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<title>Swiss Inquirer &#45; : HEADLINES</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/rss/category/world-news</link>
<description>Swiss Inquirer &#45; : HEADLINES</description>
<dc:language>en</dc:language>
<dc:rights>Copyright 2026 Gulf Ecomonics &#45; All Rights Reserved.</dc:rights>

<item>
<title>Unions launch referendum against a minimum&#45;wage reform they describe as attack on women</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/unions-launch-referendum-against-a-minimum-wage-reform-they-describe-as-attack-on-women</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/unions-launch-referendum-against-a-minimum-wage-reform-they-describe-as-attack-on-women</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Minimum wages are one of the most contentious issues in Swiss labour policy, exposing tensions between Switzerland’s federal government and the cantons over who should determine pay. Trade unions and left-wing parties have now launched a federal referendum against legislation that would give sectoral collective labour agreements1 precedence over cantonal minimum-wage laws. The reform, approved […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2026 21:00:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Unions, launch, referendum, against, minimum-wage, reform, they, describe, attack, women</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Minimum wages are one of the most contentious issues in Swiss labour policy, exposing tensions between Switzerland’s federal government and the cantons over who should determine pay. Trade unions and left-wing parties have now launched a federal referendum against legislation that would give sectoral collective labour agreements1 precedence over cantonal minimum-wage laws. The reform, approved […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>FILM: The second half of DE GAULLE’s battle ****</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/film-the-second-half-of-de-gaulles-battle</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/film-the-second-half-of-de-gaulles-battle</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 3 July 2026 You have an amazing choice this week – an important historical gem; a wild blockbuster; a gentle animated love story; and a cruel Robin Hood. Take your pick… I am including the previously published review of the first part of this two-part historical film, as it explains the background to both films. […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2026 21:00:12 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>FILM:, The, second, half, GAULLE’s, battle</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[3 July 2026 You have an amazing choice this week – an important historical gem; a wild blockbuster; a gentle animated love story; and a cruel Robin Hood. Take your pick… I am including the previously published review of the first part of this two-part historical film, as it explains the background to both films. […]]]> </content:encoded>
</item>

<item>
<title>Swiss railway solar panel experiment passes one&#45;year milestone</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-railway-solar-panel-experiment-passes-one-year-milestone</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-railway-solar-panel-experiment-passes-one-year-milestone</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A pioneering Swiss project to install removeable solar panels between railway tracks has completed its first year of operation with encouraging results, suggesting the technology can generate electricity without disrupting train services, reported the Greater Geneva Bern area (GGBa) investment promotion agency. More than 11,000 trains have passed over a 100-metre test installation in Buttes, […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2026 21:00:11 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, railway, solar, panel, experiment, passes, one-year, milestone</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[A pioneering Swiss project to install removeable solar panels between railway tracks has completed its first year of operation with encouraging results, suggesting the technology can generate electricity without disrupting train services, reported the Greater Geneva Bern area (GGBa) investment promotion agency. More than 11,000 trains have passed over a 100-metre test installation in Buttes, […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>More young Swiss men embracing traditional masculinity</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/more-young-swiss-men-embracing-traditional-masculinity</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/more-young-swiss-men-embracing-traditional-masculinity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A new Swiss study suggests that attitudes towards masculinity are becoming more polarised. Männlichkeit im Wandel, a report by the University of Zurich’s Jacobs Center, is based on a representative survey of 6,138 people aged 18 to 64 living in Switzerland.Its findings are striking. Young men are much more likely than older men, and far […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2026 21:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>More, young, Swiss, men, embracing, traditional, masculinity</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[A new Swiss study suggests that attitudes towards masculinity are becoming more polarised. Männlichkeit im Wandel, a report by the University of Zurich’s Jacobs Center, is based on a representative survey of 6,138 people aged 18 to 64 living in Switzerland.Its findings are striking. Young men are much more likely than older men, and far […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>New nuclear plants a difficult option for Switzerland</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/new-nuclear-plants-a-difficult-option-for-switzerland</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/new-nuclear-plants-a-difficult-option-for-switzerland</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland does not need new nuclear power stations to complete the energy transition, according to a report by 19 energy specialists from ETH Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), the country’s leading nuclear-research centre. They conclude that a system based on hydropower and solar energy, supplemented by wind power and electricity storage, can provide […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2026 21:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, nuclear, plants, difficult, option, for, Switzerland</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland does not need new nuclear power stations to complete the energy transition, according to a report by 19 energy specialists from ETH Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), the country’s leading nuclear-research centre. They conclude that a system based on hydropower and solar energy, supplemented by wind power and electricity storage, can provide […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Switzerland to vote on four federal measures in November</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerland-to-vote-on-four-federal-measures-in-november</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerland-to-vote-on-four-federal-measures-in-november</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Swiss voters will decide four federal measures on November 29, including a proposal to help finance the new 13th monthly payment under the state pension system. The ballot will also cover a revision of the law governing war materiel exports, the Centre Party’s proposal to restore joint taxation for married couples and an initiative to […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:00:15 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Switzerland, vote, four, federal, measures, November</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Swiss voters will decide four federal measures on November 29, including a proposal to help finance the new 13th monthly payment under the state pension system. The ballot will also cover a revision of the law governing war materiel exports, the Centre Party’s proposal to restore joint taxation for married couples and an initiative to […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Is Switzerland reliving the infamous summer of 2003?</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/is-switzerland-reliving-the-infamous-summer-of-2003</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/is-switzerland-reliving-the-infamous-summer-of-2003</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland is enduring its tenth consecutive day of temperatures above 30°C, placing this June among the hottest on record. The month began cool but turned hot. Temperatures rose sharply from the middle of the month, with much of the country surpassing 30°C on June 16th and 17th. The prolonged heat invites comparisons with the exceptional […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:00:52 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Switzerland, reliving, the, infamous, summer, 2003</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland is enduring its tenth consecutive day of temperatures above 30°C, placing this June among the hottest on record. The month began cool but turned hot. Temperatures rose sharply from the middle of the month, with much of the country surpassing 30°C on June 16th and 17th. The prolonged heat invites comparisons with the exceptional […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Swiss rent control initiative passes signature hurdle</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-rent-control-initiative-passes-signature-hurdle</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-rent-control-initiative-passes-signature-hurdle</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ This week, the Swiss Tenants’ Association submitted a popular initiative aimed at curbing rents after collecting more than 140,000 signatures. The proposal would require rents to be reviewed automatically at regular intervals. If a review found rents to be too high, landlords would be obliged to reduce them. The initiative is backed by an alliance […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-37977980-edited.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:00:49 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, rent, control, initiative, passes, signature, hurdle</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[This week, the Swiss Tenants’ Association submitted a popular initiative aimed at curbing rents after collecting more than 140,000 signatures. The proposal would require rents to be reviewed automatically at regular intervals. If a review found rents to be too high, landlords would be obliged to reduce them. The initiative is backed by an alliance […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Higher health&#45;insurance deductible wins backing on the right, not the left</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/higher-health-insurance-deductible-wins-backing-on-the-right-not-the-left</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/higher-health-insurance-deductible-wins-backing-on-the-right-not-the-left</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland’s government is pressing ahead with plans to raise the minimum annual health-insurance deductible from CHF 300 to CHF 400, reports RTS. The proposal has exposed familiar political divisions: parties on the right and health insurers support it, while the left, trade unions and cities oppose it. The Centre Party and the cantons occupy a […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-6129651.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:00:46 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Higher, health-insurance, deductible, wins, backing, the, right, not, the, left</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland’s government is pressing ahead with plans to raise the minimum annual health-insurance deductible from CHF 300 to CHF 400, reports RTS. The proposal has exposed familiar political divisions: parties on the right and health insurers support it, while the left, trade unions and cities oppose it. The Centre Party and the cantons occupy a […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Infant formula containing cereulide toxin remains on sale in Switzerland</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/infant-formula-containing-cereulide-toxin-remains-on-sale-in-switzerland</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/infant-formula-containing-cereulide-toxin-remains-on-sale-in-switzerland</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Infant formula sold in Switzerland still contains traces of cereulide, a toxin that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in babies, according to an investigation by RTS. Although the products comply with the emergency threshold adopted by European food-safety authorities, the broadcaster questions both the scientific basis of that limit and the testing methods used to […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-7282240-edited.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:00:46 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Infant, formula, containing, cereulide, toxin, remains, sale, Switzerland</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Infant formula sold in Switzerland still contains traces of cereulide, a toxin that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in babies, according to an investigation by RTS. Although the products comply with the emergency threshold adopted by European food-safety authorities, the broadcaster questions both the scientific basis of that limit and the testing methods used to […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Swiss voters to decide on fireworks ban</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-voters-to-decide-on-fireworks-ban</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-voters-to-decide-on-fireworks-ban</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Swiss voters will decide whether to ban most fireworks after campaigners rejected a parliamentary compromise and insisted on putting their initiative to a nationwide vote, reported RTS. The proposal, launched by animal-welfare organisations, seeks to protect people, animals and the environment from the noise, air pollution and other emissions caused by fireworks. It would prohibit […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:00:45 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, voters, decide, fireworks, ban</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Swiss voters will decide whether to ban most fireworks after campaigners rejected a parliamentary compromise and insisted on putting their initiative to a nationwide vote, reported RTS. The proposal, launched by animal-welfare organisations, seeks to protect people, animals and the environment from the noise, air pollution and other emissions caused by fireworks. It would prohibit […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Childlessness and smaller families driving down fertility in Switzerland</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/childlessness-and-smaller-families-driving-down-fertility-in-switzerland</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/childlessness-and-smaller-families-driving-down-fertility-in-switzerland</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland recorded fewer births and marriages in 2025, extending demographic trends that have become increasingly pronounced over the past decade. According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), 78,200 children were born in Switzerland in 2025, around 100 fewer than a year earlier. Although the decline was marginal, it marked the fourth consecutive annual fall in […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-16579295-edited.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:00:37 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Childlessness, and, smaller, families, driving, down, fertility, Switzerland</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland recorded fewer births and marriages in 2025, extending demographic trends that have become increasingly pronounced over the past decade. According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), 78,200 children were born in Switzerland in 2025, around 100 fewer than a year earlier. Although the decline was marginal, it marked the fourth consecutive annual fall in […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Swiss parliament leaves extra state pension only partly funded</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-parliament-leaves-extra-state-pension-only-partly-funded</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-parliament-leaves-extra-state-pension-only-partly-funded</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Swiss parliament has agreed only a partial funding plan for the new 13th annual state-pension payment, reported RTS. After lengthy wrangling, the National Council backed an increase in value-added tax (VAT) but rejected higher payroll contributions, leaving much of the additional cost uncovered. The National Council voted to raise VAT by 0.4 percentage points. […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-37880714-edited.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:00:36 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, parliament, leaves, extra, state, pension, only, partly, funded</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Swiss parliament has agreed only a partial funding plan for the new 13th annual state-pension payment, reported RTS. After lengthy wrangling, the National Council backed an increase in value-added tax (VAT) but rejected higher payroll contributions, leaving much of the additional cost uncovered. The National Council voted to raise VAT by 0.4 percentage points. […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Swiss food&#45;security initiative rejected by government</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-food-security-initiative-rejected-by-government</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-food-security-initiative-rejected-by-government</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Food security occupies a special place in Swiss political culture. During the second world war, Switzerland launched the Wahlen Plan, a drive to expand domestic food production in anticipation of a possible blockade. The programme became part of the country’s collective memory and continues to shape debates about agriculture. Advocates of greater self-sufficiency frequently invoke […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:00:35 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, food-security, initiative, rejected, government</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Food security occupies a special place in Swiss political culture. During the second world war, Switzerland launched the Wahlen Plan, a drive to expand domestic food production in anticipation of a possible blockade. The programme became part of the country’s collective memory and continues to shape debates about agriculture. Advocates of greater self-sufficiency frequently invoke […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Geneva votes “no” to elected politicians wearing religious symbols</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/geneva-votes-no-to-elected-politicians-wearing-religious-symbols</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/geneva-votes-no-to-elected-politicians-wearing-religious-symbols</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Geneva likes to think of itself as Switzerland’s most secular canton. Last weekend voters reaffirmed that identity, albeit narrowly. A constitutional amendment banning elected politicians from displaying visible religious symbols while carrying out their duties passed with 51.4% of the vote. The result revives a debate that has simmered for years. A similar restriction was […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-6516449-edited.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:00:34 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Geneva, votes, “no”, elected, politicians, wearing, religious, symbols</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Geneva likes to think of itself as Switzerland’s most secular canton. Last weekend voters reaffirmed that identity, albeit narrowly. A constitutional amendment banning elected politicians from displaying visible religious symbols while carrying out their duties passed with 51.4% of the vote. The result revives a debate that has simmered for years. A similar restriction was […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>The bonus culture driving up Swiss health costs</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/the-bonus-culture-driving-up-swiss-health-costs</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/the-bonus-culture-driving-up-swiss-health-costs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland’s health minister has taken aim at the lucrative pay packets earned by some radiologists, arguing that they expose deeper flaws in the country’s healthcare system. Speaking on public radio on June 19th, Elisabeth Baume-Schneider criticised reports that radiologists working for 3R, a leading medical-imaging group in French-speaking Switzerland, receive annual compensation of between CHF […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="http://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Montreux-599x400-e1430340707388.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:00:34 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, bonus, culture, driving, Swiss, health, costs</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland’s health minister has taken aim at the lucrative pay packets earned by some radiologists, arguing that they expose deeper flaws in the country’s healthcare system. Speaking on public radio on June 19th, Elisabeth Baume-Schneider criticised reports that radiologists working for 3R, a leading medical-imaging group in French-speaking Switzerland, receive annual compensation of between CHF […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>FILM: BROKEN ENGLISH – MARIANNE FAITHFUL ***</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/film-broken-english-marianne-faithful</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/film-broken-english-marianne-faithful</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ BROKEN ENGLISH – MARIANNE FAITHFUL *** If you remember Marianne Faithful, you’re dating yourself as a baby boomer. Those were the days – the free, exciting, and at times decadent 1960s – when she began her versatile career of singer, songwriter and actress, almost by accident. She was of course known as an icon of […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 21:00:38 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>FILM:, BROKEN, ENGLISH, –, MARIANNE, FAITHFUL</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[BROKEN ENGLISH – MARIANNE FAITHFUL *** If you remember Marianne Faithful, you’re dating yourself as a baby boomer. Those were the days – the free, exciting, and at times decadent 1960s – when she began her versatile career of singer, songwriter and actress, almost by accident. She was of course known as an icon of […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Railway near&#45;miss exposes Switzerland’s language challenge</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/railway-near-miss-exposes-switzerlands-language-challenge</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/railway-near-miss-exposes-switzerlands-language-challenge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland is often held up as a model of multilingualism. In August 2025, however, its linguistic diversity nearly led to a railway collision. The incident received widespread attention only after the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SESE) published its report in June 2026. Two Swiss Rail trains came close to colliding at Neuchâtel-Vauseyon after a […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 21:00:37 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Railway, near-miss, exposes, Switzerland’s, language, challenge</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland is often held up as a model of multilingualism. In August 2025, however, its linguistic diversity nearly led to a railway collision. The incident received widespread attention only after the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SESE) published its report in June 2026. Two Swiss Rail trains came close to colliding at Neuchâtel-Vauseyon after a […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Swiss say no to a 10m population cap</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-say-no-to-a-10m-population-cap</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-say-no-to-a-10m-population-cap</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland’s voters have rejected the right-wing Swiss People’s Party’s (UDC/SVP) latest attempt to curb immigration, dealing a blow to a campaign that sought to cap the country’s population at 10m by 2050. In a referendum held on Sunday, 54.8% of voters opposed the initiative, while a majority of cantons also rejected it (13 cantons against; […] ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 21:00:44 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, say, 10m, population, cap</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland’s voters have rejected the right-wing Swiss People’s Party’s (UDC/SVP) latest attempt to curb immigration, dealing a blow to a campaign that sought to cap the country’s population at 10m by 2050. In a referendum held on Sunday, 54.8% of voters opposed the initiative, while a majority of cantons also rejected it (13 cantons against; […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Swiss vote to restrict civilian&#45;service alternative for young men</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-vote-to-restrict-civilian-service-alternative-for-young-men</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-vote-to-restrict-civilian-service-alternative-for-young-men</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Young Swiss men will soon face tighter restrictions on opting for civilian service instead of compulsory military duty after voters approved a reform in Sunday’s referendum (Yes: 52.5%; No: 47.5%). The new rules are expected to enter into force in mid-2027. Swiss civilian service was approved by voters in 1992 and introduced in 1996 for […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-17751833.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 21:00:43 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, vote, restrict, civilian-service, alternative, for, young, men</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Young Swiss men will soon face tighter restrictions on opting for civilian service instead of compulsory military duty after voters approved a reform in Sunday’s referendum (Yes: 52.5%; No: 47.5%). The new rules are expected to enter into force in mid-2027. Swiss civilian service was approved by voters in 1992 and introduced in 1996 for […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Swiss canton to ban headscarfs in schools</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-canton-to-ban-headscarfs-in-schools</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-canton-to-ban-headscarfs-in-schools</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Teachers in the Swiss canton of St Gallen will soon be barred from wearing religious symbols in the classroom, after the cantonal parliament approved a motion introducing a canton-wide ban, reported SRF. The proposal passed by 70 votes to 46 after a lengthy and emotionally charged debate. Lawmakers also voted narrowly, by 59 to 54, […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-6281990.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 21:00:52 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, canton, ban, headscarfs, schools</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Teachers in the Swiss canton of St Gallen will soon be barred from wearing religious symbols in the classroom, after the cantonal parliament approved a motion introducing a canton-wide ban, reported SRF. The proposal passed by 70 votes to 46 after a lengthy and emotionally charged debate. Lawmakers also voted narrowly, by 59 to 54, […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Switzerland’s hidden redistribution machine gets bigger</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerlands-hidden-redistribution-machine-gets-bigger</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerlands-hidden-redistribution-machine-gets-bigger</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland’s elaborate fiscal equalisation system rarely attracts much public attention. Yet the latest figures from the federal finance administration suggest the country’s regional divides are widening faster than Bern had expected. On June 9th the federal government announced that equalisation payments to the cantons would rise sharply in 2027, climbing by CHF 527m ($640m) to […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-32664145.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 21:00:50 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Switzerland’s, hidden, redistribution, machine, gets, bigger</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland’s elaborate fiscal equalisation system rarely attracts much public attention. Yet the latest figures from the federal finance administration suggest the country’s regional divides are widening faster than Bern had expected. On June 9th the federal government announced that equalisation payments to the cantons would rise sharply in 2027, climbing by CHF 527m ($640m) to […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Your next car will be watching you</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/your-next-car-will-be-watching-you</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/your-next-car-will-be-watching-you</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ From July 7th, 2026 new cars sold in Switzerland will come with a camera monitoring the driver. The requirement stems from the European Union’s second General Safety Regulation (GSR2), which Switzerland is adopting in line with EU vehicle standards. The rules make a range of driver-assistance technologies mandatory in new vehicles, further accelerating the transformation […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Car_Pabloborca-_-Dreamstime.com_.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 21:00:49 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Your, next, car, will, watching, you</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[From July 7th, 2026 new cars sold in Switzerland will come with a camera monitoring the driver. The requirement stems from the European Union’s second General Safety Regulation (GSR2), which Switzerland is adopting in line with EU vehicle standards. The rules make a range of driver-assistance technologies mandatory in new vehicles, further accelerating the transformation […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Switzerland to vote on its population</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerland-to-vote-on-its-population</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerland-to-vote-on-its-population</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On June 14th Swiss voters will decide whether their country should place a ceiling on its population. The proposal, officially titled “No to a Switzerland with 10 million inhabitants!”, would cap the permanent resident population at 10m until 2050. If the number rises above 9.5m before then—a threshold demographers expect could be reached early in […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-34855494-edited.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 21:00:47 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Switzerland, vote, its, population</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 14th Swiss voters will decide whether their country should place a ceiling on its population. The proposal, officially titled “No to a Switzerland with 10 million inhabitants!”, would cap the permanent resident population at 10m until 2050. If the number rises above 9.5m before then—a threshold demographers expect could be reached early in […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>How climate change is threatening Swiss Alpine huts</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/how-climate-change-is-threatening-swiss-alpine-huts</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/how-climate-change-is-threatening-swiss-alpine-huts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Climate change is beginning to undermine one of Switzerland’s most cherished institutions: the mountain hut. The Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), which operates 153 huts across the country, warns that rising temperatures and thawing permafrost are threatening the foundations of dozens of alpine refuges, reports SRF. Roughly one-third of SAC huts are located in areas potentially […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-10795008.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 21:00:44 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, climate, change, threatening, Swiss, Alpine, huts</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Climate change is beginning to undermine one of Switzerland’s most cherished institutions: the mountain hut. The Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), which operates 153 huts across the country, warns that rising temperatures and thawing permafrost are threatening the foundations of dozens of alpine refuges, reports SRF. Roughly one-third of SAC huts are located in areas potentially […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Swiss&#45;led project identifies promising target for treating age&#45;related macular degeneration</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-led-project-identifies-promising-target-for-treating-age-related-macular-degeneration</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-led-project-identifies-promising-target-for-treating-age-related-macular-degeneration</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of blindness among older people in rich countries, may eventually be treated by restoring the eye’s natural cellular recycling system, according to research led by the University of Fribourg. As populations age, retinal diseases are becoming increasingly common worldwide. AMD damages two types of cells that […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-5201872.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:00:44 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss-led, project, identifies, promising, target, for, treating, age-related, macular, degeneration</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of blindness among older people in rich countries, may eventually be treated by restoring the eye’s natural cellular recycling system, according to research led by the University of Fribourg. As populations age, retinal diseases are becoming increasingly common worldwide. AMD damages two types of cells that […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>New EU rules on offshore migrant&#45;return centres will apply to Switzerland</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/new-eu-rules-on-offshore-migrant-return-centres-will-apply-to-switzerland</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/new-eu-rules-on-offshore-migrant-return-centres-will-apply-to-switzerland</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland will be required to adopt legislation allowing the use of migrant-return centres outside Europe, following a new agreement reached by the European Union. Despite being outside the EU, as a member of the Schengen area, Switzerland must incorporate the new rules into domestic law. The agreement, struck in Brussels on Monday evening, forms part […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-31628104.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:00:43 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, rules, offshore, migrant-return, centres, will, apply, Switzerland</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland will be required to adopt legislation allowing the use of migrant-return centres outside Europe, following a new agreement reached by the European Union. Despite being outside the EU, as a member of the Schengen area, Switzerland must incorporate the new rules into domestic law. The agreement, struck in Brussels on Monday evening, forms part […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Swiss parliament chooses VAT rise to fund extra pension payment</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-parliament-chooses-vat-rise-to-fund-extra-pension-payment</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-parliament-chooses-vat-rise-to-fund-extra-pension-payment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Two years after Swiss voters approved the introduction of a 13th monthly state pension payment, parliament remains divided over how to finance it. The debate has further sharpened concerns about the unsustainability of Switzerland’s pay-as-you-go pension system as the population ages. Left-wing parties accuse conservative and liberal politicians of trying to use the funding debate […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Swiss-Francs__Rochu2008-_-Dreamstime.com_.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:00:42 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, parliament, chooses, VAT, rise, fund, extra, pension, payment</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Two years after Swiss voters approved the introduction of a 13th monthly state pension payment, parliament remains divided over how to finance it. The debate has further sharpened concerns about the unsustainability of Switzerland’s pay-as-you-go pension system as the population ages. Left-wing parties accuse conservative and liberal politicians of trying to use the funding debate […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Swiss cocaine use extending into everyday working life</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-cocaine-use-extending-into-everyday-working-life</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-cocaine-use-extending-into-everyday-working-life</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A new report by Addiction Switzerland argues that cocaine consumption in Switzerland has become more widespread, socially normalised and detached from its former association with nightlife and marginal groups. The report describes a steady rise in cocaine use since the early 2000s, driven by greater availability, falling prices and higher purity levels. Wastewater analyses place […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Cocaine_Mikel-Soria-_-Dreamstime.com_.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:00:42 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, cocaine, use, extending, into, everyday, working, life</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[A new report by Addiction Switzerland argues that cocaine consumption in Switzerland has become more widespread, socially normalised and detached from its former association with nightlife and marginal groups. The report describes a steady rise in cocaine use since the early 2000s, driven by greater availability, falling prices and higher purity levels. Wastewater analyses place […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Swiss rivers are overheating</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-rivers-are-overheating</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-rivers-are-overheating</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Climate change is warming not only the air, but rivers too. A study published by Nature warns that “riverine heatwaves”—prolonged periods of unusually high river temperatures—are becoming more frequent and intense across Alpine Europe. A temperature of 20 degrees Celsius in the Aare river at the end of May is record-breaking for this time of […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bern-aaretal-kirchenfeldbucke-downtown-163826.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:00:41 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, rivers, are, overheating</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Climate change is warming not only the air, but rivers too. A study published by Nature warns that “riverine heatwaves”—prolonged periods of unusually high river temperatures—are becoming more frequent and intense across Alpine Europe. A temperature of 20 degrees Celsius in the Aare river at the end of May is record-breaking for this time of […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Swiss voters will decide on two popular initiatives on September 27th</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-voters-will-decide-on-two-popular-initiatives-on-september-27th</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-voters-will-decide-on-two-popular-initiatives-on-september-27th</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Swiss voters will decide on two popular initiatives on September 27th: one on neutrality and another on food policy. The government confirmed the ballot measures on Wednesday. The “Safeguarding Swiss Neutrality” initiative, backed by Pro Suisse and members of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), seeks to define Swiss neutrality in the constitution as both […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pexels-photo-5014588-edited.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 21:00:37 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, voters, will, decide, two, popular, initiatives, September, 27th</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Swiss voters will decide on two popular initiatives on September 27th: one on neutrality and another on food policy. The government confirmed the ballot measures on Wednesday. The “Safeguarding Swiss Neutrality” initiative, backed by Pro Suisse and members of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), seeks to define Swiss neutrality in the constitution as both […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Switzerland may soon offer marriage&#45;lite</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerland-may-soon-offer-marriage-lite</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerland-may-soon-offer-marriage-lite</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland may soon offer couples a legal status somewhere between marriage and simple cohabitation. Lawmakers are considering the introduction of a civil partnership model known as a PACS (“Pacte civil de solidarité”), inspired by a system that has existed in France since 1999. The proposal would create a nationwide framework for both heterosexual and same-sex […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pexels-photo-14846904-edited.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 21:00:36 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Switzerland, may, soon, offer, marriage-lite</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland may soon offer couples a legal status somewhere between marriage and simple cohabitation. Lawmakers are considering the introduction of a civil partnership model known as a PACS (“Pacte civil de solidarité”), inspired by a system that has existed in France since 1999. The proposal would create a nationwide framework for both heterosexual and same-sex […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>What impact could a 10m population cap have on Swiss pensions and health premiums?</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/what-impact-could-a-10m-population-cap-have-on-swiss-pensions-and-health-premiums</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/what-impact-could-a-10m-population-cap-have-on-swiss-pensions-and-health-premiums</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland’s referendum on June 14th is ostensibly about immigration and relations with the European Union. But the outcome could also have far-reaching consequences for the country’s welfare state. Supporters of the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) initiative argue that immigration must be curbed to limit population growth and pressure on infrastructure. Critics counter that restricting immigration […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pexels-photo-28999318.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 21:00:34 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, impact, could, 10m, population, cap, have, Swiss, pensions, and, health, premiums</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland’s referendum on June 14th is ostensibly about immigration and relations with the European Union. But the outcome could also have far-reaching consequences for the country’s welfare state. Supporters of the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) initiative argue that immigration must be curbed to limit population growth and pressure on infrastructure. Critics counter that restricting immigration […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Knife attack suspect active in the Islamic extremist scene in Winterthur</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/knife-attack-suspect-active-in-the-islamic-extremist-scene-in-winterthur</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/knife-attack-suspect-active-in-the-islamic-extremist-scene-in-winterthur</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Swiss investigators believe the man suspected of injuring three people in a knife attack in Winterthur had longstanding links to the local Islamist extremist scene, reported SRF. The 31-year-old allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) during the attack. Mario Fehr, Zurich’s security director, later described the incident as a terrorist act at a press […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/500px-Blick_auf_die_Winterthurer_Altstadt.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 21:00:33 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Knife, attack, suspect, active, the, Islamic, extremist, scene, Winterthur</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Swiss investigators believe the man suspected of injuring three people in a knife attack in Winterthur had longstanding links to the local Islamist extremist scene, reported SRF. The 31-year-old allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) during the attack. Mario Fehr, Zurich’s security director, later described the incident as a terrorist act at a press […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>The politics of air conditioning in Switzerland</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/the-politics-of-air-conditioning-in-switzerland</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/the-politics-of-air-conditioning-in-switzerland</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ As heatwaves become more frequent across Europe, Switzerland is confronting an unfamiliar question: whether rules around air conditioning should become less restrictive. The country does not prohibit air conditioning outright. But installing a permanent cooling system in Switzerland is often far more difficult than in neighbouring countries, especially in some of its most populated cantons. […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Air-Conditioning_Tang90246-_-Dreamstime.com_.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 21:00:32 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, politics, air, conditioning, Switzerland</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[As heatwaves become more frequent across Europe, Switzerland is confronting an unfamiliar question: whether rules around air conditioning should become less restrictive. The country does not prohibit air conditioning outright. But installing a permanent cooling system in Switzerland is often far more difficult than in neighbouring countries, especially in some of its most populated cantons. […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Geneva to vote on shopping hours and secularism</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/geneva-to-vote-on-shopping-hours-and-secularism</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/geneva-to-vote-on-shopping-hours-and-secularism</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Voters in the canton of Geneva will head to the polls on June 14th to decide two distinctly Genevan questions: whether shops should open more often on Sundays and whether elected officials should be barred from wearing visible religious symbols in parliament. The first referendum concerns retail opening hours. At present, shops in Geneva may […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pexels-photo-19269041-edited.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 21:00:42 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Geneva, vote, shopping, hours, and, secularism</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Voters in the canton of Geneva will head to the polls on June 14th to decide two distinctly Genevan questions: whether shops should open more often on Sundays and whether elected officials should be barred from wearing visible religious symbols in parliament. The first referendum concerns retail opening hours. At present, shops in Geneva may […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Sharp rise in Swiss bankruptcies not what it seems</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/sharp-rise-in-swiss-bankruptcies-not-what-it-seems</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/sharp-rise-in-swiss-bankruptcies-not-what-it-seems</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Swiss corporate bankruptcies surged in 2025, but the country’s economy is not necessarily collapsing. Much of the increase stems instead from a legal reform that has made it easier to force insolvent firms into formal bankruptcy proceedings. According to figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), 13,612 bankruptcy proceedings were opened last year under […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pexels-photo-21852967.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 21:00:41 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Sharp, rise, Swiss, bankruptcies, not, what, seems</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Swiss corporate bankruptcies surged in 2025, but the country’s economy is not necessarily collapsing. Much of the increase stems instead from a legal reform that has made it easier to force insolvent firms into formal bankruptcy proceedings. According to figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), 13,612 bankruptcy proceedings were opened last year under […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Switzerland’s childhood&#45;obesity problem stabilising for some</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerlands-childhood-obesity-problem-stabilising-for-some</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerlands-childhood-obesity-problem-stabilising-for-some</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ After decades of concern about rising childhood obesity, Switzerland may finally be bending the curve. A new nationwide body-mass-index survey suggests that the proportion of overweight children has declined modestly over the past 15 years, particularly among younger pupils. Yet the improvements are uneven and social inequalities remain stark. The study, published by Promotion Santé Suisse, […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pexels-photo-1375565.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 21:00:40 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Switzerland’s, childhood-obesity, problem, stabilising, for, some</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[After decades of concern about rising childhood obesity, Switzerland may finally be bending the curve. A new nationwide body-mass-index survey suggests that the proportion of overweight children has declined modestly over the past 15 years, particularly among younger pupils. Yet the improvements are uneven and social inequalities remain stark. The study, published by Promotion Santé Suisse, […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Swiss petition targets Starlink expansion in the Alps</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-petition-targets-starlink-expansion-in-the-alps</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-petition-targets-starlink-expansion-in-the-alps</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Nearly 15,000 people have signed a petition urging Switzerland’s federal government to halt plans for a major SpaceX Starlink ground station in the canton of Valais. Campaigners say the project would hand excessive influence over Swiss communications infrastructure to Elon Musk and expose the country to geopolitical risk. On May 21st a coalition led by […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Petitionsbild-Starlink-Antennen-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 21:00:56 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, petition, targets, Starlink, expansion, the, Alps</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Nearly 15,000 people have signed a petition urging Switzerland’s federal government to halt plans for a major SpaceX Starlink ground station in the canton of Valais. Campaigners say the project would hand excessive influence over Swiss communications infrastructure to Elon Musk and expose the country to geopolitical risk. On May 21st a coalition led by […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Swiss Rail to expand offer to Italy and France</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-rail-to-expand-offer-to-italy-and-france</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-rail-to-expand-offer-to-italy-and-france</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Swiss Rail is betting that Swiss travellers want more access to neighbouring Europe. Its proposed 2027 timetable, due to take effect on December 13th, places greater emphasis on international routes, with improved services to Paris and northern Italy, reported RTS. The most notable improvement concerns the route between Lausanne and Paris. From April 5th 2027 […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="http://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Montreux-599x400-e1430340707388.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 21:00:55 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, Rail, expand, offer, Italy, and, France</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Swiss Rail is betting that Swiss travellers want more access to neighbouring Europe. Its proposed 2027 timetable, due to take effect on December 13th, places greater emphasis on international routes, with improved services to Paris and northern Italy, reported RTS. The most notable improvement concerns the route between Lausanne and Paris. From April 5th 2027 […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>FILM: BITTER CHRISTMAS **1/2 – the latest Almodovar</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/film-bitter-christmas-12-the-latest-almodovar</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/film-bitter-christmas-12-the-latest-almodovar</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 22 May 2026 A SPECIAL one- night cinematic EVENT!TERRESTRIAL VERSES (Chroniques de Téhéran)with French subtitles  Save the date! Thursday MAY 28th – at the Grütli Cinemas, 20.30h Not to be missed: Ali Asghari and Alireza Khatami’s brilliant look at the decades of frustration endured by the citizens of Iran under the Islamic regime. Through a series […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Bitter-Xmas.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 21:00:53 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>FILM:, BITTER, CHRISTMAS, 12, –, the, latest, Almodovar</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[22 May 2026 A SPECIAL one- night cinematic EVENT!TERRESTRIAL VERSES (Chroniques de Téhéran)with French subtitles  Save the date! Thursday MAY 28th – at the Grütli Cinemas, 20.30h Not to be missed: Ali Asghari and Alireza Khatami’s brilliant look at the decades of frustration endured by the citizens of Iran under the Islamic regime. Through a series […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Switzerland almost the worst nation in Europe on tobacco control</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerland-almost-the-worst-nation-in-europe-on-tobacco-control</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/switzerland-almost-the-worst-nation-in-europe-on-tobacco-control</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ For a country that prides itself on public health and regulatory competence, Switzerland performs strikingly poorly in the fight against smoking. According to a new European ranking on tobacco-control policies, the country places 36th out of 37 states assessed—ahead only of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ranking, highlighted by the Swiss Association for Tobacco Control, places […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pexels-photo-8788428.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 21:00:52 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Switzerland, almost, the, worst, nation, Europe, tobacco, control</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[For a country that prides itself on public health and regulatory competence, Switzerland performs strikingly poorly in the fight against smoking. According to a new European ranking on tobacco-control policies, the country places 36th out of 37 states assessed—ahead only of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ranking, highlighted by the Swiss Association for Tobacco Control, places […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Most Swiss primary pupils perform well, according to assessment</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/most-swiss-primary-pupils-perform-well-according-to-assessment</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/most-swiss-primary-pupils-perform-well-according-to-assessment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Swiss schools appear to be succeeding at their most basic task. According to a nationwide assessment published by Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education, the overwhelming majority of children in the fourth year of HarmoS schooling—the equivalent of second grade in primary school—meet national standards in mathematics and language skills. The survey, conducted in […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pexels-photo-37580640.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 21:00:51 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Most, Swiss, primary, pupils, perform, well, according, assessment</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Swiss schools appear to be succeeding at their most basic task. According to a nationwide assessment published by Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education, the overwhelming majority of children in the fourth year of HarmoS schooling—the equivalent of second grade in primary school—meet national standards in mathematics and language skills. The survey, conducted in […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Study calculates the high cost of 10 million population cap</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/study-calculates-the-high-cost-of-10-million-population-cap</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/study-calculates-the-high-cost-of-10-million-population-cap</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A study has found that a “yes” vote on the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) initiative would impose considerable costs on Switzerland. The study was conducted by Demgrafik, a research and consulting firm based in Basel. Its authors argue that curbing population growth would bring some benefits, easing pressure on housing, infrastructure and the environment, as […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pexels-photo-27951368.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 05:08:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Study, calculates, the, high, cost, million, population, cap</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[A study has found that a “yes” vote on the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) initiative would impose considerable costs on Switzerland. The study was conducted by Demgrafik, a research and consulting firm based in Basel. Its authors argue that curbing population growth would bring some benefits, easing pressure on housing, infrastructure and the environment, as […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Swiss urged to check cars and luggage for Japanese beetles</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-urged-to-check-cars-and-luggage-for-japanese-beetles</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-urged-to-check-cars-and-luggage-for-japanese-beetles</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Swiss authorities are asking travellers returning from infested regions to inspect their cars and luggage for Japanese beetles, as part of a new campaign to slow the spread of the invasive pest. The Japanese beetle, roughly the size of a coffee bean, poses a serious threat to agriculture, horticulture and the environment. This insect is […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="http://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Montreux-599x400-e1430340707388.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 05:08:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, urged, check, cars, and, luggage, for, Japanese, beetles</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Swiss authorities are asking travellers returning from infested regions to inspect their cars and luggage for Japanese beetles, as part of a new campaign to slow the spread of the invasive pest. The Japanese beetle, roughly the size of a coffee bean, poses a serious threat to agriculture, horticulture and the environment. This insect is […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Swiss nuclear plants could run for a further 80 years</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-nuclear-plants-could-run-for-a-further-80-years</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-nuclear-plants-could-run-for-a-further-80-years</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland’s existing nuclear power plants could remain in operation for up to 80 years, according to a new report by the federal government, which argues that long-term operation is both technically feasible and economically viable. A memorandum from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy had already concluded in 2024 that extending the lifespan of Swiss […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Leibstadt_Ed-Francissen-_-Dreamstime.com-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 05:08:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, nuclear, plants, could, run, for, further, years</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland’s existing nuclear power plants could remain in operation for up to 80 years, according to a new report by the federal government, which argues that long-term operation is both technically feasible and economically viable. A memorandum from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy had already concluded in 2024 that extending the lifespan of Swiss […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Extra train capacity does little to relieve Gotthard tunnel queues</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/extra-train-capacity-does-little-to-relieve-gotthard-tunnel-queues</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/extra-train-capacity-does-little-to-relieve-gotthard-tunnel-queues</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland’s Ascension holiday weekend once again brought heavy traffic to the country’s roads, with long queues forming at the Gotthard tunnel despite expanded rail services to southern Switzerland. After tailbacks of nearly 10km on Wednesday, traffic heading south continued to build on Thursday, particularly along the A2 motorway leading to the Gotthard Road Tunnel, reported […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Gotthard-Traffic_David-Taljat-_-Dreamstime.com_.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 05:08:02 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Extra, train, capacity, does, little, relieve, Gotthard, tunnel, queues</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland’s Ascension holiday weekend once again brought heavy traffic to the country’s roads, with long queues forming at the Gotthard tunnel despite expanded rail services to southern Switzerland. After tailbacks of nearly 10km on Wednesday, traffic heading south continued to build on Thursday, particularly along the A2 motorway leading to the Gotthard Road Tunnel, reported […]]]> </content:encoded>
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<title>Swiss prison population hits record high</title>
<link>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-prison-population-hits-record-high</link>
<guid>https://swissinquirer.com/swiss-prison-population-hits-record-high</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Switzerland’s prison population has reached its highest level since records began in 1988, according to new figures from the Federal Statistical Office. Yet relative to the country’s growing population, the incarceration rate remains lower than it was a decade ago. At the end of January Swiss prisons held 7,119 inmates, the highest figure recorded since […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Prison_-Denis-Linine-_-Dreamstime.com_.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 05:08:00 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swiss, prison, population, hits, record, high</media:keywords>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Switzerland’s prison population has reached its highest level since records began in 1988, according to new figures from the Federal Statistical Office. Yet relative to the country’s growing population, the incarceration rate remains lower than it was a decade ago. At the end of January Swiss prisons held 7,119 inmates, the highest figure recorded since […]]]> </content:encoded>
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