Author: switzerlandtimes.ch

This week, the Federal Council said it would look at a proposal to ban access to social media in Swiss classrooms, reported RTS. The ban aims to effectively prevent the use of mobile phones in class and would apply to those under 16. The proposal is supported by politicians on both the left and the right. Maya Graf, a politician who supports the proposal, said that research suggests smartphones interfere with the development of children and teenagers and negatively affect their mental health, ability to concentrate and to learn. Rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts have all risen since…

A study yet to be published by Switzerland’s Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (FSVO) found traces of car tire pollution in vegetables grown and sold in Switzerland, reported SRF. The study found chemical additives used in tire production in one third of the vegetables tested. Researchers at EPFL in Lausanne tested around one hundred samples of commonly consumed vegetables, which include lettuce, cabbage, spinach, onions, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, courgettes and pumpkins. The produce, which was sourced from Switzerland, Italy, Spain and France, was purchased from wholesalers and retailers in Switzerland. The compounds detected are used by…

Small businesses are the backbone of the global economy, yet many face challenges accessing reliable banking services due to high fees, slow international payments, and restrictive lending policies. Fintech giant Black Banx, serving 69 million customers globally, has positioned itself as a solution-driven financial platform, removing these barriers with its instant account setup, multi-currency banking, low-cost international payments, and crypto-friendly financial solutions. Breaking Traditional Banking Barriers Many traditional banks impose lengthy verification processes, high transaction fees, and limited global banking options, making it difficult for small businesses to scale. Black Banx eliminates these obstacles by offering: Instant Account Opening: Small…

This week, an initiative aimed at convincing Swiss voters to support a proposal to introduce a system of universal service for all Swiss citizens was rejected by parliament, reported SRF. Only one party, the Liberal Green Party, supported the proposal. All other major parties were against the idea. Those supporting the idea claim it would solve the issue of under staffing suffered by the organisations supported by the current system, which forces only men to undertake public service, mainly by serving in the military. Women can join on a voluntary basis, but very few do. The organisers also believe the…

The results of a survey on family life published on 20 March 2025 show that money remains the biggest concern among families in Switzerland. The survey sheds light on what families are currently concerned about and addresses the topics of family life, expectations, safety, retirement planning, pressure on parents and children, work-life balance, finances and areas of sacrifice. The results were analysed by linguistic region, number of children, age of children, family type, and household income. Many Swiss families consider money to be tight. 46% described their income as sufficient, 47% said it was barely sufficient, and 7% said they…

A parade that starts at 4 in the morning? With piccolos? And drums? In winter? Really? Yes, and you’ll be enchanted by the whole thing. Every year in the city of Basel on the Monday after Ash Wednesday (this year, March 10th), the Morgestraich (“Morning sweep” in Basel dialect) marks the beginning of the three-day Fasnacht festival. This is said to be the only Protestant carnival in the world. But what Protestants lack in quantity, they make up for in quality. Fasnacht is a kaleidoscopic surreal experience that would be the stuff of nightmares with the enormous scary masks and…

At the end of 2023, more than 8.9 million people lived in Switzerland, rising by 147,000 (1.7%) across the year, reported the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). The population rose in all cantons, driven by high levels of immigration, particularly from Ukraine. The last time Switzerland’s population rose so fast was in 1960, wrote FSO. The figures include all residents, which is defined as those living in the country for more than one year. A large proportion of the refugees from Ukraine had been living in Switzerland for more than a year by the end of 2023. This boosted the resident…

Insurance companies use customer data to estimate the risk of an accident and calculate a price for covering that risk. Any discernable attribute that correlates with differences in risk can help to make pricing more accurate. The age and gender of the driver, where they live and the vehicle they drive are the key factors for generalising about risk. A driver’s nationality is another data point that can make a big difference to the cost of vehicle insurance in Switzerland, according to a survey published this week by Comparis. Some foreign nationals in Switzerland pay significantly more for their car…

Switzerland is no stranger to violent storms, which sometime come out of nowhere when hiking in the mountains. According to experts, most people struck by lightning survive. But the risks of suffering long term damage are high, reported SRF. The electricity discharged by lightning can be as high as 100,000 amperes, according to Christian Franck, a physicist at ETH Zurich. 100,000 amperes is thousands of times more than the current in a home wall socket. A direct hit is not required to get shocked by lightning. Someone can receive a shock from the ground around them if a lightning bolt…

This week, Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG) announced it had fined and closed its criminal investigation against the mining company Glencore International AG. After a four year investigation, OAG closed its criminal investigation against the Swiss-based company and imposed a CHF 2 million fine for failing to take all necessary and reasonable organisational measures with regard to the bribery of foreign public officials in connection with the acquisition of stakes in two mining companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2011. The summary penalty order issued on 5 August 2024 holds Glencore criminally liable for failing…