# Switzerland Times

> Latest Switzerland News and Updates


## Posts

- [The Ultimate Guide to Healthy Meal Prep and Food Delivery in Zurich](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/the-ultimate-guide-to-healthy-meal-prep-and-food-delivery-in-zurich/): Let’s be honest, keeping up with healthy eating when your schedule is packed feels like a second job. Between early mornings, long commutes, and the eternal question of “what’s for dinner?”, it’s no wonder so many of us in Switzerland are looking for smarter ways to eat well without spending hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re a seasoned meal prepper, a food blog enthusiast hunting for your next recipe obsession, or someone who just wants wholesome food delivered to your door, this guide is for you. We’re breaking down the best strategies from local foodie inspiration to efficient prep hacks
- [Swiss court rules that only dairy can be called “milk”](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-court-rules-that-only-dairy-can-be-called-milk/): A product made from oats cannot be labelled “milk”, says Federal Supreme Court. In the court’s view, the term applies only to what comes from an animal’s udder. The case centred on an oat drink sold by Danone under its Alpro brand in Swiss supermarkets such as Migros and Coop. Its packaging reads “Shhh… this is not milk”, with the “i” replaced by a droplet. The cantonal laboratory in Zurich, which tests food for contaminants, checks whether products are correctly labelled and investigates misleading claims or packaging, deemed this misleading. Authorities argued that consumers might confuse the product with cow’s
- [Swiss court upholds ban on chemical chlorothalonil](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-court-upholds-ban-on-chemical-chlorothalonil/): Switzerland’s ban on chlorothalonil will remain in force, according to a ruling by the Federal Administrative Court published on Thursday. Judges dismissed an appeal by Syngenta, which had challenged the prohibition of fungicides containing the substance. The ban dates back to December 2019, when the Federal Office for Agriculture withdrew approval for plant-protection products based on chlorothalonil. The decision, which took effect on January 1st 2020, meant that existing stocks could no longer be sold. The concern was that the chemical can break down into potentially harmful metabolites that seep into groundwater and drinking water. Syngenta argued that these degradation
- [Capping Switzerland’s population: simple in theory, tricky in practice](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/capping-switzerlands-population-simple-in-theory-tricky-in-practice/): This week, the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) launched what it hopes will be its political campaign of the year: an initiative to cap the population at 10m. Voters will decide on June 14th. Both the Federal Council and parliament oppose the plan and offer no counter-proposal. The idea is straightforward: Switzerland’s population, currently about 9m, should not exceed 10m by 2050. The Swiss People’s Party argues that anything beyond that would strain infrastructure, schools, healthcare, electricity supply and welfare systems. According to official projections, Switzerland could reach 10m inhabitants as early as 2040. Once the population passes 9.5m, the government
- [Antimatter takes to the road](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/antimatter-takes-to-the-road/): Scientists at CERN have achieved a first: they have transported antimatter in a truck across the laboratory’s main site. The result marks a step towards shipping antiprotons to other European research centres. The team behind the BASE experiment trapped 92 antiprotons in a portable cryogenic device known as a Penning trap, disconnected it from its host apparatus, loaded it onto a truck and resumed operations after the journey. That is no small feat. Antimatter annihilates on contact with ordinary matter, making it notoriously hard to store, let alone move. The demonstration is a trial run. The longer-term goal is to
- [Swiss parliament backs road tolls for transit traffic](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-parliament-backs-road-tolls-for-transit-traffic/): Foreign motorists passing through Switzerland without stopping may soon have to pay. This week, after the upper house, parliament also approved a proposal to introduce a transit toll, reported SRF. The move reflects growing concern about congestion on Switzerland’s trans-Alpine routes. Traffic through the Gotthard corridor regularly grinds to a halt on weekends and public holidays, with queues stretching for kilometres. The strain is felt not only by residents but also by fragile Alpine ecosystems. Previous attempts to curb traffic with tolls have failed to win support; this proposal however, has now cleared parliament and the Council of States, Switzerland’s
- [Switzerland halts new arms exports to America](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerland-halts-new-arms-exports-to-america/): Switzerland will no longer approve new licences for arms exports to the United States, reported SRF. The Federal Council announced the move on Friday in response to the American war against Iran. The government said its decision was guided by Switzerland’s neutrality and the War Materiel Act. For the duration of the conflict, it argued, exports of war materiel to countries involved could not be authorised. Existing licences remain valid for now. The Federal Council said they are not directly linked to the conflict. Nevertheless, an expert group drawn from the departments of economic affairs, foreign affairs and defence will
- [Swiss government submits EU agreements package to parliament](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-government-submits-eu-agreements-package-to-parliament/): The Federal Council has sent a package of agreements with the European Union to parliament, allowing lawmakers to begin debating a plan aimed at stabilising and developing Switzerland’s relations with the bloc. Presenting the proposal in Bern, Guy Parmelin, the president of the confederation, said the package was in Switzerland’s interest. Strengthening the bilateral approach, he argued, was the only way to preserve a balanced degree of political autonomy while maintaining close ties with the EU in economic, scientific and social fields. The government says a stable legal framework is essential. Without updating existing agreements, it argues, the bilateral relationship
- [Winter returns to Switzerland after early spring warmth](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/winter-returns-to-switzerland-after-early-spring-warmth/): After an unusually mild spell, winter is set to return to Switzerland this weekend. Temperatures are expected to drop sharply—by about 10°C—between Friday night and Saturday, according to MétéoSuisse. Snow is also forecast to return, although the snowline and expected amounts remain uncertain. Spring had seemed to arrive early this year, with trees budding and daffodils already in bloom. But by Saturday afternoon temperatures in the lowlands may reach only 7–8°C. That would mark a sharp contrast with recent conditions, when several local records for late February were broken. On February 27th temperatures reached 20°C in Fahy and 17.6°C in
- [Henniez forced to avoid some water sources after filtration scandal](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/henniez-forced-to-avoid-some-water-sources-after-filtration-scandal/): After revelations that its mineral water had been filtered, Henniez can no longer use the activated-carbon filters that once removed traces of pesticides. The Swiss bottler, owned by Nestlé Waters, must now stop using part of the water from some springs and instead adjust the blend of remaining sources so that the final product complies with legal limits. The information comes from documents obtained by RTS after two years of transparency requests. In January 2024 it emerged that Henniez had filtered its so-called natural mineral water with activated carbon. Under Swiss law, mineral water must be naturally pure to carry
- [Geneva public-sector workers threaten strike over budget cuts](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/geneva-public-sector-workers-threaten-strike-over-budget-cuts/): Public-sector workers in Geneva have issued a strike notice for April 23rd in protest against expected cuts in the cantonal budget, reported RTS. On Thursday evening the general assembly of the Cartel Intersyndical, an umbrella group of unions, also approved plans for a demonstration a week earlier. The cantonal government is due to present a new draft budget at the end of March. A panel of experts had been asked to identify potential savings of CHF 500m. Some unions fear the cuts could be even deeper. In a resolution adopted unanimously, public-sector employees criticised what they describe as repeated forecasting
- [Government plan to bolster Swiss wine draws criticism from industry](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/government-plan-to-bolster-swiss-wine-draws-criticism-from-industry/): Swiss wine faces falling consumption and stiff competition from abroad. The federal government now wants to intervene. But its proposed rules have met resistance from parts of the industry, reported SRF. At present, wine imports operate on a first come, first served basis. Each year a fixed quantity of wine can be imported under preferential tariffs. Importers who secure a share of the quota early benefit from lower duties. That system could soon change. Under the federal government’s proposal, import quotas would be granted primarily to those who also buy and process Swiss grapes. Merchants push backProducers of Swiss wine
- [The Spatial Workplace: How AR and VR are Redefining Digital Collaboration](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/the-spatial-workplace-how-ar-and-vr-are-redefining-digital-collaboration/): As we navigate through 2026, the traditional two-dimensional screen is no longer the final frontier for work. The integration of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) into workplace platforms is giving rise to the “Spatial Workplace.” This evolution moves us beyond video calls and into immersive environments where distance is irrelevant and collaboration is sensory. For hybrid teams, spatial technology solves the “presence deficit”—the feeling of being a detached observer rather than an active participant in a meeting. By stepping into a shared virtual office, employees can interact with 3D models, brainstorm on infinite digital whiteboards, and read the
- [Swiss voters reject plan to cut broadcasting fee and back individual taxation](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-voters-reject-plan-to-cut-broadcasting-fee-and-back-individual-taxation/): Swiss voters rejected an initiative to slash the national radio-television fee while approving a reform introducing individual taxation for married couples. They also backed a government counter-proposal on cash in the constitution and rejected a climate fund. Broadcasting fee initiative rejectedVoters rejected the initiative “200 francs is enough!”, which proposed cutting the radio-television fee from CHF 335 to CHF 200 per household and abolishing the levy on companies. According to the official provisional result, 61.92% voted against the proposal and 38.08% supported it, with all cantons rejecting the initiative. The Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) lamented the result. In a statement
- [Swiss government rejects Greens’ solar initiative](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-government-rejects-greens-solar-initiative/): Switzerland’s government has rejected a popular initiative by the Green Party of Switzerland that would make solar installations mandatory for all new buildings and major renovations, reported RTS. On Friday the Federal Council of Switzerland dismissed the proposal without offering a counter-proposal, arguing that it would infringe on private property rights. The government acknowledged that Switzerland must significantly expand domestic energy production. But requiring solar panels on all new or renovated buildings would interfere with property rights and the constitutional guarantee of ownership, it said in a statement. Implementing the initiative could also complicate the division of responsibilities between the
- [Swiss politicians launch initiative to curb big tech](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-politicians-launch-initiative-to-curb-big-tech/): A cross-party committee has launched a popular initiative aimed at holding technology companies legally accountable if they fail in their duty of care, reported RTS. Among other measures, the proposal would require large digital platforms to appoint a legal representative in Switzerland. The initiative, presented on Tuesday by the Guido Fluri Foundation, seeks to make digital platforms, search engines and artificial-intelligence services more accountable. “Our fundamental rights are threatened by the tech giants,” said Guido Fluri, an entrepreneur from Aargau. He argued that the business model of large technology companies encourages the spread of harmful content while shifting the consequences
- [Swiss voter preferences firm up ahead of March votes](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-voter-preferences-firm-up-ahead-of-march-votes/): Opinion formation varies across the four proposals to be voted on 8 March. It is most advanced for the initiative targeting SRG SSR, where 85% of likely voters say they have made up their minds. More than two-thirds also report firm positions on the cash initiative, the climate fund initiative and individual taxation. By contrast, views remain more fluid on the counter-proposal to the cash initiative: only 55% express a settled intention. Turnout is currently projected at 48%, close to the long-term average of 47.1% recorded between 2011 and 2024. Cash initiative: still ahead, but losing groundThe cash initiative retains
- [Swiss lawmakers step up trade diplomacy in Washington](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-lawmakers-step-up-trade-diplomacy-in-washington/): A delegation from Switzerland’s federal parliament travelled to Washington this week for talks with members of Congress and American economic officials, with the prospect of a bilateral trade agreement high on the agenda, reported RTS. The visit had been planned for some time but has acquired greater urgency amid renewed turbulence in American trade policy. After parts of Donald Trump’s tariff regime were struck down by the Supreme Court, the former president responded with fresh duties, adding to uncertainty for trading partners. On Tuesday the Swiss EFTA/EU delegation met Jamieson Greer, the United States Trade Representative, as well as two
- [Swiss anti-GM initiative gathers enough signatures for a vote](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-anti-gm-initiative-gathers-enough-signatures-for-a-vote/): Regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Switzerland is set to return to the ballot box. A popular initiative titled “For food without genetically modified organisms” was submitted to the Federal Chancellery on Friday with more than 137,000 signatures, comfortably above the 100,000 required to trigger a nationwide vote. The proposal calls for continued strict controls once the current moratorium on GM crops expires. It seeks to enshrine consumer choice, safeguard GM-free agriculture and uphold the precautionary principle, particularly in relation to organic farming. Martin Graf, president of the Association for GMO-free Food, said Swiss consumers wanted to retain the
- [EU member states back new accords with Switzerland](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/eu-member-states-back-new-accords-with-switzerland/): Member states of the European Union have approved the signing of a package of agreements with Bern, giving their political blessing on Tuesday. The next step, according to the Council, is expected in March. The decision marks a logical step in strengthening our long-standing relations, said Marilena Raouna, Cyprus’s deputy minister for European affairs, in a statement issued by the Council. The accords reflect a commitment to a stronger and more autonomous Union that remains open to the world. The 27 EU ministers for European affairs met in Brussels as part of the General Affairs Council. The meeting was chaired
- [What is Switzerland’s broadcasting levy?](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/what-is-switzerlands-broadcasting-levy/): Redevance (or Medienabgabe in German) is a word much heard since the launch of the “200 francs is enough!” initiative, on which voters will decide on March 8th. The levy is a compulsory annual charge paid by every household in Switzerland, whether or not they consume radio or television. Some firms pay it, too. Collection is handled by Serafe, a private company mandated by the Federal Council. It gathers roughly CHF 1.4bn a year. Where does the money go?Most of it—88%—finances the programmes of the Swiss public broadcaster, SSR. A further 6% is distributed to private regional radio and television
- [Swiss finance minister defends austerity despite surprise surplus in 2025](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-finance-minister-defends-austerity-despite-surprise-surplus-in-2025/): Switzerland’s federal government closed 2025 with a financing surplus of CHF 0.3bn, rather than the CHF 0.8bn deficit forecast in the budget. The improvement of more than CHF 1bn was largely due to temporary additional tax revenue from the canton of Geneva. Ministers caution that the windfall should not be mistaken for a change in trend. Karin Keller-Sutter, the finance minister, said in Bern that the better-than-expected result did not alter the need for the government’s planned relief package from 2027. Even with the savings programme currently before parliament and a proposed VAT increase to fund defence and security spending,
- [Swiss politicians challenge WHO’s stance on alcohol](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-politicians-challenge-whos-stance-on-alcohol/): A group of Swiss politicians and hospitality industry representatives is pushing back against the World Health Organization, which in 2023 argued that no level of alcohol consumption can be considered risk-free, reported SRF. The agency maintains that even small amounts of wine, beer or spirits increase health risks. Critics in Switzerland say that position overstates the scientific case. At the centre of the dispute is Benedikt Würth, a centrist member of the Council of States from St Gallen. He argues that the WHO’s zero-risk-free framing lacks nuance. Studies show correlations between alcohol and disease, he says, but do not always
- [Political polarisation on the rise in Switzerland since 1990](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/political-polarisation-on-the-rise-in-switzerland-since-1990/): Political polarisation has become a hallmark of many democracies, as parties harden their positions and voters sort into rival camps. Switzerland, long regarded as a model of consensus politics, has not escaped the trend. Signs of strain have been visible since the 1990s. One way to gauge polarisation is to examine how consistently voters vote with their party. In Switzerland that cohesion is most pronounced at the ideological fringes. Data from Smartmonitor, a parliamentary tracking platform, show that members of the Socialist Party (SP/PS) were the most aligned in 2025: 97.2% of their votes followed the party line, after 98.1%
- [Will you pay less federal tax under proposed tax reform?](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/will-you-pay-less-federal-tax-under-proposed-tax-reform/): On March 8th Swiss voters will decide whether to replace joint taxation of married couples with individual taxation. The reform aims to abolish the so-called marriage penalty, whereby spouses are taxed on their combined income rather than separately. Married couples are most directly affected, but the change would reshape federal direct tax for many households. A calculator published by RTS illustrates the likely effects. Consider two married couples with children and identical total incomes. If the reform passes, one would pay several thousand francs less in federal direct tax than today; the other several thousand more. The difference lies not
- [Donald Trump again singles out Switzerland in defence of tariffs](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/donald-trump-again-singles-out-switzerland-in-defence-of-tariffs/): Donald Trump has once more invoked Switzerland’s trade surplus to justify his trade policy, arguing that the prosperity of such countries depends on American generosity. In an interview broadcast on Fox Business on Tuesday evening, the president said the United States had “let them exploit us”, referring to Switzerland’s goods trade surplus with the US. He said “Switzerland you think of, you know, as ultra chic, ultra perfect, every…, they’re not. They’re only that way because we allow them to rip us off and make all this money.” He then said he could cite “40 other countries” in a similar
- [Votes to limit immigration and reform civil service set for June, 14th](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/votes-to-limit-immigration-and-reform-civil-service-set-for-june-14th/): Swiss voters will decide on two federal questions on June 14th, the Federal Council confirmed on Wednesday: a popular initiative to cap population growth and a tightening of access to civilian service, challenged by referendum. A ceiling on populationThe first proposal, launched by the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) and titled “No Switzerland of 10 million!”, seeks stricter controls on immigration to ensure that the country’s permanent resident population does not exceed 10m by 2050. The federal authorities would be required to act once the population surpasses 9.5m. Under the initiative, persons admitted on a provisional basis would no longer be
- [Swiss voters oppose VAT rise for army and pensions, survey finds](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-voters-oppose-vat-rise-for-army-and-pensions-survey-finds/): Swiss voters appear reluctant to raise value-added tax (VAT) to finance either higher defence spending or a 13th monthly state pension, according to a survey conducted for Blick. Opposition spans the political spectrum. More than three-quarters of the roughly 15,000 respondents in German- and French-speaking Switzerland rejected a temporary 0.8 percentage-point increase in VAT to fund additional resources for the armed forces. Resistance was similarly strong to a 0.7-point increase to finance the newly approved 13th payment of the state pension. Two-thirds said they were clearly or rather opposed; only 21% were somewhat in favour and 13% clearly in favour.
- [How eight remarkable Ghanaian women began transforming soil](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/how-eight-remarkable-ghanaian-women-began-transforming-soil/): Scott Poynton, a forester based near Nyon in the canton of Vaud, spent last Wednesday in unusual company. In northern Ghana he met eight women who had taken their livelihoods firmly into their own hands. Impressed by their initiative, he later dubbed them the “Inspiration Sisters”, a title they accepted with quiet pride. The encounter took place in Kugolugo, a village in Tolon district, west of Tamale, the capital of Ghana’s Northern Region. Poynton was there to discuss biochar and its potential to restore soils degraded by decades of ploughing and heavy use of chemical fertilisers. Biochar is a form
- [Is the latest Swiss Olympic bid against the will of the people?](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/is-the-latest-swiss-olympic-bid-against-the-will-of-the-people/): Switzerland may bid to host the 2038 Winter Olympics—despite a long record of public resistance, reports SRF. Voters rejected Olympic projects in cantonal referendums in 2013, 2017 and 2018—Graubunden twice then Valais. This time, however, the proposal is being advanced without a vote. The bid is being prepared by Swiss Olympic, which argues that past rejections are a poor guide. Earlier proposals centred on a single host region that would also shoulder most of the costs. The new concept, dubbed “Games à la Suisse”, would be decentralised, rely largely on existing infrastructure and spread responsibilities across the country. All previous
- [Swiss canton to vote on cutting welfare payments after 2 years](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-canton-to-vote-on-cutting-welfare-payments-after-2-years/): On March 8, voters in Aargau will decide whether to reduce social assistance for people who have relied on welfare for more than two years, reports SRF. The proposal, launched by the youth wing of the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), reflects a broader debate over how far social aid should go—and how hard it should push recipients back into work. The popular initiative, titled Work must pay, would lower the basic welfare allowance by at least 5% for long-term recipients. Exemptions would apply to children, parents of infants under four months, and people aged 55 and over—but only if they
- [Swiss cantons push back against individual taxation](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-cantons-push-back-against-individual-taxation/): Most cantonal governments oppose Switzerland’s proposed shift to individual taxation, warning that it would be costly, administratively burdensome and unnecessarily centralising, reports SRF. Their resistance is strong enough that the Conference of Cantonal Governments has issued a rare joint statement urging voters to reject the reform in a referendum scheduled for March 8th. The change is too fundamental, said Markus Dieth, president of the conference and a member of Aargau’s cantonal government. Cantons accept that the so-called marriage penalty in the direct federal tax should be corrected. But they argue that replacing joint taxation with a fully individualised system goes
- [Continued rise in number of fare evaders caught on Swiss public transport](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/continued-rise-in-number-of-fare-evaders-caught-on-swiss-public-transport/): The number of fare evaders caught on Switzerland’s public-transport network is increasing steadily. In 2024, 1.17m passengers were found travelling without a valid ticket, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Alliance SwissPass. That is well above the one-million mark crossed for the first time the previous year. The data, reported by various media source including bluewin.ch, have been collected since 2019 through a centralised information system shared by transport operators. Over the past six years, the number of passengers caught without a ticket—or with only a partially valid one—has risen without interruption. Switzerland does not publish a single
- [Switzerland plans text alerts to supplement sirens](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerland-plans-text-alerts-to-supplement-sirens/): Switzerland’s annual test of its civil-defence sirens was largely successful. Nearly 99% of the country’s roughly 5,000 alarms functioned properly during the nationwide drill on Wednesday, according to the Federal Office of Civil Protection. The figure is broadly unchanged from last year. Cantons and municipalities have been instructed to repair or replace faulty equipment without delay. Several cantons also tested mobile sirens, which are used in sparsely populated areas and can serve as a back-up if fixed installations fail. The sirens are sounded each year on the first Wednesday in February. But the system has limits. Some people—particularly those in
- [Swiss unemployment rises in January](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-unemployment-rises-in-january/): Switzerland’s labour market weakened further at the start of 2026. The unemployment rate rose to 3.2% in January, up 0.1 percentage points from December, marking a second consecutive monthly increase after stagnating in November, according to data released by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The number of people registered with regional employment offices climbed by 3.4% over the month to 152,280. At 3.2%, the jobless rate is at its highest level since October 2020, when a series of increases eventually pushed unemployment to 3.7% in January 2021 before a gradual decline set in later that year. Adjusted for
- [Upcoming Swiss votes: one tight race, three clearer outcomes](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/upcoming-swiss-votes-one-tight-race-three-clearer-outcomes/): With four federal proposals heading to a vote on March 8th, opinion polls suggest one contest remains finely balanced, while voters appear to have made up their minds on the other three. According to a mid-January survey commissioned by SRG, the initiative targeting the public broadcaster is deadlocked. By contrast, individual taxation commands broad support, the climate fund looks headed for defeat, and the cash initiative will hinge on a tie-breaker. The most uncertain contest concerns the so-called SRG initiative, which proposes cutting the household media fee, which effectively all households must pay, to CHF 200 and abolishing it altogether
- [How some Swiss struggle to integrate in Switzerland](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/how-some-swiss-struggle-to-integrate-in-switzerland/): Internal migration across Switzerland’s linguistic borders sometimes tests local integration. In the canton of Fribourg, growing numbers of French-speakers are settling in German-speaking municipalities, drawn by cheaper housing and proximity to the canton’s capital. The shift is quietly reshaping local administration, schools and civic life, reports SRF. In villages such as Giffers and Tentlingen, construction has boomed in recent years. Many newcomers come from the French-speaking part of the canton. Municipal offices have adapted pragmatically: in Tentlingen, around half of staff speak French. Requests for documents in French are increasingly common, though the authorities insist the commune remains German-speaking. Confusion
- [Swiss party seeks cap on primary school pupils not speaking language of instruction](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-party-seeks-cap-on-primary-school-pupils-not-speaking-language-of-instruction/): Switzerland’s largest party, the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), wants to curb the number of pupils in primary school classes who do not speak the language of instruction, arguing that rising immigration is undermining primary education, reported SRF. Meeting in Näfels in the canton of Glarus, party delegates approved a set of demands billed as an effort to save primary school. According to the UDC/SVP, schools are increasingly failing to teach basic skills such as reading, writing and arithmetic. Benjamin Fischer, a member of the National Council, said teaching becomes difficult when a fifth of pupils in a class speak a
- [Swiss exports reach a record high in 2025](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-exports-reach-a-record-high-in-2025/): Swiss exports hit a new high in 2025, buoyed by strong demand for chemicals and pharmaceuticals, despite a tariff dispute with the United States under Donald Trump. Exports rose by 1.4% to CHF 287bn, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security. Shipments to the United States increased by 3.9% to CHF 54.7bn, even as imports from America fell by 5.7% to CHF 13.3bn. Exports to the US were 19% of the total. Imports overall climbed by 4.5% to CHF 232.7bn, the second-highest level on record. As a result, Switzerland’s trade surplus narrowed to CHF 54.3bn, down from
- [Swiss government plans VAT hike for military spending](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-government-plans-vat-hike-for-military-spending/): Switzerland’s government plans to raise value-added tax (VAT) temporarily to finance a substantial increase in military and security spending. The Federal Council wants to raise an additional CHF 31bn over ten years through a 0.8-percentage-point increase in VAT. A detailed proposal is due in March. According to the defence minister, Switzerland is ill-prepared for an international conflict and could itself become a target. Only about one-third of the armed forces is currently adequately equipped to defend the country. Although defence spending is set to rise to 1% of GDP by 2032, the government concedes that this will not be enough
- [Swiss railways set a new punctuality record](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-railways-set-a-new-punctuality-record/): Switzerland’s state railway, Swiss Federal Railways, reported its best punctuality on record in 2025, with only 1 in 17 trains (5.9%) arriving late, down from 6.8% in 2024. In 2025, an average Swiss train commuter making the daily trip to and from work would have arrived late only 28 times across the year. Overall, 94.1% of Swiss passenger trains running on the federal network arrived on time. That was an improvement of 0.9 percentage points on the previous year. The company said the most punctual day in its history came on December 28th, when 98.6% of services reached their destination
- [Swiss motorists warned over electronic motorway-vignette scams](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-motorists-warned-over-electronic-motorway-vignette-scams/): Drivers using Swiss motorways have until January 31st to buy the motorway vignette for 2026. But the Swiss authorities are urging caution: reports of fraud linked to the electronic version have risen sharply in recent weeks. Unofficial websites are charging inflated prices, sometimes bundling the purchase with hidden subscriptions. Some unwittingly buy a vignette from a non-official site, paying more than the official price of 40 francs. The surcharge might be up to 10 francs more and might come with a sneaky annual auto renewal. Cancellation is typically difficult. Because these sites are not directly issuing the vignette, they need
- [Swiss lower-broadcasting-fee initiative sets out its arguments](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-lower-broadcasting-fee-initiative-sets-out-its-arguments/): The campaign in favour of the initiative has been formally launched. The organisers’ central argument is cost. The proposal, which would cut Switzerland’s radio and television licence fee from CHF 355 per household to CHF 200 a year, will be put to a vote on March 8th. Consumers must be relieved of the financial burden, said Thomas Matter, a National Councillor from the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) and one of the initiative’s leading proponents. He argued that reducing what he called the world’s highest broadcasting fee was justified at a time when households are struggling with rising rents and health-insurance
- [Maximizing AI Gives This Borderless Bank Another Edge in Digital Finance](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/maximizing-ai-gives-this-borderless-bank-another-edge-in-digital-finance/): In the last decade, finance has not only experienced typical shifts, it has transformed at a pace that would’ve seemed impossible at the start of the century. Central to this change as of late has been artificial intelligence (AI). While applications of the technology continue to evolve and its potential seemingly growing by the minute, AI has already significantly changed the way banks operate, innovate, and serve customers.   While many traditional players have finally begun integrating AI to their operations, a select few like Black Banx have long been making the most of what AI has to offer, and
- [Tensions rise in Bern over the nursing initiative](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/tensions-rise-in-bern-over-the-nursing-initiative/): Tempers are flaring in Bern over how to implement Switzerland’s initiative on nursing care, reported RTS this week. Following a successful vote (approved by 61% of voters) in 2021 to improve life for nurses, Switzerland’s federal government has put forward a package of measures aimed at improving nurses’ working conditions, including shorter hours and better compensation for work on public holidays. But a committee of the National Council has branded the proposals too expensive and wants to water them down. The left accuses the centre-right majority of disregarding the mandate handed down by voters. The text adopted from the vote
- [Swiss government confirms US tariff deal](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-government-confirms-us-tariff-deal/): Switzerland’s long-mooted trade negotiations with the United States can now proceed. On Wednesday the Federal Council approved the final negotiating mandate for a tariff agreement, clearing the way for formal talks with Washington, reported RTS. Parliamentary foreign-affairs committees and the cantons were consulted in advance. On the basis of their feedback, the government made modest clarifications, it said. Should negotiations stray beyond the scope of the mandate—by adding new areas or themes—the parliamentary committees and the cantons, via the Conference of Cantonal Governments, will be consulted again rather than merely informed. The mandate builds on a declaration of intent signed
- [Swiss cash initiative – different ways to reach same goal](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-cash-initiative-different-ways-to-reach-same-goal/): On March 8th Swiss voters—and the cantons—will be asked to decide the fate of cash. On the ballot are a popular initiative, Cash is Freedom, and a direct counter-proposal backed by the federal government and parliament. Both aim to entrench the role of physical money in the constitution, but they go about it in different ways. The initiative would require the federal government to guarantee the availability of cash across Switzerland and to submit any replacement of the Swiss franc with another currency to approval by both voters and cantons. Its sponsors argue that cash safeguards freedom of choice in
- [Swiss climate vote: the 1% of GDP question](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-climate-vote-the-1-of-gdp-question/): The cost of inaction is enormous, says the committee behind Switzerland’s proposed climate fund. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, its members urged voters to back the initiative on March 8th, arguing that it is essential to protect future generations. Alpine Switzerland is particularly exposed to the effects of climate change, according to the sponsors of the proposal, led by the Socialist and Green parties. They are joined by the Evangelical People’s Party (PEV/EVP), the Young Green Liberals, trade unions and some climate scientists from Switzerland’s federal institutes of technology. Although voters have endorsed the goal of net-zero emissions
- [Swiss left mobilises city voters to get night trains back on track](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-left-mobilises-city-voters-to-get-night-trains-back-on-track/): Left-wing parties in Switzerland’s largest cities are trying to revive international night trains—by leaning on the federal government and, if need be, filling the gap themselves. This week, socialist and Green politicians are tabling motions in Geneva and Lausanne, as part of a coordinated push with Zurich, Basel and Bern, reported RTS. The aim is to press local governments to support cross-border rail services—and to urge the Confederation to resume funding it has withdrawn. Proponents argue that cities should explore interim financing for night trains and for daytime international routes departing from Switzerland, while reminding Bern of its obligations under
- [Swiss Green Liberals target fuel-tax break for piste groomers](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-green-liberals-target-fuel-tax-break-for-piste-groomers/): In Switzerland the fuel used by piste groomers to prepare ski slopes is cheaper than that used by most other vehicles. The reason is a refund of the mineral oil tax—a levy that, in practice, does not apply to machines that operate off public roads. The arrangement has drawn the ire of the Green Liberal Party (GLP), which wants it scrapped, according to RTS. The same tax relief applies to agricultural and forestry vehicles. Much of the roughly 80 centimes a litre fuel tax is earmarked for building and maintaining roads—an infrastructure that piste groomers and farm machinery rarely use.
- [Swiss town marks its move from Bern to Jura](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-town-marks-its-move-from-bern-to-jura/): Moutier celebrated its transfer from the canton of Bern to Jura at the end of 2025, in a ceremony that underlined the historic nature of the change. Marcel Winistoerfer, the town’s mayor, told around 300 people gathered outside the town hall that, half a century after the founding of the canton, Moutier will now join Jura and rediscover its natural home, reported SRF. Residents, he said, would experience intense and extraordinary emotions as a new chapter was added to the country’s history. Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, herself from Jura, attended privately. The celebrations included a banquet for 1,200 guests, a
- [Switzerland’s last commuter paper prints its final edition](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerlands-last-commuter-paper-prints-its-final-edition/): 20 Minutes, Switzerland’s free commuter newspaper, appeared in print for the last time on Tuesday, ending a 26-year run, reported the newspaper. Its publisher, TX Group, had announced the decision in the summer. The closure also consigns to history the blue distribution boxes that once stood at railway stations and tram stops across the country. The paper marked the occasion with a special farewell edition, distributed in German-, French- and Italian-speaking Switzerland. The issue looked back on the publication’s own history. Some of the trademark blue boxes, readers were told, will live on in museum collections. Launched in December 1999,
- [Swiss People’s Party seeks tougher language rules for citizenship](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-peoples-party-seeks-tougher-language-rules-for-citizenship/): Lawmakers from the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) have tabled a motion to tighten language requirements for naturalisation, reports RTS. They want applicants for a Swiss passport to demonstrate B2 oral and B1 written competence in one of the national languages — a higher bar than at present. Under current federal rules, candidates must be able to manage everyday communication: B1 in speaking and listening and A2 in reading and writing, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This allows routine spoken interaction and simple written communication. The UDC/SVP argues that this is not enough. Jean-Luc Addor, the
- [Swiss to vote on accession to UN nuclear-ban treaty](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-to-vote-on-accession-to-un-nuclear-ban-treaty/): Swiss voters will be asked to decide whether the country should accede to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, according to the government. On 23 December 2025, The Alliance for a Nuclear Weapons Ban submitted 135,000 signatures to the Federal Chancellery, enough to trigger a nationwide vote. The initiative is backed by the Socialist Party, the Greens, the Evangelical People’s Party and a range of civil-society groups, including the Group for a Switzerland without an Army (GSoA), Greenpeace, Terre des Hommes and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The signatures, said Noemi Buzzi of GSoA, send
- [Trump announces drug price deal with Novartis and Roche subsidiary](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/trump-announces-drug-price-deal-with-novartis-and-roche-subsidiary/): Donald Trump has announced a deal with several large pharmaceutical firms, including Switzerland’s Novartis and Genentech, a subsidiary of Roche, reported SRF. The agreement, unveiled at the White House, is intended to lower the prices of selected medicines in the United States and to allow drugmakers to sell them directly to consumers online. In exchange, participating companies will receive three years of duty-free treatment for imported pharmaceuticals. Executives from several firms attended the announcement, including Novartis’s chief executive, Vasant Narasimhan. For Roche and Novartis, the deal brings an end to months of uncertainty over the future pricing and tariff regime
- [Criminal network in France responsible for dozens of thefts in Switzerland dismantled](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/criminal-network-in-france-responsible-for-dozens-of-thefts-in-switzerland-dismantled/): A cross-border criminal network responsible for dozens of thefts in Switzerland has been dismantled in neighbouring France, reported RTS. The investigation, led jointly by Swiss and French authorities with support from Europol, Eurojust and Fedpol, targeted an organised group involved in stealing luxury vehicles and burglarising gun shops across several Swiss cantons. The main criminal proceedings are being conducted in France, where coordinated arrests have been made. Swiss investigations, meanwhile, helped to establish the scale of the operation and the central role played by those who issued orders, according to prosecutors and police in the canton of Neuchâtel. The group
- [Switzerland could feed the entire population without food imports](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerland-could-feed-the-entire-population-without-food-imports/): Swiss agriculture could, in theory, feed the entire population without imports. That is the counter-intuitive conclusion of a new study by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), the ETH Zurich and the consultancy O+L GmbH. The research, published in Swiss Agricultural Research, models a scenario in which domestic production alone would suffice. In terms of self-sufficiency, Switzerland currently produces only about half of the food it consumes, meaning around 40–50 % of food consumed domestically is imported. The finding of the study rests on the resource-intensiveness of livestock production. Meat and dairy need far more land, feed and energy
- [Trump sets deadline to conclude binding trade agreement with Switzerland](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/trump-sets-deadline-to-conclude-binding-trade-agreement-with-switzerland/): Donald Trump has set Switzerland a deadline to conclude a binding trade agreement, reported RTS. Washington wants a legally enforceable deal in place by March 31st 2026. Failing that, the United States says it may review and reconsider the tariffs imposed on Swiss exports. According to several Swiss newspapers, the Trump administration is keen to turn a non-binding declaration of intent signed on November 14th into a formal bilateral agreement. A document from the US trade representative, published in the Federal Register, makes clear that the recent retroactive cut in tariffs—from 39% to 15%—was granted in the expectation and hope
- [Switzerland plans to expand roadside noise radars](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerland-plans-to-expand-roadside-noise-radars/): The Federal Council wants to roll out roadside displays that warn drivers when their vehicles exceed recommended noise levels, reported RTS. After adopting a report on the issue on Friday, the government said such devices could help curb excessive engine noise, which it described as an avoidable nuisance that harms quality of life and can damage health. The report examined five potential implementation models and favoured screens equipped with sound-measurement devices. These would show drivers when their vehicles exceed a noise threshold and issue an alert—such as a prompt to slow down. Other variants were discarded for legal and technical
- [Swiss solar initiative clears signature hurdle](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-solar-initiative-clears-signature-hurdle/): Switzerland’s Greens have gathered enough signatures to force a vote on a far-reaching solar initiative. On December 10th the party submitted 134,000 signatures to the Federal Chancellery—well above the 100,000 needed for a popular initiative. It is the first time in a decade the party has raised the necessary support on its own. The proposal, formally titled “For a secure supply of renewable energies (Solar Initiative)”, would require almost all suitable roofs and building facades in Switzerland to be fitted with solar panels. Exceptions would apply where heritage protection or other overriding interests make installation disproportionate.Lisa Mazzone, the Greens’ president,
- [Switzerland’s parliament moves to ban firecrackers](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerlands-parliament-moves-to-ban-firecrackers/): Switzerland’s National Council has voted to outlaw firecrackers, backing a parliamentary counter-proposal to a popular initiative that seeks tighter limits on fireworks, reported SRF. The measure passed by 97 votes to 85. The use of fireworks and their harmful effects will be regulated under the country’s explosives law. The popular initiative, launched by animal-welfare groups, calls for broad protections for people, animals and the environment from the noise and emissions generated by fireworks. It proposes a ban on all categories of pyrotechnics, with exemptions for major supra-regional events subject to cantonal approval. That, said Regina Durrer-Knobel of the Centre party
- [Switzerland moves to tighten asylum policy](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerland-moves-to-tighten-asylum-policy/): Parliament has approved two Liberal Democrat (PLR/FDP) motions aimed at tightening Switzerland’s asylum regime, reported RTS. The first seeks to encourage the voluntary departure of asylum seekers. The Council of States silently endorsed a National Council motion instructing the Federal Council to introduce a system of targeted incentives and clearly defined sanctions. One element would be to process the asylum claims of convicted applicants while they are serving their sentences. Ideally, says Christian Wasserfallen, the Liberal Democrat who tabled the motion, such cases should be handled within ten days, giving applicants clarity on their status upon release. Supporters argue that
- [Swiss parliament scraps funding for the Basel–Malmö night train](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-parliament-scraps-funding-for-the-basel-malmo-night-train/): Switzerland’s parliament has pulled the plug on funding for a planned night train linking Basel with Malmö in southern Sweden, reported RTS. After the Council of States rejected the proposal, the National Council followed suit on Tuesday, striking the CHF 10m needed to launch the service from the 2026 budget. The margin was narrow: 99 votes to 92, with two abstentions. Opponents said taxpayers should not underwrite what they saw as a leisure route. Yvan Pahud of the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) argued that subsidising such a line was unacceptable, while Alex Farinelli of the Liberal Democrats (PLR/FDP) said the
- [Switzerland to tighten rules on military service for dual nationals](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerland-to-tighten-rules-on-military-service-for-dual-nationals/): Switzerland’s parliament has voted to make it harder for dual nationals to sidestep the country’s military obligations, reported RTS. On Wednesday the National Council adopted, in amended form, a motion already approved by the upper house. It will now return to the Council of States, Switzerland’s parliament, for further consideration. The original proposal, put forward by Mauro Poggia, a Geneva lawmaker, was aimed chiefly at Franco-Swiss citizens. Under current arrangements, some are able to to attend a one-day session in France in place of Swiss military service. Parliament has gone further, however, extending the principle to all Swiss dual nationals.
- [Switzerland leads much of rich world in integrating immigrants, says the OECD](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerland-leads-much-of-rich-world-in-integrating-immigrants-says-the-oecd/): Immigrants are more successfully integrated into Switzerland’s labour market than in most other rich countries, according to a study commissioned by the State Secretariat for Migration. At 77%, the employment rate among immigrants in Switzerland is well above the OECD average across its 38 member states, which include Germany, France, Britain and the United States. That figure is all the more striking given Switzerland’s unusually high level of immigration. More than 31% of its population was born abroad—one of the highest shares in the OECD, second in Europe only to Luxembourg. Roughly three-quarters of these migrants arrived under the EU’s
- [Swiss government weighs VAT hike to fund army](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-government-weighs-vat-hike-to-fund-army/): Switzerland’s government is weighing a rise in value-added tax to help fund a rapid expansion of the armed forces, reported RTS. According to the Tages-Anzeiger, the proposal—an increase of 0.5 percentage points—was floated by Martin Pfister, the defence minister, amid growing anxiety about Europe’s security and the risk of further Russian aggression. Pfister argues that Switzerland must rebuild its military capacity faster than planned. At a cabinet meeting on security last week, he reportedly warned that Russia could mount a new attack somewhere in Europe as early as 2028 or 2029. A VAT increase, he believes, could provide a stable
- [A new battle over the veil in Swiss schools](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/a-new-battle-over-the-veil-in-swiss-schools/): A campaign to ban the Islamic headscarf from all public schools has resurfaced in Switzerland, pushing a local controversy onto the national stage. On Monday a right-leaning group linked to the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) submitted a petition in Bern bearing 12,000 signatures, reported RTS. The petition follows a heated debate that began last summer in the German-speaking part of the country. The row started in Eschenbach, a town of about 10,000 people in the canton of St Gallen. A Muslim woman seeking to teach at a local primary school was denied a post because she wore a headscarf, after
- [Swiss voters deliver a double “no” on inheritance tax on super rich and universal civic service](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-voters-deliver-a-double-no-on-inheritance-tax-on-super-rich-and-universal-civic-service/): On 30 November 2025 the Swiss electorate decisively rejected two headline proposals: a sweeping federal inheritance and gift tax for the super-rich, and a scheme to make civic service mandatory for all citizens. The inheritance-tax measure — a 50% levy on estates and gifts above CHF 50 million — was turned down by 78% of voters and failed to find a majority in any canton. The proposal to extend compulsory national service (military, civil or social) to everyone, including women, fared even worse: it was rejected by about 84% of participants, losing in every canton. Turnout for both votes was
- [Switzerland’s median salary surpasses CHF 7,000 a month](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerlands-median-salary-surpasses-chf-7000-a-month/): The median full-time salary in Switzerland rose to CHF 7,024 (US$8,780) a month in 2024, up 3.5% from CHF 6,788 two years earlier, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Despite nominal gains, the overall shape of the country’s wage pyramid has changed little since 2008. The bottom 10% of earners took home less than CHF 4,635 a month, while the top decile earned over CHF 12,526. Though pay inequality has remained broadly stable, the lowest-paid workers have seen the strongest cumulative wage growth since 2008, while the middle class has lagged behind. Pay gaps between sectors remain stark. High value-added
- [Cuts in Swiss bureaucracy could save 30 billion a year](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/cuts-in-swiss-bureaucracy-could-save-30-billion-a-year/): Swiss business and farming groups are stepping up calls for a rollback of red tape, warning that an expanding regulatory burden is stifling productivity just as labour shortages intensify. They are urging the Federal Council and parliament to act before the end of the current legislative term. At a press conference in Bern, economiesuisse, the Swiss Employers’ Association, the SME federation and the farmers’ union argued that administrative costs have become a serious brake on growth. A new study by BSS Volkswirtschaftliche Beratung and Germany’s ifo institute estimates that more than CHF 30bn a year could be saved if administrative
- [Corruption complaint filed against Swiss executives over gifts to Trump](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/corruption-complaint-filed-against-swiss-executives-over-gifts-to-trump/): Two Swiss Green Party lawmakers have filed a criminal complaint for suspected corruption against a group of Swiss business leaders who presented luxury gifts—including a Rolex clock and a one-kilogram gold bar—to Donald Trump during recent trade talks in Washington, reported RTS. The complaint, submitted to the federal prosecutor by Raphaël Mahaim and Greta Gysin, asks whether the executives may have breached Swiss criminal law by attempting to influence a foreign public official. The gifts were reportedly offered in early November 2025 during discussions on US tariffs imposed on Swiss exports. Among the firms represented were Rolex, Richemont and MSC.
- [Swiss government rejects bid to force mandatory referendum on EU accords](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-government-rejects-bid-to-force-mandatory-referendum-on-eu-accords/): The Swiss government has rejected the so-called “Compass” Initiative, which seeks to subject the planned package of agreements with the European Union to a mandatory vote of both the people and the cantons. The Federal Council ruled out the proposal this week and declined to offer a counter-project. Formally titled: For direct democracy and the competitiveness of our country—against Switzerland as a passive EU member, the initiative would enshrine in the constitution the principle that Switzerland may not hand over its jurisprudence to foreign authorities. Its backers—drawn largely from German-speaking business circles and from the PLR/FDP and the UDC/SVP—say this
- [The Poetry of the Plate](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/the-poetry-of-the-plate/): Chef Kriti Shetty turns flavour into feeling, weaving memory, culture, and emotion into every plate she creates. For Chef Kriti Shetty, food is more than sustenance—it’s a living language. Each ingredient carries history, each dish tells a story. In her kitchen, technique meets emotion, and precision becomes a form of expression. “Cooking is a dialogue,” she often says. “Every plate carries a memory, a piece of where you come from and what you feel.”  That belief defines her philosophy: food, when created with intention, can transcend boundaries. It can connect people who don’t share a language, evoke nostalgia in strangers,
- [Winter tyres: a cold-weather essential](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/winter-tyres-a-cold-weather-essential/): With snow reaching Switzerland’s plateau this week, some motorists may regret delaying the switch to winter tyres. The change need not wait for ice or flurries: the tyres are designed for cold conditions generally and work best when temperatures drop below 7°C. Calling them snow tyres is misleading. Switzerland sometimes sees weeks of sub-zero temperatures without a single snowflake. Waiting for the first snowfall, is a poor strategy. The consequences are well known. Summer tyres stiffen in cold weather, lengthening braking distances and reducing grip. It’s generally recommended to switch to winter tyres from October to Easter, regardless of the
- [Swiss aircraft maker regains duty-free access to the US market](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-aircraft-maker-regains-duty-free-access-to-the-us-market/): Pilatus, Switzerland’s aircraft manufacturer, has unexpectedly secured a full exemption from American import duties, reported SRF. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, led by Guy Parmelin, confirmed to SRF that Washington has reactivated a long-standing aviation agreement dating from 1979, allowing the firm to ship its PC-12 and PC-24 models to the United States duty-free. Blick first reported the decision. The move gives the Nidwalden-based company a significant edge over other Swiss exporters, which continue to face tariffs even after recent reductions. Washington suspended the civil-aviation agreement in mid-2025 as part of Donald Trump’s tariff offensive. It has now reinstated
- [Your Brand, Your Way: Local Threads Offers Small Businesses an Affordable Path to High-Impact Branding](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/your-brand-your-way-local-threads-offers-small-businesses-an-affordable-path-to-high-impact-branding/): Small businesses are constantly searching for ways to stand out, enhance brand recognition, and build stronger connections with their audiences. In a marketplace filled with competition, where customer attention is often fleeting, having a unique and powerful brand identity has never been more essential. Increasingly, apparel has become one of the most effective ways for small brands to deepen engagement and express their personality. Yet for many entrepreneurs, the process of creating custom merchandise has been too costly, too complicated, and too risky — until now. Local Threads has emerged as an accessible, design-led platform that empowers small businesses across
- [Switzerland wins deal to cut US tariffs from 39% 15%](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerland-wins-deal-to-cut-us-tariffs-from-39-15/): American tariffs on Swiss exports, imposed by Donald Trump, will fall from 39% to 15% after a flying visit to Washington by Guy Parmelin, Switzerland’s economy minister, repprted RTS. The Federal Council announced on Friday that Bern and Washington had reached a non-legally binding declaration of intent. The deal does not fully restore the pre-tariff status quo, said Parmelin, but represents a significant improvement. Parmelin insisted that Switzerland had made no concessions affecting its neutrality or room for manoeuvre. Even so, Switzerland has pledged that Swiss firms will invest $200bn in the United States by the end of 2028. These
- [Navigating Your Path to Compensation: How SilverOak Solicitors Make a Difference](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/navigating-your-path-to-compensation-how-silveroak-solicitors-make-a-difference/): When life takes an unexpected turn due to an accident, injury or negligence, finding the right legal partner matters more than ever. SilverOak Solicitors has established a strong reputation for supporting individuals across the UK, offering expert help in functions where it counts most. Understanding the Claim Whether the incident occurred at work, on the road, or in a public place, the consequences of an injury can be far‑reaching: physical pain, emotional distress, lost income, medical bills and more. For many people, the journey toward compensation feels complex and overwhelming. That’s why SilverOak Solicitors are here to provide guidance, support
- [Addressing the Silent Crisis: How SilverOak Helps Tenants with Housing Disrepair](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/addressing-the-silent-crisis-how-silveroak-helps-tenants-with-housing-disrepair/): In the United Kingdom, housing disrepair is a serious and often under‑recognised problem. For many council or housing association tenants, persistent damp, mould, leaks, or structural issues severely affect their quality of life — and, alarmingly, their health. SilverOak Solicitors is stepping in as a powerful advocate for tenants dealing with these issues, offering access to justice and compensation through their dedicated Housing Disrepair team. What Is Housing Disrepair — and Why It Matters Housing disrepair refers to a property being in a state that is unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise unfit for habitation. Under UK law, landlords — including social
- [Munnar Uncovered: The Ultimate Guide to Kerala’s Green Paradise](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/munnar-uncovered-the-ultimate-guide-to-keralas-green-paradise/): Perched high in the Western Ghats, Munnar stands as one of Kerala’s most enchanting hill stations. Known for its cool climate, lush valleys, and sweeping tea estates, the destination has long captured the hearts of travellers seeking tranquillity and natural beauty. Yet beneath its postcard-perfect surface lies a landscape rich with history, biodiversity, and cultural warmth. Anyone journeying through munnar india soon realises that this beloved haven offers far more than scenic viewpoints; it presents a complete sensory experience shaped by mist, mountains, and timeless charm. A Scenic Tapestry of Hills and Valleys Munnar’s landscape is nothing short of breathtaking.
- [Swiss car insurance: premiums set to rise again in 2026](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-car-insurance-premiums-set-to-rise-again-in-2026/): Swiss motorists face another increase in car-insurance premiums next year. A survey by Comparis of 13 major insurers indicates that most intend to raise rates in 2026, citing higher repair costs, more expensive spare parts and a rise in weather-related damage. Several insurers—including Generali, Zurich Switzerland, Allianz, PostFinance, TCS and Bâloise—report an inflation in claims costs. Repairs have become markedly pricier as labour charges and component prices rise. Generali says it will need to adjust premiums next year to cover higher costs; Zurich also expects to raise tariffs. Insurers are mostly reluctant to say by how much premiums will go
- [Switzerland may be close to securing improved 15% US tariff deal](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/switzerland-may-be-close-to-securing-improved-15-us-tariff-deal/): Switzerland may be close to securing a 15% tariff on its exports to the US, in what would be a relief for the country after it was hit with a punishing 39% levy in August, according to people familiar with the matter, reported Bloomberg. A deal may be concluded within weeks, said the people, who declined to be identified discussing ongoing negotiations. They also warned that nothing is finalized and the talks could still come undone, as happened during discussions between US and Swiss trade negotiators in late July. A spokesperson for the Swiss government declined to comment. The White House
- [Swiss voters to decide on four issues in March 2026](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-voters-to-decide-on-four-issues-in-march-2026/): Swiss citizens will head to the polls on March 8th 2026 to vote on four national measures: initiatives on cash, public broadcasting, and a climate fund, as well as a referendum on individual taxation, reported the government this week. Cutting the bill for public broadcastingThe “200 francs is enough” initiative, backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), the Swiss Union of Arts and Crafts and the Young Liberals, seeks to cap the annual licence fee for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SSR) at CHF 200, and to exempt all companies from the levy. Parliament rejected the proposal, but the federal
- [Swiss Greens’ vote on compulsory solar panels clears signature hurdle](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-greens-vote-on-compulsory-solar-panels-clears-signature-hurdle/): A popular initiative by Switzerland’s Green Party to make solar panels mandatory on most rooftops has gathered more than 100,000 signatures, enough to trigger a national vote once the federal chancellery formally validates them, reported RTS. The proposal seeks to require the installation of photovoltaic systems on nearly all new and existing buildings, though exemptions would apply to protected structures. The Greens argue that Switzerland’s rooftops provide ample space to generate all of the country’s electricity needs. Mandating solar panels, they say, would ease the energy transition and reduce dependence on foreign power. Strong resistance from property and energy sectorsThe
- [A Gentle Glow, a Powerful Story — Luxury Maternity Portraits for the Modern Mother.](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/a-gentle-glow-a-powerful-story-luxury-maternity-portraits-for-the-modern-mother/): Pregnancy is a revolution disguised as a whisper. It begins quietly, often privately — a realization, a heartbeat, a transformation blossoming under the surface. Yet as the months unfold, what was once hidden becomes undeniable: a new life is being written not with ink, but with heartbeat, breath, emotion, and light. This is the chapter that deserves documentation not in pixels alone, but in meaning. Luxury maternity photography exists for the modern mother — the woman who is strong yet soft, ambitious yet emotional, contemporary yet deeply connected to timeless beauty. She is not seeking just photos. She is seeking
- [Bern’s homeless shelter residents mostly from abroad](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/berns-homeless-shelter-residents-mostly-from-abroad/): Bern’s emergency shelters are under strain—and most of those using them are not Swiss.A new regulation introduced in October 2025 by the canton of Bern restricts access to emergency accommodation to people with valid papers, in an effort to ration scarce spaces. The measure, intended to ensure that limited places go to those legally entitled to them, has provoked opposition in the city. Fresh figures this week have added fuel to the debate. Data obtained by Swiss broadcaster SRF show that Bern’s main homeless shelter, with 60 beds, was consistently full in 2024. Just under a third of residents—30%—were Swiss.
- [Gotthard Pass to close on Friday](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/gotthard-pass-to-close-on-friday/): With winter setting in, Switzerland’s Gotthard Pass and the hiking and cycling trail through the Schöllenen Gorge will shut for safety reasons. The closures, announced by the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO), take effect on November 7th, 2025. FEDRO said on Thursday that the Gotthard route between Hospental in Uri and Airolo in Ticino will be closed to all traffic from Friday owing to winter conditions. During the closure, vehicles will continue to use the Gotthard road tunnel as normal. Following a rockfall in Jostbach in September, which caused damage in the area, snow-retention structures are being installed above the Teufelsbrücke
- [Swiss road deaths rise as Europe’s fall](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-road-deaths-rise-as-europes-fall/): Switzerland’s road deaths have risen by a third over the past five years, even as fatalities have fallen across much of Europe. The country’s accident-prevention bureau (BPA) on Tuesday lamented the trend and called for a more coherent road-safety policy backed by all stakeholders. According to the BPA, the number of people killed on Swiss roads has increased by 34% since 2019, whereas the European average has dropped by 12%, figures from the European Transport Safety Council show. Over a decade, the contrast is also stark: deaths are up by 2.9% in Switzerland, but down 17% across Europe. A grim
- [Swiss National Bank pauses interest rate cuts](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-national-bank-pauses-interest-rate-cuts/): After six consecutive cuts, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) has left its key rate unchanged at 0%. It also reaffirmed its willingness to intervene in foreign-exchange markets if needed. Inflationary pressures, it noted, remain broadly stable. The bank will keep a close eye on the data and adjust policy as required to safeguard price stability. Few were surprised: most economists had anticipated the pause. The economic outlook, however, is murkier. America’s steeper tariffs have cast a shadow, with trade policy and slowing global growth cited as the main risks. The SNB still expects Swiss GDP to expand by 1–1.5% in
- [Swiss students rally against austerity fee hikes](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-students-rally-against-austerity-fee-hikes/): Students staged protests across Switzerland on Wednesday against a plan to double university registration fees and other austerity measures in higher education, reported RTS. A petition with more than 37,000 signatures was handed to the Federal Chancellery in Bern. The fee rise forms part of the Federal Council’s 2027 budget-consolidation package. The Swiss Students’ Union (UNES) says it would erode equal opportunity and weaken the country’s education system: Cut education today and you get skills shortages, lower social mobility and less innovation, say those opposing the fee hikes. The public-sector union warns that planned research cuts, including to the Swiss
- [The Federal Council wants to tax electric cars from 2030](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/the-federal-council-wants-to-tax-electric-cars-from-2030/): Switzerland’s Federal Council intends to tax electric cars from 2030 to make up for shrinking fuel-tax revenues, reported SRF. Two models are on the table: a levy per kilometre driven or a surcharge on the electricity used to charge vehicles. Either would require a constitutional amendment, meaning approval from both voters and cantons. The logic is straightforward. Roads in Switzerland are funded entirely by users. The main source of cash is the mineral-oil tax, which feeds the National Road and Agglomeration Transport Fund and other pots. Roughly half of the levy also tops up the federal budget. As petrol and
- [6-step guide to hiring a cleaner in Switzerland](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/6-step-guide-to-hiring-a-cleaner-in-switzerland/): Brought to you by quitt.ch – No. 1 provider of registration and administration services for domestic help in Switzerland. 1. What do cleaners cost in Switzerland? Cleaners are expensive in Switzerland and good personnel are hard to find. Prices typically range from around CHF 28 to CHF 33 an hour depending on the location and level of experience. The average is CHF 31. Prices are high, partly because of the high value of the Swiss franc. At quitt.ch most employment contracts have defined hourly wages. © Chernetskaya | Dreamstime.com There is no guaranteed minimum wage in general in Switzerland. However if you
- [Zurich to vote on penalising heavy cars and banning leaf blowers](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/zurich-to-vote-on-penalising-heavy-cars-and-banning-leaf-blowers/): Zurich City’s citizens will decide on 28 September 2025 whether to ban petrol-powered leaf blowers. A Left-Green coalition wants only quieter electric ones, and only in autumn – from October to December. The city council and a majority of the municipal council are on board. But opposition was sufficient to call a vote against the move. Opponents, mainly centrists, call the plan needless meddling that will make gardeners’ work harder. They forced the proposal to a referendum, arguing that the tools are noisy but not intolerable. Many Swiss municipalities already have noise rules. It is not uncommon for excessive noise
- [Swiss vote on imputed rent divides along two clear lines](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-vote-on-imputed-rent-divides-along-two-clear-lines/): Last Sunday, Swiss voted to scrap one of the country’s most peculiar taxes: imputed rent, known as valeur locative or Eigenmietwert. Across the country 58% voted in favour of abolishing it. However, across French-speaking Switzerland, every canton voted against the plan. By contrast, in German-speaking cantons, with the exception of Basel-City, abolition won strong support. For decades homeowners have had to declare as taxable income a notional rent they would have paid had they been tenants in their own homes. At the same time, they could deduct mortgage interest and maintenance. The idea, first used in Basel-City in 1880, became
- [Swiss school leader calls for social-media ban for minors](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-school-leader-calls-for-social-media-ban-for-minors/): Social media should be banned for under-18s, argues the head of Switzerland’s association of German-speaking school principals, reported RTS. Thomas Minder, president of the association, says young people need stronger protection from the addictive pull of online platforms, comparing smartphone dependency to addictions to alcohol and tobacco. Even adults struggle to use these apps responsibly, Minder told Tamedia. Do we really want algorithms designed to capture the minds of our children? The debate over social-media restrictions for minors often overlaps with calls to ban mobile phones in schools, he noted — though he dismissed such proposals as “political window-dressing” by
- [Novartis responds to Trump’s 100% tariffs on drugs](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/novartis-responds-to-trumps-100-tariffs-on-drugs/): Donald Trump has vowed to slap 100% tariffs on pharmaceutical imports to America from 1 October 2025. The measure, announced in a fleeting post on Truth Social, will apply to patented medicines, though generics appear exempt. Other imports will also be hit: kitchen and bathroom furniture (50%), upholstered furniture (30%) and heavy trucks (25%). The president says the goal is to shield domestic producers from “unfair” foreign competition. Drugmakers may avoid the levy if they shift production to America. To qualify, projects must already be under way, with factories under construction or ground-breaking imminent. The Republican has also demanded lower
- [Swiss People’s Party registers vote to tighten asylum rules](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-peoples-party-registers-vote-to-tighten-asylum-rules/): Switzerland’s right-wing Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) has filed a new initiative “To protect borders”. The proposal, backed by 110,000 signatures, demands systematic checks at Swiss frontiers and tighter asylum rules, reported RTS. Anyone entering Switzerland would face controls. If such checks conflict with international treaties, the Federal Council would be required to renegotiate them—or, failing that, pull out. Exceptions would apply for Swiss citizens, residents with valid permits of at least a year, and cross-border commuters. The initiative would bar asylum seekers arriving via a “safe” country and cap applications at 5,000 a year. Provisional admission—a status protecting people from
- [Zurich voters sweep away petrol leaf blowers](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/zurich-voters-sweep-away-petrol-leaf-blowers/): On 28 September 2025, Zurich voters approved a citywide ban on petrol-powered leaf blowers. Only electric models will be allowed—and then only from October to December, the autumn season. Exemptions may be granted for major events such as Sechseläuten—Zurich’s traditional festival—and the Street Parade. The measure was backed by the city executive and a majority of the municipal council. Centre-right parties fought the proposal as petty meddling that would raise costs for municipal and private gardeners alike. Supporters argued the devices are noisy and harmful to fauna. They have now prevailed not only in the council chamber but at the
- [Swiss Young Socialists launch campaign to tax the rich](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-young-socialists-launch-campaign-to-tax-the-rich/): Switzerland’s Young Socialists (JS) have launched their campaign for the “Pour l’avenir” (“For the Future”) initiative, arguing that the super-rich should shoulder the costs of combating climate change, reported RTS. The ultra-wealthy are destroying our future with private jets, super-yachts and multi-billion-franc investments that harm the climate, the group said at the campaign’s launch. They emit more in a few hours than most people do in a lifetime — it is only fair that they pay to fix the damage. Filed in August 2022, the initiative calls for a 50% inheritance tax on estates exceeding CHF 50 million, with the
- [Swiss primary-school enrolment set to fall sharply by 2034](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/swiss-primary-school-enrolment-set-to-fall-sharply-by-2034/): Switzerland’s primary schools are expected to see a steep decline in pupil numbers over the coming decade, according to projections from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). The number of primary pupils will begin to fall from 2027, dropping by about 7% between 2025 and 2034. The decline reflects a sharp fall in births since 2022. The trend will affect all cantons and, in turn, the demand for teachers. The FSO expects the number of primary-school teachers to shrink by roughly 4,500 over ten years — a 6% decline. Fewer teachers neededRecruitment needs are already easing. Swiss schools hired about 6,000

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- [Homepage](https://switzerlandtimes.ch/): Explore the rich history of Swiss watch making in the enchanting Vallée de Joux Things To Do By switzerlandtimes.ch5 December 2023 There is far more to Switzerland than cheese and chocolate. Switzerland has watches too! Home to global watch brands such as Audemars Piguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre, La Vallée de Joux, is one of Switzerland’s most renowned watch making regions. Watchmaking is woven into the valley’s past.… Read More Explore the rich history of Swiss watch making in the enchanting Vallée de Joux Things To Do 5 December 2023 Renowned artist EDWARD HOPPER in Basel Things To Do 5 December 2023


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