Inheritance tax: signatures collected for ‘Initiative for a Future’ (www.swissinfo.ch)
The youth section of the Swiss Social Democrats (JUSO) say they have collected enough signatures for the “Initiative for a Future”....
Solidarity in Switzerland despite crises in 2023 (www.swissinfo.ch)
The crises in 2023 mobilised the willingness to donate in Switzerland despite the increasing pressure on purchasing power. However, this was at the expense of other donation needs....
Cancers among young people have almost doubled, says expert (www.swissinfo.ch)
Cancers in people under the age of 50, previously extremely rare, are on the increase. “They have almost doubled,” says Solange Peters, head of medical oncology at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) in western Switzerland. In her view, this is “an alarming sign”....
Julius Bär probed by Swiss regulator over Signa risk lapses (www.swissinfo.ch)
Switzerland’s financial regulator is investigating Julius Bär Group over inadequate risk-control structures that contributed to the bank’s exposure to bankrupt property mogul Rene Benko....
Swiss Solidarity collects more than CHF3 million for children (www.swissinfo.ch)
The Swiss Solidarity fundraising organisation and several partners collected more than CHF3 million ($3.5 million) for children and young people on a national solidarity day on Thursday. The motto of the collection day was “Education for all”....
Swiss clown Gaston passes away aged 72 (www.swissinfo.ch)
Well-known Swiss clown Gaston Häni from the Conelli circus died of cancer on Wednesday at the age of 72, as announced by the Zurich Christmas circus on Thursday....
Swiss-UK financial services deal signed (www.swissinfo.ch)
The financial centres of Switzerland and Britain moved closer together as Swiss Fiinance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter and her British counterpart, Jeremy Hunt, signed an agreement on the mutual recognition of financial services in Bern on Thursday....
Swiss politicians reject tax on certain private and business jet flights (www.swissinfo.ch)
Flights by private and business jets weighing 5.7 tonnes or more will not be taxed in Switzerland. By 108 votes to 87, the House of Representatives refused to introduce this new tax into the CO2 Law – to the dismay of the political left and the Centre Party....
Swiss seek to ban racist, extremist symbols that incite hatred and violence (www.swissinfo.ch)
The Swiss Senate took steps on Wednesday towards banning the use of racist symbols that excuse violent or extremist behaviour, including speech, gestures and the display of flags that stir hatred, as well as the public wearing of symbols reminiscent of Nazi tyranny in Europe....
Elite Swiss university ordered to recognise all-male student society (www.swissinfo.ch)
One of Switzerland’s top universities was wrong to sideline a male-only student association, according to a Federal Administrative Court ruling....
Switzerland increases winter aid for war-torn Ukraine (www.swissinfo.ch)
Switzerland is again supporting the suffering population in Ukraine this winter and is increasing its contribution by CHF11.8 million ($13.7 million). The hardship in Ukraine is a consequence of the military invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin....
Weather blighted Swiss harvests in 2023 (www.swissinfo.ch)
A difficult year is coming to an end for Swiss agriculture - a cold spring and summer storms had a negative impact on the cultivation of fruit, vegetables and grain....
‘Mr Covid’ Alain Berset bids farewell to parliament (www.swissinfo.ch)
Alain Berset, who held the rotating Swiss presidency this year, has defended his very last issue. “Mr Covid”, as he was described by the president of the Senate Eva Herzog, is retiring from politics after 20 years in office, 12 of which were spent in government as interior minister....
Swiss budget agreed with humanitarian spending cut (www.swissinfo.ch)
Switzerland’s parliament has finalised the 2024 budget after agreeing to a CHF10 million cut on humanitarian funding....
Politicians want 75% of Swiss CO2 emissions to be cut at home (www.swissinfo.ch)
Switzerland must reduce at least three-quarters of its carbon emissions in the Alpine country, the House of Representatives agreed on Wednesday....
Strasbourg court criticises Switzerland for police demo tactics (www.swissinfo.ch)
The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Switzerland for a police operation in Zurich on May 1, 2011. According to the judgement, the encircling of protesters and subsequent detention violated the rights of two demonstrators....
Top Swiss official sees ‘good’ chances of new agreement with EU (www.swissinfo.ch)
The chances of reaching an agreement on a new bilateral package with Brussels are “real and good”, according to Alexandre Fasel, Switzerland’s state secretary in charge of the European Union dossier....
Red Cross in black after ‘drastic’ cuts (www.swissinfo.ch)
The Swiss-run International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), now in the black according to its president Mirjana Spoljaric, will cut a total of 4,000 jobs this year and next....
Delivery of Israeli drones to Switzerland again delayed (www.swissinfo.ch)
The delivery of Israeli drones to the Swiss Air Force has been delayed again. Scheduled for the end of 2024, they should arrive at the end of 2026, it was announced on Wednesday. The delay has been caused by the current situation in the Middle East and technical problems....
European Commission gives greenlight to fresh Swiss-EU negotiations (www.swissinfo.ch)
The European Commission has adopted a draft mandate signalling its readiness to open negotiations with Switzerland on future cooperation and a series of agreements. This now passes to the European Council. Switzerland, for its part, has already unveiled its draft mandate for negotiations with the European Union....
UBS seeks to sell loans Credit Suisse gave to junk Italian firms (www.swissinfo.ch)
UBS Group is planning to sell its exposure to a portfolio of loans that Credit Suisse made to junk-rated Italian companies, according to people with knowledge of the matter....
Fewer than third of Swiss back nuclear power (www.swissinfo.ch)
Fewer than a third of Swiss people are in favour of nuclear power. Enthusiasm for wind turbines is also limited, according to a survey. The Swiss are primarily in favour of solar panels and hydroelectric power plants for their electricity supply....
New night watchman appointed to Lausanne Cathedral (www.swissinfo.ch)
A new voice will resound from the top of Lausanne Cathedral in Switzerland from January 1. It will be that of the new watchman, Alexandre Schmid....
Geneva hospital donates 156 beds to Ukraine (www.swissinfo.ch)
Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) has donated 156 beds to Ukraine. They will be transported in three trucks and are destined for eight Ukrainian hospitals....
Switzerland joins six countries in CO2-free power production pledge (www.swissinfo.ch)
Swiss Energy Minister Albert Rösti and his counterparts from six European Union countries have pledged to get all of their electricity from carbon free sources by 2035....
