerns the route between Lausanne and Paris. From April 5th 2027 three daily TGV services in each direction will once again run via Geneva. The reduction in direct links during recent years had irritated both business travellers and tourists, particularly as rail travel between Switzerland and France has enjoyed steadily rising demand. A new service between…

Inside the private halls of The Dolder Grand, the recent Legacy Private Capital Roundtable brought together a carefully selected group of entrepreneurs, investors, operators, and capital allocators for an invite-only discussion centered around modern influence, access, and execution. While the event featured several high-level participants from across finance and business, much of the attention throughout the evening gravitated toward one speaker in particular: Aarush Garg. Hosted by Daniel Filatov, the Zurich gathering was intentionally designed as an alternative to traditional business conferences. Rather than emphasizing visibility, audience size, or public exposure, the event focused on high-trust conversations among a smaller…

Switzerland’s Ascension holiday weekend once again brought heavy traffic to the country’s roads, with long queues forming at the Gotthard tunnel despite expanded rail services to southern Switzerland. After tailbacks of nearly 10km on Wednesday, traffic heading south continued to build on Thursday, particularly along the A2 motorway leading to the Gotthard Road Tunnel, reported RTS. By midday, the Touring Club Switzerland reported a queue stretching 10km between Erstfeld and Göschenen on the northern approach to the tunnel. Drivers faced delays of around one hour and 40 minutes before entering the tunnel. Traffic gradually eased later in the afternoon. Alternative…