Politics, housing, transport and daily life in the city and canton of Zurich. With news and perspectives from Switzerland and the world.
Higher allowances will apply from January. Under IV, battery costs will be included in the total, making a direct comparison with the old rates misleading.
The 2026–2031 adaptation strategy sets out 56 measures across 30 areas. Priorities include heat protection, water management and preparation for extreme events.
The Federal Council approved a bill on historic rights to use public waters. They would end without compensation in 2055, subject to parliamentary approval.
Representatives of 40 national statistical institutes, Eurostat and international experts met in Bern to discuss reliable, discoverable public data for AI-era platforms. The conference took place on 28 and 29 October.
A team from Empa, ETH Zurich, Balgrist University Hospital and the University of Zurich developed a fluorescent nanomaterial for high-resolution imaging. Clinical use remains a future possibility.
Twenty-seven years after Belarusian opposition figures disappeared, a St. Gallen court has convicted Juri Garawski in the case of Anatoly Krasovsky and imposed a two-year suspended prison sentence. Two acquittals stand; the judgment is not yet final.
The ten regional cooperatives and Migros Cooperative Federation could merge into one group cooperative. Their boards support the plan, but 2.3 million members will have the final say in 2027.
Why a winding route between two Swiss cities is not proof of government inefficiency — and what a closer look at the transport network actually shows.
Mandatory survivors’ and disability pensions will rise by 2.1%, 1.0% or 1.2%. The start date and the most recent adjustment determine the rate.
Ultrathin coatings are intended to capture and release CO₂ in under a second. The concept could save material and energy, but still has to prove itself experimentally.
Spouses will be able to choose a double surname with or without a hyphen. Children remain excluded from the new rule.
Cement imported from countries with lower carbon costs could face a charge. The Federal Council wants the system activated only if third-country imports rise sharply.
About 54,000 workplaces were migrated. The SFAO considers safeguards appropriate for today’s restricted use, but calls for systematic monitoring and an independent backup.
The federal administration is seeking five providers across three cloud tiers. Possible orders are capped at seven billion francs over 14 years, with payment limited to services actually used.
In 2025, 681,000 people in Switzerland were self-employed in their main job. Full-time self-employed people work longer hours than employees and are considerably older on average.
Seasonally adjusted exports rose to 75 billion francs, while imports reached a nominal record of 61 billion. The trade surplus stood at 14 billion francs.
The closure is final after the employee consultation process. The coatings specialist expects to stop operating at the end of November; three apprentices are among those affected.
The Federal Office of Public Health and partner organisations are using short videos, social media and advice. The campaign is part of Switzerland’s national programme against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
From mid-November, 120 beds are intended to be used primarily for those seeking protection from Ukraine.
The proposed WTO agreement is intended to facilitate electronic transactions between 67 members and the agreement runs until the end of January 2027.
The preliminary draft should be supplemented by risk assessments, protection measures and a ban on profiling advertising for minors.
A study is intended to investigate life situations, responsibilities and knowledge gaps, and is the first step in a two-stage strategy process.
The first meeting is scheduled for this fall.
The September index is at −36 points, and the slight change to the previous year is a counter-current assessment of the economy and the budget.