Le News

Swiss housing acutely scarce again

Switzerland’s housing market tightened further in 2026 to reach a vacancy rate below 1% for the first time since 2013. On June 1st, 45,493 homes…

Support for an immigration levy grows in Bern

Switzerland may one day charge employers an “entry fee” for recruiting workers from the European Union. The idea, long dismissed as anti-busines…

Most Swiss electricity bills to fall in 2027

Swiss households will get some relief from high electricity bills next year. Prices in the regulated basic-supply market will fall by a median 4…

Zurich parliament backs headscarf ban in public schools

Zurich’s cantonal parliament has backed a proposal to ban headscarves in public schools and kindergartens, instructing the cantonal government t…

Swiss government unlocks 70m to help farmers and forest owners with drought damage

Switzerland’s government is stepping up support for forestry and agriculture, two sectors hit particularly hard by drought and extreme heat. On…

Switzerland’s neutrality campaign kicks off ahead of September vote

Supporters of the “Safeguard Swiss Neutrality” initiative launched their campaign in Bern on Tuesday, arguing that a Yes vote on September 27th…

Swiss Liberal Greens want less polluting cigarette filters

Around 1,000 tonnes of cigarette butts are discarded on the ground in Switzerland each year. The Green Liberal Party wants the federal governmen…

Religion continues to fade in Switzerland

Each generation, it seems, is a little less religious than the one before. New figures from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) suggest t…

Winter tyre rules in Switzerland and its neighbours

Laws in France, Italy and Austria require drivers to fit winter tyres or carry chains between certain dates. In Germany, winter tires are mandat…

FILM: PERFECT DAYS – the best film of the year

24 November 2023. By Neptune PERFECT DAYS ***** (vo Japanese) How does Wim Wenders do it? How does he go from his German films of the 80s (“Wing…

No roaming charges in Europe, except in Switzerland

From 15 June 2017, there are no EU roaming charges for most of those with a mobile phone on an EU contract. The new rules compelling operators t…