# The Swiss Press - Full Site Index
# URL: https://theswisspress.ch

Name: The Swiss Press
Type: Independent news media organisation
Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland
Language: English
Coverage: Switzerland (primary), Europe, selected world news
Archive: January 2025 through October 2026

Mission: Deliver factual, locally grounded reporting for Swiss readers.
Editorial standards: https://theswisspress.ch/about.html

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ARTICLES
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1. Masked Crowd Attacks Zurich Police With Stones and Fireworks After Illegal Hardplatz Party
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-hardplatz-riot-police-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Society
   Published: 2026-10-12T11:10:00+02:00
   Summary: More than 100 people, some masked, attacked Zurich police dispersing an illegal party near Hardplatz on Saturday night. One officer was injured, around 20 waste containers burned, and police suspect the confrontation was prepared in advance.
   Keywords: Zurich Hardplatz riot, illegal party Zurich police attacked, Stadtpolizei Zurich October 2026, masked crowd fireworks police Zurich, Hardplatz underpass barricade, Zurich police officer injured

2. Around 1,000 Join Unauthorised Anti-Capitalism Rally in Bern, One Year After the Riots
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/bern-anti-capitalism-demo-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Society
   Published: 2026-10-12T10:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Around 1,000 people joined an unauthorised anti-capitalism rally in Bern on the first anniversary of the Gaza demonstration riots. Police from several cantons kept the crowd out of the city centre, and the route from the Rosengarten to the Reitschule ended without major incidents.
   Keywords: Bern anti-capitalism demonstration October 2026, unauthorised rally Bern Rosengarten, Reitschule Bern protest, Gaza demonstration anniversary Bern, Kantonspolizei Bern water cannon Kornhausplatz

3. Rain Barely Dents Switzerland's Severe Drought, and the Coming Week Looks Dry Again
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/swiss-drought-rain-deficit-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2026-10-12T09:30:00+02:00
   Summary: The 20 to 40 millimetres of rain that fell north of the Alps improved Switzerland's water balance by only 15 to 35 percent. MeteoSchweiz still calls the drought severe, record low flows were measured on the High Rhine, and the coming week looks dry again.
   Keywords: Switzerland drought October 2026, MeteoSchweiz precipitation deficit, High Rhine record low water, national drought platform stage 4, dry autumn Switzerland, rainfall deficit 30 days

4. Bern Weighs Traffic Lights at More Than 120 Motorway Entrances, and Accepts Queues on Local Roads
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/motorway-ramp-metering-criticism-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2026-10-12T08:15:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Roads Office lists 138 ramp metering projects for Swiss motorway entrances after voters rejected network expansion in 2024. An internal note shows Bern accepts queues on cantonal roads, and cities and cantons demand a say in planning.
   Keywords: ASTRA ramp metering Switzerland, motorway entrance traffic lights Switzerland, Swiss motorway congestion 2026, Federal Roads Office FEDRO traffic plan, ramp metering criticism cantons, motorway expansion referendum 2024

5. S&P Confirms Zurich's AAA Rating but Turns the Outlook Negative
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-aaa-outlook-negative-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Finance
   Published: 2026-10-12T07:25:00+02:00
   Summary: S&P Global Ratings confirmed Zurich's AAA long-term rating and cut the outlook from stable to negative, putting a one-in-three chance on a downgrade within two years. Finance chief Daniel Leupi answered with a promise of tighter spending priorities.
   Keywords: Zurich AAA rating negative outlook, S&P Global Ratings city of Zurich 2026, Daniel Leupi budget discipline, Zurich downgrade risk AA+, city of Zurich debt finances

6. Strasbourg Will Rule Whether Joint Tax Bills for Ex-Spouses Discriminate Against Women
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ecthr-vaud-joint-tax-mahaim-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Justice
   Published: 2026-10-12T06:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The European Court of Human Rights declared admissible Raphaël Mahaim's application against Vaud's joint tax liability rules for former spouses, a hurdle only about one application in ten clears. A ruling for the Green National Councillor could let women in Vaud have their cases reviewed.
   Keywords: ECtHR joint tax liability former spouses, Raphaël Mahaim Strasbourg application, Vaud tax solidarity ex-spouses discrimination, European Court of Human Rights Switzerland, canton Vaud tax law women

7. Zurich Teaches Residents What to Do When the Power Goes Out
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-resilience-weeks-blackout-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Society
   Published: 2026-10-11T09:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Zurich's second Resilience Weeks run through October with neighbourhood walks, workshops and emergency meeting points. The city counts 80 spring-fed emergency fountains and asks households to store 9 litres of water per person.
   Keywords: Zurich resilience weeks, blackout preparedness Switzerland, emergency water fountains Zurich, household emergency supply 9 litres, Alertswiss

8. Zurich Airport Finishes First Skymetro Rebuild Stage, Next Starts in November
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-airport-skymetro-first-stage-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Transport
   Published: 2026-10-11T08:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Garaventa completed the first of two modernisation stages on Zurich Airport's Skymetro shuttle, with stage two due in November 2026. The airport handled a provisional record of more than 123,000 passengers on 4 October.
   Keywords: Zurich Airport Skymetro modernisation, Garaventa, Zurich Airport record passengers October 2026, Flughafen Zurich

9. Around 1,000 March Through Zurich in a Peaceful Gaza Demonstration
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-gaza-demonstration-bahnhofstrasse-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Society
   Published: 2026-10-10T21:15:00+02:00
   Summary: About 1,000 people demonstrated in Zurich on Saturday against the war in Gaza, kneeling for a minute of silence on Bahnhofstrasse. The march from Helvetiaplatz toward Langstrasse stayed peaceful under a large police presence.
   Keywords: Zurich demonstration 10 October 2026, Gaza protest Bahnhofstrasse, pro-Palestine march Zurich, Helvetiaplatz

10. Baume-Schneider Defends VAT Rise to Fund the 13th Pension
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/vat-rise-13th-pension-vote-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-10-10T18:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The social affairs minister warned that a no vote on 29 November would leave the AHV with an annual deficit of almost CHF 5 billion by 2035. VAT would rise from 8.1 to 8.5 percent to help fund the first 13th pension payment in December.
   Keywords: 13th AHV pension, VAT increase Switzerland, Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, 29 November referendum, AHV financing

11. GA Pass Tops CHF 4,000 for the First Time as Watchdog Halves the Rise
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ga-travelcard-price-watchdog-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2026-10-10T16:05:00+02:00
   Summary: The second-class GA will cost CHF 4,095 from 13 December, up CHF 100 instead of the planned CHF 200, after price watchdog Stefan Meierhans negotiated with Alliance Swisspass. SBB will add CHF 90 million of saver tickets in 2027.
   Keywords: GA price 2027, Generalabonnement CHF 4095, Alliance Swisspass, Stefan Meierhans price watchdog, SBB fare increase December 2026

12. Swiss Cities Tighten the Rules on Airbnb as the Housing Squeeze Spreads
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/airbnb-short-term-rentals-housing-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2026-10-10T14:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Lucerne caps short-term rentals at 90 nights a year, Zurich and Interlaken have followed, and Valais hoteliers demand a level playing field with hotels. The House of Representatives has backed nationwide data collection.
   Keywords: Airbnb Switzerland regulation, short-term rentals cap, Lucerne 90 nights rule, Valais hoteliers, Swiss housing shortage

13. SVP Will Put At Least Two Names on the Ticket for Parmelin's Seat
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/svp-two-candidate-ticket-parmelin-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-10-10T11:20:00+02:00
   Summary: SVP faction president Thomas Aeschi wants at least two candidates for the 9 December Federal Council election, and left open a three-name ticket. St. Gallen senator Esther Friedli has ruled herself out.
   Keywords: Federal Council election 2026, SVP ticket, Thomas Aeschi, Guy Parmelin successor, Esther Friedli, Celine Amaudruz, 9 December election

14. Switzerland Hosts Its First EU Civil Protection Exercise, a Four-Day Earthquake Drill
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eu-modex-earthquake-exercise-geneva-2026.html
   Section: World / Security
   Published: 2026-10-10T09:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Around 500 rescuers, half from abroad, drilled a severe earthquake in Geneva, Vaud and Fribourg from 6 to 9 October. It was Switzerland's first EU MODEX as host nation.
   Keywords: EU MODEX Switzerland 2026, civil protection exercise, earthquake drill Geneva, EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Payerne, Epeisses

15. Sabotage Fire Shuts the Lausanne to Yverdon Rail Line Until Sunday
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/rail-sabotage-lausanne-yverdon-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2026-10-09T16:20:00+02:00
   Summary: A pre-dawn fire destroyed signalling cables near Eclepens on Friday. Police suspect arson. SBB closed 25 kilometres of the west-east axis and rerouted trains via Bern until early Sunday.
   Keywords: SBB sabotage, Lausanne Yverdon rail closure, Eclepens fire, signalling cables, Swiss rail disruption October 2026

16. Solar Permit Initiative Fails After Nearly 20,000 Signatures Ruled Invalid
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/solar-initiative-invalid-signatures-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Energy
   Published: 2026-10-09T14:15:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Chancellery says the initiative For Solar Installations Without Permits failed after almost 20,000 of the 117,500 collected signatures were ruled invalid. The 18-month deadline expired on 8 October.
   Keywords: solar initiative Switzerland, solar installations without permits, invalid signatures, Federal Chancellery, rooftop solar building permit

17. Swiss-Ukrainian Reconstruction Agreement Enters Into Force
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ukraine-reconstruction-agreement-force-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-10-09T11:30:00+02:00
   Summary: The bilateral deal giving Swiss companies a legal basis to help rebuild Ukraine took effect on 9 October, after the referendum deadline expired unused on 8 October.
   Keywords: Switzerland Ukraine reconstruction agreement, Swiss companies Ukraine rebuilding, Ukraine Country Programme 2025-2028, Federal Council

18. Richemont Cuts Jobs at Montblanc Watchmaking in Le Locle
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/richemont-montblanc-job-cuts-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2026-10-09T10:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Six staff were made redundant and 17 are moving to other Richemont brands, the Unia union says, as weak demand for entry and mid-range watches reaches the Neuchatel Jura.
   Keywords: Richemont Montblanc job cuts, Le Locle watchmaking, Unia Neuchatel, Swiss watch industry crisis, Cartier, Minerva Villeret

19. Federal Pension Fund Publica Reports Data Breach After Supplier Cyberattack
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/publica-cyberattack-data-breach-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Security
   Published: 2026-10-08T09:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Publica, the pension fund for federal administration and ETH staff, says data leaked after a cyberattack on an external software supplier. The Office of the Attorney General is investigating.
   Keywords: Publica data breach, Swiss federal pension fund, cyberattack Switzerland, Office of the Attorney General, pension data leak, Swiss cybersecurity

20. Brussels Warns Bern Over Senate Changes as the EU Package Heads to December
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eu-package-brussels-warning-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Politics
   Published: 2026-10-08T08:30:00+02:00
   Summary: EU ambassador Andreas Kuenne calls the Senate's immigration demands not helpful and expects Switzerland to honour the signed treaties. The National Council debates Bilaterals III in December.
   Keywords: Bilaterals III, Swiss EU treaty package, Andreas Kuenne, free movement of persons, National Council December, Swiss EU referendum 2027

21. Three Out of Four New Doctors in Switzerland Now Come From Abroad
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/foreign-doctors-switzerland-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Health
   Published: 2026-10-08T07:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The Swiss Medical Association says 43 percent of practising doctors held a foreign degree in 2025, up from 31 percent a decade earlier, and three out of four new physicians come from abroad.
   Keywords: foreign doctors Switzerland, Swiss Medical Association, physician shortage, medical degrees Switzerland, health workforce, OECD doctors

22. Martullo-Blocher Says No as the Race to Succeed Parmelin Takes Shape
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/parmelin-succession-martullo-out-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-10-07T14:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Magdalena Martullo-Blocher has ruled herself out of the race for Guy Parmelin's Federal Council seat. SVP cantonal sections can name candidates until 23 October; the election is on 9 December.
   Keywords: Federal Council election 2026, Magdalena Martullo-Blocher, Guy Parmelin successor, SVP candidates, Celine Amaudruz, Esther Friedli, 9 December election

23. Unions Hand In 100,000 Signatures Against Weakening Cantonal Minimum Wages
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/minimum-wage-referendum-signatures-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Labour
   Published: 2026-10-07T10:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Unions and left parties submitted more than 100,000 signatures, twice the number required, against a reform letting collective labour agreements override cantonal minimum wages. Geneva's minimum wage rises to CHF 24.73 in January.
   Keywords: minimum wage referendum Switzerland, collective labour agreements, GAV, Geneva minimum wage 2027, Swiss unions, Federal Chancellery signatures

24. Zurich Buys 64 Apartments in Seebach to Grow Its Nonprofit Housing Stock
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-seebach-housing-purchase-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Housing
   Published: 2026-10-07T09:20:00+02:00
   Summary: The city of Zurich has purchased 64 apartments in Seebach, housing at least 156 people, as a step toward its goal of one third nonprofit rental housing. The site's floor space could later more than double.
   Keywords: Zurich housing, Seebach apartments, nonprofit housing Zurich, one third goal, affordable housing Zurich, Zurich rental shortage

25. Second Major UBS Investor Says the Bank Should Weigh Leaving Switzerland
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/artisan-ubs-leaving-switzerland-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-10-06T11:30:00+02:00
   Summary: US asset manager Artisan Partners has written to the UBS board calling the planned capital rules punitive and urging the bank to consider leaving Switzerland. UBS says it intends to stay.
   Keywords: Artisan Partners, UBS leaving Switzerland, UBS capital requirements, Lex UBS, CET1, too big to fail, UBS shareholders

26. Alliance From SP to SVP Moves in Parliament to Stop the Starlink Station in Leuk
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/starlink-leuk-parliament-opposition-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Technology
   Published: 2026-10-06T08:45:00+02:00
   Summary: SpaceX wants to build 40 Starlink gateway antennas above Leuk in Valais, one of Europe's largest ground stations. A cross-party alliance in Bern and a residents' appeal in Sion stand in the way.
   Keywords: Starlink Leuk, SpaceX Switzerland, Valais antennas, Swiss neutrality Starlink, Fabian Molina, Jacqueline Badran, satellite ground station

27. Swiss Law Firms Are Quietly Tracing Stolen Crypto Through Hong Kong's AI Labs
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/hong-kong-crypto-forensics-2026.html
   Section: World / Technology
   Published: 2026-10-05T09:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Blockchain analysis for Swiss fraud cases is increasingly commissioned from Hong Kong, where AI tracing tools, common law courts and proximity to mainland China meet.
   Keywords: crypto fraud Switzerland, Hong Kong blockchain forensics, AI tracing, Swiss law firms, stolen crypto recovery

28. Parties From Left to Right Demand a More Ambitious Geneva AI Summit
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-ai-summit-ambition-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-10-05T09:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Six parties from the SP to the SVP jointly demand that the 2027 Geneva AI summit be held at head-of-state level, not just ministers, and question the CHF 5.4 million budget.
   Keywords: Geneva AI Summit 2027, Fabiola Gianotti, AI governance, Palexpo, Swiss AI summit budget, Bridging Innovation and Trust

29. Lex UBS Moves to the National Council With a 75 Percent Compromise in Play
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ubs-national-council-outlook-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-10-04T09:00:00+02:00
   Summary: After the Senate's 90 percent CET1 vote, FDP and SVP lawmakers want a softer UBS capital rule. Committees meet on 26 and 27 October.
   Keywords: Lex UBS, UBS capital rules, CET1, National Council, Hans-Peter Portmann, too big to fail Switzerland, UBS relocation

30. Candidates Line Up for Parmelin's Seat as the SVP Weighs Its Ticket
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/parmelin-succession-race-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-10-03T10:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Amaudruz, Rickli and Friedli head the early lists to replace Guy Parmelin. The SVP names its candidates on 20 November; the vote is 9 December.
   Keywords: Federal Council election 2026, SVP candidates, Celine Amaudruz, Natalie Rickli, Esther Friedli, magic formula, Guy Parmelin successor

31. Switzerland's First Public Robotaxi Service Starts Running in the Furttal
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-robotaxi-furttal-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Transport
   Published: 2026-10-03T09:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Passengers in Boppelsen, Danikon, Huttikon and Otelfingen can now book rides in self-driving cars. The Iamo pilot links around 100 stops in the Zurich valley.
   Keywords: robotaxi Switzerland, Iamo Furttal, autonomous vehicles Zurich, self-driving car pilot, Boppelsen, Danikon, Huttikon, Otelfingen

32. Guy Parmelin to Leave the Federal Council at the End of the Year
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/parmelin-resigns-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-10-02T11:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Guy Parmelin, economics minister and 2026 president, will step down on 31 December after 11 years in government. Parliament elects his successor on 9 December.
   Keywords: Guy Parmelin resignation, Federal Council, SVP, Swiss president 2026, Federal Council election 9 December 2026

33. Autumn Session Ends With the EU Package Done and Lex UBS Left Open
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/autumn-session-ends-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-10-02T18:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Parliament closed its autumn sitting on 2 October. The Senate finished the EU package, Mercosur survives, and the UBS capital law goes to the National Council.
   Keywords: Swiss autumn session 2026, Lex UBS, Mercosur, Bilaterals III, winter session, Federal Assembly, defence fund

34. State-Owned Space Supplier Beyond Gravity Discloses a Targeted Cyberattack
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/beyond-gravity-cyberattack-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Technology
   Published: 2026-10-02T15:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Beyond Gravity, the state-owned Swiss aerospace supplier, says a highly professional actor breached its IT systems. The first traces date from 12 August.
   Keywords: Beyond Gravity cyberattack, Swiss space industry, Federal Office for Cyber Security, Mandiant, Ruag, aerospace supplier

35. Senate Finishes the EU Package With Erasmus Money and Tighter Residence Rules
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/senate-eu-package-final-day-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Politics
   Published: 2026-10-01T12:45:00+02:00
   Summary: After some 22 hours of debate the Senate approved the last decrees of the EU stabilisation package on 1 October, including CHF 193 million for Erasmus+ in 2027.
   Keywords: Erasmus+ Switzerland, CHF 193 million, Council of States EU package, permanent residence rules, safeguard clause, wage protection

36. Senate Demands a Vote of People and Cantons on the Swiss-EU Treaty Package
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/senate-eu-double-majority-vote-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-30T20:30:00+02:00
   Summary: The Council of States voted 23 to 17 on 30 September to put Bilaterals III to a mandatory referendum, requiring a double majority of voters and cantons.
   Keywords: Swiss-EU referendum, Bilaterals III, double majority, Council of States, mandatory referendum, Standemehr, sui generis referendum

37. Swiss Football Association Withdraws Its Support for Gianni Infantino
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/infantino-swiss-backing-withdrawn-2026.html
   Section: World / Football
   Published: 2026-09-30T17:45:00+02:00
   Summary: The Swiss Football Association no longer backs Gianni Infantino's bid for another term as FIFA president, costing him his home federation.
   Keywords: Gianni Infantino, Swiss Football Association, FIFA president, SFA, Swiss football, FIFA election

38. Swiss Health Insurance Premiums to Rise About 5 Percent in 2027
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/health-premiums-2027-rise-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Health
   Published: 2026-09-30T11:30:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Office of Public Health says average health insurance premiums will climb about 5 percent in 2027, to CHF 412 a month. Adults will pay CHF 487.60.
   Keywords: Swiss health insurance premiums 2027, FOPH, KVG premiums, health costs Switzerland, premium increase

39. Senate Opens Detail Debate on the Swiss-EU Treaty Package
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/senate-eu-detail-day-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-29T09:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Senators moved from Monday's entry vote into the contested clauses: wage protection, the referendum rule and dynamic adoption of EU law.
   Keywords: Swiss-EU treaty package, Bilaterals III, Council of States, wage protection, dynamic law adoption

40. Senate Votes 29 to 15 to Take Up the Swiss-EU Treaty Package
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/senate-eu-entry-vote-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-28T21:15:00+02:00
   Summary: The Council of States voted 29 to 15 to open the Swiss-EU package. Detailed debate on wages and the referendum runs through Wednesday.
   Keywords: Bilaterals III vote, Council of States, Swiss-EU agreements, Guy Parmelin, Ignazio Cassis

41. Voters Reject Stricter Neutrality Rules in Every Canton
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/neutrality-vote-result-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-27T16:30:00+02:00
   Summary: All 26 cantons and 70.15 percent of voters rejected a stricter constitutional definition of neutrality. The food initiative also lost.
   Keywords: Swiss neutrality initiative results, 27 September 2026 vote, Ignazio Cassis, food security initiative, SVP

42. Schlegel Says Oil, Not the Hot Summer, Drove the Inflation Rise
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/schlegel-food-inflation-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-09-26T11:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Martin Schlegel told SRF the dry summer showed up in food prices, while the rise in Swiss inflation was still almost all petroleum.
   Keywords: Martin Schlegel, SNB inflation 2026, food prices Switzerland, Swiss policy rate, petroleum inflation

43. Postal Votes Are In as Switzerland Prepares Two Sunday Ballots
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ballot-eve-september-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-25T18:00:00+02:00
   Summary: With two days to go, the last national polls still have both 27 September initiatives behind. Most ballots in Switzerland are postal.
   Keywords: 27 September 2026 Swiss vote, neutrality initiative, food security initiative, postal voting Switzerland

44. SNB Holds Its Policy Rate at Zero as Energy Lifts Inflation
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/snb-holds-zero-september-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-09-24T10:30:00+02:00
   Summary: The SNB held at zero for another quarter, lifted its inflation forecast slightly, and softened the wording on franc intervention.
   Keywords: SNB policy rate September 2026, Swiss inflation forecast, Martin Schlegel, Swiss franc, energy prices

45. Insurer Puts Summer Crop Damage at CHF 59 Million
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/crop-damage-hail-drought-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Agriculture
   Published: 2026-09-24T14:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Hagel Schweiz expects CHF 59.2 million in crop losses and about 5,800 claims after the driest, hottest April-to-August stretch since 1901.
   Keywords: Swiss crop damage 2026, Hagel Schweiz, drought Switzerland, hail insurance, potato harvest

46. SNB Leaves the Policy Rate at Zero and Watches the Franc
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/snb-holds-zero-june-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-06-18T10:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The SNB held at zero, forecast Swiss growth of about 1 percent this year, and raised its readiness to resist a sudden franc jump.
   Keywords: SNB June 2026, Swiss policy rate 0 percent, Swiss franc intervention, Martin Schlegel, Swiss growth forecast

47. Government Raises the Drought Alert After a Dry Spring
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/drought-alert-june-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2026-06-25T15:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Bern raised the national drought alert to the maximum on 25 June. Rain since April has run at about half the usual amount.
   Keywords: Switzerland drought alert June 2026, MeteoSwiss, water restrictions, Swiss agriculture, low rainfall

48. July Rains Fail to Refill a Country Still on Drought Watch
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/drought-reserves-july-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2026-07-28T11:20:00+02:00
   Summary: A month after the top drought alert, MeteoSwiss says mid-July rain has not repaired reserves. Major lakes are running low for the season.
   Keywords: Switzerland drought July 2026, MeteoSwiss rainfall, Lake Constance, water restrictions, Vincent Humphrey

49. Basel Hits 39.7 Degrees and Matches the Northern Record
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/heat-record-basel-july-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2026-07-30T17:40:00+02:00
   Summary: MeteoSwiss recorded 39.7 degrees at Basel-Binningen, matching the hottest day ever measured north of the Swiss Alps.
   Keywords: Basel heat record 2026, 39.7 degrees, MeteoSwiss, Zurich temperature, Swiss heatwave July 2026

50. Locarno Logs 47 Tropical Nights and Breaks the 2003 Mark
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/locarno-tropical-nights-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2026-08-11T12:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Locarno-Monti has not dropped below 20 degrees on 47 nights, a Swiss record. Lugano stands at 44, and the level-four warning runs to Friday.
   Keywords: Locarno tropical nights 2026, MeteoSwiss, Lugano heat, Ticino heatwave, level four heat warning

51. Federal Council Sticks to an Optional Vote on the EU Package
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/bilaterals-referendum-august-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Politics
   Published: 2026-08-12T16:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Council reaffirmed an optional referendum for Bilaterals III and asked senators not to enter a plan for a mandatory vote.
   Keywords: Bilaterals III referendum, Federal Council, optional referendum, Council of States, Swiss-EU agreements 2026

52. Senate Requires UBS to Back Foreign Units With 90 Percent CET1
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ubs-senate-90-cet1-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-09-23T10:45:00+02:00
   Summary: The Council of States voted 29 to 16 for 90 percent CET1 backing of UBS foreign units. The bill moves to the National Council.
   Keywords: UBS capital requirements 2026, CET1, Council of States, Karin Keller-Sutter, Credit Suisse

53. Keller-Sutter and Ermotti Clash Ahead of the UBS Capital Vote
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/keller-sutter-ermotti-ubs-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-09-22T18:10:00+02:00
   Summary: In Zurich, the finance minister defended 100 percent CET1 backing and the UBS chief executive rejected both leading options.
   Keywords: Karin Keller-Sutter, Sergio Ermotti, UBS capital rules, Zurich, Swiss National Bank, CET1

54. Senate Backs a CHF 24 Billion Defence Fund and a Smaller VAT Rise
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/senate-defence-fund-vat-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Defence
   Published: 2026-09-21T16:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Senators kept the CHF 24 billion fund, raised the loan ceiling to CHF 12 billion, and set a 0.2 point VAT rise.
   Keywords: Swiss defence fund 2026, VAT increase, Council of States, army procurement, debt brake

55. One Week Out, the Neutrality Vote Still Leans No
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/neutrality-ballot-week-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-20T09:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Polls published on 16 September still show the 27 September neutrality initiative heading for defeat.
   Keywords: Swiss neutrality initiative, 27 September 2026 vote, Pro Suisse, SVP, food security initiative

56. Bern Climate Grandparents Claim a Parking Space for People
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/bern-climate-parking-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2026-09-19T15:00:00+02:00
   Summary: A Bahnhofplatz action marked 15 square metres of a parking bay as space for people.
   Keywords: Bern Bahnhofplatz, climate grandparents, parking space, Swiss climate policy, Heiliggeistkirche

57. Federal Council Rejects Border Checks and a 5,000 Asylum Cap
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/border-protection-initiative-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-18T15:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Ministers recommended a no vote on the SVP border initiative and warned it could put Schengen at risk.
   Keywords: Grenzschutzinitiative, Swiss border checks, Schengen Dublin, asylum cap, Federal Council, SVP

58. Trains Resume After a Night of Disruption on the Lausanne Lines
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/lausanne-geneva-rail-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2026-09-18T06:30:00+02:00
   Summary: SBB restored Lausanne-Geneva and Lausanne-Yverdon services after an electrical fault at Renens.
   Keywords: SBB Renens, Lausanne Geneva trains, rail disruption September 2026, Vaud, Yverdon

59. UBS Chairman Says the Bank May Rethink Switzerland if Rules Are Too Tight
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ubs-vote-postponed-kelleher-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-09-17T14:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Colm Kelleher spoke in St. Gallen as the Senate delayed the capital vote to 23 September.
   Keywords: Colm Kelleher, UBS headquarters Switzerland, Council of States, CET1, AT1, Credit Suisse

60. Autumn Session Corridors Talk Neutrality Polls and EU Safeguards
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/autumn-session-corridor-notes-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-16T12:40:00+02:00
   Summary: On the third sitting day, deputies treated the morning's neutrality polls as corridor fact. The EU package and army money remained the floor fact.
   Keywords: autumn session corridors 2026, Bundeshaus, neutrality polls, EU package, army funding

61. Final Polls Show Swiss Voters Set to Reject Tighter Neutrality Rules
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/neutrality-polls-september-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-16T08:15:00+02:00
   Summary: SRG and Tamedia polls find a clear majority against the 27 September neutrality initiative. A food security proposal is also trailing.
   Keywords: Swiss neutrality initiative, September 2026 vote, Pro Suisse, SVP, NATO Switzerland

62. Farm Leaders Call Senate Mercosur Deal a Bribe With Extra Beef
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/farmers-mercosur-reaction-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Agriculture
   Published: 2026-09-15T21:05:00+02:00
   Summary: After the Council of States voted 35 to 7 for EFTA-Mercosur plus CHF 517 million in farm support, unions said the money does not cancel the quotas.
   Keywords: Mercosur farm reaction September 2026, CHF 517 million, Swiss farmers union, Council of States

63. Senate Revives Mercosur Trade Deal With Farm Support Package
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/mercosur-senate-vote-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Trade
   Published: 2026-09-15T18:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The Council of States approved the EFTA-Mercosur agreement 35 to 7 and attached CHF 517 million in agricultural support. The National Council must vote again.
   Keywords: Mercosur Switzerland, EFTA trade deal, Council of States, Swiss farmers, autumn session 2026

64. Heat Pumps Now Warm a Quarter of Swiss Residential Buildings
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/heat-pumps-swiss-buildings-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Energy
   Published: 2026-09-15T14:30:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Statistical Office says heat pumps reached 25 percent of residential buildings by the end of 2025. Heating oil is still the single largest source.
   Keywords: Swiss heat pumps, Federal Statistical Office, heating oil Switzerland, building energy 2025

65. Knabenschiessen Crowns Its Winner as the Fair Packs Down
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/knabenschiessen-monday-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Culture
   Published: 2026-09-14T19:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The main shooting competition at Albisguetli fell on Monday 14 September, overlapping with the first day of the federal autumn session. The fair crowds thinned after Sunday.
   Keywords: Knabenschiessen Monday 2026, Albisguetli, Zurich shooting festival, Schuetzenkoenig

66. Parliament Opens Autumn Session With EU Treaties and Army Funding
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/autumn-session-opens-bern-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-14T16:20:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Assembly sits from 14 September to 2 October. Senators start on the EU agreements package. The National Council takes the army budget and a planned defence fund.
   Keywords: Swiss autumn session 2026, EU agreements Switzerland, army funding, Guy Parmelin, Bundeshaus

67. National Housing Vacancy Rate Falls Below One Percent
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/swiss-housing-vacancy-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2026-09-14T11:05:00+02:00
   Summary: The vacancy rate stood at 0.93 percent on 1 June 2026, with 45,493 empty homes. Geneva remains the tightest large market.
   Keywords: Swiss housing shortage, vacancy rate 2026, Federal Statistical Office, Geneva rents, affordable housing

68. Zurich Fills Albisguetli for the Knabenschiessen Weekend
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-knabenschiessen-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Culture
   Published: 2026-09-13T17:10:00+02:00
   Summary: The city's traditional shooting festival and fair drew families to Albisguetli ahead of the main competition. Local police reported a busy but calm Sunday.
   Keywords: Knabenschiessen 2026, Zurich festival, Albisguetli, Zurich culture, Swiss shooting tradition

69. Food Security Initiative Trails as Farmers Split on the Ballot
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/food-security-initiative-polls-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Agriculture
   Published: 2026-09-12T10:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Polls with two weeks to the 27 September vote show about two thirds of voters against a push for more domestic food production.
   Keywords: Swiss food security initiative, September 2026 referendum, Swiss farmers, agriculture vote

70. EU Package Briefing: Wage Protection, Dynamic Law and a Safeguard
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eu-package-briefing-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-11T18:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Ahead of the autumn sitting, officials walked reporters through the three fights inside the EU agreements. Senators take the file from 14 September.
   Keywords: EU package briefing Switzerland 2026, wage protection, dynamic adoption, immigration safeguard

71. Lawmakers Prepare to Debate CHF 24 Billion Defence Fund
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/swiss-army-budget-defence-fund-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Defence
   Published: 2026-09-11T12:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The National Council will consider the regular CHF 3.4 billion army budget, a plan to spend tax surpluses on arms, and a long-term defence fund of about CHF 24 billion.
   Keywords: Swiss army budget, defence fund Switzerland, debt brake, autumn session 2026, National Council

72. Franc Holds Near 0.94 After the ECB Leaves Rates Unchanged
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/snb-franc-after-ecb-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Finance
   Published: 2026-09-10T18:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Swiss exporters watched the euro-franc pair after Frankfurt held the deposit rate at 2.75 percent. The SNB has kept its own rate on hold since June.
   Keywords: Swiss franc September 2026, EUR CHF, SNB policy rate, ECB hold, Swissmem

73. ECB Holds Rates Steady as Inflation Nears 2 Percent Target
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ecb-rate-decision-september-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Finance
   Published: 2026-09-10T14:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The European Central Bank kept its deposit rate at 2.75 percent in September 2026. Swiss exporters and mortgage holders watch Frankfurt closely.
   Keywords: ECB rate decision, European Central Bank, eurozone inflation, Swiss franc, interest rates 2026

74. Federal Council Sets 2035 Climate Targets Ahead of Autumn Session
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/swiss-climate-framework-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-10T08:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Bern lawmakers debate a revised Swiss climate framework tying carbon cuts to cantonal funding. Centre and right-wing parties split on the 2035 targets.
   Keywords: Swiss climate policy, Federal Council, Bundeshaus, carbon targets 2035, Switzerland environment

75. Zurich Cantonal Council Approves New Housing Density Rules
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-housing-reform-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Housing
   Published: 2026-09-10T07:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Zurich approves housing density reforms that could add 12,000 units by 2030. Tenant groups warn central district rents may still rise despite the changes.
   Keywords: Zurich housing, rent Switzerland, cantonal council, urban development, Lake Zurich

76. Geneva Hosts UN Climate Talks as Nations Debate Loss and Damage Fund
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/un-climate-summit-geneva-2026.html
   Section: World / Climate
   Published: 2026-09-09T16:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Delegates from 140 countries meet at the Palais des Nations in Geneva to negotiate climate loss and damage financing. Swiss hosts push for concrete commitments.
   Keywords: UN climate summit Geneva, loss and damage fund, Palais des Nations, climate finance 2026

77. Swiss Abroad Watch Dual Citizenship Debate Before the Autumn Sitting
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/dual-citizenship-swiss-abroad-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-08T09:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Parliament's autumn session includes dual nationality and referendum questions that matter to citizens living outside Switzerland.
   Keywords: Swiss Abroad, dual citizenship Switzerland, autumn session 2026, referendum rules

78. Geneva Hotels Fill as Climate Delegates and UN Staff Overlap
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-diplomatic-week-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-09-07T15:50:00+02:00
   Summary: A busy Palais des Nations week has pushed lake hotels toward full occupancy and added tram capacity between Cornavin and Nations.
   Keywords: Geneva diplomacy, Palais des Nations, UN Geneva, hotel occupancy, climate talks

79. SBB Extends Siemens Rail Control Support Into the Next Decade
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/sbb-iltis-rail-control-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2026-09-06T11:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Swiss Federal Railways is keeping the Iltis control system running with a large Siemens support contract while a replacement digital platform is built for the early 2030s.
   Keywords: SBB Iltis, Siemens Switzerland, rail control, Swiss Federal Railways, train punctuality

80. Basel Life Sciences Corridor Holds Hiring Plans Into Autumn
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/basel-life-sciences-corridor-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2026-09-05T13:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Roche and Novartis suppliers in Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft report stable specialist hiring even as capital-rule noise around UBS unsettles other parts of the Swiss economy.
   Keywords: Basel pharma, Roche, Novartis, Swiss life sciences, Rhine economy

81. Neutrality Campaign Buses Work the Market Towns of Basel-Landschaft
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/neutrality-campaign-buses-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-09-04T16:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Yes and no buses stopped in Liestal and Sissach on Friday. Shoppers took flyers and asked about NATO, not about the UN veto.
   Keywords: neutrality campaign buses 2026, Liestal, Basel-Landschaft, 27 September vote

82. Ticino Cross-Border Commute Tests Housing and Train Capacity
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ticino-cross-border-workers-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2026-09-04T10:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Italian frontier workers remain central to Ticino's labour market. Local politicians want more S-Bahn capacity and a harder look at wage dumping claims.
   Keywords: Ticino cross-border workers, Lugano housing, Chiasso trains, Swiss-Italian border

83. Lausanne Students Return to a Rental Market With Almost No Slack
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/lausanne-vaud-housing-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2026-09-03T09:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The new semester in Vaud has filled remaining rooms near UNIL and EPFL. City officials say purpose-built student housing is lagging enrolment.
   Keywords: Lausanne housing, EPFL student rooms, Vaud rents, Lake Geneva housing

84. Alpine Resorts Close a Summer Season Under the Glacier Line
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/alpine-tourism-after-glacier-summer-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2026-09-02T08:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Zermatt, Saas-Fee and the Bernese Oberland report solid summer beds but more closed paths after rockfall and thin snow patches on high tours.
   Keywords: Swiss Alps tourism, Zermatt glacier, hiking closures, Valais summer season 2026

85. Keller-Sutter Criticises Committee Move to Soften UBS Capital Rules
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ubs-capital-rules-keller-sutter-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-09-01T07:20:00+02:00
   Summary: The finance minister said a parliamentary committee's 50 percent CET1 plan for UBS foreign units creates legal uncertainty. The government had wanted 100 percent.
   Keywords: UBS capital rules, Karin Keller-Sutter, FINMA, Swiss National Bank, Credit Suisse aftermath

86. Autumn Session Preview: EU Treaties, Army Money and a Ballot in Week Two
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/autumn-session-preview-august-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-08-31T07:45:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Assembly sits from 14 September to 2 October. Senators start on the EU package. The National Council takes army funding. Voters decide neutrality on 27 September.
   Keywords: autumn session preview August 2026, EU agreements, army funding, 27 September vote

87. Two September Initiatives Share a Sunday and Almost No Overlap
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/food-vs-neutrality-twin-ballot-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-08-28T16:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Neutrality and food security will be decided on 27 September. Campaigners on each side complain that the other soaks up the airtime.
   Keywords: 27 September twin ballot, neutrality and food security, Swiss initiatives 2026

88. Commuters Meet the Neutrality Argument Above the Ticket Machines
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/after-neutrality-ads-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-08-27T09:55:00+02:00
   Summary: A day after station ads went up, Zurich and Bern commuters had already taken sides in the time it takes a tram to arrive.
   Keywords: neutrality ads aftermath, Zurich HB campaign, 27 September 2026, Pro Suisse posters

89. Neutrality Campaign Ads Fill Stations Ahead of 27 September
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/neutrality-campaign-ads-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-08-26T08:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Pro Suisse posters and counter-ads from the government camp appeared in stations in late August as the neutrality initiative entered its hot phase.
   Keywords: neutrality campaign 2026, Pro Suisse posters, Swiss vote advertising

90. Geneva's August Lull Ends as September Delegations Book Rooms
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-august-diplomacy-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-08-25T18:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Hotels between the Rhone and the Palais reported September blocks filling. August itself stayed the closest thing international Geneva has to a quiet month.
   Keywords: Geneva August 2026, Palais des Nations, September diplomacy, hotel occupancy

91. September Ballot Posters Begin to Replace the August Flags
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/september-vote-posters-rollout-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-08-24T12:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Bill-posters went up for the 27 September neutrality and food-security initiatives. Designers used the Swiss cross as if it were a product mark.
   Keywords: 27 September posters, neutrality initiative ads, food security posters, Swiss campaign

92. UBS Capital Fight Quietly Occupies August Committee Calendars
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ubs-capital-summer-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-08-21T08:35:00+02:00
   Summary: While army money took the headlines, finance committees kept working on how much equity UBS must hold against foreign units. No floor vote is due before autumn.
   Keywords: UBS capital August 2026, CET1 foreign units, FINMA, parliamentary committee

93. Parties Split on Using Tax Surpluses to Buy Arms
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/army-surplus-plan-reaction-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Defence
   Published: 2026-08-20T17:20:00+02:00
   Summary: A day after the Federal Council floated surplus-funded procurement and a large defence fund, finance specialists warned about the debt brake. Defence specialists called the plan overdue.
   Keywords: army surplus plan reaction, debt brake defence, CHF 24 billion fund, August 2026

94. Government Floats Using Tax Surpluses to Buy Arms
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/army-financing-plan-august-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Defence
   Published: 2026-08-19T14:50:00+02:00
   Summary: In August 2026 the Federal Council sketched a scheme to channel tax surpluses into military procurement instead of automatic debt reduction.
   Keywords: Swiss army financing August 2026, tax surplus weapons, debt brake defence

95. EU Package Returns to August Briefings Ahead of the Autumn Sitting
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eu-bilaterals-august-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Politics
   Published: 2026-08-17T11:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Diplomats restated the wage-protection and safeguard-clause files that senators will take in September. The 10 million no in June sits over the talks.
   Keywords: Switzerland EU August 2026, bilateral package, wage protection, safeguard clause

96. Locarno Packs Away a 79th Festival After 11 Days on the Piazza
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/locarno-festival-close-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-08-16T13:45:00+02:00
   Summary: The film festival ran from 5 to 15 August. Hotels and the lake promenade counted a solid edition. The piazza screens came down on Sunday.
   Keywords: Locarno Film Festival 2026, 79th Locarno, Piazza Grande, Ticino culture

97. Assumption Holiday Fills Valais Churches and the Last Festival Trains
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/valais-assumption-weekend-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-08-15T11:30:00+02:00
   Summary: 15 August is a public holiday in Valais and Ticino. Sion reported full morning Masses. Locarno's film festival used the same Saturday as a peak piazza night.
   Keywords: Assumption Valais 2026, 15 August holiday, Sion, Ticino public holiday

98. Zurich August Lettings Stay Tight as Students Look Early
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-august-housing-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Housing
   Published: 2026-08-12T09:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Letting agents said August inventories of rooms and small flats were already thin, weeks before the semester. Family-sized stock barely existed.
   Keywords: Zurich housing August 2026, student rooms Zurich, autumn lettings, vacancy

99. Finance and Defence Ministries Prepare an Army Money Briefing
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/army-money-august-preview-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Defence
   Published: 2026-08-10T14:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Ahead of a mid-August announcement, officials sketched a plan to use tax surpluses for procurement and a larger long-term defence fund.
   Keywords: Swiss army money August 2026, tax surplus weapons, defence fund preview, debt brake

100. Food Security Initiative Shares the August Calendar, Not the Spotlight
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/food-security-campaign-august-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Agriculture
   Published: 2026-08-08T10:15:00+02:00
   Summary: The 27 September food proposal to lift domestic production began its own events. Farming organisations remained split. Retail groups were not.
   Keywords: food security initiative August 2026, Swiss farmers split, 27 September vote, agriculture

101. Neutrality Campaign Enters Its Hot Phase With 52 Days to Go
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/neutrality-campaign-heat-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-08-06T16:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Pro Suisse and the no camp both increased August events. Voters still like the word neutrality more than they like the initiative's fine print.
   Keywords: neutrality campaign August 2026, Pro Suisse, 27 September vote, Swiss neutrality

102. August Alpine Beds Hold as Cities Stay Hot
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/august-tourism-alps-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2026-08-04T08:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Interlaken, Lucerne and the Valais reported solid early-August occupancy. High tours remained more cautious than the hotel terraces.
   Keywords: Alpine tourism August 2026, Interlaken hotels, Swiss summer beds, hiking

103. Zurich Clears the Lake Shore After a Saturday 1 August
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/national-day-aftermath-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Culture
   Published: 2026-08-02T11:25:00+02:00
   Summary: City crews worked through Sunday morning on bottles, ash and leftover fencing. Tram traffic toward the lake returned to an ordinary summer timetable.
   Keywords: 1 August aftermath Zurich, Lake Zurich cleanup, National Day 2026

104. National Day Speeches Lean on Security as Bonfires Light the Lake
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/swiss-national-day-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-08-01T21:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Official 1 August remarks mentioned the army and cohesion. Crowds in Brunnen, Zurich and Geneva treated the evening as a holiday first.
   Keywords: Swiss National Day 2026, 1 August, Ruetli, Brunnen, bonfires

105. Zurich Lake Shore Prepares Bonfires for a Saturday National Day
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/bonfires-august-first-prep-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-07-31T18:15:00+02:00
   Summary: 1 August falls on a Saturday in 2026. City crews staged wood and barriers along the lake. Retailers ordered extra bread and beer.
   Keywords: 1 August 2026 Zurich, National Day bonfire, Lake Zurich, Swiss national holiday

106. Graubuenden Keeps Red-and-White Tape on Several High Paths
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/alpine-path-closures-july-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2026-07-30T09:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Cantonal rangers in Graubuenden said late July still required closures after rockfall. Hiking maps in tourist offices carried more handwritten notes than usual.
   Keywords: Graubuenden path closures 2026, Chur, Alpine hiking safety, rockfall

107. Communes Ready Bonfires and Speeches for 1 August
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/national-day-preview-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-07-28T12:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Municipalities ordered extra trams and fire crews for National Day. Official speeches will mention security and cohesion. The crowds will mention sausages.
   Keywords: Swiss National Day preview 2026, 1 August, bonfires, Ruetli

108. Lugano Heat Pushes Residents to the Lake and the Night Hours
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ticino-heat-july-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2026-07-25T15:35:00+02:00
   Summary: Ticino recorded one of the country's hotter July weekends. City officials extended lakeside hours. Building sites shifted toward early mornings.
   Keywords: Lugano heat July 2026, Ticino summer, Lake Lugano, night work

109. SBB Summer Track Work Hits Romandie Weekends
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/sbb-summer-works-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2026-07-22T08:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Replacement buses filled some Lausanne to Geneva and Valais slots on a works weekend. Planners said the possessions cannot wait for a quieter year.
   Keywords: SBB summer works 2026, Lausanne rail, Romandie buses, Swiss track possession

110. Zermatt Guides Shorten High Tours After More Bare Ice
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zermatt-july-paths-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2026-07-21T10:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Three days after Lucerne's lake-heavy season note, Zermatt reported solid beds and more cancelled high routes. The village still photographed well.
   Keywords: Zermatt July 2026, Matterhorn paths, glacier tours, Valais summer

111. Lucerne and the Lakes See a Strong July Without Cheap Snow Stories
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/summer-tourism-alps-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2026-07-18T12:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Central Switzerland's summer tourism leaned on lakes, trains and mild nights rather than glacier excursions that are harder to guarantee.
   Keywords: Lucerne tourism 2026, Swiss summer travel, Lake Lucerne, Alpine tourism

112. Cooling Demand Rises in a Building Stock Still Designed to Hold Heat
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/cooling-demand-buildings-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Energy
   Published: 2026-07-16T17:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Energy offices said mid-July electricity peaks now include afternoon cooling in cities. Heat pumps that heat well in winter are not all sized to cool.
   Keywords: Swiss cooling demand 2026, heat pumps summer, building energy, urban electricity

113. Geneva-Annemasse Rail Fills as French July Holidays Begin
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-french-border-july-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Regions
   Published: 2026-07-14T13:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Cross-border trains between Geneva and Annemasse ran heavy as French holidays started. Retail in the canton feels the extra shopping days.
   Keywords: Geneva Annemasse July 2026, French holidays, Leman Express, cross-border shopping

114. Engadine Summer Beds Fill Without a Glacier Guarantee
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/engadine-tourism-july-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2026-07-11T08:30:00+02:00
   Summary: St. Moritz and Pontresina reported solid July occupancy. High tours were more often rerouted. Lakes and trains did more of the selling.
   Keywords: Engadine tourism July 2026, St Moritz summer, Pontresina, Alpine hiking

115. Broye Farmers Call the July Outlook Uneven After a Dry Spell
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/harvest-outlook-july-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Agriculture
   Published: 2026-07-08T11:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Grain and vegetable producers around Payerne said early July was manageable with irrigation where it exists and hard where it does not.
   Keywords: Swiss harvest July 2026, Payerne, Broye, drought agriculture Switzerland

116. Rhine Levels Let Basel Port Work a Normal July
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/rhine-shipping-basel-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2026-07-07T10:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Unlike some recent summers, water levels on the Rhine allowed regular cargo traffic through Basel in early July 2026.
   Keywords: Basel Rhine port, Swiss freight 2026, Rhine shipping levels

117. City Heat Offices Issue the First Serious Warnings of July
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/heatwave-cities-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2026-07-04T16:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Basel, Geneva and Zurich activated heat protocols on a Saturday that stayed above seasonal norms. Older neighbourhoods with little shade filled the advice lists.
   Keywords: Swiss heatwave July 2026, Basel heat, Geneva heat, urban heat Switzerland

118. Zurich Swimming Season Hits Its July Rhythm at the Lake
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-swimming-july-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / City
   Published: 2026-07-02T09:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Tiefenbrunnen and Mythenquai logged full weekday evenings after work. City police added patrols on the lakeside path.
   Keywords: Zurich swimming July 2026, Tiefenbrunnen, Mythenquai, Lake Zurich summer

119. Half-Year Economy Looks Modest as Franc and Rates Stay Sticky
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/midyear-economy-switzerland-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2026-06-30T10:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Statistical briefings at the end of June pointed to modest 2026 growth. Exporters still cited the franc. Builders still cited financing.
   Keywords: Swiss economy midyear 2026, FSO, GDP growth, franc, construction

120. Basel Pharma Corridor Closes a Steady First Half
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/basel-midyear-pharma-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2026-06-26T14:35:00+02:00
   Summary: Roche and Novartis suppliers described mid-year hiring as stable. Cross-border commuting from Alsace and Baden remained the constraint, not demand.
   Keywords: Basel pharma June 2026, Roche Novartis, Rhine corridor, life sciences hiring

121. Lake Zurich Draws Early Heat as June Stays Dry in the City
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/lake-zurich-heat-june-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / City
   Published: 2026-06-24T07:55:00+02:00
   Summary: Badis at Mythenquai reported weekday evening crowds usually reserved for July. Water temperatures rose. Lifeguards asked swimmers not to overestimate them.
   Keywords: Lake Zurich June 2026, Mythenquai heat, Zurich swimming, early summer

122. Greens Open Signature Collection Against New Nuclear Plants
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/nuclear-signatures-start-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Energy
   Published: 2026-06-22T12:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Referendum committees began gathering 50,000 signatures to challenge parliament's reversal of the 2017 ban. They have 100 days.
   Keywords: nuclear referendum signatures 2026, Green Party, 50000 signatures, Swiss nuclear ban

123. Summer Session Closes After Lifting the Nuclear Ban in Law
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/summer-session-closes-nuclear-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-06-19T18:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The 1 to 19 June sitting ended with the 2017 nuclear ban reversed in parliament, Mercosur rejected in the large chamber, and a fresh referendum pledged.
   Keywords: summer session closes June 2026, nuclear ban lifted, Mercosur rejected, Bundeshaus

124. Parliament Votes to Lift the Ban on New Nuclear Plants
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/nuclear-ban-reversal-parliament-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Energy
   Published: 2026-06-18T19:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Both chambers backed a government plan to reverse the 2017 ban on new nuclear construction, setting up a referendum campaign by Green and allied groups.
   Keywords: Swiss nuclear ban, Albert Rosti, new nuclear plants Switzerland, June 2026 parliament

125. Nuclear Ban Heads to the Floor With a Referendum Already Promised
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/nuclear-ban-vote-preview-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Energy
   Published: 2026-06-17T16:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Both chambers are expected to reverse the 2017 ban on new plants. Green leaders have already pledged to collect signatures.
   Keywords: nuclear ban vote preview June 2026, Albert Rosti, Green referendum, Swiss energy

126. Bourgeois Parties Claim the Army Door, Left Claims the Cities
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/party-reactions-june-votes-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-06-16T09:25:00+02:00
   Summary: FDP and Centre leaders treated the civilian-service yes as a security result. SP and Greens pointed to the 10 million map as a city veto on hard caps.
   Keywords: party reactions 14 June 2026, FDP army, SP 10 million, Centre, Greens

127. Immigration Debate Does Not End With a Lost Population Cap
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/immigration-debate-after-vote-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-06-15T19:05:00+02:00
   Summary: After the 10 million no, party leaders argued over EU free movement and housing. Cities claimed a mandate. The SVP claimed a 45 percent warning.
   Keywords: Swiss immigration debate June 2026, 10 million aftermath, free movement, housing

128. Civilian Service Tightening Passes Narrowly at 52.46 Percent
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/civilian-service-passed-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Defence
   Published: 2026-06-15T11:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Voters accepted the Civilian Service Act amendment 52.46 percent to 47.54 percent. Turnout was 58.26 percent. Younger voters had leaned no in the campaign polls.
   Keywords: Civilian Service Act passed, 52.46 percent, 150 days, Swiss army vote 2026

129. Voters Reject 10 Million Population Cap by 54.79 Percent to 45.21
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ten-million-rejected-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-06-14T21:15:00+02:00
   Summary: The Sustainability Initiative failed the popular majority and the cantonal majority. Turnout was about 59 percent. Cities led the no.
   Keywords: 10 million initiative rejected, Sustainability Initiative result, 45.21 percent, 14 June 2026

130. Polling Stations Open on a High-Salience June Sunday
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/polling-june-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-06-14T08:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Voters decide the Sustainability Initiative and the Civilian Service Act amendment on 14 June. Postal crates already suggested a turnout above March.
   Keywords: polling stations 14 June 2026, Swiss vote day, Sustainability Initiative, civilian service

131. Winterthur Market Mixes 10 Million Flyers With Army Leaflets
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/saturday-before-june-ballot-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-06-13T16:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The last Saturday stalls before 14 June put population and civilian service on the same table. Shoppers took the paper they already agreed with.
   Keywords: Winterthur vote Saturday 2026, 14 June campaign, 10 million, civilian service

132. National Council Rejects Mercosur Deal After Farm Protests
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/mercosur-national-council-rejects-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Trade
   Published: 2026-06-12T18:05:00+02:00
   Summary: The larger chamber voted down the EFTA-Mercosur agreement in June 2026. Farmers and the left supplied the blocking minority.
   Keywords: Mercosur National Council June 2026, Swiss farmers protest, EFTA trade

133. Federal Council Makes Its Last Appeal Against the Population Cap
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/last-appeals-june-vote-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-06-11T08:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Ministers said a 10 million ceiling would collide with treaties and with labour demand. SVP speakers said that collision is the point of voting.
   Keywords: Federal Council 10 million, last appeal June 2026, Sustainability Initiative, Guy Parmelin

134. Farmers Demonstrate in Bern Ahead of Thursday's Mercosur Vote
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/mercosur-farm-protest-june-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Agriculture
   Published: 2026-06-10T15:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Tractors and union flags filled parts of the capital on Wednesday. The National Council takes the EFTA-Mercosur deal the next day.
   Keywords: Mercosur farm protest June 2026, tractors Bern, Swiss farmers, National Council

135. Defence Ministry Says Refresher Courses Are Already Short of People
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/army-staffing-june-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Defence
   Published: 2026-06-08T10:35:00+02:00
   Summary: Six days before the civilian-service vote, the ministry published staffing figures that showed gaps in specialist refresher courses.
   Keywords: Swiss army refresher courses 2026, defence staffing, civilian service vote

136. Zurich and Geneva Mayors Warn a Population Cap Would Not Build Housing
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/immigration-cities-june-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Politics
   Published: 2026-06-05T12:10:00+02:00
   Summary: City executives said the 10 million initiative would freeze labour without adding rooms. SVP city sections said that freeze is the housing policy.
   Keywords: Zurich immigration debate June 2026, 10 million cities, Geneva population, housing

137. Late June Polls Keep the Population Cap Behind, Army Law Ahead
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/june-vote-polls-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-06-04T18:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Final surveys before 14 June showed the Sustainability Initiative short of 50 percent. The civilian-service amendment led narrowly.
   Keywords: June 2026 polls, 10 million initiative, civilian service poll, gfs.bern Tamedia

138. Civilian Service Law Asks Voters to Make the Army Door Stickier
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/civilian-service-stakes-june-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Defence
   Published: 2026-06-03T09:50:00+02:00
   Summary: The amendment would set a 150-day civilian minimum and cut late switches after military training. Churches and the left still call it a punishment of conscience.
   Keywords: Civilian Service Act stakes June 2026, 150 days, Swiss conscription, army staffing

139. Final Week of the 10 Million Campaign Turns on Housing and Labour
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ten-million-final-week-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-06-02T17:00:00+02:00
   Summary: SVP speakers tied the population cap to rents. Employer groups said a yes would hit care homes and machine shops first.
   Keywords: 10 million campaign final week, Sustainability Initiative, Swiss labour shortage, housing

140. Summer Session Opens Under the Shadow of a 14 June Ballot
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/summer-session-opens-bern-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-06-01T08:20:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Assembly sat from 1 June with Mercosur, nuclear law and leftover EU points on the agenda. Campaigning for Sunday week continued after hours.
   Keywords: summer session opens 2026, Bundeshaus June, Mercosur, nuclear ban, 14 June vote

141. Zurich Badis Open the Season to Cold Water and Long Queues
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-badis-open-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / City
   Published: 2026-05-31T16:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Lakeside baths recorded the first warm-Sunday crowds of the year. Lifeguards said the water was still spring-cold. The queues were not.
   Keywords: Zurich Badis 2026, Lake Zurich swimming, Tiefenbrunnen, Mythenquai

142. Greens Prepare a Referendum Pledge If Parliament Lifts the Nuclear Ban
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/nuclear-referendum-talk-may-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Energy
   Published: 2026-05-29T14:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Party leaders said they would start collecting 50,000 signatures within 100 days if both chambers reverse the 2017 ban. Industry groups called that a delay they can live with.
   Keywords: Swiss nuclear referendum, Green Party, 50000 signatures, new nuclear plants

143. Summer Session Preview: A Ballot in Week Two and a Nuclear Vote in Week Three
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/summer-session-preview-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-05-28T08:15:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Assembly sits from 1 to 19 June. Voters decide a population cap and civilian service on 14 June. Parliament takes the nuclear ban later that week.
   Keywords: summer session preview 2026, 14 June vote, nuclear ban parliament, Mercosur June

144. Geneva Counts the Receipts After a Packed Health Fortnight
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-after-health-week-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-05-27T18:25:00+02:00
   Summary: Hotels and interpreters logged a dense late May as health and humanitarian meetings overlapped. City officials called it the business model, not a surprise.
   Keywords: Geneva health fortnight 2026, Palais des Nations, international Geneva hotels

145. Geneva Hosts a Packed Health and Humanitarian Fortnight
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-health-meetings-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-05-26T16:15:00+02:00
   Summary: International organisations in Geneva ran overlapping health and aid meetings in late May, filling the usual hotels between the station and the Palais.
   Keywords: Geneva health meetings 2026, WHO Geneva, humanitarian pledging, international Geneva

146. Whit Monday Puts Lake Thun and the Oberland Back on Holiday Time
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/whit-monday-lakes-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-05-25T09:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Pentecost Monday filled promenades in Thun and Spiez. Some mountain railways ran extra shuttles. Water remained cold.
   Keywords: Whit Monday 2026, Lake Thun, Spiez, Pentecost Switzerland, lake tourism

147. Chiasso Morning Queue Still Sets Ticino's Labour Argument
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ticino-may-labour-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Labour
   Published: 2026-05-22T13:55:00+02:00
   Summary: Frontier workers crossing at Chiasso remain central to hospitals and building sites. Unions repeated wage-dumping claims ahead of the June immigration vote.
   Keywords: Chiasso cross-border workers, Ticino labour May 2026, wage dumping, 10 million initiative

148. Builders Say May Permit Figures Confirm a Financing Brake
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/permits-reaction-may-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2026-05-20T11:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Industry groups reacted to housing-start data that still trail household formation in the large cantons. They blamed credit first and zoning second.
   Keywords: Swiss building permits reaction 2026, housing starts, construction industry, mortgage rates

149. Building Permits Lag Demand as Finance Costs Stay Sticky
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/swiss-construction-permits-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2026-05-19T09:50:00+02:00
   Summary: May 2026 permit data showed housing starts still trailing household formation in the large cantons. Developers blamed money more than zoning.
   Keywords: Swiss building permits 2026, housing construction, mortgage rates Switzerland

150. Zurich Building Sites Pause for Money, Not for Lack of Drawings
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-building-sites-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Housing
   Published: 2026-05-18T16:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Developers in Oerlikon and Altstetten said several housing starts were still waiting on financing in mid-May. Zoning fights were the second complaint.
   Keywords: Zurich construction May 2026, Oerlikon housing, Altstetten cranes, mortgage costs

151. Emmental Producers Watch Milk Prices as Mercosur Talks Continue
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/emmental-farm-prices-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Agriculture
   Published: 2026-05-15T07:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Dairy farmers around Langnau said May prices were stable and that a South American beef quota still sat over every meeting as a political risk.
   Keywords: Emmental milk prices 2026, Swiss dairy, Mercosur farmers, Langnau

152. Ascension Weekend Fills Lake Steamers and Short Alpine Hops
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ascension-travel-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2026-05-13T17:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Ahead of Thursday's public holiday, Lucerne and the central lakes reported heavy midweek bookings. SBB added sets on a handful of tourist axes.
   Keywords: Ascension travel 2026, Lucerne steamers, Swiss public holiday, Lake Lucerne

153. Rhine Spring Levels Keep Basel Port on a Normal Loading Pattern
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/rhine-spring-levels-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2026-05-11T09:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Port operators said May water levels supported regular barges. Memory of low-water summers still shapes how firms talk about the river.
   Keywords: Basel Rhine May 2026, Swiss freight, Rhine water levels, port of Basel

154. May Polls Show the 10 Million Initiative Short of a Majority
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ten-million-polls-may-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-05-08T12:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Early published surveys put the Sustainability Initiative behind, with a large undecided group in the middle. Cities looked solidly no.
   Keywords: 10 million initiative polls May 2026, gfs.bern, Sustainability Initiative, SVP

155. Army Staffing Argument Settles on the Civilian-Service Door
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/army-staffing-civilian-service-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Defence
   Published: 2026-05-06T15:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Defence officials said too many conscripts still leave for civilian service after basic training. Referendum campaigners called the 150-day floor punitive.
   Keywords: Swiss army staffing 2026, civilian service admissions, 7200 to 4000, defence ministry

156. Geneva Spring Lettings Still Open at the Top of the Market
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-rents-may-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2026-05-04T08:25:00+02:00
   Summary: New buildings on the city's edge advertised high rents in early May. Waiting lists for older, cheaper flats in the inner communes barely moved.
   Keywords: Geneva rents May 2026, housing shortage, Eaux-Vives, affordable flats Geneva

157. Labour Day Marches Tie Wages to Premiums and Rents
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/labour-day-switzerland-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Labour
   Published: 2026-05-01T10:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Unions in Zurich, Geneva and Bellinzona used 1 May to talk about health premiums and housing more than about factory floors.
   Keywords: Labour Day Switzerland 2026, 1 May Zurich, unions, wages premiums rents

158. Special Session Closes and Points Straight at the June Ballot
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/special-session-closes-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-04-30T19:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The four-day sitting ended on 30 April with most overflow items cleared. Party leaders turned to 14 June and the 10 million campaign.
   Keywords: special session closes April 2026, June ballot, Bundeshaus, Federal Assembly

159. Rail Credits Clear the Special Session After March Bottleneck
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/special-session-transport-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2026-04-29T14:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Deputies approved leftover railway spending items on Wednesday. SBB had warned that a slip into summer would compress already tight track-work windows.
   Keywords: Swiss rail credits April 2026, SBB parliament, special session transport

160. Special Session Day Two Grinds Through Transport Money
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/special-session-day-two-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-04-28T16:45:00+02:00
   Summary: The National Council spent Tuesday on infrastructure credits that missed March. Attendance was thinner than in an ordinary session, and the votes still counted.
   Keywords: special session 28 April 2026, National Council transport, Bundeshaus

161. Special Session Sits for Four Days on Overflow Files
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/special-session-april-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-04-27T15:55:00+02:00
   Summary: Parliament met from 27 to 30 April 2026 to clear items that missed the spring sitting, including leftover financial and transport business.
   Keywords: Swiss special session April 2026, Federal Assembly, Bundeshaus

162. Civilian Service Referendum Enters Its Last Seven Weeks
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/civilian-service-referendum-april-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Defence
   Published: 2026-04-24T11:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Opponents of a law to make switching from the army harder prepared the 14 June argument. The government wants fewer admissions and a 150-day floor.
   Keywords: Civilian Service Act referendum, 150 days civilian service, Swiss army staffing, June 2026

163. Deputies Prepare a Four-Day Special Session on Overflow Files
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/special-session-preview-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-04-23T18:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The National Council will sit 27 to 30 April to finish business that missed the spring timetable. Transport and financial items dominate the draft agenda.
   Keywords: special session preview April 2026, National Council, Bundeshaus overflow

164. Sechselaeuten Burns the Boegg on a Cold Third Monday
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/sechselaeuten-zurich-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Culture
   Published: 2026-04-20T18:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Zurich's spring festival filled the city on 20 April. The guild parade reached the field, and the snowman stuffed with fireworks did what it always does.
   Keywords: Sechselaeuten 2026, Boegg, Zurich guilds, spring festival Zurich

165. Farm Unions Warm Up Against Mercosur Before the Summer Sitting
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/mercosur-farmers-april-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Agriculture
   Published: 2026-04-16T12:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Swiss farming organisations told deputies in April that an EFTA-Mercosur deal would dump beef and wine onto a tight domestic market.
   Keywords: Mercosur Swiss farmers April 2026, EFTA trade, farm unions Bern, beef quotas

166. Valais Reopens High Roads After the Mid-April Dump
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/valais-roads-after-snow-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2026-04-14T07:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Cantonal crews in Valais and Graubuenden cleared passes and village access after the avalanche spike. Some hiking trails stayed taped.
   Keywords: Valais roads April 2026, avalanche aftermath, Sion, high Alpine passes

167. Late Spring Avalanches Close High Routes After a Heavy Dump
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/spring-alps-avalanche-season-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2026-04-12T08:25:00+02:00
   Summary: A mid-April snowfall briefly raised avalanche danger in Graubuenden and Valais. Rescue services asked off-piste groups to wait.
   Keywords: Swiss avalanches April 2026, SLF Davos, spring skiing safety

168. 10 Million Campaign Finds a Hearing in Aargau Factory Towns
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ten-million-april-canvass-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-04-10T13:40:00+02:00
   Summary: SVP canvassers in Aarau and the lower Aare valley tied housing queues to immigration. Mayors said the cap would not build a single extra room.
   Keywords: 10 million initiative Aargau, Sustainability Initiative campaign, Aarau, Swiss immigration debate

169. Energy Committee Prepares the Vote to Lift the Nuclear Ban
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/nuclear-committee-april-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Energy
   Published: 2026-04-08T08:55:00+02:00
   Summary: After Easter, deputies returned to a government plan to reverse the 2017 ban on new nuclear plants. A floor fight is expected in the summer session.
   Keywords: Swiss nuclear ban committee, Albert Rosti, new nuclear plants, April 2026 parliament

170. Easter Monday Return Traffic Backs Up Below the Jungfrau
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/easter-monday-alps-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2026-04-06T15:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland logged heavy outbound traffic on Easter Monday. Some high walks remained closed after the long winter.
   Keywords: Easter Monday Alps 2026, Interlaken traffic, Jungfrau region, spring hiking

171. Easter Sunday Draws Crowds to Einsiedeln and the Lake Churches
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/easter-sunday-switzerland-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-04-05T11:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The abbey at Einsiedeln filled for Easter Mass. Lake towns reported a mix of worshippers and day-trippers on a cold, bright Sunday.
   Keywords: Easter Sunday 2026 Switzerland, Einsiedeln abbey, Easter Mass, Swiss holiday

172. Good Friday Empties City Centres and Fills the Trains That Remain
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/good-friday-quiet-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-04-03T09:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Shops in Fribourg, Bern and Zurich closed for the public holiday. Remaining long-distance trains toward the Alps ran full.
   Keywords: Good Friday Switzerland 2026, Fribourg holiday, Easter weekend, Swiss public holiday

173. Zurich Main Station Fills as Easter Weekend Travel Starts Early
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/sbb-easter-crowds-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2026-04-02T16:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Thursday afternoon crowds at Zurich HB headed for Valais, Ticino and Graubuenden. SBB reported high load factors on the Gotthard and Simplon axes.
   Keywords: Zurich HB Easter 2026, SBB holiday crowds, Gotthard trains, Simplon

174. SBB Warns of Full Trains Toward the Alps for the Easter Weekend
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/easter-travel-sbb-preview-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2026-03-31T10:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Easter Sunday falls on 5 April. Rail planners expect heavy Friday and Saturday loads toward Valais, Ticino and the Grisons.
   Keywords: SBB Easter 2026, Easter travel Switzerland, Valais trains, Gotthard holiday traffic

175. Geneva Hosts a Quiet Disarmament Week After the Ballot Noise
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-disarmament-talks-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-03-26T08:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Conference rooms at the Palais des Nations filled with conventional-weapons talks in late March. The city treated it as ordinary international business.
   Keywords: UN Geneva March 2026, Palais des Nations disarmament, international Geneva

176. SVP Opens the National Phase of the 10 Million Initiative
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ten-million-campaign-starts-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-24T14:20:00+02:00
   Summary: After March's ballot, the party turned to 14 June and the Sustainability Initiative that would cap the permanent resident population at 10 million by 2050.
   Keywords: 10 million initiative campaign, Sustainability Initiative SVP, Swiss population cap, June 2026 vote

177. Spring Session Closes With Overflow Already Dated for April
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/spring-session-closes-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-20T17:35:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Assembly ended its 2 to 20 March sitting without clearing every financial and transport item. A special session is set for 27 to 30 April.
   Keywords: spring session closes 2026, Federal Assembly March, special session April, Bundeshaus

178. SNB Leaves Policy Unchanged at Its March Assessment
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/snb-march-assessment-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-03-19T09:45:00+02:00
   Summary: The Swiss National Bank held its policy stance on 19 March and repeated that it can act in the foreign-exchange market if the franc moves too fast.
   Keywords: SNB March 2026, Swiss National Bank policy, franc intervention, inflation Switzerland

179. Spring Session Midpoint Returns to Premiums and Transport Credits
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/session-midpoint-bern-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-16T11:00:00+02:00
   Summary: After the 8 March ballot, deputies spent the second week on health costs and infrastructure money. Several items were already being pencilled for April.
   Keywords: spring session midpoint 2026, Bundeshaus, health premiums parliament, transport credits

180. March Turnout Lands Near 56 Percent Across the Five Items
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/turnout-analysis-march-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-12T09:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Official participation ranged from 55.4 to 55.8 percent depending on the question. That is a serious Sunday without matching June's later spike.
   Keywords: Swiss turnout March 2026, FSO popular votes, 56 percent, Neuchatel statistics

181. Cash Stays Legal After Voters Prefer the Counter-Proposal
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/cash-cards-after-vote-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-03-11T12:30:00+02:00
   Summary: The Cash is freedom initiative failed at 45.6 percent yes. The counter-proposal on currency and cash supply passed at 73.4 percent, including a cantonal sweep.
   Keywords: Swiss cash vote result, 73.4 percent counter-proposal, cards vs cash Switzerland 2026

182. Parties Read Monday's Map: Broadcasting Kept, Climate Fund Buried
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/party-reactions-march-votes-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-10T19:20:00+02:00
   Summary: SVP leaders claimed a moral win on the licence fee despite losing. The Centre and FDP pointed to individual taxation as the bourgeois modernisation story.
   Keywords: party reactions 8 March 2026, SVP SRG, Centre individual tax, Greens climate fund

183. Climate Fund Dies at 29.3 Percent With No Canton in Favour
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/climate-fund-autopsy-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2026-03-10T08:45:00+02:00
   Summary: The initiative to earmark 0.5 to 1 percent of GDP for climate and biodiversity failed in every canton. Green leaders called the tool wrong, not the problem.
   Keywords: Climate Fund result 2026, 29.3 percent, Lisa Mazzone, Swiss climate votes

184. SRG Treats the Licence-Fee No as a Reprieve, Not a Mandate
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/srg-survives-licence-fee-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-09T16:55:00+02:00
   Summary: After voters rejected the 200 francs is enough initiative 61.9 percent to 38.1 percent, SRG management said regional newsrooms remain under cost pressure.
   Keywords: SRG after vote 2026, licence fee rejected, 200 francs is enough result, public broadcasting Switzerland

185. Individual Taxation Yes Starts a Long Rewrite of Tax Software
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/individual-taxation-cash-vote-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-09T11:20:00+02:00
   Summary: After the 8 March yes to individual taxation, cantonal tax offices said the change will take years of IT work and parallel rules for married couples.
   Keywords: Swiss individual taxation, married couples tax, cash constitution Switzerland 2026

186. Voters Keep the Licence Fee and Reject a Climate Fund
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/march-votes-licence-fee-climate-fund-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-08T22:05:00+02:00
   Summary: On 8 March 2026 Swiss voters rejected cuts to the SRG licence fee (62 percent no) and a climate fund (71 percent no). Turnout was 56 percent.
   Keywords: Swiss vote 8 March 2026, SRG licence fee, climate fund initiative, individual taxation

187. Midday Turnout Looks Like a Serious Sunday, Not a Record
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/midday-turnout-march-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-08T13:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Early communal figures at lunchtime on 8 March pointed to participation in the mid-fifties. Vaud and Geneva lagged the eastern cantons, as they often do.
   Keywords: turnout 8 March 2026, Lausanne voting, Swiss participation, midday figures

188. Polling Stations Open on a Five-Item Federal Sunday
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/polling-stations-march-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-08T07:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Communes opened ballot tables on 8 March for cash, the SRG fee, a climate fund and individual taxation. Many envelopes had already arrived by post.
   Keywords: polling stations 8 March 2026, Swiss vote day, Bern communes, federal ballot

189. Last Stalls Go Up in Olten Before the Five-Item Sunday
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/last-campaign-saturday-march-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-07T14:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Party tents at Olten station mixed licence-fee flyers with tax leaflets. Police described a routine pre-vote Saturday.
   Keywords: Olten campaign Saturday 2026, Swiss vote stalls, 8 March 2026, party tents

190. Communes Log a Steady Postal Flow Ahead of Sunday
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/postal-ballots-march-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-06T10:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Clerks in St. Gallen, Bern and Vaud said Friday's postbags looked like a mid-fifties turnout, not a record, and not a washout.
   Keywords: Swiss postal voting March 2026, turnout 8 March, St Gallen communes, ballot envelopes

191. Final Polls Point to a No on the Fee Cut and the Climate Fund
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/march-vote-final-polls-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-05T18:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Late surveys before 8 March showed the SRG initiative and the climate fund well behind. Individual taxation remained close. The cash counter-proposal looked safe.
   Keywords: Swiss polls March 2026, gfs.bern, Tamedia vote poll, 8 March 2026

192. Individual Taxation Is a Fairness Vote With an IT Bill Attached
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/individual-tax-stakes-march-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-04T11:25:00+02:00
   Summary: A yes on Sunday would end joint assessment of married couples. Cantons say the software and deduction rewrite will take years.
   Keywords: individual taxation stakes March 2026, marriage penalty Switzerland, cantonal tax IT

193. Cash Vote Is Two Texts and a Deciding Question
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/cash-vs-counterproposal-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-03-03T15:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The Cash is freedom initiative would tightly bind the state to notes and coins. The counter-proposal writes a milder supply duty into the constitution.
   Keywords: Swiss cash initiative 2026, counter-proposal cash, SNB banknotes, deciding question

194. Climate Fund Asks Voters for a Permanent Slice of GDP
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/climate-fund-stakes-march-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2026-03-03T09:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The initiative would earmark 0.5 to 1 percent of economic output a year for climate and biodiversity. No canton-level bourgeois party is campaigning for a yes.
   Keywords: Climate Fund stakes 2026, Swiss GDP climate, biodiversity fund, 8 March initiative

195. Licence-Fee Cut Would Hit Regional News First, SRG Says
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/srg-200-francs-stakes-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-02T17:10:00+02:00
   Summary: If the 200 francs is enough initiative passes on Sunday, the public broadcaster says language-region programming and local newsrooms would take the first cuts.
   Keywords: SRG stakes March 2026, licence fee Switzerland, regional news, 200 francs is enough

196. Spring Session Opens With a Vote Sunday Already in the Diary
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/spring-session-opens-bern-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-02T08:30:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Assembly sat from 2 March with health costs, transport and leftover financial business on the table. Campaigning for 8 March continued after hours.
   Keywords: Swiss spring session 2026, Bundeshaus March, Federal Assembly, Guy Parmelin

197. Five Federal Items Share One March Sunday
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/march-ballot-weekend-preview-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-03-01T16:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Voters face cash, an SRG fee cut, a climate fund and individual taxation on 8 March. Spring session opens in Bern the next morning.
   Keywords: Swiss vote 8 March 2026 preview, five federal proposals, spring session 2026

198. Cash Campaigners Warn of a Card-Only Country Ahead of 8 March
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/cash-initiative-campaign-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-02-27T10:25:00+02:00
   Summary: Backers of the Cash is freedom initiative said notes and coins need a constitutional lock. The government points voters to its counter-proposal instead.
   Keywords: Cash is freedom initiative, Swiss cash vote 2026, SNB banknotes, counter-proposal cash

199. Tuesday at Fasnacht Belongs to Children and Guggenmusik
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/basel-fasnacht-cortege-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-02-24T18:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Basel gave Tuesday to the children's carnival and evening brass. Morgenstreich crowds had thinned. Hotels said midweek beds were still full.
   Keywords: Basel Fasnacht Tuesday 2026, children's carnival, Guggenmusik Basel, cortège

200. Morgenstreich Starts Basel Fasnacht at 4 a.m. in the Dark
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/basel-morgenstreich-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-02-23T05:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Street lights went out on Monday 23 February as cliques opened the three most beautiful days. Trains into Basel SBB ran extra early services.
   Keywords: Morgenstreich 2026, Basel Fasnacht, Morgestraich, UNESCO carnival Switzerland

201. Women's Groups Push Individual Taxation in the Last Stretch
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/individual-tax-campaign-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-02-21T11:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Campaigners in Vaud and Zurich argued that joint assessment still punishes married second earners. Cantonal tax offices warned of a long IT migration.
   Keywords: Swiss individual taxation campaign, marriage penalty, Vaud tax, 8 March 2026 vote

202. Climate Fund Backers Struggle to Make a Percentage Sound Concrete
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/climate-fund-campaign-february-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2026-02-19T09:35:00+02:00
   Summary: The initiative to spend 0.5 to 1 percent of GDP a year on climate and biodiversity entered its last three weeks with bourgeois parties united against it.
   Keywords: Climate Fund initiative 2026, Swiss climate vote, GDP climate spending, Greens Switzerland

203. Ash Wednesday in Basel Is a Working Day With Lanterns in Cellars
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/basel-fasnacht-rehearsal-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-02-18T12:15:00+02:00
   Summary: While other cities marked the start of Lent, Basel cliques put the last paint on lanterns for Morgenstreich on 23 February.
   Keywords: Basel Fasnacht 2026, Ash Wednesday Basel, lanterns, Fasnachts-Comite

204. Zurich Old Town Hears the Last Guggenmusik Night Before Lent
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-guggenmusik-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Culture
   Published: 2026-02-17T20:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Bands played through Niederdorf on Shrove Tuesday. City police reported a loud evening and a routine number of fines for fireworks in courtyards.
   Keywords: Zurich Fasnacht 2026, Guggenmusik Niederdorf, Shrove Tuesday Zurich, carnival Switzerland

205. Neutrality Initiative Moves From Petitions to a Date in September
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/neutrality-initiative-signatures-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-02-16T13:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Campaigners for a strict constitutional neutrality clause spent February 2026 sharpening arguments ahead of a 27 September vote.
   Keywords: Swiss neutrality initiative 2026, Pro Suisse, SVP neutrality, February 2026

206. SRG Fee Fight Moves From Talk Radio to Station Posters
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/srg-licence-fee-campaign-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-02-13T18:55:00+02:00
   Summary: Backers of the 200 francs is enough initiative bought space in Zurich and Bern stations. The public broadcaster warned of cuts to regional news.
   Keywords: SRG licence fee campaign 2026, 200 francs is enough, Swiss broadcasting, SBC initiative

207. Federal Chancellery Sends the March Booklet for a Five-Item Sunday
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/march-ballot-booklet-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-02-11T12:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Voters began receiving explanations for the 8 March ballot: cash, the SRG fee, a climate fund and individual taxation. The booklet is thicker than usual.
   Keywords: Swiss ballot booklet March 2026, Federal Chancellery, 8 March vote, voting pamphlet Switzerland

208. Geneva Winter Lettings Leave Little Room Below the Lake
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-housing-february-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2026-02-09T08:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Agents in Eaux-Vives and Carouge said February inventories of family flats remained near zero. International contracts still set the ceiling.
   Keywords: Geneva housing February 2026, Eaux-Vives rents, Carouge flats, Lake Geneva housing

209. Lucerne Fasnacht Fills the Old Town Ahead of Ash Wednesday
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/lucerne-fasnacht-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2026-02-07T21:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Guggenmusik bands packed the alleys around the Kapellbruecke on Saturday. Police reported a busy, wet night and no major incidents.
   Keywords: Lucerne Fasnacht 2026, Guggenmusik, Kapellbruecke, Swiss carnival

210. Zurich Winter Moves: Fewer Listings, Longer Queues at Viewings
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-housing-winter-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Housing
   Published: 2026-02-05T09:35:00+02:00
   Summary: Estate agents in the city said February 2026 inventories were thinner than a year earlier, with family-sized flats almost absent from mid-market lists.
   Keywords: Zurich housing February 2026, rental viewings Zurich, Swiss rents

211. Neutrality Campaign Takes the Village-Hall Circuit in Inner Switzerland
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/neutrality-village-halls-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-02-04T19:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Pro Suisse speakers tested September arguments in Schwyz and neighbouring cantons. Audiences liked the word neutrality more than the legal text.
   Keywords: Swiss neutrality campaign February 2026, Pro Suisse, Schwyz, SVP, 27 September vote

212. EU Package Stays in Committee as Neutrality Campaign Warms Up
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eu-committee-february-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-02-02T17:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Foreign affairs committees continued technical work on the EU agreements in early February. Party leaders already had 27 September on the wall calendar.
   Keywords: Switzerland EU package February 2026, bilateral committees, Bundeshaus, neutrality campaign

213. Gotthard Road Tunnel Logs a Busy Last Weekend of January
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/gotthard-winter-traffic-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2026-01-31T09:05:00+02:00
   Summary: North-south car traffic through Airolo rose with the end of school holidays. SBB reported winter sports trains toward Ticino and the Valais still well loaded.
   Keywords: Gotthard road tunnel January 2026, Airolo, Swiss winter traffic, SBB ski trains

214. Parliament Takes Note of SNB Line on UBS Capital
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/finma-ubs-capital-january-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-01-30T16:35:00+02:00
   Summary: After the SNB said UBS can meet the government's capital plan, finance committee members in Bern called the finding useful and not binding.
   Keywords: FINMA UBS 2026, National Council finance committee, SNB capital, Swiss bank rules

215. SNB Says UBS Can Meet Government Capital Demands
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/snb-ubs-capital-review-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-01-29T10:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The Swiss National Bank's financial stability review argued UBS already holds enough capital for the government's foreign-unit backing plan. The bank disagrees on the details.
   Keywords: SNB financial stability 2026, UBS capital requirements, Swiss National Bank

216. Ticino Subsidy Office Sees Longer Waits After the Premium Jump
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/premium-subsidies-cantons-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-01-28T13:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Cantonal staff in Bellinzona said applications for individual premium reductions rose in January after Ticino's 7.1 percent average increase.
   Keywords: Ticino health premiums, premium subsidies Switzerland, Bellinzona, IPV 2026

217. UBS Integration Work Continues in Zurich as Capital Talks Simmer
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ubs-credit-suisse-integration-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Finance
   Published: 2026-01-27T08:55:00+02:00
   Summary: Three years after the Credit Suisse takeover, branch overlaps and IT migrations still occupy staff in Zurich and around the lake. Capital rules remain the political overlay.
   Keywords: UBS Credit Suisse integration 2026, Zurich banking, Paradeplatz, Swiss bank merger

218. Geneva's January Calendar Fills Before the Ski Week Is Over
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-january-un-calendar-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-01-26T15:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Human rights and humanitarian meetings at the Palais des Nations overlapped in late January. Hotels between Cornavin and Nations raised weekday rates.
   Keywords: UN Geneva January 2026, Palais des Nations, international Geneva, humanitarian meetings

219. Davos Reclaims the Promenade After the Forum Convoy Leaves
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/davos-after-wef-weekend-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2026-01-24T10:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Saturday ski traffic returned toward the Parsenn and Jakobshorn once WEF badges thinned. Some fences still blocked pavement near the Congress Centre.
   Keywords: Davos after WEF 2026, Parsenn, Jakobshorn, Graubuenden ski weekend

220. WEF Week Ends With Fewer Protesters Than the Fences Suggested
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/davos-wef-closes-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-01-23T17:30:00+02:00
   Summary: The 2026 Davos meeting closed on Friday. Police described the demonstration as small and lawful. Snow held. The fences will come down more slowly.
   Keywords: WEF Davos close 2026, Davos protests, World Economic Forum Switzerland

221. UBS Capital Arguments Travel to Davos Without a Number Attached
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/davos-wef-ubs-capital-corridor-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-01-22T19:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Bankers and finance ministry staff overlapped in Davos on Thursday. The government's 100 percent CET1 idea for foreign units remained the unsolved item.
   Keywords: UBS Davos 2026, bank capital Switzerland, Keller-Sutter, FINMA, Credit Suisse

222. EU Files Follow Swiss Ministers Through the Davos Side Rooms
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/davos-wef-eu-talks-2026.html
   Section: Europe / Politics
   Published: 2026-01-21T12:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Swiss and EU officials used the WEF corridors on Wednesday to test language on wage protection and a safeguard clause. No text moved.
   Keywords: Switzerland EU Davos 2026, bilateral agreements, wage protection, safeguard clause

223. Davos 2026: Swiss Officials Sell Predictability in a Loud Week
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/davos-wef-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-01-20T17:45:00+02:00
   Summary: The World Economic Forum's 2026 meeting put Switzerland's president in a host role again, with capital rules and EU talks just off the main stage.
   Keywords: Davos WEF 2026, World Economic Forum, Swiss diplomacy, UBS capital

224. Parmelin Opens a WEF Week Built on Bilateral Meetings
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/davos-wef-opens-parmelin-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-01-19T18:20:00+02:00
   Summary: President Guy Parmelin used the first Davos evening to frame Switzerland as a stable host. EU files and bank capital sat just off the main stage.
   Keywords: Guy Parmelin WEF 2026, Davos opening, Swiss president, World Economic Forum Switzerland

225. Davos Braces for WEF With Army Support and a Fenced Promenade
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/davos-wef-security-2026.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2026-01-17T16:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Up to 5,000 armed forces personnel are authorised to help Graubuenden police the 19 to 23 January meeting. About 2,500 participants are expected.
   Keywords: WEF Davos security 2026, Swiss army WEF, Graubuenden police, World Economic Forum

226. Machinery Exporters Watch a Firm Franc Into the Davos Week
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/franc-exporters-january-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2026-01-14T14:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Swissmem members in Schaffhausen and the Jura said the euro-franc rate remained uncomfortable in mid-January. WEF talk will not reset it.
   Keywords: Swiss franc January 2026, Swissmem, Schaffhausen exporters, EUR CHF, SNB

227. Zurich Lettings Stay Thin After the Holiday Pause
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-january-rentals-2026.html
   Section: Zurich / Housing
   Published: 2026-01-12T09:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Estate agents in the city said January inventories of family flats were no better than December. Viewings in Wiedikon and Oerlikon still produced queues.
   Keywords: Zurich rents January 2026, Zurich housing shortage, Wiedikon, Oerlikon flats

228. Graubuenden Hotels Report a Solid First Winter Week
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/graubuenden-winter-beds-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2026-01-08T11:25:00+02:00
   Summary: St. Moritz, Davos and the Albula valley logged high occupancy in early January, with WEF rooms already blocking a slice of Davos inventory.
   Keywords: Swiss winter tourism 2026, Graubuenden hotels, St Moritz, Davos beds, ski season Switzerland

229. January Bills Arrive as Health Premiums Rise 4.4 Percent
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/health-premiums-january-2026.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2026-01-05T08:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Households opened 2026 with an average basic premium of CHF 393.30 a month. Ticino and Valais saw some of the steepest cantonal jumps.
   Keywords: Swiss health premiums 2026, BAG, Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Ticino premiums, health insurance Switzerland

230. Between-Years Week Fills Alpine Beds as Plateau Offices Stay Shut
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/between-years-ski-beds-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-12-29T11:35:00+02:00
   Summary: Hotels in the Jungfrau region and Graubuenden reported a strong 29 December occupancy. Families mixed ski days with trains that still had seats, just.
   Keywords: Swiss ski holidays 2025, between years, Jungfrau hotels, New Year Alps

231. Village Churches Fill on Christmas Eve as Cities Go Quiet Early
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/christmas-eve-villages-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-12-24T18:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Communes in Appenzell, the Jura and the Grisons reported full evening services. City centres emptied after the last shoppers. Trains ran a holiday diagram.
   Keywords: Christmas Eve Switzerland 2025, village church, Appenzell, Swiss holiday

232. SBB Adds Christmas Carriages and Warns About the 24 December Peak
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/sbb-christmas-extra-trains-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-12-22T09:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Extra long-distance stock was diagrammed toward Ticino, Valais and the Grisons. The railway asked for reservations on 23 and 24 December in particular.
   Keywords: SBB Christmas 2025, extra trains, 24 December travel, Swiss rail holidays

233. Winter Session Rises With a Budget Done and Health Still Untidy
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/session-rises-for-christmas-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-12-19T14:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Deputies left Bern on 19 December with the federal budget adopted and several health-cost items parked until March. Nobody pretended otherwise.
   Keywords: winter session ends 2025, Swiss federal budget, health costs parked, Bundeshaus Christmas

234. Geneva Marks Escalade Weekend With Chocolate Pots and a March
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/escalade-geneva-weekend-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-12-13T15:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The city's 1602 commemoration filled the old town on the weekend after 12 December. Marmite chocolate and historical companies shared the cobbles.
   Keywords: Geneva Escalade 2025, 1602, marmite chocolate, Geneva old town

235. Christmas Markets Fill Basel, Zurich and Montreux on Cold Nights
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/swiss-christmas-markets-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-12-12T18:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Seasonal markets reported solid weekday evenings after a slow start. Organisers cited train travel and office parties more than day-trip coaches.
   Keywords: Swiss Christmas markets 2025, Basel Christmas market, Zurich Werdmuehleplatz, Montreux Noel

236. SNB Holds at Zero and Nudges the 2026 Growth View Lower
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/snb-december-holds-zero-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2025-12-11T10:05:00+02:00
   Summary: On 11 December the Swiss National Bank left the policy rate at 0 percent. It put 2025 GDP growth at just under 1.5 percent and 2026 around 1 percent.
   Keywords: SNB December 2025, policy rate zero, Swiss GDP 2026, inflation forecast

237. Zermatt Opens More High Pistes as the Matterhorn Watches a Thin Village
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zermatt-pistes-open-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-12-08T08:30:00+02:00
   Summary: High glacier runs and selected pistes opened more widely in the second week of December. Village streets still showed more cobble than snow.
   Keywords: Zermatt ski opening 2025, Matterhorn pistes, Valais winter tourism

238. Bern Advent Market Holds a Cold Sunday on the Waisenhausplatz
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/advent-markt-bern-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-12-07T18:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Stalls on Waisenhausplatz and in the old town reported solid local trade. Federal staff still in session bought gifts between votes.
   Keywords: Bern Advent market 2025, Waisenhausplatz, Swiss Christmas market, Bundeshaus

239. Samichlaus Fills Zurich Old Town Streets on 6 December
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/samichlaus-zurich-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Culture
   Published: 2025-12-06T17:40:00+02:00
   Summary: St Nicholas processions and family events took over parts of the old town and neighbourhood squares. Police reported a busy, ordinary evening.
   Keywords: Samichlaus Zurich 2025, 6 December, St Nicholas Switzerland, old town

240. Winter Session Turns to the Budget After Sunday's Double No
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/winter-session-budget-days-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-12-04T16:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Deputies spent Thursday on federal budget items and health credits. Speeches still mentioned civic duty, then returned to the numbers.
   Keywords: winter session budget 2025, Bundeshaus December, federal budget, health credits

241. Davos Lifts Open a Cautious Winter After an Early Cold Snap
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ski-lifts-davos-open-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-12-03T10:25:00+02:00
   Summary: Parsenn and neighbouring areas opened selected pistes in the first week of December. Snow at village level was thin. Higher snow was enough.
   Keywords: Davos ski opening 2025, Parsenn, Graubuenden winter, Swiss ski season

242. Winter Session Opens the Day After a Double No at the Ballot
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/winter-session-bern-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-12-01T16:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Deputies returned to the Bundeshaus on 1 December 2025 with the civic duty and climate-tax results still on the television.
   Keywords: Swiss winter session 2025, Bundeshaus December, federal budget

243. Voters Reject Civic Duty and Climate Inheritance Tax
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/civic-duty-climate-tax-rejected-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-11-30T21:10:00+02:00
   Summary: On 30 November 2025 the Civic Duty Initiative took 15.9 percent yes and the Initiative for a Future 21.7 percent. Both failed in every canton.
   Keywords: Civic Duty Initiative, Initiative for a Future, Swiss vote November 2025, climate inheritance tax

244. Vote Sunday Opens Quietly With Two Left Texts on the Paper
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/november-vote-morning-bern-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-11-30T12:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Polling stations opened for the Civic Duty Initiative and the Initiative for a Future. Morning walk-ins were thin. Postal stacks were not.
   Keywords: 30 November 2025 vote morning, Civic Duty, Initiative for a Future, polling stations

245. Aargau Owners Spend the Last Midweek Making Succession Calls
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/aargau-owners-inheritance-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-11-26T15:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Machine-shop families in Aargau used the final campaign days to telephone relatives who vote in other cantons. The climate tax, not civic duty, was the call.
   Keywords: Aargau inheritance tax 2025, machine shops, succession, November vote

246. Postal Ballots Peak as November's Double Initiative Hits the Last Days
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/postal-ballot-november-peak-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-11-25T07:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Chancelleries reported a typical pre-Sunday surge in envelopes. Most were expected to be nos. Campaign stands came down in the rain.
   Keywords: postal ballots November 2025, Swiss vote turnout, Civic Duty, climate tax

247. Basel Pharma Town Treats the Inheritance Tax as a Headquarters Risk
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/basel-pharma-jobs-tax-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-11-24T09:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Life-sciences employers and the cantonal government warned that a 50 percent estate tax could weigh on succession in a city that lives on large firms.
   Keywords: Basel pharma inheritance tax 2025, life sciences, headquarters Switzerland, climate tax

248. Final Polls Show Two Clear Nos Taking Shape for 30 November
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/srg-tamedia-final-polls-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-11-22T10:00:00+02:00
   Summary: SRG and Tamedia last surveys put civic duty near 16 to 20 percent yes and the climate tax near the low 20s. Turnout was expected to be modest.
   Keywords: final polls November 2025, SRG Tamedia, Civic Duty, Initiative for a Future

249. Federal Council Repeats Its Double No as Vote Week Comes Into View
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/federal-council-double-no-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-11-20T13:35:00+02:00
   Summary: Ministers restated their rejection of civic duty and the climate inheritance tax. They cited cost, administration and a risk to family businesses.
   Keywords: Federal Council November 2025, civic duty no, climate tax no, Swiss government

250. Geneva Remains a Yes Pocket for the Climate Tax, Not a Majority Engine
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-climate-tax-yes-pocket-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2025-11-18T16:20:00+02:00
   Summary: City and cantonal left milieus in Geneva still poll above the Swiss average on the inheritance tax. The numbers do not travel as far as the lake.
   Keywords: Geneva climate tax yes 2025, Initiative for a Future Geneva, November vote

251. St Gallen SMEs Form a Practical No Camp on the Inheritance Tax
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/st-gallen-sme-no-camp-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-11-17T08:55:00+02:00
   Summary: Owner-managers in the eastern canton said succession plans cannot absorb a 50 percent hit above the threshold. They plan to vote and to telephone their cousins.
   Keywords: St Gallen SMEs 2025, inheritance tax vote, Swiss succession, Initiative for a Future

252. Women Voters Split on Civic Duty as Equality Meets a New Obligation
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/women-service-civic-duty-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-11-14T11:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Poll crosstabs showed women no more likely than men to back a civic duty for all. Many said equality should not start with a new compulsory year.
   Keywords: women voters civic duty 2025, Swiss service equality, November referendum

253. Zurich Tenant Groups Back the Climate Tax and Gain Little Traction
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-tenants-climate-tax-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Housing
   Published: 2025-11-13T14:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Housing activists in Zurich tied large inheritances to land prices. Doorstep reactions, they admitted, kept returning to the household premium.
   Keywords: Zurich tenants climate tax 2025, inheritance tax housing, Zurich campaign

254. Geneva's Winter UN Calendar Crowds the Lakeshore Again
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-un-winter-calendar-2025.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-11-12T14:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Human rights and humanitarian meetings filled the Palais des Nations in mid-November, with knock-on effects for hotels and trams.
   Keywords: UN Geneva November 2025, Palais des Nations, international Geneva

255. Climate Inheritance Tax Also Trails as Business Ads Land
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/climate-tax-poll-november-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2025-11-11T18:25:00+02:00
   Summary: The same survey wave put the Initiative for a Future near one fifth yes. Family-firm spots were already on regional television.
   Keywords: Initiative for a Future poll 2025, climate inheritance tax survey, Swiss November vote

256. First November Polls Show Civic Duty Trailing Heavily
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/civic-duty-poll-collapse-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-11-10T09:40:00+02:00
   Summary: An SRG survey put the Civic Duty Initiative well below 30 percent yes. Even some left voters preferred to repair the army they know.
   Keywords: Civic Duty polls November 2025, SRG survey, Swiss conscription vote

257. Family Firms Say a Climate Inheritance Tax Hits Factories, Not Yachts
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/family-firms-climate-tax-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2025-11-07T10:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Mittelstand owners in Zurich and St Gallen argued that a 50 percent rate above CHF 50 million would force sales of operating companies. Juso called that a scare.
   Keywords: family firms inheritance tax 2025, Swiss Mittelstand, Initiative for a Future, climate tax

258. Army Committees Split From Civic Groups on the Duty Initiative
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/conscription-civic-duty-split-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-11-06T12:30:00+02:00
   Summary: A hearing in Bern showed officers, civil-protection officials and youth groups using the same word, service, for three different systems.
   Keywords: Swiss conscription debate 2025, civic duty hearing, army committees, civil protection

259. Young Socialists Take the Climate Inheritance Tax on a City Tour
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/juso-inheritance-tax-tour-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2025-11-04T17:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Juso rallies in Zurich and Lausanne promoted a 50 percent tax on estates above CHF 50 million for climate policy. Business groups called it a jobs risk.
   Keywords: Initiative for a Future 2025, Juso inheritance tax, climate tax Switzerland, CHF 50 million

260. Civic Duty Posters Go Up and Immediately Meet the Army Argument
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/civic-duty-posters-november-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-11-03T08:20:00+02:00
   Summary: The yes camp's November wave argued for equal service. Officers' groups answered that civic duty would hollow out conscription without filling hospitals.
   Keywords: Civic Duty posters 2025, Swiss army conscription, November campaign

261. Ticino Chestnut Fairs Fill Village Squares as the Lake Cools
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ticino-chestnut-sagra-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-10-26T13:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Sagre around Locarno, Ascona and the valleys served roast chestnuts and local wine. Day visitors from the plateau arrived on extra weekend trains.
   Keywords: Ticino chestnut fair 2025, sagra, Ascona Locarno, Swiss autumn culture

262. Plateau Fog Slows the Morning Spine Between Olten and Zurich
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/plateau-fog-sbb-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-10-24T08:15:00+02:00
   Summary: High fog cut visibility and delayed a cluster of SBB and S-Bahn services on 24 October. Punctuality recovered by late morning. German arrivals did not help.
   Keywords: SBB fog delays October 2025, Olten Zurich, plateau fog, Swiss punctuality

263. Farmers' Union Debates the EU Package and Stops Short of a Slogan
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/farmers-union-eu-vote-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-10-22T14:30:00+02:00
   Summary: On 22 October the Swiss Farmers' Union discussed the food-safety chapter and the wider bilateral package. Members left without a campaign poster.
   Keywords: Swiss Farmers Union 22 October 2025, EU food agreement, farm inspections

264. Civic Duty Initiative Leaves the Petition Stage and Enters November
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/civic-duty-autumn-campaign-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-10-20T16:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Backers of replacing male conscription with civic duty for all began the public stretch toward 30 November. The Federal Council had already said no.
   Keywords: Civic Duty Initiative campaign 2025, Swiss conscription, November vote, civic service

265. Geneva Hotels Raise Weekday Rates as the Autumn Calendar Returns
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-october-hotel-bench-2025.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-10-16T11:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Bookings between Cornavin and the lake tightened in mid-October as missions came back from summer rosters. Interpreters reported a full diary again.
   Keywords: Geneva hotels October 2025, international Geneva autumn, Palais des Nations bookings

266. EU Package Consultation Enters Its Loud Middle Stretch
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eu-package-consultation-mid-2025.html
   Section: Europe / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-10-13T15:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Parties, cantons and unions filed early takes on the bilateral package with the 31 October deadline in sight. Wage protection and the referendum type dominated.
   Keywords: Swiss EU consultation October 2025, bilaterals package, wage protection, referendum type

267. Graubuenden Hunting Season Opens Under the Usual Path Closures
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/graubuenden-hunting-season-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-10-11T07:35:00+02:00
   Summary: The high-hunt period brought the annual mix of closed trails, orange caps and arguments in village inns about quotas. Game wardens asked hikers to read the notices.
   Keywords: Graubuenden hunting 2025, high hunt, Chur, Alpine trails autumn

268. Valais Harvest Fills the Rhone Slopes After a Nervous Spring Frost
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/valais-wine-harvest-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2025-10-08T12:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Winegrowers between Sion and Martigny called 2025 volumes acceptable after the late-April frost. Quality talk was cautious. Tractors owned the small roads.
   Keywords: Valais wine harvest 2025, Rhone vineyards, Sion Martigny, Swiss wine

269. Zurich Indoor Pools Take the Autumn Break After the Lake Cools
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-autumn-break-pools-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / City
   Published: 2025-10-07T09:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Municipal baths reported a jump in indoor visits as school holidays began and Lake Zurich dropped out of casual swimming range.
   Keywords: Zurich indoor pools 2025, autumn holidays, Lake Zurich temperature, municipal baths

270. Alpine Communes Start Counting a New Second-Home Tax
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/second-home-tax-alpine-communes-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2025-10-06T11:00:00+02:00
   Summary: After the 28 September yes, mountain municipalities began sketching how they will tax holiday homes without chasing away the owners who fund local shops.
   Keywords: Swiss second home tax, Alpine communes, Engadine, holiday homes Switzerland

271. Autumn School Holidays Fill Trains Toward the Alps and Ticino
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/autumn-holiday-trains-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-10-04T10:20:00+02:00
   Summary: SBB added carriages on selected long-distance routes as cantons staggered autumn breaks. A foggy plateau made the first day look slower than the diagram.
   Keywords: SBB autumn holidays 2025, school break trains, Ticino Valais, Swiss rail

272. After the E-ID Yes, Bern Starts the Slow Work of Ordinances
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eid-ordinances-after-yes-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-10-02T08:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Council said implementation of the electronic identity act would take years of technical rules. Privacy groups promised to watch every clause.
   Keywords: e-ID implementation 2025, ordinances Bern, electronic identity after vote

273. Zurich Late Count Tips E-ID Over the Line
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-eid-late-count-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Politics
   Published: 2025-09-28T20:15:00+02:00
   Summary: As smaller cantons reported a no, Zurich's numbers pulled the electronic identity act to 50.4 percent yes. Second-home tax reform had already passed more clearly.
   Keywords: Zurich e-ID count 2025, 28 September result, electronic identity Zurich

274. Narrow Yes for E-ID as Voters Also Back Second-Home Tax Reform
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eid-vote-result-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-09-28T18:40:00+02:00
   Summary: On 28 September 2025 the e-ID act passed with 50.4 percent. A decree on cantonal property taxes for second homes passed with 57.7 percent.
   Keywords: e-ID vote result 2025, second home tax Switzerland, 28 September 2025 referendum

275. Autumn Session Rises So Deputies Can Go Home and Count
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/session-ends-before-ballot-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-09-26T16:35:00+02:00
   Summary: The sitting ended on 26 September with leftover texts parked until winter. Several MPs left for vote-weekend events in their cantons.
   Keywords: autumn session ends 2025, Bundeshaus, 28 September vote weekend

276. Schaffhausen Asks SBB to Stop Late German Trains at the Border
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/schaffhausen-deutsche-bahn-2025.html
   Section: Europe / Transport
   Published: 2025-09-26T08:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Cantonal officials want the Stuttgart to Zurich service broken at Singen so Deutsche Bahn delays stop cascading into Swiss connections.
   Keywords: Schaffhausen Deutsche Bahn, SBB delays, Singen border trains, Swiss punctuality

277. SNB Holds Policy Rate at Zero Ahead of the Ballot Weekend
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/snb-holds-zero-september-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2025-09-25T10:00:00+02:00
   Summary: On 25 September the Swiss National Bank left its policy rate at 0 percent. The inflation forecast was little changed. The franc remained the other instrument.
   Keywords: SNB September 2025, policy rate zero hold, Swiss inflation forecast

278. Postal Ballots Dominate as September's Double Vote Hits the Last Week
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/postal-votes-september-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-09-24T07:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Cantonal chancelleries said most of the expected turnout was already in envelopes. Remaining voters were the ones campaigns still chase.
   Keywords: Swiss postal vote September 2025, e-ID turnout, chancellery ballots

279. Late Polls Keep E-ID Inside a Point Either Way
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eid-late-polls-tight-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-09-22T18:20:00+02:00
   Summary: SRG and Tamedia surveys six days before the ballot still showed the electronic identity act too close to call. The second-home tax remained ahead.
   Keywords: e-ID final polls 2025, SRG Tamedia, 28 September referendum

280. Lavaux Harvest Starts Early After a Warm Late Summer
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/vaud-harvest-starts-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2025-09-19T09:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Winegrowers in Lavaux began picking in the third week of September. Sugar levels were high. Volumes looked average. The lake path filled with tractors.
   Keywords: Lavaux harvest 2025, Vaud wine, Lake Geneva vineyards, Swiss wine harvest

281. Engadine Chalet Owners Hold a Quiet Meeting Before the Ballot
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/engadine-owners-vote-week-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2025-09-18T13:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Second-home owners from the plateau met in Pontresina to compare notes on the tax decree. Several said they would vote no by post from Zurich and Basel.
   Keywords: Pontresina second homes, chalet owners vote 2025, Engadine, property tax

282. Frankfurt Rate Path Keeps Swiss Exporters in a Narrow Band
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/frankfurt-rates-swiss-firms-2025.html
   Section: Europe / Finance
   Published: 2025-09-17T14:05:00+02:00
   Summary: An ECB hold in mid-September left Swiss firms watching the euro-franc pair more than the adjectives in the press conference. The SNB still sits at zero.
   Keywords: ECB September 2025, Swiss exporters, euro franc, Frankfurt Bern

283. Valais Mayors Split on How Hard to Cheer a Second-Home Tax
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/valais-mayors-second-homes-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2025-09-16T08:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Tourism communes in Valais want the legal tool and fear the headline rate. A mayors' meeting in Sion did not produce a single slogan.
   Keywords: Valais second homes 2025, Sion mayors, holiday home tax, Alpine tourism

284. SBB to Replace Gotthard Base Tunnel Tracks Earlier Than Planned
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/gotthard-base-tunnel-tracks-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-09-15T10:22:00+02:00
   Summary: Heavy use means 228 kilometres of rail in the Gotthard Base Tunnel will be replaced around 2032 to 2034, sooner than the original 20-year life assumed.
   Keywords: Gotthard Base Tunnel tracks, SBB 2025, Alpine rail freight, tunnel maintenance

285. E-ID Campaign Enters Its Final Stretch Before 28 September
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eid-vote-campaign-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-09-12T09:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Supporters call the electronic identity bill a tool for daily life. Opponents say it puts too much personal data in reach of the state and contractors.
   Keywords: Swiss e-ID 2025, electronic identity vote, 28 September 2025

286. E-ID Hearing in Bern Becomes an Argument About Contractors
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eid-privacy-committee-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-09-11T14:40:00+02:00
   Summary: A public panel on the electronic identity act stuck on who would run the wallets and who would be allowed to ask for them. MPs in the room took notes for the weekend.
   Keywords: e-ID hearing Bern 2025, electronic wallets, privacy committee, Swiss contractors

287. Session Returns to Premiums That Households Already Paid
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/session-premiums-leftover-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-09-10T11:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Deputies spent Wednesday on leftover health-cost items. Nobody pretended a September vote in the chamber would change a 2025 invoice.
   Keywords: health premiums autumn session 2025, KVG costs, National Council September

288. Knabenschiessen Fills Albisguetli on the Session's Opening Day
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/knabenschiessen-zurich-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Culture
   Published: 2025-09-08T17:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Zurich packed the Albisguetli meadow for the shooting festival and fair on 8 September. The main youth competition fell on the second Monday, overlapping Bern.
   Keywords: Knabenschiessen 2025, Albisguetli, Zurich festival, second Monday September

289. Autumn Session Opens as Two Campaigns Enter Their Final Weeks
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/autumn-session-opens-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-09-08T15:20:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Assembly returned on 8 September with health leftovers and transport credits on the paper. Corridor talk was about 28 September.
   Keywords: Swiss autumn session 2025, Bundeshaus September, e-ID campaign parliament

290. Second-Home Tax Leads in Polls as Owners Start Counting
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/second-home-tax-polls-sept-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2025-09-05T12:25:00+02:00
   Summary: Surveys showed a clearer yes for the federal decree on cantonal property taxes for holiday homes than for e-ID. Owner groups said the sample missed the chalets.
   Keywords: second home tax polls 2025, Graubuenden holiday homes, September referendum

291. Early September Polls Put E-ID on a Knife Edge
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eid-early-september-polls-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-09-04T09:10:00+02:00
   Summary: The first full surveys of September showed the electronic identity act inside the margin of error. A majority of cantons still leaned no.
   Keywords: e-ID polls September 2025, Swiss referendum survey, electronic identity

292. SBB Warns of Autumn Closures on Romandie Lines
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/sbb-romandie-works-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-08-29T10:00:00+02:00
   Summary: From September 2025, engineering work between Lausanne and Puidoux and on other western lines will replace some trains with buses.
   Keywords: SBB Romandie works 2025, Lausanne Puidoux, Swiss rail closures

293. Privacy Ads on E-ID Lean on Covid-Era Mistrust of State Logins
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eid-privacy-ads-august-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-08-25T16:55:00+02:00
   Summary: The no committee's August spots invoked pandemic certificates and data trails. Yes campaigners called the comparison a scare. Pollsters said it might land.
   Keywords: e-ID privacy ads 2025, Covid certificates Switzerland, electronic identity campaign

294. Palais des Nations Runs August on Duty Officers and Dust Sheets
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-august-palais-quiet-2025.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-08-22T10:30:00+02:00
   Summary: With most missions on a summer roster, the Palais complex was as quiet as it gets. Maintenance crews used the gap. A few humanitarian meetings did not.
   Keywords: Palais des Nations August 2025, Geneva summer diplomacy, UN Geneva quiet

295. Gotthard Freight Shares August With Tourist Paths and Hot Rails
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/gotthard-august-freight-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-08-20T07:25:00+02:00
   Summary: North-south freight through the base tunnel held up in late August while passenger tourist trains took the remaining paths. Heat restrictions hit a few afternoon runs.
   Keywords: Gotthard freight August 2025, Biasca, Alpine transit, hot rails

296. Farmers Circle the EU Food-Safety Chapter Without a Formal No
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/farmers-food-safety-eu-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-08-18T13:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The Farmers' Union still has not issued a final word on the food agreement inside the EU package. Milk producers said foreign audits already happen.
   Keywords: Swiss farmers EU food safety 2025, farm inspections, bilaterals, milk producers

297. Second-Home Tax Posters Go Up in the Engadine Before the Tourists Leave
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/second-home-posters-engadine-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2025-08-14T11:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Yes and no committees started flyering in St Moritz and neighbouring communes. Chalet owners from the plateau met mayors who want a new tariff.
   Keywords: second home tax campaign 2025, Engadine posters, St Moritz, 28 September vote

298. E-ID Campaign Starts in Earnest With Trust as the Real Clause
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eid-campaign-starts-august-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-08-12T08:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Supporters and privacy opponents opened the public stretch of the 28 September e-ID fight. Early ads talked less about logins than about who holds the keys.
   Keywords: e-ID campaign August 2025, Swiss electronic identity, 28 September vote, privacy

299. Basel Rhine Swim Fills the River With Wickelfisch and a Current
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/basel-rhine-swim-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-08-10T12:10:00+02:00
   Summary: The official Rhine swim drew thousands into the water on 10 August. City rescue services called the afternoon busy and within plan. Water quality stayed inside limits.
   Keywords: Basel Rhine swim 2025, Wickelfisch, Rhine current, Basel summer

300. VBZ and City Crews Reopen the Quays After Street Parade
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/street-parade-monday-cleanup-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Transport
   Published: 2025-08-10T08:20:00+02:00
   Summary: By Sunday morning most tram lines along the lake were moving again. Cleaning crews worked from Enge back toward Utoquai. A few barriers stayed until noon.
   Keywords: Street Parade cleanup 2025, VBZ Zurich, lake basin trams, city crews

301. Street Parade Fills the Lake Basin on the Second Saturday
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/street-parade-zurich-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Culture
   Published: 2025-08-09T19:30:00+02:00
   Summary: The 32nd Street Parade moved from Utoquai around the lake basin to Enge on 9 August. Police estimated a large, loud, mostly peaceful crowd.
   Keywords: Street Parade Zurich 2025, 9 August, Love Mobiles, Utoquai, Zurich lake

302. Ticino August Nights Stay Hot and Hotel Beds Stay Full
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ticino-august-hotel-nights-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2025-08-06T17:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Lugano and Locarno hotels reported high occupancy in the first week of August. Italian visitors and Swiss plateau families split the lakefront.
   Keywords: Ticino tourism August 2025, Lugano hotels, Locarno nights, southern Switzerland

303. Zurich Watches 1 August Fireworks From a Packed Lakefront
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-first-august-lake-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Culture
   Published: 2025-08-01T21:55:00+02:00
   Summary: National Day crowds lined Lake Zurich from Bürkliplatz toward Tiefenbrunnen. City police reported a heavy, calm evening and the usual late trams.
   Keywords: Zurich National Day 2025, 1 August fireworks Lake Zurich, Buerkliplatz

304. Switzerland Marks 1 August With Bonfires and a Full Lake Calendar
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/swiss-national-day-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-08-01T21:30:00+02:00
   Summary: National Day 2025 brought the usual mix of official acts, village brunches and lakeside fireworks under generally clear skies.
   Keywords: Swiss National Day 2025, 1 August fireworks, Swiss National Day Bern

305. National Day Eve: Bonfires, Speeches and a Quiet Argument About Neutrality
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/swiss-national-day-preview-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-07-31T16:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Communes prepared 1 August bonfires and brunches. Official speeches leaned on cohesion. Unofficial ones leaned on foreign policy.
   Keywords: Swiss National Day 2025, 1 August, Rutli meadow, Swiss neutrality debate

306. Communes Rehearse 1 August Bonfires Under a Dry-Weather Watch
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/first-august-fire-practice-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-07-28T16:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Fire services signed off communal woodpiles for National Day while repeating the rules for dry grass. Several lowland sites prepared a smaller stack as a precaution.
   Keywords: 1 August bonfire rehearsal 2025, Swiss National Day fire, Ruetli, communal fires

307. SBB Tourist Peak Fills Panorama Trains and the InterCity Spine
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/sbb-tourist-peak-july-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-07-24T09:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Late July bookings on panoramic routes and on InterCity trains toward Ticino ran near capacity. The railway asked visitors to reserve, again.
   Keywords: SBB July tourism 2025, panorama trains, InterCity Ticino, Swiss rail summer

308. Glacier Monitoring Teams Report Another Harsh Summer on the Ice
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/alpine-glacier-melt-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-07-22T11:25:00+02:00
   Summary: GLAMOS scientists said the 2025 melt season was again severe after heat in June and July. Measurement stakes sat on bare ice weeks earlier than in the 1990s.
   Keywords: Swiss glaciers 2025, GLAMOS, ETH Zurich, glacier melt Alps

309. Zurich Hot Nights Push People Onto Trams and the Lakefront
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-hot-nights-vbz-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / City
   Published: 2025-07-18T22:05:00+02:00
   Summary: VBZ reported heavier late trams as overnight temperatures stayed high. Police asked bathers to stay inside marked zones after dark.
   Keywords: Zurich heat night 2025, VBZ late trams, Lake Zurich bathing, city heat

310. International Geneva Hits Its July Lull and Hotels Cut Rates
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-july-diplomatic-lull-2025.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-07-17T14:25:00+02:00
   Summary: With the Health Assembly gone and August still quiet, mid-July hotel rates on the Right Bank eased. Interpreters took leave. The Palais ran on a skeleton roster.
   Keywords: Geneva July lull 2025, Palais des Nations summer, international Geneva hotels

311. Valais Fire Services Drill Forest Response After a Dry Fortnight
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/valais-fire-service-drill-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-07-15T08:35:00+02:00
   Summary: Cantonal and communal crews ran a joint forest-fire exercise in central Valais. A dry stretch and last month's disaster put attendance up.
   Keywords: Valais forest fire drill 2025, Sion fire service, Alpine wildfire, Swiss civil protection

312. Montreux Quays Hit Capacity Mid-Festival as Late Trains Fill
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/montreux-quays-crowds-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-07-12T21:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Saturday night crowds along the festival route stretched police plans. CFF added capacity toward Lausanne. A few visitors slept in the station.
   Keywords: Montreux Jazz crowds 2025, Lake Geneva festival, CFF extra trains, Vaud tourism

313. Oberland July Beds Fill With Heat Refugees From the Plateau
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/oberland-july-beds-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-07-08T10:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Hotels in Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen reported a stronger first week of July as plateau cities stayed hot. Higher trails were busy, village-level ice cream more so.
   Keywords: Jungfrau summer tourism 2025, Grindelwald hotels, July Alps, Swiss heat tourism

314. Montreux Jazz Opens Its Last Full Summer on the Lake Stage
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/montreux-jazz-opens-lake-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-07-04T20:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The 59th Montreux Jazz Festival began on 4 July on the Lake Stage and at the Casino. Organisers called it the last edition in this off-site form before a 2026 return to the Convention Centre.
   Keywords: Montreux Jazz Festival 2025, Lake Stage, 59th edition, Swiss music festival

315. Plateau Heat Arrives and Cities Open Cooling Rooms
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/plateau-heat-july-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Climate
   Published: 2025-07-02T18:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Early July temperatures on the Swiss plateau pushed cities to open cooling rooms for older residents. Overnight lows stayed high in Basel and Geneva.
   Keywords: Switzerland heat July 2025, cooling rooms, Swiss plateau weather, Basel Geneva heat

316. Lausanne Metro Summer Works Put Buses on a Hill That Prefers Rails
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/lausanne-metro-summer-works-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-06-27T07:40:00+02:00
   Summary: tl announced summer engineering on parts of the metro and a replacement-bus plan that commuters already distrust. The old town grades do the rest.
   Keywords: Lausanne metro works 2025, tl buses, Vaud transport, Lausanne commuting

317. UBS Intensifies Summer Lobbying Against Full Foreign-Unit Backing
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ubs-summer-capital-lobby-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2025-06-26T11:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Bank executives told anyone who would listen in late June that 100 percent capital for foreign subsidiaries would trap equity and push business abroad.
   Keywords: UBS capital lobbying 2025, FINMA, foreign subsidiaries, Swiss too big to fail

318. Ticino Heat Arrives Early and Fills the Lakeside Path
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ticino-early-heat-june-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2025-06-24T17:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Temperatures in Lugano pushed well into the high 20s in late June. Lidos opened at capacity. Offices sent staff home earlier on Tuesday.
   Keywords: Ticino heat June 2025, Lugano lido, southern Switzerland weather

319. Lake Zurich Bathing Season Opens to Record Early Crowds
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/lake-zurich-swimming-season-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / City
   Published: 2025-06-21T17:00:00+02:00
   Summary: City baths along Lake Zurich filled on the first hot weekend of summer. Water quality readings stayed within limits.
   Keywords: Lake Zurich swimming, Zurich lidos, summer 2025, Seebad

320. Art Basel Opens to the Public as the City Runs on Two Clocks
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/art-basel-messe-opens-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-06-19T11:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The fair opened at Messe Basel on 19 June. Public ticket holders joined a week that had already been running on collector time since Tuesday.
   Keywords: Art Basel opens 2025, Messe Basel public days, Basel art fair

321. SNB Cuts Policy Rate to Zero and Keeps the FX Door Open
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/snb-policy-rate-zero-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2025-06-19T10:10:00+02:00
   Summary: On 19 June the Swiss National Bank lowered its policy rate to 0 percent, citing low inflation. It still stands ready to act in the foreign exchange market.
   Keywords: SNB rate cut June 2025, policy rate zero, Swiss inflation, Swiss National Bank

322. Art Basel Preview Days Fill Messe and the Hotels Between
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/art-basel-preview-days-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-06-17T15:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Preview days on 17 and 18 June brought collectors and 289 galleries to Messe Basel. Taxis and river restaurants treated it as a second Fasnacht, with better shoes.
   Keywords: Art Basel 2025 preview, Messe Basel, UBS Art Basel, Basel hotels

323. Engadine Clerks Brief Councils on a Second-Home Tax Still in Mid-Air
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/second-home-tax-june-note-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2025-06-16T09:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Communal finance officers in the Upper Engadine walked mayors through how a yes on 28 September would change holiday-home bills. No tariff was decided.
   Keywords: Engadine second homes, Samedan tax, September 2025 vote, Alpine communes

324. Federal Council Opens Consultation on the Switzerland-EU Package
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/federal-council-eu-package-2025.html
   Section: Europe / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-06-13T14:05:00+02:00
   Summary: On 13 June the government approved the bilateral agreements and launched a consultation until 31 October, covering market access, electricity and wage protection.
   Keywords: Swiss EU package consultation 2025, Federal Council 13 June, bilaterals III, wage protection

325. Basel Rhine Traffic Recovers as Summer Water Holds
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/rhine-june-traffic-basel-2025.html
   Section: Europe / Economy
   Published: 2025-06-11T08:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Port figures showed fuller barges in early June after the thin winter. Chemical exports toward Antwerp led the rebound.
   Keywords: Rhine ports Basel June 2025, Swiss exports, Kleinhueningen, barge traffic

326. E-ID Opponents Table Their September Arguments in June
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eid-draft-june-bern-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-06-10T13:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Privacy groups and a referendum committee used a Bern briefing to attack the electronic identity act. The government said daily life needs a state-backed login.
   Keywords: Swiss e-ID June 2025, electronic identity, privacy referendum, September vote

327. Summer Session Farm Debate Leaves Direct Payments Mostly Intact
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/farm-payments-summer-session-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-06-05T09:25:00+02:00
   Summary: The National Council declined a sharp cut in direct payments and sent a modest targeting tweak back to committee. Hill-farm deputies called it survival, not victory.
   Keywords: Swiss direct payments June 2025, summer session agriculture, hill farms

328. Summer Session Corridors Fill With EU Package Whispers
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/session-eu-corridors-june-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-06-03T16:40:00+02:00
   Summary: A day after the sitting opened, party whips said the EU bilateral package would shape corridor talk even when it was not on the day's agenda.
   Keywords: summer session 2025 EU, Swiss EU package, Bundeshaus corridors, bilaterals

329. Summer Session Starts Under Heat and a Long Ballot Calendar
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/summer-session-parliament-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-06-02T15:10:00+02:00
   Summary: The June 2025 sitting in Bern took up remaining farm and transport items while parties prepared for the September e-ID and second-home tax votes.
   Keywords: Swiss summer session 2025, e-ID campaign, Bundeshaus June

330. Loetschental Aid Effort Takes Shape as Blatten Families Wait in Wiler
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/loetschental-aid-30-may-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2025-05-30T16:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Cantonal and federal teams, Swiss Solidarity and neighbouring communes organised beds, cash and school places on 30 May. Reconstruction talk was postponed.
   Keywords: Loetschental aid 2025, Blatten families Wiler, Swiss Solidarity, Valais disaster help

331. Lonza Backs Up Behind the Debris as Blatten Becomes a Lake Shore
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/lonza-dammed-after-slide-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-05-29T08:10:00+02:00
   Summary: A day after the Birch glacier collapse, the Lonza was dammed by ice, mud and rock. Engineers watched a new lake against what remained of the village.
   Keywords: Lonza dam Blatten 2025, landslide lake Valais, Birch glacier flood, Loetschental

332. Blatten Buried as Birch Glacier Collapse Sends Rock Into the Lonza
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/blatten-valais-landslide-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-05-28T19:30:00+02:00
   Summary: A landslide above Blatten in Valais destroyed most of the village after rock from the Kleines Nesthorn overloaded the Birch glacier. Residents had been evacuated.
   Keywords: Blatten landslide, Valais 2025, Birch glacier, Kleines Nesthorn, Swiss Alps disaster

333. Birch Glacier Accelerates as Blatten Stays Empty
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/blatten-glacier-speeds-up-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-05-27T17:40:00+02:00
   Summary: On 27 May monitoring teams said the Birch glacier was moving on the order of 10 metres a day. The evacuated village waited down-valley.
   Keywords: Birch glacier 27 May 2025, Blatten evacuation, ETH Zurich glacier, Loetschental

334. Health Cost File Sits in Recess While Premiums Keep Arriving
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/health-file-recess-bern-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-05-23T12:00:00+02:00
   Summary: With parliament between sessions, federal health officials said cost-control talks with insurers and providers had not produced a package for June.
   Keywords: Swiss health costs May 2025, premium control, FOPH, parliament recess

335. WHO Pledging Night in Geneva Underscores a Thin Core Budget
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/who-pledging-geneva-2025.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-05-21T18:50:00+02:00
   Summary: A high-level financing event on 21 May asked member states to back WHO's next programme of work. Several European missions promised process more than cash.
   Keywords: WHO pledging 2025, World Health Assembly finance, Geneva WHO, GPW14

336. Blatten Evacuation Widens as the Slope Above the Village Keeps Moving
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/blatten-village-emptied-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-05-19T20:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Valais ordered the rest of Blatten emptied on 19 May, except for a handful of essential staff. About 300 residents left the Loetschental village.
   Keywords: Blatten evacuation 19 May 2025, Valais landslide threat, Loetschental, Birch glacier

337. World Health Assembly Opens in Geneva Under a Tight Budget Cloud
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/who-assembly-opens-geneva-2025.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-05-19T09:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The 78th World Health Assembly began on 19 May with the theme One World for Health. Delegates arrived as WHO financing remained the unofficial agenda.
   Keywords: World Health Assembly 2025, WHO Geneva, WHA78, international Geneva

338. Rockfall Above Blatten Pushes First Residents Out of the Village
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/bietschhorn-rockfall-blatten-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-05-18T13:25:00+02:00
   Summary: A rockslide on the Bietschhorn massif on 18 May added debris to the Birch glacier. Overnight, more than 90 people were moved from homes in Blatten.
   Keywords: Blatten rockfall 18 May 2025, Bietschhorn, Birch glacier, Loetschental evacuation

339. Valais Issues Fresh Slope Warnings After Rockfalls Above the Loetschental
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/glacier-slope-warnings-valais-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-05-16T08:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Cantonal geologists flagged unstable rock on peaks above the Loetschental after days of rockfall. Hiking paths were closed. Villages were told to watch the bulletins.
   Keywords: Valais slope warnings 2025, Loetschental rockfall, glacier hazards, Kleines Nesthorn

340. Milk Producers Say May Prices Still Lag Feed and Labour
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/milk-prices-may-farmers-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-05-14T14:35:00+02:00
   Summary: The milk producers' association said farm-gate prices in May did not cover costs on many hill farms. Processors pointed to retail pressure.
   Keywords: Swiss milk prices 2025, milk producers, hill farms, Swiss Farmers Union

341. SBB Tweaks Spring Diagram After Easter Overcrowding Complaints
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/sbb-spring-timetable-nudge-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-05-12T07:55:00+02:00
   Summary: The railway added a handful of peak carriages on Ticino and Valais routes after Easter Monday returns ran full. German arrivals remained the weak node.
   Keywords: SBB spring timetable 2025, Easter overcrowding, Ticino trains, Swiss rail

342. Zurich Issues a Thin Month of Housing Permits as Sites Stay Slow
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-may-building-permits-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Housing
   Published: 2025-05-08T11:20:00+02:00
   Summary: City figures for April showed fewer new dwelling permits than planners wanted. Financing and objections, not a lack of cranes, were blamed.
   Keywords: Zurich building permits May 2025, housing construction, Zurich vacancy, planning objections

343. Aargau Metal Wage Talks Stick on Inflation That Has Already Fallen
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/aargau-wage-round-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Labour
   Published: 2025-05-06T10:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Employers in the Aargau machine cluster offered modest rises. Unions said January premiums and rents still outran last year's deal.
   Keywords: Aargau wages 2025, metalworkers, Baden industry, Swiss labour talks

344. Geneva Labour Day Column Puts Rents Ahead of Pay Claims
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/labour-day-geneva-rents-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Labour
   Published: 2025-05-01T18:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Unions and tenant groups marched in Geneva on 1 May. Speakers said wage deals fail when the lease takes the rise. Police counted a large, calm crowd.
   Keywords: Labour Day Geneva 2025, 1 May rents, Swiss unions, Geneva housing

345. Labour Day Marches Focus on Rents as Much as Pay
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/labour-day-wages-switzerland-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Labour
   Published: 2025-05-01T12:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Unions in Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne used 1 May 2025 to argue that wage deals mean little if housing takes the rise.
   Keywords: Swiss Labour Day 2025, unions Switzerland, rents and wages, 1 May Zurich

346. Sechseläuten Boogg Burns as Guilds March a Cool Third Monday
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/sechselauten-boogg-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Culture
   Published: 2025-04-28T18:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Zurich burned the snowman on 28 April after the guild parade. The head took a middling time to explode. Trams waited.
   Keywords: Sechseläuten 2025, Boogg burning, Zurich guild parade, third Monday April

347. Zurich Guilds Prepare Sechseläuten as the Boogg Reaches Sechseläutenplatz
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/sechselauten-eve-zurich-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Culture
   Published: 2025-04-27T11:05:00+02:00
   Summary: The day before the third-Monday festival, guilds rehearsed routes and the snowman stood on the square. City police planned the usual tram diversions.
   Keywords: Sechseläuten 2025 eve, Zurich guilds, Boogg, Sechseläutenplatz

348. Valais Growers Light Frost Candles on the Lower Rhone Slopes
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/valais-vineyard-frost-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2025-04-24T07:50:00+02:00
   Summary: A late-April cold night pushed winegrowers between Sion and Martigny to protect early buds. Damage reports were mixed by midday.
   Keywords: Valais frost 2025, Rhone vineyards, Sion wine, Swiss winegrowers

349. SBB Counts the School-Holiday Return as Easter Traffic Fades
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/school-holiday-return-sbb-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-04-22T09:35:00+02:00
   Summary: Long-distance trains toward Zurich, Bern and Basel filled on Tuesday morning as families came back from Ticino and Valais. Seat maps looked like Friday in reverse.
   Keywords: SBB school holidays April 2025, Easter return traffic, Swiss long-distance trains

350. Easter Monday Crowds Take the Lakes Before the Water Is Warm
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/easter-monday-lakeside-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-04-21T12:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Promenades in Lucerne, Zurich and Montreux filled on 21 April. Swimming remained a minority sport. Cafes did the real business.
   Keywords: Easter Monday Switzerland 2025, Lake Lucerne, lakeside cafes, spring tourism

351. Gotthard Road Tunnel Fills on Easter Friday as Trains Take the Rest
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/gotthard-road-easter-eve-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-04-18T16:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Police reported slow traffic toward Ticino by late afternoon on 18 April. SBB extra carriages were already running on the long-distance routes.
   Keywords: Gotthard road Easter 2025, Göschenen queues, A2 Ticino, holiday traffic

352. Easter Trains Fill as SBB Warns of Alpine Road Queues
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/easter-travel-sbb-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-04-17T14:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Swiss Federal Railways laid on extra long-distance carriages for the Easter weekend while police expected slow traffic toward Ticino and Valais.
   Keywords: SBB Easter 2025, Swiss holiday travel, Gotthard queues, Alpine tunnels

353. ECB Hold Leaves Swiss Mortgage Desks in a Waiting Room
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ecb-april-swiss-watch-2025.html
   Section: Europe / Finance
   Published: 2025-04-16T14:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The European Central Bank's April decision left Swiss banks watching the euro area while the SNB sits at 0.25 percent. Cross-border funding costs barely moved.
   Keywords: ECB April 2025, Swiss mortgages, Frankfurt, SNB policy rate, euro franc

354. Spring Humanitarian Meetings Fill Geneva Between Easter and the Assembly
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-spring-un-week-2025.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-04-14T15:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Humanitarian pledging and agency boards overlapped at the Palais des Nations. Hotels on the Right Bank treated it as a full week.
   Keywords: UN Geneva April 2025, humanitarian pledging, Palais des Nations, international Geneva

355. Thurgau Asparagus Season Opens After a Cool Start
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/thurgau-asparagus-start-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-04-11T08:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Growers around Frauenfeld and the Lake Constance shore cut the first spears in the second week of April. Volumes were modest, prices firm.
   Keywords: Thurgau asparagus 2025, Swiss farmers, Lake Constance, Frauenfeld

356. Spring Power Imports Ease, Nuclear Debate Does Not
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/swiss-energy-imports-spring-2025.html
   Section: Europe / Energy
   Published: 2025-04-08T09:00:00+02:00
   Summary: A milder April reduced pressure on winter electricity imports, while parties kept arguing about whether new nuclear plants should be allowed again.
   Keywords: Swiss electricity imports, nuclear debate Switzerland, hydropower spring 2025

357. Easter Snow Line Sits High in the Oberland
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/alpine-easter-snow-line-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-04-03T09:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Lower slopes around Grindelwald and Wengen were patchy two weeks before Easter. Higher glaciers and snow-making kept the main pistes skiable.
   Keywords: Easter snow Alps 2025, Grindelwald, Wengen, Jungfrau ski season

358. Ticino Debates Permit Pace as Italian Commuters Fill Morning Trains
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ticino-cross-border-permits-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Labour
   Published: 2025-03-28T18:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Cantonal officials said cross-border worker numbers remained high in Mendrisio and Lugano. Local unions asked for tighter checks, hospitals for faster ones.
   Keywords: Ticino frontaliers 2025, Italian cross-border workers, Lugano labour, permits

359. Gotthard Base Tunnel Freight Holds Up as Road Queues Return
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/gotthard-freight-spring-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-03-26T07:45:00+02:00
   Summary: SBB Cargo and open-access freight operators reported steady north-south volumes through the base tunnel. The road tunnel saw the first long Easter-season tests.
   Keywords: Gotthard Base Tunnel freight 2025, SBB Cargo, Erstfeld, Alpine transit

360. Spring Motions Keep the Nuclear Ban on the Desk Without Lifting It
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/nuclear-motions-spring-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Energy
   Published: 2025-03-25T15:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Deputies tabled motions on whether new nuclear plants should be allowed again. No majority formed in March. The import file did not go away.
   Keywords: Swiss nuclear ban 2025, new nuclear plants, spring session energy, hydropower

361. Geneva Vacancy Stays Near the Floor as Spring Leases Open
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-vacancy-spring-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2025-03-21T13:20:00+02:00
   Summary: The canton's empty-flat rate remained among the lowest in Switzerland. April lease starts produced more applications than viewings.
   Keywords: Geneva housing vacancy 2025, Geneva rents, April leases, housing shortage

362. SNB Cuts Policy Rate to 0.25 Percent as Inflation Cools
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/snb-cuts-to-quarter-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2025-03-20T10:05:00+02:00
   Summary: The Swiss National Bank lowered its policy rate by a quarter point on 20 March. Inflation had fallen to 0.3 percent in February.
   Keywords: SNB rate cut March 2025, policy rate 0.25 percent, Swiss inflation, Thomas Jordan

363. UBS Capital Talks Move From Slogan to Spreadsheet
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ubs-finma-capital-talks-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2025-03-18T11:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Regulators, the finance ministry and UBS spent the spring of 2025 arguing over how to back foreign units after the Credit Suisse takeover.
   Keywords: UBS capital 2025, FINMA, Credit Suisse takeover, Swiss bank rules

364. Parliament Starts the Argument Over FINMA's Next Set of Teeth
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/finma-powers-bundeshaus-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2025-03-17T12:35:00+02:00
   Summary: A committee hearing asked whether the watchdog needed more powers after Credit Suisse, or whether it failed to use the ones it had.
   Keywords: FINMA powers 2025, Credit Suisse inquiry, Swiss bank regulation, Bundeshaus

365. Rhine Water at Basel Allows Fuller Barges After a Thin Winter
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/rhine-levels-basel-march-2025.html
   Section: Europe / Economy
   Published: 2025-03-13T08:55:00+02:00
   Summary: Port operators said March levels let barges load more cargo toward Rotterdam and Antwerp. Low winter water had cut payloads for weeks.
   Keywords: Rhine shipping Basel 2025, Swiss Rhine ports, barge loads, Basel Kleinhueningen

366. National Council Argues Over Who Pays Rising Premium Subsidies
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/premium-subsidies-national-council-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-03-11T16:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Deputies split on how far the Confederation should lift contributions to cantonal individual premium reductions after the 2025 KVG rise.
   Keywords: premium subsidies Switzerland, individual reductions, National Council 2025, health costs

367. Zurich Hearing on Tram Extensions Draws Neighbours and Shopkeepers
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-tram-extension-hearing-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Transport
   Published: 2025-03-07T09:40:00+02:00
   Summary: A public hearing on planned tram works toward the north of the city mixed support for capacity with complaints about years of street closures.
   Keywords: Zurich tram extension 2025, VBZ, Oerlikon tram, city hearing

368. Farm Hearings in Bern Repeat the Direct-Payment Stalemate
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/farm-hearings-spring-session-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-03-06T14:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Committees heard farmers, retailers and environmental groups on 2025 agricultural payments. Nobody left the room with a new majority.
   Keywords: Swiss farm policy 2025, direct payments, spring session agriculture, Farmers Union

369. Vaud Hospitals Report Longer Waits for Planned Operations
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/vaud-hospital-waiting-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2025-03-04T11:30:00+02:00
   Summary: CHUV and regional hospitals in Vaud said non-urgent surgery queues stretched further into spring. Staff shortages, not buildings, were the bottleneck.
   Keywords: CHUV waiting lists, Vaud hospitals 2025, Lausanne health, planned surgery Switzerland

370. Spring Session Opens With Budget Leftovers and Health Costs
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/spring-session-bern-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-03-03T16:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The Federal Assembly returned in early March 2025 to health insurance premiums, farm policy and the early outlines of bank capital reform.
   Keywords: Swiss spring session 2025, health insurance premiums, Bundeshaus

371. Parties Arrive Early for a Spring Session Built on Premiums
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/health-costs-session-preview-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-03-01T08:25:00+02:00
   Summary: Whips expected health insurance costs, farm payments and bank capital outlines to dominate the sitting that opens on 3 March.
   Keywords: Swiss spring session 2025 preview, health premiums parliament, Bundeshaus March

372. Graubuenden Communes Sketch a Second-Home Tax They Do Not Yet Have
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/graubuenden-holiday-homes-talk-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Housing
   Published: 2025-02-26T12:00:00+02:00
   Summary: Tourism mayors in the Engadine and Davos hinterland discussed how a future cantonal tax on holiday homes might work if voters later say yes.
   Keywords: Graubuenden second homes, Engadine holiday homes, Swiss second home tax 2025

373. Federal Council Briefs Parties on the Draft EU Package
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/eu-bilaterals-february-brief-2025.html
   Section: Europe / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-02-21T17:25:00+02:00
   Summary: Bern updated party leaders on wage protection, electricity and the referendum question in the bilateral package initialled with Brussels.
   Keywords: Swiss EU package 2025, bilaterals, wage protection, Federal Council Europe

374. Basel-Stadt Budget Debate Turns on Pharma Tax and Trams
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/basel-stadt-budget-debate-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2025-02-18T09:50:00+02:00
   Summary: The cantonal parliament argued over 2025 spending as life-sciences receipts remained the silent pillar of the city canton's books.
   Keywords: Basel-Stadt budget 2025, pharma tax Basel, cantonal parliament, BVB trams

375. Valais Resorts Call Mid-February Snow Adequate, Not Generous
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/valais-midseason-snow-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-02-14T10:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Higher pistes in Zermatt, Saas-Fee and the 4 Vallées stayed open. Village-level cover remained patchy after a dry stretch.
   Keywords: Valais ski season 2025, Zermatt snow, 4 Vallées, Saas-Fee

376. Human Rights Council Brings February Traffic Back to the Palais
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-human-rights-council-2025.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-02-12T13:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The UN Human Rights Council's spring sitting filled hotels between Cornavin and Place des Nations. Missions warned of a dense speaking list.
   Keywords: UN Human Rights Council Geneva 2025, Palais des Nations, international Geneva

377. Basel Cortege Rolls After Two Nights of Piccolo and Snow
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/fasnacht-cortege-tuesday-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-02-11T08:05:00+02:00
   Summary: The Tuesday cortège filled the inner city with lanterns and Guggenmusik. Street-cleaning crews followed at a respectful distance.
   Keywords: Basel Fasnacht cortege 2025, Guggenmusik, Basel carnival Tuesday

378. Business Groups Treat Environmental No as a Closed File
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/business-after-environmental-no-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-02-10T14:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Employers and exporters said the 69.7 percent rejection of the Environmental Responsibility Initiative removed a ten-year compliance threat. Greens talked about other instruments.
   Keywords: economiesuisse February 2025, Environmental Responsibility Initiative result, Swiss business

379. Basel Fasnacht Starts at 4 a.m. With Morgenstreich
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/basel-fasnacht-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-02-10T06:40:00+02:00
   Summary: The carnival city switched off the street lights for Morgenstreich. Cliques marched with lanterns after a federal vote Sunday that had emptied some trains toward Bern.
   Keywords: Basel Fasnacht 2025, Morgenstreich, Swiss carnival, Basel culture

380. Voters Reject Environmental Responsibility Initiative by a Wide Margin
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/environmental-responsibility-initiative-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-02-09T20:15:00+02:00
   Summary: The 9 February 2025 ballot ended with 69.7 percent against a plan to bind the Swiss economy to planetary limits. Turnout was 38 percent.
   Keywords: Environmental Responsibility Initiative, Swiss vote February 2025, planetary boundaries, Federal Chancellery

381. Polling Stations Open on a Quiet Vote Sunday Before Fasnacht
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/february-ballot-morning-bern-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-02-09T11:55:00+02:00
   Summary: Federal ballot tables opened for the Environmental Responsibility Initiative. Many communes reported more postal envelopes than morning visitors.
   Keywords: Swiss vote Sunday February 2025, polling stations Bern, Environmental Responsibility Initiative

382. Campaigns Fall Silent as Environmental Ballot Papers Sit in Kitchens
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/environmental-vote-eve-bern-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-02-08T16:30:00+02:00
   Summary: The official campaign closed on Saturday. Most postal votes were already in. Sunday's Environmental Responsibility Initiative looked headed for a no.
   Keywords: February 2025 vote eve, Environmental Responsibility Initiative, Swiss postal vote

383. Basel Hotels Fill for Fasnacht as Vote Sunday Cuts Some Trains
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/basel-hotels-fasnacht-week-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-02-07T11:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Room rates in Kleinbasel and around Barfuesserplatz jumped for the carnival week. Some guests planned a Sunday detour to other cantons to vote.
   Keywords: Basel Fasnacht hotels 2025, Barfuesserplatz, carnival Basel, Swiss vote Sunday

384. Lucerne Fasnacht Fills the Quays Before Basel's Morgenstreich
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/lucerne-fasnacht-guuggen-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Culture
   Published: 2025-02-05T18:45:00+02:00
   Summary: Guuggenmusigen marched in Lucerne midweek as central Switzerland's carnival peaked ahead of Basel. Police reported a busy but calm evening.
   Keywords: Lucerne Fasnacht 2025, Guuggenmusigen, Swiss carnival, Lake Lucerne

385. Final Polls Put Environmental Initiative Well Behind
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/environmental-initiative-final-polls-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-02-03T09:20:00+02:00
   Summary: Surveys a week before 9 February showed about two thirds of voters against binding the economy to planetary limits. Turnout looked modest.
   Keywords: Environmental Responsibility Initiative polls, February 2025 vote, planetary boundaries Switzerland

386. Farmers Watch Winter Direct Payments as Feed Costs Stay High
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/farmers-winter-payments-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-01-31T15:55:00+02:00
   Summary: The Farmers' Union said January cashflow remained tight for livestock farms. Direct payments arrived on schedule, feed invoices did too.
   Keywords: Swiss farmers 2025, direct payments, feed costs, Swiss Farmers Union

387. Ticino Fog and a Slow Gotthard Start the Working Week
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/ticino-fog-commute-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Regions
   Published: 2025-01-28T12:20:00+02:00
   Summary: High fog in the Magadino plain delayed some regional trains and cut visibility on the A2 approaches. Cross-border traffic from Italy stayed heavy.
   Keywords: Ticino fog 2025, Magadino, Gotthard A2, Bellinzona commute

388. SBB January Punctuality Holds, German Arrivals Do Not
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/sbb-january-punctuality-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Transport
   Published: 2025-01-27T08:40:00+02:00
   Summary: Domestic long-distance punctuality stayed near the railway's 90 percent target. Connections from Germany into Basel and Schaffhausen lagged.
   Keywords: SBB punctuality January 2025, Deutsche Bahn delays, Basel SBB, Swiss rail

389. Aargau Machine Shops Report a Thin January Order Book
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/aargau-winter-factory-orders-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Economy
   Published: 2025-01-24T10:05:00+02:00
   Summary: Export manufacturers in Aargau said German and Italian demand stayed weak at the start of 2025. Several firms delayed night shifts.
   Keywords: Aargau industry 2025, Swiss machine exports, German orders, Baden factories

390. Swiss Trade Pitch Continues in Davos Side Rooms
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/wef-trade-side-meetings-2025.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-01-22T19:15:00+02:00
   Summary: Federal officials held bilateral meetings on EU market access and energy while the main WEF hall discussed growth and security.
   Keywords: WEF Davos 2025, Swiss EU trade, Guy Parmelin, bilateral meetings

391. Davos Opens With Swiss Hosts Pushing Trade Stability
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/davos-wef-switzerland-2025.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-01-21T18:00:00+02:00
   Summary: The World Economic Forum returned to Davos with Swiss officials urging predictable trade rules as European industry entered another tight winter.
   Keywords: Davos WEF 2025, World Economic Forum Switzerland, Swiss trade, Guy Parmelin

392. Davos Puts Up the WEF Fences Before the Delegates Arrive
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/davos-security-fences-2025.html
   Section: World / Diplomacy
   Published: 2025-01-18T14:50:00+02:00
   Summary: Graubuenden police closed sections of the Promenade and checked hotel lists three days before the World Economic Forum opened.
   Keywords: Davos WEF security 2025, Graubuenden police, World Economic Forum fences

393. Cornavin and the Border Feel the January Return of Frontaliers
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/geneva-border-queues-january-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Labour
   Published: 2025-01-13T07:35:00+02:00
   Summary: Cross-border workers filled the France-Geneva crossings in the first full working week. TPG and CFF reported standing room on early trams and trains.
   Keywords: Geneva frontaliers, cross-border workers 2025, Cornavin, TPG, French commuters

394. SNB Watches a Firm Franc After December's Rate Cut
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/snb-franc-watch-january-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Finance
   Published: 2025-01-09T16:25:00+02:00
   Summary: The Swiss National Bank's policy rate sat at 0.5 percent in early January. Inflation was low and the franc stayed strong against the euro.
   Keywords: SNB 2025, Swiss franc, policy rate 0.5 percent, Swiss National Bank Zurich

395. Midwinter Beds Fill in the Oberland After a Slow Start
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/swiss-winter-tourism-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Alps
   Published: 2025-01-08T10:30:00+02:00
   Summary: Bernese Oberland resorts reported a stronger second week of January as school holidays in neighbouring countries overlapped.
   Keywords: Swiss winter tourism 2025, Interlaken hotels, Jungfrau region, ski season

396. Zurich Housing Lists Barely Move After the Holiday Pause
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/zurich-new-year-housing-lists-2025.html
   Section: Zurich / Housing
   Published: 2025-01-06T11:40:00+02:00
   Summary: City and cooperative waiting lists reopened after New Year with vacancy still near 0.3 percent. Families looking for four rooms were told to wait.
   Keywords: Zurich housing 2025, vacancy Zurich, cooperatives, rents Lake Zurich

397. New KVG Premiums Land in January Invoices
   URL: https://theswisspress.ch/articles/kvg-premiums-take-effect-2025.html
   Section: Switzerland / Politics
   Published: 2025-01-03T08:10:00+02:00
   Summary: Compulsory health premiums rose 6 percent on average for 2025, to CHF 378.70 a month. Ticino saw the steepest cantonal jump.
   Keywords: KVG premiums 2025, health insurance Switzerland, BAG, Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Ticino premiums

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