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Swiss Politics

Sanctions enforcement: Bern ‘cannot rule out’ Switzerland gets Russian gold via Central Asia

The Swiss government admits that it cannot rule out the presence of Russian gold in trade flows with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

By Pauline Turuban

Multinational companies

The mystery of Switzerland’s surging imports of Uzbek and Kazakh gold

By Dominique Soguel

Workers at a Russian precious metals company place gold bars in a mould.

Multinational companies

Explainer: Why Switzerland remains a ‘big buyer’ of Russian gold

By Dominique Soguel

Multinational companies

Fully traceable gold – technically feasible or pure fantasy?

By Dominique Soguel

The Swiss sawmill that helped resurrect Notre-Dame’s spire

Flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns

This content was published on Dec 7, 2024 The oak wood cut by a Swiss firm was used to rebuild the cathedral’s spire, which burnt down five years ago.

Switzerland to host Middle East conference on international humanitarian law

This content was published on Dec 5, 2024 The conference, planned for March, is likely to have a considerable political impact, notably on an arms embargo against Israel.

Illustration of a Christmas tree over a snowy background

Swiss Films advent calendar

This content was published on Dec 7, 2024 In the run-up to Christmas, we’re presenting one film every day from our Swiss Films selection.

Switzerland Today

This content was published on Dec 6, 2024 Many are eagerly anticipating a visit from Samichlaus today, but some may miss out on seeing the red-cloaked, bearded man – find out why in today’s briefing.

China’s solar dominance will ‘push countries to adopt clean technologies’

This content was published on Dec 4, 2024 Swiss solar expert Christophe Ballif on the serious challenges – and opportunities – of China’s supremacy, and why Switzerland’s niche solar sector still has a bright future.

Switzerland faces competition to attract mobile wealth

Switzerland jostles to attract mobile millionaires

This content was published on Dec 3, 2024 Hundreds of wealthy foreigners expected to escape unfavourable taxes and regime with move to Switzerland.

Portrait of Rose Michelle Priso Guidjam for the Cameroon U-17 national football team.

Cameroonian girls chase brighter future with football

This content was published on Dec 3, 2024 Football gives young Cameroonian women hope for an alternative future in a country where men’s football reigns supreme.

Recent stories for the Swiss Abroad community

Swiss Politics

‘Parliamentarians are constantly campaigning’

One year after Swiss national elections, are parliamentarians still in tune with the people and are they defending the interests of the Swiss Abroad?

By Samuel Jaberg

Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter (left) talks to Senator Pierre-Yves Maillard in parliament in Bern on March 14, 2024.

Swiss Politics

What’s coming up in the Swiss parliament’s 2024 winter session

By Balz Rigendinger

Swiss Abroad

Taxes on pension payments: no problem for the Swiss Abroad

By Balz Rigendinger

Swiss Abroad

Why can’t the Swiss government help projects like Edelweiss Village in Canada?

By Melanie Eichenberger

Swiss Oddities

The CHF1,000 dance of death and other unforgettable Swiss banknotes

This content was published on Nov 30, 2024 The Swiss National Bank puts a lot of thought into the design of its banknotes, some of which really grabbed the public’s imagination.

Hornussen, the Swiss national sport with a sting

This content was published on Nov 23, 2024 The Swiss sport of Hornussen invariably generates stunned reactions from people seeing it for the first time.

An alphorn player in traditional costume on a meadow overlooking Lake Lucerne.

In search of the ‘authentic’ Swiss musical instrument

This content was published on Nov 16, 2024 The alphorn is the most emblematic instrument in Swiss folklore, but not necessarily the most authentic.

Heard the one about the Swiss company installing laugh detectors?

This content was published on Nov 9, 2024 A Swiss insurer is testing the frequency of laughter in an office to improve job satisfaction. Workers who don’t laugh enough are sent an email with a funny video.

Gold-digging: why some Swiss bury their wealth in the garden

This content was published on Nov 2, 2024 The Swiss sometimes keep their gold in surprising places.

When a Roman emperor risks falling from his pedestal

This content was published on Oct 26, 2024 Almost 85 years after its discovery, the identity of the golden bust from Avenches remains a mystery.

The surprising boom of Switzerland’s least-loved coin

This content was published on Oct 19, 2024 Switzerland’s five-centime/Rappen coin is one of the least popular coins in Swiss wallets, so why is the number in circulation shooting up?

The Swiss metal detectorist who helped find a Roman military camp

This content was published on Oct 2, 2024 Self-taught archaeologist Romano Agola talks about life as a detectorist and the “treasure hunter” phenomenon in Switzerland.

The pieces in the "Mechanical Marvels" exhibition at the Maison de la Mécanique d'Art in Geneva illustrate the art of the automatier in a simple and playful way.

Sainte-Croix: the Swiss village that keeps the tradition of automata alive

This content was published on Oct 5, 2024 The “Mechanical Marvels” exhibition at the Maison de la Mécanique d’Art in Geneva showcases automata and the work of mechanical artists from the Swiss village of Sainte-Croix.

The Ticino palm falls victim to its atypical reproduction

This content was published on Sep 28, 2024 It has given southern Switzerland a tropical feel but the authorities have banned its sale.

A Swiss Ig Nobel laureate talks about side effects and placebo effects

This content was published on Sep 21, 2024 SWI swissinfo.ch speaks to the Swiss laureate of the 2024 Ig Nobel prize for medicine, who explains how his “winning” study is far from irrelevant.

‘That mummy is my great-grandfather’

This content was published on Sep 14, 2024 Former Swiss diplomat Claudio Mazzucchelli tells the incredible story of the discovery in Egypt of the mummy of his illustrious great-grandfather.

Feline felons: what to do with Switzerland’s killer cats?

This content was published on Sep 7, 2024 Cats kill millions of animals every year in Switzerland, but most politicians are reluctant to do anything about it. Would a “cat moratorium” make a difference?

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Swiss Film Selection

SWI swissinfo.ch offers a selection of Swiss films in English chosen from the Swiss streaming platform Play Suisse.

Let’s talk

“Let’s Talk” is SWI swissinfo.ch’s format to discuss relevant topics with high-profile experts and political figures.

Special reports

Check out our long format stories on topics like the Swiss pharma industry, Switzerland’s struggles with dirty gold, and living in the Alps.

Switzerland: How To

How do you dispose of rubbish in Switzerland? What are the visa requirements? It’s all here.

Join the conversation

We’d love to hear what you think about what’s going on in the world. You can find all of our debate questions here.

Switzerland to host Middle East conference on international humanitarian law

This content was published on Dec 5, 2024 The conference, planned for March, is likely to have a considerable political impact, notably on an arms embargo against Israel.

Switzerland expresses concern about the situation in Syria

Switzerland concerned about situation in Syria

This content was published on Dec 2, 2024 Switzerland is concerned about the escalation of hostilities in Syria. It calls on all parties to respect international law and protect the civilian population.

Swiss will not fly to Tel Aviv until the end of January

No SWISS flights to Tel Aviv until end of January

This content was published on Dec 2, 2024 Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is cancelling flights to and from Tel Aviv up to and including January 31.

The Federal Council does not want to ban Hezbollah in Switzerland

Swiss government rejects Hezbollah ban

This content was published on Nov 28, 2024 Swiss government rejects parliamentary demands to ban Hezbollah as a terrorist group.

Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Switzerland welcomes Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire proposal

This content was published on Nov 27, 2024 Switzerland has welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire deal between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

What does the Israeli parliament’s ban on UNRWA mean?

This content was published on Nov 21, 2024 The Israeli Parliament’s decision will prevent the UN agency for Palestinian refugees from delivering aid in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It has been met with strong reactions and is raising many questions. Here are some answers.

A Swiss military observer keeps watch over the Golan Heights in Israel

What is UNIFIL and how does Switzerland contribute to peacekeeping?

This content was published on Nov 20, 2024 UN peacekeepers face challenges amid Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. SWI swissinfo.ch explores the roles of the UNIFIL and Switzerland in this volatile region.

UNRWA provides emergency assistance to just over one million Palestine refugees, or about 75 per cent of all Palestine refugees in Gaza, who lack the financial means to cover their basic food.

Lazzarini: no alternative to UNRWA in Gaza

This content was published on Nov 18, 2024 The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.

Geneva Conventions conference on Middle East scheduled for March 2025

This content was published on Nov 14, 2024 The conference on the Middle East of the 196 States party to the Geneva Conventions, organised by Switzerland, will take place in Geneva in March.

SWISS extends flight ban to Tel Aviv

This content was published on Nov 11, 2024 The Lufthansa Group, which includes Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has once again extended its flight ban to Israel.

Swiss foreign ministry memo on UNRWA funding raises alarm

This content was published on Nov 11, 2024 According to a Swiss foreign ministry internal memo, cutting off UNRWA supplies to Gaza could be a violation of the Genocide Convention.

Swiss foreign minister rebuffs Israel’s UNRWA decision

This content was published on Oct 30, 2024 Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis hopes that Israel will not implement its parliamentary decision to ban UNRWA.

Cassis calls for ceasefire in the Middle East

Swiss foreign minister calls for Middle East ceasefire

This content was published on Oct 29, 2024 At the UN Security Council in New York, Ignazio Cassis called for an end to the spiral of violence.

Switzerland concerned about implications of Israel’s laws against UNRWA

This content was published on Oct 29, 2024 The Israeli parliament voted in favour of a bill banning the activities of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in Israel.

SWISS extends suspension of flights to Tel Aviv

This content was published on Oct 28, 2024 Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is still not flying to the Israeli coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv.

How have medicine shortages impacted your healthcare experience?

How have medicine shortages impacted you? What should be done about them?

Join the discussion

Nov 28, 2024

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‘Parliamentarians are constantly campaigning’

This content was published on Dec 4, 2024 One year after Swiss national elections, are parliamentarians still in tune with the people and are they defending the interests of the Swiss Abroad?

The 10 Million initiative: putting a cap on immigration.

Putting the brakes on immigration in Switzerland

This content was published on Dec 2, 2024 The right-wing Swiss People’s Party has launched an initiative to stop the Swiss population exceeding 10 million people.

The rocky relationship between Switzerland and the European Union

This content was published on Nov 26, 2024 The Swiss president, Viola Amherd, would like to seal a deal by the end of the year to update relations with the European Union.

How the poorest country in Europe is integrating 120,000 Ukrainian refugees

This content was published on Nov 25, 2024 No country has taken in as many Ukrainian refugees relative to its population as the Republic of Moldova.

Reactions to ‘no’ vote on Swiss motorway expansion project

This content was published on Nov 24, 2024 On Sunday, a majority of Swiss voters (52.7%) rejected a CHF5 billion government plan to extend key stretches of the motorway network.

Motorway expansion vote: ‘We need to rethink the way we travel’

This content was published on Nov 14, 2024 Should Switzerland widen part of its motorway network? The two guests in our Let’s Talk debate discuss the proposal on which voters will decide on November 24.

Does Switzerland need bigger motorways?

This content was published on Nov 5, 2024 The Swiss are about to vote on a government plan to add lanes to six stretches of the country’s A1 motorway. The referendum will be held on November 24, 2024.

Lift off! Swiss students build next-gen reusable rockets

This content was published on Oct 10, 2024 Rocket-building used to be the sole preserve of space-faring nations like the United States or Russia. Now many other players are getting involved from private companies to young researchers, even from Switzerland.

Breaking menstruation taboos in West Africa

This content was published on Oct 7, 2024 Over 300 million girls and women worldwide menstruate every day, yet in West Africa the topic remains taboo. Some NGOs are trying to change local attitudes to periods.

Fish stocks hit by warming lakes. Climate change seems partly to blame.

Fish species are disappearing as Swiss lakes warm up

This content was published on Sep 26, 2024 As temperatures climb in Switzerland, Swiss lakes, fish species and their natural habitat are also suffering. A look at the impact on Lake Geneva.

Biodiversity initiative: Reactions to the rejection

This content was published on Sep 22, 2024 Our reporters, Zeno Zoccatelli and Christian Raaflaub, have been speaking to both the initiative committee and the group opposing the referendum.

A popular initiative demanding greater living choices for people with disabilities in Switzerland has collected enough signatures for a national vote.

A better way to live for the disabled in Switzerland?

This content was published on Sep 18, 2024 A popular initiative demanding greater living choices for people with disabilities in Switzerland has collected enough signatures for a national vote.

Computer-generated image of the planned SedrunSolar park in canton Graubünden in southeastern Switzerland.

Construction starts on first large-scale solar park in Swiss Alps

This content was published on Sep 13, 2024 The first major solar project under the federal government’s “Solar Express” scheme is being built near the mountain village of Sedrun in southeast Switzerland.

Should the Swiss invest more in biodiversity?

This content was published on Sep 9, 2024 The Swiss will be voting on a biodiversity initiative on 22 September. It seeks to give nature more space and resources but is considered too extreme by its opponents.

Biodiversity initiative: ‘We don’t want parts of the country sealed off’

This content was published on Sep 9, 2024 Better protection for nature or more headaches for farmers? Two politicians discuss the biodiversity initiative in our ‘Let’s Talk’ series.

External Content

Bloomberg Business

This content was published on Dec 7, 2024 – 07:00

VW, Stellantis Brace For Another Rough Year in Auto Industry

This content was published on Dec 6, 2024 – 22:20

Stocks Extend Record-Breaking Run After Jobs Data: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Dec 5, 2024 – 22:11

Stock Rally Stalls as Anxiety Brews in Jobs Run-Up: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Dec 5, 2024 – 10:12

Vodafone’s £15 Billion Deal Opens Door to European Consolidation

This content was published on Dec 4, 2024 – 22:09

Stocks Hit Record as Powell Bullish on US Economy: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Dec 4, 2024 – 18:10

UBS Stunned by Mafia Analogy at Whistleblower Pressure Trial

This content was published on Dec 4, 2024 – 17:48

‘Mr. Non Compliant’ Believed He Was Part of Trafigura ‘Family,’ Court Hears

This content was published on Dec 3, 2024 – 22:28

S&P 500 Ekes Out Gain to Notch 55th Record in 2024: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Dec 3, 2024 – 19:01

Trafigura’s Ex-COO Defends ‘Inspirational’ Founder at Swiss Bribe Trial

This content was published on Dec 3, 2024 – 09:51

Swiss Inflation Ticks Up as Officials Ponder Next Rate Cut

This content was published on Dec 3, 2024 – 07:00

The Best and Worst Places for Expats to Live Right Now

This content was published on Dec 2, 2024 – 22:19

Stocks Kick Off Final Month of 2024 at Record High: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Dec 1, 2024 – 10:09

Holcim Sells Nigerian Unit to Huaxin Cement at $1 Billion Value

This content was published on Nov 30, 2024 – 14:22

German Economy’s Cold Infecting Switzerland, SNB’s Schlegel Says

This content was published on Nov 30, 2024 – 11:54

Sanctioned Russian Tycoon Is Back to Lead World Fencing Body

This content was published on Nov 30, 2024 – 07:00

Drugs Help Switzerland Withstand Pain From Swings in the Franc

This content was published on Nov 29, 2024 – 22:14

S&P 500 Clocks Best Month of the Year; Yields Drop: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Nov 29, 2024 – 20:00

Stifel’s Swiss Equities Team Is Said to Be Joining Oddo BHF

This content was published on Nov 29, 2024 – 17:57

European Stocks Rise as Tech Rally Outweighs Tariff Worries

This content was published on Nov 28, 2024 – 22:27

Tech Reprieve Lifts Stocks, French Crisis Swirls: Markets Wrap

two pregnant women, one in a traditional Muslim cloak.

Women’s rights: how authoritarian regimes use women’s bodies for power

This content was published on Dec 2, 2024 How authoritarian regimes restrict women’s rights to maintain control.

Although considered the most futuristic of art forms, VR technology is still primitive.

Nothing is possible: Swiss animator explores the limits of virtual reality

This content was published on Dec 1, 2024 Our critic visited the ART*VR festival in Prague to assess the recent global output and how the Swiss are faring in it.

Jean Tinguely’s whimsical contraptions return to Milan for centenary showcase

This content was published on Nov 29, 2024 A major exhibition in Milan opens the celebrations for the centenary of Jean Tinguely with 40 sculptures produced between the 1950s and 1990s by the pioneer of kinetic art.

Opinion

Bridging climate action and conflict areas: a new hope from COP29

This content was published on Nov 29, 2024 Climate policy specialist Annika Erickson-Pearson explains why a set of principles adopted at COP29 aimed at enhancing climate action in conflict-areas looks set to make a difference.

a girl holds up a sign with "girl power" written on it,

Are initiatives to combat gender-based violence having an impact?

This content was published on Nov 29, 2024 Authorities and civil society are looking for ways to deal with gender-based violence. Are these initiatives having an impact? Join the discussion.

Volunteer network supports migrant women affected by violence

This content was published on Nov 29, 2024 A foundation in western Switzerland has set up a network of trained volunteers to help migrant women who experience domestic violence.

How Irish pop star Bambie Thug became the face of a Swiss referendum on Eurovision

This content was published on Nov 24, 2024 While choosing the host city was an incredibly slow process, a referendum to reverse the decision moved at double speed.

Hornussen, the Swiss national sport with a sting

This content was published on Nov 23, 2024 The Swiss sport of Hornussen invariably generates stunned reactions from people seeing it for the first time.

"Untitled" (1979), by Verena Loewensberg. One of the pioneers of Concrete art, the artist has long been in the shadow of his (male) peers, more savy in self-promotion. Loewensberg's oeuvre is finally being 'rediscovered'.

From Dada to Concrete Art: when Zurich was a modernist battleground

This content was published on Nov 20, 2024 A new book about the pioneers of Concretism fills a gap in the history of the most internationally influential Swiss art movement of the 20th century.

Bryan Cyril Thurston in his studio: the ambivalent depiction of the artist by his son also points to the potentially anachronistic nature of 1970s activist Romanticism.

Art, activism, and family legacy flow through a Swiss mountain pass

This content was published on Nov 19, 2024 A new documentary about British-Swiss artist Bryan Cyril Thurston makes a nuanced case for the power of art as a form of environmentalist activism.

In search of the ‘authentic’ Swiss musical instrument

This content was published on Nov 16, 2024 The alphorn is the most emblematic instrument in Swiss folklore, but not necessarily the most authentic.

Brienz locals at a presentation which presented information on where movements in the upper part of the scree slope are threatening the small Graubünden village.

Geologist explains why Swiss mountain village faces another huge landslide

This content was published on Nov 15, 2024 The chief geologist monitoring the Swiss mountain village of Brienz outlines the current landslide dangers and possible solutions.

Heard the one about the Swiss company installing laugh detectors?

In Focus

What does the future hold for Swiss neutrality?

Switzerland is grappling with a key question: should it follow a path of openness or isolationism?

Why melting glaciers affect us all

Alpine glaciers could disappear by the end of the century. The consequences will be felt not only in the Swiss Alps but throughout Europe.

Sister republics: Switzerland and the US

The US and Switzerland were known as “sister republics”. Explore the links that still bind these two very dissimilar countries.

Swiss federal votes on September 22, 2024

Biodiversity and pensions are on the agenda for the federal votes on September 22.

Taiwan: a model democracy

Taiwan has developed into an exemplary democracy. This can be seen in schools as well as in election campaigns – despite or because of its precarious status.

Swiss federal votes on June 9

Two initiatives aimed at stemming healthcare costs took centre stage when voters went to the polls on June 9.

illustration depicting federal voting in Switzerland.

Federal votes on March 3, 2024

Pension reform is once again at the heart of Swiss politics. On March 3, voters will decide on two people’s initiatives from opposing camps.

The key ingredients of the Swiss financial sector

Switzerland’s fabled financial sector is made up of several crucial elements.

illustration: sport washing the world cup

Sportswashing the World Cup from Geneva

This three-part investigation shows the lengths to which Qatar went to whitewash its reputation and the role Geneva played in this marketing stunt.

The ethics of artificial intelligence

The challenges are immense for Switzerland, which is one of the leading developers of artificial intelligence (AI).

Important members of the Swiss-Kosovan diaspora

Kosovo in Switzerland, Switzerland in Kosovo

The two small mountain countries are linked by a dense network of relationships: political, economic, historical, but above all human.

Swiss solutions for storing the energy of tomorrow

The global challenge is not only to produce more energy from renewable sources, but also to store it efficiently and sustainably.

A global stress test for freedom of expression

One of democracy’s fundamental pillars is under attack, and under scrutiny, across the world.

What was on the agenda for voters on June 18, 2023

Tax rules for multinationals, carbon neutrality, Covid prevention measures: it was a clear “yes” to all three issues on the ballot on June 18.

cartoon of hikers walking across a tree log

Why people in Switzerland trust the state

Stable country, stable money, stable lifestyles: in comparison, many things run smoothly in Switzerland. One factor is the high level of trust.

Are initiatives to combat gender-based violence having an impact?

This content was published on Nov 29, 2024 Authorities and civil society are looking for ways to deal with gender-based violence. Are these initiatives having an impact? Join the discussion.

The Swiss have embraced AI at record speed

This content was published on Nov 21, 2024 A new study shows that half of the Swiss population uses AI but the technology is also increasing digital inequality.

Woman sitting looking over the Aletsch glacier

Most Swiss doubt politicians’ ability to deal with climate change

This content was published on Nov 18, 2024 Two-thirds of Swiss believe global warming is a serious problem. However, only about a third thinks Swiss politicians can take sufficient measures on the issue.

Few people are sitting on the benches in a catholic church.

Poll finds over half of Swiss residents don’t believe in God

This content was published on Nov 15, 2024 More than half of people in Switzerland who took part in a recent survey say they do not believe in God.

Hard drugs: does prohibition sometimes do more harm than good?

This content was published on Nov 1, 2024 How can the growing consumption of crack cocaine in Switzerland be tackled? And what support can be provided to addicts? Join in the discussion!

Broken picture frame with an image of a woman with a child. - Picture frame, child, woman, shattered.

Fighting paedophile crime: What is the right balance between prevention and punishment?

This content was published on Oct 25, 2024 To fight paedophilia-related crimes, vigilante justice can take on a radical form. Fair or foul?

A customer sits behind his full shopping trolley and looks at his mobile phone

Cost-of-living crisis: only a minority of Swiss say they feel the pinch

This content was published on Oct 24, 2024 Around one-third of Swiss residents and the Swiss Abroad say their financial situation is a strain, while four out of five believe the wealth gap in Switzerland is too wide, a new survey shows.

Young person holding a cigarette in their hand.

New Swiss tobacco law: are minors sufficiently protected?

This content was published on Oct 3, 2024 Are minors in Switzerland sufficiently protected from the risks of tobacco consumption? Join the multilingual debate on “dialogue”!

Hunting: where two visions of nature clash

This content was published on Sep 19, 2024 It’s the hunting season again in Switzerland. Hunting is a well-established tradition in rural and mountain regions in Switzerland, but it also sparks criticism.

A smartphone with the APP of social networks Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, Mastodon and X is pictured in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, September 12, 2023.(KEYSTONE/Laurent Gillieron)

Poll: Swiss are fed up with social media

This content was published on Sep 12, 2024 According to the latest figures, social media is being used less. One of the reasons: the platforms are no longer truly social.

Das Bundeshaus in Bern, aufgenommen bei starkem Wind

Poll: Switzerland is rather sceptical about the future

This content was published on Sep 5, 2024 Overall, people in Switzerland and the Swiss Abroad are doing well. But they are more pessimistic about the future than they were a year ago.

Poll: Swiss Abroad pensioners are enthusiastic while workers struggle

This content was published on Sep 5, 2024 Swiss pensioners abroad are generally happy with their lives but Swiss nationals who live and work overseas are less satisfied than the average citizen.

A man takes a prototype of the new insurance certificate of the AHV-IV (AHV: Federal old-age and bereaved people insurance/IV: Disabled people insurance) out of his wallet

‘Dialogue’: should the 2022 vote on the Swiss pension system be re-run?

This content was published on Aug 15, 2024 After news of miscalculated financial forecasts on the pension system, left-wingers want a re-run of a 2022 vote. What’s your opinion? Join the discussion on “dialogue”!

Waiter dressed in black in a restaurant in Zurich,

The ‘dialogue’ community wants to know: do we need a four-day work week?

This content was published on Aug 9, 2024 Should Switzerland introduce a four-day work week? Learn more about the topic with a selection of multimedia content and join the discussion.

People watch the fireworks during the Swiss National Day celebrations in Nyon on Monday 1 August 2022.

Swiss National Day: should fireworks for private individuals be banned?

This content was published on Aug 1, 2024 Many Swiss celebrate Swiss National Day on August 1 with fireworks. But the topic is controversial.

A nurse holding the hand of an elderly woman in a nursing home.

Assisted suicide: death with dignity or ethical dilemma?

This content was published on Jul 29, 2024 Assisted suicide is considered a controversial and personal topic. Does it mean death with dignity, or does it inevitably lead to an ethical dilemma?

Dr. Fernando Taveras, a psychiatrist and Hispanic mental healthcare expert with SOMOS Community Care Clinic, holds a model of a brain as he stands for a portrait in New York on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Mental health experts, community clinics and politicians are working to create new programs to break down barriers that Latinos might face to getting therapy or treatment.

Is Switzerland in a mental health crisis?

This content was published on Jul 19, 2024 Mental health has shifted more into focus in Switzerland, and the latest figures confirm an increase in mental illness.

Participating in democracy, a challenge for the Swiss Abroad

This content was published on Jul 12, 2024 Should the Swiss Abroad have more political influence in Switzerland? Join the discussion on “dialogue”.

Tourists wait with their cars for free parking spaces at the church car park, on Sunday, 19 May 2024 in Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland. The holiday resort of Lauterbrunnen wants to introduce an entrance fee for day tourists travelling by car. Like many other tourist resorts around the world, the municipality in the Bernese Oberland struggles with large streams of tourists.

Mass tourism in Switzerland: beneficial or detrimental?

This content was published on Jul 5, 2024 While some see tourism in Switzerland as a welcome boost, others are concerned about too many tourists in certain regions.

Primary school class 1c pictured during a double science and reading lesson at the schoolhouse Vinci, Public School Suhr, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland, on June 25, 2018. The Public School Suhr consists of kindergartens, primary schools and senior classes. (KEYSTONE/Christian Beutler)

Inclusive schools: beneficial for all?

This content was published on Jun 28, 2024 Inclusive schools, where children with disabilities are enrolled in regular schools, have been an issue of debate in Switzerland for several years.